Chapter 24: Lang Jun Yi
"Second brother, do you think the hairpin Sister Ning is wearing today is beautiful?" When Zong Ning saw Ning Fu today, he was attracted by her hairpin. It was small and the whole bun was simple but unique.
If Zong Ning hadn't felt awkward talking to her, she would have gone to ask which shop made her hairpin.
Zongduo was really embarrassed at this moment, feeling humiliated that his selfish thoughts had been discovered.
"Brother, if you think Sister Ning's hairpin is pretty, why don't you just say it directly? It's not an offense." Zong Ning didn't think much about it at this moment. After all, her third brother had already rejected Sister Ning. She naturally thought that no one in Prince Xuan's Mansion would have anything to do with Sister Ning anymore.
In fact, she still admires Sister Ning very much.
After experiencing the initial embarrassment, Zong Duo simply stopped denying: "The fourth lady's hairpin is exquisite. If you want it, the second brother can buy it for you. It is suitable for a girl like you."
Zong Ning's eyes lit up and she said, "Second brother, you finally learned to feel sorry for me." Usually he would just give her swords, take her climbing mountains, and play with crickets. Although she loved them, she was a female monarch after all, and she preferred the things that women liked.
Zongduo frowned and asked, "Is there not enough for me to give you?"
"Anyway, when my second brother gets married in the future, if he only brings my second sister-in-law to practice sword dance and brush sticks, she will definitely be unhappy. My second brother will have to buy her clothes, jewelry, and rouge." Zong Ning curled her lips and said, "My second brother really needs to learn well."
Zongduo pursed his lips. He knew nothing about this, and knew nothing about rouge or the like.
But if he marries a wife, he can't treat her badly. Even if he doesn't like it, he is willing to learn!
As a man, you should be good to your wife!
"Third brother, why didn't you tell me at that time that the young waiter was doing things for you? I believed it." Zong Ning turned around and said to Zong Si, but he had just been punished and was still in shock, so he didn't dare to complain about him openly.
It was only after he came down the mountain that Zong Ning learned from Zong Si's followers that the young waiter was not a real waiter, but was looking for someone for Zong Si.
She said how could the third brother be so handsome?
"I didn't say he was a prostitute." Zong Si said indifferently, but he didn't deny it either. He really wanted to see what extraordinary things Fourth Miss Ningfu would do.
"Third brother just let him tease me." Zong Ning said dissatisfiedly, "He didn't expose him, but just watched the show from the side."
"You don't have any trust in me." Zong Si glanced at her sideways.
Zong Ning choked for a moment, and after hearing what he said, he felt guilty, so he stopped talking and said quietly, "Let Sister Xie deal with you from now on."
As soon as they arrived at the palace, Zong Si left for something, but Zong Duo did not return to his own villa immediately. Instead, he said to Zong Ning, "I'll go sit with you for a while."
"Okay." Zong Ning has always been willing to be close to his brother.
The two walked along the way.
Zong Duo hesitated for a long time before he spoke: "After we deal with the Hu people this time and return to Beijing, your third brother and Miss Xie's marriage should be settled."
My third brother and the second Miss Xie are a perfect match. It won't be a good thing to delay any further.
"From what mother said, that's probably the case." Zong Ning was also looking forward to good things happening in the palace.
Zongduo paused. He didn't care about his image in the past, but now he was a little concerned. He coughed awkwardly and asked, "What do you think of my appearance, sister?"
If a man suddenly starts to care about his image, it means that he has a crush on a woman.
Zong Ning suppressed his curiosity and smiled meaningfully: "Second brother is naturally a handsome man. I thought that a gentleman like Second Brother would not care about his appearance, but only care about whether he is good at fighting."
"I don't seem to be very popular with the lady." Zongduo didn't think there was anything wrong with this in the past, but now, he felt a little unconfident.
He knew in his heart that a sweet-talker was more likable. He couldn't take advantage of someone like him who couldn't talk.
Zongduo couldn't help but look serious. He knew how to fight a war, so it was not impossible for him to learn how to coax the lady!
As long as the person he likes marries him, he will definitely say something nice to her!
"I wonder which lady my second brother likes." Zong Ning finally couldn't bear the curiosity in his heart.
Zong Duo was silent for a moment, then he said a little embarrassedly: "I like the fourth lady Ning. Although she has met your third brother, this matter has not been spread outside. Only the Prince Xuan's Mansion and the Duke Ning's Mansion know about it. Even if outsiders know about it, they are just speculative. If I discuss marriage with her, no outsiders will gossip. As for me, I don't mind."
"What do you think, aunt?" Zong Ning asked.
Zongduo was relieved and said, "My mother naturally follows my ideas. As long as I agree, she will agree as well. There is no need to worry about this."
Zong Duo does not have to inherit the palace, nor is he the boss of the palace. He does not have much power in his hands, and he will not be the one who calls the shots in the palace in the future. At most, he will assist Zong Si.
Therefore, Zong Duo is different from Zong Si. It is not that he is completely unable to marry a lady from the Ningguo Mansion.
Although Zong Duo had once envied Zong Si's position as the crown prince, he had now let it go. In some ways, he was freer.
"When I return to Beijing this time, I will ask the Duke's Mansion what they think of me." Zongduo said that as long as Ningfu agrees, he will go to propose marriage.
"Of course I support my second brother." Zong Ning said, but he didn't know what his third brother would think.
Sister Ning is also very good.
Zong Duo went to Mrs. Zong Er again and told her about his plans.
"If you want, mother will fight for you." Madam Zong Er said with a smile, "It's already very difficult to meet someone you like, and it would be a pity to miss him. Besides, it's rare for a blockhead like you to open up."
Her husband values his eldest son Zongting more and is more partial to him, so Mrs. Zong wants to make up for Erlang in terms of marriage.
"Thank you for worrying about me, mother." Zongduo said excitedly.
Madam Zong Er couldn't help shaking her head. When had Er Lang ever said such a thing? He had been independent and strong since he was a child, and never asked for help from others. But today he actually asked her for help: "Don't worry, go to the north. Your mother will go to get some information for you. If your marriage with San Lang can be settled when you come back, it will be a great joy."
After hearing her say this, Zongduo felt relieved and focused on preparing to go to the north.
A few days later, the two sons of Prince Xuan's Mansion left the capital one after another. Emperor Jingwen saw them off in person, which was considered to be giving them enough face.
"I don't know when the second and third young masters will come back."
"When I come back, the marriages of the two young masters will be settled. I don't know who they will be."
This statement caused a burst of ridicule from the people around him: "Do you think you have not found a candidate yet? This is the son of Prince Xuan's Mansion. I am afraid that they have already discussed the candidate a long time ago, but the time is not right yet, so they have not announced it to the public."
“…”
After several days of discussion, the matter of Zong Si and Zong Duo leaving the capital gradually died down. After a few more days, fewer and fewer people mentioned them, as they were gradually attracted by other things.
That’s how the capital city is, there’s never a shortage of exciting things to do.
Ning Fu has been staying in the mansion since she left the palace and has not left the house. The imperial art assessment is not far away, and Ning Fu dare not slack off. Moreover, Ning Yu and Wei Ziyi's wedding is coming soon, and the Duke's Mansion has been quite busy recently.
Wei came to their second room more often than before. Madam Ning had good taste, and in order for her son's wedding banquet to be praised by others, although Wei usually looked down on Madam Ning's behavior, she had to ask her for advice and help now.
Today she asked Madam Ning to help write the wedding invitations. She had beautiful handwriting and her calligraphy skills were top-notch back then.
Madam Ning also did her best for the sake of the Duke's Mansion.
"After Yu'er's marriage, it will be Afu and Zheng'er's turn." Good things are about to happen, and Wei Shi has become much more amiable than before.
Her two children have had extremely smooth marriages. If Yu'er can pass high school next year, she will be considered the one who has raised her children well in the entire capital.
Madam Ning glanced at Ning Fu and said, "There is no sign of a husband yet. I'm afraid I don't know when it will happen."
It is impossible to say that she has no worries at all. After the New Year, several young men got engaged, and the room for choice became smaller and smaller.
Ningfu is actually still young, but she is stuck in an awkward position. If she were two years older or younger, she would have more young men to choose from. But there were very few young men in the two years before and after her birth, so there were no young men of the same age. This resulted in the situation that if she were to be chosen now, Madam Ning would think it was too early. If she didn't choose now, in two years all the young men would be little boys.
Although she is optimistic about Mr. Lu, it is difficult for her to tell what his attitude is.
But she loved her daughter after all, so despite her hesitation, Madam Ning was still willing to keep Ning Fu by her side for two more years, fearing that she was too young and would suffer if she married into another family, not to mention that having a child was also a hurdle.
"Things will work out when the time comes. There's no need to rush." Wei said with a smile, but she didn't take it seriously in her heart. The more picky she was, the worse it would end up.
"After Yu'er gets married, we will have to allocate a new courtyard for him. There will be a lot of things to do. Sister-in-law, please come and help me for a while. It doesn't matter if I take care of all the affairs in the mansion by myself. It's just a bit hard. I'm the eldest wife, so it's normal for me to worry more. But I really can't take it these days." Wei sighed again.
Nymph, who was helping to grind ink, looked up at her.
Finally, Wei couldn't hold on any longer and took the initiative to bring up the issue of household expenses. However, her current attitude clearly showed that she was unwilling to give up much power, and even at this time, she did not forget to put herself in the position of a tolerant and generous good person.
It's fine if he praises himself, but he also steps on his mother. What does it mean to run around alone? It makes his mother look selfish. This is the attitude of asking for help. It seems that he still thinks highly of himself.
Madam Ning was also upset. She smiled and said, "Since sister-in-law is not feeling well, why don't you take a rest first and let me take care of everything for a while. I know you care about the palace, but your health is more important. Don't work yourself to get sick."
Wei's face was not looking good. She didn't say anything for a while. She just said, "I'm used to working hard and worrying a lot. How can I bear to rest? I'll think of a solution later."
Ningfu and Madam Ning looked at each other, and Ningfu laughed out loud in her heart. Her mother was simply her role model.
"I have to worry mainly about A-fu's imperial art. Sister-in-law, why don't you go ask Zhang for help?" Madam Ning said again.
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