Chapter 8 Is the Pei family's nephew the one he's talking about Pei Yue? ...
Lan Zhu took the long list and was dumbfounded: "Miss, how many sachets are you planning to make?"
"It's not just for making sachets. I see it's very cold this year, so I want to prepare some medicine to prevent and treat typhoid fever in case of emergency." Chu Yufu opened the drawer and took out two pieces of silver and gave them to her.
As they were talking, Yun Sui came in carrying some chestnut flour cakes that had just been delivered from the kitchen. Overhearing their conversation, she said crisply, "Isn't it? In previous years, snow always fell in October. Miss, can Lan Zhu carry so many things? How about I come along?"
"No, no, I can take it!" Before the second girl could speak, Lanzhu shook her head like a rattle. She still had important things to do, so how could she bring Yunsui, the 'spy' from Yunxitang?
Chu Yufu smiled at her and said to Yunsui, "While there's still some sunshine today, let's spread out the books in the house on the porch to dry them this afternoon." She walked over, took Yunsui's hand and shook it, "Why are your hands so cold? Go warm them by the stove."
Yunsui was sent by the stepmother, so Chu Yufu must treat her well. Moreover, she has been serving here for nearly half a month. She is very diligent in her work and does not take it lightly just because she came from the mistress's courtyard. She is agile but steady, so Chu Yufu will not make things difficult for her.
There was genuine concern in the girl's almond-shaped eyes, and her faint smile was like a breeze, blowing softly into Yunsui's heart, causing a sour taste in her nose.
In the mistress's courtyard, she was neither a favored maid nor a servant of the mansion. No matter what bad job it was, it would always fall on her. This time when she entered the Bamboo Jade Courtyard to serve was no different. The job that everyone avoided finally fell on her.
But what's that saying? A blessing in disguise?
She had not expected that Miss Chu Er was such an easy-going lady. She spoke softly and slowly, and never scolded or even spoke loudly. She would always leave a portion of delicious food for the little girl, and was so gentle and amiable.
Mother Meng also told her to keep an eye on the Second Young Lady and report any problems to Yunxi Hall promptly. She really couldn't understand. Apart from greeting her parents, the Second Young Lady basically never left the yard every day. She was either reading, embroidering, or chatting with the maids. What was there to keep an eye on?
Thinking of this, Yun Sui blinked hard, suppressing the moisture in her eyes, and nodded in agreement: "Hey! Thank you for your concern, young lady."
Lan Zhu looked at the two people holding hands, her eyes flashed, and she walked out with a pout. After taking a few steps, she suddenly felt her sleeve being pulled.
She turned around and saw the girl had chased her to the door. Her star-like eyes curved into crescents as she whispered to her, "Be careful on your way back. Come back soon. I'll save the chestnut flour cake for you, just for you."
Lan Zhu felt the sky suddenly brighten! The girl was indeed the best in the world with her! She grinned and said, "Hey!"
Half an hour later, she arrived at the north of Jinma Street.
The fragrant drink stall next to Yuzhen Temple was also open today, with a few customers sitting there. Lan Zhu walked over and said, "Uncle, give me a pot of Golden Pear Drink to go."
"Okay, please wait a moment... Hey!" The stall owner looked up and saw that it was Lan Zhu. His hands were busy and he said with a smile, "I have found out everything you want to know. The young man who is with the princess has been coming every two or three days recently, usually before the afternoon and leaving at dusk."
Lan Zhu glanced at the Taoist temple and took out a piece of silver the size of a fingertip from her purse and placed it on the table. "Then, dear uncle, please take a look at whether the date for this young man's arrival is correct."
The stall owner paused, sensing something was amiss in these words. How could he possibly be discussing poetry with Princess Wang? It was clearly directed at the young man. But looking at the silver on the table, he raised his hand and handed the bamboo tube filled with drinks to Lan Zhu, then reached out to grab the silver and accepted it with a smile.
After finding out the news, Lan Zhu went to the pharmacy opposite to buy some medicinal herbs. As she stepped through the gate with a large bag full of things, a doorman came up to her, took the things from her and sent her to the gate of Zhuyuyuan. She felt both happy and worried.
Ever since the Li family sent the draft invitation, Miss Chu Er has had two more dishes of cakes and side dishes than before. After the Li family sent the detailed invitation today, things are even more different.
These people in the family are used to looking down on others and treating them differently. Now that they see that the second daughter is about to marry into a wealthy family, they are all rushing to please her. Who knows what their expressions will be when the daughter breaks off the engagement in the future.
God have mercy on their second daughter, she is such a good girl, why does she have to have to deal with all these bad things!
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At dinner time, the silver charcoal in Yunxi Hall was burning brightly, and the six dishes on the Eight Immortals Table were no longer steaming. Wu called the maid and asked, "Did the master go to Aunt Bai's?"
There are not many wives and concubines in the family. Apart from herself as the principal wife, there are only two concubines, Wan and Bai. In terms of beauty, Bai is far inferior to her. Master Chu stays in Yunxi Hall for twenty days a month and only visits Bai occasionally. But today, after waiting for a long time and seeing the master not coming, she still asked.
"Madam, I just went to the doorman to ask, and the master hasn't come back yet." said the maid.
Mrs. Wu nodded and was about to ask her to take the dishes away and heat them up, but she heard the door creak open and Master Chu came back.
Chu Changru shook the snow off his cloak, his official boots leaving wet prints on the blue brick floor. He took the hot handkerchief handed to him by the maid and wiped his face. "What a horrible weather! It was fine this afternoon, and now it's snowing again."
"I don't know what's going on this year. The snow's been falling non-stop, and someone in the Ministry of Works got sick from the cold today. Doctor Wang's on leave, and now all the river engineering reports are piling up on my desk!"
Wu stood up and went to help her husband untie the jade belt from his waist. Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, she said softly, "But this isn't a solution. Doctor Wang can take leave, but you can't? Why should you be the only one to suffer?"
Chu Changru sighed and shook his head. He sat down at the table, pinching his brows and scolding, "What do you know? Doctor Wang's wife is the cousin of Minister Cao of the Ministry of Personnel. My uncle is in poor health now. He will retire in two years and will no longer be able to do anything. How can I compare with Doctor Wang!"
He picked up a piece of chicken slices in lotus sauce with chopsticks and chewed it twice. There were faint bloodshot eyes and he looked tired.
"Master is right." Wu's face stiffened slightly, and her fingers tightened around the porcelain spoon. She stirred the silverfish soup in the celadon bowl, placed it next to him, and spoke in a slower voice, "Use the soup first. It will taste fishy if it gets cold."
Although the Wu family had been rooted in the capital for decades, her father had always been just a small proofreader. Logically, with her family background, she could not marry into the Chu family. However, they met by chance at a Lantern Festival poetry gathering. Chu Changru fell in love with her at first sight because of her beautiful face and figure, and insisted on marrying her despite all objections. Although she was not liked by her mother-in-law after marrying into the Chu family, she always felt it was worth it.
Later, Master Chu became more and more powerful, and she was able to truly enter the upper-middle class circles in the capital. In terms of appearance and conversation, she believed that she was not inferior to anyone, but in terms of family background, she was a step behind. Now that her husband mentioned the family of Doctor Wang's wife, she felt a little uncomfortable and had to change the subject.
Chu Changru scooped up the fish soup, his mind still thinking about what was happening in the court.
Minister Hu is old, and both he and Doctor Wang are eyeing this position. In terms of ability and political achievements, they are equally matched, but in terms of personal connections, he is ultimately weaker.
Outside the window, the north wind blew up snowflakes that rustled against the window paper. He put down his chopsticks amidst the rustling sound and looked at Wu. "Minister Pei mentioned to me a few days ago that his nephew is looking for a well-educated and well-mannered girl to marry."
Wu frowned, the tassels on her temples swaying slightly. "Master, are you talking about Pei Yue?" Seeing Chu Changru nod, she put the bowl heavily on the table and spat out two words, "No!"
Although the master did not name a girl, the fourth girl in the family is still young, and the second girl has already been engaged to the Li family. If he mentions marriage again, wouldn’t it be for He’er?
The master's superior's surname is Pei. The Pei family has been upright for generations. His great-grandfather was an Imperial Censor. Minister Pei himself is also very talented. If it were not for his poor health, he could have competed for the position of Prime Minister. If she could marry a son of the Pei family, she would happily agree. But if she promised He'er to the nephew of the Pei family, she would be absolutely unwilling!
I heard that Pei Shangshu's younger brother was not interested in literature and was eager to expand the country's territory, so he joined the army. Later, he stayed as Sima of Wuzhou, married and had children.
Later, when news of his death on the battlefield reached him, Minister Pei brought his only nephew to the capital to raise him. Wu had met Pei Yue a few years before. Although he was handsome, he was now twenty-two years old and only a Guoyi Duwei in the capital's Zhechoufu.
In terms of family background and official position, he is not worthy of her He'er no matter how you look at it!
How could Chu Changru not know what his wife was thinking? He took Wu's hand and patted it, saying slowly, "Don't worry, Madam."
"I've sent people to inquire about this over the past few days, and this kid from the Pei family is quite talented. Minister Pei treats this nephew like his own son, and with the Pei family's protection, there's no need to worry about not having a bright future. If He'er follows him, she won't suffer any hardship."
Wu asked suspiciously, "If they were his biological son? If they were, why didn't they assign him to the Ministry of Works? Why did they send him to the capital to suffer?"
"Like father, like son. The Minister had considered it, but Pei Yue was unwilling. Don't underestimate the Resolute and Resolute Commandant; he earned his position through hard work." Chu Changru paused and continued, "Although the selection of the Minister is ultimately decided by the Emperor, the Minister's recommendation is also extremely important. If I can establish a relationship with the Pei family, I'll feel half at ease."
Mrs. Wu was slightly moved. She pondered and weighed the options for a moment, then looked at her husband with her beautiful eyes. "If that's the case, I'll find some free time in the next few days and talk to He'er about it, and also ask my daughter's opinion."
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