https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-128-A-Mother-and-Daughter-s-Heart-to-Heart/12582595/
Chapter 129: All of Jingcheng Dotes on Meng Xiaojiu
Chapter 129: All of Jingcheng Dotes on Meng Xiaojiu
Yuli was bewildered as he inexplicably gained a little brother. He thought Han Lin was joking with him, but Han Lin's subsequent actions proved his sincerity.
They switched from playing hoop and arrow to cuju (a game similar to soccer), and Han Lin, as his opponent, frequently passed the ball to him, to the point that he was beaten by his teammates.
What Yuli didn't know was that this group of young masters was not usually this attentive to just anyone. While they were indeed virtuous, they occasionally showed some xenophobic tendencies.
But who could blame them when he was Xiao Huhutiger's cousin?
Xiao Huhutiger, the cure for their arrogance.
The Yushi family watched from a distance for a long while, and seeing Yuli getting along well with the group of young masters, they were both delighted and shocked.
Yuli was an introvert, shy, and the type to blush after speaking a few words. Bringing him here today was to broaden his horizons and also to hope that he could become more familiar with the National University's Madam.
"Madam, should we call for the young master?" the nanny asked.
Yushi shook her head. "No, let him play a little longer."
The identities of this group of young masters were not simple, and among them was the young master of the Lin family.
Yushi then thought of Meng Qianqian.
Even Yuli knew the importance of networking, yet Meng Qianqian, who had the opportunity to enter the Shangshu Manor, chose to only frolic in the garden with a few maids.
She heard that the Meng family had found a good marriage for her in the capital, with an official's family.
There were too many officials in the capital; a sesame official of the ninth rank was an official, and so was a grand commandant of the first rank—a world of difference.
It was impossible for her to marry a grand commandant. Most likely, the family that took a fancy to Meng's family was not a powerful one, perhaps only having a relative holding a nominal position in the government office.
If she had been sweeter and softer-spoken just now, Yushi might have been able to ask Marquis Hou to find an official position for her husband.
As she pondered, she arrived at the banquet set up in the grand garden.
To her surprise, apart from Madam Xing, who was the host and still attending to the guests, many of the other madams and young ladies had left their seats.
Yushi greeted Madam Xing and asked curiously, "Did I come late?"
Madam Xing smiled and said, "No, they went to look for Miss Meng."
Upon hearing that Meng Xiaojiu was also in the manor, they ran faster than rabbits, afraid that they would miss the chance to see her.
"Miss Meng? Could it be..." Yushi was startled.
Madam Xing smiled politely. "You probably haven't heard since you just returned to the capital, but it's Tiger Guard Meng Xiaojiu of the Yin Tiger Guards."
Yushi had indeed not heard of her. She didn't care about military affairs and didn't understand the Black Armor Guards or the Twelve Guards. Even if Madam Xing told her now, she wouldn't know the status of the Tiger Guard in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
She could only guess from the attitudes of the madams that this person was probably a formidable figure.
So it turned out that they just shared the same surname. No wonder she thought it couldn't be that girl.
Madam Xing offered politely, "Madam Hou, please have some tea."
Yushi was not very familiar with Madam Xing, and even less so with Meng Xiaojiu, who was like a distant relative she had never met. It would be too abrupt to ask to meet her.
She picked up the teacup, took a sip, and smiled. "This is fine tea."
The stage was set up, and the opera troupe performed one play after another. Yushi guessed that they had been performing for about an hour when the madams and young ladies finally returned to their seats with smiles on their faces.
Yushi was puzzled. Was the status of the Tiger Guard really that noble? Even the madams of the National University, the Censors (a type of inspector), and Princess Yongning went to socialize with her proactively.
Madam Xing had been upstaged, but she didn't mind at all and instead looked proud.
Madam Lin sat down next to Madam Xing with a blooming smile. "We've agreed that the next gathering will be at my place."
Madam Zhou glared at her, arms akimbo: So angry that she lost the race!
Zhou Nanyin poked her head out from behind the curtain, asking in a soft voice, "Sister Meng, are they all gone?"
Meng Qianqian replied, "They've left. Come out now."
Zhou Nanyin, who had been holding her breath, heaved a sigh of relief. "Phew, that scared me. It's fine if Aunt Xing, Aunt Wang, and Aunt Lin knew about us, but it would've been troublesome if others had found out. Sister Meng, let's go fishing again!"
Meng Qianqian smiled and said, "Alright."
Zhou Nanyin wanted to avoid outsiders, so Meng Qianqian stayed by her side and didn't return to the banquet. Midway through, Zhou Ye sent a servant to deliver a message, assuring Meng Qianqian that Yu Li was being well taken care of and asking her not to worry.
Yu Shi didn't get a chance to see Meng Qianqian before she left the banquet, assuming that she had left early because she couldn't bear to stay any longer.
Yu Shi found Yu Li and asked him to pack his things as he would be moving to the Marquis' mansion the next day.
"I've already discussed it with the Marquis. From now on, you'll live in the Marquis' mansion."
"No need, Aunt," Yu Li replied.
Hearing the same words twice in a day, Yu Shi's brows furrowed slightly. "You've only spent a few days with her, and now you're speaking like her. After moving into the Marquis' mansion, you'll be the young master of the Marquis' family, and people in the capital will look at you with respect."
Yu Li said, "Thank you for your kind offer, Aunt. But I'd like to live with my cousin sister."
Yu Shi paused, her brows knitting together. "You and your cousin sister..."
Yu Li quickly clarified, "Aunt, don't misunderstand! I only see my cousin sister as a sister, and she sees me as a brother!"
He held back from mentioning Meng Qianqian's upcoming wedding.
Yu Li didn't have a good impression of the Marquis' mansion. The servants there looked at him as if he were a poor relative seeking handouts.
At least his cousin sister's family didn't give him strange looks.
Yu Shi sighed. "I know you don't like the servants at the Marquis' mansion. If they do anything wrong, I'll discipline them. It wasn't easy for me to convince the elderly madam to let you move in."
Yu Li said, "In that case, Nephew shouldn't cause any more trouble for Aunt."
Yu Shi's expression turned sour.
She had been praising him in her heart just now, but now he was being unreasonable.
The position of the young master of the Marquis' mansion was something many people could only dream of. If he didn't appreciate it, so be it.
It was rare for Zhou Nanyin to come out, and she played with Meng Qianqian until evening. Yu Li also stayed at the Shangshu mansion, exchanging poems and literature with Xing's two sons, Zhou Ye, and others, gaining valuable insights.
On the carriage ride back, Meng Qianqian asked Yu Li, "Did you make any friends today, Cousin?"
Yu Li's face still held a trace of excitement as he scratched his head and said, "I'm not sure if they can be considered my friends yet, but Han Gongzi invited me to his home tomorrow for a small gathering. Zhou Gongzi and a few other young masters will also be there."
Meng Qianqian smiled and asked, "Do you want to go, Cousin?"
Yu Li asked, "Can I go?"
Meng Qianqian smiled gently and said, "Of course. Do you like them, Cousin?"
Yu Li nodded, "Yes!"
Meng Qianqian smiled and asked, "Then, Cousin, do you want to study with them?"
Yu Li fell silent.
He had asked them, and they all studied at the Imperial College. After refusing his aunt today, he wondered if the Marquis' mansion would think he was ungrateful and if he would still be able to enter the Imperial College.
Upon returning to the Marquis' mansion, Yu Shi immediately went to the study of the Marquis of Anyuan.
She asked softly, "Husband, is there any news about Li'er entering the Imperial College?"
The Marquis of Anyuan replied, "I was just about to discuss this with you. Li'er came late. The entrance examination for the Imperial College ended last month, so he'll have to wait until next year if he wants to enter."
Yu Shi's expression changed. "Can't he take the exam again?"
The Marquis of Anyuan frowned and sighed. "Are you asking me to get Dean Lin to hold a separate examination for him? The Marquis of Anyuan doesn't have that kind of influence."
Great villain: ╭(╯^╰)╮
(End of Chapter)
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