"When did Huanwan learn this craft?"
At Huaiye Lane Residence, Ouyang Rong had just returned from his shift, and Xie Lingjiang came right after him.
Before she came here, she seemed to have taken a bath and incense once, and her face was as red as an apple. It was early winter, and there were small drops of water hanging on her white forehead under her bangs, which were the fragrant sweat from the hot mist of the bath.
Just as it was time to have dinner, Xie Lingjiang ran to the kitchen without saying a word, made a bowl of longevity noodles for Aunt Zhen, and put it on the table to wash away the dust.
At this moment, after Zhen Shuyuan tasted the noodles with her red lips, her eyes lit up and she asked her novelly.
Xie Lingjiang supported his small chin with the back of his hand and watched everyone tasting the noodles, his eyes curled into crescents.
She tried hard to suppress the raised corners of her lips:
"It was when we were in Dragon City. Aunt Zhen and you were away, and Meiluyuan didn't have a cook or anything, so it was empty.
"Every time I'm busy with official duties with my senior brother, I forget to eat. When I come home late, my stomach is flat."
She glanced at someone with a slightly resentful tone:
"Eldest brother cooks very slowly, and I don't know why he is always thinking about the leftovers he had from yesterday, and won't make new ones until he has finished them.
"Well, the day lily will probably be cold by the time he brings it over.
"So I had no choice but to come here in person. By accident, my cooking skills were slightly improved." Xie Lingjiang sighed seriously.
Ouyang Rong, who was immersed in cooking, couldn't help it anymore and raised his eyes to interject:
"Why am I too slow? Junior sister is sitting there crying and waiting for food. I must be too slow.
"Besides, you can only make noodles, three noodles... no, one axe."
Ouyang Rong defended his innocence, shook his head, and stretched out his chopsticks to sandwich the noodles.
But with a "whoosh", the large noodle bowl in front of him disappeared, and the chopsticks were empty.
"Well, senior brother, don't eat it."
Xie Lingjiang pushed the bowl in front of Zhen Shuyuan, protecting the noodles with her bare hands, her pretty face tightened:
"This is for Aunt Zhen. How can I take care of my senior brother?"
"Ahem, after thinking about it carefully, junior sister actually has two brushes, and her noodle talent is already very powerful."
"Senior brother, I'm sorry. From now on, junior sister, don't eat from me."
Ouyang Rong blinked, "Then don't think about me cooking in the future." Xie Lingjiang tilted his head: "Do it if you like."
Ouyang Rong nodded decisively: "Do it."
Xie Lingjiang was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at the senior brother who had a harmless look on his face. Unexpectedly, he had been eaten tofu, and he hummed and turned away:
"I won't eat it even if you make it." Ouyang Rong said secretly.
However, when he noticed his aunt's appraising gaze, he stopped teasing his junior sister and took a bite of the "slightly spicy" hometown dish made by the silver-haired girl next to him.
Ouyang Rong turned his head and smiled at Ye Weilai, who seemed to have become quieter.
Seeing the two bickering, Zhen Shuyuan was a little bit dumbfounded, but her heart moved slightly, and she glanced at Xie Lingjiang, who was narrowing his eyes to guard against being caught in the middle of his senior brother's face.
We haven’t seen each other for half a year, and the relationship between Hanhan and Tan Lang seems to have changed a lot. In the past, Hanhan was very serious when eating, and had a somewhat serious temperament. Coupled with the family tradition and upbringing of the fifth surname and Qiwang, she and Tan Lang never interacted with her at the dinner table. Lang and other "outsiders" who make such jokes sound quite serious and boring.
Now it seems that those who were led by Tanlang are a little unruly. Could it be that being unruly can also be contagious?
The woman in the skirt, who was keenly aware of words and expressions, had some murmurs in her heart.
Tonight, in the flower hall, there were only four people at the dinner table, Ouyang Rong, Xie Lingjiang, Zhen Shuyuan, and Ye Weilai.
Ban Xi waited for the other maids at the table, laughing with Mrs. Zhen who was joking and chatting from time to time. From the corner of their eyes, they glanced at a young man in official uniform who was immersed in cooking.
Having a male host at home is like having a backbone. From Mrs. Zhen down to the little maid serving tea, the smiles on the faces are unconsciously more. There is more life and warmth in such a large mansion, and there is less. Cold and empty.
This can be regarded as the normal situation of thousands of families under the etiquette and law of this era, and a man is needed as the backbone.
Zhen Shuyuan pushed aside other delicious dishes and specially ate the longevity noodles made by Xie Lingjiang. She was full of praise.
Well, the two girls, one senior and one junior, tacitly "ignored" Ouyang Rong, who had just been disappointed.
The reunion after separation really makes people talk more.
Zhen Shuyuan put down her chopsticks, grabbed Xie Lingjiang's plain hand and stroked it. They started to chat, and first she criticized Ouyang Rong for her. Those who didn't know better thought that Xie Lingjiang was her biological niece and Ouyang Rong picked it up by eating rice for free.
Xie Lingjiang surprisingly did not reject Mrs. Luo Qun's intimate words and chat with him.
Judging from her bright-eyed expression and her attentive listening expression, she is very patient and does not seem to be faking.
Although only half a year ago, a certain noble lady of the Xie family was quite fed up with this kind of filial piety among women.
Xie Lingjiang came wearing a dress today. It was a high-waisted tulip pleated skirt.
The waistline was raised to below the bust, which made her slim and plump figure look light and elegant.
The hem of the goose-yellow shirt on the upper body is tied into the high waist of the skirt, which raises the waistline. Coupled with the elegant purple silk, it makes the figure even more slender and agile.
Like a female fairy relegated to the mortal world.
But this kind of high-waisted pleated skirt also has a small shortcoming, or rather, it is a shortcoming unique to junior sisters. The shortcoming is quite big...it makes it look a little bulky.
You need to endure the "humiliation" and bear the burden.
However, who knows whether this is a big disadvantage or a big advantage. Xie Lingjiang had a lively chat with the Zhen family's parents.
At the other end of the table, Ouyang Rong was picking up vegetables and chewing, lowering his head to eat. He only interrupted to defend himself when his aunt wanted to reveal his dark history.
But naturally, the little junior sister who was overflowing with curiosity dug her into the ground. Being teased by the two girls together.
Ouyang Rong laughed and shook his head, silently eating.
At a certain moment, he looked around at the bustling flower hall and heard the ringing laughter of the women at the dining table.
He felt a little warm in his heart and his face was peaceful.
On the day he recovered from his illness and came down the mountain, he climbed out of the underground palace again, silently bowed his head and put on the identity mask that belonged to this life.
No more hiding from this.
A small chopstick reached out and picked up a piece of fresh fish fillet and placed it in Ouyang Rong's bowl. The dazed look in his eyes faded, he turned around and met Ye Weila's sapphire blue eyes.
The silver-haired girl smiled softly at Ouyang Rong, buried her little face in the bowl, and picked up the rice obediently. Unlike Ban Xin, who could only stand aside with envy in his eyes, Ye Weilai was able to sit on the table and eat.
She is now Ouyang Rong's concubine, which Zhen Shuyuan and even Xie Lingjiang have agreed to.
Because of Ouyang Rong's previous arrangements, Ye Weilai had returned to her hometown in Nanlong to worship her ancestors and burn incense, and was officially accepted by the Ouyang family in Nanlong.
Even though there were many clan elders who did not agree with letting a woman from a foreign barbarian tribe join the family.
But Ouyang Rong and Zhen Shuyuan both agreed, so naturally they couldn't point fingers and had to acquiesce.
However, although she was able to serve dinner, Ye Weilai was extremely quiet at the dinner party.
She sat on Ouyang Rong's left hand side, with only half of her butt touching the stool. The silver-haired girl stood up from time to time to pick up food for Ouyang Rong.
Moreover, he showed great respect for Xie Lingjiang, who was sitting opposite him, without any intention of interrupting the topic or grabbing attention.
Xie Lingjiang, who was chatting, also took a look at Ye Weilai and asked her to try the noodles. Well, just don't give it to the senior brother.
Ye Weilai had already stood up and poured a bowl of milky white fish soup for Zhen Shuyuan and Xie Lingjiang in turn, and then poured another bowl for Ouyang Rong.
Ouyang Rong came to his senses.
At this time, out of the corner of his eye, he saw an extra word on the table at his hand. It's Ye Weila's elegant handwriting, written with water stains, and it's vaguely visible: An.
Ouyang Rong couldn't help laughing.
It's safe to have a girl in the family, right?
He casually stretched out his finger, dipped it in water, and added another word to the word "安".
Ye Weilai, who was holding a bowl of rice, noticed Tanlang's movements. Holding the chopsticks, he was stunned for a moment, lowered his head and looked intently...for a while.
I saw the silver-haired girl's little face buried in her chest, and there was a lingering light redness at the base of her ears and neck.
A white hand stretched out and hurriedly wiped away the water stains on a certain word "banquet" on the table with the palm of his hand.
Although she was embarrassed by Tan Lang's impropriety, Ye Weilai felt a warm feeling in her heart.
This can be regarded as a tacit understanding unique to the two people who were the original master and servant. Tanlang did not forget.
"Hey, who would have thought that the family in the Su Mansion next door are actually members of the Li clan."
Zhen Shuyuan and Xie Lingjiang happened to be chatting about old events in Longcheng. Mrs. Luoqun put down her chopsticks, sighed for a while, and then asked about the current situation of the old people in Longcheng.
When she heard about Liu Ashan, Zhen Shuyuan immediately turned around and asked:
"Tan Lang, where are Ah Qing and Aunt Liu now and how are they doing?"
She looked regretful and told Ouyang Rong seriously:
"This family is all good people, and Ah Shan is even more loyal. Tanlang must take good care of him. Did you hear me... Well, I shouldn't have messed around with Ah Shan like that before. An honest person shouldn't be like this... .. Tanlang has to take care of Aqing and Aunt Liu who are left behind."
Ouyang Rong nodded and said nothing while eating. Xie Lingjiang said for him:
"Don't worry, Aunt Zhen. Senior Brother is sensible, and Longcheng has already made arrangements for the aftermath."
"That's good." Zhen Shuyuan nodded and breathed a sigh of relief. Immediately she remembered something and asked again:
"By the way, where is Master Shandao? He went to Luoyang and hasn't come back yet?
"Speaking of which, the incense from Donglin Temple is quite effective. I have to find an opportunity to fulfill my wish. Tanlang was able to recover from his two injuries and was finally promoted safely.
"When I first went there, I prayed a lot and made a lot of wishes. It's hard to say that there was really some kind-hearted Bodhisattva who was blessing me."
Zhen Shuyuan was frightened when she heard what happened in Dragon City. At this moment, she patted her chest with her palms and said with lingering fear.
"Master Shandao?"
Xie Lingjiang seemed to remember something and said with a smile:
"He is living a very good life. The month before last, he escorted Shenyu Xiangrui to Shendu, and together with the Donglin Temple of the Lotus Sect, stole the show.
"I heard that even the Empress of the Wei family personally met him once in the Great Buddha Hall of Shangyang Palace and asked him about Mahayana Buddhism.
"I don't know how Master Shandao answered. Anyway, Empress Longyan was so happy that she seemed to have been taught the truth of Buddhism and returned home with a full load.
She looked regretful and told Ouyang Rong seriously:
"This family is all good people, and Ah Shan is even more loyal. Tanlang must take good care of him. Did you hear me... Well, I shouldn't have messed around with Ah Shan like that before. An honest person shouldn't be like this... ... Tan Lang has to take care of A Qing and Aunt Liu who are left behind."
Ouyang Rong nodded and said nothing while eating. Xie Lingjiang said for him:
"Don't worry, Aunt Zhen. Senior Brother is sensible, and Longcheng has already made arrangements for the aftermath."
"That's good." Zhen Shuyuan nodded and breathed a sigh of relief. Immediately she remembered something and asked again:
"By the way, where is Master Shandao? He went to Luoyang and hasn't come back yet?
"Speaking of which, the incense from Donglin Temple is quite effective. I have to find an opportunity to fulfill my wish. Tanlang was able to recover from his two injuries and was finally promoted safely.
"When I first went there, I prayed a lot and made a lot of wishes. It's hard to say that there was really some kind-hearted Bodhisattva who was blessing me."
Zhen Shuyuan was frightened when she heard what happened in Dragon City. At this moment, she patted her chest with her palms and said with lingering fear.
"Master Shandao?"
Xie Lingjiang seemed to remember something and said with a smile:
"He is living a very good life. The month before last, he escorted Shenyu Xiangrui to Shendu, and together with the Donglin Temple of the Lotus Sect, stole the show.
"I heard that even the Empress of the Wei family personally met him once in the Great Buddha Hall of Shangyang Palace and asked him about Mahayana Buddhism.
"I don't know how Master Shandao answered. Anyway, Empress Longyan was so happy that she seemed to have been taught the truth of Buddhism and returned home with a full load.
"But it's normal for masters and other capable people to have a little bit of personality quirks, just like Tanlang likes some bondage...
Sensing the glances coming at her quickly, Zhen Shuyuan, who accidentally spilled the beans, quickly shut up.
Xie Lingjiang's beautiful eyes were slightly angry, and her delicate body was a little tense: "Bind... tie up?" Ye Weilai opened her mouth and stuttered: "Tan... Tan Lang also has a quirk?"
As half of the party involved, Ban Xin lowered his head and had red ears.
Ouyang Rong, who was bowing his head in thought, almost spit out the fish soup. He quickly put the bowl down and wiped the corners of his mouth. He was helpless and speechless:
"Auntie, what are you talking about? Don't spread rumors."
Zhen Shuyuan waved her hand: "It's a misunderstanding, it's... this stinky girl Banxi made random guesses and talked nonsense with me."
Semi-detailed: "..."
Zhen Shuyuan looked serious and held Xie Lingjiang's hand: "Huanhan, don't take it seriously."
Xie Lingjiang: "..."
Sensing the strange look from the younger junior sister, Ouyang Rong's mouth twitched fiercely. Why does it feel like you are getting darker and darker?
"Auntie." Ouyang Rong said ruthlessly, "Nephew, I have a good reputation and integrity in my life, but one day I will be ruined by your mouth."
"Hey Tan Lang is talking nonsense, how can it be so serious..."
The woman in the skirt was stiff-spoken, but she still felt a little guilty. She waved her hand and said, "Okay, okay, let's stop talking. Auntie won't joke anymore."
Zhen Shuyuan explained, and the girls didn't ask any more questions, so they gave up. Ouyang Rong's face was expressionless.
Not long after, dinner was over.
"Auntie, I'm going to see off my junior sister.
Ouyang Rong said without turning his head.
He and Xie Lingjiang walked out of the dining hall together, walked along the corridor and walked outside.
This mansion in Huaiye Lane originally belonged to the Xie family of Chen County. Xie Lingjiang had an elegant courtyard in the southeast corner of the mansion.
It's not far from Ouyang Rong's bamboo forest courtyard.
However, in the Xunyang Prince's Mansion not far away, she also had a courtyard carefully prepared by Wei Mei and Li Guo'er, which was regarded as a boudoir.
Two places to live, depending on the situation, whichever is more convenient.
However, in the past half month, she had been living with Prince Xunyang's Mansion most of the time. After all, her duty was to protect them.
Today's bathing incense is also in the boudoir over there. After all, the Xunyang Palace has more maids to serve.
Although Xie Lingjiang suddenly tried to learn cooking skills recently, it is quite difficult to change her living habits as a rich and noble daughter...
Tonight, Xie Lingjiang will also return there to guard. The two walked side by side, silent and silent.
Ouyang Rong suddenly smelled a hint of fragrance and turned his head to look. It seems to be the tulip pleated skirt worn by the junior sister.
This is a goose-yellow dress dyed from tulips. It is bright in color and has a faint fragrance of tulips.
After arriving in Jiangzhou City, she dressed up as a man less frequently. Xie Ling Jiang Hu turned around.
Ouyang Rong quickly glanced at the scenery outside the corridor. "Does it look good, Senior Brother?"
"Auntie, I'm going to see off my junior sister.
Ouyang Rong said without turning his head.
He and Xie Lingjiang walked out of the dining hall together, walked along the corridor and walked outside.
This mansion in Huaiye Lane originally belonged to the Xie family of Chen County. Xie Lingjiang had an elegant courtyard in the southeast corner of the mansion.
It's not far from Ouyang Rong's bamboo forest courtyard.
However, in the Xunyang Prince's Mansion not far away, she also had a courtyard carefully prepared by Wei Mei and Li Guo'er, which was regarded as a boudoir.
Two places to live, depending on the situation, whichever is more convenient.
However, in the past half month, she had been living with Prince Xunyang's Mansion most of the time. After all, her duty was to protect them.
Today's bathing incense is also in the boudoir over there. After all, the Xunyang Palace has more maids to serve.
Although Xie Lingjiang suddenly tried to learn cooking skills recently, the living habits of a rich and noble girl are still difficult to change for the time being.
Tonight, Xie Lingjiang will also return there to guard. The two walked side by side, silent and silent.
Ouyang Rong suddenly smelled a hint of fragrance and turned his head to look. It seems to be the tulip pleated skirt worn by the junior sister.
This is a goose-yellow dress dyed from tulips. It is bright in color and has a faint fragrance of tulips.
After arriving in Jiangzhou City, she dressed up as a man less often, thanking Jiang Hu for turning around.
Ouyang Rong quickly glanced at the scenery outside the corridor. "Does it look good, Senior Brother?"
Some people died, but not completely...
