Chapter 21 Spring Garden Smiles and Invites
"He asked me to call him cousin yesterday. He asked me to change my words. I can't go against his will."
It sounded like this was a bit of a temper, so Ming Zhouhe laughed.
…
The next day, Yuan Yuhe and Mrs. Yuan sat in the yard chatting.
Yuan Yuhe gently stirred the bird's nest in the bowl with a spoon, looked at her sister-in-law and said, "Zhou Qing told me last night that he would be going to the army for training in two days. So let them spend more time together in the next two days, so as to know whether they are interested in each other."
"I see Zhou Qing always listens to you. As long as Wan'er agrees, it will be fine." Mrs. Yuan replied with a smile.
Yuan Yuhe was relieved to hear this, "Zhou Qing has always been filial. I will ask him the night before he leaves for the army."
"I'll ask Wan'er too."
Yuan Yuhe drank a sip of bird's nest and sighed softly, "It feels like not long ago that I was sitting at home with you, reading, playing games, and chess with me. Now, we're sitting here together, talking about our children's marriages."
"Time flies by. If you want to play chess, that's easy. Have someone bring the chess pieces and I'll play with you. Do you want to play Go, Xiangqi, or Liubo?"
"Let's play Go."
The maid brought the chess pieces, and while they were playing, Madam Yuan asked, "Let's put aside the matter of Zhou Qing for now. What are your plans?"
"Let's wait and see. The Xie family of Zuodu Yushi does have a daughter who is old enough. This family background is not bad. After all, they all believe in marrying up and marrying down."
"But I heard that the engagement with the Minister of Rites' family was called off half a year ago. The Xie family took the initiative to cancel, saying that their horoscopes were incompatible. But whether the horoscopes were compatible should have been known when the engagement letters were exchanged. Why did they wait until the wedding was almost over to announce the incompatibility? I wonder if there's something wrong with the woman."
"Even if there is no problem, I don't like the Xie family very much. Just the fact that Zuodu Yushi gave birth to two illegitimate sons before his marriage makes me feel that this family tradition is not good." Yuan Yuhe shook her head.
"Let's look for it again. He's not too old."
Madam Yuan nodded. "When choosing a son-in-law or daughter-in-law, one must be extremely careful. Zhao is such an outstanding person, we cannot choose someone who will cause him trouble."
"That's true. Lin'er will be getting married in just over a year. I feel a little reluctant and worried just thinking about it. Being a daughter-in-law in someone else's family is not as happy as being a girl in your own family."
"I actually think being a daughter-in-law of the Yuan family is quite pleasant." Madam Yuan smiled sincerely. "The Ji family has a clean and upright family tradition. Don't worry too much. The two residences are close, so we can see each other from time to time."
"Normally, girls are married off when they reach the age of 15. You loved the child so much that you kept her until she was eighteen. You've done a great job as a mother. Her father and brother are both excellent, and she's got a good marriage, so she'll naturally have a good life in the future."
"Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings, so just relax."
"Sister-in-law's words are so comforting." Yuan Yuhe smiled brightly. She turned to the matter of her second son: "Since we want the two children to spend time together, they can't stay apart. I'll have a small banquet for the children in the mansion this afternoon and let them play by themselves."
"That's a good arrangement. We can take your sister-in-law with us and go talk to the old lady to cheer her up."
Tangliyuan.
Shi Jianli was sitting on the swing reading a book. The light in the afternoon on a spring day was not too hot, and it felt warm on her body.
Xianyue came back from outside and walked towards her, accompanied by a person dressed as a maid, "Miss, Sister Jinzhi from the main courtyard of the East Palace is here."
Shi Jianli looked at Jinzhi and asked, "Does the Duke's wife have any instructions?"
Jinzhi bowed to Shi Jianli and said with a smile, "Madam didn't give any instructions. There is a small banquet in the garden. Madam said that if Miss Li feels well, she can go and join in the fun."
"Okay, thank the Duke's wife for the invitation on my behalf."
"I will definitely pass on Miss Li's message. I have things to do, so I won't bother you any further."
Shi Jianli nodded, "Okay."
Shi Jianli remembered what her aunt had said to her some time ago.
This small banquet should be to welcome the young masters and young ladies of the Yuan family, and also to allow Ming Zhouqing and Yuan Wan to get along well.
Xianyue asked, "Are you going, young lady?"
"Go ahead, have a couple of cups of tea and some fruit." She was just there as a background presence.
She changed into a lilac double-breasted short shirt, combed her hair into a bun again, and pinned a small redbud hairpin on it. Then Shi Jianli went out with Xianyue.
There are small tables connected to each other in the garden, on which are placed a wide variety of fruits, snacks and desserts.
When Shi Jianli arrived, Ming Zhou and Ming Yue Si had already arrived.
She went up to greet them and sat between Ming Zhou and Ming Yue Si, "Cousin, fourth sister."
Ming Zhou followed her gaze and said with a smile, "The bruise on your forehead has faded. It seems you've recovered well. You shouldn't be dizzy from time to time now, right?"
"No, the doctor in the Chu Mansion always speaks conservatively. His medical skills are amazing, and my injury isn't serious." Shi Jianli handed him a sachet. "Xianyue has recently developed a new sachet. It's a good way to keep mosquitoes away in the spring when there are so many of them."
She turned around and handed it to Mingyue Si, "Fourth sister, this is yours."
"Thank you, Sister Li." Mingyue Si took it with a smile.
Mingyuelin came over with Yuan Wan on his arm and sat opposite Shi Jianli and Mingyuesi. "I thought we were early, but I didn't expect you to be even earlier."
Shi Jianli also handed her a sachet and looked at Yuan Wan. "A sachet for repelling mosquitoes is not a good thing. I hope Sister Wan doesn't dislike it."
"How so?" Yuan Wan put the sachet to her nose and sniffed it gently, then smiled and said, "It smells so good! Much better than what I use myself. I feel a bit choked when I use it myself."
"As long as Sister Wan likes it."
"What do you like?" Ming Zhouqing's voice came. He strode into the garden and sat opposite Ming Zhouqing.
Behind him, Mingzhao brought Yuan Qingchen, the fourth young master Ming Zhoushi, the fifth young master Ming Zhouwu, the sixth young master Ming Zhoulu and the seventh young master Ming Zhouqi, all of whom were dressed in riding clothes.
Several younger ones focused on Ming Zhaohuan and asked him some questions about military affairs.
Mingzhao, who was still sitting next to Mingzhouqing, looked over and asked with a smile, "I want to hear what you guys are talking about, too."
Yuan Wan turned around when she heard the voice and called him with a smile, "Cousin."
Mingzhao even nodded at her.
Shi Jianli raised her eyes and met Ming Zhaohuan's gaze. "It's late spring and approaching summer, and there are more mosquitoes. The maidservant next to me made some mosquito repellent sachets and distributed them to my cousin and several sisters."
"If my cousins also want it, I'll have the maid make a few more."
Ming Zhouqing wasn't too interested and jokingly said, "Then we're better off not tiring your people. You were injured a couple of days ago, and they were so tired taking care of you that they probably don't have much time. With so many of us, aren't we just deliberately tiring them out?"
The other young masters also said similar things.
Shi Jianli looked at them and smiled: "Thank you, cousins, for your consideration of my maid."
Mingzhao's gaze lingered on her smile for a moment, then he lowered his eyes and drank the cup of hot tea in front of him.
Ming Zhouhe turned around and waved to Xuanyuan, who handed him a small bag with a small hammer attached.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com