"Miss, there has been a lot of noise over at Xiuyan Pavilion these days."
Heng Wu was half-kneeling on the ground to put on Song Wan's shoes, while Heng Zhi was waiting aside with a large lacquered mother-of-pearl plate filled with a soft towel dipped in warm water.
After Song Wan took the kerchief and cleaned his face carefully, Fang Lalan said: "It's been quiet for a few days, so what are you busy with now?"
"I heard from Mrs. Liang that Aunt Lin summoned all the housekeepers of the inner and outer courtyards and gave them a roster."
Vanilla handed a thin piece of paper to Song Wan. Song Wan glanced at it and saw written on it something like absenteeism, leaving early, good or bad performance of his job, and so on.
"What is this?"
Vanilla shook her head: "My slaves don't know, and Mrs. Liang doesn't understand. She just said that they should fill it out every month. Except for the master's yard, everyone else has it."
Song Wan looked up and down for a long time, not knowing what this thing was for.
"That's all, it has nothing to do with us, it's all up to her."
casually crumpling the tissue paper into a ball, Song Wan said: "Master Hou has not returned to the house yet?"
"The letter arrived at the second watch yesterday. My servant didn't wake you up after the lady went to bed."
Heng Zhi took out a piece of paper and presented it to Song Wan. Song Wan opened it and frowned slightly: "It is said that the chickens and ducks raised by the Shanglin Garden Supervisory and Education Department have contracted plague and most of them died. He will live in Shanglin during this period." Linyuan Supervisor cannot return to the mansion."
"this……"
Seeing what Heng Wu wanted to ask, Song Wan said: "This happened when Mr. Hou went to take office. He must do it personally to show his loyalty to his duties. If he ignores it, he is afraid that he will be disrespected and dissatisfied with his official position. Word."
She only briefly read the rest of the words about the affairs of the Marquis's family, gentle advice and comfort to Xiaoyi, and then put the letter away.
"That's fine." Heng Wu said casually, "It gives Aunt Lin time to disrupt the Hou Mansion."
Song Wan nodded and started to enjoy his breakfast with peace of mind.
The marriage between Bai Lan's family was settled, and Mrs. Lan invited her to her house as a guest, wanting to thank her for being the matchmaker. Song Wan agreed in advance, and now that he was more comfortable, he began to tie his hair, put on makeup, change clothes and prepare gifts.
"Miss, how about this peach-colored silver-patterned top paired with a Ruyi pleated skirt?"
Song Wan nodded and let Heng Zhi change her clothes.
Because he was going to meet an old friend, Song Wan had his hair tied with green bamboo into a relatively simple bun. He casually picked up two beam-style bamboo hairpins with gold-covered tails and put them on before getting ready to go out. But as soon as he walked out of Lan Courtyard, he was stopped by Jiang Jing who was standing by.
Jiang Jing's eyes turned red and he cried, "I'm sorry, sister-in-law. It was Jing'er who was not sensible before and misunderstood your feelings."
"Now that Jing'er realizes his mistake, I hope you can forgive Jing'er."
When Song Wan heard this, he said warmly: "Where can I say forgiveness? You must not lose the dignity of Miss Shifu like this."
Taking the handkerchief and handing it to Jiang Jing, she smiled softly: "It's not beautiful for a girl to cry."
Jiang Jing wiped his tears and gathered his courage: "I heard from my wife yesterday that my sister-in-law is going to see Mrs. Lan today? Can my sister-in-law give Jing'er another chance to meet her too?"
When Lin Jiayue introduced Mrs. Chen to her, and when Mrs. Chen kept asking about the dowry in front of her, Jiang Jing realized how stupid it was to lose the Lan family marriage.
Aunt Lin has a bold temperament like Mrs. Chen. She will definitely not be a mother-in-law who teases her daughter-in-law in the future. Even when talking about dowry and betrothal gifts in front of her, Aunt Lin was full of praise, saying that she would have no worries if she talked clearly and thoroughly.
After thinking about it, Jiang Jing suddenly burst into tears: "Jing'er knows that a girl who knows the rules shouldn't talk about marriage, let alone choose her husband's family, but Jing'er has to make plans for herself."
"Only Jing'er and Aunt Zhou are dependent on each other in the Hou Mansion. If she marries into a troubled and chaotic family like the Chen Mansion, how can she make Aunt Zhou feel at ease in the future?"
"Sister-in-law..."
Jiang Jing was about to kneel down as he spoke, but was held tightly by Heng Wu Heng Zhi.
"Sister-in-law... Jing'er, please, please take me to see Mrs. Lan. No matter whether it happens or not, Jing'er will never bother her again."
Many servants gathered outside Lan Courtyard. For some reason, Song Wan felt that the Hou Mansion was particularly scattered today. It was as if everyone didn't know what to do, wandering around in a leisurely manner.
Song Wan frowned and saw Jiang Jing, who was crying like a man in front of him, and sighed: "Wipe your tears and I will take you to Lan's house."
Only if Jiang Jing sees with his own eyes that the Lan family has a new wife will he give up and choose her. Otherwise, no matter what he says, the other party will just think that she is deliberately making things difficult.
Song Wan was not afraid of being misunderstood, but he was really tired of being interrupted by accidents.
Along the way, Jiang Jing arranged his clothes and makeup with the help of Heng Zhi. Song Wan sat quietly and said nothing. Occasionally, when Jiang Jing was uneasy and asked in a low voice, she would give a few words of comfort.
After entering the Lan family gate and being invited into the backyard by the master, Jiang Jing loosened his grip on the handkerchief and smiled sweetly and charmingly.
"Greetings to Madam Marquis."
Mrs. Lan smiled brightly when she saw Song Wan
She stepped forward to greet him. When she saw Jiang Jing following her, she stopped and her eyes quickly swept from top to bottom.
Seeing that the little girl's eyes were red, her handkerchief was full of wrinkles, and her dress had some creases that shouldn't have appeared, he knew that Song Wan had not brought her here on his own initiative, but that she had been forced to come without permission.
Mrs. Chen once went to the Marquis Mansion to talk about seeing each other with an aunt. She also heard about it. They were both from the same family who went to Beijing frequently. Who didn't know who was who?
Mrs. Lan thought for a moment and realized that the little girl regretted it and now wanted to make amends with her.
"Madam, just call me Wan'er, that's how we can get closer."
Taking the eight-sided carrying box inlaid with flowers and birds from Heng Zhi, Song Wan handed it to Mrs. Lan: "I made some tea cakes with my own hands. I will give them to all the ladies to try today."
The two smiled and exchanged a few words, and Song Wan took Jiang Jing and Mrs. Lan into the Lan family garden together.
The Lan family was wealthy, and the mansion was very grand. There was a pavilion in the garden, with a glazed window with the word "Fu" on the west side. When the sun passed by, the light and shadow floated, as beautiful as haze.
Jiang Jing's eyes touched, and his heart felt a little astringent.
The Hou Mansion cannot afford such expensive glazed windows.
"Greetings to Madam Marquis Chengyang."
Mrs. Bai pulled Miss Bai's family forward to greet Song Wan. Miss Bai's eyes were full of shyness, and her eyes were filled with gratitude. Mrs. Bai also enthusiastically introduced several ladies to Song Wan.
Based on her background, it would have been difficult for her to get acquainted with a noble girl like Song Wan, but because of Song Fuzhi's concern, Song Wan took the initiative to make friends and even arranged a good marriage for her family. Mrs. Bai knew how to reciprocate the favor.
Although the ladies who came today were of unknown origin like her, they were either from their husbands' families who worked in the Ministry of Personnel, or their fathers and brothers from their parents' families were quite influential in the Ministry of Personnel.
Song accepted Mrs. Bai's kindness.
She was already mellow and sophisticated, and after a few words, the group of people became very familiar with each other, and soon they started laughing together. Seeing this, Jiang Jing could only smile dryly on the sidelines, and occasionally helped Heng Zhi bring tea and water to Song Wan, looking so virtuous.
"Isn't this what ladies should do? Go and play with your sisters."
Mrs. Lan smiled and summoned her two daughters and asked them to pull Jiang Jing away.
The two little girls were only twelve or thirteen years old, and they were in their lively time. Jiang Jing wanted to please them, so he carefully complimented them all the way. By the time the three of them reached the greenhouse full of rare and exotic herbs, they were getting very intimate. Be good.
Before the three of them could open the door and go in, they saw a little girl under the glazed window bending down and sniffing a pot of Marigold and Cymbidium.
The seventh Miss of the Lan family covered her mouth and smiled when she saw this: "This is the future Ninth Uncle, right? She has such a delicate appearance, and is quiet and quiet. I guess she has a soft personality, which is a good match for Ninth Uncle."
The older Miss Lan gave her a look and said, "You're making fun of your elders, so that your mother won't slap your mouth when she hears it."
The little girl seemed to be scared and shook her head to beg for mercy. However, Jiang Jing felt his eyes darken and felt regretful in his heart.
The Lan family actually has a bride to choose?
