Only those who have experienced powerlessness can understand the pain of letting others manipulate you and make you your own.
"Teach me well and I won't disturb you anymore. When Fang Yun came to me, I thought something had happened to you." Granny Cui said this before heading to the small pavilion in the flower garden.
"Mrs. Xiao and the lord are inside."
After hearing this, Granny Cui turned around and went back.
Cui Shizi returned the fan to Fang Yun, took out a handkerchief and coughed: "Miss Xiao, let's go see the paintings."
"Okay." Xiao Qingxue said happily.
She deliberately chose flowers with sunshine and walked down the path. The sun made her cheeks flush, and Cui Shizi suddenly laughed.
"Ms. Xiao, the young master is here." Cui Shizi reminded.
Xiao Qingxue looked forward and saw Zhou Shenzhi coming to the garden with a boy servant beside him.
Xiao Qingxue felt a little embarrassed when she saw him, so she wanted to go from the other side.
"Miss Xiao." Zhou Shenzhi smiled and said, "Can you see my father?"
Xiao Qingxue's face was red, and she didn't know what to do with the kindness shown by the son of the Zhou family. She didn't mind her mother's second marriage, but she had no experience getting along with her brother. It seemed that he only brought a child servant from the Zhou family with him. There were no outsiders. The son of Clan Master Zhou seemed to regard her as one of his family members. Xiao Qingxue was a bit stupid and replied dryly: "Clan Master Zhou is in the pavilion."
"Please, Miss Xiao, please lead the way." Zhou Shenzhi said, "The banquet is about to begin. I'll inform father."
"Oh, okay." Xiao Qingxue turned around and looked at Cui Langjun again.
Cui Shizi had already walked away and waved with his back to her, saying he would see her next time.
Xiao Qingxue led the way, wondering how Zhou Shenzhi would react later.
We arrived at the small pavilion in the garden.
Before Xiao Qingxue knocked on the door, the door was opened.
Zongzhu Zhou and A Niang came out together.
"Father, General Lu asked me to inform you and Mrs. Xiao that a banquet will be held soon."
Zhou Xu hummed, indicating that he understood.
Xiao Luolan said with great blessing: "Thank you very much Mr. Zhou Xiaolang for informing me."
Zhou Shenzhi turned sideways: "Mrs. Xiao, you're welcome."
Seeing the two of them politely avoiding each other, Xiao Qingxue wanted to laugh for some reason.
Zhou Xu smiled and said: "Mrs. Xiao can be called Shen Zhi Twelve Lang from now on. He is the twelfth in the family."
"That's what father said." Zhou Shenzhi nodded.
"Let's go." Zhou Xudao, walking with Mrs. Xiao.
Xiao Qingxue felt that Sect Leader Zhou seemed to be particularly happy today. She wanted to ask her mother. Seeing so many people there, she thought she would ask her in the afternoon.
Zhou Shenzhi and Mrs. Xiao were walking one behind the other. He was walking in front and noticed that his father was shielding Mrs. Xiao from the hot sun intentionally or unintentionally. He was careful and considerate.
His father's smile was gentle and hearty, and Mrs. Xiao stood beside him. She would occasionally purse her lips and smile on her pretty face. The two of them were well matched and harmonious, and there was an indescribable atmosphere.
He was lost in thought when he suddenly heard Mrs. Xiao's muttering.
"My stomach is already full from dog food."
Zhou Shenzhi looked at Mrs. Xiao without knowing why, not understanding what she meant.
Xiao Qingxue realized that she had let slip. She held up the hem of her skirt and wanted to run forward. Halfway through, she turned around and found that he was standing there alone.
She thought for a while and ran back.
"Let's go together." Xiao Qingxue said a little coyly. Her mother and Sect Master Zhou were in love. She didn't want to make a light bulb. She definitely didn't run back because Zhou Twelve Lang looked a little lonely!
Zhou Shenzhi laughed and said, "Okay." He thought for a moment and said after seeing that Mrs. Xiao, who would become her stepsister, had a small whip on her waist.
"Miss Xiao."
"Huh?" Xiao Qingxue clasped her hands behind her back and turned to look at him.
Zhou Shenzhi smiled and said: "In the future, when no one is around, please call me brother."
It seems good to have a younger sister, Zhou Shenzhi thought.
Chapter 50
The beaded curtains are swaying, and the shadows on the temples are fragrant.
The flowers are slanting red and crescent-shaped eyebrows, and the silk and satin are gorgeous.
Separated by a bead curtain, several people were standing or sitting playing the harp, while a performer sang a little song a cappella.
Xiao Luolan listened for a while, but didn't quite understand what the ditty was about. She knelt down on the table. In front of her was a dark food table filled with food. Sitting next to her was her daughter.
The female family members are divided into left and right positions. She and her daughter are on the left. Opposite are General Lu's first wife and her two daughters-in-law, Lu Wulang's first wife and her daughter-in-law, and Lu Qilang's first wife. There are six adults alone.
Next to the eldest daughter-in-law and the second daughter-in-law of the Lu family, there was a little girl in gorgeous clothes.
Next to the daughter-in-law of Mrs. Wulang of the Lu family, there is a tough-headed young man.
Lu Qilang's first wife is a graceful young woman, who seems to be his second wife. Xiao Luolan carefully recalled what Granny Cui said to her in the carriage, and reluctantly met these people. These people are the main members of the Lu family. characters, so Xiao Luolan cheered up and carefully memorized their appearance and identity.
The principal wives all wore heavy make-up, dimples, luxurious clothes, and decent smiles. Even the three villains knelt down beside their respective mothers in an orderly manner, looking very polite.
Xiao Luolan noticed that the girl who looked cute but had a stern face and pretended to be a young adult was the second daughter of General Lu's eldest daughter-in-law. Her name was Lu Yun. She was too young, only five years old, and she was cute. Her nickname is Ocha.
The little girl is white and tender, and with the baby fat on her face, she is so cute.
After serving the dishes, the slaves retired one by one.
General Lu's wife smiled and said: "Mrs. Xiao, the Lu family is a family of military generals, and the dishes they cook are not very particular. You can try them for now."
Xiao Luolan smiled and said, "Thank you for your hospitality."
"It's better to eat quickly." Mrs. Lu Wu covered her mouth and said with a smile: "If you continue to be polite, the food will be cold."
"Mrs. Xiao, please go first." Mrs. Lu said.
Xiao Luolan declined again, and then Mrs. Lu used chopsticks first. Seeing that Mrs. Xiao ate delicately and elegantly and seemed very satisfied with the dishes, she felt relieved.
Mrs. Lu observed Mrs. Xiao and saw that she spoke softly, was not overbearing, and had a good attitude towards them. Master Jieduzhi was doting on her now, and Shen Zhi seemed to have a good impression of her, too. The eldest lady's mood was a little complicated. After all, the position of mistress of Youzhou did not fall to the Lu family.
Then he looked at Miss Xiao beside Mrs. Xiao. The girl's appearance was as beautiful as a hibiscus. She was in her prime years and was at least fifteen years old. Mrs. Xiao was sitting next to Mrs. Xiao. I just feel that she is a woman in her early thirties, and I don’t know how she takes care of herself?
Could it be that Qibai Soap is so useful? Mrs. Lu thought of the new batch of soap purchased in the house, and looked at Mrs. Xiao's snow-white and radiant skin, and decided to take a few more baths at night. Luo's Soap Company seemed to have launched a new rose soap, which might also Buy another batch...
The young daughter-in-law present noticed the makeup of Mrs. Xiao and Miss Xiao. The 28-year-old girl's skin was as white as porcelain, and she only applied pink on her lips. They were as fresh and tender as a peach blossom. Although she was wearing a men's round-neck suit, she was also Her beauty cannot be concealed.
Mrs. Xiao has dark green eyebrows, spring-filled eyes, full lips, and stunning color.
Neither mother nor daughter had any slanted red face, any dimples on their faces, and no flowers on their foreheads. They couldn't help but secretly guess whether the makeup trend in Chang'an had changed again. Although they married into a military general's family, they knew about Chang'an from their family. Nowadays, chatting is popular, and celebrities each have their own bohemian ways. Perhaps Mrs. Xiao, mother and daughter, were also affected by the trend of chatting, and thought it would be better to go natural and decorate?
Xiao Qingxue secretly glanced at her mother, who always had a smile on her face, as did the ladies opposite her. As she was eating, she noticed that the little guy named Acha was looking at her with twinkling eyes.
When Xiao Qingxue saw that the adults were all lowering their heads to eat, Xiao Qingxue quickly made a face for her.
The five-year-old little guy looked at her blankly.
Xiao Qingxue thought she was frightened, but she didn't expect that the little guy giggled the next second. The child's clear laughter resounded throughout the banquet hall, and Xiao Qingxue lowered her head with a guilty conscience.
"Ah Cha!" The eldest daughter-in-law put down her chopsticks and looked down at her second daughter, seemingly sullen.
"Children are cute if they are more lively." Xiao Luolan saw what her daughter had done, so she smoothed things over and said quickly: "Don't be weird, Yan Niang."
Mrs. Lu followed Mrs. Xiao's words and said, "Ah Cha smiles when he is happy. We are all a family and don't have so many rules."
Yan Niang didn't want to scold her beloved daughter, she was just pretending to do so. When she heard this, she smiled and said, "What Agu said is that Yan Niang needs to be taught."
Ah Cha was obviously a bold one and she said in a sweet voice, "Ah Cha likes Madam Xiao. Can I play with Madam Xiao after dinner?"
Mrs. Lu looked at Mrs. Xiao.
Xiao Luolan nodded and smiled: "Of course."
Ah Cha happily ate an extra bowl of rice.
After the meal, Xiao Qingxue was followed by three little tails. In addition to Ah Cha, Ah Yue, and the little man named Ci Nu, she walked a few steps and let the three children hold hands while she held her own. Ah Cha.
"Thank you, Madam Xiao."
Xiao Qingxue couldn't help laughing when she saw her thanking her like a little adult: "Come on, I'll take you to paint."
Ah Cha blinked his big eyes and asked, "What are you drawing?"
"Draw you, make you three look beautiful."
"Thank you, Madam Xiao."
"Ms. Xiao, can we catch the butterflies later?"
"I want to play with a machete."
…
The children's laughter could be heard from afar, and the atmosphere in the ladies' banquet hall became more harmonious.
Mrs. Lu smiled and said: "I didn't expect Mrs. Xiao to be so patient with children. These stubborn monkeys in my house never have time to calm down every day."
Xiao Luolan smiled and said: "There are no children who are not naughty. I think Ah Cha, Ah Yue and Ci Nu are very polite. They are both very well-behaved and good children. They are not as naughty as you said, Madam."
All the ladies of the Lu family laughed.
"Once you get familiar with them, Mrs. Xiao, you will know how naughty they are on weekdays."
Suddenly there was the sound of silk and bamboo orchestra.
In the direction of the men's banquet hall, separated by an arched garden, Old General Lu's laughter could be heard from time to time.
Xiao Luolan chatted with several ladies from the Lu Mansion for a while before returning to the Flower Pavilion under the leadership of the maid.
Granny Cui came forward with a smile and brought Mrs. Xiao a cup of tea.
Xiao Luolan took it, asked Granny Cui to sit down, and then took a sip of tea and breathed a long sigh of relief.
"Madam, are you tired?" Granny Cui asked, "Do you want to take a rest?"
