Chapter 15 Chapter 15 He had never seen her so alive...
"Bozhu."
"Good boy, why don't you speak?" The old lady's heart skipped a beat, and she stood up nervously, holding the edge of the table.
Sheng Puzhu was reluctant to make her elders at home worry, so she immediately rubbed over like a cat and acted coquettishly in a soft tone.
"Grandfather, that's not the case."
"My husband is considerate and loves me very much. How could there be any discord between husband and wife?"
"You really didn't lie to me?" The old lady frowned.
Sheng Puzhu raised her hand and hugged the old lady's arm, gently shaking it: "I am the young lady you personally taught and raised. You don't know my temper. I am your beloved and I cannot bear the slightest grievance. If my husband and I were not on good terms, would I still be able to bring him home in peace?"
"I had already asked my brothers to take charge of the matter and beat him out with sticks."
The old lady sighed deeply, her aged eyes filled with helplessness. "I know too well that you have a stubborn temper, so I'm worried about discord between you and your wife."
"When Sanlang of the Xie family married you, he left you on the wedding night to go to the border. How could the injustice he suffered be covered up with a few words of sympathy?"
Sheng Puzhu met the old lady's dignified gaze. She curled her lips slightly, the smile in her eyes not changing at all. "Grandma, I'm not wronged. He has a deep heart and hidden secrets. He is concerned about the safety of Dayan."
"And I'm not bad either."
"At least I hope to become the most business-savvy girl in Chang'an, no... in Dayan."
"Just like when my grandmother gave me the white jade abacus, and later allowed me to open a Linlang Pavilion in Chang'an."
Madam Sheng was deeply pleased and relieved at the same time: "Good child, as long as you understand it in your heart."
"Grandma, I understand too." Sheng Puyao squeezed in and sat next to the old lady, her eyes still red.
"Big sister, please take me with you. After I reach the age of 15, I will not marry. I want to do business with you and become the second most business-savvy girl in Dayan."
"You silly child." The old lady pulled Sheng Puyao into her arms, patted her lovingly, and said proudly, "You should first study the numerology lessons assigned by the teacher in the school."
"When Puzhu was your age, she was studying divination using the same textbooks as her brothers. How can she run a business if she can't even do accounting?"
It is said that the Marquis of Mingde's Mansion is a family tradition of poetry and literature. People only know that the girls raised in the Sheng family are generous and well-mannered, but they don't know that the Sheng family has a long history of family learning and has always adhered to the ancestral precept of treating men and women equally.
For the girls of the Sheng family, being dignified and virtuous is just a prerequisite for their conduct in society. As for other things, they have vision and perspective, and their methods are naturally more extraordinary.
Although the young men of the Sheng family served as officials in the court, they did not hold power. Most of them were sent to other places based on the principles of integrity. Even the old marquis who was the emperor's teacher spent many years in Bashu when he was young.
Sheng Puzhu raised her face and said in a sweet voice in the old lady's arms, just like when she was little, "So grandma, don't worry about me. I can live a good life."
The old lady pressed her handkerchief against her eyes and said, "The Princess and the old lady of the Xie family are both kind and easy-going elders. Whenever you have time, please come back to your mother's home and spend more time with her."
"As long as I'm here, no one in this Sheng family will dare to say a bad word about you."
"Um."
"My granddaughter knows."
Sheng Puzhu bit her lips lightly, her eyelashes drooping, and her soft palm tightly grasped the old lady's skinny hand.
When he was thirteen, his father died in an accident while in office.
Not only did she and her younger sister lose their father that day, but her grandmother also lost her eldest son. Her mother couldn't bear the blow and was diagnosed with pregnancy, and she bled that very night.
Later, because the eldest branch of the family had no children, the elders of the clan suggested that my mother choose a child from the branch to inherit the family line. My mother was unwilling, and it was my grandmother who blocked all the pressure for her.
In order to allow my mother to recuperate in peace, my grandmother later decided to let the three branches of the family separate but remain at home, and to sort out the public accounts so that each branch would be in charge of an account book.
In order to let her mother set up her own household, they specially bought a small courtyard next to the Mingde Marquis' Mansion and opened a small door to connect the two courtyards. The courtyard where Sheng Puzhu and her family originally lived was also retained.
As for buying a new small courtyard, it was because she followed the advice of the imperial physician and was worried that her mother would be reminded of her father when she saw the things. After all, mental illness is difficult to cure.
If it weren't for the care of his grandmother, aunt and uncle, Sheng Puzhu didn't dare to think whether his mother could have survived.
The grandfather and grandson exchanged many intimate words in whispers. The old lady took a sip of tea to moisten her throat and said, "Well, it's getting late. Go to your eldest brother's yard and call Zhiyan. Have lunch with your mother, and then come to my place for dinner."
Sheng Puzhu nodded, stood up and saluted.
"Granddaughter knows."
"Granddaughter, come back after dinner."
"Grandma, Puyao has also left."
Sheng Puyao followed Sheng Puzhu like a little tail, constantly asking, "Big sister, how many days do you plan to stay at home?"
"At least six or seven days, at most half a month." Sheng Puzhu walked to the small garden outside and suddenly remembered something.
She looked at Sheng Puyao and asked, "Why did your second sister suddenly become ill?"
"I'm going back home today, but my aunt and third sister aren't here either. Are you hiding something from me?"
Sheng Puyao came forward and said mysteriously, "Second sister caught a cold because she accidentally fell into the water a few days ago."
"Falling into the water?"
"What's going on?"
Sheng Puyao was an impatient person and immediately told everything he knew.
"Changning County hosted a plum blossom viewing banquet and invited Second Sister to attend. Later, for some unknown reason, the young lady from the Fuguo Mansion seemed to be drunk and accidentally pushed Second Sister into the lake."
"Luckily, the water was shallow in winter. When my second sister fell in, only her skirt got wet and she didn't drown. She was later rescued and sent home."
After hearing this, Sheng Puzhu frowned and asked, "Who saved him?"
Sheng Puyao shook her head: "Second sister refused to tell me. Not long after she came back, she developed a high fever and has been running a fever for several days."
"My aunt and third sister have been taking care of me day and night. I'm almost recovered, but..."
Sheng Puyao lowered her head.
Sheng Puzhu immediately sensed something was wrong: "But what?"
Sheng Puyao came forward and said in a very low voice, "I also overheard it secretly. Big sister, you have to keep it a secret."
"It seems like the Xingping Marquis's Mansion heard about my second sister falling into the water from somewhere. Yesterday, the Xingping Marquis's wife came to visit. Although she didn't say it explicitly, I think she meant to cancel the engagement."
"She implicitly accused my second sister of inappropriate behavior. Her skirt got wet, and I don't know which outsider rescued her. My aunt was so angry that she fell ill yesterday."
No wonder!
Sheng Puzhu's eyes were cold: "What the hell is the Xingping Marquis' Mansion? My daughter of the Sheng family can be round or flat at will!"
Sheng Puyao quickly covered Sheng Puzhu's mouth: "Sister, keep your voice down. Although the marriage between the two families was decided a long time ago, things haven't reached that stage yet. Sister, please don't scold me yet."
"I heard that the Marquis' wife was the one who caused the cancellation of the engagement. The Xingping Marquis's son secretly sent a message to my sister early this morning, saying that he would go and persuade the elders in the family."
"What do you mean by 'not yet reached that stage'?" Sheng Puzhu turned her head, her gaze fixed on the frozen lake in the garden. "My mother-in-law is unkind. I don't think I can marry into a family like this."
"The current Yan Dynasty is no longer like the previous dynasty. It's common for girls to ride horses, shoot arrows, and play polo. What's wrong with falling into the water?"
"This kind of family is clearly using a chicken feather as a token of authority, swelling up their faces to pretend to be rich, seemingly prosperous but actually secretly plotting a conspiracy."
Sheng Puyao nodded in agreement: "But I see that Second Sister still likes the Xingping Marquis's son."
"Otherwise, he wouldn't be this sick."
"What do you think, grandma?" Sheng Puzhu asked.
Sheng Puyao said, "Grandmother believes that marriage between two families is a good omen for both families. Even if the engagement is cancelled, it is definitely not Second Sister's fault. We have our parents and brothers to support Second Sister. It all depends on Second Sister's opinion."
Sheng Puju knew that Sheng Mingshu had the most twisted personality among her sisters.
She was born weak and quiet, reading poetry and songs all day long. Although she seemed cold-hearted, she was actually the softest-hearted and hardest-mouthed among the sisters.
From childhood to adulthood, Sheng Puzhu and her often disliked each other, but their sisterly love remained unchanged.
"Let's go to big brother's yard and call my husband first. After we finish lunch with mother, we will go to see your second sister."
"I always listen to my elder sister." Sheng Puyao still had baby fat on her cheeks, and her round eyes were full of admiration, because in her heart, there was nothing that her elder sister could not do.
…
"Big brother."
"Second brother."
Sheng Puzhu pulled Sheng Puyao through the corridor and saw his two brothers playing chess in the pavilion from afar.
Sheng Linyuan and Sheng Linqing stood up at the same time, smiled and waved: "Sister Puzhu, you came just in time."
A cool breeze blew across her face, sweeping the snow from the bluestone slabs to both sides. Sheng Puzhu carefully lifted the hem of her skirt, revealing emerald green satin shoes with cloud-shaped patterns. The toes of the shoes were decorated with green butterflies made of emerald rice beads. Her eyes were full of sweet smiles, unlike the dignified manner that she always wore when she was in the Duke Jingguo's Mansion.
Xie Zhiyan slowly raised his eyes, his hand holding the black cloud suspended in mid-air, his maroon sleeves hanging down, and the corner of his eye reflected her increasingly approaching figure.
The person hasn't arrived yet, but her bright smile looks like it's about to overflow. As she runs, the hem of her skirt brushes against the stone steps, like a dragonfly skimming the water, never stopping.
Xie Zhiyan's breathing inexplicably stagnated, and his knuckles suddenly exerted force, pressing Yunzi on his bones, causing pain in his palms.
It was lively and passionate, like a spring breeze that could not be grasped by hands, and it was something he had never seen before.
"Brother."
Sheng Puzhu rushed directly to the two brothers and looked up at them: "I missed you so much."
Sheng Linyuan rubbed his sister's head lovingly: "Do you miss your second brother more, or do you miss me more?"
Sheng Puzhu smiled cunningly, dragging out the last syllable of his words: "Hmm."
"Of course I miss my second brother more. After all, I came back when my eldest brother got married last time, and my second brother went to Shu before. It's been almost a year since we last saw each other."
Sheng Puzhu looked around and asked, "Why can't I see my sister-in-law?"
Sheng Linyuan spread his hands and said, "You and Zhiyan returned at an unfortunate time. Your sister-in-law and her mother returned to Fanyang ten days ago to celebrate her grandfather's birthday. The carriage was moving slowly, so I let your sister-in-law go first."
"If you were one day later, I would have set off for Fanyang tomorrow."
Sheng Puzhu smiled and said, "That's at least a chance to see my elder brother."
"Click." The sound of the black piece falling on the chessboard.
Xie Zhiyan lowered his eyes, a faint smile on his lips: "It's your turn in Linyuan."
Sheng Linyuan then remembered, scratched his hair, looked up, and saw that all the paths of the white pieces were blocked by the black pieces.
He didn't even bother to struggle: "Forget it, forget it, I can't beat you, I give up."
Xie Zhiyan slowly smoothed the dent on his cuffs, saying in a calm tone, "Thank you." Sheng Linqing laughed heartily and said in a joking tone, but with a serious expression, "Sanlang, you must treat our Puzhu well."
Sheng Puzhu pretended to be shy, and her slightly lowered gaze fell on the man's slender hand. He was holding a black dot between his index and middle fingers.
The pitch-black cloud made the skin of his fingertips look like jade. His fingertips had obvious calluses from years of holding swords and pens, and at this moment, he was stroking the edge of the cloud with a light movement.
He seemed to sense her gaze, raised his fingertips slightly, and the black cloud pieces fell into the chess pot with a ding-dong sound.
Sheng Puzhu felt as if her heart had stopped beating for a moment, and it took her a while to remember what she was going to do.
"Brother, I will take my husband to pay his respects to mother first."
"Let's talk again after lunch."
Xie Zhiyan stood up, his clothes hanging down, and the honeysuckle patterns embroidered with gold thread on his cuffs and lapels shone dimly in the sunlight.
The two walked side by side. Because the path in the garden was narrow, they were close to each other. Their sleeves occasionally touched, and then they separated silently.
Sheng Puyao followed Sheng Puju carefully and cautiously. She was probably afraid of Xie Zhiyan and stayed away from him.
The three of them walked for a while, then passed through a hanging flower gate and arrived at the courtyard where the eldest lady of the Sheng family lived as a widow.
Although it was winter, the yard was still full of flowers, the green pine and bamboo leaves were rustling, and there was a whole area of snow that had not been deliberately cleared, with a series of kitten footprints on the snow.
"Mother."
"I'm back."
When Sheng Puzhu stepped into the flower hall, she saw her mother smiling as she trimmed a bunch of branches.
"Are you back?"
"Would you like to have some snacks first, or drink some tea? I made your favorite flower-folded goose cake."
The eldest lady of the Sheng family is surnamed Chen, with the single character Yu.
She was already 23 years old when she married into the Marquis of Mingde's Mansion. She gave birth to Sheng Puzhu at the age of 24 and Sheng Puyao at the age of 30.
Later, when her husband passed away, she moved out of the Mingde Marquis Mansion and lived alone in this small courtyard.
When she looked at Sheng Puzhu, her eyes were kind and gentle, with the unique tenderness of the women from the Jiangnan water towns. When it came to her daughter who had married and returned home, she just asked in a soft voice, as if her eldest daughter had never married and had always stayed at home.
Sheng Puzhu felt a lump in her throat and almost burst into tears, but she forced herself to hold it back and without thinking too much, she reached out and held Xie Zhiyan's big hand, wanting to pull him forward to pay his respects.
When their palms touched, she felt a subtle chill, and she finally realized what she had done, and her fingertips trembled uncontrollably.
"Mother, this is the inkstone of Sanlang of the Xie family."
The eldest lady looked at the two men holding hands and smiled: "Yes, it's a handsome man. He looks even better than on our wedding day."
Sheng Puzhu felt a slight heat in her ears, and pretended not to understand the teasing from her elders. She chose people based on their looks, and this was a fact that everyone in the Sheng family knew.
Xie Zhiyan rarely put aside his usual coldness, nodded slightly, and walked forward to salute meticulously.
The food was already served on the round table, and the nanny and the maidservants stepped away.
Xie Zhiyan sat next to Sheng Puzhu. He believed in not talking while eating.
It's a pity that Sheng Puzhu rarely goes home. Sheng Puyao is still at a lively age. Although Mrs. Sheng, Shen Yu, doesn't talk much, her thoughtfulness is reflected in every detail.
The white porcelain bowls and ivory chopsticks occasionally made subtle noises when they touched each other. Sheng Puzhu talked to her mother with a sweet smile about interesting family matters. Occasionally, when she mentioned the past events in the boudoir, she would reveal the delicate demeanor of a little girl. There was also a cat waiting to be fed squatting under the table.
Xie Zhiyan was not used to such a commotion, but he just ate quietly, holding his chopsticks in a dignified and elegant manner, and even the slightest touch of the bowl did not make any sound.
But every time Sheng Puzhu talked about something interesting, her raised lips and curved eyebrows would inadvertently fall into his eyes.
He himself didn't even notice that his lips, which had been straight and pursed before, were now slightly raised at the corners. Even he couldn't refuse such joy.
From the corner of his eye, he would always silently watch her every frown and smile in the unintentional moments.
Even if they had done the most intimate thing in the world before.
He had never seen her with such vivid emotions.
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