Chapter 38 Chapter 38 "Second Madam Sheng." "Sheng...
As soon as Xie Zhiyan disappeared behind the rockery in the garden, seven or eight beautiful girls surrounded Sheng Puzhu under the plum tree, just like stars surrounding the moon.
"The third son of the Xie family is so handsome." Princess Changning sighed, with sincere praise in her beautiful eyes.
"Tsk." Sheng Mingshu covered her lips with a round fan, smiling.
She glanced at her eldest sister's already red earlobes and whispered to Princess Changning, "That's right. When he came to pick her up just now, the force in his arms must have pinched my sister's waist red."
Princess Changning's cheeks flushed instantly, and she lowered her voice a little, "My Aunt Duanyang told me that when choosing a husband in the future, I should look for those who are tall and strong."
"I thought my aunt was talking nonsense before, but now it seems she is not lying."
"After all, Sister Sheng fell from such a high place just now, and Xie Sanlang was able to catch her steadily."
Sheng Puyao was the youngest and the most innocent: "How can I pinch red?"
"Second sister, don't talk nonsense. When I was little, my father held me in his arms and treated me like a precious child, very carefully."
Song Zhuyi was also at the age of marriage proposal. She was timid and her voice was even quieter. Although she seemed to understand, she still hurriedly covered Sheng Puyao's mouth and said, "My dear sister, I'm afraid it's different. Stop talking."
Among the other girls, there were some who had just gotten married. Their eyes quietly fell on Sheng Puzhu's porcelain-white profile. They didn't dare to imagine how beautiful her slender waist under her skirt would be if it was pinched red by big hands.
Even if you are a woman, your heart will beat faster when you think of that scene.
Sheng Puzhu was so angry that she pinched Sheng Mingshu's waist, but she had to distract herself to cover Sheng Puyao's mouth. A group of girls were fighting under the plum tree.
The sky reflects the snow, and the plum blossom fragrance is wafting.
I don't know who was the first to shake the snow off the plum branches, but seven or eight people fell into a heap. The branches couldn't bear the weight, and the snow fell down, mixed with the hot air exhaled by everyone, just like a group of fairies born in a pile of brocade, who accidentally entered the mortal world.
"I didn't expect that Sanlang of the Xie family would have a day to be a hero and save a damsel in distress." Dalang of the Fu family leaned against the porch pillar, twirling a plum branch he had picked casually with his fingertips, a meaningful smile on the corner of his mouth.
Xie Zhiyan remained calm and nodded to the crowd, "Thank you for waiting for me."
"As for what Fu Lang said," he pursed his lips, his elegant and reserved brows slightly furrowed, his tone calm and unmoved, "My wife is young and innocent, so it's inevitable that I need to take extra care of her. This is my dedication."
"Fu Lang hasn't married yet, so naturally he doesn't understand. I can understand."
The teasing look on Fu Yunzheng's face froze on the spot. He exerted force with his index finger, and the plum branch broke with a "crack".
Sheng Linqing patted Fu Yunzheng's shoulder helplessly: "Zhi Yan has such a temper, why did you provoke him for no reason?"
Fu Yunzheng said calmly, "When did I ever offend him?"
"It was the same at Yumen Pass before. He challenged me to a duel for no apparent reason and beat me in every way."
After thinking for a moment, he added unconfidently, "If I don't get married this year, I'll write the character 'Fu' upside down!"
Lu Zhoudu stood with his arms folded, adding expressionlessly, "You're just dreaming. It's too late for you."
"How can it be too late for me? I'll propose tomorrow, get married the day after tomorrow, and become a father the day after that!" Fu Yunzheng said confidently.
Sheng Linqing laughed heartily: "Fu Lang, you'd better not swear. It's already the winter solstice, and the new year will be here in a blink of an eye. It's too late."
Fu Yunzheng was almost vomiting blood. He rolled up his sleeves and went to challenge Sheng Linding.
As the elder brother, Sheng Linyuan had no intention of being a peacemaker. Seeing his younger brother being beaten and running away, he smiled and punched Xie Zhiyan's arm: "My sister has a lively personality and it makes Sanlang worry."
"Although Puzhu is delicate and naive, and knows nothing about the world, she is the best girl in Chang'an City. I would like to ask Sanlang to indulge her a little more."
Xie Zhiyan turned his gaze away, his clear and deep eyes reflected the snow under the corridor, and his handsome and flawless jaw was barely noticeable.
When the crowd dispersed, the corridor was empty.
Deep in the garden, there was the sound of a wheelchair rolling over the snow.
Xie Jiyan pressed his pale palm on the unconscious stump of his leg, and a few scattered flowers fell on the thick velvet carpet.
The servant behind him whispered, "My dear, it's very cold under this plum tree. You don't even have a hand warmer. You should go back, otherwise your body will not be able to bear it."
Xie Jiyan suddenly coughed violently, and his pale lips were completely bloodless. In the distance, the girls' joyful laughter could be faintly heard.
He had never hated himself so much before, hating himself for becoming a useless person.
While feeling unwilling, he also felt relieved. These repetitive emotions were like a blunt knife that repeatedly cut into his heart that was on the verge of collapse.
"Let's go." Xie Jiyan's voice was so soft it sounded like a sigh. "If I get sick again, grandma will be worried."
"Yes." The servant used both hands to push the wheelchair.
Suddenly, there was a sound of light footsteps from Merlin beside him.
Xie Jiyan raised his eyes and happened to meet Sheng Mingshu's astonished gaze in the distance.
He was stunned at first, and the word "sister-in-law" almost came out of his mouth.
But he immediately discovered that the person who came was not Sheng Puju, but a strange girl who looked 30% similar to her.
The girl's primrose-colored skirt swept across the snow. She was holding a few freshly picked plum branches in her arms. Her red lips were slightly parted, and she was breathing softly. She seemed to be running in a hurry.
"Sorry for scaring you." Xie Jiyan turned his gaze away and raised his hand to signal the servant to change direction and leave.
“No need.”
"My dear, you don't have to leave." Sheng Mingshu pointed to the bamboo basket filled with plum branches under the plum tree.
She had been playing with Sheng Puju and had forgotten about the bamboo basket. She remembered it halfway and turned back to get it. Unexpectedly, she met a strange man.
She wasn't a stranger. After all, her grandmother had asked someone to bring her the list of guests for today's banquet a few days ago. If there was a man with limited mobility who needed a wheelchair, the only one would probably be the second son of the eldest wife of the Duke of Jingguo's Mansion, who had injured his leg on the battlefield.
Sheng Mingshu bent down to pick up the bamboo basket, bowed slightly to him, and then turned and left quickly.
"Sir?" the servant called out tentatively.
Xie Jiyan came back to his senses, holding the wheelchair armrest tightly with his arms. He raised one hand and pressed it against his brow, saying, "Let's go."
"No need to go to the main hall. Have someone prepare the carriage and tell the Madam that I'm feeling a little unwell and am leaving first."
"Yes." The servant nodded, not daring to delay at all.
The birthday party on the Winter Solstice was lively. Although it was cold, a stage was set up next to the waterside pavilion and several warm sheds were specially built. The snow on the ground was swept clean and a thick carpet was laid. There were charcoal basins in the four corners and a small stove in the middle with water boiling in it.
Maids poured tea, and snacks were prepared in many different ways according to everyone's taste. In addition, there were not many people at the banquet, and they were all families with close personal relationships.
Some of the girls gathered together to read storybooks, while others were discussing jewelry and rouge.
The gentlemen are not afraid of the cold, and some of them are fishing in groups of three or four by the lake.
Elderly people love to listen to operas, which always makes both the guests and the hosts happy.
Even the birthday gifts Sheng Mingshu received this year were no longer rare orphanages of poetry. Some thoughtful girls gave her handkerchiefs or purses embroidered by themselves, while others, like Sheng Puzhu, gave her jewelry directly.
If we talk about the most generous one, it is Princess Changning.
She directly gave him two gold ingots and said generously, "I don't know what to give you. I can't embroider handkerchiefs or purses well, and I don't know if you would like beautiful jewelry. I definitely won't give you books from previous years."
"So after thinking about it, I decided to just give money."
"Just buy whatever you need."
Sheng Mingshu looked at the two gold ingots, each almost as big as her fist, and didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Since you're giving them to me, I'll accept them."
"I'm not being polite to you."
When it was dusk, everyone said goodbye and left one after another, and Sheng Mingshu stood in front of the screen wall to see them off.
At this time, a maid hurriedly said, "Madam, why don't you go back to the inner courtyard and take shelter first."
"what happen?"
The nanny said anxiously, "The Marquis of Changxing has arrived and is standing in front of the mansion gate. He said he has prepared a birthday gift for you and needs your personal approval."
"We've already sent someone to invite the Patriarch, but the Marquis of Changxing has so many people with him that we can't get them out anytime soon, and the Patriarch is entertaining guests in his study."
"I'm afraid I've offended my lady."
Sheng Mingshu's expression suddenly turned cold. She thought that after breaking off the engagement, they would naturally part ways, but she didn't expect Xue Hanwen to become shameless and actually learn the trick of pestering her.
I don't know who gave him the idea, but he would come to the Mingde Marquis's Mansion to make trouble every few days. If he heard that someone's family was interested in proposing marriage at the Mingde Marquis's Mansion, he would send people to the mansion of that unrelated man to make trouble.
They all come from well-off families. Although Sheng Mingshu doesn't care about her reputation in Chang'an, she has younger sisters at home. She can't let her own affairs delay her sisters' good marriages.
"Why should I avoid him?"
"Send someone to fetch my father, and then find a few strong maids. Don't worry about what's happening on the Changxing Marquis' side. Just have them boil some water and throw it over."
"Although he has no regard for his dignity, he does value his own face."
Sheng Mingshu calmly instructed the old woman, "Just use boiling water. Don't hesitate. Throw it at him boldly."
"I just don't believe it!"
"He can avoid hiding."
Sheng Mingshu's trick really worked. Xue Hanwen, who had been unable to be driven away, saw several burly old women carrying wooden barrels.
Someone shouted in front of the mansion gate: "Hey! Make way..."
"Boil the water."
Before the old woman even lifted the bucket, Xue Hanwen had already covered his face and dodged backwards.
When the old woman saw that this method worked, she didn't care about anything else and just followed Sheng Mingshu's instructions and poured the wine all over her head.
It was cold, and although the water was boiling, it was not scalding hot after being brought from the kitchen, but Xue Hanwen still let out a pig-slaughtering scream.
The water was poured onto the ground and soon froze. The ice was slippery and there was snow around it. No one could stand on the area where the water was poured. Xue Hanwen led his men, rolling and crawling, falling and getting up again, and falling again.
Sheng Puzhu walked around the screen wall and saw Sheng Mingshu directing the maid to continue pouring water. She was also at a loss whether to laugh or cry: "Go in, your uncle is here, let the elders handle this matter. Today is your birthday, don't look at such dirty things, it hurts your eyes."
The two were about to go back when they almost bumped into Lu Zhoudu who was about to leave the house.
"Mr. Lu." Sheng Puzhu nodded.
"Lu Siqing." Sheng Mingshu also shouted.
Lu Zhoudu's cold face was obviously stunned for a moment. He nodded, paused, and pressed his thin lips. He didn't know what to say and stood there awkwardly.
It was Sheng Puzhu who came to his senses first. He pulled Sheng Mingshu's hand to the side and made a gesture of invitation.
Lu Zhoudu was wearing a narrow-sleeved, round-necked robe today, a very dark blue color, and he looked like he didn't like to smile.
"Second Madam Sheng."
"Happy birthday."
Lu Zhoudu seemed to be unable to speak, and spoke softly in a voice that only he could hear.
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