The 53rd time

  A group of elegantly dressed ladies and madams gradually arrived, sitting together in threes and fours, chatting and laughing. As the young women also gathered, those who knew each other would join together to talk; these seated ladies were either from high-ranking official families or at least from noble households with a history of producing officials.

  Endless good texts in Jinjiang Literature City

  Ink seemed to see someone laughing and getting up to leave, walking over to pull two girls in Chinese clothes and start talking. Turning his head to smile at Ming, he said: "You really have a good relationship with people." Looking at the crowd chatting and laughing, Ink was unhappy and pouted, saying: "This kind of familiarity is not something everyone can do."

  Looking at them, I find that among the group of noble ladies, they are all smiling and trying to curry favor with a few words, which seems to have the intention of fawning and pleasing. Can't help but secretly shake my head - being in different circles, how can currying favor bring about true friendship?

  Even this house belongs to a collateral branch, she can't recognize several dignitaries and is too lazy to pretend, so she still sits with the two of them.

  "What a pity, if it weren't for the thin layer of ice on the ground today, we could go for a stroll; Old Master Hou's wife came to Jiangnan and that's why this garden is modeled after those in Jiangnan. It will be beautiful when spring arrives and flowers bloom." Lian sighed regretfully as she gazed out the window, seemingly eager to go.

  Ming looked out at the vast expanse of whiteness and shrank back, curling up her toes. She smiled and said to Lian, "When can't family come? Wait till it's warmer."

  "Shaking her head and frowning, she said: 'It's not easy for us relatives who have separated from the family to come here even once. Moreover, recently she has been inviting some noble guests and doesn't usually allow us to enter the garden.'"

  Zheng Sheng was taken aback, and upon hearing this sentence, he finally came to his senses and said: "Could it be that Jia Cheng County Master? Outside, everyone says that the county master and the six consorts are on good terms." Lian Gu continued with a mysterious expression: "I didn't say that, did I?... Ah, speak of Cao Cao and he arrives."

  While speaking, the outside madam passed on that the six consorts and the county master of Jia Cheng had arrived at the Unlimited Good Literature Jinjiang Literature City.

  Ping Ning county master led the way to welcome all seated female guests immediately stood up or followed him or neatly stood in place waiting for the corner of two and three girls leisurely shrunk aside watching

  Before long, a group of glamorous women in satin clothes came in. The middle-aged woman at the front was chatting intimately with Princess Pingning. Behind her followed a young girl who was being supported by others from behind and led from the front. It turned out that they were the mother and daughter of the six consorts.

  The six consorts were born with a pure and rich temperament, wearing a red gold embroidered flower dress, looking very harmonious. Many female guests gathered around her. An Ming went to see the County Master of Jiacheng again, only to see that she had a beautiful figure, elegant and noble, with a lovely and pretty face, lightly made up. Ming couldn't help but smile and said in a low voice: "The county master and the princess are quite similar."

  "Great shot! I think so too, but it's hard to put into words!"

  Jia Cheng county master was about 15 or 16 years old, with a face like a flower that had just begun to bloom. He was surrounded by seven or eight noble ladies who were chatting with him, and his words were as brilliant as the stars surrounding the moon. One moment he would smile coquettishly, the next he would tease playfully, his long sleeves fluttering as he danced. His appearance was remarkably similar to that of Princess Ping Ning, sharing six or seven parts in common.

  Look at Ping Ning Jun Zhu, she has now poured all her enthusiasm into the six consorts, almost treating them like her own sisters. As for others, she doesn't bother with them much. Suddenly, she glared gloomily and muttered in a low voice: "Sycophant!"

  Ming was startled and quickly looked around, but the crowd was too noisy and no one noticed. Ming hastily pulled Ruzai to the center of the crowd, then moved to a corner by the wall, found a stool to sit on, and Lian followed suit.

  Ming picked up the conversation and said, "When I was in Quanzhou, I saw the beautiful scenery of the south. I had never left Beijing before, so I was very curious." Ming then fell ill and didn't know what to do. The two girls kept asking him questions, and eventually, he became interested and started talking. The three girls chatted and laughed together, and surprisingly, they hit it off.

  They barely arrived in Quanzhou, famous for eating radish silk buns, and were savoring the delicious food when suddenly they heard Princess Pingning say loudly: "......the theater is all set up, let's go now"

  The county master first led the six imperial concubines to the back of the house, and all the ladies-in-waiting followed, laughing and chatting. Yu Guan went with them, leaving behind only a few old servant women to slowly clean up the tables, chairs, and tea trays.

  Lian leaped up quickly, one hand pulling and one laughing: "Let's go watch a play! This time Auntie has invited the most popular Double Happiness Troupe to perform 'The Mysterious Girl Pays Her Respects' and 'Drunkenly Beating the Golden Branch', two plays that are all the rage in the capital!"

  Listening intently, he was quite interested. Just as he was about to get up from the stool and put down his tea bowl, suddenly a hand beside him was tidying up, and with a tilt of the head, a small amount of honey plum mud was poured onto Ming's back of the hand.

  Ming lightly let out a sound and couldn't help but scold: "Idiot! What are you doing?!"

  That kid, only eleven or twelve years old, had gotten into trouble and immediately apologized and knelt down, saying "Luckily it's okay, just on my hand, if it were on my clothes it would be a hassle." As he spoke, he shook his hands, feeling that the spaces between his fingers were sticky and warm.

  "That girl quickly replied: 'Please go to the back and wash your hands, it'll be fine after washing'".

  "What about the play? It's going to be too late!" Even the theater enthusiasts were anxious and couldn't bear it. She had admired the Double Happiness Troupe for a long time, and seeing their appearance, she smiled and said: "You all go first, I'll wash my hands and come find you later."

  Then he repeatedly warned those few sentences and pulled Ru Xian away.

  One side was dark and called unlucky, while the other followed that head from behind to a room inside, sat down, and quickly held a basin of warm water to help Ming roll up his sleeves, remove his rings and bracelets, wash them clean, and then use a clean cloth to wipe dry Ming's hands before helping him put back on his jewelry; in an instant, everything was done.

  But seeing her so handy was somewhat unexpected, she smoothed out her sleeves while jokingly saying: "Look at you, so handy with your hands and feet, it's as if you often wash people's hands. Could it be that you often pour dates into people's hands?"

  "That clever and sweet smile said: 'Look at the girl, I don't have that guts.' As she spoke, she couldn't help but steal a glance at Ming and added another sentence: 'The girl is really beautiful, gentle and kind, just like an immortal.'"

  Dark sigh: After all, Hou Fu's head is of high quality, and his mouth is also of high quality!

  Then the servant girl bravely offered to guide Ming: "Miss, let me help you on this road. It's slippery here. If we go from here, the theater will be closer."

  The Ming Road foolishly followed the servant who wore a vertical flower door, only to see the mother-in-law shuttle back and forth. Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat, feeling that something was wrong. Today, when she came to serve the mother-in-law, they all wore a uniform cyan blue waistband, but why didn't this one wear it? However, it's not good for her to ask about things in other people's homes.

  He walked quickly with his head down, taking a shortcut through the east and west alleys. The more he walked, the more remote it became. Ming's heart was racing with anxiety, and every time he asked the way, the answer was always: "It's just up ahead."

  Ming looked at him more and more like a human trafficker, He didn't know the way, so he could only endure it again; It wasn't until they had walked through two whole sections of scenic spots that they still had to move forward. When they arrived at a remote flower hall garden, Ming finally couldn't bear it anymore, turned his head and glared: "Where are you going to take me?"

  He pointed forward with his head and said in a low voice, "Miss, look, we've arrived." Ming An was furious and shouted, "Arrived where? Your theater is half empty, there's no place to sit!"

  Suddenly, a soft laugh was heard. Someone said, "Am I not human?" Ming was startled and quickly looked up to see a beautiful young man in brocade clothes and a golden crown, smiling with uneven teeth. Who else could it be?

  Head saw the task completed and ran away in a flash, didn't even have time to call out, couldn't help but feel anxious: "Have you practiced the Hundred Steps Divine Movement?"

  Qiheng walked up to Ming with a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth, cupped his hands together in greeting and said: "Long time no see, Sixth Sis"

  Ming was angry in his heart, but he was afraid of being seen by others and didn't want to bother with him. He turned around and was about to leave when Qi Heng hurriedly blocked Ming's path and said: "This is a secluded place, no one will come, and my sister can rest assured."

  Ming Yi listened and felt that this sentence was ambiguous, so he coldly said: "Qī Gōngzǐ Zhòng"

  Zhi Heng immediately laughed and reached out to pat Ming's head: "Head, you're with me again. I went to your house a few days ago, but you didn't come back, what's going on?"

  "The journey was exhausting and I happened to feel unwell, so I'm resting in bed."

  Qī Héngbǎn's face turned red with anger as he scolded: "You deceitful person, you've always loved to deceive me! I passed by your third brother earlier and he said you were doing well. Just a couple of hours ago, you were still lively!" As he spoke, he wanted to grab Ming's ear.

  Within a day, the two siblings each sold one, and Ming also got angry. He pushed Qizheng's shoulder with force and shouted: "You're not worthy of being our ancestor! As soon as you come, our whole family has to come to greet you! Without me, you won't be satisfied!"

  Ming used some force and her face turned red, her porcelain-like skin was tender to the point of being almost translucent. Qi Heng's heart skipped a beat as he suddenly reached out and grasped Ming's arm, pulling her close and whispering: "I just wanted to see you, you know?"

  Soft tone, gentle intention, entwined thoughts

  Ming was about to vomit blood, from the moment she met him, he had never given her a good look or said a few nice words, but he still loved to bother her. She didn't know when he would add this one move, watching Qi Heng grab his arm and lean in closer, almost hearing the man's breath. Ming was anxious, took a deep breath, looked down, aimed, lifted her foot, and used all her strength to kick him once.

  After retreating and squatting down to touch his own feet, he finally let out a sigh of relief and said seriously: "Speak properly, no hands or feet!"

  Qī Hué gazed at Míng, who was stomping her foot and pouting with her delicate, rosy lips. Qī Hué couldn't help but be enchanted. With a straight face and an air of confidence, he said: "If you're willing to have a proper conversation with me, why would I need to resort to such tactics?" Míng coldly laughed and said: "Young Master Qī has indeed made progress. If he applied this kind of thinking to his studies, he might just be able to get the top spot on the imperial examination."

  Qī Héng's face suddenly changed, he slowly stood up and walked a few steps closer to Ming, then stopped and said in a low voice: "You don't have to be so sharp with me, I know you're angry; it's been half a year since we last met, I just wanted to take a look at how you're doing."

  He heard the tone of grievance in his words and softened his heart, knowing that he couldn't be too proud or arrogant, so he kept a distance from him without offending him. He then moderated his tone and said, "Just look at it here."

  Qī Hué looked up and down, and it was only a few months since he last saw Ming. He seemed to have changed a lot, his face as smooth as water reflecting the gentle light, his eyes as bright as a clear moon. Qī Hué was slightly dazed and smiled: "You've grown taller...and more handsome."

  Ming thought for a moment and walked up to Qi Heng, saying seriously: "Yuan Ruo brother, have you seen Princess Jia Cheng?"

  "What did you see?"

  Ming let out a deep sigh and decided to speak up: "Brother Yuan Ruo, being an intelligent person, wouldn't you know what's going on in the entire capital city? The princess has had her heart set on you as her son-in-law for a long time, shouldn't you have understood by now?"

  He pursed his lips and his face changed for a few moments, then his expression transformed from panic to determination. He suddenly raised his head and said, "But I don't want her...I don't like her."

  "Whether you like her or not is another matter, but you shouldn't have come looking for me again. I know you've always been close to my siblings, but now that we're...like this, how can you not be more mindful? If there's even a hint of gossip, my sister will be completely ruined."

  Qī Hué also didn't know what he was thinking, but suddenly smiled and said with a gentle tone: "I'm not that kind of person, I definitely won't do such things. I also know what's good or bad, only your brother entered the Hanlin Academy, I'm afraid it won't be easy to come to your house in the future." He lowered his voice and whispered: "Just want to see you, think about how fierce it is."

  Even if the words that had been lingering in her heart for a long time were spoken to her, she couldn't help but blush. But the harsh reality was right in front of her, and Ming steeled herself: "Young Master Qi, please be more reserved, I'm not worthy of your kindness."

  "....I only like my sister" She was strange and picky, well-behaved in front of people but lazy and sloppy behind their backs. She wasn't nice to him either, even deceiving and avoiding him, yet he liked her.

  Her heart aching with bitter resentment, she forced herself to look him straight in the eye and said earnestly: "I beg of you, don't mention me in front of others or behind their backs, not even half a sentence. Don't spread any rumors, whether it's about the young master or my family. Even if I'm not worthy of being the county lord's daughter-in-law, I'm still a member of the Qi family. You've seen and heard everything, don't you know?"

  Zhi Heng knew she was telling the truth, her face turned pale and her spirit was downtrodden.

  Ming's heart was hardened, and she added fuel to the fire: "From now on, don't come looking for me again. Even if we run into each other, you're not allowed to talk to me. If you must speak, please be polite! In this world, it's hard enough being a woman. If there are rumors or gossip, I'll have no choice but to take the road of death! You must remember!" Ming looked straight at Qi Heng, her eyes strongly imploring him. Qi Heng nodded woodenly.

  Ming let out a sigh and lowered his head, turning around to leave. Qi Heng just watched as Ming's back disappeared into the distance, until he was no longer in sight.