The days passed by leisurely, and in a blink of an eye it was already June. It had just begun, and the summer in Luoyang was still quite hot.
"Please greet me, young ladies. I will ask you all to go to Xihe Residence."
The person who conveyed the message was Xihe Ju's third-class errand girl Lu Chai.
"Well, I understand. Thank you for your hard work. You've got to go here." Zhu Yan looked at the visitor and motioned to Su Yue to reward her with a purse.
Zhu Yan got up and changed her clothes. She wore a goose yellow tube top and a light pink skirt. She added a white breathable silk pleated jacket with green leaves embroidered on the placket to catch the cool summer breeze.
Who said that the ancients wore three layers outside and three layers in the summer? The ancients were also smart and would not heat themselves.
Zhu Yan also knew what the eldest lady asked them to do. The Holy Lord was going to the palace to escape the summer heat. As Yulong Zuozhi, the Marquis was one of the Holy Lord's personal bodyguards, so naturally he also wanted to go.
If the Marquis is going to go, there must be someone to serve the Marquis.
The eldest lady was diagnosed with pregnancy two days ago, so her concubines must be following her.
Zhu Yan actually didn't want to go, but as a concubine, she couldn't help it.
Soon we arrived at Xihe Residence, and as if they had agreed, the four concubines met at the door together.
The four of them entered Xihe Residence together, and Zhu Yan saluted with everyone. She couldn't help but sigh in her heart, she is indeed a mistress, this room is cool enough.
There is an ice mirror placed in the middle of the room, and the air-conditioning slowly emerges from the double money holes. The room is blocked by a bamboo curtain, and the air-conditioning gathers in the main hall.
Not only Zhu Yan was envious, but all the other concubines were envious as well. To cool down, all they needed to do was put a few ice cubes in a basin, and there was a daily routine, so there would be nothing left after they ran out. Although they could buy it with their own money, they could only afford it in one day. , I can’t bear to buy it every day.
Zhu Yan could afford it, but she had always kept a low profile and didn't want to be conspicuous, and she always maintained a calm and cool attitude.
After sitting down, Mrs. Cheng glanced at everyone before speaking.
"No more nonsense. The Marquis will leave in five days. Zhao Xiaoniang is not in good health, so she is taking care of him in the house. I heard that Erlang is making trouble these days, so Xiaoniang Yu stays in the house to take care of Erlang. Wei Xiaoniang and Zhu Xiaoniang, you two, and Miss Li who is waiting in the study in the front yard, will follow you."
As soon as she finished speaking, Yu Xiaoniang's face froze, she pinched the handkerchief, but she didn't dare to say anything.
Yesterday, Yu Xiaoniang had just used the excuse of her child to call the Marquis, but today Cheng's visit was like this, anyone with a discerning eye could see it.
Zhao Xiaoniang is usually expressionless and looks sick. I heard that she suffered some pain when giving birth to a child, and she has been raising her like this for these years.
Wei was very happy, and there was a hint of joy in Xie En's voice.
"I asked you two to serve the master. There are many noble people in the palace here. You two just serve the master well. You will be rewarded if you serve well. Don't do anything that is not on the table just to be jealous. If you break the rules, don't blame me. Be merciful." After explaining the matter, he beat me.
"Slave, please remember the teachings of the eldest lady." Zhu Yan and Wei stood up to reply.
"Ms. Wei is an old man in the house. Mrs. Zhu is new. Please keep an eye on Mrs. Wei." Mrs. Cheng looked at Wei Xiaoniang and ordered.
"Yes, I have remembered this." Ms. Wei nodded lightly.
"You two, don't be discouraged. Mrs. Zhao takes good care of herself, and Mrs. Yu takes good care of Erlang. There will be many opportunities in the future." Mrs. Cheng reassured Zhao and Yu.
Zhu Yan looked at the well-rounded Mrs. Cheng and thought that it was not easy to be a eldest lady, especially a eldest lady in a deep house. She had a lot of things to do in the house. She also had to be filial to her mother-in-law, manage the concubines, and have children. Zhu Yan I think if she were the Cheng family, she might not be able to do as well as the Cheng family.
Back at Zhelan Pavilion, Zhu Yan lay on the Arhat bed, leaning on the soft pillow behind her and fanning her head bonelessly, thinking about what to bring to the palace.
Emperor Qi'an's summer palace is in Taiyuan Mansion, and the journey will take at least ten days. It's tiring just thinking about it. After all, it's not like taking a high-speed train in the previous life, which at least takes a short time and is comfortable on the road.
As for Emperor Qi'an, she didn't believe that the Zichen Palace could be as hot as her Zhelan Pavilion. There was no need to escape the heat.
However, Zhu Yan dared to say something in her mind. After leaning for a while and chewing a fruit, she got up and Su Yue and Su Qin discussed what they should bring.
Travel in ancient times was not as good as modern times. You had to bring your own toilet when you went out. Three quarters of an hour later, the master and the servant made the list. There were still a few days left, so they slowly packed it up.
After leaving the palace on the road, I estimate that I will stay there for two months, at least past Bailu, and it will probably be late July or early August when I return.
Zhu Yan walked around the house fanning herself. It was already sunny outside, but it was still hot.
In more than a month in the Marquis Mansion, Zhu Yan actually met Marquis Changning twice, and both times she went to Zuishan Residence to serve him, and left immediately after finishing her work.
To be honest, Zhu Yan had never seen Marquis Changning in the daytime. What she remembered most was Xie An's phoenix eyes, which didn't like to smile and looked a little cold.
In her thoughts, she suddenly heard the voice of "Master Hou" outside. Zhu Yan held the hand holding the fan for a moment, took a deep breath and walked out the door.
"I have met the Marquis." Zhu Yan saluted.
"No courtesy." Marquis Changning, dressed in a silver-white round collar robe, raised his hand and walked directly past Zhu Yan to the Arhat bed.
Zhu Yan straightened up and gave Su Yue a look. Su Yue turned around and went out to prepare tea and snacks.
"Your place is quite elegant." Marquis Changning looked inside the room and looked at Zhu Yan and said.
"I think it's more comfortable to live like this." Zhu Yan replied looking at Marquis Changning who had set foot in Zhelan Residence for the first time.
"Well, as long as you feel comfortable, if you need anything, send someone to ask the eldest lady for it." Xie An nodded.
Mr. Zhu came into the house peacefully and well-looking. He thought of going to the garden to enjoy the breeze when he got off work, so he passed by Zhelan Residence and came in.
Now looking at the beauty with no makeup on, I want to stay even more.
Zhu Yan responded, thinking that this man was so good at using his wife as his wife...
Zhu Yan was just thinking about what to talk about, but it was awkward to just sit there, when Suyue came in with two maids carrying tea and snacks.
Zhu Yan breathed a sigh of relief and poured a cup of tea herself. The tea exuded a sweet fragrance.
Marquis Changning glanced at the black water that was distinct from the white porcelain cup and raised his eyebrows.
Zhu Yan understood and explained, "I don't like tea, so I prepare this braised plum water every day and put some ice cubes in it to relieve the heat in the summer."
Marquis Changning picked up the tea bowl and took a sip. It tasted better than what he had tasted before.
"It's a little different from what I've had before." Marquis Changning commented after taking another sip, but his expression was obviously satisfied.
"I have improved this recipe. If the Marquis likes it, I will give the recipe to the Marquis." Zhu Yan expressed her generosity. A recipe is really worthless. It is just the sour plum soup that everyone knows.
Xie An didn't say anything. He just felt that something was wrong, and he also felt that Mrs. Zhu was really generous.
He suddenly thought of Yu Xiaoniang in the house, who made good pastries and regarded her as a secret. She often invited him to Yinfeng Pavilion on the pretext of making new pastries.
Marquis Changning was thinking, and suddenly raised his eyes to look at Mr. Zhu in front of him, and he had some guesses in his heart that Mr. Zhu had something wrong with him.
He thought of Zhao Xiaoniang, who had tried every possible means to please him before giving birth to Sister Yun, as well as Yu Xiaoniang and Wei Xiaoniang, who were all flattering, and none of them were as light as water, making people unable to see through them. .
"What are you looking at, Mr. Marquis?" Zhu Yan touched her face and felt that Xie An was possessed by a ghost. She knew she was good-looking, but she didn't have to stare at her like that...
"It's nothing, it's just that I haven't seen you for a few days, and you seem to have lost some weight." Xie An made an excuse to fool him.
Zhu Yan agreed. Isn’t this summer a good time to lose weight? If it is not reduced at this time, how can we eat and drink with confidence in winter?
But I also complained in my heart that we both met at night, and we were so meticulous in observing her fatness and thinness in the dark? Only ghosts believe it.
"It's hot in the summer, so I have a poor appetite." Zhu Yan explained casually.
"It won't be so hot when we get to the palace." Xie An picked up the tea bowl and drank the plum water in one gulp.
When it was almost time for dinner, Zhu Yan still saw Xie An leaving, so she asked patiently, "Master Marquis, do you want to have dinner with me?"
"Well, you can arrange it." Xie An was leaning on the Luohan bed, flipping through a book. The book was read by Zhu Yan recently. It was a travel diary, but the writing was a bit fantasy. How could a tree turn into a spirit bird and speak? Quite interesting.
Zhu Yan really didn't know what to talk about, and this person didn't leave, so it was awkward just sitting there. Zhu Yan simply read the travel notes and gave the book to Xie An. As expected, Xie An started to read it, and Zhu Yan was there. I quietly found a book to read.
Su Yue stood at the door and looked up at the sky. She had grown up with the girl, and naturally knew that the girl did not want to be a concubine, but she still sacrificed herself just for the sake of the family.
The house is like this now. The Marquis and the girl are sitting on each side reading a book. It's really strange and inexplicable. But the book the girl is reading is one she has read before. She just says that the food will come soon, girl. I never read these miscellaneous books a second time.
The sky was bright and the earth was bright. Su Yue had just finished praying when she saw Su Qin and her maid carrying a food box into the yard.
In the past, the second-class maid Caiyue had to fetch the meals, but recently the Marquis was here, so Suqin personally took people to the kitchen.
Inside the room, Zhu Yan glanced at the fascinated Xie An from the corner of her eyes, and saw Su Qin holding a food box at the door to signal, so she reminded him, "Master Marquis, the meal is ready."
Xie An looked at Zhu Yan and then outside, then folded the pages and closed them. Zhu Yan's mouth twitched as she looked at them. No one had ever dared to fold her book, not even in this life!
Alas, what can we do? Even she can't help herself, let alone her book.
The food was placed on the table one after another. Zhu Yan took a look and saw that it was much more exquisite than his usual three dishes and one soup. There were six dishes on the table.
After Xie An sat down, Zhu Yan also sat on the right side.
Sure enough, the big boss took action, and the level of cooking in the kitchen skyrocketed.
Zhu Yan thought that Xie An was worthy of being from a big family. He ate and slept silently and finished the meal quietly without saying a word.
At this moment, Xie An's mind was filled with what Zhu Yan had said before. Xia Tian had no appetite, and she almost ate as much as him. Is this called having no appetite? He felt that if he continued to hold chopsticks, Zhu could get another bowl of rice.
With this in mind, Xie An asked, "I don't think you have a bad appetite."
Zhu Yan froze. Did this straight man mean that she ate too much?
Zhu Yan smiled unnaturally, "It was Mr. Hou who accompanied me to dinner. I was happy and ate two more bowls."
She didn't dare to say that the kitchen was a class for cooking, and she didn't want to do anything that offended anyone, so she could only make a dry excuse.
Zhu Yan said that it wasn't really that she ate too much, but that the bowl was too small.
Zhu Yan suddenly remembered that in her previous life, she bought a small bowl at home in order to lose weight. Her mother laughed on the spot, "This bowl is so big, I will break an egg shell for you."
Sure enough, people who love you don’t mind if you eat too much.
She didn't know if her stinky sister could take good care of her parents. Thinking about these things, Zhu Yan's eyes turned red unconsciously, and by the time she realized what she was doing, tears had already fallen into her mouth, and they were salty.
Even Xie An was stunned at this moment. What did he say to make her cry? !
Zhu Yan immediately wiped her tears and apologized quickly, "I lost my temper. I just suddenly thought of home."
It turned out that he was homesick, so Xie An breathed a sigh of relief. He really didn't know how to coax women, and he usually only had others to humor him.
Thinking that Zhu was only in her teens and had just left home, she asked her maid to clean Zhu Yan's face.
After eating, the sky was blazing red outside. The two of them stood at the door and looked at the glow in the sky. Tomorrow will be a good day, Zhu Yan thought.
Marquis Changning was very tall, with a height of 183cm, almost a head taller than Zhu Yan. Zhu Yan could just see Xie An's face from the side, and thought to herself that with such an appearance, it was quite eye-catching to look down on the young man from his previous life.
As a military general and the emperor's bodyguard, Xie An was still very alert. Naturally, he noticed Zhu Yan looking at her from time to time. He raised the corner of his mouth and said, let's just say, he is still attractive.
I don't know why, but my heart, which had been impetuous because of the court affairs these days, had calmed down inexplicably.
"Can you play chess?" Xie An turned around and asked.
"She knows a little bit." Zhu Yan replied, not because she is modest, but because she really knows a little bit. Go is too taxing on her brain and she is not happy with it. She plays Go randomly just to pass the time. Just two words: demolish and block. So starting from her boudoir, no one wanted to play chess with her, and only his younger brother was willing to find some nihilistic sense of superiority in her, a stinky chess player.
Moreover, her research on Go is only about how to play the game more handsomely and elegantly.
Obviously Xie An also felt that Zhu Yan was being modest. He also knew that the Zhu family had carefully raised their eldest daughter.
But after setting up the chessboard and taking about ten moves, Xie An felt like a scholar meeting a pawn, but logically this pawn should be his.
This Zhu has no rules for playing chess, in other words, he doesn't know how to play chess at all! That "little knowledge" is because she is too confident in herself.
Indeed, he knows a little bit. At least his posture is elegant and noble, like a veteran in the chess world for many years...
Xie An complained in his mind, and once again endured a few moves before throwing the chessboard into chaos.
"Zhu."
Zhu Yan was startled. With this tone, did she hit him?
"I'm here." Zhu Yan responded hurriedly.
Xie An suddenly put out the fire, "Forget it, no more, you go and wash up, I'll read for a while."
Zhu Yan twitched her lips, "You did it yourself, okay?"
Zhu Yan stood up, gave a blessing, and went to the ear room to wash up.
She had planned to take a bath today, and the hot water had already been prepared. Zhu Yan ignored Xie An in the outer hall, took off her clothes, stepped into the tub, and leaned comfortably against the wall of the tub.
"My dear, just now the people from Zuishan Residence came to see the Marquis. It seems there is something urgent, and the Marquis just left." Suqin entered the penthouse and reported the report. After speaking, she looked at her daughter.
"Well, I got it. Then find me my light blue pajamas. Let's wear that tonight." Zhu Yan shrank her whole body into the water and closed her eyes comfortably.
Su Qin secretly breathed a sigh of relief and went out of the ear room to find her pajamas.
Washing hair in ancient times was too troublesome. Zhu Yan always put a similar bucket behind her while taking a bath. Suyue washed her hair and waited for it to dry while taking a bath.
About half an hour later, Zhu Yan came out of the ear room. The pajamas she wore were modeled after the pajamas of her previous life, similar to a shirt dress without a collar. The buttons were made of copper and had patterns on them. They were made of ramie and were very cool to wear in summer. However, it also took into account the limitations of the era and made it long-sleeved, with the skirt reaching the ankle.
Hair dries quickly in the summer. Zhu Yan is glad that her oily hair from her previous life was not brought to this ancient time, otherwise it would be really miserable.
She doesn't like to use any hair oil either. Dry and fluffy hair is her favorite.
After all this hard work, it was already Xuzheng time. It was already dark outside. I didn’t check my phone before going to bed at night. Reading was too hard on my eyes. I had nothing to do, so I had to go to bed early.
Zhu Yan lay on the bed and was just about to use the technique of holding her breath to fall asleep that she had learned from watching videos in her previous life when she heard Xie An's voice outside the door.
Zhu Yan: ...dog thing...
Su Yue and others were also shocked. They all thought that the Marquis would not come.
