When Hua Hesheng brought his two sons to the guest hall, Prince Xian was already sitting properly on the guest seat. He was holding a cup of tea and slowly sipping it. Seeing them enter, he very politely put down the teacup and even stood up.
"Prince Xian." Hua Hesheng smiled and raised his hands in greeting. "Please sit."
"Daren Mount Tai is too courteous." Yan Jinqiu made a junior's bow to Hua Hesheng, and then to Hua Hesheng's two sons. "I have not come today for anything other than hearing that Second Brother-in-law is preparing to participate in the Autumn Examinations this year. I had someone find some exam papers for the Autumn Examinations from previous years. Even though they are not very useful, they can be used by Second Brother to practice his writing and familiarize himself with the types of questions for the Autumn Examinations."
When he finished speaking, the two attendants standing silently behind him each carried a wooden box forward. After the servants of the marquis fu took the items, they silently retreated to the side.
"Virtuous Son-in-law is considerate." Hua Hesheng had a smile on his face as he led Yan Jinqiu back to the guest seat. He also had a servant change a cup of tea for Yan Jinqiu. "My disappointing son is participating in the Autumn Examinations this year just to try his luck. Whether or not he can make the rankings is entirely up to the will of the heavens. I have troubled Virtuous Son-in-law."
Hua Ding Wei was mocked by Hua Hesheng, but did not show any dissatisfaction. Instead, his face was full of humility. He raised his hands in greeting to Yan Jinqiu and said, "Many thanks to Brother-in-law for planning so carefully for me. A few days ago, when I was solving the questions, I was thinking that it would be good if there were the same questions as the previous years. Who knew that Brother-in-law would help me in my hour of need? I am truly grateful." Finishing, he bowed again to Yan Jinqiu, but was stopped by Yan Jinqiu.
"Second Brother-in-law, there's no need to be so courteous. You and I are brothers from the same family. There's no need to talk about gratitude." Yan Jinqiu patted Hua Ding Wei's shoulder and said to Hua Hesheng, "I came here mainly for Xi Wan. Tomorrow is Aunt's Day on the 6th of June. Xi Wan is suffering from the summer. Sir Mount Tai, please prepare more ice for her."
Hua Hesheng was an intelligent person and immediately understood that Yan Jinqiu was hinting to them that on the sixth day of the sixth month, they could bring Hua Xi Wan back to the Hou fu to celebrate Aunt's Day. The other party would respect the Hou fu's way of doing things.
"My family's guniang's personality is not good enough. If she has done anything inappropriate, please forgive her." Hua Hesheng's tone became even more intimate. "It's all our fault for spoiling her these years."
"Xi Wan is very good. After she took care of Jun Wang fu, the entire fu became orderly." Yan Jinqiu's tone was sincere. "It is my good fortune to be able to marry her."
When these words were said, even Hua Changbao and Hua Ding Wei looked at him with more warmth in their eyes.
When Yan Jinqiu left the gates of the Hou fu, the brothers Hua Changbao and Hua Ding Wei personally saw him off. Their words and actions were much more intimate.
After the two brothers saw off Prince Xian, they returned to the guest hall. Hua Hesheng flipped through the exam questions that Prince Xian had sent over. With an inscrutable expression, he said, "What do you think of Prince Xian's character?"
Hua Changbao lowered his eyes and did not speak. Hua Ding Wei thought for a moment and then said, "Prince Xian is as the rumors say, a person of good character."
"Other than this?" Hua Hesheng looked at the exam questions in his hand. These exam questions had all been carefully categorized. Even the patterns of the questions in recent years were marked.
He had the fortune to see Prince Xian's pen name before. It was the same as the handwriting on this paper.
"He is humble and courteous, and can be called a gentleman." Hua Ding Wei thought carefully and then added, "He is also a very intelligent person."
"He really is an intelligent person." Hua Hesheng closed the wooden box in his hand and pushed it in the direction of Hua Ding Wei. "These things are very useful. You can take them back and study them."
Hua Ding Wei looked at his father and elder brother. Chuckling, he took the two heavy boxes and walked out of the yard.
"It is good that Ding Wei has such a personality." Hua Hesheng stood by the window and looked at the back of his youngest son as he walked out of the yard. "His mind is clear, he is a good student."
Hearing this, Hua Changbao said, "Father, Prince Xian is so thoughtful. I worry that in the future, Xi Wan in the wang fu …"
"What is there to worry about?" Hua Hesheng smiled faintly as he held the teacup. "Your sister's thoughts and schemes are above you two brothers. If she was born a man, the heir of the marquis fu would not be you."
Hua Changbao said with a stern expression, "Father, you should add another condition. For example, Xi Wan is not so lazy."
Hua Hesheng was silent for a long time before asking, "Why can't you learn from your younger brother and be more innocent at this time?"
"Next time, I will remember to learn from my younger brother," Hua Changbao replied without sincerity.
Hua Hesheng drank a tasteless mouthful of tea. Why were the personalities of his three children so different? As a father, he was under a lot of pressure.
"Jun Wang Fei, Jun Wang Ye is back." Green Bead hurriedly walked into the main room and saw Hua Xi Wan leaning on the chaise lounge and listening to the female teacher tell a story. Her steps paused. "Jun Wang Fei?"
"Hm?" Hua Xi Wan lazily raised her head to look at her. "If Jun Wang Ye wants to see me when he comes back, he will naturally come. What's the rush?"
Green Bead stood awkwardly in place. Seeing that Bai Xia and Zi Shan were looking at her, she said, "This servant is just worried that Jun Wang Ye will be displeased when he comes back and sees you disheveled."
Hua Xi Wan waved her hand and motioned for her to leave. "Okay, I know."
Green Bead saw that Jun Wang Fei was leaning on the chaise lounge barefoot and was completely unmoved by her words, so she angrily retreated to the side.
Bai Xia frowned slightly and couldn't help but look at Green Bead a few more times. Due to the presence of her master, she didn't reprimand her.
"At this moment, a large black dog shot out of the forest and scared Miss Liu and her servant girl …" The female storyteller was at the most important part of her story when she suddenly heard footsteps coming from outside the yard. She guessed that Xian Junw.a.n.g had arrived, so she stopped and retreated to the side.
She had just stood in the corner when she saw a man in embroidered clothes stride in. His hair was tied up with a jade crown, and there was a piece of auspicious cloud jade around his waist. He was wearing official boots and looked indescribably elegant. She sighed in her heart. No wonder so many noble ladies in the capital kept praising Prince Xian. Not to mention his talent and status, just his face alone could make many women infatuated.
"Just now, I went to Lord Mount Tai's residence. Tomorrow, Eldest Brother-in-law will take you back to the marquis's residence to rest for a day. If you need anything, remember to have the servants prepare it," Yan Jinqiu said as he held Hua Xi Wan's hand. He found that her palm was sweaty, so he frowned and asked, "But there isn't enough ice. Why are you sweating so much?"
Hua Xi Wan deliberately rubbed her sweaty palm on his chest a few times. "Most of the manor's ice is used in this room. Just now, I drank a bowl of anti-heat soup, so I sweated a bit. I had Green Bead leave a bowl for you. Do you want to try it?"
Nodding, Yan Jinqiu didn't mind Hua Xi Wan's action of wiping her sweat on his body. He took the round fan on the couch and gently fanned it for her. He looked around the room and found the female storyteller standing in the corner. "What story are you listening to?"
"The hero saves the beauty," Hua Xi Wan blinked. "The beauty is chased by a vicious dog, and in the end, she is saved by a fallen scholar. The beauty is grateful to the scholar, and in the end, she gives herself to him."
Yan Jinqiu's fanning motion paused slightly, and then he said in a flat tone, "In this world, how many noble ladies have good endings after being together with fallen scholars? Just listen to the story."
Hua Xi Wan smiled faintly and said, "You're right. Next time, I'll get the storyteller to tell a story of a beauty saving the hero."
Yan Jinqiu smiled and reached out to pinch her ear, but he was interrupted by Green Bead, who came in with the anti-heat soup.
"Jun Wang Ye, please have the anti-heat soup." Green Bead's wrist, which was holding the soup, was exposed because of the movement of lifting it up. The silver bracelet wrapped around her wrist looked especially beautiful.
Yan Jinqiu calmly moved his gaze away, and turned to look at Hua Xi Wan, who was smiling. He said faintly, "This prince is not thirsty. Put it down."
Green Bead heard this and bowed. She placed the bowl on the table and retreated to the side.
Hua Xi Wan's eyes swept over the edge of Green Bead's embroidered skirt. She stood up and picked up the bowl of soup from the table. She stirred the soup with a spoon and said faintly, "This soup has been left in for a long time. The taste is probably not as good as when it was fresh." Her gaze swept over the other three personal maidservants. "Red Tassel, I remember that the mung bean soup you make tastes pretty good. Go to the kitchen and make another bowl." Saying this, she gently placed the bowl in her hand on the table and lay back down on the chaise lounge. She complained half-jokingly, "I've been lying down for a long time. My back hurts."
Yan Jinqiu smiled helplessly. After having the storyteller leave, he reached out and gently massaged her waist. "The day after tomorrow, I'll go to the marquis fu to bring you back."
The force on her waist was not light or heavy. Hua Xi Wan closed her eyes comfortably and made a soft sound of acknowledgment.
Yan Jinqiu smiled. His gaze swept over the bowl of cooling soup on the table that had already melted. The smile in his eyes disappeared.
On the morning of the sixth day of the sixth month, Hua Changbao rushed to Prince Xian's fu. However, only Yan Jinqiu received him. After the two exchanged pleasantries, he asked hesitantly, "Jun Wang Ye, do you know if my sister …" He had a faint guess, but he didn't dare to believe that after marrying into Jun Wang's fu, her daily routine was the same as before.
"Xi Wan hasn't woken up yet. I'll have to trouble Eldest Brother-in-law to wait for a moment." Yan Jinqiu smiled apologetically. "Has Eldest Brother-in-law eaten breakfast? If you haven't, please eat breakfast before bringing Xi Wan back to the marquis fu."
Hua Changbao sighed inwardly. He felt that the one who should feel apologetic right now was him and not Yan Jinqiu. When he thought of this, his expression became much gentler. "Many thanks to Jun Wang Ye. I've already eaten."
Hearing this, Yan Jinqiu nodded. He could only have a servant refill Hua Changbao's tea. However, he was thinking, how did Nghi An Marquis raise a strict son and a lazy daughter?
The difference was too great.
After the two sat for about an hour, they finally heard a servant report that Jun Wang Fei had woken up.
"The weather has been hot recently. Xi Wan hasn't been sleeping well at night, so she woke up late in the morning. Eldest Brother-in-law, please forgive her." Yan Jinqiu sighed inwardly. Today, she had woken up an hour earlier than usual. Xi Wan and Nghi An Marquis's relationship was indeed very deep.
Hua Changbao wanted to tell Yan Jinqiu that there was no need to explain. He understood. However, when he saw Prince Xian's serious expression as if he was telling the truth, he was speechless.
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