Chapter 825 Family Affairs
As the sun set, the study became visibly darker.
Sun Shaozong lifted the purple brush that was hanging on the gold-sprinkled paper slightly upwards, and was stunned for a long while before dropping it on the reclining Buddha-shaped pen holder.
He gathered up the scribbled straw paper on the table, and it was about half a foot thick. You should know that this is the newly popular "gold sprinkled paper", mixed with fine gold foil, it looks high-end and classy, but the price is also very high.
Just this half-foot high pile is enough coarse paper for a poor scholar to use for a lifetime.
However, Sun Shaozong did not show any intention of cherishing it. He pinched it firmly with three fingers and was about to throw it into the charcoal basin not far away.
But when he was about to make a move, Sun Shaozong stopped.
It’s not that he changed his mind and was reluctant to burn the extremely expensive rice paper, but because the charcoal basin was full of ash, without a trace of smoke, and it was unknown how long it had been extinguished.
Tsk~
No wonder my feet are so cold.
Sun Shaozong stood up from the Duobao lattice, dug out the fire starter specially provided by Suirenzhai in western Beijing, pushed open the gilded fireproof cover with his thumb, and shook it hard against the wind. A flame more than three inches high rose from the velvet rope.
He set the pile of straw paper on fire and casually threw it into the brazier. Watching it burnt to ashes, Sun Shaozong pushed the door open and walked out, leaving the study room behind in darkness once again.
The silver moon in the sky let out a long sigh of white mist, and Sun Shaozong stamped his feet on the stone steps again, slightly relieving the soreness and numbness from sitting for a long time, then he walked out of the small courtyard and rushed...
"Second Master."
Sun Shaozong stopped walking helplessly and looked in the direction of the sound, he saw a servant in the corridor diagonally opposite, throwing down his hand warmer and rushing towards him.
I know that these servants will never let me be in peace.
"Go ahead."
"In the afternoon, someone from Prince Beijing's Mansion came and said that the prince wanted to invite you..."
"Next one."
"Ambassador Hou, who was sent by the imperial court to the Kingdom of Qianxiang, has returned to the capital safely."
Did Hou Yong return to Beijing safely?
This is really good news!
He stayed in Qianxiang Country for more than four years. Although he was held hostage in the embassy by Qianxiang Country for nearly half of the time, he knew more about Qianxiang Country's background than others.
Thinking that Hou Yong might know the recent situation of his cheap father-in-law, Sun Shaozong immediately made up his mind to pay a visit to Hou's house after meeting the prince tomorrow, so as to save Ruan Rong from worrying about it all day.
But for now, I have to keep it a secret from Ruan Rong. Otherwise, it would be fine if I were to be happy for nothing. But if something bad really happened...
Alas~
Sun Shaozong sighed helplessly. They had lived in peace for decades, but how come the two countries were at war just a few years after he married Qian Xiang?
"Anything else?"
"Then Mr. Qin came again. He heard that the Second Master was drafting a memorial in the study. He ate some snacks and then left on his own. Oh, and before he left, he also ordered three taels of Dong Ding Oolong."
This Qin Kejian is really...
I clearly haven't agreed to hire him yet, but he comes to my house every day to ask for money and is really not polite at all.
Thinking about his arrogant look three years ago, one can’t help but sigh that times have changed and things and people are no longer the same.
Of course, Sun Shaozong is no longer the Sun Shaozong of the past.
If it were the first two years after he traveled through time, even if he had evil intentions, he probably wouldn't have the guts to eat Princess Beijing and Aunt Xue one after another, let alone be so reckless as to force Princess Long Legs to give herself to him in the palace...
"Second Master."
Just as he was recalling the things that were forbidden to be broadcast in the main text, the servant smiled and said, "There is another thing. Yesterday's snow collapsed many old houses. The Ministry of Rites set up donation boxes on the street..."
"Anonymous or named?"
“Both.”
"Those who are registered should follow the customary rules, and those who are not registered should be sealed with one thousand taels of silver."
"Okay!"
With this crisp shout, the matter to be reported finally came to an end.
Sun Shaozong saw that he was bowing his body and didn't say another word, then he started walking towards his home again.
…
The yard is still the same yard, but the atmosphere seems a little more depressing than usual. Even the two little ones are not as chattering as usual.
When Sun Shaozong entered the room, the two siblings were wrapping dumplings and whispering around a snowman.
"father!"
“Daddy!”
It was only when they saw Sun Shaozong that the two children rolled up their arms and rushed over like bombers, roaring and screaming.
Sun Shaozong laughed and picked up the two little ones. He took a bite of each of them, then carried them on his shoulders and strode into the main room.
After entering the room, there was no sign of Ruan Rong. Instead, You Erjie was lying on the Luohan bed, whispering something to Shi Liu.
Seeing Sun Shaozong coming in with his two children, the two of them hurriedly stood up to greet them.
Sun Shaozong ignored them and went straight to the Luohan bed. He first took the two small ones off, and then picked up the kang table in the middle.
Shi Liu hurriedly took it in his hand, and following Sun Shaozong's instructions, carefully placed the kang table at the foot of the bed.
Sun Shaozong then rolled over and lay on his back on the bed, and used his fingers to tickle the two little ones. For a moment, the whole room was filled with the clear children's voices.
After a while, Sun Shaozong suddenly raised his neck and frowned, "Where is the concubine? Is she not at home?"
He originally thought that the excitement of this family happiness would somehow lead to the appearance of Ruan Rong, but there was no movement for a long time, so he asked this question.
Shi Liu hurriedly replied, "Didn't the master bring a lot of things from the north? The eldest lady asked him to go over and take a look to see if there's anything we can use. Since he hasn't come back yet, I guess the eldest lady left some food for him."
As they were talking, word came in from outside that Jia Yingchun had invited Ruan Rong to have dinner with her.
Sun Shaozong's moral character was reduced by seven points at that time.
He put his legs on the armrest and continued to tease the two children.
When You Erjie saw him cross his legs, she stepped forward to help him take off his boots. Because his boots were cold through his socks, she quickly ordered someone to bring a charcoal basin and put a hot towel on it to prevent it from being too dry and hurting the old skin on his feet.
"Master, let's soak our feet first, then..."
"No need, let the kitchen prepare the meal. Go to bed early today, as we will be busy tomorrow."
Sun Shaozong gave the order without even raising his head, and You Erjie's face flushed. She looked at his interaction with the two children with envy and anticipation.
If this wasn't the case because they were in Ruan Rong's room, he would have shamelessly unbuttoned his shirt and wrapped those two big feet in his flesh.
Unfortunately, her expectations were ultimately dashed.
Just after dinner, Ruan Rong rushed back and said that she had something to discuss with the second master. Naturally, Sun Shaozong stayed in the main room.
Not to mention how disappointed You Erjie was because of this.
However, the wet nurse Ren took the two children away and ordered Furong to get a basin of hot water. Ruan Rong personally wrapped soap beans in a handkerchief, dipped the water in it, and rubbed Sun Shaozong's knees inch by inch.
Seeing that she had already rubbed her instep, Sun Shaozong reached out to gather a few strands of her hair and tucked them all behind her ears. He asked quietly, "Didn't you say you had something to tell me? Why haven't you said a word for half a day?"
Ruan Rong shook her head and rubbed her face on the back of his hand. After a while, she pouted and said, "I had something to say, but now that I see you, I can't help but say it."
Hearing her words, Sun Shaozong vaguely guessed something, so he asked again tentatively: "Is it about the Xing family again? Didn't the eldest sister-in-law already say something a few days ago? Could it be that..."
Could it be that Xing Zhong was really willing to let his daughter become a concubine?
Thinking about the beautiful and intelligent Xing Xiuyan, I felt a little excited.
"That's a nice thought!"
Ruan Rong rolled her eyes at Sun Shaozong and sneered, "Even if Uncle Xing is willing, his daughter is not someone who can be manipulated. She went back to Rongguo Mansion yesterday afternoon, and no matter how much Uncle Xing invites her, she won't come to our house again."
Uh~
It seems that I overestimated my charm.
Sun Shaozong crossed his legs awkwardly, muttering, "I just said that for the sake of conversation, I didn't really say anything."
Although she could see that he was acting like this mostly to amuse her, Ruan Rong still couldn't help but burst out laughing.
He hurriedly covered his cherry lips with his sleeves, raised his head and rolled his eyes at Sun Shaozong, and said seriously: "Although the Xing family's sister has left, there is another beauty that I like coming to our house!"
"who?"
This time, Sun Shaozong felt uneasy.
Apart from Xing Xiuyan, it seems that I haven't offended anyone recently - Aunt Xue and the Long-legged Princess definitely don't count, and there is no way they can come to my house.
"It's none other than the nun Miaoyu from the Longcui Nunnery!"
"Miaoyu?"
"There are rumors outside that the Jia family is blessed by Taoism, but the family temple worships Buddhism, which is really inappropriate. Therefore, the Rongguo Mansion seems to be planning to send Miaoyu to another family and invite a few Taoist nuns back."
"The eldest lady told me today that she wanted me to come back and ask the second master if we should invite Miaoyu to our home."
Hearing this, Sun Shaozong felt a chill on his back. When this time bomb was placed in the Jia family, he was afraid of being implicated, but how could he dare to bring it home now?
He hurriedly shouted, "Don't! Don't do that!"
"What's wrong, sir?"
Ruan Rong was startled by his sudden temper and couldn't help wondering, "Is there something wrong with that nun Miaoyu?"
"this……"
How could Sun Shaozong dare to reveal Miaoyu's identity? He rolled his eyes and shook his head, saying, "It's not that she has done anything wrong, but this matter is wrong. The old lord of Rongguo Mansion is a devout Buddhist and has seen many ups and downs. Could he demolish Longcui Temple just because of a few idle words?"
"I guess it's probably his eldest wife's doing something reckless again. If we get involved, wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?"
Ruan Rong felt that this reason was a bit far-fetched, but she didn't mean to dig deeper into it.
Then he changed the subject: "Let's talk about Ping'er. When she gets married next month, she can't live with Youshi in the same house, right? Should we expand our courtyard or start a new one...ah~!"
Before she could finish, a big hand reached under her armpit, picked up her delicate body, placed it on his knees and ravaged her wantonly, until Ruan Rong became limp and had no bones left, then he stopped his momentum of searching the mountains and seas and picking fruits from the forests.
He pressed his stubble against her wet and smooth forehead and said helplessly, "Don't worry about these things in the future. You were jealous before, but now you are taking the responsibility of finding a woman for me. It makes me feel uncomfortable."
"Who is jealous?"
Ruan Rong only explained it, and her mood became low again. She leaned on Sun Shaozong's chest and said faintly: "Now that I have nothing to do, my heart feels empty. I can't figure it out..."
"What are you afraid of? I'll help you fill the gap!"
As Sun Shaozong spoke, he began to make some weird little movements.
Ruan Rong was already very willing, but she spat, "Bah, what she said was that she felt empty inside, not that..."
"If you measure it carefully, it will definitely reach the heart!"
