Marriage of the Di Daughter

The fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month is the Mid-Autumn Festival.

This day was no different from usual, at most they had a reunion dinner together in Jiang's residence. But even for this reunion dinner, it is not very accurate to say "together". Because Jiang Yu'e was sent to Zhuangzi to "rehabilitate her wounds", Jiang Yu'e had to go to Ningyuan Hou's mansion in the spring of next year. She was actually still young, but because the Yang family was afraid that it would be unfavorable for Jiang Yu'e if she delayed too long, she had to marry Jiang Yu'e first. Besides.

Jiang Youyao probably finally realized that there was no room for change in this matter, even if she refused to give up, she couldn't do anything after being grounded by Mrs. Jiang all day long, and she lost a lot of weight in less than a month. The original delicate and charming person now looks like she will collapse in the wind, so pitiful.

But in this way, Jiang Yuanbai felt even more distressed. During the meal, Jiang Li noticed that Jiang Yuanbai's attitude towards Ji Shuran's mother and daughter was extremely gentle. He probably felt that Zhou Yanbang had wronged Jiang Youyao and was trying to compensate Jiang Youyao.

Seeing their happy family, Jiang Li didn't feel anything else. Lu Shi couldn't see it, and deliberately blocked Ji Shuran and said: "Everyone should go to the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival tonight."

"Youyao won't go," Ji Shuran said: "Youyao has a cold, and these days are still not good. If you go out, it will be more troublesome if the wind blows. You go, I will stay with Youyao at home."

Mrs. Jiang has not released Jiang Youyao's restraint, because of Jiang Youyao's temperament and feelings for Zhou Yanbang, it is inevitable that she will find Zhou Yanbang when she is released. Mrs. Jiang hoped that Jiang Youyao would give up. If Jiang Youyao kept pestering Zhou Yanbang, the people in Ningyuanhoufu would look down on the Jiang family.

Jiang Youyao herself didn't want to go out, although being grounded was also very annoying. But as soon as she thought of going out, everyone would look at her with sympathy, Jiang Youyao felt extremely humiliated. Although Zhou Yanbang's matter had nothing to do with her, it caused her to become a joke in this romantic affair, poor fiancée. Rather than staring at other people's eyes outside, it's better to stay in the mansion by yourself, out of sight.

"I'm not going either." Jiang Yuanbai said: "I still have court affairs to deal with." Now he feels that he has wronged Jiang Youyao, and he wants to make up for this little daughter. Ji Shuran's mother and daughter will not go, Jiang Yuanbai definitely did not leave his wife and daughter to go alone The reason to go.

Lu's eyeballs rolled around, and said: "If you don't go, what about Li'er? You can't let Li'er go alone, can you?"

Jiang Yuanping on the side coughed lightly.

"It's okay," Jiang Li said with a smile, "I don't really want to go either."

"Girl Li, go with your second aunt." Mrs. Jiang suddenly said, "You just returned to Yanjing City this year, and the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival is also very good. You have worked hard these days, so take a good rest."

Mrs. Jiang had already spoken, Jiang Li naturally couldn't shirk anything, even though she was unwilling in every way, she had to agree. Now, Jiang Yuanbai was in a dilemma. On the one hand, he was the eldest daughter who had just returned to Beijing, and on the other hand, was the young girl who had been wronged, with fleshy palms and backs. But in the end, he decided to stay in the mansion. Jiang Li seems to be sensible and generous, but Jiang Youyao has never suffered anything, and if she has a chance in the future, she will just make up for Jiang Li.

Seeing that the eldest son still only cared about Ji Shuran's mother and daughter, looking stubborn, Mrs. Jiang sighed in her heart, shook her head, and went back after eating. On the contrary, Jiang Jingrui was the happiest, after the old lady left, she kept winking at Jiang Li, and after the show was over, she deliberately walked behind, and said to Jiang Li: "You said you didn't want to go, and the old lady said something, so you have to obediently follow? "

When Jiang Li was upset, she didn't bother to pay attention to him. Jiang Jingrui said on his own: "You will definitely be eye-opened by then. The food, sugar figures, and lantern riddles along the way. I heard that Jin Mantang will be singing tonight, so I will take you tonight Open your eyes, hey, don't go away—"

Jiang Li left Jiang Jingrui far behind, and walked faster and faster, and she couldn't even hide. Thinking of not going out tonight to avoid touching the scene, but Mrs. Jiang said something, if she avoided it, it would be too deliberate. But going out is not without benefits, people outside saw her coming out to watch the Lantern Festival, but Jiang Yuanbai, Ji Shuran, Jiang Youyao and others were not there, so they probably had to give some pointers in their hearts.

In front of outsiders, Jiang Yuanbai always had to be a bit scrupulous, and tried his best to level the bowl of water.

I have to take one step at a time.

Because of Mrs. Jiang's words, Jiang Li was forced to travel with the second room after dinner and the sky darkened.

Mrs. Jiang was not there, her legs and feet were inconvenient, so she stayed in the mansion to play with Jiang Bingji. In the big room, only Jiang Li went out alone, and everyone in the second room was there. Sanfang Yang and Jiang Yuanxing didn't come out either. Apart from these things, Jiang Yuanxing would keep his head down when he went out to see his colleagues. Of course, he wouldn't go out and lose face. It was even more impossible for Jiang Yuyan to go out.

Tong'er and Baixue also followed Jiang Li. It was the first time for the two maids to visit the Lantern Festival, and they exclaimed from time to time. Jiang Jingrui deliberately stayed behind, walking side by side with Jiang Li, and said, "Why are you not curious at all? I see that the two girls around you seem happier than you."

Jiang Li's expression was very calm, different from usual, Jiang Jingrui found that she could even be called indifferent. Although there was a usual smile on the corner of her lips, even the warm lights of the lanterns could not illuminate her smile.

However, this beauty with a little bit of tranquility has attracted many young masters who are playing. Along the way, Jiang Jingrui just found no fewer than seven or eight young masters who were peeking at Jiang Li.

The streets and alleys of Yanjing City, restaurants and teahouses are filled with all kinds of lanterns, all made by the common people themselves. The customs of each place are similar, for example, the lanterns in Yanjing City are the same as the river lanterns in Tongxiang. It's just that the lanterns are hung on the rope mountain, and the river lanterns are floating on the water.

Some are hexagonal, and some are shaped like lampstands. There are not a few people with ingenuity, Jiang Jingrui is very interested in these beautiful things despite his usual carelessness. From time to time, I would pull Jiangli and say that this one looks good, or that one looks good. Jiang Li was quite speechless, she just felt that compared to herself, Jiang Jingrui was like a real cardamom girl, with an innocent face, gentle and yearning.

When he saw a lantern in the shape of a rabbit, Jiang Jingrui couldn't walk. Even the people in the second room in front didn't keep up, so they insisted on buying it. However, the boss who made the rabbit lantern was also stubborn, and only said that the lantern would not be sold unless someone guessed the lantern riddle above and gave it to the other party as a return gift.

Jiang Jingrui got a headache when he saw those who could read and write, Jiang Jingyou and the others went to the front early again. Then he grabbed Jiang Li's sleeve and said, "Aren't you the first in the school exam? Come! Guess this, help me win this rabbit lamp, and I will give you fifty taels of silver!"

Jiang Li looked down upon Jiang Jingrui's behavior and wanted to refuse, but changed her mind when she heard his last sentence. Fifty taels of silver is not a lot, Jiang Jingrui is worthy of being a playboy, he really spends money like water. I am willing to exchange fifty taels of silver for such a useless lantern. It's a pity that a penny is hard for a hero, and Jiang Li never thought that she would have such a day when she would sell herself for money.

However, it is better to have money than to have no money. You don't see how many scholars in the world are talented and penniless.

She stopped and looked carefully at the lantern that Jiang Jingrui liked very much.

The people who make the lanterns also have some skills, so it is difficult to make lanterns in the shape of animals, but this person makes them lifelike. The body is wrapped in snow-white cloth, and inside is a skeleton made of bamboo. A pair of long pink ears, eyes decorated with two red beans. With the flickering lights inside, the rabbit's eyes also seemed to be a little agile, as if it was about to jump up in the next moment.

It is indeed a beautiful lantern.

Looking at the lantern riddle written on the wooden sign under the lantern, Jiang Li was looking at it with a smile, but suddenly, her smile froze and her expression changed dramatically.

I saw a line of small characters on the lantern riddle, and a row of familiar lantern riddles was written: "I searched for him thousands of times in the crowd."

In an instant, the affectionate voice seemed to echo in Jiang Li's ears, and he said, "This word is just like I treat you."

The past and the past were all in front of her eyes, and Jiang Li withdrew her hand like a burn.

Jiang Jingrui urged her: "What's wrong? Guess quickly!"

"I can't guess." Jiang Li said coldly.

"How is it possible?" Jiang Jingrui said, "You are the leader of Mingyi Hall. Since this lantern riddle is not red, it is not the most difficult to guess. How could you not guess it?"

Jiang Li said: "If you can't guess it, you can't guess it. You'd better hire someone else." She turned her head and walked away, as if she hated that lamp so much that she didn't even want to look at it more.

Jiang Jingrui didn't expect it, but he was reluctant to part with the lamp, so he didn't catch up with Jiang Li for a while. By the time he caught up, there was no sign of Jiang Li in the crowd. Jiang Jingrui immediately felt bad.

Following the crowd, Jiang Li was walking slowly.

Lu Shi and the others had already come to the front, and Jiang Jingrui was at the back. The crowd crowded shoulder to shoulder and would soon disperse people. Since they were not in the same place, it was easy to get lost.

Jiang Li was not very scared. She knew the way to Yanjing City, and she could see the location of the nearest city guard out of the corner of her eyes. If there was any problem, she could immediately call for help from the nearest city guard.

She also didn't want to go to Lu Shi or Jiang Jingrui, she just felt that this was a rare moment of being alone. Since returning to Beijing, she has been Jiang Li. Although she has gotten used to this identity, occasionally, she will remember that her original name was Xue Fangfei.

I'm afraid that the life of Jiang Li will be too long, and I will forget my original name and what I want to do. Indulging in the comfortable life brought about by this identity is not what she wants. The lantern riddles tonight are like a strong, bitter medicine that makes the heart numb, but it also makes people sober for a short time.

Therefore, it is also good to be able to give up the moment of being a "Jiang Li" and stay alone.

But Tong'er and Bai Xue didn't know what Jiang Li was thinking. Seeing that Jiang Jingrui and his party were no longer seen in the crowd, Tong'er said: "Girl, let's go find the second master and the others? We can't see anything anymore." , what should I do if I can't find my way back home later?"

"Nothing." Jiang Li said, "I remember the way."

"There are too many people." Bai Xue also persuaded: "We don't have a single guard with us, what if something happens?"

Jiang Li looked at herself, and now Miss Jiang's most ruthless enemies are none other than Ji Shuran's mother and daughter. But even if Ji Shuran's mother and daughter wanted to attack her, they wouldn't pick so many people, under the watchful eyes of everyone. Not to mention Jiang Youyao, but Ji Shuran is very meticulous, and will not leave anyone any clues. However, there are accidents in everything, and it cannot be deduced by common sense. If the mother and daughter become mad, everything is possible.

She stopped her thoughts of going for a walk alone, and said, "That makes sense."

Both Bai Xue and Tong'er breathed a sigh of relief. Jiang Li was about to look for Lu's figure, but accidentally caught a glimpse of a person not far away: "Ye Shijie?"

After the palace banquet, Jiang Li seldom went to Mingyi Hall. What happened to Jiang Yu'e had affected the reputation of the Jiang family girl after all. Mrs. Jiang asked her to go out as little as possible on weekdays, and wait until she avoided the limelight for a while. Therefore, Jiang Li has no chance to meet Ye Shijie again.

At this moment, Ye Shijie and a middle-aged man seemed to be picking out lanterns in front of a small street vendor not far away who bought lanterns, and they looked very familiar while talking.

Jiang Li guessed that it was someone Ye Shijie knew, and wanted to inquire about Ye Shijie's recent situation, especially whether Li Lian had wooed him again, so she planned to go through the crowd and walk to Ye Shijie at the other end.

But he didn't know that the scene of his actions was completely seen by the other person.

Upstairs in Wangxian Tower, Kong Liu was staring at the people coming and going downstairs in a daze, he didn't really like to look at these flowers and lights, they were so bright and eye-catching. But compared to staying in the Duke's Mansion and watching the boring court affairs, of course it's better to watch the excitement. What's more, there are many pleasing girls in this bustle, who can add luster to the gloomy night.

But tonight, Kong Liu found a familiar shadow among the pleasing girls.

"Hey, it's Miss Jiang Er!" Kong Liu stood up and excitedly said to Ji Heng: "Come and see, it's Miss Jiang Er. I didn't expect her to come out to watch the lights tonight. No, why is she alone? There is no Jiang family around, did this sneak out?"

Lu Ji, who was sipping tea, followed his gaze and looked down, saying: "Who would sneak out with a maid, there are so many people outside, probably separated from his family."

"Scattered?" Kong Liu frowned: "There are so many people out there, and there are many gangsters. Every year, girls are taken away by gangsters. Such a beautiful little girl will inevitably attract attention. If something happens Not good."

"Then what do you do?" Lu Ji looked at him curiously.

"I'll send her to find her family!" Kong Liu took it for granted.

"Kong Liu," Lu Ji said, "Don't be delusional, let alone the daughter of the chief assistant's family, even an ordinary girl's family would look down on you as an old man."

"I'm old?" Kong Liu was furious immediately, "I'm at my best age, what do you know? What's wrong with my age? You're only old, your fucking beard is so long!"

However, Lu Ji was not angry at all, she reached out and pointed outside with a smile, and pointed to Kong Liu: "I didn't say, how can you compare with the young boy, look, this Miss Jiang is just going to Have you found Young Master Ye?"

As soon as these words came out, not only Kong Liu, but even Ji Heng, who had been playing with a fan beside him, couldn't help but glance downstairs.

Sure enough, among the passing crowd, Jiang Li and the two maidservants beside her were walking towards the opposite street. Because there were too many people coming and going, the distance of one street was actually very difficult to walk. But what is rare is that she has an excellent sense of direction, she has been heading in one direction, and has not been swept away by the continuous flow of people.

And the purpose of her going, there is no doubt that it is an extraordinary handsome young man, Ye Shijie.

She wanted to walk to Ye Shijie.

Lu Ji smiled and said: "The relationship between the cousins ​​is very good."

"Isn't that nonsense, they are relatives." Kong Liu forgot for a moment that Lu Ji laughed at his age, and looked at Jiang Li and Ye Shijie intently.

Ji Heng also stood in front of the window, looked thoughtfully for a few moments, then suddenly closed his fan and said, "Wen Ji."

The guard in black appeared quietly before his eyes.

"Miss Jiang Er, please come up."

Lu Ji and Kong Liu didn't expect Ji Heng to say such a sentence suddenly, they all looked at him together, their eyes hard to hide their surprise.

"Just say that I invite Miss Jiang Er to watch Jin Mantang's concert and arrange her the front seat."

Kong Liu's jaw almost dropped.

...

The crowd is really crowded.

Although Yanjing City is much larger than Tongxiang, it also has many more people. When Tongxiang was at its busiest, it was no more than half of the current Yanjing City. It is hard to imagine a narrow street on weekdays, and it is so difficult to cross today.

It's finally time to reach the opposite side.

Just as Jiang Li secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and was about to take the two maids to Ye Shijie's side, suddenly, a man in black stopped in front of them.

Tong'er almost screamed in fright, and Bai Xue also raised her fist. The man in black seemed to have no expression on his face, and said word by word: "Miss Jiang Er, the Duke of the Kingdom invites you to watch the Jinmantang singing, and arranged the front seat in Wangxian Tower."

"Master?" Jiang Li said, "Ji Heng?"

Wen Ji was a little surprised that Second Miss Jiang called the Lord by his name without changing her face, so he nodded.

Jiang Li frowned, and Tong'er whispered: "Girl, this person suddenly appeared, what kind of Duke, could he be bluffing..."

"I'm not bluffing," Jiang Li replied, "He's from Lord Su."

Now Zi Wenji was even more surprised. He was sure that Jiang Li had never met him, but why Jiang Li was so sure. The next moment, I heard Jiang Li's faint voice: "Su Guogong likes beauty and hates ugliness. This dark guard is so beautiful, he must belong to Su Guogong."

Wen Jiming stood firmly, and the moment he heard what Jiang Li said, he almost slipped.

But Tong'er raised his head seriously at this moment to look at Wen Ji, and when he saw Wen Ji's face clearly, he couldn't help but gasped, and said, "Really! Girl, he is longer than the guards in our house." It looks much better! It's almost as good-looking as the second young master!"

Wen Ji: "..."

Bai Xue pulled Jiang Li's sleeve and whispered: "Then girl, shall we still go?"

Jiang Li looked at Wen Ji, Wen Ji couldn't see any expression, she thought about it a few times, finally sighed, and said, "Go."

Tong'er was still a little scared, but Jiang Li was very helpless. She knew that even if she couldn't say it and rejected Duke Su, Ji Heng would find a way to let her go. The reason why he is so polite is because he wants to appear polite, but there is a blood of arbitrariness in this person's bones.

No one can refuse him, because he always has his own way.

Those who know current affairs are heroes, Jiang Li could only say: "Let's go."

She and Tonger Baixue followed Wen Ji to Wangxianlou.

Ye Shijie and Ye Mingxuan were picking up lanterns while talking, when they turned around by chance, they suddenly saw a familiar figure from behind. He almost blurted out Jiang Li's name, but before he could say it, that figure was submerged with the crowd and was never seen again.

Ye Shijie suspected that he had read it wrong, and stared in a daze. Ye Mingxuan had paid the money, and in a blink of an eye, seeing Ye Shijie staring at the crowd in a daze, asked him: "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing." Ye Shijie withdrew his gaze, shook his head, thinking to himself that it was probably an illusion. Even if Jiang Li came out tonight, she would not be alone, there would always be Jiang's family following her.

He was too dazed.

...

Wangxianlou is the largest restaurant in Yanjing City.

When Jiang Li was Shen's wife, she passed this building with Shen's mother and Shen Ruyun. At that time, Shen's mother and Shen Ruyun were very envious, but she didn't care too much. Compared with the Shen family, her desire has always been extremely weak. But from that time on, she knew that Wangxian Tower was a gold-selling cave, a place where high-class people came.

In this life, you can walk in so swaggeringly in the places you didn't set foot in the previous life, and you are still called "guest of honor" and "invited" in. Although this invitation is not the other one, it is justifiable in the end.

Some people had already come to the hall on the first floor, but the place where Jiang Li was invited was on the second floor.

In the tea room on the second floor.

The Capital Mansion is already very luxurious, but Wangxian Tower is even more particular than the Jiang family. The blanket on the floor alone was a Persian plush embroidered rug, with gemstones on the top. The incense ginger and pears ordered in the house can’t be smelled, but it has a very comfortable and fragrant smell. In Xue Zhao’s words, it is “very expensive at first sight”.

In the tea room on the second floor of Wangxian Building, which is "very expensive at first glance", Wen Ji helped Jiang Li open the curtain and walked in.

Jiang Li saw the people inside.

To her surprise, besides Ji Heng, there were two other people inside, one was a scholar in blue shirt with a goatee, who smiled at Jiang Li, Jiang Li didn't know this person, but just smiled back. There is another person Jiang Li knows. He is the examiner who took the "Imperial Archery" exam at the school, Kong Wei, the commander of Shangqingche, known as Kong Liu.

Kong Liu was very happy to see Jiang Li, and greeted Jiang Li in a rough voice: "Second Miss Jiang." It seemed that he wanted to chat with Jiang Li, but he couldn't think of suitable words after much deliberation, so he could only He praised dryly: "Miss Jiang Er's horse rides well, and she shoots arrows well!"

It seemed to be praising the soldiers he had accepted.

Both Lu Ji and Ji Heng looked at him strangely.

Kong Liu scratched his head, chuckled, and stopped talking.

Only then did Jiang Li look at Ji Heng. The young man was wearing a light red robe today. Although it was light, it made his appearance even more gorgeous. His skin is fairer than a woman's with makeup and powder, and his lips are more ruddy than the peach blossoms in April, so the whiter becomes whiter, and the redr becomes redder. His eyes are translucent amber, and his whole body does not touch the fireworks of the world. , Wherever he stands, there is a painting, even if he is lazily playing with the gold thread folding fan in his hand, it is so beautiful that it can be drawn into a mystery at any time.

"The Lord of the Kingdom is looking for me, what is the matter?" Jiang Li asked. She really couldn't figure out what Ji Heng asked her for?

Ji Heng glanced at her, and suddenly smiled. He said: "We have some friendship anyway, Miss Jiang Er doesn't need to be born. Today's Mid-Autumn Festival, I met a fate on the road, and Jin Mantang is singing in Wangxian Tower. Second Miss, please share." That's all."

Jiang Li wondered, how can they still have some friendship, if it is about friendship, it is all evil. Ji Heng had seen her scheming against Master Jing'an on Qingcheng Mountain, and she had also seen her swaying Shen Ruyun, messing up Zhou Yanbang and Jiang Yu'e's spring water. And she also came across the secrets of Ji Heng and the Li family's contacts, and they knew each other's secrets well. At some point, it would not be an exaggeration to say that they wanted to kill each other. Ji Heng said it calmly, as if they had been friends of gentlemen for many years.

It's unbelievable.

And they are not "destiny on the road", it is clear that Ji Heng sent someone to come up without giving her the second choice of "invite".

Jiang Li said: "Thank you, Lord Guo, for your kindness, but I don't like watching theater."

"Second Miss, if you want to sing better in the future, you might as well think about famous actresses." Ji Heng smiled.

Jiang Li almost couldn't laugh, Ji Heng's words seemed to remind her of the palace banquet again. This is really, one of the things she did wrong is that Ji Heng should not have caught her by the pigtails and threatened her like this all day long!

Kong Liu looked around, and was very puzzled by the delicate atmosphere between Ji Heng and Jiang Li, but he was quite amiable, and said to Jiang Li: "Second Miss Jiang, I just saw you upstairs, and there is no guard around me, and you can't wait to see me." I don’t have your family, but you are separated from your family. There are not a few women who get lost at the Lantern Festival every year, and there are also many villains. Even if there is a city guard, it is not foolproof. You might as well wait until after this church meeting, we will find someone to escort you back The government, let you and your family reunite. To avoid accidents."

Reach out and don't hit the smiling person, and Kong Liu seems to be much more sincere and simple than Ji Heng, so it is difficult for Jiang Li to feel disgusted. Moreover, what Kong Liu said was not without reason. Seeing that the night is getting darker, the lanterns on the streets are getting brighter and brighter, and the crowds who come out to enjoy the moon are getting more and more crowded. It is really not a wise thing to go through the crowd alone right now. . Seeing that Tonger and Baixue also showed worried expressions on their faces, Jiang Libian made up her mind to do what Kong Liu said for now.

She smiled instantly, with a very gentle appearance, and said, "Thank you, Master Kong."

Kong Liu was a little flattered, and couldn't help but glance at Lu Ji proudly, how, he didn't scare the little girl, he is not too old, right?

Lu Ji turned her head away, too lazy to look at his stupid look.

While talking, the unique opening voice of the troupe suddenly sounded downstairs.

Jin Mantang's church meeting is about to begin, and this is the first play.

The second young master Jiang Jingrui who likes bunny lanterns has a girlish heart? (????ω????)?