Chapter 90
Chapter 90
At dusk, a horse-drawn carriage carrying the young lady and her husband slowly headed towards the Mixian Tower.
Mixianlou is located in the downtown area of Chaomen, connected to the old Caomen, and is the most lively night market in Dongdu.
The last time they went shopping together was the day they first entered the city. The man had ten taels of silver in his pocket, and the livelihood of all three of them depended on that. He couldn't even afford to buy the young lady two more sets of clothes.
Now that her husband has become a third-rank official, although he is not rich, at least he is not bound by his hands and feet. With money in his pocket, he feels confident. He brushed aside the carriage curtain and looked at the stalls on both sides of the road. He remembered that she liked these novel acrobatics very much. People are in high spirits when they are happy. Tonight, he just wants to please the young lady. "Whatever you want, your husband will buy it for you tonight."
It's hard to believe that he's willing to waste money when he can't even throw away a plate of sweet and sour pork. After sitting in the house for most of the day, his legs and feet have recovered. But now that he's sitting in the carriage, his legs are still sore. Not wanting her husband to have trouble sleeping at night, Wen Shuse shook her head and said, "I don't like these. These acrobatics are just for the sake of novelty. They'll just pile up there after buying them. After a while, they'll become a mess. It's hard to justify the money wasted..."
Xie Shao was a little uncomfortable with her sudden frugality. He had already made up his mind to treat her like a deity, but she wanted to live a normal life, which made him feel disappointed. He shamelessly encouraged her appetite, "As long as my wife likes it, it doesn't matter if it's wasted."
As expected, there is no lady who will starve to death. It all depends on whether your husband is willing to spend money on you. Seeing that he insisted on buying something for her, Wen Shuse pointed to the stall selling seaside ornaments and asked for a conch.
She put her mouth close to the conch and uttered, "My dear." Then she put her mouth close to my dear's ear. The delicate echo coming from the conch lingered for a long time, making people's hearts numb.
I didn't expect this thing could be played this way.
The man who had just experienced happiness was overwhelmed by lust and his mind was no longer pure.
He was lost in thought, but the young lady was totally unaware. She stroked the conch with her fingers and whispered, "My father gave me a conch when he first went back to Fuzhou. I loved it and thought it was magical. I kept shouting into my mother's ears and insisted that she answer. Only when my mother's voice came through the conch could I hear a hint of strength..."
Touching the young lady's sad story, the distracting thoughts in his mind instantly dissipated. The young man reached out and took the conch from the young lady's hand, "Let me try."
Seeing that the man was about to shout something, the young lady cooperated by putting her ear close to him.
"Xianxian."
A gentle voice, low and magnetic, touched people's hearts. Their hearts suddenly trembled, and the voice from the other end came again, "I like you."
Like it very much.
The carriage continued to move forward, and the light from the bright lights poured in through the gaps in the swinging curtains, passing through the eyes of the young lady in the carriage.
The pair of lively pupils seemed to be frozen, motionless for a long time.
The light stopped.
My ears were quiet too.
All that remained was the man's voice echoing inside the conch.
A kiss gently fell on the side of her face, like the spring breeze in March, touching the heartstrings.
As soon as night falls in Dongdu, several large restaurants are packed with people.
Among them, Mixian Tower is as its name suggests, focusing on a mood. The restaurant is built by the water, with a pond in the backyard. For some unknown reason, it is surrounded by fog all year round. When the fog is thick, the whole building is submerged in the clouds, like a fairyland or a dream.
When the bright lights of the night came on again, singing could be heard from inside, which was more like a fairyland than a fairyland.
Today, the Second Princess is holding a birthday party for Madam Liu of the Yang family. No outsiders are allowed to be present, so the entire restaurant has been booked. As soon as it gets dark, a long queue of carriages forms in front of the restaurant. Those who come to the banquet are all dignitaries in the capital.
Min Zhang parked the carriage, and the young man took the young lady's hand and got out, and walked with the crowd in front.
Relying on the titles of Imperial Concubine and General Yang, the Yang family has always had a very high status in Dongdu. This time, the Second Princess is acting as a guarantor to celebrate the coming of age of the Sixth Lady of the Yang family. Everyone who comes has to give them face. Although it is called a birthday party, most of them come to make friends.
If any young man could marry the Sixth Lady of the Yang Family, it would be like a carp leaping over the dragon gate. Therefore, not all the people who came today were women, there were also respectable young men from various families.
Those who came to the birthday party today had all sent invitations in advance, for fear that evil spirits might sneak in. Three or five servants were standing at the entrance of Mixian Tower to guard the door, and they would let anyone in when they saw the invitations.
The people ahead had a smooth journey, but when it came to Xie Shao and Wen Shuse, they came with empty hands. The servant at the door was stunned, but seeing that they were of extraordinary demeanor, he did not dare to offend them, and said politely: "Please show us your invitations."
"No." Xie Shao pulled the young lady, openly and generously, and spoke humbly and politely, "Today I brought my wife here, not for the birthday of the sixth lady of the Yang family, but just to occupy a small pavilion of the host family. Please give me some convenience, shopkeeper."
That means there is no visiting card. The servant at the door looked embarrassed and said, "Your Excellency, you may not know that the Second Princess has reserved the place today. Unless there is a visiting card, we dare not let anyone in."
"Can you please let me know where the second princess is?"
People came up behind him one after another, and when they saw that something had gone wrong, they all looked over there.
Xie Shao had only been back in Beijing for a short time. After arriving at the Ma Junsi, he was injured within a few days of taking office, and few people knew him.
Before the servant at the door could speak, a young man behind him suddenly said, "I think this gentleman, please stop blocking everyone's way. If you have a visiting card, come in. If you don't have one, please stand aside. Don't waste everyone's time. Listen to my advice, go back and work hard for a few more decades. Next time the Second Princess holds a banquet, there may be hope."
The capital city is full of high-ranking officials, many of whom take advantage of their power to bully others and look down on others.
Xie Shao had a calm expression and ignored him. Seeing the servant in a dilemma, he introduced himself, "My surname is Xie, and my given name is Shao. My wife has long heard of your reputation, and today I want to come and take a look at your style. I hope you can help me."
After the name was announced, the young man behind him no longer had any sarcasm or arrogance on his face, and he stopped talking.
Who else in the capital city could be named Xie Shao? He must be the son of the current Prime Minister Xie, and now Deputy Envoy Xie, who has just made great contributions and won the emperor's favor.
Once the Yuan family fell, only the Xie family and the Yang family were left in the court.
Today, the Second Princess's invitation is for socializing among the female relatives. Master Xie has just arrived in the Eastern Capital, so he may not be able to attend to it at the moment. Everyone dared not speak, but they were excited to watch the fun.
The Xie family left Dongdu for several years. Now that they are back, can they still be the same as before?
The status of merchants in Dafeng is no longer what it used to be. The emperor has promoted trade and encouraged everyone to get rich. No matter whether you are from the Xie family or the Yang family, if you try to make trouble, not only will you lose face, but the government will also take it into account.
If a restaurant wants to survive in the capital and find a place where officials are employed, the first thing it needs to do is to be honest. The servant almost broke his head on his chest. "It is a blessing for Mixianlou to be appreciated by the madam, but today we promised the Second Princess first and the rules are set here. I am really sorry. So, Commander Xie and his madam come again tomorrow. Mixianlou will prepare wine and food for free to apologize to Commander Xie."
Having said that, it would not look good to continue insisting, but if I leave like this, I will probably become a laughing stock tomorrow.
It’s not their place to worry whether the Second Princess can handle the situation. When life is good and people have some free time, who wouldn’t want something fun to happen?
Xie Shao was not the kind of person who would make trouble but he had already promised the young lady today and he had to keep his promise. The arrogance in his heart had not appeared for a long time. When he was in Fengcheng, he only had to step into the door and several restaurants would give him face.
After being an honest man for so long, he forgot that he was once a playboy. He didn't buy into the boy's words at all and smiled, "What if I really want to go in today?"
Wen Shuse's heart skipped a beat. If this bastard gets mad, the restaurant will probably be destroyed. He quickly pulled the man behind him and said to the waiter, "Go call Uncle Wen and I will reason with him..."
Min Zhang had seen Third Grandma's ability to reason.
Harmony is the most important thing in everything. If he can't convince others, he will resort to violence.
When the servant heard her talking about Uncle Wen, he was stunned again. Before he could figure out what to do, a voice suddenly called out from behind, "Young Master... The Second Lady is here."
There was no need to call Uncle Wen. The servant who had received Wen Shuse and Min Zhang last time came out and exclaimed, "Why didn't the Second Madam let someone know in advance when she came today? I could have sent someone to pick her up."
He glanced at the servants at the door and understood what was going on. He forgot his arrogance the first time and scolded, "What's wrong? It's better to dig out your eyeballs instead of using them."
He turned around and faced Wen Shuse and Xie Shao again, with an extremely warm attitude, "Sir, please come in, Madam, please come in. The front hall is reserved by the Second Princess today, so I asked someone to vacate a small pavilion..."
This sudden change made the onlookers confused. The Xie family's reputation was useless. The Xie family's third grandmother, Mrs. Wen, said a word and the person was let in. Everyone looked at each other, but did not dare to ask more questions. They could not watch the excitement, but at least they had some fun. If they offended the Xie family, it would affect the fate of the family.
Everyone didn't understand. Xie Shao was also full of doubts. He walked behind Wen Shuse and watched the young lady chatting with the servant. "Are there many people here recently?"
"Don't worry, Madam. We never lack people in the Xianxian Tower. As soon as we open, all the seats in the small pavilion and the lobby are fully booked in the morning..."
It seems like the two of them are very familiar with each other.
Xie Shao turned around and looked at Min Zhang.
This was to ask him to explain. Min Zhang understood and reported in a low voice: "Third Madam came here once before and convinced people with reason. She got to know the servants here. In addition, she usually orders meals from Mixianlou, so she must be familiar with them."
That's why I gave you this face tonight.
This Dongdu is really strange. Even officials from the third rank are useless and rely entirely on their mouths.
The servant led the person to a small pavilion in the backyard, then turned around and bowed to Wen Shuse and Xie Shao again, "Thank you, Deputy Envoy. Madam, please wait a moment. Sit down for a while. I will go and prepare the wine and food."
As soon as the person left, Xie Shao looked at Wen Shuse with suspicion.
Wen Shuse took the initiative to explain, "He's a waiter at the Mixianlou restaurant. I'm familiar with him."
He could see it without her saying anything, "My wife is more honorable today than I am."
Wen Shuse smiled and set the teacup for him. "Isn't it true? The one who spends money is the boss. My dear, you should go out more often in the future."
Over there, the Second Princess was chatting and laughing with the Sixth Lady of the Yang Family when a few more noble ladies came in. After paying their respects to the Second Princess, they presented gifts to the Sixth Lady. After sitting down, they started talking about what had just happened in front of the door.
"It's strange today. Who is the Wen family?"
The second princess was easygoing and didn't put on airs. The women in the capital all liked to be close to her. The person who spoke was the second wife of the Yongchang Marquis's family. She frowned and said, "The Xie family's reputation is useless. As soon as Wen Shi asked, the servants of the Mixian Tower immediately invited people in. The second prince cleared the place today. The rules are set. It stands to reason that without the visiting card, he can't let people go..."
The Second Princess had never expected Xie Shao to come. Was his injury healed? She was stunned for a moment and complained to herself, "It's my fault. I was negligent." She quickly sent the maids around her, "Go find the people from the Xianlou to send some dishes over. Tell them that I didn't know Master Xie was coming tonight. Apologize to him. I hope he won't take it to heart if I'm rude."
The maid of honor quickly went out.
People continued to talk in the room, and most of them were discussing the third grandmother of the Xie family, Wen.
"How could a wealthy family like the Xie family marry into a family of such low status? The master of the Wen family must be a minister..."
The Minister of Works was the pride of the first branch of the Wen family, but in the circle of noble ladies with earls' titles, he was looked down upon.
Moreover, this Second Lady Wen was not the daughter of Mr. Wen, but the daughter of an ordinary merchant from the second branch of the Wen family.
In the past, the title of Grand Tutor of the Wen family could be regarded as a family of scholars. However, it has been more than 20 years since the founding of Dafeng, and the plaque bestowed by Emperor Wenchang on the Wen family has long been taken down.
What honor is there?
"I did hear a piece of news, but I don't know if it's accurate or not."
What women say is always based on hearsay. They don't care whether it's true or not, they just worry that there is nothing new to hear.
"I heard that the one who got married was not the third son of the Xie family, but the eldest son of the Xie family. The same is true for the Wen family. The one who should have married into the Xie family was the eldest lady of the Wen family, but it was the second lady who was brought to the mansion..."
The news was so shocking that everyone was stunned.
"Oh my god, there is such a thing." It was unbelievable, "The newlyweds got married, but their names were not registered with the government?"
How could a vassal state have so many rules and regulations as the Eastern Capital? "I know this, but the rule in Fengcheng is that the newlyweds go to the government office to establish their family after the wedding night..."
"Is your information reliable?" The Sixth Lady of the Yang Family asked the Second Lady of the Zhu Family in the Yongchang Marquis' Mansion.
"It should be reliable. Yesterday, my mother-in-law met with the eldest lady of the Wen family. The eldest lady mentioned this matter at the dinner table and even wiped away tears..."
What the eldest lady of the Wen family said herself cannot be wrong.
They are both trying to steal someone else's money, but in the end, only those with high power and status get sympathy. "Poor Third Young Master, he is forced to marry someone. In terms of family background and talent, Third Young Master Xie and Princess Shang are both qualified..."
Only the Sixth Lady of the Yang Family would dare to say such words.
Several people secretly looked towards the second princess, but she seemed not to have heard anything. She just sat there blankly, distracted for a moment.
The Sixth Lady of the Yang Family glanced at the distraught Second Princess. She knew exactly what she was thinking. After a while, she suddenly whispered in her ear, "Cousin, you haven't forgotten yet..."
The baby is here~ (I went back to my hometown in Sichuan today to visit a sick relative. I saved the manuscript in advance and sent it to my babies as soon as possible, hehe.)
Next chapter preview, Xie Shao: I am a gigolo, I am a gigolo~
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