In the early morning, the guests who came to express condolences last night began to return on their way home.
But there are a few surprises.
Zhao Yun, who was sitting across from Tian Kai in the mourning hall, chatting and drinking tea, returned to the courtyard where he lived with Zhao Xi when no one was around at dawn.
Just after falling asleep, I heard the boy servant in the courtyard coming outside the door to report that Liaodong Yicao was visiting.
Zhao Yun was stunned. Although he and Ye Yao had agreed to lend laborers to various wealthy families in Lulong, their personal relationship had not reached a level that would warrant him visiting in the early morning.
However, Zhao Yun would not kick people out when they came to the door.
First, he ordered the boy servant to prepare tea, and he quickly got up, changed his clothes and washed his face.
"Ye Yicao, please wait a moment. My captain will be here shortly."
All the servants in Zhao Yun Courtyard were selected by Gongsun Yan himself.
Although Zhao Yun had a stern temperament, there were inevitably rough times in his life, so Gongsun Yan chose two servants for him who were attentive and talkative.
In the past, not many people visited Zhao Yun's place.
Those who came were old acquaintances such as Tian Kai who came to Zhao Xi for tea and advice. The servants had little experience in treating foreign guests.
Seeing Ye Yao sitting down in the main room with a personal entourage, he thought that he might not be able to boil water in the east kitchen in time, so the servant hurriedly went to knock on the back door of Gongsun Yan's courtyard.
"Who is it?" As the boy servant expected, Ah Qing's reply came quickly from the door.
Among the people in Gongsun Yan's courtyard, Ah Qing was the first to get up.
Just like in Lingzhi City, having someone follow you at all times and do everything for you sounds good, but Gongsun Yan doesn't like it.
Since arriving at Lone Bamboo Manor and truly having her own stable residence, she has gradually designated her own private area and time.
There are also different arrangements for Ah Qing and Alan, which also results in Ah Qing no longer following Gongsun Yan at all times like before.
He spent more time in the courtyard with his young son Gongsun Chenghe, who stayed in the East Kitchen to study cooking skills.
Every morning when she wakes up, she and everyone in the courtyard have to drink the porridge she cooks and eat the preserved meat she makes. This is Ah Qing's biggest insistence at the moment.
"Sister Ah Qing, it's me, Alai." The servant lowered his voice and responded.
"Alai?" Ah Qing wiped his hands on his apron, walked out of the East Kitchen quickly, and opened the door with a creak.
"What's going on?"
Whatever delicious food there is in Gongsunyan's courtyard is bound to be served next door, so the maids and servants are all very familiar with each other.
Alai also didn't like Ah Qing's roundabout politeness. He said directly that a visitor was coming and wanted to find some hot tea, snacks and fruits to entertain them.
Zhao Yun spends most of his time sleeping in the military camp, and Zhao Xi is the busiest person in the entire Lone Bamboo Manor. The two of them don't have a fire in the kitchen, and they don't prepare any snacks.
"Okay! You wait." Knowing the whole story, Ah Qing nodded immediately and went back to the kitchen to bring a polished copper kettle to Alai.
"You go and serve tea to the guests first. I'll find some snacks and fruits and bring them to you."
"Thank you, Sister Ah Qing." Alai carefully took the kettle, thanked it, and hurried away.
When Ah Lai went to ask for hot water and snacks, Ye Yao was sitting on the soft cushion in the verandah, with his attendants standing beside him.
The straw curtains on both sides are rolled up and tied up with silk ribbons, revealing the transparent scenery of willows and flowers in the courtyard.
On the black verandah doorposts and the shiny black floor, a hanging flower that has just begun to bloom in the garden is revealed. Under the print, the buds are even more delicate.
Looking at this hanging flower, Ye Yao was a little lost in thought.
"Sir, why is the courtyard where Captain Zhao lives so understaffed?"
Most of the followers of rich families were cultivated since childhood, and so were Ye Yao's followers, so his words were inevitably a bit casual.
When he saw the boy servant in the courtyard inviting them to sit down and then disappearing, he had some questions in his mind, so he asked in a low voice.
They came to express their condolences as guests. They stayed here for a night, and their food and clothing were carefully and considerately provided. It was obvious that the management of this manor was very capable.
Why did Captain Zhao make an oversight when they were both guests? Apart from the boy servant who opened the door, there was only one and a half boys waiting in the courtyard, and not even one more boy servant who came to serve tea.
It is unreasonable for such an omission to happen to a wealthy family with a big surname like Gongsun.
Halfway through what he said, he was stopped by Ye Yao's eyes.
Unlike his confused followers, Ye Yao had already noticed something strange when he arrived.
Unlike their guest courtyard on the edge of the main house, Zhao Yun's courtyard is directly at the core.
There is also a weapons rack in the corner of the front yard of this courtyard, with wooden spears and stone locks used by warriors for their morning exercises.
This should be Captain Zhao's permanent residence in Guzhu Manor.
Ye Yao glanced at the corridor thoughtfully.
A small animal-shaped bell hangs from the red silk ribbon. When the wind blows, it jingles and makes a pleasant sound.
It makes people sitting on the porch feel peaceful.
Such a small and thoughtful arrangement is not something they would find in their guest houses.
A warrior like Zhao Yun would not be like this. The daughter's family is leisurely, elegant and thoughtful.
Ye Yao had a sudden thought in his heart. Just as he was about to think about it, he heard someone walking towards him.
"Ye Yi Cao, please wait for a long time. Zhao is rude."
Zhao Yun was wearing ordinary household clothes and no hair crown. He was looking fresh and fresh. It was hard to tell that he had been waiting at the mourning shed all night.
"No, it's Ye who came to visit early in the morning. It's too abrupt."
Ye Yao smiled, stood up and saluted Zhao Yun, while calmly looking at Zhao Yun again.
Yesterday he admired Zhao Yun, but today he re-examined it from a completely different perspective.
In the mourning shed, he knew he had lost his composure, but the strange behavior of Zhao Yun beside him could not escape his eyes.
He knew that Captain Zhao had single-handedly entered Yijing to save the Lord from the encirclement, and then protected the Lord to Lingzhi.
However, yesterday, when I really saw that the "lord" I saved was such a beautiful girl, these stories couldn't help but be tinged with beauty when told again, making people daydream about it.
It also kept him tossing and turning all night long.
He considers himself a gentleman, is open-minded, and takes action when his heart is moved.
Even Captain Zhao also admires Madam Yan, but now that Captain Zhao is unmarried and Madam Yan is unmarried, they should treat it as a fair competition.
Lady Yan will be mourning, so he has no chance.
Although he lost his legitimate wife, he was born in the Ye family, which was more suitable for Lady Yan's family than the commoner family of Zhao Duwei.
Even though Captain Zhao had meritorious service, based on his background, he was still far behind in wanting to marry Jihou's daughter.
Maybe she was tired all the way, so her sister Ye Yun lay in her room yesterday without seeing anyone else, and she asked a doctor to check her pulse.
Although it was inappropriate, he was secretly happy. It would be good to take advantage of his sister's illness and stay a few more days.
He can learn more about Lady Yan's temperament and preferences.
I came here early this morning just to find out the attitude and tone of Captain Zhao.
At this time, looking at Zhao Yun again as a man, Ye Yao could not admit that if Zhao Yun's family status was not too low, it would be almost impossible for him to win.
Ye Yao's heart was spinning a thousand times, but he didn't show it on his face. He sat opposite Zhao Yun in the corridor together.
At this time, Alai, who went to Gongsunyan's yard to borrow hot water, also made tea and presented it.
