Glory all the way

Chapter 191
On the vermilion gate, on the plaque hanging above, there are three big characters in golden light: Zhuangyuanfu.

On both sides of the gate, a pair of stone lions are charmingly naive. Because Du Xuan and Bai Yingluo are newly married, a red ribbon is tied around the neck of the stone lions. A bit of joy added a bit of peace to this solemn mansion.

Inside the gate, there is an open space paved with white marble, which is shining brightly, and white clouds floating in the sky can still be vaguely seen.

Bai Yingluo clicked her tongue and sighed a few times.

"I looked at the layout plan sent by the Ministry of Rites. Not counting the mountains and forests in the backyard, the Zhuangyuan Mansion covers a total of [-] mu."

Du Xuan took Bai Yingluo's hand and walked across the white marble floor tiles, looked at the clear shadows of the two and smiled.

"Fifty acres, isn't that bigger than the Hou's Mansion? The Hou's Mansion has a family of several hundred people. Here, the master is only the two of us, and the servants are only more than 100 households."

Bai Yingluo opened her eyes wide in surprise.

The east and west corner gates on both sides of the main entrance in the front yard are covered with bluestone slabs, and no dust can be stepped on. All the way forward, there are several rows of outer study rooms, and further outside, there are narrow courtyard rooms where the servants live, as well as stables and carts. house.

Going further in, there are five spacious and bright meeting halls in the middle, with side rooms and tea rooms on each side, and the layout is roughly similar to Yixin Garden.

Through several vertical flower doors, it is the inner courtyard.

In the past few days, Bai Yingluo had been in a hurry to get in and out, and Bai Yingluo didn't bother to take a closer look. Now that she took a closer look, she realized that the yard of Yixin Garden was also huge, more than double the size of Mingya Garden in the Hou's Mansion.

There are nine rooms and nine frames in the main courtyard, with triple wing rooms on both sides, triple side rooms, and spacious buildings in the front and back. Bai Yingluo counted with her fingers, and there are more than 30 rooms.

If it is really full, it must be the meritorious service handed down for a hundred years that everyone can afford it.

There is a small courtyard on the left side of Yixin Garden. It was built back then as an inner study. Now, Du Xuan has set up the study in the right corner, but he doesn't know what it is used for.

As if guessing what Bai Yingluo was thinking, Du Xuan bowed his head and said in a low voice: "When I have a baby in the future, let him live here until he is two years old, so you can see him all the time, so that you don't miss it all the time."

Immediately blushing, Bai Yingluo cast a shy sideways glance at Du Xuan, but she felt sweet in her heart.

On the right side is a small garden with numerous rocks and gurgling water. Bai Yingluo looked around, but did not see where the water came from. Du Xuan explained: "Perhaps there is running water under the ground, so It has been used by skilled craftsmen, it is really ingenious. Wouldn’t it be interesting for us to sit in the yard to cool off and listen to the gurgling water in summer?”

Bai Yingluo nodded approvingly.

Walking along the moon gate hidden behind the small garden, you will find a winding corridor with nine curves. The scenery is different, but each place is very elegant, as if you are going out for fun, which makes Bai Yingluo feel very have fun.

After walking for a cup of tea, and passing through a hanging flower door, there is a flower hall, which is slightly smaller than the meeting hall in the front yard. It is named "Shu Yuxuan". A large flower hall near the water can accommodate more than a hundred people sitting around a round wooden table, which is a good place for banqueting guests.

The most wonderful thing is that the pane facing the door is actually connected. When it is opened, there is a lotus pond with gurgling water underneath, and a high platform is built directly opposite.

Sitting in the banquet hall eating delicious food, chatting with relatives and friends beside you, listening to famous actors on the high stage singing popular flower operas, how comfortable and comfortable it should be.

If someone doesn't like noise, it will be an open-air grandstand if you go out to the adjacent place, close the door, and block the noise outside, enjoy the blooming lotus and drink tea, which is very interesting.

"When I have a chance, I will invite my grandparents and my aunt to play. At that time, I will invite the theater troupe to sing a few plays. It will be lively and lively."

Bai Yingluo looked forward to it happily.

After walking around, Bai Yingluo already had a rough layout in her heart.

Yixin Garden is the center of the Zhuangyuan Mansion. Apart from the forests in the front and back yards, there are seven or eight courtyards and row houses surrounding the east, west and north sides of Yixin Garden.

"This mansion is enough for a big family of four generations to live under the same roof. You said, what is the purpose of the emperor rewarding you?"

Bai Yingluo asked with some anxiety.

Squeezing Bai Yingluo's hand affectionately, Du Xuan grinned and said, "Soldiers come to cover up the water and cover the earth. How can we guess what the Holy Majesty intends? Besides, I'm just a champion now, poor and white, Can the emperor have any plans for me? I have given you the gift, so I can live in peace of mind. Let's wait until the future to talk about the future."

Seeing that he wasn't worried at all, but seemed to be overly cautious, Bai Yingluo smiled and left it behind.

What Bai Yingluo likes most about the huge No. [-] Scholar's Mansion is the mountains and gardens in the backyard with completely different scenery. Du Xuan is drawn to look at it excitedly, while Bai Yingluo chatters about her own thoughts.

In the nearby gardens, small gardens were built based on the existing prototypes, while in the distant mountains and forests, different forests were cultivated according to the different seasons of the year. When it came to the excitement, Bai Yingluo said complacently: " In this way, throughout the year, we will always have endless flowers.”

Nodding again and again, Du Xuan felt extremely happy seeing her happily arranging their new home.

Within a few steps, there is a sparkling small lake with square stone slabs in the middle.

Walking on the stone slabs to the middle of the lake and listening for a while, I saw a group of small fish swimming in the distance, red like fire, white like snow, and rare golden yellow.

The accompanying woman hurriedly took out the fish food that she brought with her, twisted the white wreath and sprinkled it into the lake. The fish competed for food, and splashes were stirred up on the water surface, which was full of vitality and spectacular.

On the other side of the bridge is a small octagonal pavilion.

Bai Yingluo looked up and saw three large characters on the plaque: Duanchang Pavilion.

The two looked at each other.

Walking all the way from the gate, the names of every courtyard are indescribably elegant, but only this pavilion makes people feel a little sad about the imminent parting, a little more bleak in their hearts.

"If you don't like it, let's change it. The left and right are our own houses."

Seeing Bai Yingluo silently staring at the three words, Du Xuan came over and stood beside her and said softly.

"Let's put it aside for now... Since such a name is used, it can be seen that it is intentional, and it is not good to change it rashly."

Originally wanted to go in and rest for a while, but after seeing the name of the pavilion, Bai Yingluo felt a little displeased for no reason, shook Du Xuan's hand, and the two turned around and walked back on the same path stepping on the stone slabs.

Going around the hanging flower gate on the other side to Yixinyuan, the scenery is different.

Arriving at the open space next to Yixin Garden, looking at the luxuriant grape vines, Bai Yingluo became happy again, "Let's build a shelf here, tidy it up, maybe there will be grapes to eat next year. Build a swing frame, and when you are free, you can come here to swing."

Du Xuan responded with a smile, turned around and ordered.

Back in the house, Bai Yingluo suddenly felt her legs and feet were sore and weak, as if she hadn't walked so much for her age.

Lying on the bed, letting Liusu and Liuying pinch her legs, Bai Yingluo looked back at Du Xuan and said, "Do you have the layout plan of the house sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs? If so, let's put it away and tidy it up. From now on, this place will be the foundation for our four generations living under one roof."

Speaking of four generations living under one roof, Bai Yingluo's ears turned red.

Du Xuan laughed heartily, got up hurriedly and went to the study room on the right side to find the blueprint delivered that day, spread it on the bed, and the two of them looked at it carefully.

Discussing what to do, and sometimes disagreeing, the two argued with each other until they reached a consensus.

Liusu and Liuying watched, pursed their lips and smiled, and left the inner room to prepare dinner.

After looking around, there are still many places that need to be repaired by craftsmen. Du Xuan was stunned for a while, and murmured: "Why does this cost several thousand taels of silver?"

Bai Yingluo was amused by the sight, she said "Yes" without raising her head, and replied nonchalantly, "You don't have to worry about the inner house, I will tell the steward to hire a craftsman to repair it, don't worry That's right."

For a long time, Du Xuan didn't hear a sound, Bai Yingluo raised her head, but saw Du Xuan staring blankly at the blueprint, but her eyes were a little dull, and she didn't know what she was thinking.

Bai Yingluo hesitated for a moment, and probably guessed that he might be worried about the cost of the residence.

Before Du Xuan won the first prize, the academy had almost no monthly expenses, and he could still earn some pocket money by copying ancient books. Now, in addition to the 500 taels of silver bestowed by the emperor after high school, there is also a gift from the second elder of the Bai family a few days ago. The 300 taels that came, in Du Xuan's hands, were less than 1000 taels of silver.

And in this mansion, there are more than 100 people up and down who need him to support them. Looking at it now, it is really a bit shabby.

As for Bai Yingluo, since she was young, she was well-clothed and well-fed, not to mention the dowry given to her by Mrs. Bai and Mrs. Xue when she got married, but only the shops in her own hands, the annual income is about 10 taels, several thousand taels, really not what a big sum.

"You really think I'm going to repair the garden?"

Pulling his hand resentfully, Bai Yingluo pretended to be annoyed and gave him a sideways glance, "It's just the two of us, living in such a big No. , isn’t it just a matter of idleness, just a relief from boredom.”

Du Xuan smiled and nodded, but Bai Yingluo could tell that he still cared about these things in his heart.

However, this is not a problem that can be solved in a while, right?
Sighing helplessly in her heart, Bai Yingluo rolled up the drawing, called Liuying to put it away, and pulled Du Xuan with a flattering smile to talk about the interesting things about yesterday in the Hou's mansion.

Until the rest at night, Du Xuan was still a little gloomy.

Blowing out the candle, Bai Yingluo leaned forward, cuddled him tightly, and said in a soft voice: "Husband and wife are one body, since we share joys and sorrows, and since we have to share joys and sorrows first, and then share sorrows, if you care about it like this, in the future When the catastrophe is approaching, are you going to abandon me?"

His body froze, and after a long time, Du Xuan turned around and hugged Bai Yingluo tightly.

(End of this chapter)