Xiao Luolan was led by the maid to the outer hall. As soon as she entered the door, she saw an old man with gray hair and kind eyes. The old man was wearing a washed white long-sleeved robe with a sword hanging on his waist. He was energetic and had bright eyes. When Xiao Luolan arrived, he approached with a smile, his tone of voice as loving as a family member.
"Lanniang, grandpa is here to see you."
If Xiao Luolan hadn't met this old man for the first time, she would have thought that he and her were really relatives.
"Why are you sick? Take your hand and let me check your pulse." Xiao Jingshu asked with concern while sitting on the chair, stroking his snow-white beard.
"It's just warm." Xiao Luolan replied softly: "Just drink two doses of medicine. Thank you for your concern, grandpa."
"It's good that you're fine." Xiao Jingshu said, "My grandfather is very pleased that you have found your beloved this time."
When Xiao Luolan heard this, she raised her head and glanced at the grandfather, and found that there was no trace of fakeness in his expression. There was a hint of melancholy in his expression, and he really looked like a grandfather who loved his granddaughter.
The two exchanged pleasantries, and after he left, Xiao Luolan sat alone for a while.
It's a pity that Mr. Xiao doesn't film.
Chapter 53
Xiao Jingshu returned to Luofeng Pavilion in Zhou's residence and looked up at the couplets on the vermilion lacquer pillars.
The vast water is full of waves and the waves are dull, and the autumn moon splashes intoxicatingly, making people unable to return.
The artistic conception of the couplets is very good. What is interesting is that the couplets on both sides can be read in two ways, the first four and the last three, or the first three and the last four. The left couplet can also be read as Hao Shui Ying, the waves are not stirred, and the right couplet can be read as Autumn Moon Splash, Intoxicated people have not returned, especially the word "splash", which is really wonderful and wonderful. It immediately depicts the state of autumn glory like wine falling on the ground.
Xiao Jingshu stroked his snow-white beard and looked at it for a while before stepping into the pavilion.
Luofeng Pavilion is located by the lake. Xiao Jingshu once wondered if Luofeng Pavilion was spelled incorrectly and should be renamed Luofeng Pavilion, because there is no maple tree in Luofeng Pavilion and only the lake breeze blows from all directions.
The vast lake is sparkling. It is the end of July, and the mountains and lakes are so beautiful.
First level, second level, third level.
Above the fifth level, there are already two pairs of shoes.
Xiao Jingshu put on his official clogs and entered the room.
The wooden door is wide open, and the view of the room is unobstructed. There are very few decorations in the house. There are only wooden floors, a couch, three bookshelves, a desk and a guqin.
There is a long wooden table facing the window in the south. Cui Shizi is sitting on a green mat facing the lake and making tea. On the left is Zhou Youzhou.
Xiao Jingshu walked to the right side of the long table and sat down opposite Zhou Youzhou. His wide sleeves fell to the ground. The old man looked calm and said with a smile: "Zhou Youzhou, I haven't seen you in several years. Your tea is still the same. Chang'an has already made tea. You’re still the same.”
Zhou Xu also smiled and said: "Drink tea, just drink tea, make so many fancy things, this is how you drink it."
In Langge, Zhou Xu could be said to have simplified the elegant thing of drinking tea to a certain level, but he liked it. It was good for the superiors and effective for the subordinates. Most of the officials and families in Langge also started to imitate it. The art of making tea is unique in Dachu.
It's very simple. Langge people only need three steps to make tea.
Get mountain spring water, if you are elegant, you can take stored snow water, or plum blossom snow, then boil it, add tea leaves, and pour the tea after boiling.
Cui Shizi picked up the teapot handle with a white cloth and poured three cups, one for each person.
"I would like to toast Mr. Xiao."
Xiao Jingshu took the cup and put it on the table. He looked at the sickly young man with white hair in front of him, touched his long snow-white beard, and sighed with a smile: "The sun and the moon will not spare each other as time passes. In the blink of an eye, the country of the stick will At the foot of Cishan Mountain, I am worried that your head will turn white."
Cui Shizi smiled quite openly: "Everyone has his own destiny, why is Mr. Xiao so interested in me?"
Xiao Jing wrote: "In this life, who can truly transcend the ordinary world? I am just an ordinary person." At the end, he smiled and said: "My granddaughter and Zhou Youzhou have a good relationship. I will drink more this time in Langge." A few drinks.”
"This is natural." Zhou Xu said: "I have scheduled the evening ceremony for the tenth day of the next month. Mr. Xiao remembers to take Xiao Yulang with him on that day."
"The tenth day of August is a good time to get married, offer sacrifices, fast, and pray for blessings. Good fortune and good luck come to the gods, and the southwest is blessed. It is indeed a good day." Xiao Jingshu stroked his beard and praised. This old man, who is over seventy years old, has a ruddy complexion and silky hair. Silvery white, the hand that once held the sword is still thick and strong.
Zhou Xu smiled and nodded: "Today is a family banquet. Mr. Xiao must come to attend. I have reserved a place for Mr. Xiao."
Xiao Jingshu laughed and said: "Okay, I will pick up Lan Niang and Xiao Qingxue and go to the banquet with them."
Zhou Xu took a sip of tea.
"Zhou Youzhou has a lot of things to do. There is no need to sit here with my old man. It's better to go and get busy." Xiao Jingshu stroked his beard and said.
The two chatted for a few words and then said goodbye harmoniously.
Cui Shizi took out his handkerchief and covered his mouth and coughed, with a smile on his pale face: "Mr. Xiao's nature is really beyond the reach of ordinary people."
"In the last years of the previous dynasty, we, the clan of four generations and three princes, are now a lonely tree, with only one blood relative, the great-grandson. If I were Xiao Gong, I would have been living in desolation long ago."
But then he thought that human destiny is really elusive. The Xiao family in Qinghe was about to collapse. Who would have thought that the time would come.
Zhou Xu took Cui Shizi to the study, ready to deal with some things first.
Inside Luofeng Pavilion.
Xiao Jingshu took a sip of tea, and then looked at the door. A handsome twelve-year-old boy was taking off his shoes and entering the room. Kneel down and kowtow: "Qinghe pays homage to his great-grandfather."
"Yu Lang, come here." Xiao Jingshu waved.
Xiao Qinghe knelt down beside his great-grandfather, with his back straight and straight, and his black eyes filled with divine light.
Xiao Jingshu patted his back with his big hand: "Come with me to see your aunt later."
Xiao Qinghe responded: "Yes."
Xiao Jingshu touched Xiao Qinghe's head: "Remember, treat your aunt well. From now on, she is your relative, and her daughter is your cousin."
The young man nodded: "My grandson knows, he must respect his aunt and care for his cousin with all his heart."
Xiao Jingshu smiled and said: "Good boy."
In Lanyuan, Xiao Luolan listened to Granny Cui telling her about the Xiao family. She knew that she had gained another nephew for nothing, and she accepted it well. After all, she had two more sons in name.
Xiao Qingxue held her chin in her hand and frowned: "Granny Cui, the Xiao family is so miserable. Just because he was a high-ranking official in the previous dynasty, the founding emperor of Da Chu killed their family to pieces. What happened next? We can only survive by relying on some aristocratic families who are related to the Xiao family."
It has been such a long time now. The founding emperor of the Xiao family is not happy, and subsequent emperors will not reuse their family. Hundreds of years have passed, and unexpectedly only two of their great-grandfathers and great-grandchildren are left, the old one and the young one. After hearing this, Xiao Qingxue felt sympathy for them.
The Xiao family is really miserable.
Granny Cui tied the little lady's hair into a bun. After hearing what little lady Xiao said, she said: "Little lady, Mr. Xiao is not an ordinary person. He is very knowledgeable. He also serves as the mountain chief of Qinghe Academy. He has many disciples, and the Xie family's Xie Gongju is recognized as a famous scholar and scholar in the world."
It turned out that he was still the principal. Xiao Qingxue closed her eyes slightly, a little worried about the sudden appearance of her great-grandfather and a little cousin. How should she get along with them.
Grandma Cui made a lily hairpin, then put in gorgeous pearl hairpins, and put a plum blossom-shaped hairpin on the little lady's forehead.
The flower mother-of-pearl is made of gold foil and is dotted with pearls. It is pretty, smart and natural.
She looked at her mother and found that she was leaning on the couch with her hand on her forehead, seemingly sleepy.
Xiao Qingxue quietly walked over and touched her mother's forehead. Fortunately, it was not hot.
Xiao Luolan was awakened by her daughter's movements. Seeing her beautifully dressed, she immediately smiled: "Are you hungry? Do you want to eat something?" Her daughter got up early today and had breakfast early. It's almost noon now, and I should be hungry.
"I've already eaten." Xiao Qingxue sat next to her mother: "The Luming Residence where I live has a small kitchen. You can tell them what you want to eat."
"Mom, are you feeling better?" Xiao Qingxue asked worriedly.
"Much better." Xiao Luolan straightened up and was about to say a few words to her daughter when Chunhua reported from outside the curtain: "Madam, Mr. Xiao is waiting in the hall outside. Do you want to see him?"
"Let's go." Xiao Luolan stood up, her cheeks were slightly hot, and she was still a little tired.
Outer hall.
This time Xiao Luolan felt more natural when facing this Mr. Xiao: "Grandpa." Xiao Qingxue followed her mother and glanced at the kind-hearted old man.
"Lanniang, the banquet is about to begin, how about we go together?" Xiao Jingshu said with a smile, and then he saw the girl behind Xiao Luolan and waved: "Qingxue, come here."
Xiao Qingxue blushed, walked up to the old man, and said, "Great-grandfather."
Xiao Jingshu took out a simple seal and handed it to her, and said with a smile: "You grew up in the temple with your mother. You don't see many people, and your great-grandfather didn't give you anything. This is a gold and stone seal that I compiled in my early years. When A study ornament is just right, take it."
Xiao Qingxue restrained her urge to see her grandma, and a heavy small seal was stuffed in her hand: "Thank you, great-grandfather."
"Silly boy, why are you so polite to your great-grandfather?" Xiao Jingshu said with a smile, "Qinghe, come here and meet your aunt and cousin."
"When Qinghe was born, you only saw him once, so you probably have no impression of him." Xiao Jingshu waved the young man in.
The young man came in with sunshine all over his body, and he knelt down and kowtowed respectfully: "Qinghe has met my aunt."
Xiao Luolan was slightly shocked by the child's gift, and bent down to help him up: "You get up first."
Xiao Qing and Zhili stood up without letting their aunt really help him. He was already twelve years old and already knew how to avoid.
"Thank you, aunt." The young man smiled like a green willow, with very handsome features. He bowed to Xiao Qingxue again: "Qinghe has met my cousin."
Xiao Qingxue was also blessed with this new cousin who seemed to have a good appearance and personality: "Hello, cousin."
The four of them went to the central hall of Zhou's house together.
Zhou's house is built on the mountain, with thousands of winding corridors and scattered courtyards, with spring flowers leading the way. Mr. Xiao chatted with Xiao Luolan from time to time, with a friendly and powerful tone, which relieved some of Xiao Luolan's nervousness.
The middle hall of Zhou's house.
More than thirty people sat at five tables, and everyone present stood up when they saw Mr. Xiao and Mrs. Xiao arriving.
"Mr. Xiao." The Zhou family bowed their hands and worshiped Mr. Xiao when they saw him.
Xiao Jingshu saluted and bowed in return: "Xiao has met you all."
The crowd dispersed into a small path, and Zhou Hong, the senior member of the Zhou family, walked over from the main seat on crutches: "Mr. Xiao, Mrs. Xiao, Mrs. Xiao, and Xiao Yulang, please come in quickly."
Zhou Xu supported him: "Uncle, please slow down."
Xiao Jingshu hurriedly took two steps forward and helped the old man. This Zhou Hong was Zhou Youzhou's father's uncle. He was the only senior and scary old man left in the Zhou family. Zhou Xu invited him out this time, which showed that he was very interested in Lan Niang. Very interested.
Xiao Luolan and her daughter felt a little dazzled when surrounded by a bunch of Zhou family members.
Zhou Hong's old eyes were so dim that he couldn't see people clearly. He just held Duke Xiao's hand and said, "I heard that your wife Xiao Sanniang, Ling Shu, is well-equipped with all four virtues and is willing to be a high supporter. Today I will propose marriage to Duke Xiao on behalf of A Xu. I dare you." Invite with courtesy, if you don't send me away, I will wait for good orders."
Xiao Jingshu said with a smile: "The eldest son of the Zhou family, Chengxian, cares about Cunxian's good marriage, and is willing to ask for help. I dare not be disrespectful because of Duke Zhou."
Xiao Luolan sat next to Sect Master Zhou. After Mr. Xiao and Sect Master Zhou's uncle finished talking, they took their seats.
Because it was a family banquet, the Zhou family all sat together.
A tall and thin middle-aged man stood up with his wife and said, "Mrs. Xiao, my name is Zhou Xuan, my eldest brother's second brother, and this is my wife, Mrs. Li." The middle-aged man paused and said, "I have met my sister-in-law."
The man bowed his hand and the woman bowed.
With Zhou Xuan taking the lead, the rest of the Zhou family showed up with their wives and children in front of the new Youzhou mistress.
Xiao Luolan looked twice at his three brothers because of Zhou Yan. Unlike Zhou Yanzhi, the legitimate sons of the second wife of the Zhou family were all tough and unsmiling warriors.
