When Xia Houshu came out of Muchun Courtyard, she saw a thin figure at the door, leaning against the door and peering around. She stopped and took a closer look, wasn't it Xia Houling, the legitimate son of the third wife of the Xiahou family?
Xia Houling is the only son of Xiahou Ze, the third wife of the Xiahou family. He is ten years old, the sixth among his brothers, and the youngest among his peers.
Although Xia Houze was born into a family of military generals, he was frail since he was a child and passed away before he was twenty-five years old. He left his widow, Mrs. Guo, and his only son, Xia Houling, to depend on each other.
Mrs. Guo had a cold temperament. She was taciturn and rarely went out. When Xia Houze was alive, she took care of her frail husband and raised her young son. Although it was hard work, she was still peaceful. After Xia Houze passed away, she
He put all his energy on his son, so he monitored Xia Houling very strictly. On weekdays, except for going to private school, Mrs. Guo would lock Xia Houling in Xiafei courtyard to study and practice calligraphy.
Sister Cong is also not allowed to have regular contact with her.
The widowed mother and young son lived in the same place and did not want to interact with others. Over time, Xia Houling developed a shy and timid temperament. In addition, Xia Houling's body shape, appearance, and character were all the same as those of his father, and he was frail.
However, this delicate, gentle man, who is ten years old, does not have the slightest trace of boyishness.
Xia Houling also saw Xia Houshu. He knew he couldn't hide, so he simply came forward with a book in his arms and respectfully called "Third Sister".
As he got closer, Xia Houshu noticed that his eyes were a little erratic and he was not followed by anyone else, which was very inconsistent with Mrs. Guo's usual style.
When something goes wrong, there must be a monster. Xia Houshu looked around, then stared at Xia Houling and asked, "What are you doing sneaking around here? Where are the people who usually follow you?"
"I, I'm not sneaky." Xia Houling quickly denied it, then smiled and explained quickly, "Third sister, please don't get me wrong. I was originally going to school today, but halfway through Master Wei's lecture, his family
I hurriedly came to report that Mrs. Wei had fallen and injured her arm. The master was worried, so he asked for leave in advance and went back. I had nothing to do, thinking that my mother was chanting sutras for my father in the small ancestral hall, so it would be hard to go.
Excuse me. I also thought that the gentlemen at Muchunyuan were just educated people, so I avoided the mothers and came over to ask for advice."
Master Wei, who taught Xia Houling, was over fifty years old. He was erudite, kind-hearted, and not arrogant. He had been a student at Minglu Academy in the past, and he was famous all over the world. Master Wei always taught his disciples to respect their teachers, and he himself
He also set an example. Because his old mother was old and Minglu Academy was far away from Beijing, it was not easy to go back and forth. In order to take care of his old mother, Master Wei resolutely resigned and returned to Beijing. Later, Mrs. Guo heard his name from somewhere.
, he asked Xia Houyuan to come forward and invite him to teach Xia Houling in the mansion. As a result, Xia Houling's academic performance improved by leaps and bounds in the past two years.
Xia Houshu was a smart man. He immediately realized that Xia Houling was lying, but he didn't intend to expose it.
It seems that Mrs. Guo was indeed chanting sutras and praying in the small Buddhist hall at this time, but she must not have known that Master Wei had gone back early, and she was probably still pretending that Xia Houling was obediently attending classes at the private school.
Looking at his cautious cousin, Xiahou Shu felt distressed and amused at the same time. He couldn't help but say: "Ling'er, you are the son of the Xiahou family. Even if you don't go to the battlefield to kill the enemy and protect your family and country, you will still be a strong man."
.In your own home, you can go freely where you want to go, and say what you want to say freely. There is no need to be timid or hesitant."
Xia Houling listened attentively, then nodded politely, obediently like a puppet on strings.
Xia Houshu felt that what he said was in vain and couldn't help but sigh. He thought that if his third uncle were still alive, he would probably be sad to see Xia Houling looking so timid and cowardly.
One of Xiahou Ze's biggest regrets before his death was that he was suffering from illness and could not go to the battlefield like his two brothers to fight and kill the enemy and serve his family and country.
The dead are gone, but the living are like this. The past is gone, and the future can be traced. Xia Houshu does not want to rely on his elder sister to keep preaching to Xia Houling like an old woman. After all, he has many teachers around him.
How he conducts himself and behaves is like a callous in his ears.
"What do you want to ask gentlemen?" Xia Houshu took the book in Xia Houling's hand and looked at it. It was just a "Thousand-Character Essay", which can be regarded as an enlightenment book. With Xia Houling's intelligence, he had already memorized it by heart.
There is no need to ask others for advice. It is estimated that he took advantage of his mother and wife to be away and left the servants around him, looking for an excuse to go wild for a while.
It is the nature of children to be playful, especially children like Xia Houling, who are like caged birds. They have grown up in captivity. Whenever they seize the opportunity, they will try their best to go out and see the outside world.
Xia Houshu was a person who had come before, and he understood the purpose of Xia Houling's move, so he did not expose it. Instead, he said: "The gentlemen of Muchunyuan are arguing about government affairs at the moment. I don't think you are interested either. It just so happens that I am free today.
How about I take you to a fun place."
When Xia Houling heard that Xia Houshu said that he was going to take him to a fun place, his eyes instantly shone with excitement and he was a little overwhelmed with excitement. However, this happiness was fleeting, and he seemed to have thought of something again, and he immediately looked around vigilantly.
He looked at it, fearing that the walls had ears and would ruin his beautiful vision.
Xia Houshu looked at the series of changes in expressions on his face, and did not give him time to think of a reason to refuse. He turned to Yunxi and said: "Yunxi, please ask someone to go to the third aunt's place and tell Master Wei to take leave."
, Ling'er is with me and I will send him back later, please don't worry."
"But……"
Yunxi looked at Xia Houshu in embarrassment, and then at Xia Houling. How could she not know how powerful Mrs. Guo was after being exposed to her in the mansion for so many years.
After Xia Houze passed away, Mrs. Guo regarded Xia Houling as bone of bones and flesh of flesh, and was not allowed to leave the scope of her control for a moment. Her fierceness in protecting the calf was probably inferior to that of Zhong Yuqing, who was in charge of the central feeder.
If Xia Houshu just takes Xia Houling away like this, Mrs. Guo will definitely be unhappy if she finds out. And Xiahoushu himself is not a worry-free person. If he takes Xia Houling with him, who is like a little white rabbit, if something goes wrong,
I'm just afraid that I won't have peace in the future.
Xia Houshu noticed Yun Xi's worry, waved his hands and smiled with a relaxed expression, and said: "Ling'er is my younger brother, could I harm him? If the third aunt blames me, I will explain it myself later. Just go and report it."
Just give me a shout, so that my third aunt won’t get angry because she can’t see anyone and has no idea where she’s going.”
Yun Xi knew that he could never defeat Xia Houshu, so instead of trying his best to persuade her to give up and stop causing trouble, he might as well do things in a more harmonious manner as she said.
As a maid, don’t you have to think about your master at all times?
Thinking about it this way, Yun Xi's heart became much more open, and he no longer had unrealistic illusions. He immediately asked someone to go to Xiafei Court to report back, then asked someone to hitch a carriage, and left the Yue Kingdom Palace with Xia Houshu and his sister.
, go along East Street to Jiuyun Lane in the east of the city.
There is a juggling troupe called Qingxi Troupe in Jiuyun Lane, which has more than thirty performers. The performers are both male and female. They all have unique skills, including singers, storytellers, and performers.
His... skills are exquisite and amazing. He performs on the street every day, which is very lively and interesting.
The leader of the celebration class is a righteous person, good at dancing, and has a wide network of friends. Any respectable family in the capital will always invite them to sing a performance whenever there is a wedding, a child, a birthday and other happy events. On weekdays, there is no work.
Artists will also perform in the alleys. Not only can they exchange for silver rewards, but they can also improve their skills, expand publicity and fame, and have the best of all three. In Beijing, everyone from princes and nobles to ordinary people will come here to watch in their free time.
Carriages coming and going often block the alley.
Although Xia Houling grew up in the capital, due to her mother's strict control, she only left the house a handful of times. Moreover, every time she went out, she was surrounded by a large group of maids and servants, so she had no chance to observe the surrounding environment.
He is a road fool. Even if he were left within a mile of the Duke of Yue's mansion, he might not be able to find his way home.
It was rare that he avoided his mother's attention, got rid of the servants around him, and went out for a leisurely stroll. Xia Houling used the curtain of the carriage to look out all the way. He felt novel about everything and kept asking what it was.
What is it and what is its use.
Yunxi treated him as a child and answered him happily.
Suddenly, Xia Houling pointed to an elderly seller walking down the street holding a stick filled with candied haws, and asked: "Sister Yunxi, what is he holding in his hand? Is it a tree? The fruits on it are good.
pretty!"
"That's a candied haws on a stick." Yun Xi took a glance and said, but she felt it was strange in her heart that some people actually thought that the candied haws on a stick looked like a tree. But after a closer look, she felt that Xia Houling's description was very appropriate. It was not like a tree with many fruits.
A tree?
"What is candied haws?" Xia Houling did not notice Yun Xi's momentary absence, and continued to ask with a frown. He had only seen candied haws in books, but had never heard of candied haws.
It is recorded in the book that gourds are vines. Fresh gourds have tender green skin and white flesh. The gourds come in different shapes and sizes, including rod-shaped, scoop-shaped, pot-shaped, etc. They can be harvested and eaten as vegetables when they are immature, and dried in the sun.
The inside can be hollowed out and used as a container to hold wine and other things, which is very different from this red fruit. It seems that he still hasn't read enough books!
Yun Xi was surprised at first, thinking that the Sixth Young Master has never even eaten candied haws, right? The candied haws on East Street basically cost two cents a bunch. Even for her maid, who is not rich, it costs her a month.
Go out and buy a few bunches to try, not to mention Xiahou Shu, which is eaten every twelve months.
Yunxi stared at Xia Houling with a curious face, and Mrs. Guo's face suddenly appeared in her mind. She quickly shook her head to keep herself awake, and then patiently explained: "Tanghulu is a folk snack with a sweet and sour taste that is suitable for all ages.
It is suitable for everyone, and all the maids and servants in the house like it. And this candied haws is not only delicious, but also very beautiful. It is made by skewering wild fruits with bamboo skewers and then dipping them in maltose. When the syrup is exposed to the wind, it quickly solidifies.
The surface of the fruit, so it looks crystal clear."
Xia Houling nodded to show that he understood, then turned around and pointed to other objects to ask.
At first Yunxi answered patiently one by one. Xia Houling asked too many questions, and Yunxi couldn't resist. He couldn't help but teased: "Sixth Young Master, why are you like a girl who never steps out of the door?
? Don’t the nuns usually tell you this when they bring you out?"
"I……"
Xia Houling was timid and clumsy. He would not retaliate on the basis of his status as his master, but he had a very strong self-esteem. When he heard Yun Xi laughing at him openly and secretly, his childish little face turned red, but he still
Unable to suppress the surprise and curiosity in his eyes, he sat there looking at a loss.
Yun Xi also realized that he had made a mistake, and couldn't help biting his lip in embarrassment. Isn't the sixth son of their family someone who never gets out until he steps through the door?
In addition to being a man, his food, clothing, housing and transportation are even more pampered than Xia Houshu, a serious young lady. I don't know that these food and customs in the market are also common sense.
Xia Houshu was a good sister. Even though she thought what Yunxi said was reasonable, she couldn't see Xia Houling looking so aggrieved, so she stood up to smooth things over and said, "Okay, Yunxi, don't rely on yourself."
If you understand these things in the market, you will have your tail raised to the sky. You know that Ling'er doesn't go out of the house very often, and you dare to laugh at him. I will punish you well later."
Yun Xi stuck out his tongue, turned to Xia Houling with a smile, and said to please: "My sixth young master, please don't be angry with me. Our girl is right, I am talking nonsense. I haven't read a book, so
I know that these gadgets in the market will never make it to the market. But you, Sixth Young Master, are different. You read the books of sages and sages, and they talk about great principles. In the future, you will be promoted to an official position and your family will be glorious.
"
"I, I'm actually not as powerful as you say..."
After all, Xia Houling was just a child. After being fawned over by Yunxi, she instantly became elated. She continued to pull the curtain and look outside, but she stopped asking questions. This chapter has been completed!