Splendid Book

Chapter 67 Before the Wind Blows
"Your Majesty actually sent the Seventh Prince here, you really value the Jining Marquis Mansion," Shen Lan muttered to the side.

Although the expression on Shen Changle's face didn't change much, there was a beat in her heart, and then her heart beat faster and faster, and she seemed to be able to clearly hear the beating power in her atrium, filled with urgency. and unbearably.

She couldn't help raising her hand and pressing her chest, as if this would slow down her heartbeat.

"Third Sister, what's wrong with you?" Shen Hui was the first to notice her movements, and thought she was not feeling well, so she immediately asked, "But the room is too stuffy?"

Opposite is the theater stage, Mrs. Zhang, as the old birthday star, ordered the first play, and the stage was singing.And in the lobby, already crowded with people, full of jewels and gems.In addition, the weather is still a bit hot, even if there are icebergs around, the room is still stuffy.Several girls from the Shen family were sitting around a square table carved with roses. There were fruit plates and refreshments on the table. In the hall, the maids in lark-grass-colored brocade-patterned gowns were serving in an orderly manner. The female guests refilled their tea and added some melons and fruits.

Shen Changle nodded, and took a deep breath: "It's really boring, but it's okay."

Shen Hui also said with some empathy: "I also feel a little stuffy," but she smiled lightly again: "But it's okay, it's just that the stage is very lively."

Probably because the stage was a little closer to the ground, the sound of gongs and drums made people tremble non-stop.When Shen Hui said this, the other people on the table also nodded.However, Shen Jin has always liked watching operas, and at this moment, he turned his head and stared at the people on the stage without even turning his eyes.That's why I turned around and asked stupidly, "Big sister, what are you talking about?"

Shen Hui shook her head and smiled.

On the other hand, all the girls smiled when they saw her like this.After a while, Zhengjiao came out. Shen Changle is not a fan of theater, she only listens to operas in her spare time, but when the Zhengjiao opened her mouth, she was overwhelmed. No wonder Fuxi Troupe is famous all over the capital. People do have a few brushes.

But after a while, Mrs. Changping Hou who was sitting in front got up, and then a maid wearing swallow-grass-colored gown walked in front of her, as if she was leading the way.And she just brought a maid by her side, and it looked like she was going to change clothes.

This scene fell into Shen Lan's eyes, and when she turned her head again, she saw Shen Huizheng and Shen Changle biting their ears, as if they were whispering something.She raised the corner of her mouth, thought for a while, then reached out and took out the handkerchief, and said softly: "It's really hot today, my face is sweating, and I don't feel comfortable at all."

Shen Jin and Lin Xinlan on the opposite side were staring at the stage, so they naturally ignored her. As for Shen Jin who was still talking to Shen Changle, they didn't notice immediately.On the contrary, Shen Yue next to her smiled softly and said, "It's really hot. If the second sister really feels uncomfortable, why don't you find a place to rest first, it's better than staying here?"

Shen Yue only felt that these words really spoke to her heart, the corners of her mouth were lightly raised, with a look of more than enough energy, "It's all because my body is too delicate, but I can't stand the heat."

"Why don't the second sister go and have a rest," Shen Yue said with a smile when she saw that she was holding a handkerchief, looking weak and unpretentious.

Shen Lan just thought it was funny, this second sister really took people for a fool, she was fine just now, but now her chest is stuffy, and she is weak, who are you kidding?

But Shen Hui had already asked with concern: "Second sister, are you feeling unwell too? How about I accompany you out for a sit-down?"

"No need," Shen Lan suddenly raised her voice, as if she was afraid that Shen Hui would drag her out, the two blushes on her cheeks looked a little ridiculous at this moment.But then she lowered her voice and said: "Big sister, don't you like watching operas? I asked the servant girl to accompany me out to get some fresh air, and I went to lie down and wipe my face."

Seeing that her face was indeed flushed, Shen Hui nodded and said, "Then you should hurry up and let the servant girl fetch a basin of water to wipe off your sweat."

Only then did Shen Lan get up slowly, and let Yan Liu, the maid behind her, follow her out.After they left, Shen Jin who was sitting inside snorted, turned to Shen Changle and said, "Third sister, if I pay you back, you should find a maid to follow the second sister. It's not a good time to end."

As soon as she uttered these unkind words, Shen Hui's face showed embarrassment, and Shen Changle immediately glared at her, and said angrily: "Shen Jin, why are you talking?"

"Didn't I just want to remind you that there were not many incidents at this banquet?" Shen Jin raised the corner of his mouth, pointing.

Shen Changle naturally knew what she was talking about, there were many men and women at the banquet, and there would always be some jaw-dropping things, but Shen Lan was her own sister after all, it was really too much for her to say that in public.

"Say a few words less, if someone overhears..." Shen Changle glanced left and right, and then frightened Shen Jin, making her dare not speak.

But with Shen Jin's reminder, Shen Changle was really worried.Shen Lan is a person who loves to cling to the rich and powerful, and there are quite a lot of noble ladies at the banquet now, if she really collided with each other, then the reputation of the girl from the Shen family will be affected by her.Thinking of this, she faintly complained to her second uncle, that her beloved Shen Lan was lawless.

She couldn't get up immediately, but after drinking a cup of tea, she covered her stomach and said softly: "Big sister, my stomach hurts, can you go out with me?"

"What's the matter?" Seeing that beads of sweat were dripping from the tip of her nose, Shen Hui immediately became anxious and wanted to help her when she came over.

Shen Changle smiled wryly in his heart, maybe he drank too much tea at once and was suffocated.But this is too embarrassing for her to say it.So she only lightly put it on her lower abdomen, supported Shen Hui's hand, and said softly: "Then please come with me, big sister."

Shen Jin also frowned, and said with concern: "Sister San, what's wrong with you, are you feeling unwell?"

"Stay here and watch the show obediently, don't run around, I'll come back when I go," Shen Changle put his hand on her shoulder, and said softly. Seeing the forbearance on her face, Shen Jin thought it was really bad Comfortable, nod quickly.

And after she and Shen Hui came out with their own maid, she went straight to the official room without any guidance from the Zhang family's maid.This cup of tea almost completely embarrassed her, she had never been so embarrassed before.After she came out, Shen Hui still asked worriedly: "Is your body better? You must not hold on. If you feel uncomfortable, just tell me."

"It's okay, it was just my stomach was uncomfortable, this will be much better," Shen Changle smiled, took the handkerchief from the hand of the maid next to him, wiped his face, and immediately felt refreshed.Then the maid combed her makeup and hair again, and the two went out hand in hand.

But as soon as she came out, Shen Hui asked strangely: "Didn't the second younger sister say she wanted to rest? Why didn't you see her?"

The place where the women's relatives rest is usually in the same place as the official room, which is also for convenience.If Shen Lan really had a rest, then she should be in this wing.But the two of them saw it inside just now, and there were only their sisters and the maids around them everywhere.

"Why don't we go look for the second younger sister, after all, the second younger sister is coming back to Jining Hou's Mansion for the first time, if she can't find the way, I'm afraid she will still be wandering around in the garden," Shen Hui was a little worried, not worried. Shen Lan really couldn't stop wandering around, but she was worried that she was really like Shen Jin said, in case she bumped into the nobleman...

"It's okay, let's go around the garden, and look for Second Sister by the way," Shen Changle said with a smile, "Speaking of it, it's the first time for you to come to Jining Hou Mansion, Big Sister."

Seeing that she still wanted to take her to the garden, Shen Hui felt relieved. She only thought that Shen Lan was still a student of a girls' school, so she should know how to be polite and ashamed.So they walked around the garden with Shen Changle, looking to see where Shen Lan was.

Let's talk about Shen Lan, she came out with her, but she was a little annoyed that she didn't see Mrs. Jining Hou in a blink of an eye.She had no choice but to lift her skirt and walk down the previous road, but it was her first time visiting the garden of the Marquis of Jining, and she didn't know the way, so she forgot the way back after a while.But she was not reconciled, so she went back and wanted to look around again.She thought it was simple, since she saw her at the banquet, she would pretend to 'meet by chance' and show it again in front of Mrs. Marquis Changping, not afraid that she would not remember herself.

Shen Lan felt that she was a girl from a female school, with a beam of light on her head, she was no worse than an ordinary prostitute like Shen Hui.

After she was walking, she realized that Mrs. Marquis Changping was resting in the gazebo by the lake. It seemed that she was a bit bored sitting in the lobby, so she came here to blow some air to relieve the stuffiness in her heart.She watched from a distance for a while, and Yanliu behind her was shaking like chaff in fright, but she came to serve Shen Lan later, and her previous jobs were all assigned because of Shen Lan's out-of-the-way.The master made a mistake, and the maidservant next to her was the first to be unlucky.

So now Shen Lan is peeping here, not far away is Mrs. Changping Hou, but she is not taking the smoke lightly, and she can't stop begging with her voice trembling: "Second girl, we have been out for a long time, we should go back as soon as possible." , otherwise the eldest girl and the third girl should be worried."

Although Yanliu is someone close to Shen Lan, she also knows that the girls in the mansion who can really restrain Shen Lan are the eldest girl and the third girl, and the fifth girl is younger, at most she is just taking advantage of her lips.But at this time she moved both of them out, but Shen Lan still acted as if she hadn't heard.

Her eyes showed thoughtfulness, and after a long while, she gently lifted the hem of her skirt and was about to go out.But before she left, she still turned her head and said to Yan Liu: "You are not allowed to speak later, if you dare to spoil my good deed, I will be the first to spare you."

Although Shen Lan looks soft and weak on the surface, she has a way of dealing with maids, so Yan Liu was frightened by her like this.Immediately shrunk his shoulders, not daring to say any more.And she took out the set of etiquette in the girls' school, and walked over unhurriedly.When she walked to the edge of the gazebo, she seemed to hesitate, but she still walked up the steps unhurriedly.

"Shen Lan from Duke Wei's mansion, I have met Mrs. Hou," Shen Lan bowed slightly to Mrs. Changping Hou.

At this time, Mrs. Changping Hou was sitting in the gazebo, and the maid next to her was fanning her wife, when she saw such a beautiful girl in brocade clothes coming up, she even greeted her family.Fortunately, Mrs. Marquis of Changping is also used to seeing big things. When a little girl came to pay her respects, she didn't take it seriously, she just said indifferently: "Miss Shen is really too polite."

Shen Lan pursed her lips, and still said: "Shen Lan dared to come over to disturb you, but she just saw that when Madam came out, her expression seemed a little bad. I don't know if Madam is bored in the room?"

Shen Lan's words were too enthusiastic, there is no one who cares about other people's body when they meet for the first time.Mrs. Marquis of Changping is not a generous person, it's just that she didn't show it on her face, but she still glanced at Shen Lan, and said calmly: "It's just a little hot and stuffy, so I'm sorry to bother Miss Shen."

At this moment, a gust of wind blew past the Buddha, and Mrs. Changping Hou could smell the faint fragrance on Shen Lan's body, but this fragrance seemed to have a refreshing effect. She smelled it and felt that her mind was still in chaos just now , I feel a little comfortable now.

Seeing her calm face, Shen Lan felt a little proud in her heart, thinking that her strategy probably worked.

Sure enough, Mrs. Changping Hou's face became more gentle than before, she looked at her and asked: "I wonder what kind of spice Miss Shen uses, but it smells good?"

"Mrs. Hui, it's just the spices I blended by myself, and it's not expensive," she nodded slightly, revealing her full and round forehead, the tip of her nose, and the curve of her fair neck.

The more Mrs. Changping Hou listened to her words, the more interested she became, and she asked again, "You know how to make incense?"

"Mrs. Hui, I am studying in a girls' school now. There is a gentleman who teaches us how to make spices in the academy, so I only learned a little from him." Shen Lan humbly explained that she was a girl's student. Having said that, after all, this has become her biggest reliance in talking about kissing.

Mrs. Changping Hou gave her a serious look this time. After all, the women's school has always had a good reputation in Beijing. The students who can graduate from here are not virtuous and virtuous.It just so happened that Mrs. Changping Hou was looking for a marriage for her son, so wherever she went, she would always pay extra attention to the young and pretty girl.

At this time, she thought that just now Shen Lan claimed to be a girl from Wei Guogong's Shen family, but she knew that the granddaughter of the Marquis of Jining was not studying in a girls' school, so she probably wasn't her.Could it be the daughter of a big family concubine?

If it was really from a big family concubine, his status would indeed be a bit low, but his own father is the Duke of the country, so he can barely match his son.

So she smiled and asked a few more questions, but she didn't know that Shen Lan was one who wanted to show off, and unconsciously talked about her experience in Fujian.Although she just said something casually, Mrs. Changpinghou was shocked when she heard it. Someone had been a matchmaker for her before, and she was also talking about Wei Guogong's girl, but that one was the second wife, even though she was a direct descendant.But my father is just a concubine, but his official position is not bad, and he can barely be considered a promising fourth-rank official.

Moreover, she also met that girl once, she was pretty and her temperament was calm and generous, she was indeed a good person, even she was tempted.But she always felt that her son could find a better one. Although time was tight, she didn't want to rush to settle.

It's just that when she learned that Shen Lan was actually the girl of the second room, a wave of ridicule immediately rose in her heart.As far as she knew, there was only one concubine daughter in the second room, so this was only a concubine daughter.A concubine from Duke Wei's mansion ran up to her to show courteousness, she immediately guessed that this girl must have known that she was looking for a daughter-in-law.Just now she mistakenly thought she was a girl from the first room, if it was true, she would not mind getting to know her better, but now she knows that she is from the second room.

But he is just another vulgar person who wants to cling to wealth and honor.

Mrs. Changping Hou's face immediately returned to the previous calm, so when Shen Lan spoke again, she stopped answering.Shen Lan was planning to show off her talents, but who knew that the other party didn't answer the question.So she was at a loss in embarrassment, and after a while, she forced a smile and said, "Since Madam is tired, I'll go back first, so I won't bother you any more."

Madam Changping Hou nodded, but did not speak.

Only then did Shen Lan get up slowly, but when she walked to the gazebo and was about to step on the steps, she suddenly turned her head and said softly: "Ma'am, this spice I prepared is quite refreshing. If Ma'am I don't dislike it, I..."

"Miss Shen, you and I are just strangers, so I dare not trouble Miss Shen like this," Mrs. Changping Hou refused without even thinking about it. Before, she thought that she was judging the heart of a gentleman with the heart of a villain. What a villain.

Knowing who she is, but still coming here to please her, isn't it out of ulterior motives.

Shen Lan was full of anticipation, and thought that this spice could impress her again, but who would have thought that her light words blocked her back.

Turning her head again, Shen Lan's eyes turned red.

She hurried down the steps, almost running away.Although Yanliu behind her was scared, she didn't dare to delay, and hurriedly followed.Shen Lan rushed forward with a single mind, but she couldn't find the way back. Walking left and right, she rushed to the side of a rockery recklessly.

She held on to a corner of the rockery, pinching the handkerchief tightly, tears rolling in her eyes.

"Second girl, let's go back, I look ahead and there seems to be something wrong," Yanliu felt that he heard voices one after another, which seemed to be men's voices.So she was also very scared, so she wanted to persuade her daughter to go back.

"Get off, get off, get off, do you want me to go back and be laughed at by them?" Shen Lan scolded angrily with red eyes.

Yan Liu bit her lip, not daring to say anything else.

Seeing her dejected look, Shen Lan was annoyed for a while, turned around and walked to the side, but who knew that just after taking a few steps, she bumped into another person.She was knocked to one side, and she only had time to look up at the person in front of her, but she had already fallen to the other side.

'Bang', water splashed, and Shen Lan leaned half of her body in the pool, looking at the front blankly.Then there was a scream, Yan Liu looked for her and saw her lying in the water in a mess, she screamed out of fright.

"I'm sorry, Miss, Wei didn't do it on purpose," the man in the indigo hang silk robe turned around in a hurry, not daring to look at the people in the water.

Seeing him like this, Yan Liu was really angry and anxious, and cursed: "What's the matter with you, are you blind? You actually knocked my girl into the water."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, but this girl rushed out suddenly," the man hurriedly defended, but made Yanliu even more angry.

Yanliu wanted to pull Shen Lan up, but Shen Lan was lying in the water like a fool, and she didn't regain her senses after screaming a few times.Just when she was calling Shen Lan, Shen Changle and Shen Hui arrived. They were worried that they couldn't find Shen Lan, but a maid said that she saw a girl coming here with a maid.

It's just because it's a bit secluded here, so Shen Changle didn't come here before, but he didn't expect to see such a scene when he came here this time.

Wei Yansheng's back was facing Shen Lan in the water, so when they came, he immediately saw them, and immediately panicked and flustered, trying to escape without damaging the reputation of the girl in the water, and then thought that it was her who bumped into the water again Yes, so I really can't take a step to escape.

As soon as Shen Hui and the others came over, Shen Lan came back to her senses, but her whole body was shocked.

If it was known that she fell into the water in front of a man, she would lose her reputation.

No, she can't finish, can't finish.

When she turned her head to look at the man on the shore, she didn't see his face because her back was facing her.But when she saw the material he was wearing, she felt a chill in her heart, and when she looked down, she saw that the heel of his boots had been worn out.

A sour.

She wished she could never get up in this water for the rest of her life, but no, she couldn't just admit defeat like this.She can't marry a poor man, she doesn't want to live a hard life.

"Second Sister, hurry up and grab my hand." Shen Hui stretched out her hand by the pool, but just as she stretched out her hand, Shen Changle next to her grabbed her arm.

Shen Hui didn't understand why, but Shen Changle turned to Yanliu next to him and said, "Hurry up and pull your girls up, I'll send someone to find some clothes, and change into clean clothes at a nearby place."

Shen Lan hatefully watched Shen Changle grab Shen Hui's hand back, the moment Shen Hui stretched out her hand, she wanted to grab her hand and let her come down together.But at this time Shen Changle stopped her, she had no choice but to come up step by step while holding Yan Liu.

But Shen Hui came up immediately, took out her handkerchief to wipe the water drops on Shen Lan's face, she snatched it away, turned around, and said in a crying voice, "I'll do it myself."

Seeing her appearance like this, Shen Hui couldn't blame her anymore.It was Shen Changle who noticed the person next to him at this time, but when she saw that person's face, she was so shocked that her expression froze.

This person is actually Wei Yansheng, but he was Shen Hui's husband in her previous life?

Why did he get entangled with Shen Lan again? How is this possible?She shook her head violently, no, even if history will change, but this change is too outrageous.If the husband that Shen Lan is most afraid of marrying in her life is probably Wei Yansheng who was born in a poor family, who can continue to study only by relying on his wife's dowry. With the support of my father-in-law.

It's impossible for Shen Lan to bear letting herself marry him, so they shouldn't have a private meeting, right?

"What's going on?" Shen Changle asked in a deep voice.

Wei Yansheng was also afraid. It was a stroke of luck for him to be able to enter the Jining Marquis Mansion, but he bumped into a nobleman here.He would not give up even if he died, so he quickly said: "Wei really didn't do it on purpose. This girl rushed out suddenly, and we accidentally collided. But please don't worry, girl, as soon as she falls into the water, Wei Turned around, but didn't see a single bit of the girl."

Shen Changle looked back at Shen Lan and Yanliu's master and servant, Yanliu immediately nodded desperately, expressing that Wei Yansheng was telling the truth.

At this time, Shen Hui couldn't help coming over, she bowed to Wei Yansheng, and said solemnly: "Today's matter should be kept secret, and don't mention it to the second person. After all, it involves a woman's reputation. .exist"

Wei Yansheng just caught sight of the girl in front of him, and he couldn't help being taken aback, he was the only one who had seen such a beautiful and dignified girl in his life.But after a moment of distraction, he immediately cupped his hands and said: "Wei will forget what happened today, and won't mention it to others."

Shen Hui gave another blessing to Wei Yan as a thank you for his great kindness.

But Shen Changle next to him was extremely irritable, there was such a big commotion here, how many people secretly looked at it.He could only tell his aunt after the banquet was over, and asked her to restrain the servants in the family.

When Chunliu came over with her cloak, she protected Shen Lan and left in a hurry.It's just that no one saw it, but at the place where they left, there was a light blue silk handkerchief left on the spot, which seemed to be accidentally dropped by the owner.

Wei Yan let out a long breath, only to realize that her legs and feet were a little soft.

When he was about to leave, he saw the light blue silk handkerchief on the ground, and he saw that the silk handkerchief belonged to a woman.It's just that the girl in that line of work has already gone away, how can he return this veil?

Naturally, he didn't dare to let this silk handkerchief fall here, after all, if someone picked it up, it would inevitably ruin the girl's reputation.

So he bent down and stretched out his hand to pick it up, and when he saw the lower right corner of Sipa, there was a word 'Hui' embroidered with red thread, alas, I don't know which girl it was just now.

Was it the girl who saluted him?
Thinking of this, his heart became hot, and he kicked the handkerchief into his sleeve.And after he left, a maidservant not far away showed her body, and with a smile on her lips, she hurriedly turned back with her skirt lifted.

After a while, she returned to the pavilion by the lake, where Mrs. Changping Hou was still sitting upright.

Since Shen Lan's hair was also wet, Shen Changle asked someone to fetch water to wash her hair, and seeing that she couldn't do it for a while, she asked the servant girl to stay here to serve her.But she herself and Shen Hui hurried back to the banquet. At this time, the banquet had already started. There were six dishes of vegetarian dishes and six dishes of meat dishes on the table. The hot dishes hadn't been served yet, so it was not too late for them to come back.

Because it was a formal table, Shen Changle sat at the grandmother's table, with Chen Shi and Shen Hui next to her.Even across the table, she heard Mrs. Chen asking Shen Hui: "Where did you and Chang Le go, and why did you come back?"

"The first time I came back to the Marquis of Jining, I asked Chang Le to take me around, looking at the scenery and forgetting the time," Shen Hui replied in a low voice.

Knowing that her daughter is not ignorant, Chen nodded slightly, but she frowned again and asked, "What about your second sister, why haven't you seen her yet?"

When Shen Hui heard her mention Shen Lan, her eyebrows moved, but she still said slowly: "We happened to meet the second sister just now, but the second sister felt uncomfortable. So Changle asked the servant girl to take the second sister to her yard to rest."

"It doesn't make people worry if this girl comes to the banquet," Chen said. She didn't want to bring Shen Lan, but all the girls in the family came. .

Fortunately, there were many people at the table, so Mrs. Chen didn't say much.

After waiting for the table, all the guests were sent away.Only then did Shen Changle find time to tell Xu Shi about the matter.When Mrs. Xu heard this, she was surprised, and said anxiously, "Why didn't you tell me right away?"

"I saw that my aunt was busy greeting the guests, so I didn't dare to disturb her for a while," she said with some embarrassment. Her sister was dragging her feet, and she was indeed shameless.

Xu said anxiously: "You child, why are you so naive. Did you ask the man's name, so I can ask your uncle to look for him, so that he is not allowed to tell the story."

When Shen Changle heard it, he understood what Xu was anxious about.It's just that she intuitively felt that Wei Yansheng was not the kind of person who would talk nonsense, so Shen Hui made a point, and she didn't say much.

So she said with some fear: "It's not possible, I see that person..."

"You child, you know people, face, but not heart, what is the name of that person you tell your aunt?" Xu asked again.

Shen Changle bowed his head and said his name.

Mrs. Xu heard this, and immediately told the servant girl next to her: "Maybe the man in front has not left yet, you go to find the master immediately, and tell him about it, so that he must keep this Wei Yansheng. If he leaves , then send someone to look for it.”

(End of this chapter)