Houfu Key Class

"Madam, General, the old marquis and the old lady are going out again. They said that an old friend passed away and they want to go to pay their respects." The voices of the maids reporting came from outside.

Xu Wan replied: "Tell my father-in-law and mother-in-law that we have urgent things to do and we won't go."

"Yes." The maid retreated again.

Xu Wan and Zong Zhao, who had urgent things to do, were studying painting in the room.

They wanted to record the scene of the five young boys being tempered by Su Xi. The scroll was long and horizontal, which was most suitable for multiple people to paint. Two people held the pen on the left and right.

When he painted the big study, she painted the young boys in front of the study; when he painted water spinach, she painted the young master Mao Mao chasing the little devil; when he painted the small pavilion, she painted Mr. Su who was chewing sesame cakes and watching jokes with a sharp tongue.

The painting style of both of them was mainly realistic, without exaggerated brushwork and expressions, only restoring the most real appearance of people and things in the big study.

After the painting was finished and the ink was dry, Zong Zhao framed the painting and asked her where she wanted to hang it.

Xu Wan thought for a while and said, "Let's hang it in our room for a few days. When they are about to come out of the Imperial Examination Hall, we will move it to the study."

Zong Zhao said considerately, "If you like it, don't let them hang it in the study."

Xu Wan blinked and said, "They will like it very much too."

Zong Zhao stroked her eyebrows and gently corrected her, "Your own likes should be more important than theirs. Put yourself first, then others."

Xu Wan felt sweet in her heart and said, "Oh, I see. Let's put it in the study. I can see it there and be happy."

Zong Zhao hummed and said, "I listen to you."

He went out to get a nail and a small hammer, and under Xu Wan's command, he hung the horizontal painting on the back wall.

Next to it was the painting of their family of three with a lantern.

Xu Wan looked at the two paintings on the wall and sighed: "It's so memorable. Figure paintings are more beautiful than landscape paintings. They have stories and emotions."

Zong Zhao asked: "Who else do you want to paint? I can accompany you to paint at any time."

Xu Wan thought for a while and said: "I also want to wait until they finish the imperial examination and take a big group photo for all the teachers and students in the key class."

Zong Zhao echoed: "It will probably take several days to paint."

The two of them spent almost a day painting the vegetable planting. They need to have a good understanding of the things in the painting and have enough time.

Xu Wan thought for a while and said: "Yes, it takes a lot of time. Then wait until you have time to paint, after the palace examination?"

Zong Zhao reminded: "After the palace examination, didn't you promise to take them to see Mr. Su?"

"Oh, right... time is tight and the task is heavy." Xu Wan began to worry. If she can't paint it now, she won't feel the same when she paints it later.

Zong Zhao reminded, "Didn't they want the teachers and students to go to the Imperial Academy to take the exam for three days in March next year?"

Xu Wan immediately became energetic and shouted, "Then let's make arrangements for these three days."

"Then we will paint together then."

"Okay."

In the evening, after the two finished painting, they went out to eat. The chefs in the mansion were all top-notch, but it was boring to eat at home every day, so Zong Zhao took her to a restaurant outside and strolled around the street.

Xu Wan had a very happy day. When she returned to the mansion with Zong Zhao, she was still smiling. The two held hands and talked and laughed, and were already planning where to eat next time.

The guards at the door saluted and greeted them.

Xu Wan saw that the courtyard was brightly lit, which was really different from usual. Usually, it was almost time to go to bed at this time, and even if the lights were left on in the mansion, they would not be left on so many.

Zong Zhao also noticed something unusual, and asked, "Is there anyone coming to the mansion?"

The guard said, "General, it was the old marquis and the old lady who came back from the condolences and brought back the old marquis' cousin Zong Qiyun."

"Zong Qiyun..." Zong Zhao's hands subconsciously clenched.

Xu Wan's hand, which was held by him, was a little painful, but she endured it and didn't say anything, because she seemed to have guessed who this person was.

The old marquis attended the funerals of two old friends in a row, and he might feel puzzled and not suspicious, but the third person must know what was going on, because he was guilty.

The smile on Zong Zhao's face disappeared, and was replaced by a colder and heavier body. He turned sideways and said, "You go back to your room first, I'll go see."

Xu Wan held his hand and didn't move, smiling and replied, "Since your cousin is here, it would be impolite if I don't go to see him."

She was worried about Zong Zhao.

Although she didn't know what he was carrying, she was worried, and always felt that if she didn't go, Zong Zhao would definitely be in trouble.

Zong Zhao said again: "Go back to the room, I can handle it and will be back soon."

Xu Wan did not let go, but asked: "Since you can handle it, why are you afraid of me going with you?"

Zong Zhao looked at her and was silent for a long time.

"My mother-in-law is there too, why can't I be there?" Xu Wan said to him with gentle and firm eyes, "Husband and wife are one, if we advance, we advance together, if we retreat, we retreat together. You want me to retreat today, then should I always retreat in the future?"

She was laughing, but the question was not a joke.

She was asking him: Should he let her stand beside him?

Zong Zhao never hid anything from her, and of course he would not retreat at this moment. He held her hand and raised it, whispering: "I just don't want you to be unhappy with me... Come if you want, we will go together."

Xu Wan smiled and said: "That's better, we will go together."

The couple walked towards the front hall, which was the place to receive guests.

Zong Qiyun was talking to the old marquis. When he saw Zong Zhao coming in, he shouted from a distance: "My dear nephew! I haven't seen you for a long time. You are more courageous than before. You are worthy of being a general. You are the most promising one in our Zong family."

Zong Zhao nodded at him and called him: "Uncle."

"Hello, uncle." Xu Wan also smiled and greeted him.

Zong Qiyun saw Xu Wan and praised her again: "Hey, my niece's wife is good. This wife is a good wife. She is dignified and generous. My brother and sister-in-law have good taste. The wife they chose is the best match for my dear nephew."

Xu Wan nodded politely to thank him.

Zong Zhao watched him perform expressionlessly.

The old marquis heard him praise everyone he met, and he was so happy, he was really a little puzzled: "Qiyun, do you have any conflicts with Congzhang?"

Today, their mutual old friend Ma Congzhang passed away, and Zong Qiyun didn't say that he was sad and mourned, but insisted on going home with him to see Zong Zhao, and now he is still smiling so happily, it seems abnormal no matter how you look at it.

Zong Qiyun hurriedly replied: "Brother, to be honest with you, I haven't been in contact with Ma Congzhang for a long time, and Zhao Yumin, they are all people who forget their loyalty when they see profit, and they are not worth making friends with."

"Ah?" The old marquis was confused, he asked, "What's wrong, what happened in the middle?"