Chapter 1149 Summon
Just when a group of people were chatting in full swing, someone came to the palace. It was the second prince who wanted to tell Chu Jingqi to enter the palace.
When Chu Jingqi was about to leave, he ordered Nuanyu to send the child to the flower room.
Princess Qinghui's sons also went to the flower house to play. Suddenly, the flower room was extremely lively.
While Dou Si and the others were teasing Brother Chu Yixuan, Nuanyu secretly reported to Xia Zihan, "I heard from the young father-in-law who came from the palace that the master Wuchen invited by the prince came to the palace and had already treated the emperor. It seems like something went wrong and the second prince is furious.”
Something went wrong?
What could go wrong?
Is it because the emperor has something evil in his body?
Xia Zihan guessed, but didn't ask. Even if she asked Nuanyu, she might not know. The emperor's condition would not be known easily.
Nuan Yu remembered Chu Jingqi's instructions again and said, "The prince said that if he comes back early, he will come to take you and the princess back to the house. If he comes back late, he will let the princess stay overnight at Chu's house and meet again tomorrow. Go back.”
Are you afraid that things will be difficult and you won't be able to come back tonight?
Xia Zihan felt solemn in his heart, but he told Nuan Yu to tell Zhuo.
At noon, the Chu family set up two banquet tables, one for men in the front yard, and one for women in the flower room. This meal was for Dongfang Yi and his senior brother to receive the wind and wash away their dust, and it was also to celebrate Xia Zihan's coming to the world. Princess Hui and a group of little sisters gathered.
In the front yard, because Chu Jingqi left, Master Qi was left alone to entertain guests. Mrs. Zeng thought that there were male guests at home, but the Chu family did not have a male master. It seemed that the Chu family was not sincere in their hospitality, so she sent someone to The Xia family invited Xia Shiming and his wife.
The Xia family is not far from the Chu family. After a while, Xia Shiming and Mrs. Xia Er arrived.
Xia Shiming was thinking about his daughter. After paying his respects to Mr. Zeng, he wanted to go to the greenhouse to see his daughter, but was pulled back by Mrs. Besides, there are other young wives, so you can go like this without fear of scaring those wives.”
Xia Shiming's head was stunned for a moment, and it took him a long time to react. He blushed and said awkwardly, "I was only thinking about Yu Niang, but I forgot that my mother-in-law said that Yu Niang was entertaining guests in the flower room. Fortunately, Madam, please remind me in time, otherwise, my old face will be greatly embarrassed.”
Mrs. Xia Er knew that Xia Shiming had a temperamental attitude and sometimes couldn't turn around. She didn't say anything more and said, "I know you want to see the princess. Well, sir, you go to the front hall to entertain guests first." , I will go to the flower room and tell the princess that you are here."
Xia Shiming nodded repeatedly, and the couple walked separately, one to the left and the other to the right.
When Mrs. Xia Er arrived at the greenhouse, it was almost noon. Xia Zihan looked at the time and said, "It's noon, and the food should be put on the table. I'm bringing two jars of bamboo leaves that have been around for thirty years. It's just right." Send it to my father and the others now.”
With that said, he ordered Chu Qingqiao to bring a jar of bamboo leaves and greens and followed her to the front yard.
She hadn't seen Master Qi and Xia Shiming for a long time. After meeting, they had to talk for a while. When she returned to the greenhouse, the food had already been put on the table, waiting for her to come and start the banquet.
Xia Zihan looked at the hourglass placed in the corner of the greenhouse and said apologetically, "You should eat first. The food will get cold while I'm alone."
"Knowing that you went to the front yard, I ordered the kitchen to put the food on the table for a quarter of an hour. The food has just been put on the table and it is still hot. You came back at the right time." Princess Qinghui smiled and called for everyone to come to the table.
After dinner, Mrs. Zeng went to take a nap as usual, while Mr. Zhuo and Mrs. Xia Er were talking in the side hall. Princess Qinghui, a group of children, Dou Si and others were all playing in the flower room.
A group of people were playing Cuju. Children and adults were playing together in a group. It was very lively. Liao Fangyi was pregnant and could not jump. She could only sit aside and eat snacks with envy and hatred.
Xia Zihan accompanied Xia Shiming to talk in the small hall in the front yard, and told Xia Shiming what happened to the Xia family in Jiangning City.
Xia Shiming's brows jumped several times when he heard this. He looked at Xia Zihan with relief and said, "This time, if the Wen family hadn't returned the pawn tickets for the sake of you and Aqi, your uncle would have suffered a great loss."
Then he told Xia Zihan, "The Xia family's ancestral property only has some sacrificial fields, six villages, and three shops, which is not much. The annual income is enough to support a family. If the warehouse is empty again, I’m afraid that their family’s food and drink cannot be guaranteed.”
"Your eldest brother has just joined the officialdom and returned home, Ding You. Your second brother is not married yet. Money is needed both inside and outside here. If you hadn't helped them, I'm afraid the Xia family would have had to pawn off their ancestral property to survive this period. A difficult time.”
After Xia Shiming was separated from the family, due to the great physical and mental pressure, he gradually became more concerned about money matters. Unlike before, he was careless about matters at home and abroad.
Now, Xia Shiming also understands that in addition to being a good official, a man must also earn money to support his wife and son, and support the family.
Because he understood this, Xia Shiming lowered his net worth and found a teaching job in a school. Although it was not much for a month's training, only fifteen taels of silver, it was enough to buy pens, ink, paper and inkstones for his two sons to study. .
"Dad, does my uncle often write to you?" Seeing that Xia Shiming knew so much about the people in the Xia family's eldest house, Xia Zihan guessed.
Xia Shiming hummed, "I write one letter a month, always talking about family matters."
Otherwise, how could he, who always doesn't care about family affairs, be so clear about the housework of the big house.
Xia Zihan curled his lips and asked, "Uncle, didn't you ask about Ding You taking office three years later?"
"I asked, but it's still early, so there's no rush." Xia Shiming said calmly.
In fact, what Mr. Xia asked about taking office in the letter was to directly ask Xia Shiming to go to Chu Xuanyu for help so that they can take office early, so that after three years, some good positions will be arranged in advance.
But Xia Shiming was a filial son, and he would never take office early before three years were up. Moreover, he was also a frightening and upright person, and would never ask his in-laws for promotion and wealth.
If he goes to seek help from his in-laws, how will his daughter Yuniang stay at her in-laws' house from now on?
Doesn’t it mean that you will be looked down upon by your husband’s family?
Although Chu Xuanyu and Zhuo would not look down on Yu Niang, he did not want to do such a thing that would bring shame to Yu Niang.
Therefore, he never mentioned this matter to Xia Zihan or his son-in-law.
As for taking office, it is better to wait until the time comes. He is looking for his former boss to make a deal and take office with normal procedures.
No matter where the court arranges for him to go, he will appoint him and will not embarrass his daughter for the sake of his own future.
(End of chapter)