Daming Yinghua

Chapter 37
On this day, Zheng Haizhu took the prepared embroidery gifts and went to Huang Zunsu's house.

Because I asked for the post in advance, although Huang Zunsu was in the government office, his wife Yao Shi was already waiting in the front hall.

Mrs. Yao is young, he comes from a wealthy family in Yuyao, and he has read a lot of books.

Last time, she was quite surprised when she saw that Zheng Haizhu was brought out by the master to socialize, and she was not a concubine.

After I asked Zheng Haizhu a few words alone, I learned that she was not a niece or niece from the mistress's family, but just a Fujian country girl who was favored by the eldest lady and had a little skill, so I felt that it would not be so simple.

As soon as she turned around, she asked her husband, and Huang Zunsu said to her coldly: Miss Zheng is just humble, but she actually comes from a scholarly family, not some ignorant country maid. How could he not walk with the master's family if he had the guts to meet the enemy and attack the bandits?

Yao Shi made a note of it, and came out in person today to bring Zheng Haizhu into the back yard.

It is the pleasant season of Qingqiu, the sun shines through the branches and leaves, and one after another round copper coins are printed on the ground.

Yao gave Zheng Haizhu to the stone table next to the lotus vat, pointed to the table full of candied fruits, and said softly: "I don't feel cold after the time is over. I thought, why not entertain Zheng Haizhu in the courtyard?" Girl, don't be bored."

Of course Zheng Haizhu said yes respectfully.

After sitting down, she admired this small and exquisite garden with great interest, and the admiration in her eyes was deliberately increased, which was also due to the etiquette of being a guest.

The osmanthus seeds are fading, but the crabapple flowers in the small garden are blooming delicately and softly, bright pink and elegant orange, and there are a few pots of light colored ones, like suet jade, with light yellow pistils in the middle, which is very beautiful. Zheng Haizhu thought of the daffodils in Zhangzhou.

Although Zhangzhou is not her hometown in the true sense of the time traveler, it is at least the starting point of her new life, giving her a small fortune and a filial nephew.

After leaving Fujian and going north, Zheng Haizhu sometimes thinks of the sea and reefs in the east of Longxi County, and he still seems to be able to smell the aroma of narcissus in his nose.

Seeing that Zheng Haizhu's eyes fell on the crabapple, Mrs. Yao smiled and said, "When I came from Yuyao, this yard was still made by the previous tenant. The tall ones were sweet-scented osmanthus, and the lower ones were full of chrysanthemums. If there is a garden, I will order everyone to shovel it and replace it with crabapple."

Zheng Haizhu frowned.

Mrs. Yao was happy to make a footnote: "Speaking of which, the Double Ninth Festival is right in front of us, and those chrysanthemums are growing well. It is said that a few of them are famous species. But I don't like these plum, orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemums, etc. , I only like beautiful and lovely flowers. My master, let me do as I please."

After hearing her last sentence, Zheng Haizhu knew in her heart that she wanted to take over the role of the hostess spreading dog food, so she hurriedly smiled and said, "It looks good, just like Huling and Hangjin."

Saying so, he ordered the little maid of the Han family who came with her to open the box, took out a silk bundle, shook it out, and explained the embroidery rituals to Mrs. Yao one by one.

Two fans, one embroidered with tuberose, Taihu stones and butterflies, and the other embroidered with fish swimming in the water under willow silk.

Yao stared at the fish, and blurted out: "Ah, it really looks like Liu Min's fish in Xuanhe's painting book."

Zheng Haizhu knew that she also knew how to paint, and she was very happy in the respect she answered: "The servant girl is praising this fan as grandma. My lady learned the skill of Danqing first before knitting the needle and threading the thread." .”

Yao scrutinized for a while, and when he spoke again, his tone was convinced: "It turns out that it has a foundation of Danqing. No wonder the embroidery is so beautiful. From my point of view, all the rare embroidered fish from Suzhou Mansion have a smell of it. The vulgar taste of the streets and alleys, like New Year's offerings, can't compare with your lady's fish, it has a poetic charm."

Zheng Haizhu jokingly said: "In terms of the vivid charm of the painting, the bunch of begonias on grandma's fan is also a work of heaven."

Yao Shi pursed her lips: "Young lady has great eyesight. This fan of mine is a dowry from my natal family. It was given to courtiers and family members in the palace in the past. Grandma got one and passed it on to us."

Zheng Haizhu took out another one with a forehead wipe and a cloud shoulder collar, and held it to Mrs. Yao: "Grandma, the base of this set of embroidery is made of plain velvet from Zhangzhou, which is very comfortable to wear in winter."

This time, Yao's eyes became brighter, and he was quite amazed: "Is this embroidered with pomegranate flowers? It looks so beautiful against the dark green velvet bottom."

Zheng Haizhu leaned forward and said: "My lady is thinking that embroidering plum blossoms on clothes in cold weather is a bit ordinary. Why don't you find another way to embroider a piece of pomegranate in summer, which is bright red and warms you when you look at it."

Yao Shi already loved the female celebrity in front of him so much, he turned his head and told the servant girl: "Take out the mirror."

……

When Huang Zunsu stepped into the backyard, his wife Yao Shi was putting Yunjian on her upper body, evaluating the effect in the bronze mirror.

The woman's eyes quickly passed the outline of the mirror and Zheng Haizhu's shoulder, and caught her husband's figure.

She let out a low "Yeah", with a charming look of joy on her face, and went up to her: "Why didn't the master come back before noon? Zong Xi has already gone to Dong's school to study."

Zheng Haizhu also hurriedly stood up and saluted Huang Zunsu.

Huang Zunsu said "Mmm" to Yao Shi, and said to Zheng Haizhu: "I just got the news because of an official business, and I was about to tell Miss Zheng. I looked at the time and came back to touch it. Sure enough. Miss Zheng, we are in the front hall. Speak."

Zheng Haizhu was stunned, Huang Zunsu had already turned around and walked to the front hall.

The smile in Yao's eyes disappeared, and when he turned his head, he could not see any abnormality, he only showed a well-mannered and cautious voice, and said: "Since the master has something to say, girl, go quickly."

The two walked out of the small courtyard one after the other, and arrived at the hall. After sitting down on the wooden chair, Huang Zun didn't have time to take a sip of the tea served by the maid, so he went straight to the topic: "Miss Zheng, the police in the house came from Gusu City. Come back and report that the senior embroiderer who lives near the Canglang Pavilion is gone."

Zheng Haizhu frowned slightly: "Master Huang, that senior has a lonely and perverse temper. Would you think that Canglang Pavilion is a famous place after all, so popular, so he moved?"

Huang Zunsu said: "Quickly ask the nunnery where the house was rented out. The nun who is in charge is old, and she can only chatter repeatedly, rejoice with the rent, and come and go as she pleases."

Zheng Haizhu smiled wryly: "Ask them, and I really can't ask anything. When my lady and I went to learn art, I saw the masters in the nunnery next door. I will only answer you with three words, asking for Buddhism."

Huang Zunsu looked at the girl in front of him, and there was a hint of sarcasm on the corner of his lips, but out of compassion, he felt that it was very vivid and real for a moment, and he couldn't help but also accompanied him with a helpless smile.

But he quickly went back to business.

"Miss Zheng, tell me that the senior's surname is Lu. He also used a mask to cover his face below his nose in the hot summer. It was because he practiced embroidery hard when he was young and dozed off on the embroidery frame late at night. It might as well burn the silk yarn if the candle burned it. Half of his appearance. However, the police went to Suzhou Mansion to investigate with our prefect Zhuang’s handwritten letter. There were several old women surnamed Lu in the registered road guides, but they all traveled to and from Suzhou with their husbands and children. There is no indication that the appearance is different. The police quickly wondered if the old lady is actually a local person, so he went to the embroidery workshops in the long streets and alleys to inquire, but there was nothing to say. Miss Zheng, Suzhou has long been a Jiangnan embroidery shop for a hundred years. Zong, if there is such a tall man in this township, and his appearance is so lacking, wouldn't those women, young and old, not know about it?"

When Zheng Haizhu heard this, he was already suspicious like Huang Zunsu.

(End of this chapter)