Shen Lansui paused and said with a smile: "How can we say we are destined? I was reading poetry a few days ago and saw this sentence - the moon melts in the pear blossom courtyard, the catkins pond has a gentle breeze (1). I felt this way. I felt that the pear blossoms were as white as snow and were blooming in the spring breeze, so I painted the appearance of pear blossoms and hairpins, thinking that people could see the spirit of spring even in winter."
She stood up and inserted the pear hairpin into Zhou Mengli's bun, and said with a smile: "I didn't expect that my cousin would come right after I had someone carve it out. It just so happens that my cousin also has the word "pear" in her name. It's just the right gift for you. Wonderful. Jade matches beauty.”
Lu Jingzhi was very eye-catching and went to get a bronze mirror. Zhou Mengli looked at it and raised his hand to hold the corner of the hairpin. He couldn't hide the smile at the corners of his eyes and eyebrows, which showed that he really liked it.
"Sister-in-law is partial. Did you agree to give the new products to me first?" Lu Jingzhi pretended to be angry.
"I'll give it to you next time. It's my cousin's first time here, so let her go." Shen Lansui squeezed her hand, and Lu Jingzhi looked at her with a smile, "That's pretty much it."
Zhou Mengli was very envious when she saw the interaction between the two of them as close as sisters.
"Okay, you cousins, please continue talking. I have something else to do, so I'll go back first."
Shen Lansui let go of Lu Jingzhi's hand and turned to go out. Zhou Mengli quickly followed and said, "I'll see my cousin off!"
"Farewell!" Shen Lansui turned around and held him down. He gathered up his clothes and took the hand stove handed over by Shang Xia. "It's cold outside and you're wearing thin clothes, so don't give it away. The whole family doesn't need to give it away." You're being polite, come and sit at my place next time you have time."
She insisted not to be sent away, and Zhou Mengli had no choice but to watch her leave.
After a while she murmured: "My cousin is so kind."
Lu Jingzhi nodded in agreement: "My cousin is generous, considerate, and easy to get along with. You can walk around with her more if you have nothing to do. After all, we are close, but don't disturb her when the third brother is here."
Zhou Mengli's heart skipped a beat and turned to look at her.
What does she mean? Did you notice something and hit her on purpose?
However, when she looked at it, Lu Jingzhi touched her hairpin innocently, "It's so beautiful. I'll go shopping in my sister-in-law's jewelry shop next time I have a chance. There must be many treasures. I want to buy them all."
There was no hint of resentment between the words, and the attitude was intimate and natural. Could it be that she was overthinking it?
Zhou Mengli secretly laughed at her sensitivity, suppressed the chaotic thoughts in her heart, and talked to Lu Jingzhi.
*
Shen Lansui left Zhou Mengli's yard, thought for a while, and went for a walk in the garden.
She was walking casually along the path, and suddenly there was a voice from behind.
She turned around and saw Lu Mingchao turning his face slightly to listen to the attendant, and walking while listening.
The attendant paused for a moment, then saw her and cupped his hands and said, "I have met the Third Young Madam."
Lu Mingchao immediately turned his head and looked over.
A thought suddenly flashed through Shen Lansui's mind.
She bowed to Lu Mingchao, "Brother."
Lu Mingchao's expression was complicated for a moment. After she straightened up, she calmed down and nodded with a smile, "Brother and sister, are you out for a walk?"
Shen Lansui nodded, "I didn't expect that eldest brother is here, am I disturbing you?"
Lu Mingchao shook his head: "No, I happened to be passing by."
"Brother, let's go first." Shen Lansui turned sideways and asked Shang Xia in a low voice, "Is there any whereabouts of Song Lu?"
Shang Xia was confused, Song Lu? Who is Song Lu?
Shen Lansui gave her a look from an angle that Lu Mingchao couldn't see.
Shang Xia reacted quickly, frowned and tentatively said, "No, Madam, please wait a little longer."
Shen Lansui sighed and said quietly: "That's it."
Lu Mingchao's expression suddenly changed, "Song Lu? What do my siblings want from Song Lu?"
Shen Lansui blinked and looked at him, "Brother, do you know him?"
Lu Mingchao pursed his lips and stopped talking.
Shen Lansui didn't wait for his answer and added: "I heard that Song Lu had been in contact with Sun Zong. I wanted to ask him if he knew anything? But his whereabouts have never been found."
Shang Xia quietly looked at Lu Mingchao, feeling that his face was whiter than the frost on the tiles.
Although I don’t know why, it probably has something to do with the “Song Lu” in my wife’s mouth.
"Song Lu..." Lu Mingchao's Adam's apple slipped. Under Shen Lansui's puzzled eyes, he asked softly: "How did you know that he had been in contact with Sun Zong? Was it the third brother who investigated?"
"Well, I asked Sanlang to help me find out what happened to Sun Zong. The bridal chamber incident was so big at first. Although the Duke suppressed it, I always had a knot in my heart. After all, I have no grievances with Sun Zong. He Why did he suddenly want to harm me? Unfortunately, there is no evidence, so I can only start with the people he has come into contact with."
Shen Lansu sighed as he spoke, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, looking aggrieved and disappointed.
Lu Mingchao's heart was on fire. He couldn't see her like this, but he couldn't do anything because of his identity, especially when Song Lu... was still his mother's.
He was the steward of a village under the eldest lady. He had met him by chance before, so he had some impressions.
His mind was in confusion, and he said after a while: "Brothers and sisters, don't be too sad. The third brother is in Jinyiwei and has many connections, so he will definitely be able to find out. And we all know that you are innocent about that matter, so don't take it too seriously. let it go."
Shen Lansui pinched the handkerchief and sniffed, "Really?"
She looked at Lu Mingchao with red eyes, "Brother, do you really think it's over?"
Lu Mingchao pursed his lips, not daring to look directly into her eyes, and lowered his eyes and said, "Yes."
Shen Lansui was silent for a moment.
For Lu Mingchao, this moment was no different from torture, and it was extremely long.
Finally, Shen Lansui withdrew his gaze, nodded and said, "I understand, brother, walk slowly."
After saying that, she stepped aside, bowed, and left first.
Lu Mingchao stretched out his hand, subconsciously trying to persuade him to stay, but what could he say if he stayed?
He looked slightly gloomy and slowly lowered his hand.
The attendant asked doubtfully and worriedly: "Master?"
Lu Mingchao watched Shen Lansui's back disappear around the corner, shook his head and said, "It's okay."
He turned around and stood at the fork in the road to think for a moment. He still didn't take the road to the eldest lady's yard, but took another one. He had to investigate this matter carefully.
*
"Madam, who is the Song Lu you just mentioned?"
After returning to Pinglan Courtyard to enjoy the summer, I was sure that no one around would dare to ask.
Shen Lansui's expression was as usual now. She took off her cloak and sat down on the couch with the stove in her hands. She said softly: "He is the steward of a village under the eldest lady. San Lang found out before that he had been in contact with Sun Zong and bribed Sun Zong. People, it’s obvious.”
Shangshang Xia was surprised: "Madam? Then if Song Lu is caught, can we identify Madam?"
"cannot."
"Why?" Shangyia asked anxiously: "Can't you find out even if you send it to the Jinyi Guards?"
Shen Lansui laughed briefly, "Silly girl, Song Lu has been dead a long time ago."
"Ah?" Shan Xia was stunned.
"The madam's plan failed, how could she still keep him? He has been killed and silenced a long time ago. The two most critical people are dead. This case is destined to be fruitless."
Having said that, there was no trace of disappointment on Shen Lansui's face.
Shang Xia thought for a moment and asked: "Madam has known this for a long time, so why did she deliberately mention it in front of the eldest young master just now?"
(1) "Untitled·The oil-walled incense carriage will never meet again" Yan Shu
