Where's Eldest Young Miss?
After Cheng Yuanjing mentioned it, the people in Shou 'an Hall realized that Cheng Yujin had disappeared.
Many people exclaimed in surprise. Cheng Min finally remembered that she hadn't seen Cheng Yujin for a long time. Cheng Min stood up and looked around. "I remember that Big Sister Jin was standing here just now. How did she disappear in the blink of an eye?"
Cheng Min looked around and realized that Cheng Yujin really wasn't there. She frowned and called a servant girl over. "When did Eldest Young Miss go out?"
A servant girl guarding the door came forward and replied, "Eldest Young Miss went out with some people just now. She said that Old Madam's kitchen was too busy, so she went back to get some things."
"How long has it been?"
The servant girl frowned and thought for a while. She said uncertainly, "About fifteen minutes."
Cheng Min became angrier when she heard this. "Eldest Young Miss has been gone for so long. Why didn't you report it?"
The servant girl lowered her head and listened obediently. She didn't dare to refute. She also felt wronged. Eldest Madam, Second Madam, and Eldest Young Miss were happily chatting. How could they dare to disturb them?
However, the servant girl didn't dare to say these words. Second Young Miss was in the limelight. She was a golden signboard in the Marquis of Yichun. How could she dare to say that Cheng Yumo was wrong?
Cheng Yuanjing quietly looked at the richly dressed noblewomen through the floor-to-ceiling curtain. Anger suddenly burned in his heart.
No one noticed that Cheng Yujin had been gone for fifteen minutes. After someone pointed it out, Princess Qingfu and the Nguyễn Clan didn't seem to care. Even Cheng Yumo only looked up and swept a glance. He wasn't worried. Obviously, they all felt that there wasn't any danger in the inner residence. Cheng Yujin was also cautious. She would be fine if she went out alone.
On the contrary, Cheng Min, her aunt, searched the entire room and even found a servant girl to interrogate her. In comparison, Cheng Yujin's biological mother, adoptive mother, sisters, and brothers were as cold as a rock.
Cheng Yuanjing recalled what the gatekeeper had said. The gatekeeper had said that everything in the manor had been fine for the past two days, and that Madame and Madame were very happy. Was this what they meant when they said that everything was fine?
Cheng Yujin had been gone for a quarter of an hour and no one had noticed. It could be seen that before Cheng Yujin left, no one had talked to her at all, and no one had cared about her. Otherwise, how could no one have noticed that a living person had disappeared for so long?
Cheng Yuanjing thought about the family gatherings in the past. Cheng Yujin always came to his side to read and chat. Cheng Yuanjing originally thought that Cheng Yujin was impatient with the formalities and came to his place to hide. Now that she thought about it, it was most likely because there was no place for her inside.
Cheng Yuanjing felt as if there was a ball of fire in his heart that landed on the dry grass. With a boom, it started a prairie fire. He was anxious and angry, but in the end, he felt a strong sense of heartache.
How did she spend the entire New Year like this? Could it be that she had been alone like this for the past two days?
Just as Cheng Yuanjing thought, Princess Qingfu and the Nguyễn Clan didn't think that this was a big deal. Even Old Lady Cheng only nodded and didn't find it strange. The womenfolk casually discussed for a bit and wanted to return to the previous topic. However, when they turned around and saw Cheng Yuanjing's expression, they immediately fell silent.
Cheng Yuanjing didn't deliberately exert any pressure. He only looked at the servant girl and asked without emotion, "Who did she bring with her when she went out? Which direction did she go? "
Cheng Yujin said that she went back to get something, but Cheng Yuanjing didn't believe her. Cheng Yujin had a set of excuses, and even fifty percent of the people believed her.
The servant girl frowned and thought for a while, then said, "Miss brought the Dugeaux. I think they went west."
That was indeed the way back to Jinning Courtyard. Cheng Yuanjing was more or less relieved. He turned around and was about to leave. Just as he stepped out, he happened to meet Cheng Yuan-hsien and the others.
Cheng Yuan-hsien and Cheng Yuanhan led Huo Changyuan and Second Master Xu into the courtyard. When they raised their heads and saw Cheng Yuanjing, they were stunned. "Why are you back?"
Cheng Yuan-hsien was unprepared to see Cheng Yuanjing and blurted out the words in his heart. After he finished asking, he felt that something was wrong and hurriedly tried to salvage the situation. "Why are you only here today? Where have you been all this time? You even forgot to pay Mother a New Year's visit on the first day of the New Year? "
Cheng Yuanjing glanced at them indifferently. Cheng Yuan-hsien was a little flustered by his gaze. He didn't dare to wait for Cheng Yuanjing's reply and hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "Although I'm busy outside, I can't forget about home. It wasn't easy for you to rush back. Go back and rest first. "
Huo Changyuan watched as Cheng Yuan-hsien skillfully answered his own questions. He didn't need anyone to continue the conversation. He finished the series of actions by himself, such as surprise, questioning, finding excuses, and smoothing things over. It was very natural and smooth.
It was obvious that he had done it many times in the past.
Huo Changyuan was very speechless. Cheng Yuan-hsien was nothing like Marquis or his elder brother. He was actually so humble in front of his younger brother. After all, he was his former father-in-law. Huo Changyuan couldn't bear to see Cheng Yuan-hsien like this, so he spoke up to help him out. "Cheng Yuanjing, I heard that you didn't come back for the New Year this year? Did something happen in your official business? "
As soon as Huo Changyuan spoke, the topic immediately changed to his official position, which relieved Cheng Yuan-hsien of the awkwardness of talking to himself. Cheng Yuanjing was blocked by them. He could only hold back his impatience and reply, "No. It's personal. It's a personal matter. "
This time, even Huo Changyuan was a little embarrassed. Cheng Yuanjing was really a man of few words. He wouldn't say a word more. Huo Changyuan could only take the initiative to say, "It's not convenient for me to ask about personal matters. But it's good that you're back. Old Madam and Eldest Uncle have privately mentioned you a few times. Now that you're back in one piece, they can finally rest assured. "
After saying this, Huo Changyuan felt that something was wrong. Just now, he felt that Cheng Yuan-hsien was too humble to answer his own questions and find excuses for Cheng Yuanjing. But now, wasn't he doing the same thing?
Huo Changyuan's expression instantly turned ugly.
Cheng Yuanjing didn't say anything, and the scene fell into an awkward silence. Huo Changyuan finally understood how Cheng Yuan-hsien felt just now. Unfortunately, no one came to Huo Changyuan's rescue. Cheng Yuanhan was still glaring at Huo Changyuan with dissatisfaction.
What was wrong with this guy? Cheng Yuanhan was still here, but Huo Changyuan kept calling him Eldest Uncle. Those who didn't know would think that Cheng Yuan-hsien was his father-in-law!
The men blocked the door. For a moment, no one wanted to say anything. The situation was deadlocked. Fortunately, Cheng Yumo heard the noise at this time and walked out from the trees.
Old Madam Cheng's house was heated, so it was very warm throughout the day. The windows in the house were half-open to ventilate and disperse the fire, so that the mistress in the house wouldn't catch a fever. After Cheng Yumo walked to the main hall, she happened to see a familiar figure through the half-open window. She was surprised for a moment, and immediately rushed outside like a butterfly.
"Marquis, you're here!"
Cheng Yumo didn't even bother to put on her cloak. She lifted the curtain and ran outside. After she went out, the cold air made Cheng Yumo shiver. Cheng Yuanhan saw this and hurriedly shouted, "Mo'er, you're still wearing an unlined garment. Quickly go back and put on more clothes!"
Cheng Yumo didn't care. She quickly ran to Huo Changyuan's side and intimately hugged Huo Changyuan's arm. Huo Changyuan was wearing a cloak, so he couldn't push Cheng Yumo away in front of the Cheng Family. He could only take advantage of the situation and put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into the range of his cloak.
The servant girls who had just reacted ran out shouting. When they saw this scene, they stopped at the door and didn't know what to do.
When the Nguyễn Clan heard that Cheng Yumo had run outside without wearing a cloak, she was startled and quickly chased after her. The Nguyễn Clan was holding Cheng Yumo's cloak in her hand, but when she saw the scene outside, she was stunned for a moment before she immediately smiled. Huo Changyuan caught Cheng Yumo in front of everyone and didn't scold her for being rude. Instead, he used his cloak to hug Cheng Yumo. It was obvious how much he doted on Cheng Yumo. The Nguyễn Clan was very proud and didn't rush to give Cheng Yumo his cloak. Instead, she said, "Second Master, Zhang Yuan, you've finished talking. Mother just said she was going to set up the table, so you came back just in time. Come in quickly, it's cold outside. "
When the young maidservants in the room heard the movement outside, they all leaned over the window and quietly covered their mouths as they giggled. Even the men from the Cheng Family and Second Master Xu revealed mocking looks. Huo Zhangyuan felt very embarrassed under such a gaze. In fact, he was not used to Cheng Yumo's intimate actions in front of others. In private, Cheng Yumo clung to him, and Huo Zhangyuan enjoyed it. However, in public, Cheng Yumo was still pulling and pulling him. Huo Zhangyuan felt embarrassed.
However, the Cheng Family was still Cheng Yumo's maternal family. In front of his parents-in-law, Huo Changyuan couldn't directly push away their daughter. He saw the Nguyễn Clan standing on the steps with a smile and didn't have the slightest intention of handing over Cheng Yumo's cloak. In fact, she even wanted them to hug for a while longer. Huo Changyuan was helpless. After pausing for a moment, he took off his own cloak and covered Cheng Yumo's body with it.
The young maidservants' voices and giggles could be heard from both sides. Cheng Yuanjing was being shown affection at such a close distance. In the past, he couldn't even be bothered to look at them, but now, he felt a subtle glaring sensation.
What was there to show? Cheng Yujin had also worn his cloak before. It wasn't even a cloak, it was just a coat.
Because of this, Cheng Yuanjing wanted to see Cheng Yujin even more. He was so busy that he forgot about it. It wasn't until noon on the 30th that he finally remembered that it was New Year's Eve. However, it was already too late to rush back to the Cheng Family. Cheng Yuanjing could only quickly wrap up the matters at hand and immediately rush back to the Marquis of Yichun.
He didn't return to the Cheng Family because he was worried about Cheng Yuanjing's identity, nor was he putting on a show for outsiders. He just wanted to see Cheng Yujin.
For as long as Cheng Yuanjing could remember, he had never truly celebrated New Year's with his family. His mother died when he was three years old. When he was six, he also "died". In the past, he never felt that New Year's was special compared to other days. However, this year, he didn't know why, but he couldn't stand being alone anymore.
By the time he returned to the Cheng Family, it was already the second day of New Year's. As soon as Cheng Yuanjing returned home, he went to look for Cheng Yujin. After being inexplicably shown off by Huo Changyuan, Cheng Yuanjing wanted to see Cheng Yujin even more.
At this time, all the women in the house knew that Huo Changyuan had come. Even the cousins of the Xu Family crowded in front of the window, fighting to be the first to see the scene outside. They came late and didn't see the scene of Huo Changyuan hugging Cheng Yumo. However, just seeing Cheng Yumo wearing Huo Changyuan's clothes was enough for them. Xu Nianchun and the others covered their mouths and excitedly and shyly played around the kang.
Cheng Min also came out and said with a smile, "I know that you two have a good relationship. Come in quickly. Mother has been thinking of you for a long time."
Huo Changyuan felt relieved and took the lead to walk forward. Cheng Yuanjing saw this and left, walking against the crowd. Huo Changyuan felt that it was strange and asked the people around him, "Where is he going?"
The servant girl replied, "The Ninth Masters is going to look for Eldest Miss."
Huo Changyuan was stunned, "Eldest Miss is not in the house?"
Huo Changyuan couldn't tell what he was feeling. He seemed to be disappointed and angry. What was the Cheng Family doing? During the season of reunion, everyone was gathered together and laughing, but Cheng Yujin was not here?
At that moment, Huo Zhangyuan even wanted to turn around and look for Cheng Yujin, but he was surrounded by people and couldn't leave. What happened in the yard had already been vividly described to Old Madame Cheng by the old maidservant. Now the women of the Cheng family were looking at him with teasing and complacency in their eyes. Huo Changyuan couldn't explain and was stunned for a moment. Cheng Yuanjing was about to leave.
The second branch could be said to have gained a lot of face. The Nguyễn Clan was feeling proud and didn't try to hide her voice at all. The Nguyễn Clan saw that Cheng Yumo had a new bracelet on her wrist and deliberately asked, "Mo'er, where is your mutton fat jade bracelet? It was given to you by your grandmother. Why did you take it off? "
Cheng Yumo's voice was mixed in with the women's clamor, "Marquis gave me a new pair of bracelets on my birthday. I couldn't bear to disappoint Marquis, so I took them off."
So it was Huo Changyuan who gave her the bracelet. The women around her let out another wave of envious exclamations. Cheng Yuanjing was about to walk out of the gate. He had good hearing and stopped when he heard this.
"What did you say?"
Cheng Yumo was surprised to see Cheng Yuanjing stop and talk to her across the courtyard. Cheng Yumo saw that Cheng Yuanjing was staring at her and confirmed that Cheng Yuanjing was really asking her. Cheng Yumo was a little frightened, "I said that Marquis gave me a birthday present on my birthday a few days ago …"
Cheng Yuanjing's eyes became colder. He didn't hear wrong. Cheng Yumo said her birthday.
Cheng Yumo and Cheng Yujin were twins. Cheng Yumo's birthday, then what about Cheng Yujin?
Cheng Yuanjing's eyes darkened, "When?"
"Ah? Oh, Ninth Uncle is asking about my birthday? It's the 20th of December. "
At this time, Cheng Yujin, who made a mess in Shou 'an Hall, was sitting in the small attic next to the garden. She was making tea and chatting with Lin Qingyuan.
She didn't know what was going on outside to find her, and she didn't know that Cheng Yuanjing had come back. With a smile on her face, Cheng Yujin quietly sized up Lin Qingyuan.
At such a close distance, Lin Qingyuan looked more handsome. Cheng Yujin was more and more satisfied, and the smile on her face became more and more sincere.
Lin Qingyuan was talking about the book he read today. When he looked up and met Cheng Yujin's eyes, his voice suddenly stopped.
Miss Cheng was still elegant and beautiful, but why did he feel that her eyes were not right?
It was like an old farmer looking with a smile at a pig that was fat after a winter. It was also like an old mother looking at her son who was finally successful in the imperial examination.
Lin Qingyuan was shocked by his own association and got goosebumps.
At this time, the water boiled. Cheng Yujin stretched out her slender wrist, skillfully skimmed the tea foam, and poured in the second batch of unboiled water. Brewing tea was about calmness, slowness, and elegance. When Cheng Yujin did this set of actions, it was indescribably pleasing to the eye.
Her white and slender hands seemed to have magic. Lin Qingyuan's eyes fell on Cheng Yujin's wrist, and he couldn't move his eyes away. Cheng Yujin asked as she worked, "Brother Lin is so knowledgeable. Yujin's eyes have been opened. Brother Lin is so knowledgeable, yet so diligent. He didn't even relax during the New Year. "
Cheng Yujin's question finally pulled Lin Qingyuan out of that mysterious realm. Lin Qingyuan came back to his senses and realized that he was staring at the girl's hand. He was very embarrassed. He lowered his head and coughed. His ears couldn't help but heat up. "Eldest Miss, you flatter me. My official leave is limited. I didn't have time to return to my hometown, so I could only stay in the capital to read. These days, my colleagues are with their families. I couldn't find anyone to talk about knowledge, so I wanted to try my luck and came to find Jing Xing. Unfortunately, Jing Xing isn't here. "
"Ninth Uncle went out to visit friends. He should be back in a few days." Cheng Yujin knew nothing about the outside world. She was still tempting her prey with a smile. "If Brother Lin is anxious, you can leave the message with me. When Ninth Uncle comes back, I will immediately send someone to the Lin residence to remind Brother Lin."
Lin Qingyuan was very grateful. He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Eldest Miss. Miss Cheng is warm-hearted and hospitable. You have helped me a lot, but I don't know how to repay you. "
Cheng Yujin lowered her head. Her long eyelashes were like butterfly wings. They trembled slightly. "It's just a small matter. Brother Lin doesn't need to repay me. If Brother Lin really feels apologetic, why don't you teach me some poetry? "
Lin Qingyuan was good at this. He was open-minded and didn't think much about it. He waved his hand and agreed. "That's not difficult. Eldest Miss, leave it to me."
Cheng Yujin raised her head and smiled at Lin Qingyuan. Lin Qingyuan didn't know why he was dizzy from that smile. He quickly averted his gaze and looked around. He didn't know what to look at. Finally, the water in the teapot bubbled again. Lin Qingyuan seemed to have found his savior. He quickly said, "Eldest Miss, the water is boiling."
"En." Cheng Yujin responded. She raised her hand and poured the water into the boiling pot for the third time. The water vapor was dense. The tea leaves were stretched by the boiling water. A light and long tea fragrance spread in the room.
Cheng Yujin's voice sounded along with the tea fragrance. "Brother Lin, you're alone during the New Year and can't go home. Won't your family be worried?"
Lin Qingyuan sighed. It was rare for him to feel lonely. "Of course my parents won't be at ease. They wrote letters to urge me several times, but it's difficult to be loyal and filial at the same time. Since I've entered the Hanlin Academy, I have to prioritize the Emperor's orders. "
Cheng Yujin nodded. She put down the water and sighed. "Brother Lin is right. However, parents in the world are pitiful. If Brother Lin is like this, I'm afraid the elders in your family won't be at ease. Brother Lin, why haven't you thought about starting a family? If you have a wife by your side to take care of you, the elders won't be so worried. "
Lin Qingyuan didn't know why the topic became heavy and private. He sighed and said, "My mother and grandmother have urged me to do this, but I feel that it's not the right time."
"It's not the right time?" Cheng Yujin raised her eyebrows and asked, "What do you mean?"
Lin Qingyuan was silent. After a while, he shook his head in disappointment. "Men should get married when they're of age, and women should get married when they're of age. However, I feel that it's not the right time to get married. I haven't found that person yet, so I don't want to rashly get married. "
Cheng Yujin raised her eyebrows when she heard this. She was clearly surprised and shocked. Lin Qingyuan's seriousness towards marriage was far beyond Cheng Yujin's imagination. Growing up, which one of the nobles around her didn't lie down on their ancestors' merit books and enjoy dividends? They spent their days riding horses and parading through the streets, sleeping with prostitutes. When they reached a certain age, they would marry a lady of equal status as their wife. However, this didn't affect them from fooling around with their close female friends. What they had to do was to give face to their main wife and not let their several beautiful concubines surpass their main wife.
Cheng Yujin was also used to this kind of husband and wife model. Her father and mother, her aunts and uncles, and even her sisters, all lived this kind of life. Concubines were just a part of the family's property. As long as they were managed well and didn't let them give birth to a shu eldest son, it was enough to not let the husband favor the concubine and neglect the wife. Who would care about concubines?
As to whether they liked it or not, whether they were willing or not, no one ever considered it. Lin Qingyuan, who hadn't met a woman he liked and who didn't want to get married, was an anomaly.
Cheng Yujin paused for a long time. She lowered her head and smiled. "I really envy Big Brother Lin's future wife. How lucky she is to be treated so seriously by Big Brother Lin. "
Cheng Yujin had been smiling all day, but only now did she truly smile. However, the irony was that she was smiling bitterly.
Cheng Yujin couldn't help but think desolately, how happy and comfortable would it be to be treated so wholeheartedly by a man? She had always looked down on Huo Changyuan and Cheng Yumo, but Cheng Yumo had also been sincerely cherished by Huo Changyuan in her previous life. Only she had always been like her father, mother, aunts and uncles, treating each other with mutual respect, starting with benefits, and ending with benefits.
Lin Qingyuan blushed at Cheng Yujin's words. He glanced at Cheng Yujin. Through the mist, her face couldn't be seen clearly, but looking at a flower through the mist was even more stunning. Lin Qingyuan suddenly stuttered. "Actually … it's not as serious as Big Miss says. I'm also just a mortal. Big Miss doesn't need to think so. "
Cheng Yujin raised her head and smiled brightly at Lin Qingyuan. "How is it not? Big Brother Lin doesn't have much confidence in himself. "
Lin Qingyuan's future wife was naturally worthy of everyone's envy, because that person was her! Such a lucky person, who else could it be but her?
How could she let such an infatuated seedling go find his true love? How could that be? Cheng Yujin obviously had to use some tricks to stop him.
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