into the bosom

Chapter 58
Xu Jiao got up, turned around in front of Mrs. Zhao and Qin Niang, blinked playfully and said, "Doesn't mother think it's not worth rewarding?"

Qin Niang couldn't help smiling at first, but Mrs. Zhao still said with a straight face, "Yes! Ban Lan's dexterity really deserves a reward! Qin Niang!"

Qin Niang responded, and took out a silver key from her sleeve and handed it to Ban Lan.

Ban Lan hastily bowed her knees and saluted, spread her hands, raised her hands above her head and said, "Thank you Madam!"

Mrs. Zhao nodded lightly, glanced at Xu Jiao, and raised her eyebrows, "I've rewarded you, are you still not satisfied?"

Xu Jiao pursed her lips and said, "Is it so difficult for mother to praise her daughter's natural beauty? Would mother be at a disadvantage if she praised her own daughter?"

Mrs. Zhao gave her a sideways look, "I'm not used to your temper! Let's go! Your grandmother at the Baishou Hall has already sent someone to invite you again, and I have already agreed, so why would you go back on your word? I'm afraid that I won't let you go!" It looks like I'm going."

Mrs. Zhao turned around while talking.

Xu Jiao jumped up two steps forward with a smile, and couldn't help but take Mrs. Zhao's hand, "Mother is so beautiful today, with a radiant face, she will definitely be able to overwhelm someone!"

Mrs. Zhao thought it was weird for a while, but it didn't hinder her understanding. She knew who this so-and-so was referring to, but... "I really have to praise you to agree." give up?"

"Mother knows me too!" As the two walked out, Xu Jiao giggled and said, "Then does mother praise me or not?"

Mrs. Zhao put on a straight face, "No exaggeration!"

At the family banquet in Baishou Hall, Xu Jiao met the men of the Jing family.

Jing Shangshu, who was in charge of the house, looked like a grey-bearded, thin but smiling old man. He couldn't tell he was a high-ranking official. When Xu Jiao and the others arrived, he was playing with two parrots.

Mr. Jing got a little fatter, and he looked like a good old man with a smile on his face. Mrs. Zhao looked calm, but this time she didn't stop Xu Jiao from meeting Mr. Jing.

It's not a loss to get a "beautiful" and a set of famous pens, inks, papers and inkstones for a non-painful "uncle"!

The other ones are the juniors of the Jing family, the eldest son of the Changfang, Jing Duo, and Jing Qin, who went to pick them up at the pier this morning.The two are twins, they are very similar in appearance, but completely different in temperament. Jing Qin still looks like a handsome young man, calling her "Second Sister", with a gentle but kind attitude. Has the demeanor of a brother.On the contrary, the elder brother Jing Duo is acting like a coquette, and the gifts given by the two are also in line with his image.

Jing Duo sent two bottles of rose dew, saying that it was the most popular item among noble ladies in Beijing recently.Jing Qin gave her a pot of orchids.

Xu Jiao naturally thanked them and put them away one by one.

The Jing family really wasn't considered to be a thriving family. It was said to be a family banquet, but it turned out to be a table full of people, regardless of gender, sitting in groups.

"Ajiao, your mother and daughter came back today, and our family is finally reunited. It's a good thing! I told your grandmother that you don't need to invite anyone else, just a simple meal for our family! Before the banquet, let's drink A cup!" After Jing Shangshu finished speaking, he raised his cup.

Who would dare not give face to the head of the family?Even Mrs. Zhao, who was silent since she came to the family banquet, was the same, raising their glasses one after another.

"I won't say much else. I'm old. You should remember that I can't write two words of Jing. In the future, the glory of the Jing family will depend on you. My wife and I only look forward to family harmony." Everything is going well."

There is naturally something in these words, which implies two points of beating.

Xu Jiao lightly patted the back of Mrs. Zhao's hand. It was Mrs. Zhao who was beating, and also Mrs. Yan.

After a glass of wine, Uncle Hai came in a hurry, holding a long and narrow wooden box, and bowed to Jing Shangshu.

"This is a meeting gift for Ajiao! I was old and forgot where I put it. I sent someone to look for it for a long time, but fortunately I found it. Otherwise, Ajiao would still be my grandfather." Jing Shangshu As he spoke, he signaled Uncle Hai to deliver the box to Xu Jiao.

Xu Jiao took it, bowed and said, "Thank you, grandfather!"

"Open it and have a look!" Jing Shangshu said.

Seeing that everyone at the table focused their eyes on the box in her hand, Xu Jiao looked up at Jing Shangshu, nodded obediently and opened the box.

Such a long and narrow box, it is not surprising to see a picture scroll when it is opened.It really is a scholarly family, the gifts they give are all very elegant!Under Jing Shangshu's smiling gaze, Xu Jiao unfolded the scroll, and raised his eyebrows unexpectedly after a look.

I thought it was a famous work, but... under Xu Jiao's professional eyes, it can almost be regarded as a graffiti, the brushstrokes are immature, and the composition is not good. Two points of aura.

Xu Jiao didn't understand what Jing Shangshu meant, and when she raised her head, she saw people all over the table looking at the picture scroll in her hand with strange expressions on their faces.Is there something else about this painting that she didn't see?
Xu Jiao looked at the painting again.

"This painting was made by Princess Wuyang when she was nine years old. Everyone knows that Princess Wuyang's duck painting is good, but there are not many paintings left. My grandfather also took a lot of effort to find this painting. You will be free these days." Just read the details." Jing Shangshu said to Xu Jiao with a smile.

For details?Xu Jiao was taken aback, was that what she thought it meant?

She turned her head to look at Mrs. Zhao, but apparently she didn't get the answer she wanted.

"You two, help your sister more these days! Anyway, it's a good thing for her and our family." These words were said to the two Jing family sons.

"Yes!" Jing Duo and Jing Qin replied respectfully.

"Okay, let's not talk about this, let's eat!" Jing Shangshu smiled and took the chopsticks.

Xu Jiao chuckled twice in her heart. It seemed that she was the only one on the whole table who didn't know anything!

Fortunately, Mrs. Zhao didn't want to hide it from her this time, so naturally she couldn't hide it.

Go back to Hengwu Garden and tell about Princess Wuyang.Only then did Xu Jiao know the reason why they returned to Beijing.

The candle flame was faint, flickering and flickering by the night wind, mottled the girl's fair face, but no obvious joy or anger could be seen.

"So, the meaning of the painting that my grandfather gave me is that at that time, all three of us who are born on the same birthday as Princess Wuyang will be asked to draw, and we will choose whoever looks like us?" Xu Jiao asked after a moment of silence.

"I don't know about this. However, your grandfather may have some news." Mrs. Zhao glanced at Xu Jiao's face, and said in a calm tone.

"What does mother think? Do you also hope that I will come out on top?" Xu Jiao asked again.

Mrs. Zhao's expression was gloomy and she did not speak.

Xu Jiao stroked her palm and said, "Although I think about the matter of recognizing my daughter, it depends more on fate! However, I will still do my best."

Meeting Mrs. Zhao's eyes, Xu Jiao smiled heartlessly, "I'm not a fool! It's not up to me to decide whether I want to, but if I can become relatives with the Queen Mother and the Eldest Princess, then Am I not a relative of the emperor? If nothing else, we will have a firm foothold in this family in the future? Mother... daughter is right?" She blinked and looked at Mrs. Zhao eagerly.

Mrs. Zhao rolled her throat, and said in a hoarse voice, "That's right!"

(End of this chapter)