Gel makeup

Chapter 33 Xiangse Qinxiao
Because of the hot weather, the banquet in Xu's mansion was placed near the waterside stage, surrounded by ice, and the wind blowing through the hall made people feel refreshed.A southern song is being sung on the stage: what is the most important thing in spring, flowers protect golden bells, and embroider golden needles.The small building leans against the cloud screen when it sleeps, its eyebrows touch the sandalwood heart, and the fragrance moistens the sandalwood forest.

After singing this section, the audience below burst into applause.Xu Wenchang loves to watch operas, and the opera troupe raised in the mansion is well-known in the imperial capital, many fanciers in the officialdom came to celebrate Mrs. Xu's birthday today, they couldn't help talking and criticizing the opera actors, and they were especially energetic when they talked.

After singing this play, two female elders came up to play the pipa and sing "Ji Xian Bin".All the male guests sit under the theater building, and the female relatives sit behind the gauze curtain above the theater building.Then there was a sour Hanlin smile: "Brother Xu has so few people in his house, and singing "Ji Xian Bin" is also considered appropriate."

Another person laughed: "I heard that the gift given to Mrs. Xu by the king of Zhan Shi's mansion, Zhan Shi, is a great beauty. I don't know if Mrs. Xu can bear it."

Gu Liangfen who came to pay homage to his birthday laughed secretly while listening to it. A rhyming poem was written at the table next to him, and he asked Gu Liangfen to do the arbitration. Gu Liangfen had to put on a smiling face to deal with it.

Upstairs, the female relatives behind the gauze curtain mostly talked about the trivial matters of their relatives and the latest makeup and pink clothes. Xu Wenchang's only daughter, Xu Xiangse, held a fan with lacquered gold flowers, and the girls from the Xu family next to her were envious.Seeing that she couldn't put it down, Xu Xiangse said: "My sister likes it, just give it to my sister." The girl thanked her and went away with her fan.

Xu Xiangse said with a smile, "Look at her pettiness who has never seen the world." He ordered his personal maid, Xiaoju, to fetch another jade bamboo fan.

Xiaoju took the fan and said: "Madam has repeatedly instructed that this is a reward from the queen, so let the girl take it safely."

Xu Xiangse said: "I know, why is it so long-winded!" He took the fan and fanned it, walked to the railing, gently lifted the veil, and saw that the script below had become "Magu Shangshou".

She was already tired of listening to this play, so she began to look at the male guests downstairs, and asked Xiaoju, "Why don't you see your father?"

Xiaoju also stretched out her head to have a look, and said, "Maybe the master has gone to the back."

Xu Wenchang nodded, and saw a person talking to Gu Liangfen.She didn't know Gu Liangfen, but the man who talked to Gu Liangfen was tall and tall, half a head taller than Gu Liangfen.Xu Xiangse pointed his fan at a distance and asked, "Who is that?"

Xiaoju curled her lips and smiled: "Miss, wait a minute, this servant is going to ask you."

Xu Xiangse stretched out his hand to straighten the brocade collar of the beanie, and opened the veil a little more, and Xu Wenchang's wife said from behind: "Miss, close the curtain quickly, and everyone below is looking up. It's just a joke."

Only then did Xu Xiangse realize that there were one or two frivolous youngsters stretching their necks to look up vigorously, and hastily let go of the hand covering the veil, and turned to Xu Wenchang's concubine who came up to him and said, "Auntie, what's the hurry, anyway, it's not yours to see." She looks beautiful." When Xu Wenchang's concubine heard this, she didn't argue with her, and walked away angrily.

Xiaoju came up and said to Xu Xiangse in a soft voice: "Miss, you have misjudged me. That man is from the master's class. His name is Du Sizhong. He is a member of the Imperial Academy and has already married a wife."

Xu Xiangse frowned slightly after hearing this, and couldn't help but move forward to look again. Du Sizhong happened to walk right under her.Xu Xiangse had an idea, the fan in his hand slipped and fell straight down.

However, Du Sizhong didn't seem to notice that when he was walking out of the theater building, the fan didn't hit him, but hit a young boy carrying a tea tray.The boy picked up the fan, went to the stairs to salute Xiaoju like a dog, and said with a smile: "The big girl lost her fan."

Xiaoju took it and went upstairs to Xu Xiangse, who said angrily, "I don't want it anymore."

Xiaoju hurriedly said: "Girl, stop talking, this is Your Highness the Queen..." Seeing that Xu Xiangse's face turned blue, Xiaoju didn't say anything, and took the fan to the back to return it to Mrs. Xu.

Du Sizhong has always been reticent, originally he felt bored in the courtyard of the theater building, so he wanted to go out for a walk.In fact, he has already noticed that something is falling from the top of his head.But he knew that the upstairs was full of female relatives, and it would be easy to cause trouble if receiving the fan, and it would be disrespectful not to accept the fan, so he simply pretended not to see it and strode out.

Xu Xiangse was not reconciled. Xiaoju was not there, so she pretended to change clothes and walked down the theater.Seeing Du Sizhong walk into the flower barrier, he also followed.

Gu Liangfen noticed that someone was following him, turned around suddenly at the corner, and saw that it was a gorgeously dressed lady, so he nodded slightly as a courtesy: "May I ask this lady, are you looking for me?"

Xu Xiangse said hastily, "I've got the wrong person."

Gu Liangfen was about to speak, but Xu Wenchang's voice came from over there: "Brother Gu, why did you come out alone? The drama is not good?"

Gu Liangfen smiled and said: "The team at the mansion is the best in the capital, so how can it be unattractive? It's just that I feel bored after sitting for a long time, so I come out to relax." Turning his head after speaking, Xu Xiangse had disappeared.

Xu Wenchang didn't see Xu Xiangse, so he invited Gu Liangfen to sit in the pavilion and said, "The Baoyuan bureau I told Brother Gu last time..."

"It's been too hot recently, and many people have died from the heat in Zhili, Gyeonggi. Tongshanhui, Guangrenhui, Tongrenhui, and several chambers of commerce in the imperial capital were entrusted by the imperial court to help the poor with Huoxiang and other things—just money. Everyone on the Yungui Road speculates that the imperial court may have to fight a war if it wants to establish a vassal. Brother Xu must know a little about the price of medicinal materials. It is also difficult for us, but the imperial court spends money everywhere. Of course, our Chamber of Commerce can’t just sit by and watch, can’t it? Yesterday there were raw medicines My friend laughed and said, "Looking for peas in quail meat, chopping meat from egret's legs, and scraping fat from the belly of mosquitoes."

Xu Wenchang heard that Gu Liangfen said "poor" when he came up, and blocked all his words, and the reason for "poor" was so upright and impeccable, Xu Wenchang could only laugh and said: "Brother Gu said that what you have to do is important There is no rush about the Baoyuan bureau."

Gu Liangfen didn't completely block Xu Wenchang's words, nor did he fill up his own words, and said with a smile: "Brother Xu is the most thoughtful person. It's too hot recently, and the copper smelting furnace in Baoyuan Bureau is even hotter. It's safe to talk about cooling down." I heard that as soon as He Xiang’s house opened the door early in the morning, a person who died of heat outside the door directly poured into He’s house, how unlucky, brother Xu said, right?”

Xu Wenchang heard that there was something in his words, and after thinking about it, he thought it was right, so he said: "Just listen to Brother Gu, and take it easy."

Because a young man came to invite Xu Wenchang, saying that the British government had come, Xu Wenchang went in a hurry.

Gu Liangfen walked out of the garden alone with his head bowed, and suddenly saw a line of woven gold borders. He was startled, and quickly raised his head to see that it was Jiang Feng.

The two had met at Wu Zhenying's place before, and they greeted each other. Gu Liangfen smiled and said, "I was only thinking about walking, but I actually crossed the boundary. Don't blame Madam Shen."

Thinking about Siqing's words, Jiang Feng couldn't help but look at him a few more times. The more he looked at him, the more he felt that Gu Liangfen's speech and behavior were similar to Siqing's, but Ye Lancheng was taciturn and melancholy.Asking Wu Zhenying how he was, Gu Liangfen replied: "I haven't visited Old Man Wu in Yongtong for half a year. I'll go south tomorrow and pass Yongtong by water, so I'll go and have a look."

Fearing that there would be too many people, the two left in a hurry.

This room, Xu Xiangse was not reconciled, and secretly said to Xiaoju: "Find a boy to inquire about what kind of woman this Mr. Du married? Are you coming to the banquet today?"

Xiaoju went there for a meal, and came back to tell Xu Xiangse: "I heard that she is the wife of Mr. Du who married before he became famous, and she is here today. Look, the one in the east is the one wearing purple clothes."

Xu Xiangse looked at it for a long time, and then raised his beautiful eyes: "It turns out that you can't get on the stage, and it's embarrassing to bring it out."

Xiaoju persuaded: "My good girl, even if the surname Du has no wife and children, it is impossible for the master to agree to you marrying him, you are so inferior."

Xu Xiangse said softly: "What's wrong with the junior, he doesn't look very old."

Xiaoju stomped her feet and said, "Miss, are you in a daze? You just glanced at him and didn't even speak to him. How can you conclude that he is good in every way? The master definitely disagrees."

Xu Xiangse thought for a while and said, "Today is my mother's birthday, and my father can't refute my mother's face. I will go to my mother and let my mother talk to my father." After speaking, he got up and walked back. Xiaoju followed, but he couldn't persuade her. live.

Mrs. Xu happened to go back to her room to change her clothes. After hearing Xu Xiangse's words, she said repeatedly: "You are too stupid. I don't agree with this matter. Just now during the dinner, Yang Shangshu's wife came and told me that Yang Shangshu's youngest son was with you. The same age, that means wanting to get married with our family, but I didn't agree."

Xu Xiangse also asked to sue, but Xu Wenchang walked in from behind the screen.When Xu Xiangse saw his father, he didn't know whether Xu Wenchang heard what he said, so he said anxiously: "Father..."

Xu Wenchang looked at Xu Xiangse and asked, "How do you know Du Sizhong?"

Xu Xiangse lowered his head and said softly, "I saw it upstairs behind the veil today..."

Xu Wenchang nodded, and said to Mrs. Xu: "He is very talented. His ancestors are also a family of poetry, books, etiquette and righteousness, and he is also my classmate. He is valued by His Majesty and has a bright future. He has a rich family, and this marriage is also good. .”

Mrs. Xu still has doubts: "Doesn't he have a wife?"

Xu Wenchang waved his hand and said, "What's the big deal? Since Xiangse is willing, let us follow Xiangse's wishes. I'll go back to the table first, and we'll talk about it tomorrow."

Xu Xiangse didn't expect his father to agree so quickly, his brows were brimming with joy, and his face was flushed.Mrs. Xu was not very happy, and said: "I changed my clothes and went to entertain guests, you go back to the table first, and give a toast to all the aunts."

Xu Xiangse didn't listen to her mother's words, and turned her head to dress up beautifully, powdered and polished like a silver man, wearing a heavy silk skirt with a gold bouquet, a Japanese satin gown with a vertical collar, pearl buttons, a gold collar pendant, and a gold collar pendant. The three things, the golden necklace with coiled silk, and the whole body are shrouded in jewels and jewels.She asked Xiaoju to invite the lady of the Du family to a secluded place in the mansion. The lady of the Du family was very kind and said with a smile: "The girl's boudoir name is 'Xiangse'? It comes from Li Yishan's poem 'Don't need waves to be the name of Hou'. Xiangse Qin Xiao took it from Youqing?"

Xu Xiangse only fiddled with his yellow golden lantern earrings, and said something.The lady of the Du family's complexion changed drastically when she heard this, and she remained silent for a while.

Xu Xiangse sneered and said, "I'm not clear enough? You just have to make a condition."

The lady of the Du family suddenly smiled: "If Ms. Xu wants to be the second wife, I have no objection, and I will not put forward any conditions with Ms. Xu. This matter will definitely be fulfilled."

Xu Xiangse suddenly changed color.

Because Jiang Feng didn't like to deal with it, he and Huaying were hiding under the sweet-scented osmanthus tree behind the two of them. Occasionally, he listened to a few words, and was stunned. He was trying to figure out what they were saying, and only heard the lady of the Du family calmly say: "Then what exactly does Miss Xu want?"

Xu Xiangse sneered: "Can I still be a concubine? As long as you promise to make peace with her, no matter what money or goods you want, or what conditions you want to put forward, I will agree." After speaking, he ordered Xiaoju, "Open the box."

Xiaoju opened the box, and it was a pearl the size of a pigeon egg, lustrous and valuable.The lady of the Du family didn't even look at it.

Huaying couldn't help but said: "I wish I could put gold on my face and look at that frivolous look." After finishing speaking, she remembered that she was eavesdropping, but it was too late, Xu Xiangse said angrily, "Who!"

Jiang Feng hurriedly pulled Huaying away.

Early the next morning, Gu Liangfen went to the Tongren Association to discuss matters. The servants of Xu's mansion came to find Gu Liangfen but did not find him, so they went straight to the Tongren Association.Gu Liangfen didn't say anything, but was unhappy in his heart. He secretly scolded Xu Wenchang like a dog's skin plaster that couldn't be peeled off, so he also changed his cold face, which made the servants of Xu's mansion confused. Did not dare to speak to him.

When we arrived at Xu's mansion, the colorful flags and curtains that had been hung on Mrs. Xu's birthday yesterday had not been removed, and the servants who entered the mansion were still chaotically cleaning up the mess left by yesterday's banquet.

Xu Wenchang came out in casual clothes and cupped his hands: "Brother Gu is here?"

He was so polite, Gu Liangfen had no choice but to return the courtesy without saying a word.When he looked up, he saw Du Sizhong was there, so he also met Li.

Xu Wenchang looked at Gu Liangfen's face, and said: "It's hot weather, Brother Gu, please loosen your outer clothes, don't make such nonsense."

After hearing this, Gu Liangfen took off his beanie, and said: "It's really not a quarrel with the family. Friends from the Tongren Association are discussing things today, so they went out wearing these cute clothes."

Xu Wenchang said: "I'm disturbing Brother Gu's business, but I also have something to discuss with Brother Gu." After speaking, he approached Gu Liangfen's face and smiled again, "How about asking Brother Gu to be a matchmaker?"

Gu Liangfen was so irritated by Xu Wenchang's tone that he wanted to gag, cursed in his heart, and then asked, "What advice does Brother Xu have?"

Xu Wenchang smiled and said, "I have a daughter who is just as young as Ji."

Gu Liangfen listened with a smile: "Brother Xu wants me to help the family as a matchmaker? No problem, I'm afraid I don't have enough face. If I can help, I will help. In the end, Brother Du will take the lead in major matters."

Xu Wenchang hurriedly said: "Don't worry, listen to me. My little girl has admired Brother Du for a long time..."

"I already have a wife," Du Sizhong said resolutely when he saw the change of color, "it's not that Brother Xu doesn't know. Even if you don't care about those things about seniority, I already have a wife. Miss Xu is a noble person. Brother Xu, don't joke around. If I If you are really heartless and unfeeling, marry a poor wife and then marry a famous family, can Brother Xu rest assured that you will marry me as a little star?"

When Xu Wenchang heard that Du Sizhong came up, he thought that he wanted Xu Xiangse to be a concubine, so he almost lost his temper, but his face remained calm, and he tentatively smiled and said, "I understand that you are a young man with a low face. I will stop here for today... "

"There is nothing to think about, and there is nothing to say. Thank you brother Xu for your kindness, and thank you Miss Xu for your favor. Du is not talented, and he can't afford the love of the family, and he can't afford to be impeached by the imperial censor." To leave, I heard someone shouting from outside the hall: "Girl!"

Xu Wenchang hurried out, and Du Sizhong followed him a step behind. Xu Xiangse stared at Du Sizhong with tears in his eyes, and ran back. He must have heard the conversation between Xu Donghai and Du Sizhong just now.

Gu Liangfen felt that he was redundant, so he hurriedly said, "Farewell."

Xu Wenchang was about to stop him, but he didn't know what to say when he stopped Gu Liangfen, and was in a daze when Xiaoju ran over and cried, "The girl closed the door behind and almost hanged herself."

Xu Wenchang said urgently: "Send more people to stop it." Turning around, he saw that Gu Liangfen ignored him and left on his own, Du Sizhong also left with him without looking back.

Du Sizhong vomited out the tea he had just drank in Xu Mansion as soon as he left the gate of Xu Mansion, Gu Liangfen didn't know what to say, said goodbye to Du Sizhong indiscriminately, and hurried back to the house.

Naturally, Jiang Feng didn't know about this matter. When she came back from Xu's mansion, she was dizzy from the heat, suffered from heatstroke, and lay in bed for two full days. Then she turned around and forgot about Xu Xiangse.

"Ma'am!" Huaying hurried in early in the morning, spilling most of the mung bean soup in her hand, "Something has happened! That little lady from the Xu family..."

"what happened?"

"This morning, two disheveled people fell from the Zangchun Building on Wazi Street. They were out of breath when they were found. One is the young lady of the Xu family, and the other is that sly Mr. He Xiang!"

"What?" Jiang Feng was taken aback.

The housekeeper, Lao Xia, also came in in a panic and reported: "Madam, it's terrible, Madam He Xiang is gone, is our family planning to set up an instrument?"

"Who's gone?"

"Mrs. He Xiangye! Oh, I heard that Mrs. He Xiangye heard about Mr. He's affairs. She was anxious and annoyed, and the weather was hot. She didn't come up in one breath, and she disappeared in a while!"

Jiang Feng was taken aback, but Huaying mumbled, "That's weird. It's said that my in-laws made my uncle mad at me. I didn't expect Mrs. He Xiangye to make my son mad at me."

(End of this chapter)