At the time of Shen, it was already late, and the sun was setting in the west, dyeing the sky red.
Xiao Yunchen stood in front of the Su family mansion and was about to go forward.
A clear female voice with a spoiled tone rang out: "Hey, where did you poor scholars come from? Why are you sneaking around in front of my house?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunchen paused and turned to look at the arrogant and ostentatious woman on the brown horse.
Su Xingmian looked down at the man standing at her door like a green pine. He turned around and was wearing a plain linen gown, but he didn't look shabby at all. Instead, he had a kind of clear and elegant temperament.
The handsome man looked at her gently, bowed slightly, and said softly, "Lord Su and I are old friends. We have an appointment to meet at 3 p.m. May I know who you are, young lady?"
Su Xingmian dismounted with a swift movement, and while wielding the long whip in her hand, she walked towards Xiao Yunchen and said proudly, "I am the eldest daughter of the Su family, Su Xingmian!"
She casually put the rolled-up whip at her waist and looked up and down at the gentle and elegant young man in front of her with a calm look.
She said with doubt: "There is such a big age gap between you and my father, how could you be my father's friend? What's more, there is no reason why I have never met my father's friend." The man in front of her was very outstanding in appearance and temperament. If she had seen him before, even just once, it was impossible for her to forget him.
Su Xingmian crossed his arms and snorted softly, "There are countless people who come to my house to curry favor with me, but you are the first one who is so unruly and came here to find Shen Shi."
Qingyan saw her arrogant attitude and tone, and her words were full of disrespect towards his young master.
Unable to contain himself, he immediately jumped out and shouted sternly, "Is the daughter raised by the Tongzhi so unruly? My son has important matters to discuss with the Tongzhi, and if you stop him like this and let him miss out on such a big event, you won't be able to bear the consequences!"
Su Xingmian was questioned by Qingyan with such anger, and immediately looked at him angrily, saying with disdain: "You are just a mere servant, but you look so big and strong, without any scholar's temperament. You are worthy of being a servant raised by a poor family. You have no appearance, temperament, or manners!"
As if disdainful to look at him, Su Xingmian's gaze fell back on Xiao Yunchen. Seeing that his attitude was still calm and composed, a hint of interest flashed in his eyes.
Smiling, she approached him and said, "Hey, young scholar, I think you're quite good-looking. Why don't you marry into my family? That way, my father will definitely take good care of you in your official career, and you won't have to wear these shabby clothes anymore. It will be much more useful than asking to see my father."
When Xiao Yunchen heard her words, a hint of coldness flashed across his gentle eyes, which disappeared in an instant. He said softly, "Thank you for your kindness, young lady. Marriage is no joke. Why don't you meet your father before discussing this matter?"
Su Xingmian curled her lips in boredom when she heard what he said, and muttered softly, "She's pretty, but her voice is a little unpleasant. She's too spineless to even agree to such a small thing."
At this moment, the door of the Su family mansion opened with a creaky sound.
An old man in a plain blue-gray gown walked out from inside and was slightly stunned when he saw the scene at the door.
His gaze naturally fell on the woman in the crimson tights, and he said with a smile, "Miss, why are you standing at the door after you've returned?"
Su Xingmian said unhappily, "Uncle Li, you've come just in time. Look at this young scholar, he actually claims to be an old acquaintance of my father, and he even said he and my father agreed to meet at our house at 3 p.m."
Butler Li walked down the steps of the mansion, came closer, and asked with a look, "Who are you?"
Qingyan walked out a few steps and said, "Butler Li, I came to your house at noon."
When Butler Li saw Qingyan, he remembered his master's instructions and hurriedly bowed, apologizing, "I'm so sorry. It's all my fault for not recognizing you."
He looked at Xiao Yunchen, who was dressed in a linen shirt but had an outstanding temperament, and bowed respectfully: "My master has already instructed me to greet the distinguished guests at the door at 3 p.m., please come in, young master."
Xiao Yunchen nodded slightly and said gently, "Thank you, Steward Li."
Su Xingmian saw that Butler Li led Xiao Yunchen directly into the front door of her house without even giving her an explanation, as if this man in linen clothes was really a very important guest.
She quickly caught up with him and asked, "Uncle Li, is he really my father's old friend?"
Butler Li explained with a smile: "Miss, it is absolutely true."
After that, he turned to Xiao Yunchen and said, "Sir, please come this way. My master has been waiting for a long time."
Su Xingmian had never expected that this poor young man was actually an old acquaintance of her father. Her eyes widened in shock, but she said stubbornly, "He doesn't look like a capable man."
Housekeeper Li felt embarrassed when he heard his eldest daughter's words. He glanced at the distinguished guest beside him and saw that his brows were dull, as if he hadn't heard anything.
But he heard it all, so how could the distinguished guest not hear it? He just didn't care.
No wonder the Lord asked him to treat the distinguished guest with the utmost courtesy. This person has an extraordinary temperament and demeanor!
Xiao Yunchen followed the housekeeper, walked around the screen wall facing the door, and passed through the hanging flower door. He saw Su Tongzhi walking out of the reception hall in the second courtyard.
Seeing Xiao Yunchen coming towards him, he hurriedly bowed and said respectfully, "Your humble servant greets the censor."
Xiao Yunchen raised his hand with a smile and said gently, "Master Su, it's been many years since we last met. I hope you are well."
Su Xingmian stared in shock as Xiao Yunchen was respectfully welcomed into the reception hall by his father, and stood there in a daze for a moment.
After I came to my senses, I couldn't stop feeling regretful when I thought about the disrespectful words I had just said at the door.
However, seeing how gentle and polite this man is, he shouldn't be a petty person, right?
But I couldn't help but wonder if I had heard it wrong?
Su Xingmian trotted after him, and approached Su Tongzhi and whispered, "Dad, is this man really the Inspector General?" As she spoke, she looked at Xiao Yunchen without any hesitation. He really didn't look like him at all.
In her opinion, the inspector from the capital should be of similar age to her father, or he should be dressed in gorgeous clothes and have a good following around him, so that people would be convinced!
When Su Tongzhi heard Su Xingmian talking, he realized that she had followed him in. He immediately frowned and said, "Mian'er, you are so unruly. Why don't you pay your respects to Lord Xiao?"
Su Xingmian curled his lips reluctantly and muttered softly, "It's not my fault that I didn't recognize him. It's just that he looks so young and poorly dressed. What official looks like him?"
Seeing her father's expression becoming increasingly gloomy and serious, Su Xingmian reluctantly walked up to Xiao Yunchen and said quietly and quickly, "I'm sorry for the offense I've caused you before, Your Excellency the Censor. I hope you will be magnanimous and not treat a little girl like me with the same leniency."
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