That night, Jingheng did not dare to go too far. He only had a discussion with Qin Xiaoxiao about the flower-picking thief and the little beauty, and then coaxed her to sleep.

Qin Xiaoxiao, on the other hand, was a bit unsatisfied and wanted to find trouble. However, she had to go to the Zhang Mansion for an appointment tomorrow. She was afraid that she would not be able to get out of bed if she did not know how to control the situation, so she temporarily stopped her thoughts of finding trouble and rolled onto the bed to sleep on her side.

The weather is getting hotter and hotter, and the two of them will not be able to sleep if they are close to each other.

Jing Heng didn't say anything and closed his eyes. Not long after, the person on the other side of the bed slowly leaned over, unconsciously hugged one of his arms and pressed his cheeks tightly against each other.

He skillfully adjusted his sleeping position, put his other arm around her waist, and put his palm against her back: "Go to sleep."

"Hmm~" Qin Xiaoxiao didn't even open her eyes, she rubbed her arms and fell asleep even more deeply.

When she woke up the next day, it was still early, but the bedside was already empty. In order to return home on time to accompany her and the Princess Protector for dinner, Jing Heng usually went to the Household Department half an hour in advance to be on duty.

Qin Xiaoxiao slept very well. After breakfast, he went to the main hall to talk to the Princess Protector, and then told Mingyue Qingshu to get the gift for Princess Jiaming. The master and servant got on the carriage together.

Zhang Ci was a high-ranking auxiliary official and had made several great achievements. The house where the Zhang family currently lives was given by Emperor Yuanhe many years ago. It is not far from the Princess Protector's Mansion, and it only took two moments for the carriage to arrive.

The two porters of the Zhang Mansion saw a carriage parked and recognized the sign of the Princess Protector's Mansion at a glance. They remembered the instructions given by Princess Jiaming's maid yesterday, one hurried to the manor to report, and the other hurriedly stepped forward to salute.

Qin Xiaoxiao got off the carriage and looked at the simple gate and the high-hanging wooden plaque in front of him. He could not imagine that this was the residence of an important minister. Without the high steps that symbolized the family status, it would not be a small house.

People doubt.

With her identity there, the concierge couldn't let her wait at the door. He respectfully invited her in and led the master and servant to the house.

"Smile!" The hurried Princess Jiaming saw her friend and raised a gentle smile on her face: "I didn't expect you to come so early. I should have been at the door in advance to greet you."

"Auntie, with our relationship, you don't need to be polite to me." Qin Xiaoxiao took the initiative to hold her hand and said with a smile: "I haven't seen you for a long time, so I couldn't wait to come this morning."

Princess Jiaming said softly: "Originally, I wanted to invite you to come and play a few days after you returned to Beijing. However, my mother and Teng'er fell ill one after another, and I couldn't think of looking for you for a while. I didn't have time until today."

The mother she refers to is her mother-in-law, Mrs. Zhang, who is now her middle-aged child in charge of the Zhang family. Teng'er is the legitimate son that Zhang Shiren brought from his hometown and adopted into their name. He is still a three-year-old child and is raised in Mrs. Zhang's courtyard.

inside.

"Are Mrs. Zhang and Teng'er okay? I don't have time these days, otherwise I should come and visit." Qin Xiaoxiao expressed concern and explained the reason why he could not play with Princess Jiaming after returning to Beijing.

"It's just that she caught a cold. It's not a serious illness. She has recovered after half a month of rest." Princess Jiaming took her to her yard, not wanting to greet her mother-in-law, Mrs. Zhang, and her grandmother-in-law, Mrs. Zhang.

Obviously knowing that it was over, Mrs. Zhang, who was very strict about rules, would greet Qin Xiaoxiao, so it would be better not to go.

While talking to Princess Jiaming, Qin Xiaoxiao looked around and found that the small garden passing by was not planted with flowers and grass, but with vegetable patches that were growing quite well. She couldn't help but take a second look.

Princess Jiaming noticed her gaze and explained: "These vegetable fields were taken care of by my grandparents. They said that the flowers and plants were of no use. Planting vegetables can kill time and save some money on vegetables. We are also warned not to do it on weekdays."

Extravagant and extravagant.”

Qin Xiaoxiao knew that Zhang Cifu was born in a poor family, and that he and Mrs. Zhang had worked together to get to this point. It was normal for the old couple to think this way, and he said very understandingly: "My grandparents are also very old, and they can't take time off."

As she said this, she thought of the simple front door and door plaque of the Zhang Mansion, and felt that the Zhang family was indeed different from other families. Even her friends wore simple clothes every time they went out to visit. This kind of family tradition was really rare.

Princess Jiaming saw that Qin Xiaoxiao had no objection and couldn't help but continue: "Although my grandparents do not allow extravagance in the house, they buy cotton-padded clothes and rice porridge for street beggars and poor people every winter. These are done quietly.

, not for reputation.”

Qin Xiaoxiao could tell that she had deep respect for Zhang Cifu and Mrs. Zhang. She couldn't help but feel a little more curious about these two people, so he followed her words and praised: "The two elders are so righteous and admirable."

Princess Jiaming nodded and said softly: "Every time I think of the extravagance I had before leaving the palace, I feel that it is a sin."

After the words fell, she realized that it was inappropriate and said quickly: "Xiaoxiao, I just sighed casually, I didn't mean anything else."

Qin Xiaoxiao shook her head: "Auntie, I know, you don't need to explain."

Under the influence of the two elders of the Zhang family, my cousin changed her habits from the boudoir period, but she did not ask others to do the same. This quality is also worthy of admiration.

Princess Jiaming's yard is as simple as she is, but it is kept very clean and the objects are placed very carefully. It has a different kind of elegance and gives people a gentle and gentle feeling without any sharpness.

Qin Xiaoxiao looked away and praised: "Compared with my cousin, I look tacky."

Princess Jiaming smiled and said: "Everyone has his own preferences. If someone else looked at my house, they might say that I am a petty person."

Qin Xiaoxiao laughed and suddenly no longer felt vulgar.

The two talked for a while, and she realized that today was Princess Jiaming's birthday. She couldn't help but scolded: "Why didn't my cousin tell me earlier on such an important day? The gift she brought today was not appropriate at all."

Princess Jiaming didn't mind at all. She held her hand and said, "I would be happy if you could come and talk to me. This is much better than giving me a mountain of gold and silver."

Qin Xiaoxiao still felt very embarrassed and suggested: "When the weather gets hot in a while, my aunt and I will go to Xingyue Lake to cool off. Then we can go hiking and fishing. Wouldn't it be better than being trapped in this deep house? Just

Think of it as a birthday present for my cousin."

After Princess Jiaming married into the Zhang family, apart from accompanying Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Zhang to the Huguo Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings, she never went outside to play. Hearing this suggestion, she was quite moved: "If the house was full at that time,

It’s okay, I’ll take Teng’er with me.”

Teng'er is suffering from the summer heat, and his grandmother and mother love him so much. If he wants to take him to Xingyue Lake to cool off, his grandmother and mother will not object.

Qin Xiaoxiao didn't know her concerns and said happily: "That's it."

Then the two started to play chess, and they fought on the chessboard. In the end, Princess Jiaming was the better one and won one more game.

Qin Xiaoxiao hadn't had such a happy time in a long time. If it hadn't been for dinner, she could have led Princess Jiaming to kill two more rounds.

The Zhang family has great rules. Originally, Princess Jiaming went to the dining hall to serve Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Zhang for their meals. Since today was her birthday and Qin Xiaoxiao was the distinguished guest, the two ladies exempted her from serving.

After a while, the maid brought the meals and placed them on the table one by one. It was a very simple meal of five dishes and one soup, which was completely incomparable with the meals in the princess's mansion.

Qin Xiaoxiao didn't mean to dislike it. The meals she had when she was at the Qin family were simpler than this. She just felt that the Zhang family lived a simpler life than she imagined. Maybe the food on the table was so many because of her as a guest.

.

that's the truth.

The food was as simple as it could be, but still tasted very good. Qin Xiaoxiao and Princess Jiaming ate all the food together.

After rinsing their mouths and hands, the two of them took a walk in the house to eat. When they reached a corner, they suddenly heard laughter coming from in front:

"Teng'er, my cousin has something interesting to show you. Come to my cousin quickly."

"Wow, little duck, it's a little duck! Cousin, I want a little duck, give it to me quickly!"

"No, the little duck is too small. If you don't know the weight, it will scare it. You have to play with your cousin."

"..."

The two walked over quickly and saw a young woman facing them in the pavilion opposite the pool. She was holding a stuffed duck in her hands and teasing a child about three years old. Several people were standing around.

A maid.

Qin Xiaoxiao knew that the child was the adopted son of Princess Jiaming, but it was the first time she saw him and found that he was a cute little guy. He sincerely praised: "This child looks really good!"

When Princess Jiaming heard this, a smile appeared on her face unconsciously: "Teng'er was very cute when she first came back. My grandparents and parents-in-law fell in love with her as soon as they saw her."

Qin Xiaoxiao praised a few more words, and his eyes fell on the young woman: "Who is this girl? I heard Teng'er call her cousin."

Princess Jiaming's eyes moved slightly and she whispered: "Her name is Lan Zhi. She is the daughter of my grandmother's sister. Her parents died when she was young and there was no one to take care of her at home. Her grandmother took her to the capital. After she and Grandma Ji told her,

She never thought that her fiancé was unlucky. During a horse race, the horse went crazy and threw him hard, so she left on the spot."

Afterwards, Lan Zhi was heartbroken, thinking that she was not lucky enough to kill her fiancé, so she asked to go to a nunnery to shave her head and practice spiritual practice to forgive his sin. How could the Zhang family agree, but she was determined to do this at the risk of death, so the Zhang family had no choice but to agree.

, but she was not allowed to shave her hair and was asked to practice cultivation with her hair.

This practice lasted for six years, until last year Mrs. Zhang was seriously ill and her niece was her heart and soul, so she came back from the nunnery to take care of her illness. Unexpectedly, Mrs. Zhang's illness miraculously healed.

The Zhang family unanimously believed that Lan Zhi moved the Bodhisattva by eating fast and chanting Buddha in the nunnery. Out of her filial piety, she protected Mrs. Zhang and allowed Mrs. Zhang to recover. Therefore, she was not allowed to return to the nunnery under any circumstances.

, let her build a Buddhist temple in her mansion.

Lan Zhi refused to say anything, thinking that as an unmarried girl, she would be criticized if she stayed in the Zhang Mansion for a long time. In the end, the Zhang Mansion bought her a small house outside to settle in. She usually eats in this small house and prays to Buddha.
Chapter completed!