Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Encounter (Finished)

Chapter 17

The rain fell quietly, sliding down the eaves, making a dripping sound, accompanied by the aroma of the mutton pot in the house, the mist and the strange smell of fireworks.

Jiang Yu was wearing a hibiscus-colored plain brocade jacket, and a green jade bracelet on her white hands. She had a slender figure and walked elegantly. She was really a rare beauty.

"How could I not have heard of Mrs. Du's beauty?"

Wu Donglai was naturally more familiar with her than others, and said with some admiration, "Mrs. Du is not only a beauty picked out of a million, I heard that she is very talented and learned. If it weren't for the fact that the Shanggong Bureau does not accept women with families, she would have been accepted long ago."

Jiang Yu really knew Wu Donglai, stepped forward to salute, and said, "Sir Wu, is this your friend?"

Wu Donglai did not expect that Jiang Ji, where he had eaten several times, was actually Jiang Yu's shop. He was surprised and happy, and said, "Mrs. Du, do you have a vacant private room? I am bringing a distinguished guest with me today, and I really cannot neglect it. Please forgive me, Mrs. Du." As he spoke, his eyes were looking at the prince in the crowd.

In fact, Jiang Yu had seen Lin Bozhi early in the morning. Even though he was wearing ordinary clothes and did not want to show his status as a prince, he was of noble status after all, and others did not dare to stand beside him. They even surrounded him with a bit of fear and trepidation, making him as conspicuous as a pearl or jade beside him, not to mention that Lin Bozhi was very handsome.

After four years, he seemed to have been baptized by the precipitation of time, and his demeanor became more calm, elegant, and majestic.

Jiang Yu withdrew his gaze with a faint expression and said to Wu Donglai, "The store is already full. If you don't mind, I will arrange a seat for you and the adults in the back."

Wu Donglai was naturally full of joy and said, "Thank you, Madam."

Jiang Yu asked the waiter to lead a few people to the back.

The back was obviously a place for the family to rest, but what surprised Wu Donglai was that there was a different world in the back. There were peach blossoms planted in a small courtyard. It was the season when peach blossoms were in full bloom, emitting a faint fragrance.

A few people entered the house. There was a glazed wind lamp on the long table, and a set of black lacquered flowered tables and chairs were placed by the window. They were padded with dark green velvet cushions, which were soft and warm, and very appropriate.

"Your Highness, please!"

After waiting for Lin Bozhi to sit down, a few people dared to sit down. A waiter came in to make tea for them and served them cakes.

As soon as the boiling hot pot was put on, the room was immediately filled with heat. The aroma of food, the elegant layout, and the plum blossoms blooming outside the window made the environment even better than in the store.

Everyone praised Wu Donglai and said, "Brother Donglai, we are relying on you today."

Being young is good. You are always bolder than those who have been in the officialdom for many years. If it were other officials, the prince would be sitting aside at this moment. I guess they would not dare to speak, fearing that they would make mistakes if they spoke too much, and would only eat in silence.

However, they are all young students who have been in the officialdom for only a few years, and they have been working in the Hanlin Academy. In fact, they have not officially participated in the government.

Once someone started, they talked more, and the atmosphere became even more lively after two cups of rice wine.

Eunuch Xu Bao was quietly serving on the side. At first, he didn't understand why Lin Bozhi wanted to come to eat with them, but looking at this lively scene, he seemed to understand his mood.

Having served Lin Bozhi for many years, Xu Bao was still keenly aware that Lin Bozhi was different from before. He looked out the window and saw Jiang Yu standing in the yard discussing something with the shopkeeper. Because they were far away and the two were whispering, he could not hear what they were saying.

But Jiang Yu's twelve-piece Xiang skirt with gilded willow pattern gently lifted the hem of her skirt with the wind, and her slender figure gave her a swaying beauty.

Xu Bao was secretly surprised. Lin Bozhi was not a man who liked women. Now there was only one princess in the prince's mansion, who was Princess Jialan who had been engaged before, but he could feel that he was a little different from this Madam Du.

He was in a state of anxiety for a while, but he had some thoughts. If he really wanted to make the prince happy, he had to find a way.

As Wu Donglai said, Jiang Ji's mutton was very delicious, fragrant and tender. It was cooked in boiling water and melted on the tip of the tongue when put into the mouth.

Several people were so excited about eating that they ordered dozens of servings of mutton alone.

No one knew who proposed to play drinking games, but everyone was very excited. However, everyone looked at the prince. Seeing that he didn't say anything, they started playing.

Wu Donglai was recommended as the official, and he didn't refuse. He took a sip of wine and made a couplet.

Everyone was originally a scholar. They had studied hard to have the opportunity to pass the imperial examination. Naturally, they were not bad in talent and learning. Moreover, the prince was present, so they tried their best to stand out.

***

Business was so good today that many stocks were used up. Jiang Yu said a few words to the shopkeeper and hurried out. Cuiping led a delicate girl.

The little girl was losing her temper, and she kept pulling at the carriage door and refused to get out, saying, "Mom, I want to go find my dad!"

"But your dad is busy in the Hanlin Academy."

Du Qing pouted, looking unhappy, "Qing'er has already been one, two, three..." Du Qing was wearing a water-red brocade jacket with a willow pattern, and a necklace of hundreds of treasures around her neck. She was as cute as jade, and her eyes were as bright as gems. She stretched out her white and tender fingers and counted one by one. After counting all five fingers, she said, "I haven't seen my dad for five days!"

Jiang Yu simply couldn't do anything about her daughter's pitiful eyes, and didn't know what was going on. Although the child was not Du Haoyu's biological child, the two of them were extremely compatible, especially Du Qing, who would start to lose her temper as long as Du Haoyu was busy and didn't come back for a few days.

Two years ago, Du Haoyu passed the exam and became the top scholar. He is now working in the Hanlin Academy. Recently, he has not returned home for several days because he is too busy. Du Qing is unhappy and wants to go see him.

Jiang Yu couldn't help laughing when she saw her daughter's cute and innocent look. She lowered her head and bit Du Qing's finger gently and it felt itchy, making Du Qing couldn't help but giggle, "Mom, it's so itchy!"

Jiang Yu's heart softened when she saw her daughter's bright smile, and she said with a smile, "So, when have you finished memorizing the Book of Songs..."

After hearing this, Du Qing raised her little head, her eyes full of pride and confidence, and said, "I have finished it."

Jiang Yu always knew that Du Qing was smart, but she didn't expect that she could have a photographic memory. She didn't know whether to be surprised or shocked. Looking at her mother's eyes, Du Qing became even more proud, and shook her little head and began to recite, "The orioles are singing on the river island..." She was reciting the contents of the Book of Songs in a childish voice, which was very cute.

Jiang Yu could only agree to Du Qing and said, "Mom will go to the store to settle you down, and then I will take you to find daddy, okay?"

Du Qing was naturally happy to hear that. She cheered and jumped from the carriage into Jiang Yu's arms. Although the child was still young, she was three years old after all. Jiang Yu hurriedly caught her, hugged her tightly, and said angrily, "Why are you so naughty?"

Du Qing giggled, coaxed Jiang Yu, and said in a baby voice, "Mom, I also read Records of the Grand Historian..."

Jiang Yu didn't know what to say. Du Qing loved reading books since she was a child. At first, she just looked at the pictures above, and later, seeing that she was interested, Du Haoyu taught her to read word by word. As a result, she made rapid progress and could learn whatever she was taught. On weekdays, other children would play outside, but she liked to lock herself in the study to read.

Jiang Yu handed Du Qing over to Cuiping, and went to the account office to find the shopkeeper to explain things.

Du Qing was playing in the yard, and Cuiping took her to play cat's tumble. She memorized dozens of patterns after watching them once, and Cuiping was so good at playing that she said, "Miss, I lost." "

It's actually very simple. You see, if you turn it over like this, it will be this round pattern... It's so boring, how long will it take, mother?" Du Qing kept talking for a long time, but Cuiping was stunned. She remembered what her father said, that not everyone can remember everything they see. She didn't want to talk about it for a while, and asked Jiang Yu.

Cuiping was as if she had been pardoned. She wiped the sweat from her forehead. She almost embarrassed herself in front of the three-year-old girl, but their eldest daughter was really smart, and she was full of pride for a while.

"Today, the guests are full. There are still a few dishes that only the lady can cook. It may take a while. Then I got you a book to read to kill time?"

Du Qing agreed. She would read when she was bored.

Cuiping didn't know there were guests in the backyard wing, so she led Du Qing over. The rain had stopped, so she took out a chair and asked Du Qing to sit under the peach tree and read.

She said, "Miss, I'll get you some tea and fruit." Then she told Aunt Chen to take good care of Du Qing, and then she went to the front yard.

"Don't worry, Miss Cuiping, I'll take care of you." Aunt Chen put a thick velvet cushion on the chair, and Du Qing felt soft and comfortable when she sat on it. As long as she opened the book, she would forget about the things around her and concentrate on reading.

It was also these young Hanlins who were bold. They actually stumped the prince several times when they were playing drinking games. Xu Bao on the side was frowning, thinking that these ministers were too inappropriate, but seeing Lin Bozhi's expression, he didn't seem to be annoyed, so he didn't dare to say anything, but served quietly, and also ordered someone to prepare a bowl of sobering soup.

Lin Bozhi drank a few more glasses and was a little tipsy. When he looked up, he saw a pretty little girl who had come to the yard and was reading a book quietly.

He couldn't take his eyes off her for a moment, as he felt that the child looked so familiar.

A gust of wind blew, and the water droplets hanging on the peach tree dripped down. Du Qing couldn't help but look up, and when she looked up, she happened to see Lin Bozhi looking at her.

Lin Bozhi didn't know what he was feeling, but he felt that the girl's eyes were black and white, which made him feel soft.

"Little girl, why are you here alone?"

Du Qing put down the book, ran over, pointed at the book in his hand, and said, "Uncle, I'm reading a book. Are you here to eat mutton hotpot?"

The girl's voice was so sweet, and it made people feel softer.

Lin Bozhi's tone became gentler, and he said softly, "Yes, what book are you reading?"

"I'm reading the Book of Songs."

"Can you understand the words on it?"

Du Qing looked up proudly and said, "Of course, I'll recite a passage for you." She had just memorized the Book of Songs and didn't know how to show off. Seeing Lin Bozhi's expectant eyes, she suddenly became energetic and couldn't help reciting. After reciting a passage, she glanced at Lin Bozhi. The proud look in her eyes was so funny that people couldn't help but laugh.

Lin Bozhi couldn't help but smile.

Du Qing was stunned and said, "Uncle, you look so good when you smile. You should smile more. You were a little fierce just now, and I didn't dare to talk to you." But he quickly added, "But no one smiles as good as my father. My father is the best!"

Lin Bozhi finally couldn't help laughing and said to Xu Bao, "Bring my new set of four treasures of the study over and give it to her."

Xu Bao was simply stunned. He had never seen such a gentle Lin Bozhi. It seemed that the coldness around him had retreated and soaked in warm water. Even his tone was as gentle as a spring breeze, as if he was afraid of scaring the girl in front of him.

He remembered that the prince was not so kind to his only son.

As for this set of four treasures of the study, it was a tribute sent by Jiangnan. Because it was slightly smaller than the usual ones, it was just suitable for children. The princess had once wanted to ask for it to enlighten the master, but was rejected by the prince. So it was given to an outsider?

Cui Ping came over and saw Du Qing talking to a man, and that man... She was so scared that she lost her soul. This is the prince, no, he is the crown prince now.