Chapter 36 What Kind of Husband to Find
Shi Jianli stood in front of him and asked, "Cousin, have you been waiting for a long time?"
"I just arrived too." Mingzhao put his hand on the hilt of the knife at his waist, but the awe and solemnity around him faded, and he looked at her with a gentle gaze, "Tell me what you want to investigate?"
Being looked at by him like this, Shi Jianli suddenly had the illusion that she was cherished.
She met his gaze and said, "I have met Xie Xuezhi four times in total. The first time was at the flower viewing banquet."
"The second and third times we met by chance when we were out, and the fourth time was yesterday when we were out flying a kite."
"The first three times were just coincidences. In the fourth time, before the kite got entangled, there was no other kite besides my sister Lin's kite."
"So you suspect that Xie Xuezhi deliberately entangled your kite?" Mingzhao continued.
"Well, she seems to be plotting against me, but I don't know what in me could be worth her plotting against." Shi Jianli paused, "And there's Xie Weisong, the eldest son of the Xie family. I've only met him twice, but the way he looks at me is really strange."
"I feel like I'm being watched by some sinister creature."
Mingzhao even tapped the hilt with his fingertips. Seeing her slightly tense face, he said gently, "Don't worry too much. I will investigate thoroughly."
"Okay, thank you, cousin."
"You are always so polite. I have heard you thank me many times." Mingzhao's eyes swept over the shiny pearls hanging in her hair. The wind blew, and the pearls swayed slightly. The mottled sunlight between the shadows of the trees fell on her face, like rippling water.
"When asking someone to do something for you, it's always nice to be polite. Besides, I only thanked you verbally, but it was my cousin who did the hard work."
"That's right." Mingzhao looked at Tianyu behind him. Tianyu handed him an oil-paper package. He took it and handed it to her. "I happened to pass by when I came back, so I asked someone to go in and buy it."
Shi Jianli hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take it. Looking at the familiar store logo, she thanked him softly.
"I still have some official business to take care of, so I won't stay any longer." Seeing that she seemed to be thinking and cautious, Mingzhao stopped and left with Tianyu.
Shi Jianli looked at his departing back, pursed her lips slightly, and slowly walked back.
When she opened the oil paper package, it was indeed her favorite mint cake.
Just as I entered the yard and sat down to read for a while, I heard Chuntao from Qionghua Courtyard come over and say that Qiao Ruoying wanted to invite me, so Shi Jianli went to Qionghua Courtyard again.
Sitting next to Qiao Ruoying, she asked, "Li'er, do you know the eldest daughter of Minister Zheng?"
"The home of the Minister of Justice?"
"Um."
"I went out to play yesterday and happened to meet her. The kite got entangled with her."
"What do you think of her?" Qiao Ruoying's eyes lit up when she heard that.
"She strikes me as a very gentle woman, always smiling when she speaks." Shi Jianli recalled, "Sister Lin should understand her better."
Seeing Qiao Ruoying's expression, Shi Jianli seemed to understand something. "Auntie, are you planning to pick Miss Zheng for my cousin?"
"Well, Miss Zheng just broke off her engagement. Her ex-fiancé is always flirting with women, and the Zheng family is not happy about it." Qiao Ruoying perked up after hearing her words. "Since you say that about her, I'll give Madam Zheng a visiting card."
Seeing her nod, Qiao Ruoying said, "If you have nothing to do, you can also invite Miss Zheng to come to your house to play."
Shi Jianli smiled and shook her head, "I only met her once, so inviting her to the mansion right now seems too obvious."
This reminded her of Xie Xuezhi.
"Yes, if Madam Zheng accepts the invitation, will you accompany me to the Zheng Mansion?"
"Okay." Shi Jianli thought of Ming Zhouzhi this morning and asked, "What are your plans for Fourth Cousin's marriage?"
Hearing her words, Qiao Ruoying's mind quickly turned around, "Did Lao Si look for you?"
"Well, apart from martial arts, he doesn't usually go to private school. He went this morning to learn calligraphy and even talked to me."
Qiao Ruoying pondered, "He didn't ask directly?"
"No."
"Then ignore him. If he asks, just refuse. Since he doesn't want to get engaged, then don't get engaged. This way, he won't hurt other girls with his indecisiveness." Qiao Ruoying held her face. "Li'er, what kind of husband should I find for you?"
You can protect her, but you can't overpower her.
"Find someone with good character and good looks." Shi Jianli looked at her with a smile in her eyes.
Qiao Ruoying patted her head and said, "Silly child, I'm not saying this to ask you to relax your conditions. I'm just expressing my feelings. You like good-looking guys, so of course you have to find a good-looking guy. I'm not being reluctant or unwilling in choosing a son-in-law for you. I'm happy to do so."
"My aunt's pear is so beautiful, so of course my future husband must be good-looking to be worthy of her."
"Marriage is a lifelong thing, don't force yourself."
"Well, aunt is so nice." Shi Jianli leaned into her arms, with dependence and a slight tear in her eyes.
Qiao Ruoying acted quickly. She submitted a visiting card to the Zheng Mansion the next day, and on the third day she was going to bring Shi Jianli to the house.
After school, Shi Jianli went back to the yard to change clothes. After a short rest for quarter of an hour, she accompanied Qiao Ruoying to the carriage.
Mrs. Zheng and Miss Zheng came to greet them at the gate of the mansion. As soon as they met, they smiled at each other and went into the mansion together in a warm and affectionate manner.
"I've heard that the landscaping in your mansion is very elegant. Now I can finally feast my eyes on it." Qiao Ruoying glanced at Zheng Leyun and said to Mrs. Zheng with a smile.
Madam Zheng replied, "If you like it, come often in the future. If you come more often, I will feel comfortable coming to your house to admire the flowers."
Zheng Leyun smiled and invited Shi Jianli in, saying, "Miss Shi, we meet again."
Shi Jianli nodded and called her, "Miss Zheng."
"I'm seventeen this year, born in the winter of the twenty-second year of Chenyou. How about you?"
"I was born in the first month of spring in the twenty-third year of Chenyou, so I'm younger than you."
"Well, I'm two months older than you. I was born in November, so don't call me girl. Just call me sister." Zheng Lejun covered her face with a small fan, leaving only a pair of gentle smiling eyes.
"Okay, Sister Zheng."
Seeing that Li was not a talkative person, Zheng Leyun took the initiative to start a conversation, "I thought you were beautiful when I saw you that day, and seeing you up close today, you are even more stunning."
"Sister Zheng is also a very beautiful and gentle person." Shi Jianli felt a little embarrassed.
"Thank you for the compliment. What do you like to do at home?"
"She can draw, read, and write, but not as well as Sister Lin. Sister Lin's painting is very lifelike and vivid. She can also shoot arrows."
"Really? Miss Ming Er prefers to draw people or scenery?"
“She’s better at drawing people.”
"If it were possible, I would like to ask her to draw a small portrait of me."
Shi Jianli smiled but said nothing, she knew that the other party was just being polite.
After entering the main hall, the maid served tea. Qiao Ruoying secretly observed Zheng Lejun. Seeing that she was talking to her niece with a sweet smile and her words and actions were very polite, she felt satisfied.
After sitting for a while, the two ladies went to visit the garden again. Shi Jianli and Zheng Leyun naturally accompanied them and followed behind them.
In the evening, the two returned home and made an appointment for Mrs. Zheng to come to their house next time she had a day off.
After seeing the carriage off, Zheng Lejun asked, "Mother, why didn't I see you getting along well with Madam Ming before?"
"You didn't go to the lady's party, so how did you know?" Madam Zheng looked at her with a smile.
Shi Jianli returned to the courtyard, and Xianyue came up to greet her and said, "Miss, Tianfeng said that the prince is waiting for you outside the garden."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
