Volume 2: Residence in the Capital Chapter 66: Staying at Qing'an Hall
Zhang Shou had visited countless royal palaces, ancient castles and mansions in various countries in his later life, so even when he was walking in the deep courtyard of Duke Zhao's Mansion at this time, he only saw servants coming and going in the same uniform, moving in an orderly manner, and the houses were well-maintained, but he did not even blink, and turned a blind eye to them from beginning to end. Instead, he was pondering Liu's little problem with great interest in his heart.
However, Qi Liang and Deng Xiaodai were different. They were both from the countryside, and although one had participated in the county and prefectural examinations, and the other had worked as a clerk in the Shuntian government office for more than a month, strictly speaking, they had stayed in the capital longer than Zhang Shou, but it was their first time entering such a noble family, and they could not hide their trepidation at all.
At this moment, Zhan Jin and Liu Yin, who had been sent back by Zhu Ying to pay respects to the lady-in-waiting and were waiting at the Chuihua Gate, pulled Yu Tang and Yu Lan, the eldest maids in Qing'an Hall.
Seeing Zhang Shou riding his horse slowly towards him, Liu Yin raised his eyebrows proudly and said, "I didn't lie to you, did I? Look at Master Shou, he doesn't look like someone from a small country town! There's no one else in the whole capital who has such a graceful demeanor!"
Yutang and Yulan stared at Zhang Shou for a long time before realizing their mistake and looking away. Yulan, who had always been on good terms with Liuyin, pinched her hard and said angrily, "You're still talking? When we asked Mr. Shou just now, you were talking nonsense!"
Zhan Jin also whispered, "Look at the two students who have studied with Master Shou for two years. They are obviously much more restrained. I used to think that people are shaped by the environment they live in, but now I really don't believe it. The second young master is still clamoring about an embroidered pillow and a bag of straw. If that's true, why did even Lu Sanlang, who he desperately wanted the eldest lady to marry, stay in Rongshui Village and not come back?"
Yulan said thoughtfully: "Mr. Shou must have an outstanding talent for mathematics, but it's a pity that he is not familiar with classics and history, so it will be difficult for him to pass the imperial examination. But it's okay, as long as the lady is here, the eldest lady can go to the palace to ask for a good official position..."
Mother Li and Mother Jiang, who had been to Rongshui Village before, led the way and stood in the front, but turned a deaf ear to the whispers of the maids behind them. It was not until Zhu Ying and Zhang Shou were getting closer and closer that the maids behind them finally calmed down and there was silence all around, and then they all stepped forward.
"Miss, how are you! Mr. Shou, how are you."
Zhang Shou saw Zhu Ying jump off the horse without saying a word, and his movements were neat and graceful. He couldn't help but sigh, a little regretful that he had never played with horses when he was most willful in his previous life. It was completely impossible for him to do such a move at this time. Fortunately, Ah Liu was holding the horse. When he turned over and got off the horse, Ah Liu's support was quite appropriate, and finally let him land steadily.
He smiled and nodded slightly to the people who came to greet him. Seeing Zhu Ying actually left him behind and rushed into the hanging flower gate, and a large number of beautiful women came forward to surround him. He felt that he had become Lin Daiyu who had just entered Rongguo Mansion and was about to be drowned in makeup. He took a deep breath and finally did not move immediately, but decided to go at his own pace.
"Xiao Qi and Xiao Dai are my students, and Ah Liu has followed me for many years. Can I take them to meet the Madam?"
Faced with Zhang Shou's request, Mama Li and the others were all caught off guard. Qi Liang and Deng Xiaodai were even more caught off guard. Although they followed him to the Duke Zhao's mansion, they thought that after Zhang Shou met the Madam, he might come to discuss the mansion exam with them. Who would have thought that he would actually ask to take them along at the first opportunity!
Mother Li was the first to come to her senses. Seeing that Ah Liu looked calm, she quickly smiled and said, "Of course. Madam Tai likes the younger generation to get together. Now that she's old, who doesn't want to have a lively scene? The eldest lady is anxious to go in first. Mr. Shou and everyone follow me."
Zhang Shou didn't know whether Mother Li had obtained permission beforehand or whether she just improvised, but since she agreed so easily, he smiled and thanked her. He then turned to Qi Liang and Deng Xiaodai and nodded slightly, but he didn't expect them to not be nervous. As for the expressionless Ah Liu, he didn't think that this kid would be nervous at all...
After passing through the hanging flower gate, there was a row of five spacious main rooms. At dusk, the glazed tiles in the courtyard were all lit, illuminating the ancient houses around. Zhang Shou followed Mama Li, who was leading the way, and walked leisurely on the bluestone corridor. Occasionally, he glanced at the lush and towering tree in the courtyard, and a completely unrelated thought came to his mind.
It is said that planting trees in the yard will bring trouble. That lady really has no taboos. But it is hard to say. Maybe planting trees in the yard will bring leisure?
There was a maid opening the curtain in front of the main door. When Zhang Shou entered the house, he found that it was different from most houses that were dim at night. Instead, it was extremely bright. The light from the glass lamps on the ceiling and around the house was not enough to illuminate the huge house as bright as day, but it made him, who used to like bright lights, feel safe and comfortable.
To be honest, the thing I'm most uncomfortable with after traveling through time is that once night falls, the light is so dim that I can't do any serious work...
Because of the bright lights, when Zhang Shou walked around the screen in the middle and came to the back room, he could see the old woman sitting in the main seat at a glance. Zhu Ying was originally wearing a royal blue men's suit, and her gorgeous temperament was overwhelming, but even so, the old woman next to her, whose hair was obviously gray, was still eye-catching.
She sat there quietly, holding Zhu Ying's hands with both hands, smiling, and her eyes revealed the warmth of an elder, but such an extremely quiet and gentle demeanor gave him the feeling of a sheathed knife. However, when his eyes met hers, he clearly felt that the pair of eyes that were originally filled with scrutiny suddenly changed.
"Ah Shou, this is my grandmother!"
Zhu Ying's reminder pulled Zhang Shou back from his doubts. He quickly stepped forward, bowed deeply and said, "Zhang Shou greets the Madam."
However, compared to Zhang Shou, the lady came back to her senses after a moment. She gave a somewhat forced smile, loosened her grip on Zhu Ying's hand, stood up, and personally helped Zhang Shou up.
Not only that, she gently held Zhang Shou's arms with both hands as if she was facing a junior, and looked at his face again and again, and finally said softly: "After so many years, I didn't expect you to have grown up so much, I couldn't recognize you. Before, they came back and said how handsome you were, how outstanding your character was, and how proficient in mathematics... But none of this can compare to what I saw with my own eyes."
Zhang Shou could clearly feel that the force pressing on his arm was getting stronger and stronger, as if it was foreshadowing the excitement of the lady. It was their first meeting, and he thought again and again, and finally decided to say less, so he just smiled at her.
"You are too kind, madam."
These six simple words, coupled with Zhang Shou's clean and clear smile, made the old lady startled again. It was not until Zhu Ying came forward and took her arm and acted coquettishly that she shook her head at her granddaughter and then looked at Zhang Shou again.
"Yingying has been spoiled by me and her father. She was taken care of by you and your son. She has caused a lot of trouble for you. Even those rebels went to Rongshui Village because of her relationship with those playboys. Since you happen to be in Beijing this time, stay a few more days and don't rush back."
Zhang Shou saw that the lady had returned to her seat with the help of Zhu Ying, and that Mother Li had put a cushion on a chair at the bottom. He knew that it was prepared for him, so he walked forward and sat down happily.
"Originally, I was just escorting the villagers to the city to sell grain. I was going to go back after meeting the teacher and the lady, and I didn't plan to stay any longer. As a result, when I came out from the teacher, the results of the provincial examination were announced, and Xiao Qi, whom I had taught for two years, was on the list, ranking seventh."
As Zhang Shou spoke, he waved to Qi Liang and Deng Xiaodai. When the two of them stepped forward to pay their respects to the lady, he suddenly realized that Ah Liu was missing. But when he turned his head again, he saw that this elusive boy had appeared behind him at some point!
"Seventh in the provincial exam, young people are really formidable!"
The lady nodded and signaled Madam Li and Madam Jiang to help Qi Liang and Deng Xiaodai up. She said words of praise, and the beads in her hand were turning one by one. But her eyes narrowed suddenly: "I heard from Yingying that when you went to see Master Ge before, you met a lot of people at the door asking for admission?"
"Yes. That little thing has been solved." Zhang Shou did not elaborate on how he solved it. He just said nonchalantly, "Although Xiao Qi has received guidance from the teacher and has read a lot of books in recent days, his foundation is still quite weak. After Xiao Dai entered the government office, I have never taught them a lesson. I would like to ask Madam Tai to keep them here tonight so that I can give them a lesson. How about that?"
The lady looked at Zhang Shou in surprise, then smiled so much that her eyebrows and eyes relaxed.
"Is it necessary to ask for help for such a small matter? The rooms on both sides of my Qing'an Hall are empty. The three of you... no, it should be said that you are four people. Stay in my east and west wings tonight!"
