Linzhi

Ji Rong was talking with Mrs. Zhang, when she saw Ji Ling coming in, Mrs. Zhang smiled and said, "Da Lang came just in time. I asked the cook to cook a soup of lily and lotus seeds. You can use a bowl too."

Ji Ling thanked his mother: "The son has something to report to his parents, and he asked his father to stay for a while."

Seeing his seriousness, Ji Rong and Zhang could not help but look at each other.

Don't look at Ji Ling, although he is currently the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, and one step up is the six ministers, but he is in Ji's house, and he really can't put on the airs of a high-ranking official.

The Son of Heaven ruled the world with filial piety, all dynasties, filial piety and brotherhood have been valued by the world, not to mention that the two people in front of them are both Ji Ling's parents, the Shouchun family has been in the family for more than 200 years, and has shined in the court since the previous dynasty. There are countless high-ranking officials. Although in this dynasty, the Ji family is not as prominent as it was in the previous dynasty, but the foundation is still there. Ji's family also thinks that Ji Ling's official position is commonplace, and they don't make a fuss about it.

Ji Rong said, "What's the matter, tell me."

Ji Ling saluted first, and Fang said, "I want to continue."

Ji Rong and Mrs. Zhang looked at each other, and the latter quickly smiled and said: "Yes, Miao Niang has passed away for a few years, and you said earlier that you have no intention of it for the time being, and you want to follow the Third Highness to control the river. I didn't urge you, but now I finally figured it out, other people's family is your age, two or three children are not too many, although our Ji family is not compared with ordinary people, but you are the eldest son of the eldest son, you should Take this to heart."

Ji Ling's original spouse, surnamed Zhang, was the distant niece of his mother Zhang's family. She died of dystocia a few years ago, leaving no heirs behind. The sons of women's family, not to mention the stepmother, don't even have a housemate in the past few years. Ji's family is famous for strict family education, and they don't like to stuff their children with concubines, so Ji Ling's side has always been empty. Mrs. Zhang saw it and was anxious in her heart. After several rounds of insinuating, now finally waiting for her son to take the initiative to ask for a continuation, she is naturally very pleased.

"Your father and I originally wanted to find you a girl from the Zhang family, but we were afraid that you would be hurt if you saw it. Thinking of Miao Niang, we decided to choose from the right-age girls from the Yixing Zhou family and Chen Liufan family..."

Ji Ling had to interrupt his mother's words: "I already have someone in mind."

Mrs. Zhang was taken aback: "Which lady is it?"

Ji Ling: "It's from Prince An's Mansion."

Mrs. Zhang was puzzled: "I've never heard of any girls of the right age in Prince An's mansion, and Prince An himself still... Could it be the younger sister of Prince An?"

Just after she finished speaking, she also found that her words were too ridiculous.

Everyone knows that King An has only one younger sister, and the Son of Heaven has only one daughter, who is no longer alive.

Ji Rong said: "Da Lang, you are not narrow-minded, how come you are like your younger brother and come to play tricks on us?"

Ji Ling had no choice but to tell the truth: "Wen Jiang is King An's maid."

Zhang's face suddenly changed.

But she finally didn't forget her upbringing, she didn't scream or growl, but looked at Ji Rong.

Ji Rong, who received his wife's gaze, had no choice but to clear his throat: "What do you think, why do you want to marry a maid?"

Ji Ling said: "Wen Jiang is not an ordinary maid, but she has been with His Majesty's family when she was in Fangzhou. His Highness Wang An treats her like a sister."

Although Ji Rong is not an official, but people like them, where the news will be blocked, he pondered for a moment when he heard the words: "I heard that the third highness wanted to ask for an official for a woman a few days ago, shouldn't it be Is this the one you mentioned?"

Ji Lingxi said: "Exactly! Wen Jiang went to Luozhou with His Royal Highness, and I was there at the time. We met during the day, and it was inevitable to talk a few words. Only then did we gradually understand that Wen Jiang has a gentle temperament, and his conduct is beyond words. So my son came here specially to meet his parents and adults, hoping to marry Wen Jiang as his wife."

Mrs. Zhang secretly bumped her husband with her elbow. Seeing that he didn't respond, she had no choice but to say to herself: "Da Lang, our Shouchun family is not a wealthy and famous family, but it is also a family that has been passed down for more than two hundred years. During the dynasty, there was an emperor who wanted to marry a daughter from the Tian family to the ancestors of the Ji family, but was still declined, you should know why."

Ji Ling's heart sank, and the smile disappeared from his face. He was silent for a moment, and then replied: "When I was a child, I went to ethnology, and my master once said a word: Ji's family is noble, and he is ashamed to marry other surnames."

Mrs. Zhang: "That's right. These surnames also include Tianhuang nobles, the current national surnames. Our Shouchun family has only intermarried with noble surnames for generations. The Wen Jiang you mentioned is certainly a good woman, but you can't Marry her, if you really like her, you can take her as a concubine, but you have to discuss it with your wife after you marry the main wife."

Ji Ling: "Mother, since Emperor Gao of this dynasty, I have tried my best to support the children of poor families to become officials. It is still unknown how long the aristocratic family will be able to prosper. There are no rules that remain unchanged for a thousand years in this world. Rise and fall, the way of heaven, and the aristocratic family will sooner or later This pattern will be repeated.”

Mrs. Zhang said calmly: "But since the status of the aristocratic family is still special, we have to follow the current rules. Now that the emperor bestows a marriage to the princess, the Ji family still has the right to refuse, let alone a maidservant?"

Ji Ling is not a person who is good at arguing and debating. He usually likes to bury his head in the pile of old papers and study those river control strategies. In front of unfamiliar people, he is even a little reticent.But this time, he did not choose to give in and compromise, but looked directly at his parents: "Wen Jiang is the only person I want to marry. I don't want to wrong her as a concubine, and I don't want to disobey my parents and make you two unhappy. If so, I have no choice but to never marry.”

Mrs. Zhang finally got angry: "You are too young to stand up, and you are still an official in the court, and you finally learned such a trick? You have only met a few times, and it is not a pledge of eternal love. How can there be so many that you can't let go?"

Ji Rong was not as angry as Zhang, but he also advised his son: "Emperor Gao and Xiandi really wanted to support poor families, but what about the current situation? More than half of the officials in the court are still from powerful families. Zuo... Speaking of Ji Zuo, His Majesty wanted to find a family member for Ji Zuo that day. When he asked about our Ji family, he had no objection as a father at that time, but later the patriarch and several elders in the clan resolutely opposed it, saying that he could not Let a person of unknown origin confuse my bloodline of the Ji family. If this is the case in the family, think about it, what will other people think? Take a step back and say, you are married to that lady Wen Jiang. If not, how will your children walk among aristocratic families in the future?"

Mrs. Zhang sighed: "That's right, it's your father who made it clear! We are not only thinking about you, but also Wen Jiang. Don't tell me about the child in advance. When you are married, she will often be with the aristocratic family in the future." However, her origin is destined to make her be looked down upon by many people, you can comfort her in private, but can you always rush ahead of her and protect her?"

Ji Ling was completely stunned.

……

At the gate of King Xing's Mansion, several uninvited guests came.

Menzi saw that the other party's carriage was exquisite and had the family mark on it, so he didn't dare to be negligent, so he rushed out to greet him, and saw a handsome maid getting off the carriage, handing over a name card.

"We are from the residence of Princess Yiyang, and we are here to meet His Royal Highness King An."

These years, when visiting at home, unless the relationship is very close, you have to send someone to hand over the name card first, make an appointment with the host's house in advance, and then come over, how can you hand over the name card after you come?But when the other party announced the name of the eldest princess, the disciples did not dare to neglect, took the name card with both hands, and said with a smile: "Did you make a mistake? This is the mansion of Prince Xing, not the mansion of Prince An. If you want to find His Royal Highness Prince An, you should Go to the opposite door."

The maid said: "Just now we went to the Yanzhi shop to find a friend of His Royal Highness Prince An's. The other party said that he will be at King Xing's mansion today, so we came here directly."

The other party could feel it so clearly that Menzi didn't dare to hide it anymore. "Then please wait a moment."

After a while, Li Suian got impatient and got off the carriage directly.

She began to realize that it was a bit reckless for her to run over so rashly, but the arrow had already been wound and had to be fired, and she couldn't just turn around and leave now.

The door finally came out, and said respectfully: "Your Highness invites guests in." He didn't say which His Highness it was.

The two gates of Prince Xing's Mansion opened slowly, and the housekeeper was already waiting inside.

Li Sui stepped across the threshold with peace of mind.

She followed the housekeeper to the flower hall, and sure enough, she saw He Rong was there. The two brothers were playing chess, not Go, but the popular Liuli Xipu chess. One side is bamboo, and Li Suian also has a few pairs of chess pieces like this, but she collects them specially because they are good-looking. Nowadays, there is such an elegant fashion among the female family members of the high school, and some chess pieces are specially made in the shape of animals, which is cute and naive. .

But He Zhan didn't seem to like such a game very much. He played with the chess pieces on his chin, a little absent-minded.

When they saw Li Suian coming, they both put aside the chess game.

"Miss Li, please sit down." He Zhan stretched out his hand to invite him. "I don't know if Eldest Princess is in good health?"

Li Suian: "Grandmother is getting old after all, she has a little cold from time to time, but she is feeling better recently."

He Zhan nodded: "Princess Dachang is the only old man left in the royal family. I will come to visit when I have time in two days. I don't know what is the important thing for Princess Li to come here?"

On the way here, Li Suian thought a lot.

The most direct thing is to get straight to the point and ask He Rong "Do you want to marry me" and "Prince An's mansion still lacks a princess, what do you think of me".

But thinking and doing are two different things, no matter how bold and unrestrained Li Suian is, such words cannot be easily said.

What's more, she was very puzzled, wondering how she fell in love with this Wang An who had only met a few times.

Could it be that she just finds someone to prevaricate her just to get angry with her father and deal with him messing up the love story for herself?

When he came here and saw He Rong, Li Suian felt relieved.

The other party sat there cross-legged, and she didn't even say a word since she came in, but even so, she couldn't control her eyes, and always wanted to glance at the other party.

Maybe it was the confrontation at the first meeting that left a deep impression on her, or maybe it was her surprise when she heard that the other party went to Turkic regardless of the danger. Admiration, or perhaps, seeing the wit and humor hidden under the serious appearance of the other party.

"Tomorrow, there will be a mulberry banquet in the outskirts. At that time, young people from Beijing and China will attend the banquet. The two His Royal Highnesses are often outside. I think they don't know about it, so I take the liberty of visiting and invite you to go."

He Zhan really didn't know there was such a banquet: "What is the mulberry banquet?"

Li Suian said: "Using mulberry as a name, it can be used for singing poems, composing poems, and hunting with arrows. Most of the food at the banquet is from different families. Every ingredient must have mulberry."

He Zhan said with a smile: "This is interesting. I can't sing poems or compose Fu, but I can still eat."

He glanced at He Rong, saw that the other party had no objection, and said: "Then, my third brother and I will go to bother you."

Li Suian: "You are welcome."

Seeing that He Rong didn't speak from the beginning to the end, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, but after thinking about it, at the mulberry banquet, she could always find a chance to talk to the other party alone, and it wouldn't be too late to ask.

He Zhan and the others had some misunderstandings with Li Suian before, but now they could not find anything to talk about. Li Suian wanted to talk, but because of He Zhan's presence, he couldn't say more, so he simply got up and left.

After sending Li Suian away, He Zhan touched his nose and said to He Rong, "I seem to be a bit of an eyesore?"

He Rong continued to play with the chess pieces.

He Zhan salivated and leaned over with a smiling face: "Third brother, you can't see it? Even I can see it. Mrs. Li is clearly interested in you."

He Rong: "So what?"

He Zhan: "Actually, you two are rightly matched..."

He Rong: "Could it be that you forgot what we investigated earlier?"

He Zhan shivered.

The author has something to say:

He Zhan: I seem to be a bit of an eyesore?

He Rong: Yes, keep the money and leave.

He Zhan: ...