Part 1: Intertwined Time and Space Chapter 4: Trip to Li Country
Chapter 344 Gift (4)
Shi Ying entertained her good sisters in her boudoir. There were four girls in total. The most common topic the girls talked about when they got together was the affairs of the Qinghu Villa. Shi Mi and Cheng Jingjing were also among them. Since the two of them went to Qinghu Villa with Shi Ying, they like to stay with Shi Ying. The other two girls were also Shi Ying's close friends. They expressed their admiration for her from time to time and asked what interesting things there were in Qinghu Villa.
Shi Ying has a cheerful temperament. When people ask, she will answer questions about novel foods, flowers and plants she has never seen before, and trees with all kinds of charming flowers. The other two girls are surprised when they hear this.
While we were chatting, a servant came to report: "Miss Zhen, Deacon Chang Shen of Qinghu Villa is here to visit."
Everyone looked at Shi Ying. How can I directly visit my daughter's home?
Shi Ying thought for a moment and said, "Do daddy and eldest brother know?"
The servant said: "The master is entertaining the prince and the second prince in the front yard. I already know that it is the master who asked the young lady to meet the guests in the front yard."
Shi Ying asked: "Do you know what it is?"
The servant said: "It is said that the gift from Princess Shun'an has arrived. Deacon Chang Shen said that the gift from Princess Shun'an must be delivered to the lady personally and cannot be handed over to others."
Shi Ying breathed a sigh of relief, and then she became excited in her heart.
He nodded and said, "I understand, I'll be there in a moment."
The servant leaned over again and said, "Deacon Chang Shen also said that when the young lady goes, call Miss Mi and Miss Jingjing together."
After hearing this, Shi Ying and the other two looked at each other, and Cheng Jingjing said, "How did he know we were here."
The servant said: "The eldest son also asked. Deacon Chang Shen said that he went to the two girls' houses and asked, and learned that someone has already come to the lady."
Shi Ying: "Oh, okay, let's make some preparations and then go there."
The servant saluted and said, "Yes, miss. I will go back to the front yard first."
"Go ahead."
After the servant left, the girls became lively again.
"Ying'er, what is a deacon?"
"Ying'er, what did Princess Shun'an give you?"
"Ying'er..."
"Okay, okay." Shi Ying interrupted them, "How did I know so much? I can't entertain you today. As you can see, I still have something to do here. I will ask you to apologize another day." Shi Ying said flatteringly.
One girl sighed and said, "Hey, it's hard for me to come out here. Since you sister Jing has something to do, I don't have anywhere else to go, so I'll go back now."
Another girl said: "I came out with great difficulty, but I don't want to go back so early. Sister Mo, why don't I come and sit with you."
The girl named Mo'er said: "Okay, Yuan'er is looser and faster than me, but unlike me, if you want to live in another house again, you must ask your aunt for permission."
Yuan'er said: "Although your aunt was a little strict, fortunately she didn't treat you badly, but don't think so much."
The two got up, and Shi Ying personally walked to the east gate of the backyard. When she saw the two getting on the carriage, she turned back and pulled Shi Mi and Cheng Jingjing to the front yard together.
Chang Shen was sitting at the lower guest seat opposite Shi Hu. Master Shi Lang wanted him to sit at the upper guest seat opposite King Bowei, but he refused because he was just a person. If he didn't sit down, he would look like a member of the Shi family. Poor hospitality.
Chang Shen was a straightforward person. After some reasons, he persuaded Master Shi and sat opposite Shi Hu. The etiquette of both parties was complied with. Everyone in the hall looked at him differently, and Master Shi told him what he thought. None of them look like servants.
The prince also chatted with him for a few words. I found that whether this person was talking to Shi Hu, who had the lowest status, or he was talking to himself, who had the highest status, he had an attitude of neither being humble nor arrogant, and he had a lot of thoughts in his heart.
While they were talking, Shi Ying brought Mi and Jing to the front of the hall: "I've met my father, I've met His Royal Highness, I've met my cousin."
Mi and Jing also stepped forward to salute.
After some greetings, Shi Ying faced Chang Shen who had already stood up: "I've met Deacon Shen before, and we meet again so soon."
Chang Shen smiled and said: "It's rare that Miss Shi Ying can remember me."
Shi Ying said: "How can I not remember it? I can almost remember all the people who were always around Yu Qing in Qinghu Villa."
Chang Shen nodded and said, "Miss Shi Ying is smart."
Shi Ying took a step forward and said, "I heard that Deacon Shen is here because the gift Yuqing gave me has arrived."
Chang Shen looked at the waiter behind him who was carrying several gift boxes and made a gesture.
The waiter stepped forward.
Chang Shen took an exquisite square box and handed it to Shi Ying with both hands: "This is for Miss Shi Ying. The lady said that this time I was able to meet so many friends who we can chat with. Thanks to Miss Shi Ying, Miss Shi Ying became the leader." The gift is what the young lady cares about the most."
Shi Ying took it and felt that it was very valuable just by looking at the surface of the box. After looking at it for a few times, she said happily: "I really want to see what kind of gift it is."
Chang Shen's eyes softened and he said: "Since it has been delivered to Miss Shi Ying, Miss Shi Ying can make the decision."
Shi Ying thought for a moment, fearing that Yue Qing might do something to the gift, so she endured it. "It's better to dismantle it in private. It won't be good if people worry about it again."
Everyone smiled and nodded deeply. Shi Rong took a deep breath in his heart.
Chang Shen then said to Mi and Jing, "This is a gift from the two girls."
After saying that, he handed the two boxes to them with both hands. Shi Mi's box is not big, smaller than Shi Ying's, but longer. Cheng Jingjing's was longer than hers, long and flat, and both of them happily accepted it.
According to Cheng Jingjing's temperament, she wanted to take out the gift to have a look, but she also knew that the occasion was not suitable, so she put the gift away and retreated. Shi Mi looked even more timid, not daring to speak with so many people present.
Chang Shen nodded and smiled at the two of them, turned around and presented the gifts to King Bowei, Rong and Hu one by one, and explained each of them.
When he handed it to King Bowei, he smiled meaningfully: "The lady said that this gift was prepared with great effort by the lady, and it also counts the loss to King Bowei in the last game."
King Bowei held the most ordinary and extremely light box and pondered for a while, wondering what Princess Shun'an had put so much effort into preparing.
The prince saw that the three of them also had gifts, but he gave them out after the three girls. Although he felt strange in his heart, he thought that there might be some strange customs in the villa, so he was wise enough not to ask. Master Shi Lang also stroked his beard thoughtfully.
Seeing that Chang Shen had finished giving them away, Shi Ying asked, "Deacon Shen, have you given away gifts to Sister Fei'er and the others too?"
Deacon Shen smiled and said, "Of course, they were all delivered this morning."
Shi Rong smiled and said, "But it was given by a few Red Guard young masters?"
Deacon Shen looked at him and said, "The Red Guards will not leave Miss's side unless ordered by Miss."
The implication is that other attendants came to give gifts. Although I don’t know how many people are around the princess, the people who often follow the princess will naturally have a higher status than others. Although this deacon Chang Shen doesn’t get along often, , but presumably he is also an important figure. Mo Xue and others would never be sent to give gifts to these people.
King Bowei stepped forward and said: "I really bothered Deacon Shen to make a trip. I will come to express my gratitude in person someday."
Chang Shen smiled and said: "King Bowei is so polite. Chang Shen is just a servant. There is no need for the prince to come to thank you in person. The lady has orders, so Chang Shen naturally does not dare to neglect."
Shi Lang ordered his servants to bring up a box of silver coins, handed it over and said: "A little kindness is not a sign of respect. I hope Deacon Chang Shen will accept it."
Chang Shen glanced at the silver coins and smiled, "You're welcome, Master Shi." After saying that, he took it with one hand and handed it to the attendant behind him. Then he said: "The gifts have been delivered, Chang Shen takes leave."
Shi Lang quickly asked the housekeeper to send him out.
Seeing the person walking away, Shihu asked strangely: "What does this deacon mean?"
Shi Rong glanced at him and said: "It should be a title for an official position in the villa. We also heard this title in Xibao City. Yue Ren who was next to the lord of Xibao City was called Deacon Ren. Have you forgotten? Already?"
Shi Hu scratched his head and said, "How can I remember this? We haven't been there a few times in total. We usually have servants and guards to deal with us, or the city lord comes to talk to the prince in person. That Yue Ren, I seem to have only seen Like two or three times. I don't even remember anyone calling him that."
Shi Rong crossed his arms, "You still have some memories. We have met him three times in total. When we arrived in Xibao City, the city owner welcomed us once, once after staying in the palace, and once in the princess's hotel. . When we met for the second time, someone called him Deacon Ren, with a respectful look. It was obvious that his status was not low. In addition, although the status in the villa is very different from ours, there are still differences between high and low. Let's go to Xibao City. At that time, judging from the position of Deacon Ren, he must be more respected by the city lord than those officials in the city."
The prince said: "Master Rong is really attentive. It seems that the status of this deep deacon is not too low."
Shi Rong touched his chin and said: "According to my guess, even if he is not as good as Mo Xue and others, he is still much stronger than those Red Guards. After all, those are the only people around the princess, although these deep deacons did not follow last time I was out, but on the way from the villa to Li country, I was the one who often discussed with Mr. Mo Xue and Mr. Chang Ge."
I have to say that Shi Rong was thoughtful and most of his guesses were correct.
Shi Lang said hurriedly: "So, what I did with the silver just now was not thoughtful."
Shi Rong smiled and said: "Father, you don't have to think so. This man is not a man who loves money at first glance. When he gives us gifts, no matter whose gift it is, he always gives it with both hands. He behaves well and is extremely solemn, but when he receives the silver At that time, he just took it with one hand and gave it to the attendant behind him. It can be seen that the silver coin was nothing in his eyes. It was just that it was not easy to refute our face, so he accepted the silver coin to reassure me. I think even if what my father gave me was not a silver coin. , but gold and jewels, he will do the same.”
The prince frowned: "Such a person is not easy to deal with."
King Bowei said: "None of these people around the princess are easy to deal with. Your Highness has communicated with Mr. Mo Xue for a long time. What do you think of Mr. Mo Xue?"
The prince shook his head and said: "This Mr. Mo is very measured in his actions. He always communicates with me not far or near, which makes me feel that he values me very much. But it is difficult for me to go further. But this gentleman once I have met my father in the palace many times, and I have come privately through the chamberlains and guards, so I think my father knows him very well."
King Bowei's heart skipped a beat, why didn't he know about this?
Shi Hu was still scratching his head. He knew nothing about these things, so he changed the subject and said: "The customs of this villa are really strange. They actually give gifts to the ladies in the boudoir first, and then to the prince."
The prince said: "I heard that the status of women in the villa is not lower than that of men. It seems to be true."
Shi Rong said: "The prince is right. Other clans don't know, but the Yue clan is indeed like this. There are quite a few women heading the family, and there are even families where one woman has multiple husbands. I think the status of this Chang clan woman should be higher than that of the Yue clan. It needs to be heavier."
Shi Hu was shocked, "What, one woman has multiple husbands, what's going on?"
Shi Rong smiled and said: "Of course it's strange that you rarely pay attention to these things, but this is not a rare thing among the Yue family."
Shi Hu said: "Why, that Mr. Yue Ke also comes from this kind of family?"
Shi Rong smiled and said: "No, he is not married. Even if you don't know it from Yue Ke, it is still easy to know. After all, there are people of the Yue family living here in Li Jingzhong. Even we Li people also have people with the Yue family. A union of clansmen.”
Shi Hu sighed.
Cheng Jingjing said: "No wonder Princess Shun'an would say such bold words. It turns out that there is still such a custom in the villa."
Everyone looked at them and then remembered that there were three girls present. King Bowei coughed.
Shi Lang hurriedly said: "Ying'er, you'd better go back, we still have some things to talk about."
Shi Ying and others quickly retreated to the backyard.
After seeing the three girls leaving, the prince hurriedly said: "Elder brother, I am disappointed that I did not receive this gift. Please take out your gift and let me see what it is."
King Bowei: "..."
