Zhong Qingkui's eyes were full of anger. If she were at home, she would definitely rebuke Xia Houshu, but this is the annex of Nanyuan Palace, and there are so many noble ladies around, she cannot be provoked by Xiahoushu's words.
She lost her manners. She tried hard to suppress the anger in her heart, and did not care about the relationship between the two families. She said coldly: "I have something else to do, so I won't chat with you. I will leave first."
After saying that, she turned around and left, not caring about Zhong Qingkui.
Xia Houshu was a little surprised. After all, Zhong Lufu was not like this before. It seemed that ever since they had a dispute, Zhong Lufu had never given her a good look, let alone communicated with her in kind words. Every time they met,
, Zhong Lufu looked at her like a cockfighting cock, either saying nothing, or making some weird remarks, and in the end they all broke up unhappy.
"Did something happen to your family recently?" Xia Houshu asked Zhong Qingkui, pointing to Zhong Lufu's retreating back. She still couldn't figure out where Zhong Lufu's temper today came from. It's been so long,
Even if she didn't want to see him any more, she wouldn't lose her temper before even saying anything, right?
"I don't know what happened to the third sister." Zhong Qingkui shook her head and said thoughtfully, "Ever since my father said he would betroth her to the fifth son of the Cheng family, she has often been like this, moody. Sometimes I don't
I don't know what I said wrongly that made her angry. But there are good times. I heard Zhui'er next to the third sister say that the third sister seemed to have made a good friend, and the two often exchanged letters. Every time after receiving a letter,
The third sister will be happy for several days and will reply to letters. But within a few days, the third sister will become depressed again, lock herself in the room and refuse to pay attention to anyone."
Xia Houshu was confused after hearing this, and couldn't help but wonder: "She rarely goes out. When did she make a pen pal? Do you know her?"
Zhong Qingkui thought about it carefully and said: "After Princess Zhao's birthday party, the third sister seemed to be a different person. She would go out every now and then, and I was not allowed to follow. I was curious, so I asked someone to inquire.
, Third sister, she went to Tinglan Poetry Club. Tinglan Poetry Club was founded by several talented students from Ye Guogong’s mansion. It is not far from our home, and the yard is not very big. Usually, it is
These are some literati reciting poems and painting there. As you know, I have no talent in this area and don’t really like to join in the fun, so I don’t know what happened to the third sister there. Maybe that’s where I met the third sister.
I found someone with similar interests, so I didn’t pay much attention to me from now on.”
Zhong Lufu is good at painting and occasionally writes poems on her paintings, so it makes sense that she went to the Lan Poetry Society, so it doesn't sound suspicious. However, as the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together, and Zhong Lufu
The kind of friends you can make with that kind of naughty personality must be somewhat similar to her.
Xia Houshu suddenly became a little curious about who the other party was.
Xia Houchun didn't have a close relationship with Zhong Lufu, so she didn't care about her condition. She looked around and found that there were a lot less people. She came back to her senses and reminded: "Let's leave quickly. It will be later."
I’m afraid I won’t be able to catch up with the silk ceremony!”
Xia Houshu reacted immediately and walked forward holding the other by the hand, muttering: "You have to get there quickly, otherwise the second brother will definitely never finish with me!"
The group of people hurriedly hurried and finally arrived at the paddock before the silk ceremony began. Most of the people who were supposed to come had already arrived. Excluding the guards, there were at least six or seven hundred people standing inside. The civil and military officials were divided into two teams, each standing on one side, with the middle
There were young men and women from all the families standing, with the men standing in a square formation and the women standing in a square formation. It was really eye-catching to watch from a distance.
Zhong Lufu came early, so she stood closer to the front. At this moment, she was talking and laughing with several noble ladies around her. Her every word and deed was dignified and decent, and she was not inferior to those legitimate daughters from famous families.
Before the dispute with Zhong Lufu, Xia Houshu also thought that she was a gentle and kind girl who could distinguish right from wrong. But now, Xia Houshu would doubt her motives in every move she made.
Without having time to think too much, they quickly took the power fence belt from their respective maids according to the rules, and then lined up behind the female family members. The people in front turned around when they heard the sound, and no one could see clearly through the power fence.
Who was the other party? From their actions, Xia Houshu also guessed that the other party despised him. The three of them knew that they were in the wrong, and they all kept a low profile in a tacit understanding.
When no one was paying attention to them, Xia Houshu peeled off the gauze on the power fence with his hands, opened his eyes wide and tried to search the men's team, and soon locked Xia Houyi's back in the crowd.
I feel a little more relieved.
Looking at the city in the distance, the emperor and his concubines were sitting. Because they arrived too late, stood too far back, and had a power fence blocking their view, the three little girls could hardly see clearly.
But Yunxi had inquired about the true appearance of everyone on their behalf. On this hunting trip, the emperor brought five concubines, among them the most favored Concubine Yao.
Xia Houshu had been involved in a storm of public opinion because of his criticism of the dispute between Concubine Yao and Concubine Tong Shu. Naturally, he was a little curious about Concubine Yao, who was rumored to be the favorite of the Sixth Palace. She stood on tiptoe and tried to look over there, but she still couldn't.
Not really, so I could only sigh with regret.
Zhong Qingkui was not interested in the people on the stage. She poked Xia Houshu's waist with her finger and whispered: "Cousin Shu, has the second cousin appointed you to be the one to give him silk?"
"Yes." Xia Houshu nodded and withdrew his attention. Looking at her expectant eyes, he deliberately lowered his voice and asked, "Do you have any ideas?"
"I have no idea." Zhong Qingkui replied honestly, "I originally thought that if my second cousin didn't appoint you to give him silk, then I would try my best to do it before others.
.But since he has already named you, I won’t compete with you.”
Xia Houshu smiled and felt that this little girl Zhong Qingkui was really funny. She didn't hide her little thoughts. After laughing, she thought of another thing and immediately imitated Zhong Qingkui and stood in front of her.
Xia Houchun.
Xia Houchun was observing the ladies around him, looking at their clothes and jewelry. After being poked, he immediately turned his head, frowned and asked, "What are you planning on?"
Xia Houshu came closer and whispered: "Second sister, third brother has been away from the capital for many years. It is estimated that many women in the capital don't know him. Will there be no one to give him silk soon?"
After hearing this, Xia Houchun looked towards the men's team, her eyes focused on Xia Houhui who was behind Xia Houyi. In the past few days, she had been looking at her own clothes and jewelry, and completely forgot to pay attention to her own brother. If it was because others didn't know him,
Wouldn't it be embarrassing if he didn't have anyone to give him silk?
What a mistake! What a mistake! Xia Houchun regretted it so much that he turned around and said to Xia Hoshu in frustration: "I forgot about him."
"That's just right!" Xia Houshu was very happy, and then said to Zhong Qingkui, "We are all brothers anyway. How about you go and give silk to the second brother, and I will give the silk to the third brother, so that no one will feel left out.
"
"Really?" Zhong Qingkui's face was filled with a smile, but within a moment, the smile faded again and she murmured, "Let's forget it."
Xia Houshu looked at her suspiciously and said, "Zhong Qingkui, something is very wrong with you today!"
"Don't talk nonsense." Zhong Qingkui explained with a frank look, "I am a very self-aware person. Since my second cousin has already named you to give silk, I won't go and ask for trouble. But I can go
Give your third cousin some silk, as long as he doesn't mind."
"Of course he won't mind!" Xia Houchun said immediately, "Not only will he not mind, he will also be grateful to you!"
"Really?" Zhong Qingkui was doubtful and glanced over there involuntarily.
"Of course it's true!" Xia Houchun replied very sincerely.
Zhong Qingkui thought hard for a while and then asked: "I haven't seen my third cousin for many years. He probably doesn't recognize me anymore, right? What if he thinks I am a stranger and refuses to pay attention to me or let me give him silk?"
what to do?"
Xia Houshu glanced at her and said disdainfully: "Are you still afraid?"
"Cousin Shu, what are you talking about?" Zhong Qingkui immediately pouted, "The men in your family are all cold-faced, especially towards strange women who come forward!"
This is the truth, and Xia Houshu has nothing to refute.
Seeing that the two of them were about to quarrel, Xia Houchun quickly persuaded them: "Okay, okay, time is tight, so don't quarrel. Listen to me, Shu'er will give silk to the second brother as agreed before. As for the
Third brother, it’s all cousin Qingkui’s fault.”
"Cousin Chun, Cousin Shu and I are joking! Don't take it seriously!" Zhong Qingkui immediately smiled, and then looked in the direction of Xia Houhui, "Don't worry, if he refuses to pay attention to me
, I will forcefully tie the ribbon on his hand and tie it into a tight knot to see what he will do!"
Xia Houchun pursed his lips and smiled, and Xia Houchun couldn't help laughing.
Then the ceremony officer came on stage and said a bunch of congratulations, and then announced the start of the silk ceremony. Then two teams came carrying the palace maid Pingting filled with ribbons of various colors. Each woman picked one she liked from the tray.
Colorful ribbons, various and colorful.
When the palace maid stopped in front of Xia Houchun, she chose a blue one without hesitation, while Xia Houshu chose a red one calmly. Zhong Qingkui picked around in the tray, but she really didn't know which one to choose.
Which color, he anxiously asked Xia Houchun for help.
Xia Houchun said with a smile: "Just pick the color you like. It doesn't matter what color Third Brother likes. He is a man who hangs out in the military camp all day long. He doesn't have so many ideas."
Zhong Qingkui was relieved and quickly picked out a peach-pink ribbon.
Xia Houchun couldn't help laughing when he thought about his brother wearing a pink ribbon.
"Why are you laughing?" Zhong Qingkui immediately straightened her face and said seriously, "Didn't you tell me to just pick the color I like?" As she said this, she glanced at the red ribbon in Xia Houshu's hand, "Look at Shu.
My cousin chose a bright red one. My second cousin obviously likes white the best, but she chose a red one. Red is obviously her favorite color."
"Don't you understand this?" Xia Houshu waved the red ribbon in his hand and explained knowledgeably, "It is precisely because the second brother likes to wear white that I specially chose red for him. You see
Look, how festive and eye-catching red is!"
Zhong Qingkui rolled her eyes directly.
Xia Houchun was a little uneasy. He looked in the direction of He Ziyan and muttered: "Then did I choose the wrong color? Just seeing He Wulang wearing crow clothes, I wanted to pick one of the same color.
Ribbon, I didn’t expect it would be less eye-catching!”
This time Xia Houshu and Zhong Qingkui couldn't help laughing.
Zhong Qingkui covered her mouth and snickered, and then said: "Cousin Chun, you are overthinking it. As long as it is a gift from you, even if it is just a piece of thick twine, Mr. He Wu will think it is the most beautiful!"
When Xia Houshu heard this, he quickly poked Zhong Qingkui and joked in a low voice: "I didn't expect you know a lot at such a young age! Why don't you tell me secretly, where did you learn it all?"
Naturally, Zhong Qingkui would not tell her that she secretly read it from the story book, pouting and ignoring her.
