Chapter 285 286. A short separation is better than a new marriage
"Master Lin."
"Master Lin, stay."
Lei Li stopped Lord Lin, the Duke of Su, just after he walked out of the Purple Palace after the morning court session. He smiled and looked friendly, but his usual smiling tiger behavior made people feel that he was up to something bad.
The other ministers who heard Lei Li's voice quietly slowed down their pace and pricked up their ears.
"Lord Lei."
Duke Su stopped and looked sideways at Lei Li, his expression as solemn and calm as ever.
"Master Lin."
Lei Li walked forward with a smile and stood level with Su Guogong, keeping a social distance of one step between them, not too close but not too distant, making it convenient for them to talk.
"The Duke Su's Mansion has been quite bustling lately. I heard that all the officials in the court who have unmarried sons or daughters of marriageable age have been invited to the Duke's Mansion."
"Then why is our Changning Marquis Mansion not included?"
"Our boy is outstanding, handsome, and just the right age to be unmarried. He's also quite close to Young Master Lin, but he knows everything about her. Could it be that Young Master looks down on us, Zhou Zhou?"
There was a smile in Lei Li's eyes and his tone was gentle, but not polite at all. The other officials were frightened and even subconsciously glanced over.
Lei Li used to be in a low position and could only exchange some business greetings to flatter each other. Now he is too lazy to do those roundabout ways and is very straightforward.
"My wife is in charge of these matters. I don't know which family came to our house."
Duke Su said calmly, seemingly answering, but actually saying nothing. He did not respond to any of Lei Li's three questions.
This is typical official language.
When asked yes or no, he said yes. When asked if it was possible, he said yes. He never gave a definite answer and was very cunning.
"That's right. Lord Lin is very busy with official duties. How can he meet with every family?"
Lei Li smiled and said, "But I think I should be able to get Lord Lin to do me a favor. I happen to be free today, so I'll take Zhou Zhou to visit him and let the two young people see if they are compatible."
"Your Excellency has been on blind dates for over half a month, and nothing has come together yet. I wonder if young people are too shy to talk and interact with strangers?"
"Your son and my Zhou Zhou are good friends, and they get along well. Perhaps they're attracted to each other. What do you think, Lord Lin?"
Lei Li talked a lot in a flash. Duke Su thought he was almost finished several times, but he started talking again just after moving his lips. He could only get a word in when answering the last question.
"Unfortunately, the Ministry of Revenue is busy today. Let's wait for another day."
"It's better to do it today than to wait for another day."
Lei Li said, "Why not just do it today? Putting everything off until tomorrow, tomorrow after tomorrow, how many tomorrows are there? You can't procrastinate like this when doing things, don't you, Lord Lin?"
He laughed again. "It doesn't matter if Lord Lin is busy with official duties. After all, it's just two children seeing each other. With their father present, the two children are still restrained."
"Besides, isn't the Duke's wife in the mansion?"
"I've been in the capital for so many years, and I haven't visited the Duke's wife alone yet. It's really rude, so let's do it together today. The two children will talk about young people's matters, and the Duke's wife and I will talk about adult matters."
If any other adult said this, it would definitely not work. What kind of thing is it for an official from an outsider family to be alone with the wife of the Duke of Su?
But the Marquis of Changning was a man, and what was there to be ashamed of between a man and a woman? It was impossible for the Marquis of Changning to lay hands on Princess Henghuan.
Now that things have come to this, it would be inappropriate to refuse.
No matter how the Duke Su's Mansion views the Marquis Changning's Mansion in private, the two families will tacitly maintain harmony in public and not let others laugh at them.
So it was decided.
In the afternoon, Lei Li took Lei Zhouzhou to visit the Duke Su's Mansion. Unlike the last time when they were stopped with an excuse, this time they were able to easily enter the mansion and meet Princess Henghuan.
Two simple greetings.
Lei Li looked around and feigned concern, "Why isn't Young Master Lin here? Could it be that he's been ill since I came to visit and can't see anyone?"
"My Lord, you are joking."
Princess Henghuan is graceful and elegant, with simple clothes, but a few embellishments reveal the extravagance of a wealthy family, and her profound background is clearly different from that of ordinary aristocratic families.
"It's just a coincidence that your master has an appointment and is out?"
Lei Li continued with a smile, "The last time Zhou Zhou came to my house, he didn't see Young Master Lin. But Young Master Lin and his wife were meeting guests, so it was not appropriate to disturb them, so he gave up."
"However, our Zhou Zhou had the servants of the Madam's residence pass a message to Young Master Lin, saying that he should go to the Marquis of Changning's residence to look for Zhou Zhou whenever it was convenient."
"But a few days have passed and Young Master Lin hasn't come. I've seen Madam keep the Duke's Mansion in perfect order. The servants in the mansion certainly wouldn't be the type to pretend to obey, and Young Master isn't the type to break his promise easily. So I guess he's sick, which is why he hasn't been out of the house."
As Lei Li spoke, Lei Zhouzhou, who was sitting below him, nodded in agreement. He had a pair of peach blossom eyes similar to his, but his expression was serious and solemn.
If Lei Zhouzhou didn't look very similar to Lei Li, Princess Henghuan would have suspected that he was the illegitimate son of Duke Su, and the biological sibling of her youngest son Lin Zhong.
——From this angle, Lei Zhouzhou and Lin Zhong look like a couple.
"I came to visit you today, and I specially brought a few boxes of the best wild ginseng. I hope Madam won't mind."
Before Lei Li finished speaking, a maid came forward and respectfully opened an exquisite brocade box. Inside was several hundred-year-old ginseng roots in excellent quality, cushioned in red.
Since Lei Li had already said all this, Princess Henghuan naturally couldn't deny it, otherwise she would be suspected of deliberately targeting the Marquis of Changning's Mansion. So she smiled kindly and said,
"My son Chong'er was ill a few days ago, but he's feeling much better today after taking some medicine. He must be very happy to have a visit from a long-lost friend."
"Go, hurry up the young master, don't let his friends wait too long."
She kept calling everyone a friend, and described Lei Li bringing Lei Zhouzhou to the blind date as a friend's visit, as if she really didn't want Lin Zhong and Lei Zhouzhou to have any other close relationship.
But why did Lei Li feel like something was strange?
Lei Li had a smile on his face, but he was looking at Princess Henghuan calmly, wondering why she had been making such a big fuss these days.
Princess Henghuan is different from the Seventh Princess. She accompanied the late emperor in the battles among his brothers. Although she is getting older, it does not mean that she is stupid. The Duke Su's Mansion has been stable for so many years. As the wife of the Duke Su, her scheming is obviously different from before.
Others may become confused when they care too much, but Lei Li doesn't believe that Princess Henghuan will be the same.
Princess Henghuan looked very disappointed with her son and seemed to strongly disapprove of Zhou Zhou and Lin Zhong's relationship. She had often obstructed Lin Zhong from visiting Zhou Zhou before.
Lin Zhong was only able to sneak away and elope with Lei Zhouzhou to Qingyuan with the help of his brother Lin Qing, but how could a son fight against his mother?
The entire Duke Su's Mansion is under the control of Princess Henghuan. Unless she turns a blind eye, Lin Zhong would not be able to escape to Qingyuan. This is evident from the fact that Lin Zhong has been imprisoned for so many days and has not been able to escape.
She could obviously use more gentle means, such as slowly alienating Lin Zhong and Lei Zhouzhou. For such a scheming person, there are too many ways to create alienation.
For example, if you first agree to Lin Zhong but then keep delaying and not letting him and Zhou Zhou get married, the Changning Marquis' Mansion will also have opinions and oppose the two of them being together.
But why was Princess Henghuan so fierce and so ostentatious, wishing that the entire Kyoto and the entire court would know that the Duke Su's Mansion hated the Marquis Changning's Mansion?
That can only be a show.
Who are you putting on a show for?
It couldn't be for Lei Li to see. He felt that he didn't have enough face to be worthy of Princess Henghuan making such a big move. There was no need to show it to other ministers.
The reputation of the Duke Su’s Mansion is more important than anything else.
For aristocratic families who attach great importance to reputation, it is unbearable to let their own children become the topic of conversation among people in Beijing.
The Duke of Su’s Mansion is a place for ministers, and ministers put on a show... naturally it is for the emperor to see.
Lei Li was thinking while playing Tai Chi with Princess Henghuan over some trivial matters.
Not long after, Lin Zhong finally appeared.
As soon as he saw Lin Zhong, Lei Zhouzhou's face suddenly became more radiant, and his eyes sparkled, as if a brilliant galaxy was shining in them.
"Lin Zhong."
"Zhou Zhou."
When Lin Zhong saw Lei Zhouzhou for the first time, the corners of his lips immediately curled up. He threw away his usual restraint and smiled in a very worthless way.
His eyes followed Lei Zhouzhou closely, with a deep attachment in them that hadn't been seen for a long time. After a moment, he reluctantly looked away.
"Mother. Lord, Zhou Zhou."
He bowed and greeted Lei Li, then gently called out Lei Zhouzhou, his tone restrained and more intimate, with a smile in his voice.
His toes were pointed towards Lei Zhouzhou, but considering the presence of Marquis Changning and etiquette, he still sat to the lower right of Princess Henghuan, opposite Lei Zhouzhou, but his eyes were always on Lei Zhouzhou, which made Lei Zhouzhou suddenly feel a little happy.
"As the saying goes, a short absence is better than a new marriage."
Lei Li laughed and joked, "Look, Young Master Lin's eyes are almost glued to our Zhou Zhou. No wonder we didn't figure it out a few days ago."
"I only have Zhou Zhou in my heart."
As soon as Lei Li finished speaking, Lin Zhong couldn't wait to express his feelings. He said this to Lei Zhouzhou to comfort him, and also to express his feelings in front of Lei Li and his mother.
"Young Master Lin, why don't you take Zhou Zhou for a walk in the garden and enjoy the elegant scenery of Duke Su's Mansion? You can also have a good chat."
Lei Li looked at Princess Henghuan and said with a smile, "If you can settle your marriage soon, all your hard work these days will be worthwhile."
"Thank you for your hard work, mother."
Lin Zhong understood what she meant and immediately responded by flattering Princess Henghuan, as if he was the only one who was under house arrest in the Duke's Mansion and couldn't see his beloved.
He also took the opportunity to express his feelings, "This is a matter of life and death, I will listen to Zhou Zhou's opinion."
Princess Henghuan is not easy to get along with either.
She chuckled and said, "Even though we're good friends, Zhou Zhou is still my son. How can we let Chong'er take Zhou Zhou to the garden? It would be bad for Zhou Zhou's reputation if people told others about it. It's better to let Nanny Yun take Zhou Zhou there."
"Not really."
Lei Li smiled and said, "If the falling flower has feelings but the flowing water is heartless, then that's not good. But if both parties are willing, what's wrong with being affectionate and interesting under the flowers and willows?"
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