Chapter 11
Jiangnan, Xuzhou.
In the morning, the spring light is bright, and the March breeze carries the fragrance of crabapple flowers in through the windows.
The man in the room held the seal and covered it. Footsteps were heard not far away. A man who looked like a guard soon walked in. He knelt down and saluted, "I have met His Highness."
Xiao Junzhan never raised his head and said: "Get up."
The guard stood up, bowed and said: "I have found out that the young lady was born in the Zhongyong Hou Mansion. She is the daughter of Wei Heng, the second wife. She is married to Jiu. Wei Heng's wife is the eldest daughter of Mr. Jiang. Miss Wei Jiu has been in the family since she was a child. I was raised in my grandfather's Jiang family and returned to Beijing some time ago."
"Have returned to Beijing..."
Xiao Junzhan paused for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Miss Wei Jiu."
The guard was stunned.
Xiao Junzhan said: "If you have nothing to do, please leave."
"One more thing," the guard bowed again: "Master Gu, the governor of Xuzhou, is outside asking for an audience."
"Pass him in."
The guard took the order and left. After a while, a man over forty years old with a Chinese character came in. When he entered, he bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Gu Xulin, has met His Royal Highness. Your Highness, please pay your respects."
"No courtesy." Xiao Junzhan said, "What's the matter with Mr. Gu?"
"I can't make up my mind about something," Gu Xulin said: "Jiang Zixiu made a big mistake this time. According to the law, everyone in the Jiang family must be taken to the capital for trial. However, Mr. Jiang is a veteran of two dynasties and is already very old..."
At this point, Xiao Junzhan understood Gu Xulin's words. He said: "The road should be more careful. The case has not been decided yet, so no lives should be lost."
"Yes!" Gu Xulin's nervous look softened slightly, and just as he was about to leave, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said again: "Except for Jiang Zixiu's family, the other Jiang family members do not wear shackles."
Gu Xulin was slightly startled: "...Yes."
I thought that this was a great honor. I didn't expect Mr. Jiang to be remembered by His Highness the Crown Prince after many years of service.
…………
The atmosphere in the capital is more open than in the south of the Yangtze River. After asking Wei Hanzhang how to ride a horse, Wei Hanshuang, who had taken her around the Marquis Mansion several times these days, went straight to the stables.
"Let's go, the weather is so nice today, let's go for an outing in the countryside."
Wei Hanshuang led a tame mare, watched Wei Hanzhang mount the horse with great skill, and said with a smile: "Looking at your posture, your riding skills should be good. I am going out today. I will introduce a few more sisters to you." .”
After being in the capital for so long, apart from being taken to several banquets by Jiang, it was the first time that she could go out with her sisters of the same age. Wei Hanzhang was in a high mood. She smiled and said, "Then we have to have fun."
But before that, he still had to talk to his mother. Wei Hanzhang got off his horse and went straight to Jingya Hall.
Jiang knew that the two sisters were going out, so she did not stop them. She just smiled and warned: "Don't ride too fast, be careful."
"I know, I know." In the past few days since he came back, Wei Hanzhang has become more and more affectionate and casual in front of Jiang: "Don't worry, mother, my riding skills are one of the best in Xuzhou."
After saying that, without waiting for Jiang to say anything else, he turned around and left quickly.
"Ran Ran! Remember to wear a curtain hat."
Wei Hanzhang had already walked far away. When he heard it, he raised his voice and said, "I understand."
She murmured in her heart, forget about wearing a curtain hat in the south of the Yangtze River, why should she wear it when she returns to the capital.
There are so many noble ladies riding horses and parading through the streets in the capital, but I have never seen anyone riding a horse and still covering he had to listen to his mother's words. Wei Hanzhang put on his curtain hat and a bright red riding uniform in an orderly manner, and got on his horse neatly.
Just after leaving the mansion, there were three noble ladies of the same age waiting outside. After Wei Hanshuang introduced them to each other with a smile, Liniang from Liuhou Mansion among them shouted: "Let's go, let's see who gets there first." Mingshan.”
She took the lead and walked toward the city gate. The others behind her realized and immediately chased after her. Wei Hanshuang said to his sister, "Let's go Ran Ran."
Wei Hanshuang was good at riding, but she didn't know the way, so she could only ride out of the city behind a few people.
The spring scenery in April is beautiful, and the riding attire of the young girls is even more beautiful. After arriving at the destination, there are slaves waiting here.
Liniang saw an open stream and suggested, "How about we perform the Flying Flower Order here?"
"Yes, I happened to bring a pot of peach blossom wine." Ling Niang from the House of the Minister of Household Affairs said with a smile: "Whoever loses is not allowed to drink wine."
Wei Hanshuang was not afraid of the stage. She sat down generously and laughed and chatted with them freely.
She just took off her curtain hat and attracted the attention of several noble ladies. They only knew that Wei Hanzhang was a girl who grew up in the south of the Yangtze River under the care of the Zhongyong Marquis. They never thought that she had such a hibiscus face.
Liniang looked straight at it for a while, then suddenly smiled and said, "That's incredible. If that person sees Ran Ran, I'm sure she'll be very panicked."
Wei Hanzhang didn't know why, but the others were very understanding and looked at each other with smiles.
Seeing the question on her face, Ling Niang said: "After a while, the Yongle Marquis Mansion will hold a birthday banquet, and you will be able to meet people."
"Don't listen to what they say," Wei Hanshuang smiled and pulled her sister over: "The girls from Duke Anguo's mansion are known to be gentle, kind and virtuous people."
The Yingniang from the family of the Minister of Rites said: "I have never heard of being gentle and virtuous, but everyone knows that she is the most beautiful woman in the capital."
Wei Hanzhang suddenly understood. Speaking of Liu Wanning from Duke Anguo's mansion, she was the biggest beneficiary after Wei Hanyue's accident. No one in the capital could be as famous as her in terms of beauty.
When Jiang mentioned this matter before, the doubt in his eyes might be that her eldest daughter's accident might have something to do with Duke Anguo's government.
Just suffering from no evidence.
Wei Hanzhang didn't know much about the relationship between the aristocratic families in Beijing, but if he could hang out with Wei Hanshuang, the elders in the family should have a good relationship in the court.
What they mean is that their existence can threaten the good reputation of the girl from Duke Anguo's mansion...
Wei Hanzhang thought they were trying to remind him.
In the suburbs, there was a drinking party and kite flying, until the sun set in the west, and then we returned home happily.
After saying goodbye to Liniang and others at the gate of the city, Wei Hanzhang and the two sisters Wei Hanshuang went to the pastry shop in the west of the city.
"Last time you said that the delicious apricot blossom cake was made by the master chef of this shop." Wei Hanshuang was about to take his sister to the pastry shop when he saw the other party's eyes fixed in one direction.
She asked curiously: "Ran Ran, what's wrong?"
"I seem to see a little sister I've known since childhood in Xuzhou." Wei Hanzhang looked at the familiar figure in the powder shop opposite and dismounted hurriedly: "Sister, let's go buy pastries. I'll be right back."
Wei Hanshuang didn't stop him. If he and Wei Hanzhang had known each other since they were young, they must have been in the officialdom. Xu's father was an official in Beijing and returned to Beijing to report on his duties after his term of office was over. Or maybe he married from Xuzhou and came to the capital. In short, it is normal to meet in the capital.
This street was extremely lively. Wei Hanzhang put on his curtain hat and walked into the makeup shop with high spirits in his riding attire, attracting the attention of many people.
There were many customers in the shop. After looking around, her eyes brightened and she called to a figure of a woman in pink: "Young lady, is that you?"
(End of this chapter)