Chapter 3 003 Uncle, please respect yourself
After exchanging greetings with Xie Zhan, Yun Sheng followed Xie Qingyuan to meet the other two families.
She had been in the mansion for several days and had known the people of the two houses for a long time, but she just couldn't match them up. Now that she had met them today, she understood everything.
The hostess, Lady Wang, was the legal wife of the second son of the Xie family, the second master. They had a pair of children, and the second master also had a son from a concubine. The third master was born out of wedlock and married Lady Ji, and they had only one daughter.
After greeting each other one by one, everyone sat down and started the banquet.
There were music and dancing, and delicacies from land and sea in front of her, but Mrs. Qian had no appetite to enjoy them.
She touched the fine lines at the corners of her eyes, feeling mixed emotions. She was only thirty-five or thirty-six years old, and not only did she not look as good as the two ladies of similar age, even Old Lady Xie, who was in her sixties, looked younger than her.
This pavilion is already quite refreshing, and there are even several large basins of ice. In their countryside, they have to count copper coins on their fingers even to have a bowl of ice drink.
Xie Qingyuan saw what Mrs. Qian was doing and heard her sigh. He lowered his voice and said soothingly, "Don't worry, mother. I will study hard day and night and let you and Shengniang live a good life soon."
Mrs. Qian immediately smiled and said, "My son is very filial. Mother is waiting."
For the sake of her son, she also had to serve the Marquis's Mansion well. Chang'an was not as wealthy as Jiankang. Moreover, if her son really became an official, he would need the Xie family's promotion and care.
She felt relieved and enjoyed her meal.
He just tilted his head to look at the docile Yun Sheng, and couldn't help but feel angry. He suppressed his anger and asked her, "Why were you so stupid just now? Yuan Lang just asked you to call for help, but why did you act like a stubborn gourd? Fortunately, your uncle was generous and didn't care about your disrespect."
Yun Sheng put down his chopsticks and admitted his mistake in a low voice.
The lingering sound of Xie Hou's half-smile was still in her ears, and her earlobes were burning and she felt embarrassed.
It was the first time I lied and was caught red-handed.
After the banquet, Xie Qingyuan accidentally lost his handkerchief. Seeing that Mrs. Qian was tired, he asked her to go back and rest first.
Yun Sheng said, "I'll go look for it with my husband."
Xie Qingyuan felt ashamed and shook his head: "You embroidered it for me. I lost it, so I should find it and make amends myself. It's cool here, Shengniang, please sit down and wait for me."
Yun Sheng had no choice but to listen to him.
She wanted to talk to Ah Xi to relieve her boredom, but she didn't know when she disappeared.
Looking back, the corridor lights in the pavilion in front cast a towering black shadow, like a standing mountain, with a cold and hard air that did not allow anyone to approach.
Yun Sheng thought to herself that her luck was truly bad, and she lightened her steps. The moment she turned around, a deep and cold male voice rang out, as if it had eyes behind her.
"come over."
Yun Sheng paused, then slowly turned around and said uneasily, "I didn't know my cousin was here. I'm being rude. If it's nothing important, I'll leave."
"Do you want me to say it a second time?" Xie Zhan frowned.
Yun Sheng's heart sank for a moment, and he walked away embarrassedly.
A gentle breeze blew by, and she saw a corner of Xie Hou's jade-belted brocade robe lifted up, and the jade pendant buckled around his waist swayed slightly, emitting a layer of cold and dim light in the twilight.
Every time Yun Sheng took a step forward, he felt like he was walking on a cliff, and his heart was hanging in his throat.
The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. The embroidered shoes suddenly tilted sideways, and her body leaned forward and swayed unsteadily. The pain came over her, and she screamed in surprise.
A pair of swift black boots flashed in his lowered eyes, and in an instant Yun Sheng's hand was firmly placed on a big palm.
The man's palm was broad and warm. She was so frightened that she lost her mind. She quickly pulled her hand back and said anxiously, "Thank...thank you very much, uncle."
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't pull her hand out. Xie Hou's jaws were clamped on her, and he applied a little more force.
Yun Sheng's face flushed red as he whispered, "I've stood firm. Thank you, uncle. You can... let go."
Xie Zhan ignored him and asked, "Are you always so reckless?"
"No." Yun Sheng whispered, his lips trembling.
"Oh? If not, then you are so reckless only after seeing me?" His voice was deep and oppressive.
Yun Sheng's eyes flushed with anxiety as he explained, "Uncle, you misunderstood me. I really didn't."
Xie Zhan's eyes glared. "Nothing? Didn't you misunderstand that you were afraid of me, or didn't you misunderstand that you were lying?"
Yun Sheng's head was buzzing. Her almond-shaped eyes widened as she swallowed saliva. "That night, I was so anxious that I lost my mind and lied to my uncle. But I really didn't hear anything. I hope my uncle will forgive me and not hold it against me."
The lies didn't matter; what mattered was the secrets; she must have heard nothing. No matter how foolish Yun Sheng was, he knew how to silence the witnesses.
She kept her face up, her slender and fragile neck trembling slightly, revealing her inner anxiety.
The young lady had a fair face and rosy cheeks, and her cherry-like mouth opened and closed, rosy and bright red. Today, Xie Qingyuan was wiping this bright red mouth with a handkerchief on the street. At that time, it was stained with candied fruit, giving it a layer of shimmering sheen.
Xie Zhan's eyes suddenly turned cold, and he looked at her darkly.
"Since I didn't hear anything, I'll just keep it to myself."
"Don't worry, uncle. I know everything." Yun Sheng was a vulgar person, afraid of death. She tried to move her arms again and asked softly, "Now, uncle... can you let me go?"
Xie Zhan lowered his gaze to the white and tender hand. He guessed that because she worked all day, her palm was soft but not smooth.
A clear male voice suddenly came from far away. It was Xie Qingyuan calling Yun Sheng.
"Hey, Shengniang, where have you been?"
Yun Sheng's heart was pounding, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Seeing that Xie Hou's hand was still strong, she bit her lip and bravely rushed out.
"My husband is here to look for me. We are alone, a man and a woman. Please respect yourself, uncle."
As if to remind Xie Zhan of something, Yun Sheng spoke with some emphasis.
Xie Zhan glanced over and saw that her clear eyes were filled with mist, which seemed to be filled with tears, and she was so anxious that she sounded like crying.
A corner of a white robe was swung past from behind the corridor column. When Xie Qingyuan stepped over, Yun Sheng finally pulled her hand back. She didn't know if it was an illusion or what, but her palm seemed to be scratched by the man's rough fingertips, burning her heart so much that it trembled.
Seeing Yun Sheng's figure, Xie Qingyuan's eyebrows were filled with joy, and then he looked at Xie Zhan with a look of surprise: "Uncle? Sheng Niang, why are you with your uncle?"
"I……"
Before Yun Sheng could finish his words, Xie Zhan said indifferently, "I think I won't bother with you. Shouldn't you apologize?"
Xie Qingyuan reacted: "Did Sheng Niang offend my uncle?"
As he spoke, he strode forward and pulled Yun Sheng behind him, an apologetic look on his face: "Mother Sheng came from the countryside with my nephew, so it's inevitable that she doesn't know the etiquette. I will apologize to my uncle on her behalf."
Yun Sheng's body stiffened. Her husband didn't even ask her, but was sure that she had offended Marquis Xie?
She pursed her lips slightly. And Lord Xie, she had clearly apologized for what happened that night, so what did he mean by that now?
Xie Zhan's eyes were cold and his lips were raised, but the smile did not reach his eyes: "How can the matter of apology be easily dismissed with just a few words?"
Xie Qingyuan suddenly realized and said hurriedly, "Uncle is right. It's my nephew who didn't think it through. Sheng Niang is quite skilled. I'd like to have her steam the cakes some other day. What do you think, uncle?"
"Very good."
The two of them made the decision for Yun Sheng in a few words, and no one asked her any questions.
On the way back, they walked side by side.
Yun Sheng opened her mouth, wanting to say that she had already apologized to Marquis Xie. But if she did so, her husband would surely ask her why she had offended him. She didn't dare to speak about what happened that night.
She sighed softly and that was it.
Seeing Xie Qingyuan was in a trance, Yun Sheng asked, "Did you find the handkerchief?"
Xie Qingyuan came back to his senses: "I found it."
"Give it to me." Yun Sheng stretched out his hand and said with a smile, "I'm afraid it's dirty. I'll wash it for you later."
Xie Qingyuan froze. The handkerchief in his arms seemed to become hot. The fragrance of the powder on it filled his nose. The beautiful face of the second wife of the third room appeared in front of him again.
Due to etiquette, he did not dare to look at the two girls in the mansion for too long during the meal. It was only when the second lady picked up the handkerchief that he saw her stunning beauty when he thanked her.
Her whole body exudes a noble air, like a fairy from heaven.
Xie Qingyuan actually felt a little guilty and replied uncomfortably: "No, it's my responsibility to wash what I lost."
Seeing that he treated the gift she gave him as a treasure, Yun Sheng smiled and said, "If you like it, I'll embroider something else for you."
Xie Qingyuan didn't hear clearly what she said and just responded with a perfunctory "hmm".
"good."
_
Early the next morning, the palace eunuchs came to the Dingbei Marquis's mansion to announce the imperial edict and brought several large boxes of rewards.
Mrs. Qian had never seen such a scene before, not to mention that since it was an imperial decree from the palace, everyone in the mansion had to kneel in front and listen.
A large group of people knelt in front of Yun Sheng. The eunuch straightened his back, held the bright yellow imperial edict in his hand and began to read it. His voice was so shrill that it was unbearable.
She guessed she understood some of it.
The general idea is that Xie Zhan's position as the Protector General of Beiting was taken over by someone else, and he stayed in Chang'an for a long time in the future, and was appointed as the first-rank Taiwei, in charge of the military affairs of the world.
Yun Sheng looked up and saw Xie Zhan lift up his dark brocade robe and stand up. "I accept your order and thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
The eunuchs came in a grand procession, and after announcing the imperial edict, they returned to the palace in a grand procession.
After they left, Yun Sheng sensed a subdued atmosphere in the mansion. Old Lady Xie was being supported by her maid, her face solemn.
She didn't understand these official positions, but she knew that the first rank was the most powerful official in the world. Why did everyone in the Hou Mansion look like that?
Yun Sheng subconsciously looked for Xie Hou's figure. He was holding the warm imperial edict in his hand, and his dark eyes were calm, like a tranquil lake.
Back at Qingtong Courtyard, Xie Qingyuan took Yun Sheng's hand and said, "My cousin must be in a bad mood today, the cakes are not as good as..."
"How about I send it to him another day?" Yun Sheng's eyes lit up.
She was really afraid of him. If he was in a bad mood, wouldn't she run into him when he was angry?
But Xie Qingyuan said, "Silly Shengniang, it is precisely because your cousin is in a bad mood that you should bring him some cakes so that he can remember the kindness of our Qingtong Courtyard."
Yun Sheng hesitated, "If someone is in a bad mood, they probably don't like to see guests, right?"
Xie Qingyuan shook his head: "You, this is just the thinking of ordinary people. How can my uncle be an ordinary person? Shengniang, just listen to me, it won't go wrong."
Yun Sheng lowered her eyes and nodded in agreement. Then she asked curiously, "I saw that the palace gave away many fine things and promoted my cousin to a high-ranking official. Why didn't anyone in the palace show any joy? You also said that my cousin was in a bad mood."
The girl's clear eyes were full of thirst for knowledge. Xie Qingyuan looked around and pulled her aside.
He lowered his voice and pointed his index finger toward the sky.
"Official positions in the imperial court are divided into honorary and real positions. My cousin's original position as Protector General of Beiting was a true third-rank general. Now, the Grand Marshal is a first-rank general, but it's just an honorary title with no real power. The higher-ups are promoting him in name only, but demoting him in reality."
Xie Qingyuan saw Yun Sheng's bright eyes looking at him again, and the admiration in them could not be concealed, and his eyebrows raised for a moment.
What he didn't dare mention was that anyone could be the Protector General of Beiting, and the possibility of not being able to subdue the soldiers under him was another matter. Furthermore, mobilizing the army mainly relied on military tokens, and Xie Qingyuan didn't believe that his cousin was stupid enough to hand over the military tokens.
Yun Sheng was envious of Xie Qingyuan's eloquent speech. She also liked to read and learn, but she was just a child bride bought by Mrs. Qian, and she had endless work to do every day. How could her mother-in-law allow her to learn to read and learn?
She was afraid that she would pester her husband with questions, so she was on guard against her every day like a thief.
Yun Sheng went to the pond to pick fresh lotus seeds and steamed a basket of her specialty lotus cake.
She carried the food box and Ah Xi took her to Xie Hou's Linyuan Pavilion.
The servants in the yard were busy, and Yun Sheng explained the purpose of his visit.
The cold-faced guard guarding the study door glanced at her and said immediately, "The Marquis is still in the study discussing matters. Madam, please wait."
Yun Sheng breathed a sigh of relief and handed over the food box. "I don't dare to disturb the Marquis. Could you please pass it on for me, big brother?"
She didn't want to see Marquis Xie in the first place. Besides awe, she also felt a sense of inexplicable uneasiness.
She handed the food box out for a while, but the cold-faced guard didn't say a word.
The author has something to say:
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That's all for now. I need to collect enough to be on the list. I'll save the manuscripts for now. The next chapter will be around the 20th [poor thing]
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