Chapter 78 Plum Blossom Appreciation Banquet

In the cold last month of winter, a warm charcoal stove was placed on the exquisite and spacious carriage, and thick curtains around it blocked the howling north wind.

Although the carriage was not as warm as spring, it was still comfortable.

Various snacks and teas were placed on the low table. Due to the cold weather, the snacks were a little hard.

Lu Mingchao and Xie Yan sat side by side. For a moment, she couldn't tell whether it was the charcoal stove in the carriage that was warmer or the body temperature of the person next to her.

Because the servant of the county magistrate's mansion was driving outside, Lu Mingchao and Xie Yanji did not speak, but occasionally communicated with their eyes.

At the entrance of the village, there was another horse-drawn carriage parked.

The car window opened, and a scarred hand lifted the curtain, reached out, and lightly knocked on the compartment where Lu Mingchao was.

"Chao Chao."

When Lu Mingchao heard the sound, he lifted the curtain and opened the window in one go.

The cold wind blew in, and the flames in the charcoal stove shrank as if they were afraid of the cold.

"Second brother."

Lu Mingchao waved.

Lu Yao said casually, "The county magistrate's wife is really kind-hearted. She took pity on us because we were poor and couldn't travel, so she sent someone to pick us up and bring us into the city."

"I am overwhelmed by your kindness."

"Chao Chao, when you meet the county magistrate's wife, you must thank her sincerely."

The implication is that the treatment of being picked up and dropped off is unusual.

Remind Lu Mingchao that things are unusual and he should be alert.

Lu Mingchao understood and blinked, "Of course."

Lu Yao closed the car window, and the wheels rolled, squeaking as they moved forward on the snow.

The snow was thick and the road was slippery, so even though the carriage had been specially equipped with anti-skid measures, it still moved slowly.

Lu Mingchao was bored and thought that maybe when she arrived at the county magistrate's mansion, she would be shaken to pieces.

Walking in the snow to look for plum blossoms sounds elegant.

But she was not very happy about the process.

Just like in the future, no matter who suffers, their friends cannot suffer as well.

A rough life and a refined circle of friends.

Circle of friends: The years are quiet and good, grasp it, and come back next time.

Actually: I’m so tired, I won’t come again.

Lu Mingchao sighed softly. Her carefully tied hair affected her ability to choose a comfortable position to take a nap.

The sound of the north wind whistling incessantly filled my ears, and the wheels creaked on the snow. Although these sounds were irritating at first, they gradually evolved into a drowsy rhythm as time went on.

Lu Mingchao yawned relatively subtly, his eyes moist as he looked at Xie Yan eagerly and pointed at his waist.

Xie Yan chuckled and reached out to rub it gently.

After entering the city, she carefully smoothed out the wrinkles on Lu Mingchao's dress.

The carriage slowly stopped, and Lu Mingchao stepped on a low stool and took Xie Yan's hand and got off the carriage.

Soon, maids and servants came to greet them.

The maid took the invitation and led Lu Mingchao to the ladies' seat.

The banquet was held in the pavilion in the middle of the lake. Walking through a long corridor covered with embroidered mats, the frozen lake on both sides of the corridor was covered with thick snow.

In the distance, one can vaguely see the shadows of a plum forest outside the plank path behind the pavilion in the center of the lake.

The distance was far, and the overwhelming snow made one's eyes feel dry, and the scenery in front of one's eyes seemed blurry and unreal.

The Lakeside Pavilion is three stories high, with flying eaves and arches. The red pavilion and the white snow complement each other.

The maid went into the Lake Center Pavilion to report, and a moment later the county magistrate's wife, dressed in gorgeous clothes and elegant and noble, came to greet her, surrounded by a group of female relatives.

Lu Mingchao: This scene is indeed somewhat embarrassing.

"Madam County Magistrate, I wonder which family this beautiful lady is from. I have never seen her before."

Lu Mingchao wore a proper smile on his face and bowed to the wife of the county magistrate. "Thank you, Lu, for meeting you, madam."

"Thank you ma'am for your understanding and consideration."

The county magistrate's wife smiled softly and lovingly, "Don't be so polite."

Then, he patted the back of Lu Mingchao's hand very naturally and pulled Lu Mingchao to his side.

The female relatives surrounding the wife of the county magistrate tactfully made room for her and threw all kinds of nice words at her as if they were free, praising Lu Mingchao as if he were a deity from heaven.

Lu Mingchao's expression remained unchanged and his smile was still there.

She knew very well that these compliments were not for her, but for the hand that the county magistrate's wife had placed on the back of her hand.

In the small Changhe County, everyone was willing to give the county magistrate's wife some face.

However, the forest is big and there are all kinds of birds.

Not to mention the plum blossom viewing banquet that gathered officials of all ranks, merchants, and celebrities from Changhe County.

"She's just a hunter's wife, what's so great about her?"

"It's not something that can be put on stage."

The voice was neither loud nor soft, as if he was deliberately suppressing his voice to complain in private, but he accidentally raised his voice out of anger.

Hunter's wife?

The women in the family were filled with grief.

But the county magistrate's wife still held Lu Mingchao's hand intimately, her eyes sparkling, she pursed her lips and said nothing.

Lu Mingchao looked towards the place where the voice came from, looked at the familiar face, and smiled, "I wonder what is the relationship between this lady and the second son of the Sun family?"

The county magistrate's wife glanced at Lu Mingchao beside her.

I saw those clear and bright eyes slightly curved, and the smile spread, as if filled with a pool of dazzling spring water.

The snow outside the pavilion in the center of the lake was reflected in his eyes, and in an instant, the waves were rippling.

Such a pair of eyes is really spiritual.

What a nice complexion.

With such a face, such a temperament, and such manners, she should be able to thrive in the capital city.

What a pity.

But the Yongning Marquisate is also very strange. It has been raised for so many years. Could it be that such a large mansion lacks a set of bowls and chopsticks?

The reason why Gu Zhen asked her to convey the message before returning to Beijing was because her grandmother was a branch of the Gu family, a branch that was barely related.

This was a relationship that she would never have in her life.

The middle-aged woman with a golden hairpin in her bun hummed softly, "I am his mother."

"Why, are you going to admit your mistake?"

Mrs. Sun has some confidence.

Although merchants do not fight with officials, officials also need money from merchants.

The Sun family's business grew bigger and bigger. The Sun family tried to curry favor with the county magistrate, and the county magistrate also had to take care of the Sun family.

"So that's the case. That's not surprising." Lu Mingchao lowered his eyes, his smiling face shining like stars, and his voice was soft and clear.

It was like the snow that fell silently last night.

It looks soft and light, without any killing power.

But no matter whether it is rolled into a ball or frozen into ice, it can still smash people's heads and make them bleed.

Lu Mingchao also really laughed, a smile that was consistent in his expression and heart.

No wonder.

No wonder Young Master Sun is so arrogant and stupid.

"Admit your mistake?"

"Your son does need to apologize to me."

"However, today is the plum blossom viewing banquet hosted by the county magistrate's wife. Please do not bring up the private matters between you and me, as it will disturb everyone's interest."

There was not much fluctuation in Lu Mingchao's tone.

Bright and frank, very justified.

The women in the Huxin Pavilion also learned of Lu Mingchao's identity through these few words.

The young woman who had recently raised the injustice drum and sued the second son of the Sun family for being unrepentant, raping a woman, bullying the weak and taking human lives.

See Yuxian