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Chapter 18 Dilemma
"Didn't you be fine last night?" Xiao Yufeng muttered, "You even checked my homework and reprimanded me."
Mrs. Xiao slapped him on the arm, and said angrily: "If you study harder, won't he stop admonishing you? Besides, you will have to accept what your grandfather teaches you. There are so many things to say."
"Hey, yes, I remember!" Xiao Yufeng backed away by bowing to admit his mistake, leaving Mrs. Xiao, and jumped out in a flash, only the voice echoed, "Sister, I'm waiting for you outside!"
"This child..." Mrs. Xiao shook her head helplessly, turned to Xiao Qingning, straightened the broken hair on her forehead, and told her, "Mother has to prepare for the birthday gift of the general's mansion, so I won't go with you. Qingning, please be more careful, and choose carefully for your grandfather.".β
When Mrs. Xiao sent her father and husband out in the morning, she saw that her father's eyes were red. After asking the servants, she found out that Xiao's grandfather woke up in the middle of the night.
While she was away from the mansion, she deliberately told Xiao Qingning and her brother to ask the juniors to buy some Jiangzhu that helps sleep, and put them under the old man's pillow so that he can sleep peacefully, which is also to make the old man happy.
Xiao Qingning nodded, lowered her voice, and asked, "Did you dream about your aunt again?"
Mrs. Xiao's fingers trembled, and she ran down her cheeks, stroking the black hair hanging down to her chest, without saying a word.
"Since you can't bear it, why do you want to drive people out repeatedly? Obviously as long as he is willing to say a soft word..."
"Don't worry about your lord's affairs." Mrs. Xiao interrupted her and pushed her towards the door, "Okay, go quickly, and pick out a set of agate cups for your father..."
After sending the people out, Mrs. Xiao leaned against the door and watched the carriage drive away. After a while, she turned around and went back to the mansion, walking towards the west.
There is a courtyard that has not been opened for more than ten years, and the door lock has not been touched for many years and has grown green and rusty.The jujube tree that the two sisters planted together when they were young had luxuriant branches and leaves, and one of them protruded, covered with yellow-green jujube flowers.
The flowers are similar every year, but unfortunately the former people are long gone.
Xiao Qingning was also thinking about the deceased. Since she was a child, she knew that she had an aunt who left home, who was very beautiful, and a daughter who inherited her beautiful appearance, named Yu Qiu.
Yu Qiu didn't know which of the two was older, but Xiao Qingning did.
At the end of that year, snow fell heavily, and the Yu family couple brought their young Yu Qiu to visit, but they were turned away.
Xiao Qingning found out, and peeked behind the gate, and heard Yu Qiu, who was only as tall as Mrs. Yu's waist, raised her face and shouted coldly.
"When it's cold, it's the New Year's Eve. After the Lantern Festival is your birthday, mother will make you a lantern and buy you a candy man, okay?" Xiao Qingning saw Yu Xingshu hugging Yu Qiu, Madam YuHe straightened her cloak and said this to her.
Yu Qiu was born on the Lantern Festival, and she and Xiao Yufeng were born on the Lunar New Year's Eve, exactly half a month apart.
Xiao Qingning thought that she was a little younger than herself, no wonder she was not resistant to the cold, and wanted to call them in to keep warm, but her grandfather said that they were not allowed to pay attention to them, and they would be punished for disobedience.
She didn't want to be punished, so she called Xiao Yufeng and asked him to call someone in.
Xiao Yufeng obeyed her sister's words, pushed open the door of the mansion and ran over carelessly, seeing someone coming out, Yu Xingshu hurriedly put down Yu Qiu and stood upright, but Xiao Yufeng ran up to him without saying a word, and pushed Yu Qiu down.
Blood flowed from Yu Qiu's head, staining the stone lions in front of the mansion red, as well as the snow on the ground.
The members of the Yu family went to the hospital in a panic.
Later, the snow melted, and the blood at the door disappeared without a trace, as if nothing had happened.
When Xiao Qingning saw Yu Qiu again, it was several years later, Madam Yu was no longer there, and Yu Qiu's appearance was even more outstanding, talking and laughing with the little sisters around her, she didn't recognize her.
"I've said it many times. I didn't do it on purpose. I really slipped and didn't stop." Every time this matter was mentioned, Xiao Yufeng explained repeatedly angrily.
Xiao Qingning remained silent, no matter what the two of them explained, the snowy road, being young at the time, etc., any excuses are fine, the established facts can no longer be changed: the six-year-old Yu Qiu almost died in front of their house.
"Okay, you go to see Yu Qiu again and I'll cover for you, just put it all on me, I'm not so close to scolding." Xiao Yufeng said to himself.
Xiao Qingning glanced at him, but ignored him.
Xiao Yufeng said again: "Maybe she didn't mean to break the appointment last time. Besides, her reputation has deteriorated. If you are still willing to talk to her, she must be eager to become a good sister with you sooner."
Xiao Qingning shook her head, she doesn't mind that Yu Qiu's reputation is not the only one, but also the Yu brothers and sisters, who grew up together since childhood, and are much closer than her cousin, whom she has never met.
What's more, there has never been a lot of blood between people.
Soon he arrived at the jade shop, he was obviously born within half a cup of tea, the younger brother is naturally afraid of the older sister, Xiao Yufeng obediently helped him down.
The two were led in by the steward, and a frivolous male duck's voice sounded behind him: "Young Master Xiao, we are really destined."
The siblings looked at each other, Xiao Qingning turned around, Xiao Yufeng quickly went around Xiao Qingning's side and rear by turning around, and the two saluted together: "Your Highness, what a coincidence."
The princes of the royal family, except for Yun Heng and Yun Po, are very unworthy, especially this one, who is simply notorious in the eyes of the princes of the family.
Yun Lang unfolded the folding fan in a flash, his brows were heavily painted with dark blue powder, his cheeks were rouged, his lips were bright red, and he looked handsome, but his eyes were unseemly, circling Xiao Yufeng's face.
Xiao Yufeng's scalp was numb from the sight, and he moved behind Xiao Qingning without a trace.
"It's just such a coincidence." Yun Lang got closer and closer, and when he reached the two of them, he swept the folding fan towards the surrounding Bogu racks, and when he retracted it, he clapped his palms together with a rustling sound, and said proudly, "You can choose whatever you want, my highness will give it to you."you buy it!"
The two of them naturally refused, but the fifth prince kept sticking to them as if he couldn't understand the words.
Although he was wearing makeup and rouge, he was a man after all. Xiao Qingning backed away again and again, one side advancing and the other avoiding. In the end, Xiao Yufeng who was behind all bumped into the bogu shelf, and patted Xiao Qingning's shoulder anxiously.
The elder sister had to protect the younger brother, Xiao Qingning frowned, and said: "That black jade inkstone looks good, take it here and have a look."
Those in charge only care about making money, but dare not participate in the affairs of the nobles. They just pretend not to see the stacked arhat in front of them, and fetch the inkstone in the direction Xiao Qingning pointed.
Xiao Yufeng was about to break out in a sweat. A man has mistreated a good man, and if it spreads, how will he kiss him in the future?
Seeing that his sister was still studying toys, he was anxious, Xiao Qingning said: "It's a good piece of jade, didn't Tanhualang say he lacked an inkstone last time? Brother, next time I go back to ask him for advice, take this as a thank you gift."
As soon as Xiao Qingning finished speaking, the inkstone in her hand was snatched away.
"Do you like Tang Yinshuang? I like it too!" Obviously Tang Yinshuang's attractiveness is higher than that of Xiao Yufeng.My Highness, let's see what else is good, and send it to Tang Yinshuang together later."
He finally backed away so that Xiao Yufeng wouldn't squeeze into the shelf.
Xiao Qingning said again: "His Royal Highness wants to send an inkstone to Tanhua Lang, then I will look at the emerald wolf hair, I think Tan Hualang will not think there are too many of these things."
Yun Lang turned around abruptly, with the folding fan in his hand whistling, "Why do you always give him things? Can't you give them to others?"
Xiao Qingning did it on purpose, knowing that the fifth prince likes beautiful men, earlier he loved to pester the eldest son of the Fang family the most, and the eldest son got married, and now Tang Yinshuang, Tanhualang, is the one who cares most about him, so he purposely said this to provoke him.
Seeing that Yun Lang had been fooled, Xiao Qingning was about to continue when she heard hurried footsteps outside. When she looked up, she saw Yu Qiu appearing at the door panting.See you!"
On the way Yu Qiu came, her heart seemed to be frying on a hot pot, afraid of missing her again, now that she was in front of her eyes, she could finally put down the burden of her whole body for a while.
Before she could catch her breath, she walked in quickly, grabbed Xiao Qingning's hand and said, "I have something very important to tell you, come with me, okay?"
Xiao Qingning is still angry with her, but because of what happened this morning, it has subsided a lot. Seeing her blushing from panting, sweat dripping from her forehead, and her moist eyes staring at her eagerly, her heart softened a little.It's okay to walk along with her, just to help my brother get out.
Just as he was about to nod, Yun Lang said angrily, "Don't leave! Please speak clearly, do you have something to do with Tang Yinshuang?"
Yu Qiu heard a piercing voice calling Tang Yinshuang's name, turned her head, and saw a young man with red lips and white teeth, who looked younger than her, but with thick makeup on his face, she couldn't tell for a while.Clear the other party is a man or a woman.
"It's the Fifth Prince." Xiao Qingning reminded her in a low voice.
Yu Qiu understood in an instant that it was the fifth prince who loved to put on makeup and powder like King Pan Yang and was as good as Long Yang.
She hurriedly saluted, Yun Lang only glanced at her face, then turned to Xiao Qingning and said, "I'm asking you something."
Xiao Qingning protected Xiao Yufeng from behind, took Yu Qiu with her, and said indifferently, "I've met a few times before, it has nothing to do with it, but because my younger brother has asked him for advice many times, so I want to buy some gifts to thank him."
"Aren't your grandfather and your father both scholars? Don't ask Tang Yinshuang for advice in the future!"
Xiao Qingning pursed her lips in reluctance, and waited for Yun Lang to stare, then Fang nodded slowly, "Yes. Then don't bother His Highness to pick out gifts for Tan Hualang, and the maid will leave first."
Yun Lang snorted with his nose and agreed to her.
Xiao Yufeng, who pretended to be an invisible person for a while, was not even surprised to see Yu Qiu, and hurriedly walked around a few people and went out.
He moved quickly and silently, but Yu Qiu was also anxious. He didn't notice his surroundings when he pulled Xiao Qingning out. As soon as he turned around, the two collided.
Yu Qiu clutched his sore forehead and let out a scream. This movement attracted Yun Lang, and he said to Xiao Yufeng, "You are not allowed to leave, you are also a scholar, come and help me choose."
It's okay to just pick something, but the end of his words floated up, with some malicious frivolity.
Xiao Yufeng paused, winking at Xiao Qingning as if his eyelids were cramping.
Xiao Qingning hesitated, because Yu Qiu was pulling her sleeves, and Yu Qiu was rubbing her forehead with one hand, while pulling her tightly with the other to go out.
On the one hand is the brother who is about to fall into the claws of the devil, and on the other is the lonely cousin who is in a hurry. Xiao Qingning is in a dilemma.
Yun Lang had already walked towards Xiao Yufeng, the handle of the fan hit his chest twice, he laughed and said, "It's quite strong."
Xiao Yufeng smiled dryly, his face twitching a little.
Xiao Qingning couldn't bear to look directly, and turned her head to see Yu Qiu's eyes widened in shock from Yun Lang's behavior.Her gaze moved up slightly, and landed on Yu Qiu's left forehead hair, which was once broken and bloody.
Forget it, at least it's your son, the fifth prince doesn't dare to go too far, at most he will be touched a few times.
It doesn't matter that they are all men, and Tang Yinshuang, the Xu family, the Fang family and other young masters have all been touched, so it is not embarrassing.
ββIt was he who made the apology to Yu Qiu.
Xiao Qingning grabbed Yu Qiu's wrist, nodded slightly, and said calmly: "Little brother, then you accompany the fifth prince to pick and choose, and Yu Qiu and I will go to the side to have a look."
Xiao Yufeng opened his eyes in disbelief, and Yu Qiu was overjoyed!