There is an unusually heavy snowfall in Shengjing this year. The cold wind sweeps across, and the snow and wind roll directly under the eaves, making the cold even more oppressive.
Jiang Zhiyu was in the house, wrapped tightly in a quilt.
[This winter is perfect for staying in bed and doing nothing.]
When Jiang Sulan opened the door, she saw Jiang Zhiyu slowly poking his head out, staring at her with his big watery eyes.
Jiang Sulan was so cute that she smiled and said, "Why can't you get up now? Is there nothing going on at the Hanlin Academy?"
Jiang Zhiyu shook his head: "I'm taking a day off today."
Jiang Sulan nodded and sat down beside her bed.
"Mother and grandmother have found a young man for me. He's the eldest son of the Minister of Revenue, named Han Xizheng. Mother asked me to ask for your opinion."
Jiang Zhiyu's room was filled with heaters. Jiang Sulan had only said one sentence when she felt sweat coming out of her body. She took off her cloak and put it aside.
"He also came to your birthday party."
Han Xizheng? Jiang Zhiyu thought about it for a moment, and his eyes suddenly became strange.
[This is not a good thing to look for.]
Jiang Sulan: “???”
Her fingertips paused slightly.
She had heard of Han Xizheng's reputation. He was a diligent man, had never been to any brothels, and did not have any maids to warm his bed. Now he was only eighteen years old, and he did not have a wife, let alone a concubine.
Why is it not popular to look for it?
She was thinking about how to ask, and Jiang Zhiyu was also thinking about how to explain to her.
[This guy is good at pretending to be a good person. His reputation outside is very good.]
I need to find an excuse to explain myself to my sister without raising any suspicions...
Got it!
Jiang Zhiyu got up from the bed and approached Jiang Sulan: “Sister, do you know that I will give George Han face again?”
Jiang Sulan: "I know."
"That's right. Let me tell you, Han Xizheng is not a good person. Sister, don't be fooled by him."
"Although he was kind and generous outside, he was extremely cruel to his servants at home. He tortured and killed dozens, if not hundreds."
Jiang Sulan frowned slightly.
"Also, although he hasn't married or taken a concubine yet, it's not because he's not lustful, but because he likes to have free sex and doesn't give women a proper status."
Jiang Sulan: “!!!”
"Is this really true?"
"But why has he never been sued?"
Although there were many people who endured humiliation, there were still some who resisted. Or was it that they were all suppressed by him?
But that doesn't seem right. Can it really be so secretive that not a single word of news leaks out?
Jiang Zhiyu nodded like a chick pecking at rice. "Because this guy likes to knock women unconscious before doing anything. The drugs he used were so strong that the women didn't regain consciousness until the next day. They didn't even see the criminal's face clearly, nor did they know his identity, let alone file a lawsuit."
"It's a pity that most of those women ended up committing suicide with a white silk scarf. A few of them became nuns."
Jiang Sulan became furious when she heard this and clenched her fists.
Jiang Zhiyu continued, "Moreover, this person is a born bad seed. When he was young, he liked to torture others for fun. But now that he has grown up, he knows how to disguise himself."
"Moreover, this man's good friend is Gao Zilun, the eldest son of the Minister of Rites."
There isn't a single good person in that family.
"In short, this person is definitely not a good match."
Han Xizheng had done many bad things, but Jiang Zhiyu was afraid that Jiang Sulan would become suspicious, so she could only say this much.
Jiang Sulan nodded heavily.
But when talking about Gao Zilun, Jiang Sulan couldn't hide her smile. "Well, he was kidnapped outside the city. The thief not only slapped his face until it was swollen, but also stripped him of all his clothes, forcing him to run back to the mansion naked. Until now, the thief has not been caught."
As luck would have it, that day she was walking on the street with a few other noble ladies, and Gao Zilun ran towards them, and it was really... a clear view.
With Gao Yan in front and Gao Zilun behind, the Minister of Rites was so embarrassed that he got very angry at home and banned them from leaving.
The two chatted and laughed for a while, then Jiang Sulan put on a cloak and went to find Xu Youran. As soon as she went out, she shivered in the cold wind outside.
"Zhiyu, please turn off some of those stoves. It's so hot in the house. If you go out, you won't be able to bear it for a while and will get sick."
"Don't worry, sister. I know what I'm doing."
…
In the Cining Palace, Song Shiwei rested for a few days and then continued to make perfume for the empress dowager.
The one who came to call her was not Qiu Yi, but another one named Shuang Ning.
As her name suggests, she speaks fluently and directly.
Song Shiwei followed her and asked, "Why don't I see Aunt Qiuyi today?"
Shuang Ning glanced at her sideways and said, "Just do your job well. Don't ask about other things."
Song Shi pursed his lips slightly and replied yes.
The calming incense that Song Shi had fine-tuned had burned out during the days she was resting. The empress dowager wanted to stop using it, but for some reason, she felt uncomfortable all over when she could no longer smell the incense.
Since she hadn't slept for several days, the Queen Mother attributed it to not getting enough sleep.
Seeing Song Shiwei walk in, the Queen Mother rubbed her brows and said, "Good boy, are you feeling better?"
Song Shiwei sneered inwardly, but her face showed an expression of being flattered: "Thank you for your concern, Queen Mother. I am much better now." She paused and continued, "Is the calming incense I prepared useful? Perhaps the Queen Mother is sleeping well now?"
The Queen Mother frowned: "It's still the same."
Song Shi lowered his head slightly, as if afraid of being punished by her. The Queen Mother was about to speak when she saw her raise her head again: "Queen Mother, I went back to the mansion a few days ago and looked through some ancient books. I found a prescription that you might want to try."
The Queen Mother nodded: "Just come as you see fit."
Song Shiwei hesitated: "This recipe..."
"Is it harmful to the human body, or you just can't make it?" The Queen Mother looked at her calmly.
"Neither," Song Shiwei shook his head. "This incense is harmless, but it cannot be stopped. If it is stopped for more than a day, all the previous efforts will be wasted."
The Queen Mother looked at her with scrutiny in her eyes. Song Shiwei did not avoid it and looked up at her.
After a while, the Queen Mother said, "Since it does no harm, then use it."
As the adopted daughter of a prime minister, even if she had ten times the courage, she would not dare to murder herself. Moreover, there were two people who understood the power of fragrance watching her. If she dared to do anything...
The Queen Mother thought this, but a kind smile was on her face: "After so many days, I also know your ability. If it were someone else, I would have sent him away long ago, but only you, I feel that everything is to my liking."
"By the way, I didn't go to your coming-of-age ceremony. Do you have any complaints?"
Song Shiwei's grip on the hem of her skirt tightened, causing some wrinkles, but she quickly let go and said calmly, "This subject knows her own status, so how could she have any complaints against the Queen Mother?"
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