Hearing this, Xu Jiang felt quite unhappy. She could see that Wan Sheng treated Xi Zhi very well. More than that, from the house and the name Wan Qingmiao, she knew how much Wan Sheng valued Xi Zhi. Qingmiao means Xi.
On the one hand, she was glad that he had not treated Xizhi harshly over the years and had given her a good life, but on the other hand, she couldn't help being jealous of Wan Qingmiao and Wan Sheng's possession of her.
This house and these two people, father and son, clearly told her that Xizhi already had her own home and family, and she was just a stranger related to her by blood.
This blood relationship seems so weak in this house and in front of this father and son.
She took a deep breath, forced a smile at Wan Qingmiao, then pulled Liu Mei over and pushed her aside - she didn't like this person at the moment.
Seeing this, Wan Sheng gave Xu Jiang a half-smile and slightly provocative look, but Xu Jiang pretended not to see it.
Further inside the hall is another small garden with many strange rocks and maple trees planted in between. The trees are irrigated by a clear stream and grow luxuriantly.
At this time, the autumn wind arrives, the maple leaves begin to turn red, their shadows fall on the clear water, and the whole thing is bright.
Deep in the maple forest, there was an empty hall. Xu Jiang followed the Wan family father and son across the stream and the bridge and came to the front of the hall.
The idle hall is called Huafeng Hall, and the calligraphy on it is still Xizhi's.
"Please rest here first. I'll go and invite the lady." Wan Sheng invited everyone into the hall, then told Wan Qingmiao to accompany them, and led a servant to the inner courtyard.
"Madam Xu, please come in." Wan Qingmiao invited Xu Jiang.
Xu Jiang looked in the direction Wan Sheng left and replied absentmindedly, "Okay."
After entering the hall, Wan Qingmiao asked Xu Jiang to sit down and asked the servants to prepare good tea.
Xu Jiang surveyed the spacious hall, finding it perfectly furnished with calligraphy and paintings, books, desks, and the four treasures of the study. She noticed a painting of red maples hanging on the opposite wall and instinctively walked over to admire it inch by inch.
The painting depicts red maples like clouds, strange mountains and bizarre waters. A few light strokes sketch out a half-figure of a person, who is leaning and sleeping in the shade of the trees, looking relaxed and at ease.
This kind of painting seems familiar.
"This was also painted by my mother." Wan Qingmiao said with a hint of pride, "My mother is the most talented woman I have ever met."
Xu Jiang finally spoke to him, "Why is this painting hanging here?"
Wan Qingmiao gave her a strange look and said, "This was made by my mother, so it should be hung here."
Xu Jiang said in a low voice, "Your father is truly magnanimous."
Wan Qingmiao was confused. Seeing her leave in front of the painting, he followed her and asked, "I heard that you came from the capital specifically to visit my mother. What is your connection with my mother? Why have I never heard my father mention having relatives in the capital?"
Shan Bo moved in front of him, bowed to him, and said with a smile: "Master Wan, please forgive my rudeness. When can the tea be served?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry for the delay." Wan Qingmiao hurriedly called the servant to ask if the tea had arrived. After asking, he said to the few people, "Please sit down for a moment, the tea will be here soon."
Shan Bo coughed twice and said with a smile, "I'm so sorry. I like to nag when I get older. When I nag, I get thirsty. I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Master Wan."
Wan Qingmiao waved his hand and said, "It's okay. We were not polite enough and neglected the old man and Madam Xu."
Shan Bo sighed twice and said kindly, "Given the relationship between our young lady and your mother, there's no need for you to address him as Master Wan in such a strange way."
These words touched Wan Qingmiao's heart, and he quickly agreed: "The old man is right."
"Mr. Wan is younger than our girl, so why not just call him sister?" Shan Bo smiled like a flower.
Wan Qingmiao froze for a moment and laughed dryly, "This..."
Xu Jiang said, "Our Shan Bo loves to joke around. Master Wan, don't take his words to heart."
Wan Qingmiao nodded randomly, and then, wanting to ease the awkwardness, changed the subject and asked, "I wonder what Madam Xu does for a living?"
"Open a bookstore."
"So we're both in business, so we're in the same business."
"Our young lady's bookshop is not an ordinary bookshop, but an official printing house of the Imperial College of Imperial Studies in Beijing. The young lady is now also an official household. She even published a collection of poems for the current top scholar, which became very popular in Beijing." Shan Bo smiled and said, "So calling our young lady "Ajie" will not be a disadvantage for Master Wan."
Wan Qingmiao was embarrassed.
Xu Jiang looked at Shan Bo helplessly, then said, "It's just a small business."
Wan Qingmiao tried to find another topic, "But Madam Xu's parents run the business?"
"I run my own business." Xu Jiang said calmly, "My father passed away a long time ago, and my mother... is now seriously ill."
Wan Qingmiao secretly patted his legs, blaming himself for bringing up something that was out of place. He then apologized, "I apologize for the offense." He then praised, "Madam Xu has managed to establish herself in the capital through her own efforts, and even earned the appreciation of the Imperial College. It's truly admirable. If I had gone to the capital alone, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to do it."
Shan Bo replied casually, "That's right." Seeing Wan Qingmiao looking at him in surprise, he immediately explained, "Oh, what I meant was that our young lady's abilities often impressed me."
Liu Mei suppressed a smile.
A smile also appeared on Xu Jiang's lips.
Wan Qingmiao vaguely felt that the old butler seemed to dislike him, so he laughed awkwardly twice and didn't ask any more questions.
Fortunately, the tea arrived at this time. A group of lovely maids served tea to the three people in turn. Xu Jiang bowed and thanked them, then took a sip and put it down, her eyes occasionally looking outside the door.
Wan Qingmiao saw them and said, "Father and Mother should have come to the garden. Madam Xu, are you getting impatient? How about I send someone to check on them?"
"No, I can wait." Xu Jiang turned to him and asked, "I heard that Madam is not feeling well?"
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