As the New Year approaches, every household in Shengjing City hangs up lanterns, creating a joyful scene.
There were even more people in the Hou Mansion. The servants moved ladders up to the heights, put up lanterns and streamers, and prepared all night long.
Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Princess Yunle will visit Zhenwuhou Mansion on New Year's Eve to welcome the New Year with the female family members of the mansion. This is Your Majesty's supreme grace and favor.
The entire Zhou Dynasty knew that although Emperor Jing had many heirs, he only favored the seventeenth princess.
Three days ago, Princess Yunle gave advice to Emperor Jing about the three strategies to control Mang. She was greatly pleased by the Emperor Long Yan and ordered the cabinet scholars to refine the three strategies to control Mang.
At this time, news came out that Princess Yunle would come to the Hou Mansion to spend New Year's Eve. What an honor it was.
Floating clouds cover the moon, and the frost and snow are cold.
The eldest lady, He Loushi, had a happy face. Even in the dead of winter, she was still wearing a snow fox fur coat, facing the wind and snow, and commanding all the servants in the house to clean the courtyard and decorate it.
"Mother, you are looking for me!"
Jiang Xuanlin, wearing a snow-covered deerskin coat, walked out of the snowy sky with four martial arts slaves carrying lanterns to guide him.
Looking at He Lou's cheeks that were blown red by the cold wind, Jiang Xuanlin bowed and persuaded: "Mother, just let the housekeeper and servants do these trivial matters. Why bother you to freeze in the ice and snow."
"Princess Yunle came to our Zhenwu Marquis Mansion in person, not only because of your father's prestige in the court and the trust of the Holy Emperor, but also because of your mother's virtuous and virtuous reputation, and she managed the Nuo Da Marquis Mansion in an orderly and regular manner. !”
He Lou took the hot stone from the hand of his maid, Yanyu, held it in his hand, and said sincerely: "I am so dedicated, not only to live up to the Holy Family, but also to consider your future and life-long events!"
"What mother means is..." Jiang Xuanlin suddenly raised his head.
"Your father is already a highly respected minister. Xuan Luo and Xuan Jing's qualifications are not any weaker than your father's back then. In the future, you can at least be granted the title of Bohou. However, you have been weak since you were young and have followed the path of becoming an official through Confucianism. If we can take this opportunity to win the heart of Princess Yunle, we will surely be put in the Holy Emperor's favor!" He Lou said.
"Mother should consider the long term!" Jiang Xuanlin's heart became hot.
It is said that Princess Yunle has the appearance of sinking fish and falling geese, and is the most beautiful woman in the Zhou royal family.
"It's better to be prepared during these days. I heard that Princess Yunle is very talented in literature. You should work more on your poetry!"
Helou thought for a moment and said, "Also, how did you go about that matter?"
"Jiang Xuanyao has taken the bait. I believe he has made some moves at this time, and we will see the result soon!"
Jiang Xuanlin was a little puzzled and said: "It's just that my son doesn't understand. He's just a scoundrel and useless. Why does the mother have to take such pains to suppress him?"
"You will know the reason for this later."
He Loushi looked at the wind and snow in the sky and said calmly: "No matter what, he can't live for a long time. Lin'er, remember, this person must die, but it must not be done by you or me!"
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"Sir, you seem to have become more handsome!"
The hustle and bustle in Zhenwuhou Mansion has nothing to do with Jiang Li and Chuchu's courtyard.
The master and servant sat by the fire, looking at the snowflakes in the sky outside the door.
The casserole is steaming. Green cabbage and tender tofu are stewed together. Sprinkled with a little dried shrimps, it is steaming and full of aroma.
Jiang Li filled a bowl of vegetables and ate it slowly. Chuchu sat aside with his face tilted and looked at Jiang Li dreamingly.
Although he has been a master and servant for more than ten years, Chuchu feels that today's young master seems to have become particularly handsome, like the banished immortal walking out of the painting, with a kind of misty fairy aura about him.
And it also had a very good smell, even more intoxicating than the most fragrant rouge she had ever smelled.
"Chuchu, if you keep staring at me in a daze, I will eat all the food!"
Jiang Li reached out and scratched Chu Chu's little nose. He swept his right leg outward and pushed aside the little black dog who was looking at the casserole eagerly.
Under the pressure of cracking eggs, the little guy no longer showed a fierce look towards Jiang Li, but he was still stubborn and aloof.
After refusing to take back the thrown stick several times, Jiang Li decided to starve it as a warning to others.
"Ouch!"
The little black dog was pushed and got up from the ground fiercely. It lowered its head and stared at Jiang Li, whimpering softly.
But when Jiang Li glanced at him, the little black dog froze and immediately pretended that nothing happened and walked aside, leaving Jiang Li with only a cold and stubborn back of his head.
"Master, don't bully Xiao Hei. He has just recovered and must be very weak now!"
Chuchu couldn't bear it, so he scooped out a few pieces of tofu from the casserole, cooled them and put them in the iron basin of the little black dog.
"Ouch"
The little black dog, who was full of strength just now, suddenly turned around, raised his short legs and sprinted directly into the iron basin, shaking his head and tail and started eating.
"Brother Jiang Li, are you there?"
A boy of fourteen or fifteen years old poked his head in from outside the courtyard door and looked timidly into the courtyard.
"Jiang Xuanxin!"
Jiang Li heard the sound and felt that the young man outside the door looked familiar. He recalled carefully and then remembered that this person was his half-brother.
Jiang Xuanxin, ranked sixteenth in the family, and like Jiang Li, was also the son of a concubine.
Speaking of which, the situations of the two are somewhat similar.
Jiang Xuanxin's mother slipped and fell into a well a few years ago and died, but the servants in the mansion secretly rumored that Jiang Xuanxin's mother did not really slip and fall into the well.
"Sixteenth Young Master, please come in quickly!"
Chuchu quickly stood up and called Jiang Xuanxin into the small courtyard.
"Xuanxin has met Brother Fifteen!"
Jiang Xuanxin walked into the small courtyard and saluted respectfully to Jiang Li, with a humble expression and a slight timidity and embarrassment on his face.
In the Hou Mansion, all sons and daughters born from concubines have this temperament to a greater or lesser extent, and Jiang Li's predecessor is no exception.
"Sixteenth brother, there is no need to be restrained. You and I have similar statuses in the house, so you can do whatever you want!"
Jiang Li smiled and carefully looked at the young man in front of him.
The young man's face is delicate and tender, with some outlines of Jiang Shirong. He is fourteen or fifteen years old, but his steps are steady and strong, and his limbs and waist and abdomen are linked. The strength of the second level of martial arts is only a thin line away from the Jiao Martial Realm.
As the son of a concubine, Jiang Xuanxin was not suppressed by the Helou family. Like other brothers and sisters, he could also practice martial arts in the palace's martial arts hall to strengthen his body. However, he was much better than Jiang Li in this regard.
"Brother Fifteen, I came here today because I have something to ask for!"
Jiang Xuanxin was silent for a moment and said: "As the New Year is approaching, the house is bustling and noisy, but I feel more and more lonely and cold. Last night, my mother told me in a dream that she was short of food and clothing down there. When I woke up, I felt sick, couldn't sit still, and wanted to leave the city. Worship!”
Jiang Xuanxin raised his head and looked at Jiang Li, a little embarrassed: "But I grew up in the Hou Mansion since I was a child and never left the city alone. I can't help but feel timid and fearful in my heart. After thinking about it, I only have fifteen brothers in this house who share the same illness as me, so I came to ask for help. I hope that Brother Fifteen can accompany me out of the city to worship tomorrow!"
Having said this, Jiang Xuanxin turned his gaze to Chuchu again and said in a weak voice: "The two maids in my room will also go together, and they will be able to keep Sister Chuchu company by then!"
