The boat sailed smoothly along the way, and Princess Jinyi would occasionally call Qiu Ling to talk.
That afternoon, as the two sat talking, they heard the distant sound of a flute from the stern. Princess Jinyi rested her chin on her hand, listened for a moment, and said, "A gentleman is versed in the six arts, and the second son of the Marquis's mansion has a profound understanding of music."
Qiu Ling acknowledged her lowly status, yet she interacted with Princess Jinyi with grace and grace. After hearing what the princess said, Qiu Ling replied, "After returning to the Marquis's residence, I heard that the Second Young Master has been playing the flute for sixteen years. He held it in his hands since he was five and refused to let go."
Hearing Qiu Ling's words, Princess Jinyi smiled and said, "He is quite an idiot."
They soon arrived in Beijing. Princess Jinyi got off the boat first and was carried off the boat in a sedan chair by palace servants and then put into a carriage.
Xu Lin and Qiu Ling bid farewell to Princess Jinyi and reunited with the Sheng family who came to take them back home.
Originally, Xu Wen wanted to come in person, but Sheng Shu was not feeling well for the past two days, so she did not come. The one who came to pick him up was the housekeeper from Mama Liu's mansion.
When the servants saw Xu Lin, they all knelt down to greet him: "Your servants pay their respects to the Second Young Master." After the servants stood up, Mama Liu took Qiu Ling to the carriage, and the housekeeper took Xu Lin on horseback.
When Xu Lin entered Beijing for the first time, he was paraded through the streets on horseback when several young ladies threw purses and handkerchiefs at him. Xu Lin rode away without even looking at them.
"Sister, my brother is here." After entering the room, Xu Lin looked at the woman in front of him who looked three points like his mother, and bowed respectfully.
With tears in her eyes, Xu Wen quickly helped Xu Lin up, looked at him carefully and said, "You were still very young when I got married, so I can't recognize you. But you can see the shadow of your father in your eyes and eyebrows." After that, she pulled Xu Lin to sit down.
Xu Lin, who had taken his seat, smiled faintly and said, "Ajie looks just like mom. As soon as I saw her, I knew it was her."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Xu Wen asked about her mother and father's health. Xu Lin thought for a moment and said, "Mother was feeling unwell earlier, but she's fine now. However, she'll need a few months of recuperation. Father is in good health and could easily fight ten men with his bare hands."
Listening to Xu Lin's words, Xu Wen thought of her mother before she got married, how gentle she was. Her father had remained as brave as ever for decades, worthy of the title of Marquis of Yongyi.
The two then talked about Sheng Shu, and Xu Wen took Xu Lin to see Sheng Shu. At the palace polo match, Sheng Shu narrowly escaped a thug attack. Perhaps it was his first encounter with a thug, and although Sheng Shu appeared fine that day, he developed a high fever that night.
His fever had subsided by now, and Xu Wen pinned him to the bed and refused to let him get up.
It was not until Xu Lin came over that Sheng Shu realized that this was his second uncle, and he jumped up from the bed.
After getting out of bed, he respectfully bowed to Xu Lin as a junior. Xu Lin took out the jade pendant from his waist and gave it to him: "Brother Shu, get well soon. When you recover, your uncle will take you fishing."
Looking at the emerald green jade pendant, Sheng Shu looked at Xu Wen in embarrassment. Seeing Xu Wen nod, Sheng Shu took the jade pendant and thanked her, "Thank you for the gift, nephew. I am fine now."
Looking at Sheng Shu's mischievous behavior, Xu Lin touched his head and said, "The medical classics say that after a fever, one should not leave the room for seven days. Do you listen to your mother or the medical classics?"
Touching his little chin, Sheng Shu sighed and said, "Nephew, just listen to your mother."
Xu Wen and Xu Lin looked at Sheng Shu's mischievous behavior and laughed out loud.
Sheng Shu leaned against the bed and lay down. Xu Lin sat beside her and asked her a few questions. He listened to Sheng Shu's answers and nodded with satisfaction. Xu Lin thought to himself, the world-famous Tanhua Lang is indeed extraordinary. His nephew will definitely win the first place in the imperial examination in the future.
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