Liu Zhi'an poked the sweet potatoes on the stove with tongs and rolled his eyes angrily.
"There's nothing wrong with your eyes. I'm roasting sweet potatoes. Can't you see?"
Young Master Liu's mouth twitched a few times, he picked up a stool and placed it next to the stove. After adjusting his clothes, he sat down carelessly.
"I am not blind, so of course I can see that you are roasting sweet potatoes.
I mean, the banquet in the palace has just ended, and it's not even half an hour yet!
Why did you two pass the exam and eat sweet potatoes again?
What's the matter, at today's banquet in the palace, the royal chefs carefully prepared so many delicacies from mountains and seas, don't they suit your taste, old man?"
Just as Liu Zhi'an was about to speak, Qinglian, the Queen and the other sisters walked into the palace gate together.
"Daughters-in-law and sisters meet daddy."
"Brothers, grandchildren, pay homage to grandpa."
"The granddaughters and sisters meet grandpa."
Liu Zhi'an put down the fire tongs in his hand and looked at Qinglian, the Queen and her sisters, Liu Feifei, Liu Chengfeng, Little Cutie and their brothers and sisters who had walked into the mansion one after another, rubbing them happily.
Rubbing his hands.
"No gifts for all, no gifts for all."
"Thank you dad."
"Thank you, grandpa."
When the little cutie saw some roasted sweet potatoes on the stove, she frowned slightly and looked at Liu Zhi'an in surprise.
"Grandpa, why did you bake sweet potatoes again? Weren't you full at the banquet?"
Liu Zhi'an raised his head and looked at the little cutie, and said with a chuckle: "Yue'er, you and your dad are truly a father and daughter.
Your father just asked my grandfather this question, and you asked it again as soon as you came in."
When the little cutie heard Liu Zhi'an's words, she glanced sideways at her father and snorted softly.
"Huh, it's just a coincidence."
"Hehehe, Yue'er, whatever you say is whatever you say."
The little cutie stretched out her white and flawless hands and placed them on top of the stove and gently turned it a few times.
"Grandpa, you haven't told Yue'er yet what's going on."
Liu Zhi'an smiled and picked up the tongs to turn the sweet potatoes over, and said with a chuckle: "Yue'er, there are too many people at the banquet, Grandpa, I feel uncomfortable eating.
No, after grandpa, your grandma and I answered the question at home, we asked your grandpa Liu Yuan to help me bake a few sweet potatoes, planning to fill my stomach for a while."
"Hey, that's it."
Young Master Liu picked up the pot and poured a cup of tea. He smiled lightly and looked up at Qinglian. Ling Weier and the other sisters looked over.
"Lian'er, Wei'er, Yunyao."
"My sisters are here."
"You sisters have been busy all day. It's getting late, so you sisters should go back early and have a rest."
"Hey, my sisters know it."
"Yiyi, Yaoyao, Chengfeng, Yue'er, you brothers and sisters should go back and rest first."
"Yes, my child knows."
"Dad, my daughter-in-law and sisters are going back first."
"Grandpa, we are going back first."
"Okay, okay, let's go back. Let's all go back first."
"Lingyi."
"Hey, husband."
"After you go back to bathe and change clothes, don't forget to tell the maids to prepare a bucket of hot water for my husband to use for bathing."
"Yeah, yeah, I know."
"Okay, then you go back first."
"I retire."
Liu Mingzhi watched everyone gradually go away, picked up the tea he poured and blew it gently a few times.
"Old man, tell me, what are you waiting for me here for?"
"Master, the sweet potato on the left is ripe."
"Ah, good, good, good."
Liu Zhi'an immediately picked up the tongs and picked up the sweet potato sitting on the left side.
He first slowly put the hot and fragrant roasted sweet potatoes aside, then reached out and lifted the drink beside him and gestured to his eldest son.
"You bastard, what about you? Are you still here?"
Young Master Liu took a sip of tea, smiled and nodded.
"Come on, let me have some drinks with you, Uncle Yuan."
Liu Zhi'an poured the wine into the glass and glanced at Young Master Liu with a frown.
"Where is this kid Cheng Gan? Why didn't I see him come back with me just now?"
Young Master Liu stretched out his hand to pick up a glass of wine, turned towards the backyard and pursed his lips.
"We should have reached the back door by now."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"This guy got drunk himself in order to get Chengzhi drunk.
Liu Songlai drove a carriage to take him to the back door, and after waiting for half a cup of tea, Xiaowu, Xiaoliu and the others will probably carry him to the room."
Liu Zhi'an raised his eyebrows and shook his head helplessly.
"This guy's drinking capacity still needs mercy."
Young Master Liu picked up the warm wine and drank it in one gulp, his expression becoming curious.
"What? Could it be that what you want to tell me, old man, has something to do with this boy Cheng Gan?"
Liu Zhi'an picked up the drink and tasted it briefly. He glanced in the direction of the backyard with a strange expression, chuckled and nodded.
"Of course."
"whats the matter?"
"Tell me, tell me, what's going on with the little girl who has been surrounding Cheng Qian at the banquet from beginning to end today?"
Young Master Liu looked slightly startled and asked instinctively: "Little girl? Which little girl?"
"That's the little girl wearing a brocade jacket, a lavender silk skirt, and cowhide boots."
Young Master Liu silently recalled it, and suddenly nodded in enlightenment.
"Oh... I know who you are talking about, young master. It turns out to be this girl Zhou Tong'er."
Liu Zhi'an's face lit up, and he happily divided the warm roasted sweet potato into two, then lowered his head and took a bite.
"Zhou Tong'er? Tell me quickly, what's going on with this girl? Is she the girl Cheng Gan likes?"
Liu Mingzhi gently turned the tea cup in his hand, looked at Liu Zhi'an and said with a chuckle: "You are right, this girl is the girl that this boy Cheng Qian likes."
"When did it happen? Why have I never heard you and Yun'er girl, Yan'er girl and the other sisters mention it?"
"It wasn't that long, just not long ago.
It was probably something you and your mother, father-in-law and mother-in-law decided on half a month ago on the day you arrived in the capital."
Liu Zhi'an paused slightly while peeling the sweet potato skin, and then his eyes widened.
"You bastard, what does this settled matter mean?
Is that what I understand it to mean?"
"Yes, that's what you understand, old man.
Cheng Qian and Tong'er are already engaged."
Liu Zhian took a deep breath, picked up the drink next to him and drank it all in one gulp.
"You bastard, why don't you tell me about something as important as your lifelong career?"
Liu Mingzhi picked up the pot and refilled a few glasses of wine, then shrugged his shoulders with a depressed expression.
"Old man, you have seen with your own eyes how busy I am during this period of the year.
The large and small court meetings and batches of official documents are enough to keep me busy, young master.
In such a busy situation, how can I have the extra time to think about this matter?"
After listening to Mr. Liu's explanation, Liu Zhi'an pursed his lips a few times, but finally said nothing.
Indeed, I have seen with my own eyes how busy Mr. Liu has been during this period.
Liu Zhi'an picked up the wine glass and took a sip, exhaling the alcohol with a look of helplessness.
"Okay, whatever you say is what it is."
"Hehehe, old man, why does your tone sound so reluctant?"
Liu Zhi'an rolled his eyes angrily and ate the roasted sweet potato in his hand.
"What is the origin of this girl Zhou Tong'er?"
"One of my young master's life and death brothers, the apple of Zhou Baoyu's eye."
"Zhou Baoyu."
Liu Zhi'an repeated Zhou Baoyu's name softly, narrowed his hands slightly, and thought thoughtfully.
"Zhou Baoyu, are you talking about Zhou Baoyu, one of the Six Guards of the New Army and the general of the trapped army?"
"Yes, that's this guy."
Liu Zhi'an nodded with a clear expression, and then dropped the sweet potato peel in his hand into the bamboo basket at his feet.
"The tiger girl from Jiangmen is from a very good background.
Being married to this boy Cheng Qian is definitely a perfect match."
"Old man, you know my young master's character.
I don't take things like being well-matched too seriously."
Liu Zhi'an breathed a sigh of relief and picked up his drink with a sad expression.
"Bastard, even so, sometimes, after all, you cannot avoid being vulgar!
This is true even if you, the boy, are now the king of a country.
The couple came from different backgrounds, so their vision and ideas of how to look at things in the future are not necessarily completely different, but they are worlds apart. There must be some gap to some extent.
And once this happens.
For the couple, some conflicts are inevitable.
In other words, if the couple cannot be of one mind.
Such a marriage is a disaster rather than a blessing!"
Liu Mingzhi was silent for a moment with his brows slightly furrowed, then smiled and nodded.
"That's true, but nothing is absolute!
This young master wants to give the following children a certain degree of freedom in their life-long matters.
It would be best if you are a good match.
On the contrary, as a father, I will naturally respect their own choices.
After all, no one knows what will happen in the future."
Liu Zhi'an gently turned the wine glass in his hand and looked at Liu Yuan sitting next to him with a faint smile.
"Brother, what do you think?"
Liu Yuan was silent for a while and said with a smile: "Master, I don't know what to say.
If you have to say something, just let it be.
As the young master said just now, no one knows what will happen in the future."
Young Master Liu raised his eyebrows and gestured to Liu Yuan while holding the wine glass with a smile on his face.
"Uncle Yuan, I would like to propose a toast to you."
"Okay, okay, Master, please."
Liu Zhi'an looked at the two men Liu and Young Master who were drinking together, took a breath of hot breath into his palms, stood up and stretched.
"Now that the engagement between this boy Cheng Gan and this girl Zhou Tong'er has been finalized, when do you plan to get them married?"
"Yun'er, Yan'er, the sisters and others have already had their fortunes calculated by the Qintian Prison and the fortune tellers in the city a month ago.
From the beginning of the month to the end of this year, there were no good and auspicious days.
Next year, after the spring of next year, we will let this boy Cheng Qian and Tong'er girl get married."
Liu Zhi'an nodded happily, picked up his drink and drank it all in one gulp.
"Okay, great."
Liu Zhi'an took out a handkerchief and wiped his hands, happily put his hands in his warm sleeves, and then hurried towards the inner courtyard.
"This boy Cheng Qian has started a family and started a business. If I and your mother kiss us two old people, we will have one less thing to worry about."
Young Master Liu watched Liu Zhi'an's back walk into the corridor and drank the wine in his glass silently.
"Master."
"Hmm? Uncle Yuan?"
"Master, you have been busy for most of the day.
It's getting late now, so you should go back and rest early."
Liu Mingzhi took a long breath, slowly put the wine glass aside, chuckled and gave Liu Yuan a fist.
"Uncle Yuan, I will go back first, and you should rest early."
"Hey, I know this. Master, please go back and rest early."
Liu Mingzhi looked sideways at the room under the door of the mansion and stood up slowly.
"Uncle Yuan, if you are not used to living here, ask the servants to notify Xiaosong and ask him to take over your place."
"Yeah, thank you for your concern, young master. I understand."
Liu Mingzhi nodded slightly, said nothing, tightened his loose cloak, and silently hurried toward the inner courtyard.
Soon.
Young Master Liu had just arrived in the inner courtyard when a beautiful figure carrying a red lantern came up to him.
"Husband, you are back."
When Liu Mingzhi saw Qinglian approaching him, he immediately took out his hands from his sleeves.
"Lian'er, you've been waiting for a long time."
Qinglian picked up the big red lantern in her hand and looked around, looking at her husband's caring eyes, she smiled and shook her head.
"No, no, I just came over after washing myself in the room."
Liu Mingzhi raised his hand and took the lantern from Qinglian's hand, then walked towards the corner with his arms around the beautiful lady's shoulders.
"Lian'er, how are Chengfeng and Serena doing?"
Qinglian put away the smile on her pretty face, and sighed with a hint of sadness between her brows.
"Oh, not so good."
Young Master Liu frowned: "Huh? What's going on?"
"As soon as I come back, I asked Tao'er to go to the courtyard where Chengfeng lives with Serena and his wife.
After I bathed and changed my clothes, as soon as I came out of the room, Taoer told me that after Chengfeng returned, she had some verbal disputes with Serena.
As for the reason for the quarrel between them, and what they quarreled about.
Tao'er was too far away from the room, so what she heard was not very clear."
Liu Mingzhi breathed a silent sigh, lowered his head and blew out the candle in the lantern, and gently patted Qinglian's shoulder.
"Lian'er."
"Hey, I'm here."
"Let's go over and have a look together."
"Yeah, yeah."
After a long time.
Outside the courtyard where Liu Chengfeng and Serena live.
Young Master Liu retracted half of his body and looked at the moonlit night sky with a confused expression.
"Lian'er."
"Hmm? Husband?"
"Lian'er, tell me, have I done something wrong as my husband?"