carved heart

Chapter 48: The Return of Lord Hou (1)
"There is a saying in Yongping that those who set off lanterns together on the night of the Qixi Festival will be entangled for life. Yin, just now you and I put up 38 lanterns," he slowly raised his eyes and looked at her, "We have 38 lanterns. You are entangled with the world, and you have nowhere to escape."

When Ah Yin was thinking about how to answer Shangguan's official letter, Jiang Xuan and Jiang Man came over.Jiang Xuan panted and said, "I finally found my sister, there are so many people in Suizhou." After a pause, she said strangely: "Why are my sister and Young Master's family blushing? Could it be that they have suffered from heatstroke?"

Ah Yin coughed lightly and said, "Where have you been?"

Jiang Xuan took a look at Jiang Man and said, "Brother Jiang said he would take me to see the lanterns, and said that the lanterns in the upper reaches of Suijiang are the most beautiful. But today a nobleman from Suizhou who came from nowhere has booked the entire upper reaches, so we can only I took a few glances from afar."

Ah Yin didn't care, and said, "Why are you still holding the lantern?"

Jiang Xuan said: "I'm waiting to put up lanterns with my sister."

Hearing this, Ah Yin glanced at Jiang Man, and immediately realized that he had misunderstood.Where is Jiang Man interested in Ah Xuan?Obviously it's Ziye!Thinking of this, Ah Yin felt hot again, and said, "Let's go, I'll go with you to set off lanterns."

As he spoke, he nodded with Shangguan Shixin, and quickly dragged Jiang Xuan into the crowd.

Jiang Man asked: "Young master's family won't follow?"

Shangguan Shixin shook his head: "She needs time, if I follow the past at this time, I'm afraid it will make her feel awkward." Hearing this, Jiang Man was immediately happy, and said: "Young Master's house will be a blockbuster if it doesn't make a name!"

At this time, Shangguan Shixin suddenly said: "Do you know where the nobleman is from?"

Jiang Man said: "The guards are extremely strict, and Yuemo is from Yongping."

Hearing the word Yongping, Shangguan Shixin said: "Send someone to Yongping to inquire about Mu Yanghou's whereabouts."

When Jiang Man heard this, he was startled. The Shaodong family rarely took the initiative to inquire about people or things. Miss Yin was the first, and now Mu Yanghou is the second.Inquiring about Miss Yin can still explain it, why should I inquire about Mu Yanghou now?
Jiang Man asked doubts.

Shangguan Shixin shook his head and said: "You just ask, I hope it's just my illusion."

On the other side, Ah Yin and Jiang Xuan walked towards Suijiang.

As the night darkened, there were fewer people coming and going on the street.

The lanterns in Suijiang floated down all the way, and the flames were full of light, illuminating most of the river.The two gradually drifted away along the river, and unknowingly reached the upper reaches of the river.However, he did not see the guard that Jiang Man mentioned earlier.The two of them didn't care, and continued to move forward.

"Sister, what did the young master tell you?"

Ah Yin asked, "Why do you say that?"

Jiang Xuan only said: "I felt something was wrong before, Big Brother Jiang treated us so well, many things did not require the consent of the young master, and he must not be the master. It was not until today, when Big Brother Jiang came to me, that I realized that it was the young master's intention. Later Thinking about it carefully, the Shaodong family treats people gently, but they treat their elder sister with real gentleness, which is different from other people. Today happens to be Qixi Festival again..."

She looked at Ah Yin and asked, "Does sister like the Young Master's family?"

Her younger sister is so perceptive, Ah Yin couldn't help laughing and said, "Why didn't you tell me when you saw it?" If he had known earlier, he wouldn't be at a loss for what Ziye said today.

Jiang Xuan held the lantern in one hand and A Yin's arm in the other, and said with a smile: "It's useless for me to see it. If my sister doesn't like the young master, it's just a delusion for the young master to be infatuated with her. My sister is so good, the young master's Isn't it natural to like my sister?"

She tilted her head and said again: "Sister, I actually think the Young Master's family is very good. Not only is he proficient in nuclei carving, but he is also gentle and refined. The most important thing is to treat his sister with care. Now my sister has paid homage to Yuan Gong again at Shangguan's house." Teacher, after entering nuclear science and becoming one of the eighteen nuclear carving technicians, who in the entire Shangguan family would dare to make irresponsible remarks to my sister? Besides, my sister has superb nuclear carving skills, which is not enough in other families. It's normal for outsiders, but in Shangguan's family, you can become your sister's biggest backer. Who dares to say that my sister is not worthy of Shangguan's family?"

Ever since Xie's young man became the heartbroken man, every time Jiang Xuan saw a good husband, she would secretly think about it, and carefully consider it from the inside to the outside.After watching for so long, only the young master of Shangguan's family is the most suitable for her sister.

Ah Yin's face was slightly red, but she didn't hide it from Jiang Xuan, and told Jiang Xuan what Shangguan Shixin said today.

Jiang Xuan's eyes widened at first, then she was very happy, and said: "The young master's family is suitable for my sister, and being Ah Xuan's brother-in-law is also very good." Seemingly thinking of something, she flattened her mouth and said, "Better than Mu Yanghou." It's much better. Although Mu Yanghou is powerful and powerful, but his family status is too high, it's hard work for my sister to marry."

Ah Yin also knew the reason Jiang Xuan said, and thought about it.

Jiang Xuan said again: "When my sister was proposed by the young master, were you happy?"

Ah Yin coughed lightly, and said: "It's the first time someone has proposed marriage so sincerely, I'm a little happy."

But besides being happy, I was also a little sad.Rather than saying that she has never thought about the relationship between men and women, it is better to say that she dare not think about it.Zi Ye was so kind, so good that she felt that a girl who was worthy of him must be a gentle and pleasant girl who knew how to carve, could talk freely with him, and was also an innocent girl.

And she is not.

"Does my sister like the young master's house?"

"I……"

The voice stopped abruptly.

Suijiang, which was still empty before, with only the sound of rolling water, suddenly appeared a dark blue figure.The man stood with his hands behind his back, the black night couldn't match his complexion at the moment, it was dark, heavy and cold, and there was a hint of sternness in his slender Danfeng eyes.

Ah Yin was stunned, his complexion paled suddenly.

She never thought that she would see Mu Yanghou today, she even thought that Mu Yanghou who was far away in Yongping had already forgotten her.But suddenly, he appeared, and he appeared so suddenly, without a trace of defense at all.

Thinking of the possibility that Mu Yanghou might listen to what she and Axuan said, he immediately felt very guilty.Thinking about it in a blink of an eye, she and Axuan were walking in the upper reaches of the Suijiang River, and they didn't see anyone for a long time. It turned out that it wasn't that people dispersed, but was blocked by Mu Yanghou's people, and she and Axuan had already unknowingly appeared under his nose.

"What are you? Isn't my sister shy?" She looked up with a smile, but saw her sister's face was astonishingly pale, as if she had seen a ghost.She followed Ah Yin's line of sight, and saw Mu Yanghou who was not far away at this time, her heart skipped a beat, and her calf began to tremble.

Such a piercing expression!
"Hou...Hou..." Jiang Xuan couldn't squeeze a word out of her throat for a long time.

It was Jiang Xuan who made Ah Yin calm down.

She has to protect Ah Xuan.

Subconsciously, she took half a step forward and saluted Mu Yanghou.Her attitude of protecting her sister, as if he was some terrible scourge, made Mu Yanghou's mood even more gloomy.

Gongcheng and Suizhou are four or five days' drive away. In order to arrive on the Qixi Festival, Mu Yanghou ordered to drive overnight without rest.

I wanted to give her a surprise, but unexpectedly it was a big "surprise".

"Come here." He said calmly.

Ah Yin took half a step, Jiang Xuan grabbed Ah Yin's sleeve.

A Yin slightly shook his head at her.

Jiang Xuan bit her lip and let go of her sleeve.

"You come too."

Jiang Xuan was taken aback for a moment, meeting Shen Changtang's cold gaze, her calves began to tremble again, almost unable to stand still.A Yin's complexion changed even more, and he said: "Hou...Master Hou, my sister has just blown the wind from the river, and she already feels unwell. She got close to Master Hou, and I'm afraid she might infect him."

Seeing that his face was still cold, Ah Yin swallowed, and said again: "Why don't I let my sister go back first..." She gritted her teeth and said, "I will take care of Master Hou with peace of mind."

Unexpectedly, after these words came out, Shen Changtang's complexion became even uglier.

His eyes were like cold knives, he gave A Yin a cold look, and then fell on Jiang Xuan again.

Jiang Xuan subconsciously hid behind Ah Yin.

At this time, a boat was gradually approaching on the Suijiang River, and the ladder fell, and Shen Changtang did not turn his head to step on it. After his figure gradually disappeared, the boat never left, and the ladder was also taken away. A gust of river wind blows.

Jiang Xuan asked: "Sister, this..."

A Yin patted her hand and said: "Don't be afraid, sister is here." Saying that, he took her hand and walked towards the stairs.

On board the boat, she soon saw Yan Mo and Yan Shen.

The two looked at her strangely, but there was no malice, especially Yan Shen, who looked at her with a hint of admiration, and opened their mouths on their own initiative, saying in a low voice, "Master Hou is waiting for you inside."

Hearing the word "you", Ah Yin asked repeatedly: "My sister is going there too?"

Yan Shen said, "Master Hou hasn't eaten dinner tonight."

Afraid that Ah Yin would not understand, he added: "Master Hou is waiting for you to have dinner with me." Ah Yin couldn't help being stunned, it was almost Xu time, and it was usually the curfew time.

Shen Changtang, he waited for her to have dinner together?

Yan Shen turned sideways, and said in a low voice: "Master Hou is a little angry, girl, you can just say a few soft words."

Ah Yin nodded gratefully to Yan Shen, then patted Jiang Xuan's hand lightly, and then entered the boat together with her.

Three or four children filed in, and there was an extra food table in the cabin, as well as four or five dishes of delicious delicacies, many of which were unknown to Jiang Xuan.Sitting in front of the food table, she looked a little cramped.

Next door to her is Ah Yin, that terrible Lord Hou sits on the main seat, and she can see him just by raising her eyes.

Therefore, Jiang Xuan would rather stare at the dishes than raise her eyelids.

Compared to Jiang Xuan, Ah Yin was extremely anxious at the moment, no matter how hard she racked her brains, she couldn't figure out what Shen Changtang was thinking.It was also at this time that Shen Changtang suddenly said, "Your name is Jiang Xuan?"

Jiang Xuan, who was called, was so frightened that her hands under her sleeves trembled, and she subconsciously looked at Ah Yin.

Ah Yin said, "Sister is..."

As soon as he opened his mouth, Shen Changtang gave her a cold look and said, "I didn't ask you."

Jiang Xuan was afraid that Mu Yanghou would blame her sister, so she hurriedly said: "If you go back to Lord Marquis, it is... yes." She wanted to control her trembling, but Mu Yanghou who was not far away was really majestic, and when he didn't speak The eyes are really scary, and the words make people panic.

She had never been so close to the nobles in Yongping, and she had already thought about seven or eight tragic situations of being ordered to be executed by the nobles, and her hands trembled uncontrollably.I heard that there are many lynchings in Yongping, such as strangulation, horse stool, Ling Chi... There are many other methods that sound good but are extremely cruel.

Jiang Xuan not only shook her hands, but also her body.

"...all made by Yongping's cook."

For a long while, Jiang Xuan was taken aback, she was too scared just now, and only heard the second half of Mu Yanghou's sentence clearly.What cook?Yongping?Not lynching?Now Mu Yanghou said again: "You don't have to be restrained."

Jiang Xuan was still ignorant, and she didn't realize it until Ah Yin next to her picked up her chopsticks, and followed suit.Just after eating a piece of sweet and sour fish, Jiang Xuan's whole body was invigorated, and she couldn't help eating a few more mouthfuls, thinking that the food cooked by Chef Yongping is really extraordinary, the sweet and sour flavors blend just right, after entering the mouth, There is still the sweetness of the fish.

Like most of the girls in Gongcheng, Jiang Xuan loves sweets and rouge powder. After eating delicious food, she gradually forgets her fear, and also forgets that sitting not far away is an evil statue that can kill her anytime, anywhere. Rakshasa.

There were four or five dishes on the food table, and Jiang Xuan ate them with gusto, and after a while, only half of them left.

She raised her eyes inadvertently, just in time to see Mu Yanghou looking sideways at her sister.

And the elder sister bowed her head with a flushed face, exposing the tips of her blushing ears, holding a cup of tea and sipping it in small sips.Jiang Xuan knew her sister, she was different from ordinary girls, she didn't blush like this just because she was stared at casually.

She couldn't help but look at Mu Yanghou a few more times.

Probably because of the delicious food, Jiang Xuan dared to look at Mu Yanghou.

I thought Mu Yanghou had a scary face before, but now I feel that Mu Yanghou is not so scary.In the way he looked at his sister, she found a trace of concentration.

Unexpectedly, Mu Yanghou noticed her eyes and looked over.

Jiang Xuan sat upright.

"Have you eaten enough?" Mu Yanghou asked, his voice was flat, but there was an air of prestige without anger.

Jiang Xuan was only [-]% full, and could only nod indiscriminately, saying: "If you go back to Lord Hou, I'm full." She looked at A Yin, only a small half of her food was moving on the table, most of the time she was looking at the food. Blushed.Ah Yin also looked at her. After all, the two sisters have the same heart, and Jiang Xuan soon understood what Ah Yin meant.

She said: "Hou...Master Hou, I still have lanterns to set off, so I'll take my leave first..."

This time Mu Yanghou didn't stop her, instead he called Yan Shen in and said, "Take Mrs. Jiang to set off the lantern." After a slight pause, he said again, "Let the cook make some more cakes and bring them back to Mrs. Jiang. "

Jiang Xuan was taken aback.

Yan Shen said to her, "Miss Jiang, this way please."

Jiang Xuan was taken by Yan Shen to a small boat, besides the two of them, there was a boatman and a blind girl called Cuiyu.Although Cuiyu couldn't see and wasn't very talkative, it made Jiang Xuan feel a lot easier.

Anyway, there is a girl with me.

Yan Shen said: "Put the lanterns here, the farthest can be placed."

Jiang Xuan quickly responded.

Yan Shen said with a smile at this moment: "Miss Jiang, don't be cautious, don't be afraid, and don't worry about your sister. Our Marquis has your sister in his heart." Yan Shen obviously understands girls' thoughts better, so he first dropped a sentence that hit Jiang Xuan directly. After the words in my heart, I began to talk about many interesting stories about putting lanterns in a humorous way.

Jiang Xuan's vigilance gradually disappeared, and she listened extremely engrossed.

On the other side of the boat, only Ah Yin and Shen Changtang were left.

If it is said that A Yin was still worried about Shangguan Shixin's marriage proposal before, now A Yin is full of thoughts about how much Shen Changtang has heard before.As soon as Jiang Xuan left, she put down the dishes and stood up.

Shen Changtang looked at her coldly.

She kept her eyes down, took small steps, walked to Shen Changtang's side step by step, and then sat down.

She reached out to pick up the teacup, poured half a glass of water into Shen Changtang's teacup, held the teacup with her ten fingers, and handed it to Shen Changtang.She didn't speak, just holding the teacup like this, her ten fingers were white and extraordinarily slender, and the finger covers were covered with a layer of luster, against which the thin white glazed teacup looked very beautiful.

Shen Changtang stared at it for a while, but didn't take it.

Ah Yin still lowered his head.

Suddenly, she raised her eyes slightly, just in time to meet his straight eyes again, without a trace of warmth.Ah Yin tilted her head slightly, as if thinking of something, she put down her teacup and asked in a low voice: "How is Hou Ye doing recently?"

Shen Changtang stared at her.

Ah Yin said, "Has Master Hou found out where Chen Dou is?"

Shen Changtang still stared at her, but didn't speak.

The fear and fear in Ah Yin's heart suddenly disappeared. After thinking about it, she felt that there was nothing to be afraid of.Shen Changtang was not particularly angry when she scolded her so much.On the contrary, as soon as she softened, his anger disappeared.

A Yin seems to have found the way to get along with Shen Changtang.

She said softly, "Master Hou."

He looked at her again.

She blushed slightly, and said, "After I realized what happened to Chen Dou, I have been thinking about Lord Hou." After finishing speaking, the coldness in his eyes lost more than half, but he still looked at her without saying a word.

Ah Yin still didn't know how much Shen Changtang had just heard, and tentatively said: "My son and I..." She paused, coughed a few more times, and then changed her words: "Tonight, on Qixi Festival, my sister and I went out to visit Suizhou. The young master is hospitable and warm, specially entertaining the two of us."

He was used to calling Ziye on weekdays, so he almost called out Shangguan Shixin's name.

As she spoke, she looked at Shen Changtang's expression: "Suizhou is prosperous. Just now, my sister and I walked all the way along the Suijiang River, and saw countless lanterns. It was too beautiful. It's a pity that I have been busy with fighting cores a while ago, and I never had free time to make lanterns." Or else it would be a beautiful thing to put a lantern on this festive season to entrust good wishes." She took out a nucleus carving from her skirt, which was the flower nucleus carving she had carved before to prepare for the battle with Lu Lan , talking nonsense: "I thought I would give it to Lord Hou when I saw him again, but I didn't expect to see Lord Hou tonight on Qixi Festival. Be careful, and hope that Lord Hou will not despise Ah Yin's courtesy."

"Ming Mu."

A Yin was taken aback, and froze for a while.

Shen Changtang said: "Benhou's name." After a slight pause, he said with a cold face: "Don't call me Lord Hou in the future."

(End of this chapter)