Foster son and husband

Chapter 227
230 Marriage Negotiation
Luo Zhuang took his two daughters to live in the clean and comfortable Xianglanxie. There are three bright upper rooms in a row, and the exquisite flower hall and wing room next to them. All the furniture, curtains and supplies are brand new. The two girls The sons lived together since they were young, and suddenly they got such a big yard. Out of fresh joy, they each occupied a bedroom. The eldest daughter Luo Zhaoying loved painting, and she liked the spaciousness and brightness of the upper room, so she lived with her mother. According to one side room, Luo Xiangying liked the side room with many flowers under the window, so she went to live in the side room.Luo Zhuang's smile was from ear to ear, and he arrived in heaven in a few steps. Xuhou's mansion is several times larger and richer than the historian's mansion. Everyone in this mansion exudes a sense of nobility, even the maids and servants dress and behave. Her demeanor was different. She remembered peeking out from the curtain of the car as she passed by the gate of the Hou Mansion. There were two mighty auspicious beasts in front of the gate, the tall gate tower, and four motionless and well-dressed family members standing on the steps. Just that majestic aura scares her, if not for the guidance of her niece Yulan, she really wouldn't dare to go through this door casually.Fortunately, my aunt is kind and doesn't despise orphans and widows. She recognizes her as a relative who has no money and no power, and leaves them to live in the waiting mansion. The wishes of the mother and daughter are fulfilled. Unexpectedly, the two are arrogant Arrogant daughter, her wishes come true, and now she is relying on the big tree of the eldest wife, and she will make plans next time, begging the old lady to find two good marriages, and everything will be good and auspicious!

Luo Zhuang's family, Mrs. Xu and Mrs. Zhuang Yulan came from a famous family in Jiangning, but they are far inferior to the old lady and Zhuang Yulan's quick-wittedness and vision, and even less intelligent than the pair of daughters she gave birth to. Mostly, they were moved by the cleverness and cuteness of the sisters Luo Zhaoying and Luo Xiangying. The two sisters' mouths were as sweet as honey. Grandmother, aunt, and grandma surrounded the old lady all day long, talking and laughing to relieve boredom, handing tea, water, fruit and snacks. That kind of thoughtfulness, caring, and warmth was something that Zhuang Yulan could not do when she was there, let alone the Xu family. How could the wife not like the three granddaughters?Although the two little sisters lost their father at the age of ten, they are still the daughters of officials. They can read and write since they were young. They hired masters to teach them piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. Outstanding skills, Xiangying is proficient in piano and chess, the two sisters have a pair of skillful hands, and their embroidery skills are excellent. After the old lady asked, she learned that they learned embroidery skills in the Zhuang family. The three girls said:
"Girls who come from the Zhuang family, there is nothing wrong with being an embroidery artist. When you get along with your cousins ​​in the future, learn more and see. Is it the same as what your master taught?"

When the Luos sisters came to Houfu, the Jinhua hall became more lively and cheerful. Xu Xiaojuan was very happy. Her family lived in Yuehua Courtyard on the north side. At first, she felt peaceful and quiet, but gradually felt that it was too deserted. Now there are Luos sisters living When I entered the Xianglanxie next door, I immediately felt that this place was very popular, and I liked it very much. Every day, I came to visit, talk to my cousins, or go to Jinhua Hall to say hello together, and sometimes I brought my sisters to the It is another kind of pleasure to go shopping in Xiuzhuang jewelry stores to pass the time like this.

As for the men in the Hou Mansion and the West Mansion, except for the second master, they still often come to Jinhuatang to accompany the old lady for dinner, but the Xu Junlang brothers have to come over sooner or later to say hello and leave. They rarely leave a meal, even the old lady The wife kept her words, but she probably made excuses, and she had no choice but to stay because she couldn't get away with it, and left quickly after eating.

Meimei still quietly wears a mask and goes out of the house to inspect the business status of Cyclamen and other places on weekdays. In order to save face for her daughter, and not to teach the old lady to despise her daughter, but she is always stopped by Meimei, Mrs. Qin has no choice but to distract her grandson and a pair of grandchildren, thinking that her son-in-law is also out on business and not in the waiting mansion , No longer entangled with the daughter, and let the daughter do whatever she likes, go and play with her grandchildren, and enjoy the family happiness.Lin Runan always comes out to accompany Meimei when she is out of the waiting mansion, to take care of business or visit friends for fun, and Lin Runan's whereabouts are known to the king of Qi, and she often follows her, inserting a stick between the two of them, and the two get together. The three of them were walking together, and the guards and girls who followed them had long been used to it, so they felt that the three of them were nothing more than normal.

No matter how happy she is outside, once she returns to the waiting mansion, she takes care of the affairs of the inner mansion, visits Mrs. Zheng in the Qiuhua courtyard, and occasionally goes to the Jinhua hall. The people she has to face will always make her depressed quickly, except When playing games with Heng Er, she will really laugh happily.

Xu Junying's fourth home letter only had four words: Wait for me to go home!
Meimei glanced at both sides in disbelief, isn't this person too good at imitating others?Not to mention completely using her style, it is even shorter than hers. It is her habit to add three exclamation points after it, and he also used it.

In August, the heat gradually dissipated and the weather became cooler. Meimei discussed making mooncakes with the woman in charge of fruit and snacks in Ziyuntang. The old lady called her to go a few days ago, saying that August The Fifteenth is approaching. Xufu mooncakes are famous for their rich and varied fillings, exquisite and delicious. Over the years, during this solar term, a large number of mooncakes will be made and distributed to the clan and relatives and friends. The roster should be there. This year also No exception, the process of making mooncakes is cumbersome, and various tools such as cake molds are still in the warehouse of the Houfu. A lot of thought.

Just as we were talking, Bai Jingyu came with two maids, and said with a smile: "The old lady mentioned this matter the other day, so I can't say anything here. If I have free time today, I'd better come over and talk to my sister-in-law: let's make mooncakes together." Well, when the time comes, the West Mansion will send some people to bring their own fillings..."

Meimei laughed and said, "What is this? It really sounds like we are petty!"

"Sister-in-law, don't worry, I didn't mean that. I have learned how to make pie fillings for a few months. Wouldn't it be good to make some for my family to eat?"

The two sisters-in-law discussed with the woman in charge, and just finished speaking, they heard the woman report that the sixth master had come, Meimei felt surprised, what did Xu Junxuan come to Ziyun Hall?
Xu Junxuan obviously just came out of the yamen, still wearing official uniforms, brought in by the girl, bowed to Meimei and Bai Jingyu each, Bai Jingyu returned the salute and said with a smile:
"Why did the sixth brother return home at this time? It's not time for lunch yet!"

Xu Junxuan said: "There is nothing serious in the Yasi today, I came back early when I have time!"

Meimei asked Xu Junxuan to sit down, and took a look at Cuixi. Cuixi took hot tea from a girl and handed it to Xu Junxuan. Then she blessed herself and led the girls down. Back to the courtyard.

Meimei said: "It just so happens that today's affairs are over, what's the matter with sixth brother? Your second sister-in-law is here too, can you tell me?"

Xu Junxuan took a sip of tea, put down the teacup and gave a wry smile: "Both sisters-in-law and sisters-in-law are here, and they happened to have an idea with my younger brother!"

After hearing Xu Junxuan's narration, Meimei and Bai Jingyu couldn't help covering their faces with silk fans and smiling, Xu Junxuan blushed and said:

"You two sisters-in-law, don't just make fun of me, save me anyway!"

Bai Jingyu said with a smile: "Isn't this a good thing? The cousin of Luo's family is as beautiful as a flower, and she is proficient in playing piano, chess, calligraphy, painting and calligraphy. Why do you stay in the mansion? The old lady just needs to say something!"

Xu Junxuan blushed: "What does the second sister-in-law mean? How do I know why cousin Luo stayed in the mansion? You can't say that it has something to do with me!"

Meimei said, "Do you like Luo Zhaoying or Luo Xiangying?"

Xu Junxuan shook his head: "I only treat each other like cousins, I don't like it!"

"you sure?"

Xu Junxuan nodded firmly: "My brother is telling the truth!"

"Then you go to Jinhuatang to eat and drink tea all day long, discuss poetry, papers and appreciate paintings with other sisters, and spend half a day playing chess. What are you doing?"

Bai Jingyu looked at him: "Are you really ignorant or not? Luo's cousin is sixteen or seventeen years old. She is at the age when she is talking about marriage, but she is not in a hurry to find her husband's family. She has time to come to the capital to visit the old lady? An Xinxin happily lives in the Hou Mansion? You can't see the way? Your brothers are afraid to go to Jinhua Hall, because they are afraid that the old lady will point out a cousin to them, regardless of whether they have the heart to marry a concubine , I guessed that Cousin Lan was in front, but now the men of the Xu family are afraid of Cousin Zhuang's!"

Meimei glared at her: "You don't say you are jealous, what are you doing around others?"

Bai Jingyu couldn't stop laughing, Xu Junxuan yelled wronged: "I really don't know... Looking at them, I feel that they are the same age as the second younger sister who is about to leave the cabinet, but I really don't have any distractions! I don't know why the brothers don't stay in Jinhuatang. After dinner, I went back to the mansion every day to say hello to the old lady, and if I saw a few younger sisters, I would stay, because I would take the younger sisters all the way back after dinner at night. The two My cousin has indeed read a lot of poems and books. The eldest cousin is especially talented. She made poems and paintings. The younger cousin asked me to comment. Superb, better than a man, I like this way, and I can still play a few games with her. As the saying goes, if you meet your opponent, who remembers the time? But I really didn't think about marriage!"

Meimei and Bai Jingyu looked at Xu Junxuan who was blushing and pale, laughed enough, and then asked him: "Then where is the handkerchief Luo Xiangying gave you?"

Xu Junxuan said: "Not to me! In the evening, I will sit in the study and copy the essays. I don't know when she will come. She said she came to visit my aunt, and she came in to borrow two books from me. I can't neglect her." Cousin, I went to the bookshelf to look for poetry books for her. Who would have thought that she wrote two lines of poems on the white paper of my desk, and left an embroidered handkerchief, only to find out after sending her away. I don’t know what to do—— I have no intention of being interested in her, let my aunt keep that square embroidered handkerchief!"

"What verse did she write?"

Xu Junxuan blushed again, Meimei said: "We are your sister-in-law, and cousin Luo is not here, just read it!"

"There is no colorful phoenix in the body, but there is a tacit understanding in the heart!"

Bai Jingyu sneered: "What a passionate woman! Why is the sixth brother not in love?"

Xu Junxuan said: "I just said, just as a cousin, absolutely no other ideas!"

Bai Jingyu looked at Meimei and said: "I guess the old lady also has the same intention, but this cousin is a little impatient. If it is not her turn to marry the sixth son, she dares to give and receive in private!"

Meimei smiled: "Perhaps Luo Zhaoying didn't mean that. Luo Xiangying likes the sixth son. How can she not be in a hurry? If the old lady married her sister, what would she do? Could it be that the sisters marry together when they marry each other?" ?”

Xu Junxuan's head was getting bigger, he stood up and bowed deeply to the two of them: "I beg my sisters-in-law, do me a favor! Both cousins ​​are nice, but I don't like my brother!"

Bai Jingyu jokingly said, "Then what does the sixth brother like? You don't even want a cousin of the Luo family who is so beautiful and beautiful. Don't tell me you don't want to marry a wife?"

"I……"

Xu Junxuan lowered his head: "Second sister-in-law, please forgive me! You always have to marry a wife, and you have to depend on fate and follow your own wishes. How can you marry as you please!"

Meimei nodded: "Okay! I will help you solve this problem!"

But Bai Jingyu said: "Sister-in-law, don't meddle in this matter, otherwise how can the old lady let you go? I came here at the right time, and I will handle it! I will let you go to my aunt's place to get the veil, and see what I do." Give her back!"

Xu Junxuan hurriedly said: "I also thought about asking my second sister to return the handkerchief to her quietly, but the second cousin of the Luo family is bold and straightforward, and I am afraid that she will come again. Just say it... just say that I have someone in mind, and let her give up her heart... don't let too many people know about it!"

"Don't worry, I'll just return her handkerchief if no one treats me!"

Bai Jingyu snorted: "Sixth brother still cares about her reputation, I don't think she cares - I have been paying attention to them since they first moved in! My sister's photo is okay, this Luo Xiangying, with peach blossom eyes, just look at the men." Turn around and look at us, we are all blind!"

Meimei thought for a while, and said to Xu Junxuan: "Sixth brother, I think the old lady might really want to make this marriage for you. If she doesn't like it, she might make the old lady unhappy if she refuses. If you are interested We will send a matchmaker to make an interrogation first, and if the girl’s family agrees, make a verbal agreement first, and you have a reason to reject the old lady.”

Xu Junxuan said sadly: "Then Luo Xiangying came to my study and left poems and handkerchiefs. I was in a hurry. The more I thought about it this morning, the more I felt something was wrong. I also felt that the old lady seemed to have that kind of meaning, so I hurried to find my sister-in-law. Thinking that elder brother should have a letter from home and sister-in-law, and I don’t know when elder brother will come back? I thought, I want to ask elder brother and sister-in-law to make the decision and secure a matchmaker!"

Bai Jingyu was very surprised: "Unexpectedly, the sixth brother really has a crush? Which lady is it?"

Xu Junxuan lowered his head: "Second sister-in-law misunderstood, I didn't—once my elder brother took me out for a social gathering, and there were many cars parked in front of Dingguo's mansion, I happened to see Mrs. Changlehou leading a girl past , just glanced at it, and felt that the girl looks very good... that's all, don't think about anything else! Now if the old lady insists on me discussing marriage with the Luo family, I would like to ask that girl!"

Bai Jingyu was stunned, and Meimei laughed: "You...you also committed the same problem as your brother, right? You want to marry just by looking at someone! You know what kind of family they are, are you willing to..."

Xu Junxuan blushed to his ears: "I know what sister-in-law means - but I think that girl's clothes are thin and simple in winter, she should not be a noble lady with a high family!"

(End of this chapter)