Chapter 81: Is he your classmate?
"Your personality has changed a lot." Lu Yao joked meaningfully.
Xie Yan pretended to be unaware of Lu Yao's hidden meaning and replied with a smile, "My second brother's personality will change after he gets married."
Lu Yao: It’s not necessary to change.
Behind the Lakeside Pavilion there is a large grove of plum trees in full bloom, standing proudly in the frost and snow, with their faint fragrance blending into the wind and snow and filling the air.
The plum blossom viewing banquet prepared by the county magistrate's wife was grand and exquisite.
The stone benches in the Lakeside Pavilion are carefully covered with warm satin cushions.
In a quiet corner, the maids were concentrating on burning incense and brewing tea with skillful and meticulous techniques.
In addition, each table is placed with an exquisite white porcelain vase on the corner, with a few branches of plum blossoms inserted in the vase. These plum blossoms stand gracefully in the vase, with a unique charm.
When the time came, the county magistrate's wife clapped her hands lightly, and the maids came in carrying a variety of dishes.
The pork stew is crystal clear, melts in your mouth and is mouth-watering.
A lucky bird brings blessings, the carving is lifelike and seems to be able to spread its wings and fly high, and the sauce poured on it exudes a fresh and sweet aroma.
…
The rest of the dishes are also extremely ingenious, with good color, aroma, taste and shape.
Magistrate Xu and his wife held jade cups in their hands, with hot wine swaying in the cups, reflecting the light of the snow that filtered through the pavilion in the center of the lake, as if floating light was dancing in gold.
On both sides of the screen, they raised their glasses to celebrate.
The same was true during the Ming Dynasty.
The steam from the hot wine in the cup filled Lu Mingchao's clear and bright eyes, and the smile in his eyes continued to grow.
Well, she loves beauty but that doesn't stop her from loving food.
Beauty and delicious food, different paths lead to the same destination.
With such delicacies and fine wines, Lu Mingchao suddenly felt that the torment of riding in a swaying carriage on a snowy day had disappeared.
As for Mrs. Sun's dirty words, they were just like the wind and snow outside the window, blowing past and then gone.
Men's seat.
Xu Qingxing and Sun Zhiye sat next to each other.
Xu Qingxing swirled the warm plum wine in his cup and leaned slightly towards Sun Zhiye. "Brother Sun, the Lu family is too aggressive."
"As a woman, you don't think about being gentle, respectful, prudent, and quiet."
"The past cannot be retrieved. No matter how extraordinary Lu was in the past, it is all in the past. But she seems to be unable to recognize the situation, unable to lower her head or bend her spine. You apologized in person, but she still dared to turn the tables."
"If the Yongning Marquisate cared about the friendship they had nurtured with Lu for more than ten years, how could they bear to let her leave the capital in disgrace?"
"I heard that Lu cried, made a fuss, and banged her head against the wall in order to stay in the Yongning Marquis's mansion. What was the result?"
Xu Qingxing's voice contained more indignation than sarcasm, but it was unpleasant to hear.
Sun Zhiye paused for a moment while holding the chopsticks. A cold light flashed in his lowered eyes. Then he put down the chopsticks slowly and took a sip of wine. "It's Zhipeng's fault. As the eldest brother, I have a responsibility that I can't shirk."
"In clean conduct, a gentleman does not avoid the good of others, nor does he speak of the faults of others."
"You will also be taking the imperial examination next year. Scholars value a good reputation and observe etiquette and cultivate character. You should be careful with your words and actions when you are out there. If these gossips about others are spread by someone with ulterior motives, it will be very disadvantageous to you."
The deputy he sent to the capital also sent back a letter, and the story of the fake daughter of the Yongning Marquis, Lu Mingchao, threatening to commit suicide, was spreading like wildfire.
But at the same time, the wife of Marquis Yongning also expressed her regret for Lu Mingchao without hesitation.
Even if it was just a show, it showed that the Yongning Marquisate needed this good reputation and would not embarrass Lu Mingchao for the time being.
As long as the relationship is not broken, Lu Mingchao can always take advantage of the power of Yongning Marquis' Mansion.
In addition, Lu Mingchao had an engagement with Gu Huai, the prince of the Duke of Zhenguo. It is said that the prince of the Duke of Zhenguo ignored Lu Mingchao and was very cold and indifferent.
The person who drove to Changxi Village that day should be Gu Zhen, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
According to rumors, Gu Zhen and Lu Mingchao had many conflicts and confrontations.
Now it seems that the rumors are just nonsense to make people laugh.
No matter whether it is the Yongning Marquis Mansion or the Zhenguo Duke Mansion, as long as they are still willing to give Lu Mingchao a little bit of support, then Lu Mingchao is worthy of his careful treatment.
Xu Qingxing frowned and drank the plum wine in one gulp. "Brother Sun is not an outsider. We have known each other for many years. What I dislike most about you is that you take the blame on yourself."
"You have been away from home doing business for many years. What does Sun Zhipeng's matter have to do with you? Even if you are to apologize, it is not you who should do it."
Sun Zhiye smiled calmly, and Xu Qingxing filled the glass very naturally, and said casually, "Qingxing, I see that your aunt treats Xie Lu very kindly, and I think Xie Lu is very much liked by your aunt. You must not bear grudges against Xie Lu because of me and make things difficult for your aunt."
"Oh!" Xu Qingxing sneered, his young eyes full of disdain and arrogance. He glanced around and leaned close to Sun Zhiye and whispered, "To be honest, Brother Sun, if it weren't for Miss Gu from the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion telling mother that she hoped father and mother would take care of her, mother wouldn't have done this."
"Does she think that she can do whatever she wants and look down on others just by relying on a word from Miss Gu from the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion?"
Sun Zhiye's eyes moved slightly, and the scattered beads in his heart were finally strung together.
No wonder he felt that County Magistrate Xu's attitude towards him was becoming increasingly ambiguous.
"Then we must not put my aunt in a difficult position." Sun Zhiye remained calm.
A gleam of gloom flashed across Xie Yan's deep and cold eyes.
Sun family jade string, nothing more than that.
Every word and sentence seems casual and harmless, but in fact they are all tests and solicitations.
Sun Zhiye's mind couldn't stop turning, and the son of County Magistrate Xu was still pouring out his heart in indignation.
Lu Yao was very sensitive to the changes in Xie Yanru, and his cold eyebrows could not help but slightly raise. He bent his fingers slightly and tapped lightly on the table.
The sound is so quiet that it won't disturb others at all.
"What is it?"
I heard that people who practice martial arts have sharp eyes and ears. Judging from Xie Yan's ability to write with ease, he must be close to having the ability to see and hear clearly.
Xie Yan glanced to the side and asked with thin lips, "Is Xu Qingxing your classmate?"
"I guess so." Lu Yao didn't understand.
"stupid."
“…”
Lu Yao was rarely seen stunned.
He glanced inconspicuously at Xu Qingxing, who was not far away, with his lips opening and closing, and a look of sarcasm and hostility on his face.
It seems that Xu Qingxing spoke ill of him.
Lu Yao shook the wine glass in his hand lightly, and a cold smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He looked at Xie Yan and said, "Brother-in-law, it is reasonable for both you and me to offer a glass of wine to you, what do you think?"
Xie Yan nodded, "I have had this idea for a long time."
Xie Yan and Lu Yao stood up at the same time, holding wine glasses in their hands, and walked towards Xu Qingxing's position side by side.
County Magistrate Xu, who was sitting in the main seat, was very pleased.
Xu Qingxing's heart tightened, and he looked at the newcomer with fear and confusion.
After all, he had just finished speaking ill of Lu Mingchao behind his back.
"Lu Yao, what are you doing here?"
Lu Yao said in a distant and cold manner, but in a proper manner, "Toast."
Xu Qingxing did not slack off at all. Before he became a disciple of the great scholar in the city, he once studied at Qingyun Academy and was barely a classmate with Lu Yao.
Well, we are classmates who are like piles of snow and jade on the top of a snowy mountain.
Even if it's aggressive, so what?