Empress Mi Benji

Chapter 21

Zhuang Xun has been trying to integrate into this world when he came to this world, but the neighbors basically regard him as a foreigner, after all, his sometimes behavior is really incomprehensible.

However, due to his politeness, kind words, and benevolent actions, he is still familiar. After coming to the world and before meeting Si Qinmi, apart from some friends who went to Chengguo, Zhuang Xun was most familiar with Mrs. Chen's family up.

It is lucky to be able to rent her house. Nancheng District is a civilian area, but there are differences among the neighbors. This area is considered relatively safe. In the neighborhood is Mrs. Chen's second son Xu Lingjiang, a bold People, if the security fee is paid enough, there is no such thing as nonsense, and the rent is relatively reasonable. At the beginning, Mrs. Chen's family rented and invited him to dinner a few times, but he couldn't refuse once or twice.

"Salted fish?" Zhuang Xun inspected the gift prepared by Si Qin Mi, and he didn't know what to say.

"With your current status, it is most appropriate to send this kind of gift letter. It is not suitable for this kind of neighbor's visit because it is expensive. If the gift is cheap, people will feel humiliated." Si Qinmi took the new clothes and helped Zhuang Xun put them on. A deep coat with a gray curly train.

There are many styles of clothing in this world, but rich people still wear dark clothes, so it is inconvenient for me to come here. Zhuang Xun is not used to being taken care of by Si Qinmi, but it is not good to see the smile on the corner of her mouth Rejected, jade hands straightened Zhuang Xun's clothes, Zhuang Xun looked down at her cheek, the classical beauty was gentle and virtuous, with a plump side face and phoenix eyes so beautiful that his heart was shaken.

"You look handsome, you're a scholar-bureaucrat." Si Qinmi dressed up Zhuang Xun, straightened his clothes, and said with satisfaction, maybe it's because beauty is in the eyes of lovers, and Zhuang Xun is regarded as a husband, so that's all. How pleasing to the eye.

"Isn't it high-profile like this? It cost a lot of money." Zhuang Xun said with some distress as he touched the silk fabric.

"It's not expensive, it's more than one or two, and the color is a bit plainer." Si Qinmi said casually, and then adjusted Zhuang Xun's collar with a smile on his face.

"..." Silence, I can't tell the rich woman clearly, she has [-] taels of silver ready to spend on you, now that it's too expensive, she might be hurt invisibly.

"You can also buy some good ones for you. It's all sackcloth. It's just that I married you who are rich. You will be exposed if you dress like this." She definitely doesn't want to give her beautiful clothes directly, so she can only use other clothes. reason.

"I don't need to go out, and how many people know that I am your wife when I go out. A gentleman needs face when he has an official status, but a concubine doesn't need face. And if he doesn't have enough money, he will give priority to buying his things. Ah, sir ..."

Hugged by Zhuang Xun, the beauty let out an exclamation.

"Let me hug you." Zhuang Xun whispered.

"En." Seeing that Zhuang Xun didn't make any unnecessary movements, Si Qin Mi agreed, and she stroked Zhuang Xun's crown.

"I hate promises to women that I can't do, and I don't want to talk big. I can't guarantee you a good life. I'm sorry, but I will work hard." Zhuang Xun hugged Si Qin Mi tightly, feeling guilt filled his chest .

"Clothes are not enough to protect the body, and food is not enough to fill the stomach. You don't have to worry about it so much. I have died once, so I have already lost interest in these things." Si Qinmi could sense Zhuang Xun's guilt, and gently stroked Zhuang Xun. Inquiry's back.

"But I want a lady to wear fancy clothes, I want a lady to eat delicious food, and I want a lady to not have to work." Zhuang Xun said excitedly. There is a difference between closeness and intimacy. His wife naturally hopes to give her everything good. You treat me well. Well, I'll pay you back double.

"Yes, yes, Mr. Lang just needs to follow the concubine's plan." Facing Zhuang Xun's turbulent feelings, Si Qinmi was extremely calm, soothing the guilty Zhuang Xun softly.

"I'm sorry, I lost my temper..." The sour depression spread from the bottom of my heart, which was much better than the guilt that just surged up.

"No, my concubine understands what your husband wants, really understands..." I want to be a good wife, but why doesn't the other party want to be a good husband?
That's what a good man is.

"Lang Jun, it's time to visit the Chen family." Patted Zhuang Xun on the back.

"I see, lady, I lost my composure in front of you." Zhuang Xun apologized and rearranged his clothes.

"It's okay to lose your composure in front of my concubine, but it's bad if you lose your composure in front of outsiders. It doesn't matter what you do in front of my concubine. I'm your wife. Your husband doesn't need to hide in front of your concubine." He took Zhuang Xun's hand and put In the palm of your hand, sincerely.

"Thank you, lady." The more I watched it, the more I liked it, it was so flattering, such a tolerant big sister was about to drown in her tenderness, so I couldn't watch it any longer.

"Let's go, I'm going to have lunch at someone's house late." Si Qin Mi chuckled.

Sending Zhuang Xun to the door, Si Qinmi warned: "You can't promise anything, you can only express your reply to their daily love, don't be afraid of offending others, otherwise you will become passive, and you can't answer anything clearly. Understand, don't express opinions, even if it's just a visit between friends."

"I understand." Taking down Si Qin Mi's words, Zhuang Xun picked up the packed salted fish and walked towards Mrs. Chen's house.

This place is called Xufang, and most of the people belong to the Xu family. Mrs. Chen's family is Xufang's parents, and the house Zhuang Xun rented was taken back after the separation.

Mrs. Chen's husband has passed away, her eldest son Xu Yan is the garrison of the south gate of the sixth rank, her second son Xu Lingjiang is the Lizheng of Xu Fang, and the youngest son Xu Houde has just passed the examination of scholar.

"Zhuang Xiaolian is here? Please come in quickly, what gift do you bring?" Xu Lingjiang is also called Second Uncle Xu. He is a straightforward man. When he saw Zhuang Xun arrive at his door, he immediately greeted him.

"Thank you Second Uncle Xu for taking care of your family on weekdays, just call me by my name." In fact, before visiting people, there must be a name card or something to tell the other party that you are here, but Zhuang Xun is just a Xiaolian now, and the other party is not a high-ranking person. So troublesome.

"Zhuang Xiaolian sit down for a while, I'll invite mother to come, Xiaohuan, serve tea." Second Uncle Xu kindly greeted Zhuang Xun to sit in the living room, and went to invite Mrs. Chen by himself.

Taking advantage of this gap, Zhuang Xun looked at the layout of Xu's house. It was ordinary, but the objects were arranged neatly and not messy. There were some vases, calligraphy and painting decorations. Zhuang Xun couldn't tell if the paintings were good or bad, only that Draw bamboo.

Not long after, Mrs. Chen reprimanded Second Uncle Xu and came out.

"Zhuang Xiaolian has waited for a long time, Ling Jiang is careless, leaving you here alone is our family's rudeness." Mrs. Chen apologized and said that Uncle Xu was submissive under her reprimand.

"Mrs. Chen don't talk about Second Uncle Xu. Doesn't that mean that she treats Xun as a stranger? Second Uncle Xu doesn't think so much because he doesn't treat Xun as an outsider. You can see his sincerity." Zhuang Xun said to help Second Uncle Xu.

"That's right, he is just a straightforward person. It's good that Xiaolian doesn't blame him." Seeing that Zhuang Xun was not angry, Mrs. Chen gently let Second Uncle Xu go.

"Go and call Houde and get acquainted with Xiaolian. Maybe in the future, the two of you will have the opportunity to be officials in the same palace." Mrs. Chen ordered that Second Uncle Xu was like a mouse being stared at by a cat. Dare to say more, if you are amnesty, hurry to the inner house to call Xu Houde.

"Uncle, is he going to participate in next year's Chunwei?" Zhuang Xun opened the topic.

"Yes, there is too much money directly donated to officials, and our family is not a rich family. We can't afford the money donated to a county magistrate, so we can only work hard to participate in Chunwei." Mrs. Chen said affirmatively.

"Don't worry, my uncle is talented, and he will definitely be able to pass the rank of Chunwei." Zhuang Xun wished.

"That's really honoring the ancestors, but the spring is too difficult, and how many scholars are stuck at this level." Mrs. Chen said with emotion.

"Indeed, Yin Du rides a horse as the number one scholar in high school." Zhuang Xun nodded. This kind of honor really makes people fascinated.

"He also rides a horse with Yin Du, and if he can get the first place, he has already burnt his incense. Moreover, the number one scholar and Tanhua have already been decided, saying that these are just flowers in the water, the moon in the mirror." Mrs. Chen sneered, and the dissatisfaction in her words was obvious.

"How come, the scholar examination should be relatively fair." This is what Zhuang Xun heard, it is equivalent to giving the bottom a channel to rise, so it is relatively fair.

"That was in the past, and fairness is also relative. It has always been the case that high families win the top three and poor ones compete for the top." Mrs. Chen put the naked reality in front of Zhuang Xun.

"Well, Xun is superficial." Zhuang Xun shook his head and said, but he didn't have any special thoughts, maybe he had seen too much of this kind of injustice.

"Xiao Lian of Yindu Mansion is ranked among the top three, but he never expected to earn such a reputation by risking the world's disgrace." Mrs. Chen said enviously.

If it was known that collecting the corpse of a sinful woman could be regarded as a filial piety, then all the corpses in the execution ground would have been collected long ago, and going there now would be nothing more than a mere imitation.

"I don't know about Xun. When I did it, I just wanted to put people in the ground and not expose the corpse to the market. I didn't expect to be praised by everyone. I was shocked when I was recommended later. Even who recommended Xun, Xun is not very clear now." Clear." Zhuang Xun said frankly that he really didn't know how he was suddenly recommended, and he had such a good reputation. It stands to reason that he should be scolded for such a thing, after all, the black pianist is politically correct now.

"It's because of Xiaolian's pure heart. If he had a purpose, why would he bury the pianist's daughter." Mrs. Chen praised that, unlike the old world where everyone publicly scolded the kind people who were idiots, the virtuous in this world are praised It's political correctness.

"The old lady's reputation is too high." Zhuang Xun said modestly, someone must have guided the public opinion.

"Xiaolian is also a benevolent person. I know that Xiaolian has helped many people before. Maybe they are grateful for Xiaolian's kindness, so they speak for Xiaolian." Mrs. Chen felt that Zhuang Xun was more pleasing to the eye. I feel, now I feel that what Zhuang Xun did was particularly benevolent.

"Maybe..." He has indeed helped a few friends, the kind of sudden accidents, man-made disasters, and temporary hardships that are difficult to get rid of, but they are basically ambitious. Going to Chengguo to start a career, he doesn't help everyone, and he's not the Holy Mother, it's impossible for the whole city to receive his favor, and he doesn't have the ability.

But since the other party thought so, he had no other good way to explain it, so he followed her words.

At least there are a few friends who will not run into walls everywhere, and the brothers carried the coffin out of the city.

"The Wang family in the west of the city has a daughter, Lan Xinhui..."

"Old Madam, Xun has already married a wife." Zhuang Xun couldn't listen any longer, so he interrupted directly.

"Sorry, I'm sorry." After speaking, the atmosphere froze, and Zhuang Xun cupped his hands and said.

"Xiao Lian, let me listen to the old man in detail, Wang Yuanwai wants to allow her to be your concubine." Mrs. Chen's words greatly exceeded Zhuang Xun's expectations.

"You can't abandon a poor wife. How could you let Xiaolian do such a thing? Isn't this ruining Xiaolian's reputation?" Old lady Chen was not angry and said with a smile.

"Xun doesn't have any extra money to hire a concubine." Zhuang Xun directly refused, his wife's advice still ringing in his ears.

"Wang Yuanwai said, as long as you are willing to marry the daughter of the Wang family, you will be given a dowry of [-] taels, which can be arranged by Xiaolian as you like." Mrs. Chen said lightly.

Zhuang Xun was a little surprised when he heard 1 taels, but when he thought about the 10 taels in his family, he suddenly felt that it was not a lot.

"I'm sorry, please decline the old lady. I have received money from others, and I am controlled by others. Although Xun is poor, I know the truth of repaying kindness. If I receive a generous gift at this moment, I will have plans in the future. I don't want to be bound by this." Zhuang Xunyi Just say it.

The main reason is that there is a wife who has a secret in the family, and the most important thing is that this wife is too kind to him, so good that he feels unworthy of her, so he is unwilling to betray her, even if it is not a divorce but a concubine.

People are emotional animals, Zhuang Xun has always treated those who are good to him, Si Qinmi sincerely regards him as a husband, and he also regards Si Qinmi as a wife.

He hates people without self-knowledge. He has already told him not to agree to others casually, but he still agrees. That is simply stupid. Now that he is in Fan Jinzhongju's situation, he must protect his heart.

"I understand what you think, and I will tell Wang Yuanwai, Wang Yuanwai has no bad intentions..." Mrs. Chen still had a smile on her lips, and she seemed not angry.

Although in her opinion it is good to be able to enjoy gold and silver concubines immediately, but thinking of Zhuang Xun's words and deeds, she can't say wrong, at least on the surface.

"Thank you, old lady, for your understanding. There is no need to persuade him. I definitely don't have such intentions." Zhuang Xun breathed a sigh of relief. He really didn't want to fall out with the Xu family, and he still lived in their house.

"Mother." With the arrival of the two Xu family brothers, Mrs. Chen did not talk about taking concubines.

Compared with Uncle Xu, who is easy-going and chivalrous, Xu Houde, who is around thirty, has the pride of a literati, but he is also the kind of person who does not talk and laugh when he meets him on weekdays, with the unique discrimination of literati against non-literati.

But this time, he had a smile on his face.

"Xiaolian's reputation spreads across the capital, and it's really righteous to bury his benefactor at the risk of being attacked by rioters." He complimented Zhuang Xun as soon as he came, and Xu Houde had a friendly demeanor, not his usual arrogance.

"Much praise, but just at the right time." Zhuang Xun didn't feel anything at first when he praised them one by one, but now he feels a little embarrassed. Although this matter is really difficult, he feels a bit a little bit about being praised so much. pass.

"How is Xiaolian preparing for the longevity banquet? Today I specially ordered Xiaolian. If you want to come to the longevity banquet, you must have a question." Fortunately, Xu Houde didn't brag too much, and quickly got to the point.

"The emperor ordered me?" Zhuang Xun was full of doubts, how could he have anything to do with the emperor.

"Yes, the rumor is that His Majesty heard about your righteous deeds and praised you for your kindness and righteousness, so he made you a filial piety." Xu Houde said earnestly.

"Are the rumors reliable? Xun doesn't know anything about it." Zhuang Xun confirmed that it was all a misunderstanding when he touched a corner of the black hand behind the scenes for the first time?

There is no flattery, it's all because I think too much, but it just happens to follow the emperor's wishes?

"It's very reliable. It was reported by Master Xia of Shangshutai last night. If it weren't for this, Xiaolian of Yindu Mansion would have been appointed internally. Zhuang Xiaolian can be said to be Jane in the emperor's heart." Xu Houde said enviously, as if seeing Zhuang Xiaolian Xun put on an official robe.

"Uncle Xu, if you ask like this, you will be at a loss. I have never thought about this question." Zhuang Xun was really confused.

"That's why the old man said that Wang Yuanwai has no bad intentions. How can a person who is filial and honest to make a career be bound by that little thing?"

(End of this chapter)