next day
The sun was setting, and the red lacquer door of Yongcheng Houfu was wide open. Yun Heng and Zeng Tianya were both waiting behind the door, looking around.
Everyone in the Hou Mansion was sitting in the lobby. Granny Yuan was sitting at the top, looking at Fang Xu who had no expression on his side. She coughed lightly and said slowly, "My dear, don't take it personally..."
Fang Xu had a cold face and pinched Tang Pozi on his knee with such force that his fingertips turned white, "My daughter is fine, mother, don't worry."
Song Huixin also darkened her face and looked outside. Seeing that no one had come for a long time, she couldn't sit still. "Mother, this King of Runan is so bullying! When he goes to court tomorrow, my daughter-in-law will have to interfere with him." One!"
"Why are you arguing with him?" Liu Fanyin sat aside with a pale expression on his face. "It's just that he is taking advantage of his status as a royal relative. If we really get into trouble, it will be counterproductive."
"Then let him continue to be proud?" Song Huixin gritted his teeth, and suddenly thought of something, his eyes lit up, "Mother, Xie Li and his daughter-in-law are serving in the government after all, so it is better to invite some people over according to their duties. It’s better than now…”
"Mother."
Before Fang Xu could answer, a woman's soft voice came from outside the door.
Everyone followed the sound and saw Xie Wanzhou walking slowly with a faint smile on his face.
Xie Wanzhou wore a jade-colored undershirt with a snow-white velvet cloak on the outside. There was a circle of rabbit fur around the skirt, which made her fair complexion stand out.
Seeing Xie Wanzhou coming to the lobby, the room became quiet for a while, and everyone looked away in a tacit understanding.
Xie Wanzhou couldn't help laughing when he saw his family like this. He walked to the center in small steps, looked into Fang Xu's eyes, and said softly, "Mother is worried about the Ji Banquet, but my daughter understands in her heart that she also knows a little bit about King Runan. "
"It's understandable that other people don't dare to come to the door." Xie Wanzhou pursed her lips and whispered softly, "In this case, it's better to treat it as a family banquet and live our own little life quietly."
Fang Xu looked at the slim girl and frowned, "But wouldn't this make you suffer a great injustice?"
"That's right, how can a girl's hairpin banquet turn into a family banquet halfway through? Wouldn't it be a joke!" Song Huixin's little face was full of indignation, and he lowered his voice and said, "Let me talk to you about this matter. If you go, brother, you can finally win some heads."
Xie Wanzhou shook his head and persuaded softly, "My second brother and sister-in-law are officials in the court and are stared at by thousands of pairs of eyes. How can I forcefully come to my little sister's house to attract someone just for her hairpin ceremony? What if someone with intentions sees it?" , report to the Emperor, wouldn’t my little sister be the culprit?”
Xie Wanzhou lowered his head slightly, with a slight smile on his lips, "As long as our family is together, I won't feel wronged."
"Madam, Master Shen is here!"
Ye Ming's voice of surprise came from outside. Fang Xu's eyes flashed and he raised his head in surprise. He happened to meet the man's deep eyes and subconsciously shrank his fingertips.
Shen Ji was carrying several boxes, and his hands were all occupied. Even Wen Mo, who was following behind, was holding two big white geese tied around his feet.
Shen Ji stepped into the room slowly, his eyes seemed to be glued to Fang Xu, looking at her without blinking, hiding the longing that he hadn't seen for several days in his eyes.
"Xiao Shen is here?" Granny Yuan glanced at Fang Xu calmly, then looked at Shen Ji with a smile.
Only then did Shen Ji come back to his senses, his eyes moved to Granny Yuan, and he leaned down lightly, "I have met Princess Gu'an before."
"No need to be polite." Granny Yuan raised her hand to call him up, smiling lovingly.
Shen Ji looked at Fang Xu again, was silent for a moment, and then called out warmly, "Madam... I'm late?"
Fang Xu shook his head and raised his lips slightly, "You are the only one here, how do you tell the difference between morning and evening?"
Hearing this, Shen Ji frowned slightly, "Isn't today Miss Xie's hairpin banquet?"
"King Runan has said hello to the dignitaries in the capital, and they are not allowed to interact with the Yongcheng Marquis." Fang Xu chuckled helplessly, his eyes falling on his hands, "If you don't talk about this troublesome thing, why are you carrying so many things? come over?"
A strange color flashed in Shen Ji's eyes. He bent down and put down the box in his hand, picked up the smallest one, handed it to Xie Wanzhou, and said warmly, "This is a hairpin gift from Shen to Miss Xie. It's not very expensive. I hope you can Miss Xie doesn’t mind.”
Xie Wanzhou was stunned for a moment, feeling flattered. He quickly raised his hands, took it carefully, and whispered back, "Thank you, Mr. Shen."
Fang Xu became interested and asked in a low voice, "What did you give me?"
"Hairpin." Shen Ji's eyebrows were gentle and there was a slight smile in his tone. "Look, that hairpin really suits Miss Xie. Even though it doesn't fit her status, I couldn't help but buy it."
"Really?" Fang Xu raised his eyebrows and looked at Xie Wanzhou with a smile, "Open it and take a look."
Xie Wanzhou blinked and opened the box obediently, revealing the contents.
The hairpin is all white and of excellent color without any flaws. The head of the hairpin is exquisitely carved, shaped like a begonia, and the stamen is embedded with a golden bead, which is gorgeous and delicate.
The first time she saw the hairpin, Xie Wanzhou held her breath and her eyes were glued to it. It was not difficult to tell that she really liked it.
"It looks better than the one I chose." Fang Xu nodded, the smile in his eyes getting thicker, "Why don't we use this hairpin to add hairpins."
After the words fell to the ground, the room was silent.
Shen Ji's body stiffened, his hands hidden in his sleeves, unconsciously clenched into fists.
On the day when a woman gets her hairpin, the hairpin on her head must be made by her parents.
Fang Xu's subconscious words caused everyone in the room to change their expressions and look at each other in silence. Only Shen Ji's earlobes turned red.
Xie Wanzhou looked at the two of them. After a while, he gently raised the corners of his lips and said, "If this is what the mother wants, my daughter will naturally agree."
"Then use this, it seems to suit you." Fang Xu responded with a smile, his brows relaxed.
"Mrs. Hou... here are the things our husband has prepared for you." Wen Mo hugged the two geese and rolled his eyes with a smile, "There are snacks from Wenxiangzhai, new ingredients from Jinxiu Pavilion, and rouge gouache. and……"
The more Wen Mo talked, the more embarrassed he felt.
My husband has nothing to hide anymore, and he just has to express his thoughts about his wife directly on his face.
Grandma Yuan couldn't stop smiling. She looked at Shen Ji up and down, feeling very satisfied.
A trace of embarrassment flashed across Fang Xu's face, and he waved his hand and called, "Su Zi, take these things down first."
Grandma Yuan smiled and rolled her eyes, waving to Shen Ji quickly, "Xiao Shen, please stop standing. Sit down quickly. The meal will be served in a while."
Shen Ji pursed his thin lips and said warmly, "I suddenly remembered that I have something else to do. I can't sit still for the time being. I need to go out of the house. I'll be back in about a moment."
Hearing this, Granny Yuan felt regretful in her heart, but she still smiled and replied, "Forget it, let's go and do the things at hand first."
Shen Ji nodded, looked deeply at Fang Xu, and turned to leave.
