Chapter 13:
Luo Shen immediately looked at his mother.
Xiao Yongjia turned his face and said lightly, "You are welcome."
Luo Shen knew that he couldn't be in a hurry. Besides, it was impossible to expect his mother to go out to greet his father just like him. He nodded: "Mother is resting, I'm going to greet Aye."
Gao Qiao entered the back hall and saw her daughter facing him from a distance, with a smile on her face, and quickly stepped inside.
It is a joy to meet family members. Because it was a little late, after a few words, Gao Qiao urged Luoshen to go back to his room to rest.
"Aye, it's only been a few months, and you've lost a lot of weight. You should be tired today, so you should go to rest early. Aniang hasn't slept yet, she's in the room."
Before Luoshen left, he turned around and said to his father.
Gao Qiao nodded with a smile, watched Aju walk away with her daughter's figure gradually, her expression became solemn, and ordered the servants everywhere to leave.
The servants have already prepared the bath water. After Gao Qiao took a bath, he put on a white coat that he often wears at home, and went to the bedroom with a heavy heart.
The door was ajar, and candles were lit inside.
Gao Qiao pushed open the door and entered, and saw Xiao Yongjia with his back to the door, leaning in front of a softly stuffed brocade hidden pocket sitting on the couch on the side of the house. Wearing a light snow blue ru skirt with a corset, a black hair hangs down like a cloud from the back of the head, the skirt covers the knees, and half of the toes are exposed at the bottom of the skirt. From the back, she has a graceful figure, like a twenty-eight girl.
She was facing a silver lamp standing at the foot of the couch, as if she was reading a book intently. She didn't even hear when she came in, so she lightened her footsteps and walked towards the inner room.
Walking to her side, the lamp shadow moved.
Gao Qiao stopped.
"Mrs. Lu sent someone here yesterday, and after two days, she came over to discuss the marriage of the children in person."
Xiao Yongjia spoke coldly. His eyes were still on the scroll.
"You can do it as you see fit."
Gao Qiao responded and continued to walk in. After walking a few steps, he stopped again, looked back, hesitated for a while, and finally said, "It's getting late, pay attention, go and rest."
Xiao Yongjia muted lightly, threw the book on the couch, stepped on the couch with bare feet, shoved off the pair of purple silk embroidered shoes off the ground, turned around and went to the inner room, passing by Gao Qiao's side , paused, and glanced at the clothes on him.
"How many years have you been wearing this dress? Could it be the one you cut with Zi Le the year before?" Her tone was a little disgusting.
"I'm used to wearing it, and the clothes are fine, but they haven't been mended."
Gao Qiao touched the front of his clothes and said vaguely.
Xiao Yongjia cast a disgusting glance again, stopped talking, turned around and walked past him.
When Gao Qiao came back, he silently bent over to pick up the scroll she just left behind, closed it, put it back on a small table in front of the couch, and followed him inside.
The couple turned off the lights and went to bed, each with a quilt.
Xiao Yongjia turned his back inward, motionless, and seemed to fall asleep quickly.
Gao Qiao was lying on his back on the pillow, how could he sleep well tonight? I was thinking about the incident that happened during the day in my mind. After tossing and turning for a while, my mind was a little confused. I was afraid of waking up the people around me, so I sat up slowly without lighting the light. He got out of bed lightly, bent over, and was touching his shoes, when suddenly Xiao Yongjia suddenly sat up with a sudden sound from behind him.
"Gao Qiao! Hit you in, and I'm talking to you, but you ignore it! At this moment, in the middle of the night, you are tossing and turning, looking like you have been wronged, and you have to go out now, what do you mean?"
"Could it be that you think I'm here, disturbing your peace? If so, you can tell it as soon as possible to save you from being so uncomfortable. I don't need you to rush, I'll go back to Bailuzhou by myself!"
Gao Qiao didn't watch out that she was still awake. Seeing her suddenly furious, he hurriedly said, "A-Ling, you misunderstood. I'm going to sleep now." After speaking, he lifted the quilt again and pretended to lie down.
"Jiangbei's victory, daughter's happy event, everything is a good thing, but you look unhappy, what's the matter with you?"
"Nothing. I'm asleep." Gao Qiao prevaricates.
Xiao Yongjia sneered: "Well, what else do you pretend I don't know? I know you don't want to see me in front of you for a moment! If it wasn't for your daughter's marriage, would you think I wanted to come back?"
"Since I'm back, I'll have to go to bed. If you see me bored, go wherever you want to go!"
She lay back, still with her back to Gao Qiao, and said coldly. After saying that, he closed his eyes.
Gao Qiao neither lay back nor stood up, but just sat on the edge of the bed, and his figure remained motionless.
After a long while, he stood up slowly and whispered, "Go to sleep. I'm a little bored, so go to the study and be quiet."
Xiao Yongjia turned around and saw her husband's figure walking slowly towards the door through the thin summer tent, almost clenched his silver teeth, grabbed the square pillow he had just slept on, and lifted it up. The curtain was thrown towards his back, and he said bitterly, "You can stay in your study, and you don't have to come back!"
…
Out of the east of the city, dozens of miles outside the suburbs, there is a Que Lake, the lake is shining, the scenery is beautiful, there is a manor by the lake, the famous Que Zhuang.
The next day, Li Mu, dressed in Tsing Yi, rode to Quezhuang alone. When he got off the horse, a middle-aged man dressed as a steward waiting at the entrance of the manor hurriedly greeted him and said with a smile, "Is Li Huben at your feet?"
Li Mu nodded.
The steward said: "Second High Seven, as ordered by the master, I will wait here for a long time. Please come with the servant."
Li Mu glanced at the manor and entered with Gao Qi.
This manor occupies a huge area, and there is no end to it at a glance. Gao Qi seems to be intentionally letting him see the inside, taking him slowly all the way forward, and introducing him to every scene. Along the way, there are twists and turns, but you can see the small bridges and pavilions in the middle, and the scenery is very beautiful.
Gradually walking to the high hall where the owner of the Houzhuang lived, Gao Qi smiled and said: "In addition to the place you just saw, this villa also has thousands of acres of fertile fields, more than 200 hectares of land and water, rice, mulberry fish, four Fruits and vegetables are always available.”
Li Mu didn't speak, just raised his eyes and looked in the direction of Xuanmen. A young man of twenty-five or six years old came out there, with his shirt off and fluttering white clothes, with a handsome face and bright eyes, it was Gao Yin, another outstanding disciple of the Gao clan.
When Gao Yin was in the Jiangbei War, he was in the position of the governor, and he met Li Mu naturally. He had no pretence and a smile on his face. He walked quickly to Li Mu and said with a smile: "Jingchen, you can come, I have already Wait a long time!"
Li Mu smiled and greeted him, but was stopped by Gao Yin and led into the hall. Two banquets have been set up inside, facing each other. Gao Yin took the main seat himself, and invited Li Mu to the guest seat. The two sat down, and then servants served good food and wine like flowing water. When it was over, Gao Yin ordered Gao Qi to take all the people to retreat, so he didn't have to wait on the side.
Only Gao Yin and Li Mu were left in the hall. Gao Yin invited Li Mu to drink a cup and said with a smile, "What do you think of this Zhuangzi?"
"Wonderland on Earth, that's all." Li Mu replied.
Gao Yin smiled, put down the wine glass in his hand, and clapped his hands together.
Amidst the high-fives, I saw a row of screens on the side of the lobby, and dozens of girls came out in a row. Brightened a lot.
The beauty opened her mouth to say hello, her voice like a chirping. Gao Yin smiled and ordered the beauties to sing and dance. There was a woman in red playing the sheng, a woman in green playing the drum, and the rest danced to the music.
After one song, Gao Yin ordered all the people to retire, and turned to Li Mu with a smile: "What about the beautiful woman singing and dancing?"
Li Mu smiled slightly: "The beauty of the governor sings and dances, naturally Yaoji Xianle."
Gao Yin smiled and said, "Jingchen, if you think it's okay, please accept this Zhuangzi. All these beauties just now belong to your name and will serve you in the future. What do you think?"
Li Mu said: "The Governor is beautiful, and Li Mu Xin accepts it. Li Mu does not dare to accept such a heavy gift. Please take it back."
Gao Yin stared at him, the smile on his face gradually disappeared, and his expression became solemn.
"Li Mu, I think you should also know why I privately invited you to come here today. You are indeed very kind to me, the Gao Clan, and my uncle did promise you personally at the beginning. It's just that scholars and concubines do not intermarry. You should know by heart, why did you make such a harsh request to my uncle? Besides, my sister already has a heart, and she was a childhood sweetheart with the Lu family. Now that the two Gaolu families are about to discuss marriage, isn't it absurd that you make such a request at this moment?"
Gao Yin got up from the seat, put his hands behind his back, and slowly paced back and forth. The high sandals under his feet are on the smooth ground, making a crisp sound of stomping.
"Jingchen, I respect your heroic father and grandfather. I heard that you joined the army when you were thirteen years old, and you have not only made military exploits, but also did not abandon your comrades in all dangers several times. But you want to embarrass my Gao family like this?"
"Have you ever thought that if my uncle was forced to promise that day and really marry my sister to you, not only will you be named as a subordinate by the world, but also where do you want to put my Gao family? Where is my younger sister? It's okay to be ridiculed by others, I'm afraid she will be depressed and unhappy for the rest of her life!"
He stopped and turned to Li Mu.
"Today I invite you here because I don't want to expand this matter. Except for the beauty of the manor, if you have any other requests, except my sister, as long as my Gao family can come out, there will be everything. Yes. What do you think?"
After he finished speaking, he stared at Li Mu with two eyes.
Li Mu never said a word, and when Gao Yin finished speaking, he slowly stood up from the seat.
"Thank you for your sincere words. If there is any inconvenience, Li Mu will take back what he asked for yesterday. As for the other things, please use the governor himself. Thank you for your hospitality today. Li Mu bids farewell!"
He smiled and arched his hands towards Gao Yin.
Gao Yin looked at the cyan back who strode away in front of him, his brows furrowed, and he couldn't help looking at the screen in the hall.
Behind the screen, a middle-aged man slowly turned out, with a condensed expression, and said to Li Mu's back: "Li Mu, I have something to ask you!"
Li Mu stopped, turned his head, saw Gao Qiao appear, and walked back.
Gao Qiao glanced at Gao Yin.
Gao Yin nodded slightly and stepped back.
Only Gao Qiao and Li Mu were left in the hall, standing opposite each other.
Li Mu greeted Gao Qiao with a very respectful attitude.
Unusually, Gao Qiao didn't order him to get up. He just stared at him and said coldly, "You borrowed me to make a slip of the tongue that day, and now you insist on me marrying my daughter. I don't expect you to act on your own accord. What is the picture for?"
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a sudden sound of hurried footsteps outside the hall.
Gao Qiao looked over and saw that Gao Qi had entered in a hurry, regardless of etiquette, and frowned: "Why are you so panic?"
Gao Qi's face was extremely ugly. He stopped, glanced at Li Mu, walked quickly to Gao Qiao's side, put his ear to it, and said in a low voice, "Everyone (calling the male master), it's not good, there was news in the army this morning that the husband made a promise. , to marry the little lady to Li Mu, now everyone is so happy, they are all talking there!"
Gao Qiao's expression changed, he quickly glanced at Li Mu, and saw him standing aside, his expression was calm, but there was no difference, his eyes were suddenly bright, his eyes were sharp like two sharp swords, staring at Li Mu, sneered and nodded: " Good! Good! I don't want to be caught in the palm of your hand by a little Sima of your other department!
After he finished speaking, without stopping, he turned around and hurried out of the lobby, his figure quickly disappeared outside the gate, and almost ran all the way to the gate of the manor.
When the servant saw the master coming out, he hurried up to meet him: "Everyone wait a moment, the slave will drive the ox cart..."
"Get me a horse!"
Gao Qiao snorted, waited for the horse to arrive, jumped up, blew his sleeves, swung his arm and whipped, and drove the horse to gallop towards the city.