Chapter 83 Peach Blossom Face
At the end of February, the warm breeze is blowing and the peach and apricot blossoms are just beginning to bloom.
Because they set out early, the carriage met people along the way who were carrying vegetables or mountain products to the market.
Xu Shuyao opened the curtain a little, and a vendor selling snacks looked towards her, but he just looked at the carriage and didn't dare to go forward.
The hood of the carriage is made of black silk, with gold-lined cloud patterns on the edges, the wheels are painted red, and the reins are dyed purple. Anyone with a little knowledge will know that its identity is not simple.
In the capital, you can run into a high-ranking official every few steps, and people are used to it.
Xu Shuyao could smell the aroma of various snacks and heard the vendor's deliberately drawn-out call: "Pea yellow... in large pieces..."
When she was in Huzhou, she often ate it on the streets. It is a snack that is common in spring. It is made of peas, osmanthus flowers, and honey cakes, and is cut into small pieces. The fragrance lingers on your lips and teeth after you take a bite.
Seeing that she was greedy, Mrs. Xiao smiled and asked her maid Dongmei to buy it.
After a while, Dongmei brought over something wrapped in reed leaves. When she unfolded it carefully, a sweet fragrance came out.
Xu Shuyao first gave it to the old lady to taste, then took another piece and put it in her mouth.
Although it was not as delicate as the ones she had eaten in the mansion before, perhaps because it was still early and the pea yellow had just been made, it had a unique simple and fragrant flavor.
Xu Shuyao and Old Madam Xiao ate several pieces in succession, and the rest were distributed to the maids and servants.
Seeing her satisfied face while eating, Old Madam Xiao smiled and said, "When I was young, I also loved these sweets. Whenever I went out, I would always buy some of each out of curiosity."
When the old man talked about this, his face was filled with nostalgia, and his still clear eyes looked very gentle.
Xu Shuyao then listened to her talk about her youth and the days when she went out to play with her brothers.
Old Madam Xiao's surname was Cui. Thinking of the mysterious and glorious Qinghe Cui family, Xu Shuyao couldn't help but get excited as she followed her narration.
She spent the rest of the journey listening to the old man reminiscing about the past, and only realized that they had arrived at Qixia Mountain when the carriage stopped.
Xu Shuyao thought of the man with the same surname as Zhou. It was said that he was a distant relative of the marquis's wife. His parents and relatives were not in the capital. He moved into the marquis's mansion a few years ago because he was taking the imperial examination. He passed the imperial examination last year and has now found a job in the Hanlin Academy.
I heard that he is only in his early twenties. Such a young Jinshi is indeed not bad.
Xu Shuyao helped Madam Xiao get off the carriage. The two of them sat in the pavilion at the foot of the mountain for a while, and soon someone came towards them.
The first one was Zhou. She was tall and, perhaps because she had been a marquis' wife for a long time, she gave people the impression of being smart and capable.
There were several maids surrounding Zhou. When Xu Shuyao looked behind her, she saw a handsome man.
Their eyes met, then looked away for a split second.
Zhou came over to greet Old Madam Xiao, then took Xu Shuyao's hand and thanked her for a while, then talked about her grandson: "Brother Yan is fine after returning home. He can eat and sleep well. It was really thanks to you that day."
Xu Shuyao smiled and said, "It's just a small favor. Madam Hou, you should just thank me verbally. Why did you send me those gifts later? I feel guilty about it."
When the other party sent someone to deliver the gift that day, they did not deliver it directly to Jiyunzhai. Shouldn't they save these polite words for when they meet in person?
It was mid-spring, and the weather was neither cold nor hot. When Xu Shuyao went out, she wore a light apricot jacket with a lotus pattern, a white horse-faced skirt with dark flowers and a hem. Her hair was tied into two buns, and a small light apricot flower was pinned on one side.
She wore two soybean-sized pearls on her ears, which were faintly visible under her half-tied bun, looking very unique.
Zhou Yan just took a glance and felt a slight ripple in his heart.
He walked forward to greet Old Madam Xiao, and then called the woman in front of him "Cousin Xu".
Xu Shuyao also called Zhou Cousin. After all, they were relatives with complicated ties, and it didn't matter how far away they were. It was always right to call them cousins.
When Zhou saw them greet each other, she knew that the old lady was going to Qingning Temple to burn incense, so she said that she came there today for that purpose as well. So the group of people slowly climbed up the mountain road.
The mountain was not high, and Old Madam Xiao did not need anyone to support her, so Xu Shuyao walked behind her so that she could help her up in case the old lady slipped.
When Zhou saw her behavior, she praised her for being a careful child.
Then he said to her, "I heard that you are from Huzhou. You may not have been to Qingning Temple before. I will ask your cousin Zhou to take you to see the peach forest on the mountain behind the Buddhist temple. It should be in bloom now."
Xu Shuyao: “…”
So direct?
She looked up at the man in front of her and saw that he was looking at her with a slight smile on his face.
All right then! Aren’t there still maids?
Madam Xiao added, "Just walk around the main back door, don't go too far."
Seeing that the old man also meant the same thing, Xu Shuyao said softly: "Okay!"
He walked on in silence again.
After walking for about an incense stick of time, we reached the top of the mountain. It was just noon.
The monk who had already received the news came forward and said, "Amitabha!"
He added, "The old lady and all the donors have worked hard along the way!"
The monk in charge of reception looked very familiar and was obviously also familiar with the old lady of the Duke's Mansion.
Xu Shuyao first sent the old lady to the main hall, and then came out at Zhou's urging.
In addition to Qiaowei and Huixiang, the old lady also sent famous guards to follow her.
Mr. Zhou kept a distance from her that was neither too far nor too close.
"Has cousin Xu ever been to Qingning Temple?" He tried to find a topic as he walked.
“No.”
"In fact, in addition to the peach blossoms on the back mountain, the plum forest below is also extremely beautiful."
Merlin?
I have seen Xu Shuyao at the Duke's Mansion.
I just don’t know why Mr. Zhou thought of going to Qingning Temple to appreciate the plum blossoms in the middle of winter?
Who is accompanying you?
Xu Shuyao's thoughts were divergent, and she couldn't help but think too much for a while.
She raised her eyebrows and said, "Really? The Duke's Mansion also has a plum forest."
Thinking of the prince who was the center of attention in Meilin last year, Xu Shuyao smiled for a moment.
"Yes, the plum forest of Duke Chengguo's Mansion is very famous." Mr. Zhou nodded.
"I heard that the girl has a younger brother. I wonder how old he is now?"
Xu Shuyao answered truthfully: "Ten years old."
After replying this, Zhou Yan fell silent for a moment.
Xu Shuyao didn't say anything else.
The peach forest on the back mountain is indeed in full bloom, and with the recent fine weather, it is really like this: the trees are full of gorgeous red flowers, and the branches are ablaze with crimson colors in the spring.
In the peach forest, besides them, there were also some scattered men and women.
However, compared to the alienation between the two people, those people seemed to be talking and laughing.
Xu Shuyao and her maid were admiring the peach blossoms together, while Zhou Yan stood not far away. His face was tense the whole time, and no one knew what he was thinking.
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