In the early morning, thick fog shrouded Mingyue Peak.
Hongqinju is shrouded in thick fog, like a castle in the air, floating and misty, like a fairyland on earth.
Last night, Liu Ruyan had a few more drinks at the banquet and became drunk. Late at night, two maids made his bed and changed his quilt. After doing it, they helped him into the west wing to rest.
At the wine table, he was in a daze, and soon fell asleep while lying on the bed.
When he opened his eyes, it was broad daylight.
He just remembered the scene at the wine table last night: he was in love, and suddenly thought of his long-lost family, he couldn't help feeling sad, and felt uncomfortable in his heart, so he drank a few more drinks without knowing it.
Thinking of my drunken behavior last night, I couldn't help but feel ashamed and annoyed. And whether he made a gaffe while drunk, he has no memory at all.
Remembering that he was going back with his beautiful girl today, he hurriedly got up and dressed, sorting out his clothes and luggage.
When he opened the window, it was already dark outside. He paused for a moment, then opened the door and walked out.
When he came to the lobby, several servants were cleaning. Seeing Liu Ruyan coming over, they all greeted him, and he responded with a smile.
At this time, Xu Lengyue and Chu Menghua were also walking over from the east wing. They walked through the corridor, talking and laughing as they came closer.
When Xu Lengyue saw Liu Ruyan standing in the hall, she greeted him with a smile: "Good morning, Mr. Liu!" She looked like a lady and sat down in the hall elegantly.
When Liu Ruyan saw Leng Yue coming with Menghua, she smiled and returned the favor: "Miss Leng Yue, it's early for you too!"
He had not yet completely sobered up from last night's hangover. He only felt dizzy and aching. He touched his forehead with his hand and sat down suddenly.
Menghua also said good morning to Liu Ruyan, and then asked: "Brother Liu, you were so drunk last night. Isn't it uncomfortable to be drunk? I see, you must not have slept last night." Okay?" she said with concern.
When Liu Ruyan was asked this question, she smiled awkwardly and said, "I lost my temper after drinking last night. I was so confused that I made you laugh!"
Chu Menghua was about to talk, but Xu Lengyue was the first to smile and said: "No, no, dad was happy last night and just wanted you to have a few more drinks with him. Dad has always been an alcoholic, and I'm afraid not many people can drink. Better than him." She said, covering her mouth and laughing.
Liu Ruyan felt even more embarrassed when he heard this, and chuckled: "I have heard from the master that uncle has a good drinking capacity, and I finally got to see it when I came here this time."
After that, he raised his head and looked outside the courtyard and said, "Why don't you see uncle and aunt?"
Leng Yue also looked out of the courtyard, and then said: "Master Liu, you don't know something. Dad gets up very early every day, and he goes to the back mountain to practice martial arts every morning. For ten years, it has been rain or shine, maybe this day I’m going to practice now!”
Liu Ruyan nodded and said thoughtfully: "Oh, that's it! No wonder Uncle Xu looks so energetic, he doesn't look like someone who is approaching his sixtieth year at all!" He secretly admired Xu Feng's sword for his immortality.
At this time, two maids came over with morning tea in their hands. Each held a round plate in their hands, which contained steaming eggs, soy milk, fried dough sticks, steamed buns and steamed buns.
When he came in front of everyone, he leaned down and said, "Mr. Liu, Miss Chu, eldest lady, morning tea is ready, please have morning tea!" After that, he put the tray on the dining table.
Liu Ruyan had a hangover last night, and now she felt empty in her stomach, so she reached for the soy milk and fried dough sticks and started eating them. Leng Yue and Meng Hua each took eggs and steamed buns and ate them slowly.
While Menghua was eating, she suddenly glanced at Liu Ruyan and couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh. Liu Ruyan and Xu Lengyue were surprised when they saw this. They didn't know what to say and looked at her doubtfully.
Liu Ruyan thought there was something wrong with herself that made Huamei laugh. She looked around hurriedly and asked with a smile: "Huamei, what are you laughing at?"
Chu Menghua blinked and said leisurely: "When I think of you in a daze at the wine table last night, I can't help but want to laugh!" She simply giggled.
Leng Yue stood aside noncommittally, looking at Menghua, then at Liu Ruyan, and then minding her own food.
She didn't seem to think there was anything funny about it. He thought to himself again: "Last night, Mr. Liu suddenly fell into a daze at the wine table, but he didn't know why, and everyone was shocked. Could it be that he had some hidden secret or something sad in his heart?" She originally wanted to ask in person, but then she thought about it, how could she casually ask about other people's secrets? I thought about it and gave up, continuing to eat her morning tea.
Liu Ruyan was laughed at by Chu Menghua and rolled her eyes. She felt even more embarrassed and her face was burning.
He frowned and asked, "Did I look ridiculous last night?"
Chu Menghua said carelessly: "Brother Liu, you were sitting there last night, as if you were asleep. You didn't even know it. That was so funny." She looked at him and looked at her sweetly. A smile.
Xu Lengyue glanced sideways at Chu Menghua, shook her head, sighed, and thought to herself: "It's true Menghua, what's all the fuss about. This sister is really interesting sometimes." Chu Menghua's lovely girl Even Leng Yue, who is one year older than her, loves her so much.
They say that a girl’s feelings are always poetry, and it seems to be true!
Isn't a woman's most beautiful years the age of sixteen or seventeen?
Liu Ruyan felt more and more that her flower sister had become different from before. When she grew up, she was not as crying and fussy as she was when she was a child, but more quirky.
He secretly swore in his heart that he would protect Huamei for the rest of his life and prevent her from being bullied or a little wronged.
But he was vaguely worried in his heart: he had grown up with Huamei, and he only loved her as a brother, but it was impossible for him to develop any love between a man and a woman. But Huamei didn't seem to think so in her heart.
He noticed that Huamei always showed her love for him intentionally or unintentionally. When she was with her, her words, her eyes, and the little actions she made inadvertently all revealed her love for him, Brother Liu. Like.
And this kind of love is not just a sister's attachment to her brother, but the feeling of a woman loving a man from the bottom of her heart.
Faced with Hua Mei's unusual enthusiasm, he was a little at a loss.
If he resolutely made his attitude clear to her, he would definitely break her crystal-like girl's heart. If he didn't explain it clearly to her, he would worry that she would be unable to help himself and fall deeper into the trap.
If you wait until she is deeply in love and can't extricate yourself before flatly rejecting him, it will really hurt her.
The more he thought about it, the more entangled he became. He really didn’t know what to do!
At this time, Xu Lengyue finished her breakfast and said to Chu Menghua: "Sister, are you and Young Master Liu going back today?"
Chu Menghua glanced at Liu Ruyan, with a hint of melancholy on her face, and murmured: "It's been two months since I came out this time, and I haven't seen my father for two months. He misses me very much, and so do I. Miss him very much."
She put down the food in her hand and came to Liu Ruyan: "Brother Liu made a special trip to take me back to celebrate my father's birthday. I didn't expect that something like that would suddenly happen to us again. It seems that for father's sixtieth birthday, we are I can't spend time with him." After saying that, he pouted with a sad expression.
Then her eyes suddenly lit up, she looked at Xu Lengyue and said, "Sister Lengyue, how about you go on the road with us and go to Wolong Valley to play?" She looked at Xu Lengyue expectantly.
Xu Lengyue smiled and said: "My injuries have not fully recovered, and dad will definitely not let me go." There was a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"Oh, no, I'm going to talk to Uncle Xu. Didn't he say he was going to visit dad? Why not, let's all go together?" She said to herself.
Then he turned to look at Liu Ruyan and asked, "Brother Liu, do you agree?"
Liu Ruyan stood up and walked around, thinking: "Hua Mei, don't make trouble, Uncle Xu still has things to deal with, why would he go with us!"
"Who said I won't go?" Xu Feng's voice suddenly came from outside the door.
Xu Feng and Shangguan Hongqin were already standing at the gate, looking at the three young people with smiles.
He held the iron sword in his hand, took off his cloak, and handed it to the maid who was wiping the table. The maid took it with both hands and walked to the screen in the back room to hang it up.
Shangguan Hongqin also smiled and said: "Just now, I discussed it with your Uncle Xu, and we are going to Wolong Valley now!"
When the three of them heard this, they were deeply surprised and couldn't help but look at each other. None of them expected that Xu Feng and Shangguan Hongqin would go to Wolong Valley with them.
Immediately, all three young people became excited.
Xu Lengyue stayed for a long time, and then she calmed down and said cheerfully: Dad, mother, are you kidding? Are we really going to Wolong Valley? "She couldn't believe her ears. When she was sure that what she heard was true, her excitement was beyond words.
Chu Menghua thought that she could continue to be with Sister Leng Yue, and she was so excited that she almost jumped up. She danced and cheered: "Oh, great, I can be with my sister again." She was as excited as a child.
Xu Feng slowly walked into the lobby, sat on the main seat, and suddenly said with a serious expression: "The two people who came yesterday were indeed invited by Dai Yushan with a lot of money. What I didn't expect was that the incident in Tangjiabao Ten years have passed since the murder, and they are still brooding about it. However, there is nothing to be afraid of these two people. Dai Yushan invited them here not to kill me, but just to find out my truth." He stroked his beard. , a determined light flashed in his eyes.
At this time, two maids brought tea and placed a cup in front of everyone.
Liu Ruyan looked at Xu Feng and said thoughtfully: "So, Tangjiabao will definitely not give up. Uncle Xu, what are your plans?"
Everyone looked at Xu Feng, and when this matter was mentioned, everyone's mood became heavy.
Xu Feng's eyes flashed and he said slowly: "Don't worry, I have my own countermeasures. Dai Yushan is ruthless and cunning. We must be on guard against him. We must not underestimate the enemy. We will ignore it for the time being and just wait." Wait and see what happens.”
He looked around and suddenly asked: "Why don't you see Guanshi Ma?"
He immediately ordered a maid to quickly find Cuilian. The maid agreed, turned around and ran towards Cuilian's room in the other courtyard.
After a while, Cuilian quickly came to the front, bowed to Xu Feng, nodded and said, "Master, what are your orders?" After that, she stood aside respectfully.
Xu Feng sighed and said quietly: "Cuilian, you have been following me for almost ten years, right?"
Cuilian was shocked when she heard what the master said. She didn't know why the master suddenly asked this question, so she quickly replied softly: "Well, come back to the master, Cuilian."
I have been with you for nine years and six months. Why do you ask this? "She was stunned there, feeling uneasy and uneasy, and she didn't dare to express her anger. She was afraid that she had made some mistake and made the master unhappy.
Xu Feng stroked his beard, nodded, and suddenly smiled and said: "You have been working diligently and hard-working since you came to the Xu family when you were eight years old. You have been traveling around with our family all these years, and you have suffered a lot."
When Cuilian heard this, she was as silent as a cicada, and said in a low voice: "Master, please don't say that. Cuilian was born in poverty. When she was eight years old, there was a famine in her hometown. If she hadn't been lucky enough to be taken in by the master, Cuilian would have died of hunger long ago. Master To say this is to destroy Cuilian." She lowered her head and said in a trembling voice, her voice choked with sobs.
Xu Feng laughed, walked up to Cuilian, and mused: "Yes, time flies so fast. It has been almost ten years in a flash, and you have grown from a little girl to a big girl."
He paced in place and looked at Cuilian: "I have an idea. I wonder if you are willing to do it?"
"Sir, what's the matter? Please tell me!" Cuilian frowned slightly and listened respectfully.
Xu Feng paused and said thoughtfully, "Are you eighteen this year?" He looked at Cuilian kindly.
"Sir, Cuilian is turning eighteen this year." She rolled her eyes as if she thought of something.
Xu Feng smiled and said slowly: "You have also reached the age of marriage. My wife and I have discussed it and it is time to find an in-law for you. I wonder if you are willing?"
When Cuilian heard this, her face fluttered, and a red cloud instantly rose up. She was too embarrassed to raise her head. A few strands of black hair hung down, covering her eyebrows, and it was impossible to tell what kind of expression she looked like.
After a long silence, she whispered in a trembling voice: "Cuilian has been with the master since she was a child. She was loved and taken in by the master, and that's why Cuilian is what she is today. The master and his wife are Cuilian's reborn parents. Cuilian was born in a humble family. She has no other aspirations but to serve the master, his wife and the eldest lady in this life. Cuilian doesn't dare to think about anything else." As she spoke, her eyes turned red and she was about to shed tears.
At this time, Shangguan Hongqin smiled slightly and suddenly said: "Cuilian, as the saying goes, men should marry when they are young and women should marry when they are young. You see, you are not young anymore. It is time to find a kind-hearted husband's family to get married and have children. Have a good life."
She stood up, walked slowly to Cuilian, reached out to touch her shoulders, stared at her, sighed, and said quietly: "We have watched you grow up, you are only one year older than Leng Yue." Sui, let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart. Over the years, you have been working hard for the Xu family. Your master and I like you from the bottom of our hearts and treat you as our own daughter. However, when a daughter gets married, we cannot allow you to serve her. We have a lifetime together, you should have your own life!" She stroked Cuilian's hair as if stroking her own daughter.
This tender scene between master and servant moved everyone present with emotion.
Liu Ruyan said in her heart: It is a blessing for Cuilian to meet such a good family. Uncle Xu's family is kind and kind to others, which can be seen from the way they treat their servants.
Thinking this in my heart, I couldn't help but admire Uncle Xu's family.
Cuilian's face turned red with embarrassment. Although she was a maid, she was pretty and pretty. After hearing what Madam said, she felt even more mixed emotions in her heart. She stood there in a daze, not daring to raise her head. , I don’t know what to say.
Seeing her embarrassment, Xu Lengyue couldn't help but cover her mouth and snicker.
Cuilian is quiet and introverted by nature, cautious in doing things, and gives the impression of being an honest and kind-hearted girl. Because she is diligent and sensible, everyone in the Xu family likes her very much.
Leng Yue and her talked about everything and felt like sisters. The two grew up together and are close in age. They often play together and are almost inseparable. Cuilian is like her follower. Wherever Leng Yue goes, Cuilian will follow. Therefore, their relationship is extraordinary.
Now, Leng Yue saw that her parents were going to marry Cuilian to a family. She was surprised at first. She didn't know why her parents were so anxious to marry Cuilian. Then she thought about it, this was also a great event, and she couldn't help but feel sorry for Cuilian in her heart. Lian is happy.
It's just that for a girl of her age, talking about marriage is something she is ashamed to talk about, so she can't help but feel funny secretly.
Everyone looked at Cuilian with a smile and saw that she looked shy and reserved. It seemed that talking about such things in public was too much for a girl in her prime. embarrassed.
Cuilian couldn't help but murmur in her heart. She didn't know why the master and his wife suddenly mentioned the marriage to her. Although they had good intentions, she had been with the Xu family since she was a child and had served the master's family for so many years. The master and his wife treated her well. She I wanted to serve them all my life and never thought of leaving.
Seeing Cuilian lowering her head and saying nothing, Xu Feng felt that the atmosphere was a little awkward. He coughed twice and said to smooth things over: "Cuilian, this matter is not urgent. You can think about it slowly. If you don't want to, it will be done." Just give it up!" He said and sighed, "Oh, my wife and I have worked so hard for your sake!"
He chuckled and then ordered: "Cuilian, go and ask Steward Ma to come over!" He walked to the main seat and sat down slowly, taking a sip of tea.
Cuilian agreed, then turned around and walked out of the lobby, walked quickly through the corridor, and walked towards the backyard steward's room.
She came to Manager Ma's room and saw that the door was closed, so she reached out and knocked "dong dong dong" a few times, but no one opened the door. She was suspicious: Yeah, is Manager Ma not in the room?
She knocked a few more times, but still no one answered. He became even more confused, and while knocking on the door, he called out: "Steward Ma, are you there... Steward Ma, are you there?"
She called a few times, but saw that there was no movement inside. She couldn't help but wonder: At this time, Manager Ma usually got up early to arrange various logistical affairs. It was so late today, why was there still no one there? Could it be that he Did you go out early in the morning? Did you feel happy last night and have a few too many drinks, so you fell into a deep sleep this morning?
Thinking about it, he knocked on the door a few more times, but there was still no movement inside.
At this moment, she saw two servants walking by chatting and laughing. She quickly stopped them and said, "Have you seen Butler Ma this morning?"
A tall servant replied: "I didn't see Butler Ma." He frowned and thought, then suddenly his eyes lit up, as if he remembered something, and he said hurriedly, "By the way, before closing the door and turning out the lights last night, I did see him." Manager Ma was standing in the backyard, staring at the moon intently, as if he was deeply troubled. I saw him looking at the moon for a long time, what was he still mumbling?"
He recalled what he saw when he was passing by the corridor when he was about to go to the latrine to relieve himself during the first watch last night. This kind of thing was normal, and he didn't think much about it at the time. Looking back now, I find it a bit strange.
Cuilian concentrated for a while, sighed, and then hurried towards the lobby.
Before the person even came close, the voice came over: "Master, Master, I haven't seen Butler Ma."
She arrived in front of the hall and said in a hurry: "Just now, I went to the house of Ma Guanjia and knocked for a long time, but no one opened the door. I called several times, but no one answered." She looked at Xu Feng in panic. .
Everyone was shocked and didn't know what was going on.
Xu Feng looked confused, frowned and murmured: "What, he's not in the room? Did he go out for something?" He stroked his beard and looked around at everyone.
Cuilian said: "Just now, I asked a servant and he said that he didn't see housekeeper Ma this morning. He actually said that at the first watch last night, he went to the latrine and saw housekeeper Ma standing alone in the backyard corridor. Here, he said he was looking at the moon in a trance."
When Xu Feng heard this, he was surprised and said in silence: "Oh, he was in a good mood last night. He drank a few more drinks, but he didn't look like he was drunk. After dinner, he went back to his room. Then he What is a person doing in the yard at midnight? It's so late, just to watch the moonlight?"
Shangguan Hongqin interjected: "Master, could it be that he drank too much last night and fell into a deep sleep? Maybe he is still asleep in the room at this moment? Why don't we go over and take a look."
Xu Feng waved his hand and said, "Let's go! Let's go and have a look."
After that, he strode towards Manager Ma's room. Everyone followed closely behind.
Manager Ma's door was still closed and locked. Obviously, the door was locked, so he would not be in the room.
If he wasn't in the room, where would he be?
Normally, he would take three or five servants down the mountain to buy some daily necessities every week. Manager Ma did not need to report to Xu Feng for this kind of thing, he could arrange it himself. He and Xu Feng had known each other for many years and were brothers and sisters. Xu Feng treated him very well. Naturally, he is completely trusted, and he can even make the final decision on many matters of Hongqinju's logistics management.
Cuilian said that the day before yesterday, Butler Ma went down the mountain to buy goods. It stands to reason that in such a short period of time, it is impossible to purchase it again.
Shangguan Hongqin said: "Although Butler Ma drank a lot last night, he didn't look drunk. Maybe he just went out for something and might be back soon. Let's not be anxious first and wait and see! "
Xu Feng's face was solemn, as if he was thinking about something.
Manager Ma has always been loyal to Xu Feng. They have known each other for many years and understand each other very well. Sometimes you can understand what the other person is thinking with just one look. How can such a tacit understanding be achieved if you are not a confidant?
Recently, I haven't seen anything unusual about Manager Ma. He is still as diligent and thoughtful as ever for ten years, taking care of all the logistical affairs of Hongqinju in an orderly manner. Within the scope of his responsibilities, Xu Feng has never been asked to do anything. After worrying about it, Xu Feng has always been very satisfied with his performance.
Everyone waited in front of the room for a while, but housekeeper Ma still didn't come back. I thought he overslept in the morning just because he slept too late last night, but when Xu Feng knocked hard on the door, there was still no movement inside. You know, such a situation has never happened before.
In recent years, he has paid more and more attention to health and fitness, and has a regular schedule. Unless there is something special to deal with, he almost always goes to bed early and gets up early.
His daily work process is almost step-by-step: the first thing he does after getting up every morning is to go to the toilet, then wash up, go to the kitchen for inspection, hold a morning meeting, explain the day's work, and then eat breakfast. , go to the backyard forest for morning exercise. After the morning exercise, they will go to meet Xu Feng and report on the previous day's work.
After this series of things is completed, he will lock himself in the room and check various accounts. He has always been very strict with himself and strives for perfection in everything he does. The meticulousness and thoughtfulness in his work made even Xu Feng feel inferior to him.
When Xu Feng called all the servants and asked if anyone had seen Steward Ma this morning, everyone shook their heads, saying that they had not seen Steward Ma this morning.
Such a situation has never happened before. It was only at this moment that Xu Feng realized that there was something fishy about this matter, and there must be some unknown secret in it.
Just when everyone was full of thoughts, he could no longer bear his temper and immediately decided to break open the door of Manager Ma's room and go in to find out.
