Chapter 39
Chapter 39
After she said that, Xie Shao couldn't guarantee it. It was inevitable that young men would say a dirty word or two to each other. He could guarantee that Zhou Kuang was fine before, but he was unaware after being bitten by the dog.
"Master Zhou, I'll trouble you, young master." Wen Shuse threw the burden to him without waiting for his response, and rushed to the Ming family with Xiangyun early in the morning.
Ming Wanrou's eyes were indeed swollen. She was already delicate and pitiful, and now she looked even more pitiful. When she saw Wen Shuse, she showed concern for her first. "I heard that the eldest lady of the Wen family also went to the Eastern Capital, and only the old lady and the third young master are left in the mansion. Don't worry. In my opinion, it's better for them to leave. At least you can live comfortably. I told you last time that if you have any difficulties, just tell me, don't be shy with me."
God has mercy on him. He still has the mind to worry about her at this time. He almost told her the secret in his heart, but he suppressed it in time and said, "Xie San and my brother have both taken up their posts. What difficulties can I have? It's you, on the contrary. What's going on?"
When this matter was mentioned, Ming Wanrou began to bite her lips and cry again.
When she was a child, she was bullied by several girls from the Ming family. She was also like this. Wen Shuse often vented her anger and thought of ways to help her get back what she deserved. It has been a long time since she saw her cry. She secretly thought that Zhou Kuang had scraped the piece of flesh on his buttocks too lightly, but then she thought again, it didn't seem to be his fault. He didn't want to do it either. He was a gentleman to say it before the wedding. If he had to wait until the wedding night, Ah Yuan would really have no way out.
"We happened to meet yesterday." Ming Wanrou's face flushed, and she spoke haltingly: "He told me that he had something to hide."
Yesterday afternoon, when Wen Shuse and Xie Shao were playing hand signals in the carriage, Prince Zhou met Ming Wanrou.
Ming Wanrou came out to buy watercolor. The carriage stopped at the door of the shop. As soon as she entered, she saw Cui Nian and Zhou Kuang.
After the Xie family's spice and gouache shops were mortgaged, almost all gouache shops in Fengcheng belonged to the Cui family. It was inevitable that they would run into Cui Nian. Unexpectedly, Prince Zhou was also there.
The two were already engaged, with the wedding date in two months. When they suddenly met, they both felt a little embarrassed when they recalled the unpleasant date they had before.
Ming Wanrou bowed to him and was about to turn around, but Cui Nian retreated first and closed the door for them. "Brother Zhou, please have a good talk with Madam Ming."
Once the door was closed, only two of them were left. Ming Wanrou clenched her hands nervously and lowered her head, not daring to look at him.
Zhou Kuang was not much better. He slightly turned his body and secretly glanced at the other person out of the corner of his eyes. He was completely absent-minded. He was silent for a while. After all, he was a man, so he spoke first: "You, what are you buying?"
Ming Wanrou replied in a low voice: "Watercolor."
Zhou Kuang looked around the shop, and saw gouache everywhere. He said casually, "You pick one, and I'll give it to you."
Ming Wanrou raised her head hurriedly and said, "No, no."
Not expecting such a big reaction from her, Zhou Kuang turned his head to look at her. Their eyes met. It was the first time that Ming Wanrou faced the gaze of a stranger. Her heart suddenly became confused, she felt panicked and shy, and she quickly turned her head away.
After a while, he said, "Madam Ming, do you have anything to say to me?"
Ming Wanrou's palms were sweating, how could she say anything else, "I don't have any." She replied politely: "Where is the prince?"
"To be honest, Madam Ming, I have always been against blind marriages. Two strangers suddenly get married, and they don't know each other's appearance and personality. If there is something I can't tolerate, it will be unfair to Madam Ming. Madam Ming, if you have any concerns or taboos today, please don't be polite and tell me."
Ming Wanrou was at a loss. Isn't this how marriages are always done? And the two of them were not complete strangers. At least she had heard of his reputation.
But since they were already engaged, she didn't dare to speak out her concerns, fearing that he was testing her, so she said, "The prince is very good, but Wanrou is marrying above her station."
As a result, I heard a sentence, "That's not what I meant. No one is perfect. Madam Ming only saw the surface of me. In fact, I have many mean things, especially one thing, at night... It's a secret that I can't tell you, I..."
Before he finished speaking, he saw the look of astonishment on the face of the young lady opposite him. She was already dumbfounded, and could not help but say: "If Madam Ming minds, you can cancel the engagement."
Ming Wanrou suffered a great blow. She only recovered after sitting in the carriage. She covered her face and cried. When she returned home, she did not dare to tell her parents.
Fengcheng is Prince Jing's territory, so it's not easy to cancel the engagement.
She cried several times throughout the night, and was really out of ideas the next morning, so she asked her maid to find Wen Shuse to ask her what to do next.
"Gaoxian, I used to sympathize with you and said that you had a miserable life, but now I see that I am not as good as you. Forget about being a playboy, at least the third son of your Xie family, he..." Ming Wanrou said vaguely: "At least he is a good person."
Wen Shuse's face turned embarrassed, and she thought to herself whether it was good or not, she didn't know.
What should I do now? I should think positively and persuade him: "Ayuan, don't worry. Even if you are sick, you can treat it according to the severity and urgency. With the power of Prince Jing's Mansion, I think there will be no cure..."
After hearing what she said, Ming Wanrou was not only not comforted, but also lost hope. "If there was hope, which man would joke about such a self-destructive thing."
Wen Shuse didn't know how to answer.
Ming Wanrou continued sobbing, "Although there are many sisters in the mansion, most of them do not get along with me. I am still hoping to have children and arrange a baby marriage with you in the future. Even when we are old, we can still visit each other often."
"Even if they don't have to be engaged, they can still have a relationship."
Ming Wanrou shook her head, "How can it be the same? Life is a long journey, and everyone drifts further and further apart. No matter how good the relationship is, it cannot resist the fate of the family. The predecessors are all clichés, and they try their best to arrange marriages, isn't it just so that the younger generations can take care of each other? You and I didn't make it, so we can only rely on the younger generations to be related. Now this wish is also going to be dashed." She turned and looked at Wen Shuse helplessly, "He said in person that I can cancel the engagement, do you think I should cancel it?"
She was thinking too far ahead and had already made arrangements for the children, leaving Wen Shuse far behind.
In the past, Wen Shuse always gave her advice on whatever she encountered. This time was no exception. After thinking for a while, Wen Shuse said, "Well, I'll go check it out first. If it's true, we'll report it to our elders and ask for a divorce."
With Wen Shuse making the decision for her, Ming Wanrou finally felt relieved, "Okay."
He had taken on such a heavy burden and had a huge responsibility, but it was useless to worry about it. The only person he could count on was Xie Shao. After returning from the Wen family, Wen Shuse walked around in circles in the yard, anxiously waiting for someone.
In the evening, she still hadn't seen him come back. She thought that Ming Wanrou must be more anxious than she was. She couldn't wait any longer, so she suddenly decided to call Xiangyun and said, "Let's go pick up the son-in-law."
After the second house went bankrupt, most of the servants in the courtyard were dismissed, and Aunt Qing returned to her hometown. Apart from three maids and old women who were responsible for laundry and the kitchen, the only people who served closely in the garden were Xiangyun and Nanny Fang.
Seeing that the two of them had gone out at this hour and it was almost dark, Nanny Fang was worried and repeatedly told them, "Third Madam, please wait at the gate of the palace. If you don't see them for a long time, come back early."
Wen Shuse nodded, put on a piece of brocade, and hurried out of the house.
As for Xie Shao, when it was almost time to get off work, he pulled Zhou Kuang aside and glanced at him with an ambiguous look.
Zhou Kuang was horrified by his look: "Brother Xie, what's wrong?"
Xie Shao touched the tip of his nose: "Do you have any difficult and complicated illness that is hard to explain?"
Zhou Kuang was confused: "What can I not say... What exactly do you want to say, Brother Xie?"
He was not a nosy person, but if he did not complete the task entrusted by the young lady, he would most likely be pestered by her again when he returned. He asked Zhou Kuang tentatively, "Last time we met Madam Ming, you jumped onto the eaves. Apart from the injury on your buttocks, were you injured elsewhere?"
The young lady's words this morning were indeed somewhat credible.
As soon as the words came out, Zhou Kuang immediately understood and became anxious, asking: "Brother Xie, where else do you think I should be injured!"
Look, even if they have a good relationship, it would be awkward to ask such questions. For the sake of the young lady, he really gave it a go: "No, that's good."
Zhou Kuang was stunned by his abnormal behavior and asked him, "Brother Xie, why do you say that?"
Xie Shao didn't say it explicitly, but his eyes showed admiration: "In order to cancel the engagement, the prince is willing to tarnish his own reputation. Xie is willing to admit defeat."
He might as well not have said this. Zhou Kuang was completely confused and wanted to find out the truth. However, the servants of the mansion chased after him and said to Xie Shao, "Mrs. Zhou has a few words to ask you, Mr. Xie. Please stay."
Wen Shuse had come to the palace last time to donate grain, but he had no intention of inquiring. The carriage stopped in front of the door. He lifted the curtain and looked forward. Two lanterns had been hung on the door. In front of the door and under the steps, there was a guard standing on each side. Compared with the Wen family and the Xie family, the family looked more majestic.
No matter how big your problem is, it is a private matter and you can only wait helplessly.
After waiting for half an hour, it was already completely dark. He felt suffocated sitting in the carriage, so he got out and paced back and forth in front of the palace gate.
Just as I was looking forward to it, I finally heard some noise coming from inside. Xie Shao and Zhou Kuang walked out together.
Zhou Kuang's face didn't look good, "Did I mean that? I clearly said..." He suddenly turned around and blocked Xie Shao who was about to step out of the threshold behind him.
Xie Shao stopped in time, turned around and looked up, then he saw a light on the opposite side. The girl standing next to the carriage was none other than his young lady.
People have waited all the way here, you can imagine how anxious they are.
The young lady also saw him, picked up the lantern in her hand, and walked quickly to greet him, "My dear, why are you so late today?" When she saw Zhou Kuang, she turned around and greeted him, "Prince."
Compared to the last time they met, Zhou Kuang seemed to be more embarrassed and returned the greeting by calling out, "Sister-in-law."
Wen Shuse glanced at him secretly, then quietly moved towards Xie Shao. When she got to his side, she grabbed his sleeve and tugged. Xie Shao turned his head and saw the young lady's two curved eyebrows raised up. She mouthed to him silently, reminding him, "Have you asked?"
Seeing her being so cautious, Xie Shao definitely couldn't make any big moves, so he just nodded in cooperation.
Zhou Kuang saw all the little actions of the two. Thinking of how the two had plotted against him behind his back that day, Zhou Kuang suddenly felt his blood running low. He casually pointed it out and said, "Sister-in-law, could you do me a favor and ask the Ming family's wife to come out tomorrow? I have something to say to her."
Wen Shuse was surprised and a little embarrassed.
Now that the situation has not been clarified yet, if we meet rashly, wouldn't it be like stabbing Ayuan in the heart again?
When Zhou Kuang saw her expression, he felt a burning sensation on his face. He gritted his teeth and clarified, "Don't worry, sister-in-law. I, I'm fine." After saying that, he turned his head away. He was so embarrassed that he almost poked a hole in the ground with his foot and crawled into it.
It's so embarrassing. I've lost all my face this time.
Wen Shuse was startled when she saw him like this, and looked at Xie Shao, who replied, "Madam Ming has misunderstood."
The stone that had been hanging in his heart finally fell to the ground, and Wen Shuse let out a long sigh of relief, "I'm glad it's a misunderstanding." Otherwise, this matter would be really difficult to deal with.
Since it was a misunderstanding, it would be solved. Wen Shuse thought of what he had just asked and asked, "Where does the prince want to meet?"
Zhou Kuang was too ashamed to look at Wen Shu's expression, so he twisted his neck and said, "I'll listen to Madam Ming's opinion."
What opinions could she have? I'm afraid she would still ask me to give her some advice. Teahouses and pubs are not good places to talk.
Wen Shuse suggested, "There are ears outside. How about you come to Xie's house tomorrow, and I'll call the Ming family's eldest lady over as well. If there's any misunderstanding, you two can talk it out in person?"
What a saying that walls have ears. Xie Shao glanced at the young lady next to him calmly. She was probably the ear next door.
But he had witnessed this incident from the beginning, and seeing that it was almost coming to an end, he was somewhat curious. Xie Shao said nothing and tacitly agreed with the young lady's idea.
Zhou Kuang answered very straightforwardly, "Okay, I will go to Xie's house at 9:00 p.m. tomorrow. I'm sorry to bother Brother Xie and his wife."
It was already late at 9:00 p.m. Given his current mood, he would have liked to have asked Mrs. Ming out tonight and explain everything to her right away.
He had wanted to hide for a long time. After the matter was settled, Zhou Kuang hurriedly said goodbye to the two of them and turned into the mansion.
The remaining two turned around and walked towards the carriage.
Seeing the person enter the door, Wen Shuse carefully questioned the man beside him, "What did Prince Zhou say that caused Ayuan to have such a misunderstanding?"
Xie Shao glanced at the sleeve that was being held by the young lady. It didn't hinder his walking, so he didn't care. He guessed, "Maybe she doesn't want to get married."
Wen Shu glared, "He doesn't want to get married, does he think A Yuan wants to marry him?"
That's true. That day on the wall, the eldest lady of the Ming family even planned to release dogs to bite people in order to break off the engagement.
Coming back to his senses, he sneered. The two of them couldn't even afford to eat, yet they still had the mind to worry about other people's business.
Mrs. Zhou kept him for a while. It was already late. Seeing her walking slowly behind him, Xie Shao gently held her arm and led her to the front. "It's late. Get in the car."
He took the reins from Min Zhang and rode his horse behind the carriage.
Wen Shuse originally wanted to ask more questions, but when he saw that the person didn't get on the car and went away on horseback, he had to give up.
The palace was some distance away from the Xie family's house. After sitting there for a while, she felt really bored, so she pushed open the lattice window and wanted to say a few words to her lover, but she was attracted by the night scene in front of her.
Outside the alley of the palace, the lights were dim and a full moon hung in the sky, shining brightly, casting a layer of silver light on the surrounding tile houses. The night breeze blew gently, and the tall poplar trees on both sides made a rustling sound, which was quite artistic.
It was a pity that we were sitting in the carriage and couldn't enjoy the view to our heart's content. Wen Shuse suddenly leaned back and asked, "My dear, is the scenery on horseback nice?"
Xie Shao didn't know what she meant. He looked up and saw that the moonlight was good today. He replied, "Not bad."
The young lady stretched her neck even further: "Then my dear, can I come up?"
Xie Shao: ...
Wen Shuse had never ridden a horse, but she had ridden on Master Wen San's horse several years ago. Wen San held the reins and she sat in front of him. He even took her for a run on the road, which was quite interesting.
Thinking that this time would be the same as before, she would sit in the front and Xie Sanjiama would be the one sitting there.
Who knows that it is not always the perfect person.
Not to mention that she had grown taller, the man behind her had to pull the reins, and he had to put his arms around her. Her whole body was in his arms, and he was not his brother Wen San.
Where her back pressed against his chest, she felt a burning heat, and the familiar fragrance was stronger than the previous two times, wrapping her up in it and flooding into her nose.
I could no longer see the scenery or the moonlight. My body and mind were in agony. How could I have the heart to appreciate them?
But it was she who suggested coming up, and she couldn't go down again. It was too late to regret. She could only tense her body and keep silent. When the person behind her got a little too close, she would immediately move forward.
The young man also said nothing.
After going bankrupt, the young lady no longer wore her hair in complicated high buns, but simply tied it up into a hairstyle with only one hairpin. Her long black hair could not be held back, and a few strands of hair were blown by the wind onto his face, scratching his skin at first and then his heart, making him feel numb and itchy. No matter how he tried to avoid them, the few strands of hair seemed to be against him and insisted on being entangled with him.
If she moved again, he could only grit his teeth.
After several attempts, Xie Shao finally couldn't help it, reined in the horse's head, and suddenly stopped, saying to the young lady in front of him: "You'd better get off. You're twisting and turning like this, it's too disturbing. You're not enjoying the scenery, you're testing my moral bottom line."
Wen Shuse:......
Although it was exactly what she wanted, she was always stubborn and said, "My husband's moral bottom line is too low."
Realizing that the person behind him hadn't moved for a long time, he immediately gave in and didn't ask for help. Without caring about his image, he used his hands and feet to slide down from the horse and quickly got away from him.
She hid in the carriage and closed the window tightly. It took her a long time to calm down. She secretly swore that she would never ride on a horse again.
After returning home and getting off the carriage, she did not speak to the man behind her. As if she was being chased by a ferocious beast, she held up her skirt and hurried back to the east room.
He thought she was embarrassed and would not come to see him for a while, but the next morning, the young lady came to knock on his door with enthusiasm again, "Sir, has Prince Zhou arrived?"
Xie Shao just woke up and looked back at the hourglass. It was three quarters past noon.
The young lady smiled at him and said, "Madam Ming is already on the way." She meant to ask him whether Prince Zhou had set out.
I have to be on duty soon, so I should finish it sooner. I was just about to ask Min Zhang to go out and ask around when I heard the voice of Zhou Shizi outside the door, "Thank you, brother."
Xie Shao stood up and opened the door, only to see Zhou Kuang walking straight to the east room. He spoke in time: "Here."
Zhou Kuang was stunned, and looked back at him, as if he understood something. He had his own misfortune, so he was gloating over others' misfortunes. "Why did Brother Xie move? Were you driven out by your sister-in-law?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a young lady came out from behind Xie Shao, "The prince is here."
Zhou Kuang:......
The treasures are here~ There will be a plot in the next chapter. (One hundred red envelopes)
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