Chapter 159: Pine Tree Alley

  Back at Songshu Hutong, Shen Zhen scolded Shen Muqing severely: "If you don't come back like this again, you won't be allowed to open the teahouse in the future."

  Shen Mu Qing lowered his head and admitted his mistake.

  Shen Zhen saw her attitude was not bad, and his anger dissipated slightly.

  Shui Xiang came in and reported: "Master, the commander of Gansu is requesting an audience with you."

  When returning, Xiao Sa wanted to part ways with Shen Muqing and go to the Shen's house alone, so as not to let others gossip.

  Shen Mu Qing thought for a moment and also made sense, so he didn't insist.

  She just didn't expect Xiao Sa to come so quickly and she hadn't had a chance to tell Shen Zhen about it yet.

  Shen Zhen was somewhat surprised: "Zeng Ju's subordinate?" Shui Xiang nodded in response.

  Shen Mu Qing instructed Shui Xiang: "Go and invite Xiao Daren to sit in the flower hall, I still have a few words to say to Lao Ye."

  The fragrance of water responds to the sound and leaves.

  "What? Have you seen Xiao Sa?"

  Shen Muqing told Shen Zhen everything about Xiao Xiao coming to find her that morning, but didn't mention a word about borrowing money.

  Shen Zhen furrowed his brow: "You child, really don't understand. He is a disciple of Zeng Ju, how can you casually meet him?"

  As for this matter, Shen Muqing wasn't without consideration either.

  She smiled and said, "When he was at the Imperial Academy, he took your visiting card to meet Lin Zongzhu. Later, for your release from prison, he ran around everywhere for this case. Now that you're back, if he doesn't come to visit you, it's not reasonable! If you really don't want to see him, I'll let him go!"

  Shen Zhen let out a sigh and said, "Never mind, let him in!" After finishing speaking, he muttered to himself, "It's rare that someone still remembers me, the former chief assistant whose house was searched." There was an unavoidable hint of bitterness.

  Shen Mu Qing smiled slightly.

  After all, there is still some desolation.

  She returned to Tingyu Xuan and had Yingfen go to Huatang to serve.

  Shen Muqing rearranged her hair and changed into a new set of clothes, just as she was about to take a sip of tea by the bed, Ying Fen excitedly ran in: "Young Master Xiao is really good at talking, he made Grandfather laugh heartily and even instructed Auntie to keep the guest for dinner."

  "What did you all say?"

  Ying Feng covered her mouth and laughed: "You don't know, Xiao Gongzi and Master had a big slap on the back as soon as they met!"

  "What nonsense are you talking about?" Shen Muqing pretended to be angry, "Shen Muqing 'flattered the old master'? Those were your words too!"

  Ying's face turned red with anger, and she knelt down to apologize to Shen Muqing: "Auntie, I won't dare again!"

  "Quickly, what did Xiao Gongzi say?" Shen Muqing asked, unable to hold back after training with Ying Fen.

  "The old master and Xiao Gongzi talked about some old matters, and somehow the topic turned to calligraphy. The old master said that nowadays, Mr. Min and Mr. Yuan's regular script is written the best, but he didn't know what Xiao Gongzi was thinking, so he asked: I've only heard that Shi Daren and your regular script are written the best, how did it become Mr. Min and Mr. Yuan? The old master was taken aback and said: Those were all past events. Xiao Gongzi suddenly realized and said: Indeed. Mr. Min and Mr. Yuan went around giving people inscriptions and postscripts, so naturally, people only knew about the two of them and didn't know about you and Shi Daren. However, among our peers, it is widely acknowledged that your and Shi Daren's calligraphy are written the best. The old master heard this and burst out laughing. Xiao Gongzi took the opportunity to ask the old master to write a couplet for him!"

  Shen Mu let out a sigh of relief

  This Xiao Xiao really gave Shen Zhen a loud slap on the back of his head?

  Who knows the Great Zhou Dynasty? Shen Zhen's most proud work is his own "Xian Hua Xiao Kai", which has both masculine and feminine charm, forming a unique style, known as "Shen Ti". At the age of 40, he was already recognized by the Great Zhou as a "calligrapher".

  Shen Mu Qing couldn't help but smile and instructed Ying Fen: "You just serve well on the side."

  They all dispersed in an instant.

  She stood for a while, smiling at the back of Ying Fen, then shook her head and turned to call Ming Xia: "Go to the warehouse to fetch some ginseng, bird's nest and other tonic medicine, go to the Feng family to see Yu Hui." She paused for a moment, and then instructed: "Give the tonic medicine to the people around Yu Hui, just give it to the eldest lady of the Feng family. Don't go to pay respects to Yu Hui, lest it causes emotional fluctuations." She let out a long sigh: "I left like that, I don't know if she still hates me now."

  "Auntie is also helpless!" Mingxia comforted Shen Muqing, "If anyone is to blame, it can only be Second Young Mistress for choosing the wrong person."

  Shen Mu Qing smiled helplessly and ordered Ming Xia: "Go quickly and come back soon!"

  "Yes!" Ming Xia responded and left.

  Shen Zhen treated Xiao Sa to lunch in the flower hall, and after lunch, Shen Zhen enthusiastically took Xiao Sa to the study.

  Shen Muqing called out to Ying Fen and asked: "How did you go into the study?"

  Xiao Xiao barely passed the imperial examination as a xiucai, and his essay was adopted. It's estimated that he can only serve as a shoe polisher for Shen Zhen.

  Ying burst out laughing: "Who let Xiao Gongzi's butt be kissed!"

  Shen Mu slightly raised his eyebrows.

  Ying burst out laughing: "Master asked Mr. Xiao what kind of font he usually practices? Mr. Xiao said: I also practice regular script. Master was just about to test Mr. Xiao's calligraphy skills!"

  "This Xiao Xiao, if let out, don't know when it will be brought back!" Shen Mu Qing secretly stomped her foot, "Go, go take a look!"

  Yingying followed Shen Muqing to Shen Zhen's study.

  Two of them made a sign to the maids and menservants under the eaves, who quietly lifted the curtain and peeked inside through the gap.

  Xiao Xiao sat upright with her chest out and abdomen in, sitting in front of the painting case, holding her wrist up to write, while Shen Zhen looked on from the side, frowning.

  Shen Mu Qing angrily said: "You really don't know life or death."

  As expected, Shen Zhen couldn't help but speak up: "This character of yours, who did you learn it from?"

  "Followed my mentor."

  "What should I call you?"

  "First name Li, first character An, second character Dao!"

  "What's Li An Dao?" Shen Zhen was perplexed, "I don't think I've ever heard of this person?"

  "You don't know him." Xiao Sa said: "He is a private school teacher in Lincheng, my hometown. He is the best private school teacher in our place."

  "Ah!" Shen Zhen's expression cleared up, but in an instant, he looked suspicious again and said: "Then when you took the Wu Jinshi exam, didn't you take the policy essay?"

  "Done!" Xiao Xiao said seriously, "The examiner in charge of the strategy theory is Chen Daren, the Minister of Rites. He said that my handwriting was the best among all the candidates, so he gave me a first-class grade."

  Shen Muqing saw Shen Zhen turn around and laugh silently.

  She couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh too.

  Xiao Xiao asked nonchalantly, "Lord Shen, what do you think of my handwriting?"

  Shen Zhen listened and his body shook even more violently: "It's...it's okay!"

  Xiao Xiao stood up straight and let out a long sigh of relief.

  Shen Zhen looked at him with some puzzlement.

  Xiao Xiao hurriedly laughed and explained: "You are a master of calligraphy, if you say it's good, then it must be okay."

  Shen Zhen was taken aback: "You're doing this just because I said it's good, right?"

  Xiao Xiao nodded, and his expression actually had a rare hint of shyness: "I've always wanted to be a great general who can 'dismount to write books after defeating the enemy'. My martial arts skills are decent, but I'm not confident in my calligraphy. Hearing you say this, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

  Shen Zhen gazed at Xiao Sa with piercing eyes.

  People who are used to being in a superior position have a natural air of majesty.

  Xiao Xiao felt somewhat uneasy and rubbed his head.

  Shen Zhen suddenly smiled and said, "You want to be 'riding a horse to defeat the crazy Hu, dismounting to write books for Cao's army', this level is still a bit off"

  Xiao Xiao cupped his hands and bowed, saying sincerely: "Please instruct me, Lord Shen."

  Shen Zhen smiled and walked up to the painting table.

  "Look at this place, the pen stroke is too hard, and this place, the ending is too abrupt. Shen Zhen pointed to Xiao Sa's words, talking incessantly, while Xiao Sa stood beside him, nodding continuously."

  He stood up straight and said, "Let's go!"

  Ying Fen's eyes widened slightly, and she said in a low voice: "Auntie, aren't you going to take another look?"

  Knowing they got along well, Shen Muqing put his mind at ease.

  "No need, I have something else to do this afternoon!"

  Ying Fan whispered: "What if Master doesn't let Xiao Gongzi stay?"

  Unfortunately, Shen Muqing had already walked far away and didn't hear Ying Fen's concern.

  Returning to Tingyu Xuan, Shen Mu calmed down and organized his thoughts on managing a tea house, then wrote a plan book, preparing to discuss it with Xiao Sa and Shi Jingyi.

  Just as she was about to finish writing, Yingfen rushed in: "Auntie, auntie, the master has asked Chen Niangniang to clean up the two side houses behind the garden near the private alley for Xiao Gongzi to live in!"

  Shen Mu Qing looked at her excited face and asked: "What's got you so excited?"

  Ying's expression stiffened, and he said: "I... I am watching the house being cold and quiet. With Xiao Gongzi here, the house is a bit more lively. In the past when the third young master of the Liang family came, in front of Master, he only knew how to nod and agree, saying two sentences would make Master angry."

  Deep and serene, quiet and subtle, lost in thought.

  Yes, at that time, Shen Zhen had the intention to promote Liang Jimin, but the more he tried, the more nervous Liang Jimin became, which only disappointed Shen Zhen.

  Is this considered as having new flowers but no blossoms, and unintentionally planting willows that grow into shade?

  Shen Mu Qing couldn't help but smile slightly.

  Xiao Xiao still has a way out! However, perhaps Shen Zhen has been too lonely for too long.

  "Miss, there's something else..."

  "Go on!" Shen Muqing said with a smile.

  Ying Fen hesitated and said, "Aunt Chen wants to send Qiu Gui and Qiu Xiang over to serve Xiao Gongzi, but I think those two are too rough and unrefined. It would be better to send Yanxiu and Ningbi instead, as they were trained by you yourself."

  Shen Mu Qing listened to Ying Fen's tone and suddenly became a noble guest.

  She couldn't help but laugh: "It's already good that he can move in, and he still dares to be picky"

  "No, no." Ying hurriedly said: "It's not that Young Master Xiao is being picky, it's just that I'm afraid Autumn Gui and Autumn Xiang won't serve well and will lose face for our Shen family!"

  "Just don't interfere," Shen Muqing said with a smile. "He's the eldest son of the Xiao family from Lincheng, Shanxi. What kind of scene hasn't he seen before?"

  "That's also!" Ying frowned, thinking of that woman with a lazy demeanor she saw that day.

  At dusk, Shui Xiang brought Xiao Xiao's luggage and two attendants, Jin Liang and Yu Liang, to the guest house. Shen Zhen also specially ordered the kitchen to make a pig lung soup to entertain Xiao Xiao.

  Shen Muqing knew, and hurriedly instructed Ying Fen: "Let the kitchen make a large bowl of Shanxi-style noodles according to their taste, and later you take it over to Xiao Gongzi as his midnight snack."

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  Chapter 159: Pine Tree Alley