Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 225: Coming to Jiangnan for You

"Isn't this just a taste? The master and his wife are both noble ladies, how can they see the true face of that thing? Young man, don't argue. Just think of this plate of meat as a gift from me to the master and his wife, okay?"

The boatman's wife explained in a delicate voice, but she strictly followed the rules and did not even look into the cabin.

A middle-aged man who looked similar to Feng Ziying and was sitting opposite him nodded with a smile and said, "No problem. Go ahead."

The boatman's wife breathed a sigh of relief, turned around with a smile on her face, and walked away fearfully.

The middle-aged man glanced at Feng Ziying coldly and said in a low voice: "If you don't know what it means to be low-key and cautious, then get out of here and go back to the capital immediately!"

Inside the cabin, sitting opposite each other at the top were the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, who were dressed as the wives of wealthy and noble families. Sitting below the Emperor was Dai Quan, and sitting below the Empress Dowager was Tanchun!

Further down, sitting sideways, are Feng Ziying and his father, the mighty general Feng Tang and Feng Zixun.

"Zixun, the child also wants to avoid being looked down upon. He is just eating well. What do you think he is doing?" Tai Shang smiled and pointed at the wine glass.

Dai Quan hurriedly poured him a glass of wine and changed the subject: "This Suzhou osmanthus wine is very famous. Master and Madam, please try it."

Tanchun waited for Dai Quan to pour wine for the empress dowager, then she took the wine pot with a smile: "Uncle Dai, let me do it."

Dai Quan let go of her hand and laughed, "Very good!" He then praised Tanchun to the Queen Mother, "You really have good taste.

"Look, old slave, although there were maids and women along the way, my sister took really good care of you! You must recognize this girl!"

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes in a smile, hugged Tanchun's shoulders and said, "I'm not bragging, but among all the big families in Beijing, even if we add your master and the head of the family, they may not be as good at judging people as I am!

"Oh, my daughter is worth more than gold. That blind man refused to marry her. This is a gift from heaven. So, sir, have I got her?"

Along the way, the Queen Mother saw that Tanchun never complained or felt tired, and always served the Queen Mother respectfully and attentively. She did not seek favors for herself, nor did she plead for her biological concubine who had committed a crime. She just remained cold and speechless when the Rong and Ning mansions were occasionally mentioned.

But when it comes to Lin Daiyu's hardships on the journey and the fact that she seems to have encountered troubles again when she returns to the old house, she is very concerned and a little anxious. Occasionally, she can't help but ask the empress dowager about the inside story.

According to Tai Shang, he is a "loyal and righteous child with a strong character" at heart.

Yin laughed and raised his glass to his wife: "Yes, yes, yes! My wife's eyes are as bright as lightning!"

Feng Ziying stole a glance at Tanchun and muttered in a low voice: "Girls are always praised, and boys are always scolded. This is the way of the world..."

Feng Tang couldn't help but raise his hand and slap him on the back of the head: "Good food and drink can't stop your mouth!"

Feng Ziying said with a bitter face: "Is it true? Did I say something wrong?"

The Empress Dowager laughed and drank another cup.

Dai Quan smiled and advised Feng Tang: "Come out and play, let the kid have some fun! With us here, how can he get into any trouble?

"Yi Min... Miss is already quiet enough, why are you making Ziying so tight? There is not even anyone to talk and laugh with along the way. Don't you find it annoying? The master and the mistress are bored!"

The Queen Mother was busy defending Tanchun: "We Yimin just don't joke around in front of you! I'm so happy when we women ride in cars and boats together!"

"Good, good! Your daughter is good in every way!" The Queen Mother hurried over and picked up the pig head meat for the Queen Mother. "No one in the family cooks this dish. Come and try it. It's delicious!"

A few people had a meal together.

After a long while, Feng Ziying watched from afar as Daiyu and her companions on the boat got up to pay their bills and leave. He was lost in thought for a moment before turning around and saying:

"Madam, you said this Zhaoqing... Miss, why do you have to return home at this time? What else is there? Can't you come back in the spring?"

The Queen Mother glanced at the Supreme.

The Supreme took another bite of shrimp to go with the wine, spat out the shell, and then said, "Let me ask you, what day will it be five days from now?"

Feng Ziying was confused and counted on his fingers: "October 15th... Xiayuan?!"

"The custom of worshipping ancestors during the Lower Yuan Festival is most popular in Jiangnan." Tanchun whispered, and then sighed, "When Sister Lin insisted on coming, I didn't even think of this."

"Although the Lin family is still quite prosperous, she is the only one left in her branch since four years ago."

Tai Shang also sighed when he said this, "Last time she came to talk to me, I joked that when I come to Jiangnan next time, I will only bring her and Yimin to walk around Jiangnan and see Ruhai.

"It was probably that sentence that aroused her homesickness. She couldn't suppress this feeling. Plus, Yimin said that there was nothing to do at home, so she couldn't stay any longer."

The Queen Mother looked at Tanchun and smiled, "Why didn't she invite you and that little nun to come with her?"

"How dare she! She had to sneak away secretly to leave the capital, and she didn't dare to tell Supervisor Tao!

"If you find out that she kidnapped me out of Beijing without an elder to take care of me, won't you punish her by making her kneel in the Buddhist temple when you go back?!"

Tanchun smiled and calmly replaced the plate with a still-hot osmanthus cake and placed it in front of the Ersheng.

The Grand Master and the Queen Mother were caught off guard and each took a piece and ate it. They both nodded in agreement, "That's right! Zhaoqing is really brave! We must punish her when we get back!"

Dai Quan saw this and smiled with satisfaction.

Feng Tang also twirled his beard and nodded with a smile. Then he glanced to the side and saw his son, and his brows suddenly twisted into a knot.

——Why is someone else's daughter so nice? Why does my own brat look so annoying! ?

"Are we going to Yangzhou tomorrow?" Dai Quan asked carefully, "We've been to Suzhou and Xidu for more than ten days, is that enough?"

"No!" the Queen Mother said hurriedly, "If I go, Rong Ge'er will definitely lock me up and not let me go out again!"

The Supreme also nodded: "Not going there yet." After a moment's silence, he asked Feng Tang for his opinion, "Although the flood has subsided, people's lives are still difficult. I want to go to the riverside to take a look. Can you accompany me?

"Let Ziying take care of Madam and my sister and have some fun around here." He then said to the Queen Mother, "Taihu Lake is very nice, and Yixing and Huzhou across the lake are also fun. Take Yimin with you to have some fun."

The Queen Mother refused: "I am a layman. How can I enjoy the trip without you? Besides, I have never seen the Yangtze River! I want to go too!"

The Supreme held his forehead and thought for a while: "How about this. I will take you to Huzhou and Yixing first. Then we will go directly to Jinling and go down the river from there. You can see the whole view."

The Queen Mother then smiled with satisfaction, and personally poured a glass of wine for the Emperor: "Thank you, Master, for accommodating me."

"Originally, I brought you here for a tour. If this goes against my intention, you might as well not come." The Emperor was delighted by the Queen Mother's thanks.

Feng Ziying lowered his head and muttered in a low voice: "Didn't you come here for Princess Zhaoqing..."

Feng Tang glared at him.

Feng Ziying stuffed a big mouthful of meat into his mouth, filling it tightly.

Dai Quan pretended not to hear, but smiled and said to the Supreme Lord: "That's perfect. By then, Miss Zhaoqing should have finished her memorial service.

"This way, Madam can take her two most beloved girls to Jinling to see the Yangtze River!"