in spring

Chapter 41
The old lady called back the maids, asked carefully about the dinner, asked about all the dishes in person, and then let the maid give orders, and then picky about the decorations, quilts, stove, etc. in the room, lest Jinsun would have a little trouble Not going well.He also saw a lot of pens, inks, papers and inkstones on the desk outside, and asked people to put away all the study utensils in a hurry. Even the Four Books and Five Classics were not allowed to be read by his grandson, so as not to worry him.

For a while, everyone in Huanhuaxuan was busy, and there were a few birdsong in the middle.The third young master Li You just laughed and chatted with his grandmother, coaxing her from ear to ear, and loving this little grandson even more.

At this time, someone else came to make fun of it.The second young master specially sent a woman to report to the old lady, saying that the son of Commander Zhang Shijia, a good friend of his, had given some pieces of venison. Just ask, do you want to send the venison together?
The third young master immediately jumped up when he heard it: "I want it, I haven't eaten venison this year! But it's roasted?"

"You monkey!" The old lady scolded with a smile, but said to the woman, "Go back and say no, Brother You still has a weak spleen and stomach, and can't stand meaty and greasy things, let him keep it to honor his father."

The old woman went, and not long after, the second young master Li Chang went to Huanhuaxuan in person, and said as soon as he entered the door: "I heard that the third brother is willing to eat? It's a pity that the venison came at a bad time, and the third brother has no good food. Just these few snacks." He opened the basket in his hand, revealing five or six small dishes inside, all filled with delicate and light pastries.When the old lady saw it, she smiled and said: "You are still caring, brother You, why don't you thank brother soon? Look at how much he loves you! Thank you for being so caring."

Li You blushed and said with shame, "I won't do it next time...Second Brother...I, I respect Second Brother very much."

Li Chang waved his hands generously: "Brothers in the family, why do you have to do this? You also know that brother, I always like to be served by good-looking people. I saw that girl named Yan Zhi was pretty, and she looked pleasing to the eye, so I asked you." How did you know that she was the person on your heart? If my brother knew, he would never say that."

Li You lowered his head slightly, and said in a deep voice: "What do you mean by the person on the top of your heart? Brother's words are too flattering to her. She was originally sent to Prince Jing's residence from the palace. The elder sister had a temper tantrum with her brother-in-law, so she left her behind. I came here, and I don't know if I will go back in the future. I was worried that my brother would cause trouble if he didn't know, so I left him here. What is a girl? Our family is brothers, if we quarrel over a girl , wouldn’t it be a joke for others to spread the word?”

Li Chang looked surprised: "So that's it. I don't know her background. So, did she come together with the new girls in the father and mother's room? Big sister is too reckless, Yu Ci How can I send this beautiful woman back to my natal family?! And give it to my father... After all, the reputation is not good, and my younger brother is young, why not..."

"Okay, it's good for you two to speak clearly." The old lady interrupted him, "As for the palace, you don't have to worry, there has already been word from the empress dowager that this time the beauties selected into the palace , the emperor sent them all away, and will not call them back in the future. I was just about to discuss with your mother, find a good day, and give the two in your father's room a face. It's just that the princess sent them back, she Since I told you two to Brother You, it’s not easy to pass on to others, even the so-called osmanthus in your mother’s house is kept in the name of discipline, and will be sent back when Brother You grows up.”

"Osmanthus fragrans?" Li Chang's mouth curled up, "Could it be the one called Ximo? Who gave it the name? Why is it so rustic?"

Li You paused, and said with a smile: "Although it is a bit rustic, it has an old-fashioned and simple taste. The Ximo sisters originally came to the mansion when the sweet-scented osmanthus first bloomed, so the name is sweet-scented osmanthus. The mother changed her name for her." , I was afraid of repeating the names of the third and fourth younger sisters."

Li Chang sneered slightly: "It's just that your Xiya changed her name to Yanzhi, but the one named Ximo should still be called her original name. 'Xi' and 'xi' are just homophonic, not a word at all, and my wife is too worried. It's gone." Although he is also a concubine, he has always looked down on the third sister who is also a concubine, thinking that the so-called younger sister is inferior to him.

Li You looked up at his elder brother, a trace of sarcasm flashed in his eyes, but he said with a smile on his face: "Although the third sister is a concubine, she is our own flesh and blood. People respect her. Mother originally had good intentions, so Xichen in my courtyard changed her name to Chen'er?"

Li Chang habitually wanted to continue to refute, but found that there was something wrong with Li You's reaction. Looking at the old lady, she had already stopped smiling, and her eyes were lowered as if she was very tired.He was startled, thinking carefully about what he said just now, he realized that he had slipped his mouth carelessly for a while, and he gritted his teeth with hatred, but in front of the old lady, he could barely maintain a smile.Perhaps in order to divert the topic, he sent the basket forward: "I was so busy talking, I forgot to eat, brother, let's eat while it's hot, it's freshly steamed."

Li You took the basket happily, and glanced at Mei Xiang who was standing beside her: "Grandmother just passed the meal for me, and I won't be able to eat after eating this, so let's talk about it later in the evening. Mei Xiang, put it away for me quickly, Don't let the mouse pick it up!"

Mei Xiang took the basket knowingly: "Yes, Third Young Master." Then she took it to the back room and put it away.

Li Chang sat there silently and did not speak. At this time, Manru brought tea up and was about to put it on the small table beside him, but for some reason, he suddenly raised his left hand and knocked over the tea, soaking it in hot water. Putting on the robe, even his left hand was burnt a little red.Manru's face changed, and she hurriedly knelt down and begged for mercy: "Damn this servant! Forgive me, old lady!"

The old lady didn't care about her, and first grabbed her grandson's hand and checked it over and over again. After making sure that there was no burn, she was relieved, and her gaze at Manru became sharper.

Before she could speak to deal with it, Li You cursed: "Are you blind?! Clumsy! You actually burned my second brother?! Get out of here!"

Manru walked out of the main room trembling with tears in her eyes. Thinking of the rumors about the second young master's cruelty and licentiousness, she didn't know what kind of fate she was going to face, and she just felt dark in front of her eyes.The Huanhuaxuan girls who were waiting outside the door exchanged glances with each other, and they all curled their lips and ignored them. Only Luer, who was more familiar with Manru, couldn't bear it, and persuaded her in a low voice: "Hurry up and pour another cup of tea." Come on, what are you doing here?" Manru wiped away her tears, bowed her head and hurried away.

Inside the house, Li You repeatedly apologized to his elder brother: "She usually looks good, but I didn't expect her to be such a careless person. I will ask her to apologize to my second brother later."

Li Chang's face has been ashen ever since Manru knelt down, and he said with a smile on his face: "It's a trivial matter, third brother, you don't have to be polite. You are the son of our family, and you are precious. In front of the old lady In front of you, brother, how dare you ask your people to apologize to me?"

The old lady touched his hand with a distressed face, but when she heard these words, her face darkened: "This is so stupid! You are too old, how can you say such things to your younger brother?!" Turning her head Seeing that the little grandson's eye circles were red again, he just tried to hold back his tears, felt pity in his heart, and hurriedly hugged him to comfort him: "Your second brother was talking nonsense in a moment of urgency, I know you are a good boy, don't be wronged. "

"Grandson is not wronged..." Li You choked up and turned to Mei Xiang, "I still have the ointment from last time, use it to rub on the second brother, the burn will heal in a long time, don't make the second brother suffer. "

Mei Xiang hurriedly searched for the medicine and brought it to Li Chang. The latter stared at the medicine bottle sullenly, took it after a while, and twitched the corner of his mouth: "Then I will thank you brother."

The old lady comforted her first grandson, and looked back at her second grandson with annoyance in her eyes: "Okay, you've come to sit down for a while, homework is important, go back and review."

Li Chang felt remorseful in his heart, and quickly apologized with a smile: "Grandson has read the book for a day, and he is just thinking about getting tired. Is grandma going to drive me away?" He grabbed the old lady's sleeve and acted like a baby to her .

This action was ridiculous at first, but the old lady recalled the happy time when Li Chang was very close to her when she had only one grandson, and his eyes became softer: "Who wants to drive you away? I just hope that you can put the book away." If you study well, passing the exam in one fell swoop will only add some glory to our family. Go quickly, and be careful when your father comes back and asks you for your book!"

Li Chang had no choice but to agree, and asked without giving up: "Grandson has asked someone to pack up the venison. How about asking grandma to taste it later? I will ask someone to prepare some of grandma's favorite side dishes."

The old lady nodded with a smile: "Forget it, since it's your filial piety, I'll take it, let's go."

Li Chang saluted and backed out, walked to the front yard, his handsome face was covered with gloom, suddenly caught a glimpse of Manru walking over with a cup of tea, he had a sneer on his face, and stood still.

Manru was full of thoughts, Leng might as well see Li Chang standing in front of her, with a malicious smile on his mouth, she was so frightened that she knelt down again: "Second young master..."

Li Chang walked up step by step, pinched her chin to look carefully, and then asked in a low voice: "You are not an imperial beauty, I wonder if my cunning brother is willing to part with her?"

Manru trembled even more, almost fainting.

Seeing this scene through the window, the little girls in the yard were so frightened that they hid behind the door and the window, not daring to breathe out, lest the second young master find out and bring disaster to Chiyu.

Chunying looked at Manru with some concern. Although she was not very close to her, she was a neighbor in the yard and worked in a place. Manru took care of herself. She suffered a loss, and she felt uncomfortable .Thinking of this, Chunying couldn't help being angry.She had heard the discussions of the little girls a long time ago, didn't she just pour some tea?The second young master can walk and talk well, so it can be seen that he has not suffered any injuries, so why push him too hard? !Looking at the facial features are quite handsome, how can people be so bad? !
The situation in the front yard has already been reported to the backyard. Lu'er was anxious, but the situation in the house is not for her to break in at will, so she hurriedly talked to the second-class girls who came with the old lady: "Help me out quickly!" Let's go on like this..."

The girls looked at each other, Qiuyu came out, and asked with a smile on the second entrance door: "Second young master, did you forget something?"

Li Chang turned his head angrily, and recognized the maid next to his grandmother, quickly curbed his anger, smiled and said: "It's nothing, this girl is afraid that I will blame her, and she wants to apologize to me."

Qiuyu laughed and said, "So that's the case, this girl is too rude, she dared to block your way. Damn girl! Isn't the trouble just now not big enough? Why don't you hurry up and get to work?!" The latter part of the sentence is Said to Manru.

Man Ru tremblingly stood up and backed away, Li Chang squinted his eyes, then flung his sleeves and left.Qiuyu breathed a sigh of relief, and returned to the backyard. Luer bowed to her, and Mei Xiang, who had just come to the door, showed gratitude.

The old lady in the room asked: "What's going on outside? But brother Chang is busy?" Qiuyu hurriedly pulled Mei Xiang into the room, and replied with a smile: "That careless girl just now apologized to the second young master, and the second young master has already left. "

Li You's face darkened and he didn't speak.The old lady just nodded, and then asked another question: "Why hasn't the kitchen delivered food? The people there are getting more and more lazy." Lan Xiang finally got the chance, and hurriedly said: "Your maidservant, go now Hurry." Then he left in a hurry.

The old lady said a few gossips, and then remembered another thing: "Speaking of the kitchen, I heard someone say that the little girl in your yard was so arrogant that she ordered the kitchen to cook for herself, but the people in the kitchen wouldn't allow her. He brought out brother You, and said a lot of nasty things. Is there such a thing?"

(I forgot to say... Merry Christmas Eve... or Merry Christmas, happy holidays everyone~~~~~)
(End of this chapter)