Taohuaxi

Chapter 22
There are viburnums planted in the courtyard. They are fluffy and look like milky white gauze, which cannot be waved away or pulled away.

With Qionghua here, it feels like returning to Yangzhou again.

Planting Qiong flowers in this northern part of the capital requires a lot of effort.

When Cheng Huaishi first entered the Imperial Academy, he must have been very busy. Where did he get all this time?

Could it be that when he was alone in Beijing, did anyone really take care of his internal affairs?

Before I could speak, the old lady spoke.

"Huai'er, did you receive the letter I wrote to you last time?"

Cheng Huaishi helped the old lady walk through the corridor. He nodded and said, "My mother's teachings have been carefully read and kept in mind."

The old lady said sternly: "What you say is what a man does. Even though you have become an official, your mother still speaks well of you. A while ago, I heard a rumor in a daze, saying that the girl from the Xun family came to the capital and got married to you. It's quite close. You have been busy working on her father's matter for so long, and now that he has been vindicated, is there anything unfinished?"

Cheng Huaishi hurriedly leaned over and said: "Mother, I have never been close. It's just that she went to the academy twice to deliver a message for Mr. Zhang. Later, my son moved here. She and her former classmates came to congratulate him, and he didn't refuse me. When she learned that her mother was coming, she reminded her son that her new home was messy, so why should she welcome the charity hall? Then she came up with some ideas and took care of the arrangements. Her son had already told her that the name of a girl's family was important, and she would have to neglect it in the future. It’s better to move around.”

The old lady sighed and said: "That girl has not changed her ways. Together with the scholars, she does not care about the defense of men and women. No matter how messy your new mansion is, Sang Yu should come to the capital to take care of it. She What kind of mentality do you have?"

"Mother is right."

The old lady added: "You are young and careless, and you may think she has good intentions. In my opinion, whether it is good intentions or bad intentions, who knows. She is not young anymore, so it is important to find a serious marriage."

Cheng Huaishi replied respectfully: "I vaguely heard Mr. Zhang say that he has already arranged a marriage for her."

"Amitabha. That's a good thing."

Pass through the cloister and arrive at the main courtyard.

The maids placed the items brought by the old lady from Yangzhou.

The old lady put away her accusations and chatted with Cheng Huaishi for a while.

Ask him if he can see the Holy Face, ask him about the current situation in Beijing, ask him about Mr. Zhang's preferences, ask him whether he has eaten well and slept peacefully these days.

Cheng Huaishi answered them one by one.

The old lady said: "After you settle down, it's time to pay a visit to Mr. Zhang. Send him some local products we brought from Yangzhou. To express our feelings."

Cheng Huaishi said cautiously: "Mother doesn't know something. Mr. Zhang doesn't like these false gifts. My son is doing his errands with heart and being loyal to the country, which is how he has repaid Mr. Zhang's appreciation."

The old lady considered it and said, "Then I won't go."

Then he said, "Huai'er, in the officialdom, wealth and life are the most important thing in everything."

"I've remembered it."

The old lady smiled: "Hurry up and take Sang Yu to your room. It is said that a farewell is better than a wedding, so mother will not delay you."

I said in embarrassment: "Mom, please don't joke."

Cheng Huaishi took me out of the door.

Spring in the capital comes later than in the south of the Yangtze River.

The sun shines softly through the thin clouds.

The Qiong flowers that can be seen everywhere in the house are like seductive little hands, brushing back and forth on my heart.

When I was lost in thought, he smiled and called me: "What are you thinking about, madam? Why are you so stunned?"

I raised my head and arrived in front of a bedroom.

The furnishings inside are exactly the same as those in Yangzhou.

Red gauze curtain, candlestick, small table in front of the window, tea cup on the table.

Cheng Huaishi said gently: "I'm afraid Madam won't be used to it, so I specially ordered Heming to decorate it according to the style of the old house in Yangzhou. Does Madam like it?"

I nodded and said, "Second Master is interested."

He clapped his hands, and several maids brought up clothes, hairpin rings and other items.

"These are all fashionable in the capital today. The clothes have been made according to Madam's size." Cheng Huaishi smiled.

I lowered my head and said, "You and I, husband and wife, why did the Second Master prepare such a generous gift?"

Cheng Huaishi held my hand and sat down in front of the dowry: "First of all, I said before that if I ever come back, I will treat my wife kindly. Not to mention these hairpins and rings for clothes, they are the most precious and precious things in the world. It's hard to overestimate the hard work my wife has done for me, my mother, and the Cheng family. Secondly, tonight, my colleague Su Xueshi from the Hanlin Academy sent me a message early, inviting me to a banquet in his house. I want to take my wife with me. My wife put on a little makeup. If you dress up, you will definitely stand out."

I looked at him and felt something.

He was so sincere in wanting to bring me into his circle in Beijing.

He cherishes me as his wife.

When I suddenly entered the house, the reverie brought by the Qionghua seemed to have been blown away by the wind.

The maids came around to help me change clothes and dress up.

I usually don't like to decorate and dress plainly. Today I made an exception and put on some rouge.

The face in the mirror has peach blossoms.

With a bit of joy and a bit of expectation, I got on the carriage with Cheng Huaishi.

At this time, I never expected that tonight's banquet would cause a big mess.

Along the way, Cheng Huaishi told me that among his colleagues, he was the best friend with Bachelor Su.

Xueshi Su was older than him and had entered the officialdom a few years earlier. He was also educated at Qionglin Academy.Academician Su has a strategic mind and is both civil and military. After coming to Beijing, he is the person he admires the most besides Zhang Shouxu.

Xuexiang Su was also willing to get close to him and often called him "Huai Di".

The carriage has arrived.The housekeeper of Su Mansion greeted him outside the door.

Cheng Huaishi took me in with him.

There were many people sitting at the banquet.

A handsome man with a long beard stood up and walked towards Cheng Huaishi.

This person must be Academician Su.

With a bright face, he said: "Brother Huai, Brother Su will introduce you to an important person tonight."

Cheng Huai was at a loss.

Academician Su solemnly led him to the big chair at the banquet, leaned over and said, "This is His Royal Highness Prince Lu."

King Zhu Yili of Lu, the younger brother of the current Long Live Lord, and the youngest son of the empress dowager Li.

I looked at him quietly.

I saw him sitting at the banquet, wearing a python robe, looking luxurious and elegant.

Cheng Huaishi seemed to have never expected that King Lu would be at the banquet tonight. Although he was surprised, he still calmly leaned over and said, "His Royal Highness, King Lu, is a thousand years old."

King Lu smiled and said: "There are many talents in the Ming Dynasty, and the scholars in today's society are extraordinary. I am very pleased."

"The prince is full of praise, and the ministers are frightened."

Everyone took their seats.

Xuexiang Su was an elegant man and invited actors to play and sing "Guangling San".

King Lu chanted: "I once got drunk under the Wushuang Pavilion, and I knew I would live up to the spring of Guangling."

Scholar Su and others praised: "Your Highness is so fond of poetry."

The string in the actor's hand broke with a bang.

Dozens of people dressed in black suddenly rushed in from outside the door.

There was an uproar in the audience.

Academician Su stood up alertly, but when he saw the person coming, his face was full of panic.

He tried his best to move forward calmly, leaned over and said, "Mr. Feng came here tonight, why?"

Mr. Feng Factory?
A man slowly crossed the threshold and walked in.

It’s really Feng Gao.

At this time, the look on his face was something I had never seen before.

It was so vicious, but also a bit sarcastic and polite.

He gently raised his palms: "It's so lively tonight. Master Su's house is really unique. We can't bear to interrupt such a good song."

Academician Su smiled apologetically and said, "But what is your Majesty's decree?"

Feng Gao suddenly saw Cheng Huaishi.

He frowned: "Why are you here too?"

Cheng Huai remained silent.

Feng Gao thought for a moment and waved his hand: "Take him away!"

Xuexian Su said: "Mr. Feng, everything is easy to discuss, easy to discuss, don't..."

Feng Gao glanced at him.

He immediately fell silent.

King Lu, who was sitting in the banquet, did not say a word from beginning to end.

I ran forward and shouted: "Huaishi! Huaishi!"

Feng Gao saw me.

This time he didn't talk to me.

Just gave me a meaningful look.

I was so distraught that I didn't understand what he meant.

Why only take Cheng Huaishi?

A burst of lightning and thunder.

The rain came suddenly.

Cheng Huaishi turned to me and the boy and said, "Don't tell the old lady when you go back, don't make her worry."

I watched him being taken away by the people from Dongchang, and my whole body felt cold.

Why did the person who used to call me "sister" target my husband?
Thousands of people were massacred in Dongchang, and this order was given to the emperor.

Ha, after all, he is from Dongchang.

How much sincerity can there be?

(End of this chapter)