Fair Lady

It is very easy for Shuyao to follow Yao Xuelan, those people have Aunt Lan to socialize, she just needs to be responsible for smiling obediently and answering a few questions occasionally.With Aunt Lan protecting her, no one dared to ask inappropriate questions or say anything provocative.

The mother of Duke Zhong's Mansion came over and bowed to Yao Xuelan first: "Mrs. Mu, our family's eldest son wants to meet Miss Shuyao and Young Master Shuwen from the Xia family. Young Master Shuwen is already waiting outside the hall." This mother is Yao Xuelan I know her, the mother next to Mrs. Shizi.

A lady who was on good terms with Yao Xuelan said with a smile: "Yo, your little nephew is not even ten years old, why not come in? A pair of beautiful twins stand together, tsk tsk, they are all happy to see."

Yao Xuelan took a look at the lady: "Isn't it because you guys always stare at him like a son-in-law? Children have thin skins, okay?"

"Hahahaha," several people laughed, "I think so, but if you want to see each other, you should first look at the boss, right?"

Yao Xuelan said to Shuyao with a smile: "Go, the eldest son is also familiar with your adoptive father, and you should go to see him when you come." Duke Zhong and his wife went back to their hometown to worship their ancestors, and they must pass on the title of Duke when they return to Beijing in the next year Master Shizi, I heard that the application for succession has been approved.

Shuyao agreed, she knew why Shi Ziye wanted to see their siblings.

Yao Xuelan looked at Lanjin and Zijin behind Shuyao again: "You two follow Yaoer, the Duke's Mansion is very big, don't run around."

"Yes," Lan Jin and the others hurriedly replied.Mother Liu told them many "accidents" that happened at banquets of rich families, and they all knew about it.Can't leave the girl's side at any time.

The mother of Duke Zhong's mansion hurriedly said: "Mrs. Mu, don't worry, this servant will send Miss Xia to the study, and she will send it back in person."

Yao Xuelan said with a smile: "I'm sorry to trouble Mom, children are curious, I'm afraid they will get lost."

Shuyao followed the mother out of the hall, and she saw Shuwen in a blue robe standing under a big tree at the far side of the yard.

The son's study is not far from the banquet hall, Shu Yao and the others walked for less than a quarter of an hour.

The study room is large, with black as the main color, and the decoration is not extravagant.The most valuable things in the study should be the bookshelf that occupies the entire wall, which is full of books, and the three ancient paintings on the opposite wall.

Shuyao heard that Duke Zhong and his son both love calligraphy and painting, and they like to collect ancient calligraphy, paintings and ancient jade. There are many rare original works in the Duke's mansion that cannot be found outside.

Zhong Yu, the son of Duke Zhong, is tall and thin, wearing a blue brocade robe, and has fair skin.With three beautiful beards and a literati air, it fits the simple and heavy taste of this study.

Zhong Yu saw Shu Wen last time at the family recognition banquet in Xia Zhai, this time he mainly wanted to meet Shu Yao who raised jade for their Zhong family's "Lan Yue Xuan".

The peacock jadeite screen exhibited today was acquired by the Zhong family after a lot of effort and cost, but it was a pity that it was only discovered after getting it, although the former owner tried his best to take care of it.The wear and tear of the jade screen during the war and the millennium is still greater than they imagined.

What I didn't expect was that I was raised in Xia Zhai for a month.The emerald screen returned to his hand made him hardly dare to blink, for fear that if he blinked, he would realize that he was hallucinating and delusional.

Like Shopkeeper Li, Zhong Yu would never think of asking Xia Zhai what methods he used to raise jade.Because anyone who really understands jade knows that jade is different from gold and silver. Jade is a spiritual thing, so raise jade.More is the need for "fate".

For example, those master masters in their Lanyuexuan are equally skilled in carving jade and raising jade.However, the same piece of jade carved in the hands of one master may be an unremarkable work, but after a small modification by another master, it is immediately impressive.

Sometimes a new piece of jade obtained in a jade workshop is not worth a lot in the eyes of one master, but another master may regard it as a treasure, and can turn that piece of jade into magic with three or two strokes.

Finding jade, betting on jade, carving jade, cultivating jade, even buying jade, and wearing jade are all like this. In addition to external conditions such as skills and economic capabilities, "blessings" are also required.

Zhong Yu looked at the little girl in front of him, she was indeed as beautiful and lovely as Madam said, but what attracted him more was the aura in this child that her peers did not have.Those agile almond eyes, in addition to aura and transparency, also... can't be described in words... as deep as ancient jade.This child is less than ten years old, isn't he?

"Shuyao (Shuwen) has met Shi Ziye." The voices of Shuyao's brother and sister greeted him, pulling Zhong Yu back from his drifting thoughts.

"Ahem, sit down, don't be restrained." Zhong Yu raised the corners of his lips. He has always had a majestic face in front of his children, but the pair of children in front of him are their partners of Lanyuexuan.Moreover, seeing Shuyao's eyes, he couldn't bear to "imposing" that child.

Zhong Yu picked up a deed paper that had been prepared earlier on the desk and handed it over: "This is the deed of a shop on Fulai Street. The area is not very big, but the location is very good. I heard that you are looking for a shop. This shop will be used as a reward for raising jade this time."

Fulai Street is a commercial street one street away from Shangguan Street, second only to Xilai Street in front of Zhuque Street in the capital.

"This, my son, this is too expensive, we can't accept it." Shuyao quickly pushed back the store deed. She is not a little girl who knows nothing about the world, so she naturally knows the value of the store.Shuwen also said in agreement: "Master, we only receive [-]% of the original payment, otherwise even if we take it back, the eldest brother will return it to you."

Zhong Yu nodded secretly, and there was a little invisible softness on his face: "Don't worry, I didn't give too much. You are still young and don't know the value of that emerald screen. It is really priceless. If you have to get entangled , The value of this shop is far from reaching [-]%."

The Shuyao siblings looked at each other in surprise, and then at Zhong Yu, as if they wanted to see if he was coaxing them.

Zhong Yu couldn't help but smiled: "Really, speaking of it, I took advantage of it. Now you know, if you think this shop is not enough, I can..."

"No need," Shu Yao hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please don't add any more, elder brother won't accept it."

Shuwen also nodded seriously: "Since the son said that there is no price in the market, then the screen must be hard to come by. My elder brother said that many things cannot be calculated by numbers. It is enough for us to get a prosperous shop. Thank you, Shizi."

Zhong Yu sighed: "Your parents and eldest brother taught you very well. Shuwen and Chiayi are sworn brothers. From now on, you don't have to call him Shi Ziye so strangely, you can just call me uncle. You keep the store deed, and about For further cooperation between you and Lanyuexuan, I will discuss with your eldest brother when you have time after the scientific examination."

Brother Shuyao got up quickly: "Yes, uncle."There are so many guests in the Duke's Mansion today.As the master, Shi Ziye naturally couldn't stay in the study for a long time.

Shuyao carefully kept the store deed, and the two siblings left the study.As soon as he came out, he heard Zhong Jiayi's anxious voice: "Shuwen, Sister Yaoer, what does my father want you to do? Did he kill you?"

Shuyao gave a "puchi" smile: "Uncle is very good, what's wrong with it? Why does brother Dunzi ask like that?"

Zijin patted her chest lightly: "It's okay, it's okay. Just now Master Zhong kept saying that the son is very fierce, but he scared the slaves."

Zhong Jiayi curled his lips: "You have never seen him as a fierce person, hehe, you are fine if you are not fierce, let's go, I will take you to eat snacks. Sister Yaoer, there are many beautiful snacks today. It is the most suitable for your little girls .”

The mother who brought Shuyao and the others quickly smiled and said, "Ah, my young master, you can just take Master Shuwen. The old slave promised Mrs. Weiyuan Hou that she would send Miss Yao'er back in person."

Zhong Jiayi was taken aback, and had no choice but to give up: "Then... well, sister Yaoer. You eat more. Next time there is snow lotus cake, I will send it to you." He is already 12 years old.I know that I can't always go to the inner courtyard, especially when there are foreign female guests.

Shuyao shook her head helplessly, she was really wronged!In Zhong Jiayi's eyes, she is a foodie?Pity she never ate in front of him, okay?Not to mention the greedy appearance of gobbling, why?Why does the eldest young master think that she eats dim sum?Still prefer snow lotus cake?Uh, the snow lotus cake is delicious and pretty, but she is not greedy.

Back in the banquet hall for female guests, Yao Xuelan was talking to several wives, Shuyao immediately saw Sima Yan who was dressed in light purple and dressed in expensive but not vulgar clothes.

Yao Xuelan said with a smile: "Yao'er is back. Come on, let's meet someone. This is Mrs. An Guogong, and the person next to her is Mrs. An Guogong's niece, Princess Yan."

As soon as Yao Xuelan's voice fell, Sima Yan laughed softly: "We met in the Compassion Ning Palace, sister Shuyao still remembers me?" His tone was full of friendliness and generosity.

Shuyao still politely saluted before replying: "Master Yan treats Shuyao kindly, Shuyao certainly remembers Princess Yan."

Mrs. An Guogong laughed and said: "Look at how well these two children hit each other. Let the children play together, so don't stay with us. Hui'er, Wu'er, you all go too."

It was only then that Shuyao noticed that the other two girls behind Mrs. Guo were both about the same age as Sima Yan.

Sima Yan introduced: "Sister Shuyao, this is Sima Hui, the third daughter of my eldest brother, and Sima Wu, the eldest daughter of my second cousin. Uh, by the way, speaking of it, you and Wuer are still cousins. What about sisters, hehe, I call Shuyao sister a little bit out of line." Sima Wu called Sima Yan her aunt, if counting from Sima Wu's side, Shuyao would have to follow her down a generation?

Shuyao was very funny in her heart, without a trace of discomfort on her face, she smiled generously: "It can be said that they are distant cousins, and the second wife of your mansion is my clan aunt." Anyway, she always called Princess Yan Well, it has nothing to do with her how Sima Yan wants to arrange her seniority, and there will be no contact between them.The princess Sima Yan only has the name of a princess, without a title or power, and has no ability to force Shuyao to do anything.

Sima Yan's greatest reliance is the Queen Mother's favor. Shuyao doesn't think that she is "the little celebrity in front of the Queen Mother" as others said, but she believes that for the sake of her mother and adoptive father, she will For the sake of the canned purple sesame cake and purple ganoderma, the empress dowager should not easily help Sima Yan to force herself.

Shuyao's calm performance made Sima Yan clenched her fists, this Xia Shuyao was really difficult to deal with.Seeing the emerald hairpin on Shuyao's head, she felt sick with nausea, the Queen Mother's birthday banquet, the three Shuyao brothers and sisters were invited in the palace, but she was not invited...

She improvised to make Shuyao feel uncomfortable, but she didn't expect this girl born in the market to be so calm and tactful.That's right, there is also a palace nurse by her side, Sima Yan clenched her fists again.

No matter what the original relationship was, and why they broke away from the relationship, now the three brothers and sisters in Xia Zhai and Xia Mansion are indeed only relatives.Blood relationship is not as good as genealogy. For example, a son adopted by a brother can only regard his biological father as an uncle, and no one can criticize it.

"Isn't it?" Sima Yan's soft smile also showed no trace of discomfort, "Even though we are distant relatives, we should keep in touch with each other more. Sister Shuyao can come to our house to play more often in the future."

Shuyao smiled and replied: "It should be." Saying something nice will not lose a hair, who can force her to go to An Guogong's mansion? "However, there are quite a few relatives of our Xia family in the capital, and it would take a lot of time to go through them all. Why don't we find a time to gather at Duke Anguo's mansion? Many of them said that they have been in the capital for such a long time. , I didn’t even have a chance to visit Wu Gugu’s house.”

Sima Yan was stunned, how could she respond?Besides the three brothers and sisters of Xia Zhai, who wants to associate with members of the Xia family?And they all gathered at the Duke An's mansion?

Fortunately, at this time, the host greeted the banquet. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation.)

ps: Thank you for the pink ticket of the book friend Aijiu!Thanks to Xiaozhuzi 888 book friends for their pink tickets!Thank you Blue Star mm book friend for the pink ticket!Thank you Magic Magic ‰ book friend for your peace talisman!Thank you!Today is the last day of double pink!hey-hey.