Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 343 Visiting the Golden Gate and Tracing the Origin

In the southeast corner of Xicheng, Rongxian Hutong, Dong'e Mansion, and the Buddhist Hall in the inner courtyard.

Looking at the Bodhisattva with a compassionate face, Jueluo sighed inwardly.On Shengshou Day yesterday, she rushed into the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager Lafayette, and wanted to take the opportunity to find a favor so that the Empress Dowager could advise her granddaughter on the marriage.

Affected by Gali's dismissal from office, their Dong E's family is now deserted.Even the old relatives and friends who used to have some contact, now they can't avoid it.

She had heard about Li Ding's engagement for a long time.It was a pity for Jinghui because outsiders got gossip at the beginning, talked in front of the old lady, and talked about Dong E's family's voluntary resignation.

Although the Li family is covered with clothes, they have been prominent officials since Li Ding's grandfather saw them; besides, Li Ding is dignified, with both civil and military skills, which is much better than those swingers in Beijing.

When Jue Luo heard that the Li family was so eloquent, she bowed her neck in anger, but she couldn't tell.If it was said that the Li family had voluntarily withdrawn their marriage, then the granddaughter's reputation would not be necessary.

Now, the granddaughter's marriage has become a heavy concern for Jue Luo.While I was still hard-pressed to understand and able to speak, I arranged for my granddaughter's marriage, so that I would have the face to meet my son and daughter-in-law when I went underground.If the delay continues, Jinghui's two uncles will think that the niece is useful, so they will try to trick her.

Dong E Jinghui didn't think about that, and sat alone on the kang in the boudoir doing needlework.There is already a drawer full of small things in the wooden cabinet on the top of the kang, such as purses, cigarette bags and so on.There is also a drawer containing about twenty pairs of shoes.

As the saying goes, spring is sleepy, autumn is lacking, summer is napping, and winter is March when you can't wake up.

After embroidering a peony petal, Dong E Jinghui was a little sleepy and her hands were sore, so she put down her work.She got up from the kang, strolled on the ground, and accidentally saw the jewelry box in front of the dressing table.

Dong E Jinghui was startled, now that it has entered October, Enke will be opened soon.Due to his filial piety, he missed this subject, and the next time will be two years later.

Two years later, I was eighteen... Thinking of this, Dong E Jinghui only felt that she was blushing, and she was already insane.

Her maid Chun'er came in just in time, she was startled when she saw her young lady like this, and hurried forward and said: "Young lady's face is so red, did she catch a cold?" As she said that, she couldn't help shivering.

Dong E Jinghui came to her senses, she was immediately too ashamed, and hurriedly said: "It's okay, I'm okay!"

Chun'er walked to the window, looked at the charcoal basin, and at some point, the charcoal fire had been extinguished.She frowned, and said to Dong E Jinghui: "Girl, why don't we talk to the old lady, so that the girl won't get sick from the cold again! The eldest lady has really passed through this now, and she used that black charcoal to fool the girl, causing a lot of trouble." It didn’t work for a long time, and it burned for a quarter of an hour before it went out! It’s okay that it’s just winter, and the weather is still not very cold. In a few days, this house will become an icehouse!”

Dong E Jinghui thought that ever since her uncle was dismissed, there had been some rifts between her uncle and aunt and her grandmother, and she didn't want to make her bother because of her own affairs, so she shook her head and said: "It's okay, the family has not been well-off for the past two years, auntie I just want to save some time, I just wear two more clothes!"

Thinking of the other side of the big room, even the honorable servant girl is also the first-class silver charcoal, Chun'er felt aggrieved for the girl in her heart.She wanted to persuade her again, but after all, the old lady was getting old, and the girl's parents died, and she was living with the old man and the old lady. If there was a quarrel, the situation would become more difficult in the future.Therefore, she sighed, didn't say much, and took the tinder box to make a charcoal stove again.

Dong E Jinghui rubbed her hands that were stiff with cold, then sat on the edge of the kang again, and went to do needlework.

*
Inside the east gate, Li's residence.

Because he wanted to thank the few relatives and friends who came to help the next hire today, Li Ding specially organized a banquet to reward him.

Cao Yong was originally impatient with the entertainment, but thinking of his mother, he couldn't retreat.After all, Li Ding is diligent, so he shouldn't be too distant, lest he be reprimanded for being cold-tempered.

Jiang Zhuo is an elder, so he took his leave after drinking a few cups of wine.

Cao Yong also wanted to return home earlier, but was left behind by Li Dingsheng.

Li Ding personally took the jug, filled Cao Yong with wine, and poured it for himself, then raised the wine cup, and said gratefully: "Today, I also want to thank Fu Ruo for giving my cousin a face. Thank you, come on, cousin, I don’t want to show you some false courtesy, I’ll toast you! Everything is in this cup.”

What he said was that Cao Yong, as a close relative, followed the matchmaker to Fu Cha's house to help Li Ding make a betrothal gift.

Cao Yong smiled wryly in his heart, he didn't know why Li Ding acted like this, obviously he was the one who forced himself to go.Cao Yong said that there is no need to be polite, it should not be so.

Li Ding held the wine cup and didn't let it go, as if if you don't drink it, you won't give me face.

Cao Yong's drinking capacity is not what it used to be. He was not afraid of drinking, so he drank with his neck up.

Li Ding was very happy to see him, and filled Cao Yong himself.

Because he had a few glasses of wine with Jiang Zhuo just now, Cao Yong wanted to excuse that he drank almost the same.At this time, I heard Sun Jue's cold snort beside me.

Li Ding saved his time because he was busy dealing with Cao Yong, neglected his brother-in-law, and filled it up himself in a hurry, saying: "Brother Yushu is too tired today, and I respect you a cup!"

"Yushu" is Sun Jue's character, because Li Ding's brother Li Nai married Sun Jue's sister, the two families are related by marriage and have always been close.

Sun Jue was very annoyed now, and after drinking a few cups of wine, he lost some scruples, so he said coldly, "Why bother me? I'm just a low-ranking official of the sixth rank, and I'm not some kind of concubine. You can't gain face! It seems that in the future, I will have to save two times, so as not to wipe your face. I want to see how far you can go?"

This was a bitter remark, Li Ding was too lazy to argue with him because he was drunk, and said: "Brother Yushu, don't be annoyed, I will punish myself with three cups to make amends!" Ask the maid to warm the wine.

Seeing Li Ding drinking freely, Cao Yong thought that he was really happy because of today's appointment, and his dissatisfaction with him also eased a little.If the relationship between the two families is still so good, it is impossible for the Cao family not to be implicated by the Li family.If it really can't be broken, I should also think of a way to persuade Li Ding not to get involved in things that shouldn't be involved.

He also remembered that in summer when his followers saw in Rehe that the steward of Ba Age's mansion carried flower stones and repaired gardens in Rehe, he wondered if he should find an opportunity to ask Li Ding if the Li family had helped to buy a woman. .

Seeing Li Ding apologizing, Sun Jue felt better, snorted, and drank a glass too.

Li Ding put down the wine cup and looked up to see Cao Yong with a dull expression and staring at him in a daze, he couldn't help feeling proud.Although he endured it by force, there was still some joy in his eyes, he endured it, and asked with concern: "Fu Ruo, did you drink too much?"

Cao Yong just wanted to shake his head to say he was not drunk, but when he saw Li Ding's strange expression, he couldn't help feeling a little vigilant.He rubbed his forehead with his hands, and replied vaguely: "Perhaps he is a little drunk, this head is a little heavy."

Li Ding saw that Cao Yong's answer was well-adjusted, and he was still not drunk. He frowned slightly, and then said: "No matter what, today is the day when I will be hired. I am really happy. Furuo and brother Yushu can get it." Have a drink with me! I've sent the boys back, and we're going to get really drunk tonight!"

Sun Jue was still chattering gruffly there, don't drink too much, because drunkenness hurts the body and so on.Cao Yong's heart was a little more defensive, even though he had contacts, but he didn't know when he was so close to Li Ding.

This kindness is really too much.

While speaking, several servant girls had already warmed up the wine and brought it up.There is one more person among them, who is very gorgeously dressed and has the most beautiful appearance, holding the lamp for everyone with a smile on his face.Looking at the appearance and dressing up, she doesn't look like a servant girl, but like Miss Jiao.

When he got to Sun Jue's side, Sun Jue smelled the fragrance from the woman, and in a daze, he admired the Li family father and son more and more for enjoying it.Since she is able to come out to entertain guests, there is no such thing as a lady, she is naturally a maid.Even the maids who serve guests are so pretty, and the ones raised in the inner house don't know what kind of style they should be.

The woman filled Sun Jue with wine, held it up herself, brought it to Sun Jue's mouth, and said softly: "Master Sun, Xiang Tong will help my second master to toast you!"

Looking at the little white hand holding the wine cup, how could Sun Jue refuse?He couldn't help stretching out his hand, holding the maid's little hand, and rubbing it vigorously twice, only to feel that it was weak and boneless, and it was extremely slippery, and his heart immediately felt numb.

The woman giggled and said, "Master, what are you doing holding Xiangtong's hand? It's drinking!"

Sun Jue was relieved and realized that he was impolite, so he immediately took the wine cup from the servant girl's hand and drank it with a blushing face.

This girl from Xiangtong acted presumptuously, which was different from other maidservants. Occasionally she looked at Cao Yong very seductively.Cao Yong has been a man for two lifetimes, and he has seen many women. It is impossible to see that this maid has other plans.It's just that she can act like this, presumably because of Li Ding's instruction.

But, what is Sun Jue doing to get drunk like this, a beauty trick?
Cao Yong was still thinking about it. Seeing him looking at Xiangtong, Li Ding smiled and said, "This girl is spoiled by her father. Don't be annoyed by Furuo and Brother Yushu. Don't care about her! My father She has always been treated as her daughter, and she is always laughing and laughing like this on weekdays, she doesn't look like this!"

Seeing that Sun Jue drank, Xiang Tong was already like a butterfly, and she turned to Cao Yong, but she wanted to repeat the old trick.

She is beautiful, but she wears too much face powder all over her body.Cao Yong didn't sneeze, so he hurriedly leaned back, trying to stay away from her.

Cao Yong looked at the two bluish-red finger prints on that snow-white hand, which was just rubbed out by Sun Jue, and his stomach couldn't help but churn.Thinking of Li Xu's romantic reputation, the one who was trained by him might not be a daughter, but she would have been his daughter's mother long ago.

Seeing that Cao Yong didn't drink, Xiangtong said coquettishly, "Master Cao is so deserted, do you have the heart to punish your servant?"

Cao Yong couldn't figure out Li Ding's intention, and he didn't know what his intention was in this play.

Seeing that Cao Yong hadn't moved, Li Ding scolded Xiangtong and said, "Don't mess around, don't disturb our men's drinking!" As he said, he personally filled a cup for Cao Yong.

When Cao Yong looked down, he was secretly amused. The size of a child's fist in the wine cup that the maid just sent was more than twice as big as the one just now.It seems that Li Ding made up his mind to get them drunk.

Cao Yong originally wanted to find a reason to get up and leave, but there was also some inquisitive heart in his heart, wanting to know what Li Ding wanted to do.After thinking about it for a moment, he decided to clarify.If Li Ding really harbored malicious intentions, he'd better have a precaution in mind, so as not to be ambiguous twice.

Sun Jue was looking at Xiangtong, seeing her go to Cao Yong's side, a bit unhappy.Seeing that Li Ding didn't know how to pity the fragrance and cherish the jade, he felt very distressed.

Xiangtong was also obedient, seeing that Cao Yong was still awake and did not dare to pester him too much, she had three points of grievance on her face, tears in her eyes, and she looked more and more lovely.

Seeing Sun Jue looking at her, she lowered her head and retreated to Sun Jue's side.

Afraid that she would feel uncomfortable, Sun Jue comforted her in a low voice: "Don't be sad, I'll eat your toast!"

Xiang Tong secretly laughed at his foolishness, but on the face he even said gratefully: "It's still Grandpa who loves this servant!"

Sun Jue took Xiangtong's hand and was smelling the fragrance of her body, her heart ached so badly, she just felt that she had wronged the beauty, it was really a great sin.

Hearing Xiangtong's words, he became more and more arrogant, and said to Li Ding with his neck up: "Xincheng, this is your fault... Since the uncle treats you like a girl... Xincheng should treat you like a younger sister... ...It's too late to feel pity and pity, how can I let her do this maidservant's job...seeing people's faces, but also reprimanding...it's really...it shouldn't be..."

Because he was stuttering, and his hand was still pulling Xiangtong, his righteous words made people find it extremely funny.

Seeing his ugliness, Li Ding despised him from the bottom of his heart, and said "hehe" twice, but didn't respond.Seeing the gloomy look on Li Ding's face, Cao Yong wondered if he should be "drunk"...
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(End of this chapter)