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Hibiscus Garden is well-known in Tingzhou City. It is a villa built by Lord Sun in the previous dynasty for his retirement. It was originally named "Xixin Garden" and later got this nickname because of the hibiscus plants planted everywhere.
Today, the Sun family has fallen into decline, and the garden has changed hands three times before finally being acquired by a famous scholar.
Because he liked peonies, he took great pains to grow several acres of famous peonies in the garden. Every summer when the flowers bloomed, he would invite relatives and friends to come and enjoy the flowers.
Over time, the flower-viewing banquet in Furong Garden became a place for the nobles in Tingzhou to chat, make friends, and exchange what they have.
As one of the most famous families in Tingzhou, the Xiao family is naturally no exception.
On the day of flower viewing, Xiao Lin brought his family to the banquet, but this time, there was an outsider among the female family members.
"Mrs. Jiang, the situation over there will probably continue for some time. I'm sorry to inconvenience you into spending time with an old woman like me." A middle-aged woman said with a smile in the lakeside pavilion.
Cheng Xi smiled and replied, "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be able to see such a beautiful view. How could I feel wronged?"
This is the inner courtyard of Hibiscus Garden, and also the place with the best scenery. The lotus leaves in the pond are green, the peonies on the shore are gorgeous, and bursts of cheers can be heard from the embroidered building not far away.
A group of unmarried girls were reciting poems and composing couplets upstairs, which was the most important part of the flower viewing banquet, allowing each girl to display her talent and compete with her beauty, just like flowers competing for beauty.
As long as you show your excellence, you will definitely get a good relationship.
Cheng Xi could not go to such occasions, so she could only stay among the "married" women and accompany Xiao Lin's wife, Yan.
Yan smiled and shook her head. "No matter how beautiful the scenery is, it's not as good as youth. Looking at those maids makes me feel old. By the way, does Madam Jiang have any children?"
Cheng Xi smiled and shook her head: "I got married not long ago and have no children yet."
Yan showed some surprise: "This matter can't be delayed!"
Although she changed into a slightly brighter dress, Cheng Xi's makeup today still had a mature style. She looked to be in her early twenties. It was indeed rare in ancient times for someone to be childless at such an age.
Cheng Xi sighed softly: "I am the only one in the family. It is troublesome to find a son-in-law, so it will be a bit late to get married. I have been running around for the past two years, so how can I have time to have children?"
This time, Yan Shi showed genuine sympathy. She couldn't help but hold Cheng Xi's hand and patted it, "It's not easy for you either. But the family business is important, and we can't neglect our offspring. If things don't work out, let your husband take over first..."
The only daughter who was married into the family had to work hard in the outside world. It makes people feel pity just thinking about it.
Her youngest daughter is about the same age as Mrs. Jiang, and her son is already six years old. There is no way they can wait.
Unexpectedly, the woman gritted her teeth and said, "After all, the family business belongs to the Jiang family. We can't let outsiders take it away."
If you can't even trust the person next to you, who else can you trust? No wonder this girl is so capable, I guess she's forced to do so by life.
Yan's heart softened and she secretly felt relieved.
Her husband had previously told her to find out more about Mrs. Jiang, but it turned out that she had no intention of keeping anything secret, and it seemed that she was truly sincere in her friendship with the Xiao family.
Thinking of this, Yan smiled and said, "Let's not talk about these depressing things. Let's just listen to some music and drink some tea today. If you want to play anything, I'll have someone bring it to you."
In a place like this where you can enjoy the flowers, what amusements are there? Although it's not as lively as the girls, playing the piano and playing cards are also fine.
Cheng Xi smiled and said, "Madam, don't worry about me. Enjoying the flowers and drinking tea is also a way to steal half a day of leisure from your busy life."
She said it lightly, but Yan Shi had a suspicion in her heart. Perhaps this Madam Jiang was not good at boudoir games? A woman who was to inherit the family business would definitely not learn those things in the boudoir.
Well, I have nothing to do anyway, so I might as well chat.
So the two of them started chatting about random things, and they got along very well, but the more they talked, the more comfortable Yan became.
People really can't stand comparison. Looking at this young woman who has to run around everywhere at such a young age, what does her little thing matter? They are just a few lowly maids and a few bastards. What kind of trouble can they cause?
Unconsciously, Yan's tone had changed. It was no longer like she was talking to an outsider, but rather like she was talking to a younger generation, with a bit more intimacy.
Cheng Xi immediately struck while the iron was hot and inquired about several prominent families in Tingzhou City.
It was so much fun to gossip about other people's families. With such an interesting listener, Yan couldn't help herself and said a few more words.
Although it is obscure, there are still many inside stories. Even wealthy families have no real secrets. The more sensational it is, the more widely it spreads.
Upon hearing the news, Cheng Xi showed a look of surprise: "Did the Lu family really cause such a big mess?"
Yan covered her mouth with her hands and chuckled softly, "I just heard it, don't take it seriously. But the Lu family hasn't been going out much these days. I heard there was a commotion in the Jiangdong mansion for a few days, and many of the stewards were implicated. I wonder who dealt with it."
Cheng Xi asked curiously, "What about today's flower viewing banquet? Did anyone from his family come?"
"How could they not come at a time like this?" Yan chuckled, "It's just that no one would go looking for trouble."
Cheng Xi sighed, "It's me who is so ignorant."
"Who could have imagined such a thing?" Yan seemed to have remembered something and pinched the handkerchief. "It is also retribution for someone's immorality."
Cheng Xi nodded slightly and added, "Those who marry into the Lu family will probably be in trouble too."
"Not necessarily. The world is in chaos these days, and the Lu family still has some foundation." Yan seemed to have thought of something, and changed the subject, not continuing the topic.
The two chatted for a while longer, and the competition in the embroidery building was over. Regardless of whether it was poetry or painting, they had to be submitted to the talented people in the outer courtyard for evaluation before the winner could be determined.
At times like this, naturally someone has to pass on the news. The young ladies can't spy on them, but the ladies are eager to find out more about the appearance and character of the talented men. They have to choose a good son-in-law, so how can they really have a blind marriage?
There was another commotion, and the talented men and beautiful women on both sides were criticized, and the flower viewing party came to an end.
After that, the banquet was about to begin, and everyone moved to another courtyard and took their seats again. At this time, Yan Shi couldn't chat casually, but she generously introduced Cheng Xi to several familiar relatives and friends, which was considered an introduction.
However, unlike what Yan had expected, Mrs. Jiang spoke less in such occasions and looked obedient and taciturn. It was not known whether she was trying to avoid suspicion or if she was not interested in these families.
Thinking that she came to ask for help from the Xiao family, Yan felt happier and enjoyed the meal more comfortably.
After dinner, they wanted to listen to music. Yan was in high spirits, but Cheng Xi just said he was tired and wanted to take a rest.
This was not an excessive request. After working hard all day and being in such an unfamiliar place, it was not surprising that she would be tired. Yan thoughtfully asked the maid to take Madam Jiang downstairs to rest.
After entering the house and closing the door, seeing that no one was around, Lin Mo immediately stepped forward and asked, "Madam, do you have any plans?"
There were two days before they came, and they had already figured out the terrain of Furong Garden, so it was not difficult to go out for a walk at this time.
Cheng Xi shook his head: "We've found enough information today, let's not cause any more trouble."
But she could see that Madam Yan was also trying to find out about her, so she "exposed her weakness" and made her lose her guard.
As a concubine in the inner chamber, Yan was indeed qualified, but as a spy, her level was far from satisfactory.
It was also because of this that Cheng Xi was able to find out some of the conflicts between the Xiao family's interpersonal network and the high-ranking families in Tingzhou, such as the discord between the Xiao family and the Lu family.
This is something that cannot be found out from outside, but it is not surprising if you think about it carefully. After all, both sides are from official families. The Xiao family was cheated in their early years, and it is possible that the Lu family was also responsible.
But what was strange was that when Mrs. Yan watched Lu's show coldly, she didn't mention Ye at all.
You have to know that this time the葑衣 Gang is here to disrupt things, and that old fox Fang Tianxi must have made arrangements long ago, so it is only natural for him to intensify the conflict in advance.
But Mrs. Yan didn't reveal anything. Was it because the Xiao family and the Ye family were on good terms, or did she know something about the inside story?
But it's probably impossible to get anything out of her.
This is also the disadvantage of "ladies' socializing". Sometimes you can guess the emotions, but you can't explore the inner story. After all, there is a veil between you.
But it was also a gain. As long as I continued to maintain my character and let Madam Yan and even Xiao Lin himself relax their vigilance, it would be fine.
After hearing what the gang leader said, Lin Mo breathed a sigh of relief. She was already prepared to go out and investigate, and it would be better to be safe.
Seeing the little girl's serious look, Cheng Xi smiled and said, "You should also quickly find something to eat, as we still have to work for an hour or two."
Lin Mo was stunned. Could it be that the gang leader said he wanted to rest because of her? A maidservant in such an occasion naturally could not leave the gang leader's side, nor could she eat or drink.
However, Lin Mo didn't expect that the gang leader could come up with such a way to let her breathe a sigh of relief.
Pursing her lips, she whispered, "Thank you for your help, ma'am..."
Smiling and waving his hand, Cheng Xi asked the little girl to go have some snacks while he leaned back on the couch.
I will discuss the news I got today with Old Man Fang when I get back. I hope she is just overthinking it.
After Lin Mo finished his snack, the two of them rested for a while before calling the maid and leaving the room.
Perhaps for the sake of quietness, the resting courtyard is not close to the main hall and requires passing through a winding path to reach it.
Before they had taken a few steps, a few people suddenly appeared from another path in the distance, chatting as they walked, heading towards a courtyard deep in the courtyard.
The two sides were not walking on the same road, so theoretically they would not meet each other, so it was not considered rude. The maid leading the way did not stop to make way, but just slowed down her pace a little.
Cheng Xi glanced at them casually, but suddenly frowned. There seemed to be something quite out of place among that group of people.
While no one else was paying attention, Cheng Xi looked carefully. After just a few glances, he figured out what was wrong.
The scholar in white clothes and holding a paper fan looked a little strange.
The distance was too far, so I couldn't see the man's appearance clearly, but his manners and temperament were completely inconsistent with his clothes.
It was rare to see someone dressed so plainly these days, especially in a place like this where the elite gathered. He must have been a bit conceited, aloof, and aloof, right? But that man didn't have the air of a scholar. Instead, he looked like he was wearing the wrong clothes, a strange feeling.
If it were just that, it would be fine, but the people around him all looked a little awkward, their body language was quite contradictory, and there was a hint of fear, which made the man in white even more conspicuous.
Who is that person?
Just as the thought flashed through her mind, the scholar in white turned his head. Cheng Xi didn't wait for their eyes to meet, but immediately lowered her head and walked forward slowly, like an ordinary woman passing by.
A gaze fell on her, then turned away nonchalantly. Cheng Xi's heart was even more awed. Did the other party notice someone peeping, or was he simply too vigilant to even investigate passers-by like them? Either way, it was a bit too perceptive.
After the other party had circled the rockery and disappeared, Cheng Xi asked casually, "Whose family was that just passing by?"
The maid leading the way was startled and whispered, "He looks like the eldest son of the Ye family."
Cheng Xi pretended to be surprised: "The Ye family is such a big family, but I didn't expect them to like wearing white..."
The maid laughed: "Why would Master Ye wear white? The person in white must be a guest of the Ye family."
This maidservant is Madam Yan's close confidant and should be well aware of the noble families in Tingzhou. Since she doesn't know him, he must be from outside.
But what kind of guest could intimidate the eldest son of the Ye family? And why were they not drinking in the courtyard, but taking a side path? Could they be seeking a secret conversation? Who were they looking to see?
This person needs to be investigated thoroughly.
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