Xiao Qingxue had already dealt with Lian Shiqing, and said in a clear voice: "Master Lian, if you don't give way, we won't be able to get back for lunch."
Such a large group of people, standing in the cold wind and freezing, are all thanks to this verbose Lord Lian.
"Oh, it's my fault." Lian Shiqing took a step back, bowed to Xiao Qingxue and said, "Don't blame me, little lady, I..."
Xiao Qingxue spoke before he could say anything: "No wonder, Lord Lian just needs to get out of the way." After saying that, she gave a perfunctory blessing: "Thank you, Lord Lian."
Lian Shiqing said with a smile: "Young lady, I want to break my heart. Madam General, please do me."
He turned sideways and bowed his head respectfully.
Zhou Lingzhi glanced at Lian Shiqing and said nothing.
"My son has met his mother." Zhou Shenzhi bowed to his mother and said, "The weather is very cold and the journey is long. Mother, you have worked hard all the way."
Xiao Luolan helped Zhou Shenzhixu up and said with a smile: "I'm fine, but I see your hair is covered with snow. It's better not to come so early in the future. Let's go back home quickly and let the kitchen cook some ginger." I’ll give you some soup to keep you away from the cold.”
Zhou Shenzhi originally wanted to say a few words from the Book of Filial Piety, but when he saw his stepmother's sincere and caring eyes, he was a little afraid to look at her. Filial piety is very important these days, and there was some selfishness in his behavior.
"Thank you for your concern, mother." Zhou Shenzhi replied with a smile without changing his expression.
Zhou Yanzhi was hiding behind his brothers. Next to him were the sons of his third uncle, fifth uncle, and seventh uncle. Zhou Yanzhi did not dare to look at his eldest brother at all. His father went to the battlefield and has not come back. His mother has been living in the temple these days because of his academic problems. As the youngest child in the family, he was beaten up by his father and eldest brother last time because of the Lou Chuan Swordsman incident. Now he met his aunt honestly with other Zhou family juniors and shouted respectfully: "Nephew I’ve met my aunt.”
There is no way, seniority is good. Except for Uncle Zeng's withered lineage, the Zhou family is now the aunt with the highest seniority. After all, she is now the head wife of the head of the family and the head of the clan. There is also Youzhou outside. The name of the mistress.
Zhou Yanzhi sometimes felt sweat on his palms when he thought of this. After all, he really didn't expect Mrs. Xiao to be so loved by her uncle at first.
Now I just hope that my aunt didn't notice him, and that little lady Xiao.
On the 16th, I could only hear Mrs. Xiao's still soft and sweet voice: "It's freezing cold, everyone, go back quickly. When you have time, you can come to my aunt's house as a guest."
The aunt said it was friendly, but the juniors on Saturday did not dare to answer like the cousin/cousin, so they had to solemnly reply with "Wei."
Zhou Liu saw the hem of his aunt's crane cloak hanging on the snow and then disappeared. Zhou Liu breathed a sigh of relief. At this moment, a magnified Mingyan's face suddenly appeared in front of him. He was startled and backed away. One step forward.
Xiao Qingxue looked at Zhou Shiliu who was still in shock, laughed unceremoniously, patted the whip on her waist, and left with Jiang Da and the others in a troubled manner.
Zhou Shiliu: "..." Is it fun to scare him with this little girl? Or to avenge the previous revenge.
If this is the case, Zhou Liu will be relieved.
"Let's go." Zhou Lingzhi glanced at his idiot-like brother.
Wait until you return to Zhouzhai Mingxintang.
Xiao Luolan felt that she could finally rest. Since arriving in Langge, there had been no rest. Chunhua Qiuyue bathed Madam. Xiao Luolan fell asleep in the warm hot water. Her body was tired and her heart was tired. No matter Whether she was talking to Lian Shiqing or getting along with the juniors from the Zhou family, neither was easy for her.
After the room is quiet.
Xiao Luolan looked at Ming Xintang, whom he hadn't seen for a long time, and breathed a sigh of relief.
Wait until night.
The white snow was still flying thinly, and there were glass lanterns hanging under the eaves. Under the steps was a courtyard covered with thin snow. After crossing the Mirror Lake, Xiao Luolan looked back at the back mountain hidden in the darkness. .
Today is a family dinner, there are only three people in total.
Xiao Luolan, Xiao Qingxue, and Zhou Shenzhi.
Zhou Shenzhi still said hello to his stepmother and sister rigorously. Xiao Qingxue directly pulled them to sit down, smiling with crooked eyes: "Brother, please sit down and eat quickly. As a family, please don't salute anymore. Please continue to behave yourself." It’s become old-fashioned.”
Zhou Shenzhi laughed, lifted his robe and sat down.
Xiao Luolan specially chose the plum garden, an old tree with plum blossoms, strong branches and a subtle fragrance.
The hot pot on the table was steaming. Xiao Qingxue made a spicy pot and a clear pot. There was no chili here, but some Sichuan peppercorns, dogwood, ginger and garlic, which could be regarded as a spicy pot.
Paired with brewed plum blossom wine, it's just right.
Xiao Qingxue took a sip of the cold and fragrant plum blossom wine and narrowed her eyes comfortably. Xiao Luolan asked the two children to eat more meat and vegetables.
Zhou Shenzhi looked at his stepmother and sister with a deep smile.
After the meal, Xiao Qingxue was a little drunk, and Xiao Luolan asked Fang Yun and Bingqin beside her daughter to take her daughter back to Luming Pavilion.
Zhou Shenzhi was about to leave when he heard his mother ask him.
"Be careful, does Mr. Lian come to the house often?"
Xiao Luolan asked. She found that there were a lot of things in the warehouse, all sent by Lian Shiqing. Xiao Luolan thought this was a gift from a subordinate to his boss, a kind of bribe. Xiao Luolan was still in a good mood. Quite complicated.
Zhou Shenzhi lowered his head and replied: "To answer my mother's question, Master Lian comes to visit you every three to five days. He is waiting for my father to come back and congratulates him on his victory in the war."
Are you sending so many gifts because you want to see Sect Leader Zhou? Judging from Shen Zhi's tone, could it be that Lian Shiqing still has a relationship with Sect Master Zhou?
One is a corrupt official in the eyes of the world, and the other is a traitor in the eyes of the world.
For some reason, Xiao Luolan suddenly remembered Li Bozhi, the governor of Taiyang County. A corrupt official took his place. Taiyang County is far or near from Langge. There are also water transport routes, so you can get there easily. If you go west of Hexi, you can go to Langge.
Such a position...such a position, let a corrupt official do it? Or is it possible that Lian Shiqing is a member of the Zhou clan?
"Is Master Lian one of ours?" Xiao Luolan asked with a frown.
Zhou Shenzhi hesitated this time and was a little unsure: "It should be so."
The reason why he asked his cousin Lu Siyuan to stimulate Lian Shiqing was to see his reaction. If he was his father's son, Lian Shiqing should understand that Lu Siyuan's words meant that Zhou Shenzhi did not know the relationship between his father and him. If He's not, and that's ironic.
Seeing a hint of sadness on his mother's face, Zhou Shenzhi thought for a while and said, "Logically speaking, Sheriff Taiyang should be one of ours."
But Zhou Shenzhi did not expect that the imperial court would send Lian Shiqing to take over Taiyang County. This was so inconsistent with his expectations that Zhou Shenzhi was not sure for a while.
Taiyang County far away.
County Governor Li Bozhi looked at the official transfer document that he had read countless times. He still refused to believe the words "Lian Shiqing" on it. His face looked gloomy and thin under the candlelight.
It turned out to be Lian Shiqing, a despicable villain who was accustomed to flattery, extravagant and wealthy, and addicted to buying offices. This time, the officials did not know how many bribes they received from him, and how much money they spent to get through the important officials in the court. Lian Shiqing got it.
Li Bozhi was so angry that he almost vomited blood. He had a good reputation all his life, but Lian Shiqing slapped him hard in the face. When he arrived in Youzhou, he didn't even stay in Taiyang County for a moment, nor did he talk to him, as if he was not worth it. He looked like an unknown person and went straight to Langge with gold, silver and jewelry to please Zhou Manzi.
Do you think Zhou Manzi will accept him like this?
Li Bozhi sneered.
wishful thinking.
It’s hard to say that everyone’s head fell to the ground very quickly.
Chapter 109
"Madam, Master Lian has sent you an invitation to visit you. Would you like to receive him?"
Early in the morning, Xiao Luolan was sitting on the embroidery stool and heard the news reported by the housekeeper Sun Uncle outside the curtain. She asked the housekeeper to invite Mr. Lian to the Huaisu Hall in the front yard of Zhou's house. After thinking for a while, she said: "Uncle Sun, please entertain me first." He, I will come soon."
Uncle Sun smiled across the curtain and said, "I know, Madam, don't worry."
After Uncle Sun left, Xiao Luolan took a look at the sky. Although it was not snowing, the sky was very gray. Thick leaden clouds completely covered the sun, adding a touch of coldness to this winter.
Xiao Luolan clearly felt the arrival of the deep winter cold. It was too cold. The cold wind here was really like a knife. They were lucky to come back early. Sect Master Zhou and the others would probably have to suffer a lot when they came back because of the cold weather. , Xiao Luolan, who rarely slept in, didn't want to get up early these past two days, so he was a little late.
Xiao Luolan looked at the calendar. Today is the ninth day of winter, and there are still five days before the heavy snowfall. Thinking of this, she can't help but feel a little worried.
"Madam, would you like a bowl of caramel milk tea? It was invented by my little lady. Now many people in Langge like this new hot drink." Granny Cui combed her mistress's hair, her movements gentle and lacy Li Dao: "This milk tea has the aroma of tea that southerners like, and the cheese that northerners like. My lady is really clever. Do you want to try it?"
Xiao Luolan said with a smile: "Okay," she had heard her daughter talk about her daughter's milk tea plan as early as Taiyang. Later, she followed them by boat to Langge, but she didn't expect to come up with it again in winter.
Chunhua was waiting quietly. When she heard this, she quietly left the room and went to talk to the kitchen.
Granny Cui was very dexterous. She tied the lady's cloud-like hair into a flower crown and a bun. The already plump and beautiful woman in the bronze mirror, with a little rouge and powder, already shined in the bright room.
Granny Cui decorated the center of Madam's bun with peony flower pieces made of colored glaze. She felt it was perfect. After finishing her work, Granny Cui said, "Madam, you can see something on the front line."
Xiao Luolan knew that Granny Cui was concerned about Cui Langjun's health, so she said carefully: "Grandma Cui, don't worry too much. Cui Langjun had been locked in the room by the doctor for several days when I came back, and Dr. Li also I often visit him, and before I leave, Cui Langjun’s cough has gotten better.”
Grandma Cui felt a little relieved when she heard what the mistress said: "Thank you, madam, for informing me."
Xiao Luolan shook her head: "You're welcome." She looked outside. The gloomy weather made Xiao Luolan suspect that it was a sign of heavy snow. If the snow was too heavy, it would probably overwhelm the house.
It's better to talk to Shenzhi, Xiao Luolan thought.
In Huaisu Hall.
As soon as Lian Shiqing heard the footsteps and dubbing sounds coming from behind him, he immediately lowered his eyes slightly and stood up from the chair.
Xiao Luolan sat in the first place and asked, "I wonder what Mr. Lian wants from me?"
Lian Shiqing smiled and said: "Madam General, I got a deep-sea coral by chance a few years ago. When I was in Chang'an, there was an enlightened monk who spent a lot of money to buy it. He said that this coral can be used for Buddhist spiritual practice and can be used as Buddhist scriptures." One of the Seven Treasures, I rejected him at that time.”
"As the saying goes, man, at that time I felt that the eminent monk was not the one destined for the Coral Tree because he was obsessed with appearance."
"Since I met the general's wife yesterday, I finally understood that the coral tree is finally waiting for its destined person."
When Xiao Luolan heard this, he glanced at Lian Shiqing in surprise. This man almost said the bribe was fair and square. Is this really good?
Lian Shiqing waved to the outside, and immediately four servants carried the items covered with red cloth and gently placed them in the Huaisu Hall.
The two Lian family boys retreated, and the Zhou family guards were all outside the Huaisu Hall.
Lian Shiqing uncovered the red cloth and was very confident in the gift. He had known treasures for many years, and such a deep-sea coral was really rare in the world.
Xiao Luolan looked at the blood-red coral tree in the hall, which was as tall as one person. The coral body showed a crystal clear blood-red color. At a glance, it looked like blood jade. The branches were covered with pearls, emeralds, gems, and gold. Made of bottom basin.
You can tell at a glance that this is the style that Sect Leader Zhou would like.
He likes straightforward gold, silver and precious stones, and he disdains those poems and paintings famous in the literary world or the handwriting of celebrities.
Lian Shiqing glanced at the general's wife, and regretfully found that he did not see any joyful excitement in her eyes. She looked at this unique treasure as if she were looking at something beautiful, and nothing else.
But how can this deep-sea blood coral be like other things? It is a real rare treasure.
When Lian Shiqing saw this deep-sea blood coral for the first time, all he saw was his smooth official career. The eminent monk wanted to buy it from him as a treasure to be presented to the Holy One, but Lian Shiqing was Not sold.
The world is in chaos, and he wants to sell this treasure for a price.
And Mistress Youzhou was the one he chose. Lian Shiqing believed that for just one man, pillow style is the best thing to do.
But now, Lian Shiqing can't see through this mistress of Youzhou who is extremely favored by Lord Youzhou Jiedushi.
Of course, he didn't dare to look at the woman's exaggerated appearance, as it would be disrespectful to her. This was no joke.
Could it be that such a treasure cannot touch the heart of Mistress Youzhou? Lian Shiqing lowered his head and thought, and quickly thought of countermeasures.
"Are you going to give it to me?" Xiao Luolan asked after reading it.
