Chapter 3 Cui Mansion (Update 1)
Jiang Zhiluo, Old Madam Cui, and Cui Hejin had not been in the capital for long, so they had not really paid attention to the situation of the Pei family.
Maybe they all forgot about the Pei family.
Jiang Zhiluo said, "Judging from the way Pei Nanchen is dressed, the Pei family must be in decline."
"They are valued by the Southern Emperor and have a designated consort. They are from the former Southern Emperor's faction, so naturally they will not be valued by the new Emperor."
"Whether he can study in the Imperial College is another matter."
Jiang Zhiluo didn't say anything else.
Cui Qingci was naturally no fool. She said, "He saw my brother become the top scholar and wanted to come to my Cui family."
Although she didn't want to think too much about it, the Pei family had always acted in a way that was greedy for fame and power and fearful of it.
If not, how to explain why the Pei family wanted to kill her.
Thinking of what happened at Pei's house, Cui Qingci's eyes became more determined.
Jiang Zhiluo looked at Cui Qingci's expression and knew that she was a sensible person, so she stopped worrying about her.
Soon, they arrived at Cui's mansion.
There were also many people and their children gathered outside the Cui Mansion, making it very lively. They all wanted to get a glimpse of the talent of the top scholar.
Fortunately, Jiang Zhiluo understood and had someone prepare baskets of copper coins and distribute them.
Everyone was saying nice things, and it was very lively.
Jiang Zhiluo looked at the lively scene and felt happy too. The coachman drove the carriage into the mansion.
In the past, Duke Cui’s mansion was very large and covered a large area. Now that only a few of them live there, Old Madam Cui is a little uncomfortable with it.
And it’s easy to recall the past.
However, Old Lady Cui was grateful to the Emperor for being able to live in the Cui family again and take back the Cui Mansion.
She understood that the emperor was quite caring towards the Cui family.
As if she understood what Old Madam Cui was thinking, Jiang Zhiluo said, "Mother, the Cui Mansion is so big and there are so many yards. We can renovate it and grow some vegetables in it."
"When mother has nothing to do, she can also take care of these vegetables in the mansion. If she likes flowers, she can also plant some."
When Mrs. Cui heard about growing vegetables, she became more excited and said, "Yes, we can grow vegetables."
"You don't need to plant any flowers, just vegetables. It's practical."
Mrs. Cui has lived in Donghe Village for two or three years and she can't stay idle.
Before, they also liked to grow some vegetables in the yard in Donghe Village.
Now I can also prepare some vegetables in Cui's house.
After they returned to Cui Mansion, they happened to find several of Cui Mansion's former servants.
They are all loyal to the Cui family and are grateful for the kindness of the Cui family in letting them leave the house when they were exiled. Now that they are back, they work even harder.
It's March now, so I can plant some things.
Jiang Zhiluo wants to grow some vegetables, as well as some potatoes and sweet potatoes.
However, thinking that Cui Hejin would come back for lunch at noon, Jiang Zhiluo went to the kitchen to cook herself.
On weekdays, there is someone dedicated to cooking in the kitchen.
They were all from the Cui Mansion before.
Although their cooking is pretty good, it lacks some flavor. Jiang Zhiluo also prepares special seasonings to add flavor, so that the food tastes better.
Jiang Zhiluo was busy in the kitchen.
I heard a sound coming from outside, and soon I saw Cui Hejin coming back wearing the top scholar's uniform.
But Jiang Zhiluo didn't expect that he would come to the kitchen to find her as soon as he came back.
Jiang Zhiluo looked at his clothes and thought they looked really good.
Her eyes lit up just by looking at it, "This is the kitchen, why are you here?"
"It's very fumy here."
Cui Hejin whispered, "Just let the kitchen cook."
When he returned home, he would usually look for his daughter Zhiluo first. Seeing her would make him feel at ease.
Jiang Zhiluo smiled and said, "It's okay. You passed the exam and became the top scorer. Today is a happy day. I will cook for you and we can celebrate together."
"Besides, I brewed some osmanthus wine before, so I can drink it now."
"Yeah, okay!"
"You go and do your work first. Mother said you have to offer sacrifices to the ancestors when you come back."
The tablets of Cui family ancestors have been placed in the Cui Mansion Ancestral Hall.
Cui Hejin passed the imperial examination and became the top scorer, so naturally he had to burn incense first.
Cui Hejin reached out and gently stroked Jiang Zhiluo's hair and said, "Okay, just don't get too tired."
"Don't worry, this is not tiring."
"And I'm very happy that you passed the exam and became the top scorer."
Jiang Zhiluo was indeed very happy, with a smile in her eyes.
Everything Cui Hejin did was to make his daughter Zhiluo happy.
After staying with Jiang Zhiluo for a while, Cui Hejin went to the ancestral hall to worship his ancestors.
In the ancestral hall, Cui Hejin burned incense to worship his ancestors, with too many emotions surging in his heart.
When the Cui family was exiled and his grandfather and father died, he had too many things suppressed in his heart.
It was like a huge stone pressing on his heart.
Whether he could survive the exile was another matter.
It was also in Donghe Village that he met Zhiluo, which brought hope to the Cui family and him.
Thinking of Jiang Zhiluo, Cui Hejin's eyes and eyebrows were filled with tenderness.
Because of Zhiluo, the hardships on the road to exile, the hardships in Donghe Village at the beginning, and the pain of being poisoned and having his martial arts and internal strength destroyed were nothing.
When Cui Hejin came out of the ancestral hall, Old Madam Cui couldn't help crying when she looked at him.
"Good, good. Your father and grandfather will be very pleased to see that you have passed the imperial examination and become the top scholar."
"Your grandfather made you learn both literature and martial arts. In fact, he had thought of changing the Cui family's status and letting them become civil officials."
Being a military general is not easy.
Even if a military general risks his life to make meritorious service on the battlefield, he may not necessarily receive a word of praise from the emperor.
Merit may turn into success that overshadows the master.
Civil officials are more secure.
Cui Hejin nodded without saying anything more.
At this moment, the guard came to report: "My lord, old lady, there are several distinguished guests outside the door, including Prince Rong, Young Marquis Yan, Prince An, and the son of the Cheng'en Marquis's mansion..."
Cui Hejin's expression changed.
These are all influential figures in the capital.
What a distinguished guest.
Originally, the Cui family had ordered that no banquets should be held or guests should be entertained.
For this reason, Jiang Zhiluo did not allow anyone from the Wei Mansion to come.
It’s just that people from the Wei Mansion sent a lot of gifts early in the morning.
Unexpectedly, even after the Cui family released the news, someone still came.
And some of them are his former classmates and friends.
"Please let them in!"
"yes!"
Mrs. Cui was a little worried.
Cui Hejin said, "Mother, don't worry, I'll go and entertain them."
"Okay then."
In the kitchen, Jiang Zhiluo heard that many distinguished guests had suddenly arrived at the mansion.
So I added some more dishes.
Jiang Zhiluo doesn't find cooking hard, instead she cooks very quickly.
After it was done, it was time for the banquet at noon, so she asked the kitchen staff to deliver it to entertain the guests.
Jiang Zhiluo, Old Madam Cui and Cui Qingci ate in the inner hall.
…
Cui Hejin entertained several distinguished guests at the banquet. After a few greetings, the kitchen served the dishes.
In fact, Cui Hejin didn’t want everyone to eat the food cooked by Zhiluo at all.
But these people are of noble status, so it is not easy to refuse to entertain them.
Young Marquis Yan sniffed the aroma and said excitedly, "Brother Cui, I've never seen some of these dishes before. They smell so delicious!"
The best thing about Young Marquis Yan is eating. He knows the food tastes good just by smelling the aroma.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
