Ci Jinzhi

  When Duan Yunling was sad and desperate because of her marriage, Duan Yunhua was angry.

   "Grandmother really called Duan Yunling over today?"

  The servant girl who went out to inquire about the news said cautiously: "Yes..."

   "Why did grandma ask Duan Yunling to go there?" Duan Yunhua already had the answer in his heart, but he didn't want to believe it, so he stood up and asked.

  The servant girl took a step back subconsciously, and answered bravely: "The servant girl didn't find out."

  As Duan Yunhua's personal maid, she knows about Qingfeng Temple. At this time, the old lady called the third girl over alone, what else could it be for.

  The maid's answer gave Duan Yunhua an outlet to vent his anger that was on the verge of exploding.

   "Why, why is Duan Yunling!"

   "She is just a concubine, like a piece of wood, she dares not speak when she sees outsiders. Why did Mrs. Gu Changbo choose her?"

  Duan Yunhua was emotional, and put his hands around the maid's arms: "Why are you talking about it?"

   "My maid, I don't know..." The maid's voice trembled.

  She is a little maid, how can she know why.

   "I don't believe it, I'm going to ask my grandmother!" Duan Yunhua walked out.

  The servant girl turned pale with horror, and quickly stopped her: "Girl, don't be impulsive! This is not up to the old lady to decide. It is useless for you to ask the old lady."

   "It's useless..." Duan Yunhua sat down on the beauty couch with a dazed expression, "It's useless..."

   Is she nothing just because her mother was divorced?

  Duan Yunhua lay down on the beauty's couch, crying in despair.

   When Duan Shaoqing came back from the Yamen and learned from the old lady that the Guchang House had taken a fancy to Duan Yunling, he was quite satisfied with the result.

   "Ling'er is cautious and submissive, and she won't make any mistakes when she arrives at Guchangbo Mansion."

   On the contrary, the daughter-in-law's unbearable temperament, impulsively contradicting her mother-in-law or quarreling with her husband, will cause headaches for the Shaoqing House.

   "I think so too." The old lady said with a smile.

  This night, some people in Shaoqing Mansion were happy and some were sad, but Duan Yunchen came back the next morning.

   Concerned about the studies of the eldest grandson, the old lady smiled and asked, "Did your second brother come back with you?"

   "Yes, the second brother said to go back with Cousin Qing." Duan Yunchen replied to his grandmother's words calmly, but his heart was not so calm.

  He could see that the grandmother was happy to see the second brother and the young cousin together. Although he has no intentions towards his young cousin, he still feels uncomfortable when he thinks that the person who once had affection for him will become husband and wife with his cousin in the future.

   Is there no other girl to consider? Why does the grandmother insist on keeping the young cousin at home?

  Duan Yunchen felt bitter when he thought that not long ago he quietly went to visit his mother at his grandfather's house.

  If it wasn't for his grandmother who insisted on matching him and his cousin Qing, his mother wouldn't have gone to extremes, and he and his cousin Zhu wouldn't have become like this...

   "Chen'er?"

  Duan Yunchen came back to his senses: "You call me."

  The old lady smiled: "You child, what are you thinking?"

   "Nothing. How is Grandma doing these days?"

   "Everything is fine, I went to Qingfeng Temple the day before yesterday to have some activities."

  The grandfather and grandson chatted for a while, Duan Yunchen asked: "Father didn't go out, did he?"

  The tenth day of every month happens to be the day when officials rest and take a bath. Duan Shaoqing either went out to meet friends, or rested at home.

"No."

   "The grandson goes to pay his respects to his father."

   "Go." For this grandson, the old lady really likes her.

   Duan Yunchen bid farewell to the old lady and went to Duan Shaoqing's place. After the father and son talked, they went to see Duan Yunhua.

  In the past, whenever the Imperial College was on holiday, Duan Yunhua would go to Ruyi Hall early to wait for his brother to come back. Duan Yunchen felt a little uneasy not seeing his sister today.

   "Girl, the eldest son is here."

   "Please come in." Duan Yunhua looked sullen, and told the maidservant, "Don't mention the matter of morality to the eldest son."

  Duan Yunchen came in quickly, looked at Duan Yunhua's swollen eyes, and his eyes sank.

   "What happened to the second sister?"

   "I didn't sleep well yesterday." Duan Yunhua suppressed his grievances, "Brother, sit down."

   "It's just that you didn't sleep, okay?" Duan Yunchen sat down, with worry in his eyes, "Did the second sister cry? Did something happen?"

  Duan Yunhua's eyes turned red: "I miss my mother."

  She speaks quickly and truthfully, but she also needs face. Even the third sister has never compared this kind of thing, so how can she have the face to let the elder brother know.

  Duan Yunchen has no doubts.

  He often feels uncomfortable thinking about his mother, not to mention his sister is a girl.

   "Second sister, apply cold water to her eyes, so as not to be seen when the family eats."

   "Understood." Duan Yunhua lowered his head and said in a muffled voice.

  If possible, she really doesn't want to face Duan Yunling. But if she didn't show up today, it would make the other party laugh even more.

   When the family sat around the dining room of Ruyi Hall for lunch, Xin You keenly noticed the strangeness between Duan Yunhua and Duan Yunling.

  The two of them didn't seem very happy. What happened?

   Xinyou didn't care about Duan Yunhua's mood at all, but Duan Yunling was different.

  Duan Yunling also helped to leave Shaoqing's Mansion smoothly, and Xinyou has to pay back this favor.

   "Qingqing, when will Mr. Song Ling's new book be released?"

  Xin You looked at Duan Shaoqing who was asking questions.

  Duan Shaoqing suppressed a little embarrassment and explained: "I read Mr. Songling's "Painted Skin", and it is indeed well written."

   Some colleagues and even Shangfeng approached him because of the bookstore opened by his niece, and asked about Mr. Song Ling's new book, which he did not expect.

   "Soon." Xin You smiled slightly at Duan Shaoqing.

   "Mr. Song Ling releases a new book, remember to tell uncle."

  Xin You raised her lips: "Give uncle a few more copies then."

   I just don’t know if I was still in the mood to watch it then.

   "There's still me, cousin, don't forget to see me off." Duan Yunlang said hastily.

   This time Xinyou smiled more genuinely: "Okay."

   Seeing a pair of young children talking and laughing, the old lady laughed more lovingly.

   Not surprisingly, the grandson and granddaughter are a natural couple, and soon they will be married to the Guchangbo Mansion, and the Shaoqing Mansion will finally sweep away the bad luck of this period of time.

  After lunch, the elders are in a good mood, while the younger generation have their own thoughts.

  Xin You returned to Wanqingju, and was about to ask Xiaolian to invite Duan Yunling over to play, when Duan Yunling arrived.

   "Does Ling cousin have something on her mind?" Xin You asked directly.

  Duan Yunling's eyes turned red, and she glanced at Xiaolian.

  Xin You signaled Xiaolian to back down.

  There was no one else in the room, Duan Yunling couldn't help but shed tears: "Cousin Qing, what should I do, grandma wants me to betrothed to Uncle Guchang's son!"

  Xin You froze for a moment.

  In the past few days, she has been secretly looking forward to some useful news from Dai Ze, but she never expected to hear about Guchangbo Mansion like this.

   "Ling cousin, please speak slowly."

  Duan Yunling wiped away tears, starting from the "encounter" of Qingfengguan.

   "Grandmother will take me to see Mrs. Gu Changbo in the future, and I'm afraid it will be settled after that... I thought about pretending to be sick, but even if I escaped this time, I won't feel better if I annoy grandma..."

  Duan Yunling expressed his helplessness and despair, looking at Xin You with a glint of hope in his eyes.

  Cousin Qing... Will there be a way?