The weather did gradually improve, and it did not rain until the evening. They had just finished their lunch break when Mrs. Liu came with her daughter.
As soon as Mrs. Liu entered the door, she said: "I knew that the princess was tired from going up the mountain, so she didn't dare to come over yesterday to disturb her. I guessed that the princess had almost rested today, and seeing that the weather was rarely sunny, I came here shamelessly to ask for her help.
Lord, don’t blame me for being unruly.”
They are all visitors, so even if Zhong Yuqing is really unhappy, she will not refuse them face to face. What's more, the status of the Sun family is also rising, so they will inevitably have to deal with them in the future.
Zhong Yuqing hurriedly invited Mrs. Liu and her daughter to take their seats. While ordering Hongluo to make tea, she ordered Qingfang to ask Xia Houshu to come over and accompany Sun Jiarou.
Mrs. Liu smiled brightly and sat down next to Zhong Yuqing on her right. Hongluo quickly served tea. She first complained about the weather, which was sunny and rainy at times, which made people very uncomfortable. Then she said that it was raining very hard.
Okay, it was just in time to chat with Zhong Yuqing again, and I politely asked Zhong Yuqing not to think she talked too much. Then I saw the Buddhist scriptures written by Zhong Yuqing, and he praised her without hesitation that her words were like her, and her words and actions were very exaggerated.
When Xia Houshu came in, he saw Mrs. Liu's exaggerated expression and frowned secretly.
After the two parties met, Xia Houshu sat on the other side of the table next to Zhong Yuqing and listened to them quietly.
Zhong Yuqing is not a talkative person on weekdays, and rarely has deep friendships with others. The person she has the closest relationship with is her natal sister-in-law, Princess Gong Qin, and the other is her eldest sister Xiahou Mei. Today, too,
I don't know whether it was because Mrs. Liu's words were too contagious, or because the Huguo Temple was too deserted, which made people feel lonely, but Zhong Yuqing actually had a very happy conversation with her.
The two of them sat quietly chatting about everyday things, like friends who have known each other for many years.
Xia Houshu listened briefly to their conversation. The content was probably that the youngest son of Sun Shaoqing's family had a strange disease and could not be cured for a long time. They heard that the incense in Huguo Temple was efficacious, so Mrs. Liu brought her daughter to pray for blessings. The mother and daughter were already at Huguo Temple.
I have been staying here for almost a month, and I originally planned to go back in the next few days. Unexpectedly, there was a heavy rainstorm, the driveway was destroyed, and the carriage could not get out, so I had to stay overnight.
Xia Houshu listened carefully and immediately discovered that Mrs. Liu's words were inconsistent and could not withstand scrutiny. Imagine a mother with a young son who is sick in bed. She has used up all her time and energy just to take care of the child.
How can I think of taking my daughter to Huguo Temple for a long stay? Let alone being able to chat and laugh with others so easily.
This statement is most likely used to deceive people.
Xia Houshu's doubts were soon answered by Sun Jiarou, who had been silent. Judging from Sun Jiarou's reaction, it seemed that she did not agree with her mother's words, as if she was deliberately hiding something.
Zhong Yuqing is a shrewd person, so she can't detect the strangeness in Mrs. Liu's words, but after all, she can't see through other people's affairs. She just listens to what the other person says quietly, and occasionally responds with a sentence or two.
Mrs. Liu seemed to have opened up her chat box completely. From the birthday banquet of the Queen Mother, to the flower banquets of several dignitaries in Beijing, from a certain lady's clothing and accessories, to the affairs of their family's inner house
, various and all wonderful.
Zhong Yuqing was obviously not interested in other people's parents being mean-spirited, but with Mrs. Liu chatting beside her, her mood seemed to improve and her sadness gradually disappeared.
Xia Houshu was even more uninterested in their chat, and presumably Sun Jiarou was the same.
She silently glanced at everyone in the room, and suddenly an idea came to her. She stood up, saluted Zhong Yuqing, and said, "Mom, the weather is very good today. Can I go out for a walk with my sister Sun?"
Sun Jiarou's eyes showed a bit of joy after hearing this proposal, but this bright light was quickly submerged in her slender black eyes, because Mrs. Liu's expression seemed a little embarrassed.
Two girls of similar age met to go out for a walk together. This was normal in any household. However, Mrs. Liu seemed to have a golden-winged bird in her hand that was about to fly away. She frowned deeply, but
Because it was difficult to refuse directly in front of Zhong Yuqing.
Zhong Yuqing looked at the two pretty girls, and guessed that they were not interested in the conversation of the older generation, so he kept them in the room, fearing that Xia Houshu would be the first to lose his temper, and thinking that Sun Jiarou was a
He was sick and well-behaved, and could not cause any trouble in the temple, so he said to Mrs. Liu: "Mrs. Liu, you are too cautious. This Huguo Temple is a Buddhist pure place, and there are people coming and going everywhere.
Just let them go out for a walk, and just send more people to follow them."
After hearing what Zhong Yuqing said, Mrs. Liu thought for a while, then nodded in agreement, explained a few more words, and ordered her two maids, Yunzhi and Guizhi, to follow her.
Xia Houshu and Sun Jiarou came out of the Zen room and walked along the stone path towards the back mountain. Yunxi and Sun Jiarou's two maids followed closely behind them, never leaving.
Xia Houshu saw some clues, so he pulled Sun Jiarou and asked quietly: "My sister is so worried, has she encountered something difficult?"
Sun Jiarou smiled bitterly, implying that it would be inconvenient for someone to follow her.
Xia Houshu understood and immediately turned to Yun Xi and the other two maids and said, "Don't follow me. I have a few words of respect for Sister Sun."
Yunzhi and Guizhi were a little surprised. They exchanged a look with each other, and one of them said: "Miss Xiahou, my girl is delicate. When she came out, my wife specifically told me to take good care of her. If something goes wrong, the slaves can't bear it."
I'm sorry, but I hope the girl will understand."
"Of course you have to listen to what your wife says, but Sister Jiarou is also your master, don't you have to listen to what she says?" Xia Houshu said coldly, "Or, you don't trust me because you are afraid that I will provoke you.
Kidnapped your girl?"
"I don't dare!" The two maids were startled and said quickly, "The girl is the daughter of the Duke's family, the apple of Princess Xuanhe's eye, and she is naturally the kindest person."
"Duplicity!" Xia Houshu continued to sneer, "If you really think I am kind, why do you follow me every step of the way? Your girl is not a prisoner, and I am not a human trafficker, so why bother?"
When the two maids heard this, they were so frightened that they knelt down and begged for mercy. They said in unison: "Miss Xiahou, be careful what you say! Both girls are rich and noble, and the slaves are all lowly and ignorant idiots. How can they dare to make random suspicions? She is really my wife.
Your orders come first, and the slaves dare not disobey!"
Xia Houshu just wanted to intimidate them and make them wiser. Now that her goal has been achieved, she did not continue to show off her power and said: "In this case, I won't embarrass you. You just stay away, but don't steal anything."
listen."
After saying that, Xia Houshu took Sun Jiarou and took a few steps forward. She didn't ask Sun Jiarou what happened until she was sure that the other party couldn't hear them.
"Thank you sister for your kindness. It's just that my sister can help Jiarou once, but she can't help Jiarou for the rest of her life." Sun Jiarou couldn't help but feel sad after saying this, and there was mist in her eyes that couldn't be blown away.
Only then did Xia Houshu notice that Sun Jiarou was beautiful, but her figure was extremely thin, and she had no energy, as if she had been seriously ill.
Anyone who sees this look will feel distressed. Xia Houshu couldn't help but feel pity for her, patted Sun Jiarou on the shoulder and said comfortingly: "If you don't mind, you might as well tell me what happened first, so that I can think about it.
Can I help you?"
Sun Jiarou's foggy eyes seemed to have a clear spring slowly flowing out. She thought she was moved, or she thought of something sad. She thought for a long time before biting her lips and said: "Actually, my mother didn't bring me to Huguo Temple.
It was to pray for my younger brother. In the first month of the year, my concubine was indeed infected with wind and cold, but my father went to the palace to ask an imperial doctor to treat him, and his own mother took care of him, so my mother didn't worry too much. They took care of him.
I was sent here just to put me under house arrest."
"House arrest?" Xia Houshu seemed to have heard a big secret, and her surprise was palpable. She carefully recalled Mrs. Liu's words and deeds, and she was considered a thoughtful and exquisite person. She couldn't help but wonder: "I looked at your majesty.
Your Excellency has a kind face and does not look like a harsh person. You are her biological daughter, how could you..."
Sun Jiarou lowered her head and smiled bitterly, and said quietly: "My father and mother naturally protect me, but I am ashamed to be a child."
Xia Houshu immediately realized that there was another story in it, turned around and winked at Yun Xi quickly.
Yun Xi understood the idea, stopped immediately, glanced at Yunzhi and Guizhi, pointed at the purse on Yunzhi's waist and praised her rare needlework and her excellent embroidery skills, and pulled them to ask for advice.
Yunzhi's needlework has always been a skill she was proud of. Now that she heard Yun Xi's praise, she couldn't help but feel happy. She didn't care whether she had any tasks to do, and enthusiastically taught her techniques.
Guizhi, however, was not interested in what they were discussing. He cursed Yunzhi secretly in his heart and quickly stared at Sun Jiarou. Just as he was about to follow, he was grabbed by Yunxi.
Yun Xi smiled and said: "This sister seems to be a smart and capable person. I wonder what acupuncture techniques you know? Can you share your experience with us?"
She reached out to avoid hitting the smiling person, not to mention that the other person was from the Duke of Yue's palace. Guizhi couldn't be embarrassed, but her whole mind was on Sun Jiarou, and she casually replied: "I'm not good at female work. I'm a hair-combing maid in Madam's house."
.”
"No wonder I saw that Mrs. Liu's bun was very delicate and unique. It turned out to be the credit of my sister." Yun Xi immediately started chatting along her strengths, "My girl often said that our bun was not innovative and she disliked our craftsmanship.
No. I was in trouble, and by chance I met a clever person like my sister. It seems that I have to find more opportunities to ask her for advice." Then she looked at Yunzhi again, "Sisters, come with me.
Tell me, can you ask an expert to teach you? Do you have any tips?"
Yunzhi and Guizhi naturally said no, they all figured it out on their own.
Yun Xi looked even more adoring after hearing this, and pulled the two of them to further exchange their experiences.
Yunzhi and Guizhi were a little irritated by Yunxi's entanglement, but they thought Yunxi was Xiahou Shu's personal maid and dared not speak out, so they could only tell some half-truths and half-falsehoods about their own experiences.
Yun Xi listened with great interest and asked questions from time to time, as if he really wanted to learn needlework and combing his hair.
The two groups of people, one behind the other, naturally distanced themselves a little further.
When Sun Jiarou saw this scene, she was a little shocked at first. She didn't expect that the "tail" that she couldn't get rid of after all her efforts could be deceived like this. Then she smiled knowingly and became much kinder to Xia Houshu.
Said: "I have a person in my heart, and I have been waiting for him..." This chapter has been completed!