Half in the river wind, half in the clouds

The elder sister-in-law and the younger brother's wife went straight to the point and started a meeting for Jiang Zuo's marriage. Jiang Feng wanted to help, but the long etiquette made her sleepy, so she had to withdraw in dismay.

She looked at the house carefully. It was a small and unique two-courtyard house. Although the area was not as large as the house in Liangzhou, it was small but complete, and even had a garden with a waterside pavilion. Jiang Feng was a little envious of his elder brother and the sister-in-law he had never met. This kind of life would be more stable.

Just as he was lost in thought, a maid in green clothes came in and reported that someone from the Shen family had come. All sorts of clues showed that Jiang's mother was very close to the Shen family. Shen Guxing could come and go freely in this house. The old woman who delivered the invitation was not only familiar with Jiang's mother, but also talked and laughed with the maids below, which showed that they came and went frequently.

Jiang's mother and aunt were indifferent to the Shen family's banquet, but Jiang Feng was a little nervous. She forced herself not to think about those thoughts that she shouldn't think about, and sighed that it was true that without desire, one can be strong.

On the day of the banquet, Jiang's mother forced her to wear the newly bought pleated pomegranate skirt, but Jiang Feng felt it was too formal. While adjusting her skirt, Jiang's mother said, "Girls in Chang'an love to wear pomegranate skirts. They look so beautiful with all the flowers."

My aunt smiled and said, "Our Afeng looks the best in this dress."

Jiang Feng looked at the graceful figure in the bronze mirror. From Lin Jinran's critical eyes, she was worthy of the description of beauty. She stared blankly, and suddenly remembered the phrase "beauty but misfortune". She immediately felt ominous and quickly shook her head to stop thinking about it.

The Shen family and the Jiang family were separated by two streets, and they arrived in half an hour. A servant had been waiting at the southeast gate, and he hurried forward to greet them and led them all the way to the hall.

A middle-aged woman in a plain skirt came over. She was very elegant and gentle, and her features were somewhat similar to Shen Guxing. She was most likely Mrs. Shen. As the saying goes, like father, like mother. The handsome young man in Chang'an City really had a mother with outstanding appearance.

Jiang Feng was daydreaming when he saw that the beautiful aunt had already greeted Jiang's aunt under the introduction of Jiang's mother, and also followed Jiang's mother in calling her aunt "big sister".

Mother Jiang then pulled Jiang Feng over and introduced her to Mother Shen, "This is my little daughter. Ah Feng, come meet the Madam."

Jiang Feng hurried forward and bowed to greet him.

Mother Shen's eyes lit up. What a pretty and lovable girl!

She was pleased, and while helping the girl up, she took off a white jade bracelet from her wrist and put it on Jiang Feng without saying anything. Jiang's mother and Jiang Feng quickly declined, and Shen's mother smiled and said, "Sister, you are so lucky to have such a lovely daughter! This is our first meeting, and I didn't prepare anything. I have worn this bracelet for more than ten years, so I will just treat it as a gift for the child."

Seeing that Jiang's mother no longer refused, Jiang Feng thanked her again.

Then the group went in, talking and laughing, and saw five other women in the room. The two who were dressed in wealth were Shen Guxing's aunt Su and her daughter-in-law Gu. The other one, who was pretty but had droopy mouth and a bitter face, was Aunt Shen, followed by two beautiful daughters, the older one was called Ruye and the younger one was called Ruojin.

Jun Jing Ru Ye Wen Hua Ruo Jin, really good names!

Everyone had to introduce themselves, exchange greetings, and finally take their seats after all the complicated greetings.

The women sat together, and Gu arranged for servants to serve tea.

The three girls sat on the other side and started chatting. Ruojin was fine, looking innocent, but Ruye was very awkward.

"Afeng, my cousin said you are the best at solving the Nine Rings Link. I got a very beautiful one yesterday. Let's play together." Ruojin said, pulling Jiang Feng's arm.

Jiang Feng laughed and said, "I did love to play when I was a kid, but I haven't played for a long time. My hands are not very good at playing, so please don't be surprised if I can't solve it."

"Don't be surprised, no one can solve all the problems. The fun is in the process." Jiang Feng also thought it made sense, and he and Ruo Jin chatted even more happily.

The cold and proud Ruye only drank tea and saw Jiang Feng smiling like a flower. She couldn't help interrupting the two of them and asked, "Are you familiar with Brother Yiye?"

Brother Yiye! Jiang Feng shook off the goosebumps all over her body, finally knowing the source of the hostility. She adjusted the hem of her skirt and said calmly, "Mr. Shen was good friends with my brothers when he was in Liangzhou. I was young at that time and always liked to hang around my brothers, so I met them a few times, but I can't say I'm familiar with them."

"I think so too. How can a girl in the boudoir have a close relationship with a man outside? Although the people in Liangzhou are not well-educated, they will not disregard etiquette." Ruye said disdainfully.

Jiang Feng's forehead was filled with black lines. You are the only one who is ignorant. Your whole family is also ignorant!

Jiang Feng really didn't want to put up with her weirdness any longer, so he smiled and said, "Miss Ruye must have never been to Liangzhou, that's why you have such an idea. Although our place is not as prosperous as Chang'an, and the scenery is not as exquisite as Chang'an, it is vast and far-reaching. The desert is flat and reaches the sky, the long river flows from the sky to the sea, and the mountains are endless. It is said that 'oranges grown in the south of the Huai River are oranges, and those grown in the north of the Huai River are bitter oranges'. With such a climate and soil, the customs of the people should be more free and bold than those in Chang'an, but to say that they disregard etiquette is an exaggeration."

Ruojin became interested and said, "Sister, where does your prejudice come from?"

Without waiting for Ruye to answer, he asked Jiang Feng again: "Do girls from the Western Regions dance barefoot?"

Jiang Feng ignored Ruye and turned to Ruojin and said, "That's right. They also have bells tied around their waists, ankles and wrists, which jingle when they dance..."

"My neighbor's sister has a snow-white Persian cat, but she is extremely afraid of mice..."

"Liangzhou is relatively good. Further west, after passing the border, a sandstorm started to blow up and blocked out the sun..."

Just as Jiang Feng was talking, Shen Guxing left the court.

Miss Ruye's eyes suddenly lit up, and she quietly tidied her hair with a look of anticipation.

After a while, Shen Guxing and another boy of about fifteen or sixteen came in under the gaze of a group of women.

This young man is Shen Guxing’s younger brother, Shen Guzhi. He is currently studying hard and will take the imperial examination next spring.

The heroic young man made Ruye blush instantly.

Jiang Feng was already prepared to deal with Shen Guxing, but their interactions were far beyond her expectations. Shen Guxing always had a good reason to see her. Today, she was asked by Jiang Zuo to help pack the luggage. Jiang Zuo was ordered to draft a decree for the establishment of 24 governors' offices, so he needed to stay in the palace for a few days.

"Mrs. Jiang and Aunt have just arrived, and it's not convenient for them to travel back and forth. Why not let Sister Afeng go with you?" Shen Guxing's words couldn't fool ghosts, but they could fool women.

Shen Guxing's carriage was spacious, but Jiang Feng still felt it was crowded. The carriage was so quiet that they could hear each other's heartbeats clearly. She didn't want to be ambiguous, didn't want to get entangled in unnecessary matters, and didn't want to play both sides. How could she be qualified to keep a spare tire for herself, especially such a high-quality spare tire. She greeted Shen Guxing's warm smile, took a deep breath, and said leisurely: "You, do you know about the Zhongshan County King?"

Shen Guxing's face froze for a long time before he said, "You always go straight to the point, never drag your feet, and never give others any room for imagination."

"I am ready to respond to him." Jiang Feng looked at Shen Guxing and said word by word.

Seeing Shen Guxing's cold face, she murmured, "Just think of me as someone who is greedy for wealth and fame. I really can't bear your friendship."

The girl's voice was melodious and clear, like the sound of spring water, but every word she spoke was as sharp as a knife.

He staggered, held the girl's shoulders, looked into her eyes, and said clearly: "You can't drive me away, Afeng. You don't have to make a clear distinction now. I will never stop until you are willing to marry him."

"Shen Guxing, don't be silly. You have already offended Princess Cheng'an. My brother said that the princess's mansion has launched rebellion several times! Now you have to add Li Longye to the mix!" Jiang Feng said anxiously.

Seeing the girl anxious, Shen Guxing smiled instead and said solemnly, "I have never been afraid of the suppression in the court. Even if I hadn't met you, I would never have thought of marrying the princess. So no matter how the queen and princess make trouble, it has nothing to do with you. You must not bring it upon yourself."

After thinking for a while, he said, "But the Prince of Zhongshan wants to marry you, which is really beyond my expectation." Shen Guxing's original imaginary rival had always been Gao Hui, but he turned around and married Qin Ru. Things in the world are unpredictable, and you don't know who will win until the last moment.

"I have been suffering every day for the past six months. When I was most confused and helpless, I thought about giving up and marrying any girl for the rest of my life. But when I saw you again this time, I regretted it. I regretted why I had to wait until everything was perfect before proposing marriage, which gave Li Longye the opportunity to take advantage of me."

Shen Guxing finally had the chance to tell the girl his true feelings. His thoughts and pain suddenly rushed out, but his eyes were shining. He whispered, "When we first met in Liangzhou, you were sitting on the swing under the apricot tree, lost in thought. It was like a familiar and beloved lover returning. I am finally no longer alone."

Jiang Feng listened to the lingering confession, and something seemed to melt in her heart, hot and fierce. For two years, the emotions that she had tried to suppress suddenly broke through the embankment, and she used up her last bit of reason to say: "Brother Yiye, in ancient times there was a man who called himself a romantic, and he only liked girls in their teens. He once said: 'Unmarried girls are priceless treasures; married girls are pearls, but they have no luster and color, they are dead pearls; when they get older, they are no longer pearls, but fish eyes.'"

"Love between men and women often goes from intense to dull, and there are many who even get tired of each other in the end. I know you are a good man who stands tall and upright, and you are definitely not the kind of person who will abandon you after having an affair. But after a few years, I will also become a fish-eyed person who only knows about family matters. Is this little bit of love worth it to you?"

In just two or three years, Li Dan will ascend the throne and become emperor. Shen Guxing, this silly boy, has really bad luck. For this little love, is he going to offend two emperors in succession?

If he married a daughter-in-law like her, not only would his Yue family not have any help, but he would also offend the ruler. More importantly, how did he know that the girl he married wasn't a dull fish eye?

This is really not cost-effective for Shen Guxing.

There was silence. Shen Guxing sighed softly and said slowly, "I really don't know where I read so many strange books. These thoughts are too negative. Do people only admire young faces? Are there no couples who love each other till the end? According to the fish eye theory, men will also become fish eyes, which is a good match."

Shen Guxing looked at the girl again and said word by word: "I only like you and want to marry you. Don't worry about whether you are a prince or a princess, and don't worry about whether it is worth it. I just ask you not to push me away."

"I……"

The carriage suddenly stopped, and Shen Guxing's attendant Wuyou said outside the carriage: "Sir, Princess Cheng'an and Princess Zhongshan are in front. The princess asks you to get off the carriage to see them."

Isn't this too much of a coincidence?

Even the picture book wouldn't dare to write this: Shen Guxing's pursuer, Jiang Feng's pursuer's wife, the four of them met in the huge city of Chang'an. This was definitely a setup for a fight.