Chapter 480: Hiring a Teacher
Chapter 480: Hiring a Teacher
Ever since his father suggested that Xiao Xia marry into a Jiangnan family, which would effectively consolidate Jiangnan's stability, Xiao Xia had this idea in mind. But even if it was a marriage, Xiao Xia wanted to find a woman he liked, so he put the matter in his heart and let it go.
If the Wujun Lu family doesn't find anyone suitable, he will go to the Wuxing Shen family. If the Shen family doesn't like him, he can still go to the Kuaiji He family or the Yu family. In short, he doesn't want to force himself.
Xiao Xia actually knew the Lu family's intention of inviting him to live in Plum Garden. Xiao Lin had hinted to him before that the Lu family wanted to marry him, and Xiao Xia also wanted to see if there was a suitable match for him.
Unexpectedly, on the first day he met a woman who had withdrawn from the CCP. She was an unusual Jiangnan woman, completely different from the common Jiangnan women. However, Xiao Xia knew that this was a treasure that embodied all the elegance of Jiangnan.
Towards evening, Xiao Xia arrived at the main courtyard of the Lu Mansion. Lu Shenyan had prepared a family dinner for Prince Jin. The banquets in the Sui Dynasty were certainly not the same as today's. Everyone ate around a round table.
The Sui Dynasty still had the system of separate dining, with each person having a long table. Although Lu Shenyan was the host, Xiao Xia had a superior status. He sat in the main seat at the top. There were five tables on each side. The first table on the right was for the host Lu Shenyan, followed by Zhu family head Zhu Churan, then Gu family head Gu Zhang, and the last one was Zhang family head Zhang Qian.
The first one on the left is the Inspector Xiao Lin, followed by the Chief Clerk Li Qiliang, and then the Four Young Masters of Wumen, Lu Heming, Gu Changqing, Zhu Lie and Zhang Zhaoguang. They are the pillars of the new generation, and more than ten years later, they will be the heads of the four major families of Wumen.
Lu Shenyan stood up and raised his glass, saying, "Today, the Lu family has prepared a little wine to entertain His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin. Thank you for your presence, and thank you to Governor Xiao and Li Changshi for your kindness. I would also like to thank all the friends from the noble families for their kindness. I beg Your Highness to say a few words to us!"
Lu Shenyan bowed to Xiao Xia and sat down. Others also clasped their fists to Xiao Xia. Xiao Xia nodded and smiled, "Jiangnan is rich and gentle like jade. I originally came to Jiangnan for official business, but the scenery of Jiangnan has greatly satisfied my interest in traveling. Thank you Lu family for the arrangement. Next time I come to Wujun, I hope to stay in Meiyuan again."
Lu Shenyan was overjoyed, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. Let's begin the banquet!"
He clapped his hands, and a team of maids came in carrying wine and food. Then the sound of pipa and string music began to play, and a team of Wujun girls appeared in the middle of the banquet with graceful dance moves, their long sleeves dancing lightly, their figures graceful and elegant, as light as a startled swan.
At this time, a delicate girl appeared beside Xiao Xia. She was wearing a typical dress of a noble girl from the Southern Dynasties, with a trailing red skirt, fluttering green sleeves, and layers of ribbons on her body, which was quite elegant and graceful.
She looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a very pretty face. Her hands were very slender, and she gently poured a glass of wine for Xiao Xia.
Several heads of noble families nearby looked at each other in surprise. Lu Shenyan actually asked his most precious granddaughter Lu Lanhui to pour wine for Prince Jin. Everyone immediately understood that the Lu family actually wanted to form an alliance with Prince Jin through marriage. How cunning!
The girl filled Xiao Xia's glass with wine. Xiao Xia smiled and nodded to her. The girl turned back shyly.
Of course Xiao Xia could tell that this girl was not a maid. The pair of jade bracelets on her wrists alone were worth thousands of coins. Lu Shenyan asked her to pour wine for him, and his intention was self-evident. But Xiao Xia really looked down on her. Although she was beautiful and elegant, she was too young and thin. In terms of appearance, she was on par with Achu, a little better than Xiaoqing, but not as exquisite as Zhang Qiao.
Perhaps all the aristocratic families in Jiangnan like such women, but they are definitely not Xiao Xia's type.
Lu Shenyan couldn't hold back any longer, so he winked at Xiao Lin, and Xiao Lin agreed to be his matchmaker.
After everyone drank a few glasses of wine, Xiao Lin held up the wine glass and said to Xiao Xia, "The one who poured wine for Your Highness just now was Lu Lanhui, the third granddaughter of the Lu family. She is a pearl of the Lu family. She is only 28 years old and still waiting to be married. What do you think of her?"
Xiao Xia smiled and nodded, "She is indeed a woman of great talent and virtue, and her reputation is well-deserved. I hope she can marry the man of her dreams. When Patriarch Lu is choosing a son-in-law for his grandson, he should ask for her opinion."
Lu Shenyan's smile became a little dry. Everyone could tell that Xiao Lin was acting as a matchmaker, but everyone could also hear that Prince Jin implicitly rejected Lu Lanhui and he didn't like her.
Several family heads nearby quickly exchanged meaningful glances. The Lu family was self-righteous and overestimated themselves.
Xiao Xia changed the subject and said with a smile, "The princess likes music very much and has always wanted to find someone to teach her to play the piano, but she has never met the right person. Last night I heard the sound of a piano in the inner house, which simply amazed me. This is the good teacher the princess is looking for. I asked around and found out that the person playing the piano is also the granddaughter of the head of the Lu family, named Lu Xieting. I really want to hire her as the princess's teacher. I wonder if the head of the Lu family can agree?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the banquet fell silent. Lu Shenyan was stunned, and so were the others, especially Zhu Churan, the head of the Zhu family. He could not believe his ears.
Although Xiao Xia used the excuse of the princess learning piano to invite Lu Xieting to Jiangdu as a tutor, it didn't sound unusual, but if you think about it carefully, you will know that something is wrong. Lu Xieting is already eighteen years old and has not yet married. How can it make sense to invite someone to be a tutor at this time? Does she still want to get married?
What's more, she is the legitimate daughter of a noble family, and you treat her as a musician in a music hall. Isn't this humiliating the Lu family? So everyone understands that this seemingly absurd request must have a deeper meaning, and the musician is most likely an excuse.
In fact, this was Xiao Xia giving the Lu family a way out. If the Lu family was unwilling, they could just politely refuse Lu Xieting's offer to be the zither player. Both parties knew the truth and it would not hurt their face.
But Lu Shenyan could never have dreamed that Prince Jin would fall in love with his most despised granddaughter. Of course he did not dare to refuse and agreed immediately.
But he really had no idea whether Prince Jin was interested in his eldest granddaughter's zither or in her as a person.
After finally waiting until the banquet was over and sending Prince Jin and the guests away, he immediately called his wife, Gu, and said to her, "Go ask Xiaowanzi what happened between His Royal Highness Prince Jin and Xie Ting. Also, give her Xiaowanzi's indenture. I have already given her to Prince Jin as a maid."
Gu agreed and hurried to the inner house, where she met Xiaowanzi who was jumping back to the garden.
Xiaowanzi heard someone calling her from behind. When she turned around, it was the old mistress waving at her. She was startled and quickly stepped forward to pay her respects. Gu stuffed the indenture into her hand and said with a smile, "The old master said that you are already with His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin. If you have the chance, you should say a few good words for me in front of the Prince of Jin in the future."
Xiaowanzi nodded obediently, "I know, don't worry, old mistress!"
"Let me ask you again! Has His Royal Highness Prince Jin ever had any contact with the eldest lady?"
Xiaowanzi scratched her head, "What kind of contact does the old mistress mean?"
"Have they met and talked to each other?"
Xiaowanzi nodded and said, "In the afternoon, Miss Chang went to the garden to feed the fish and happened to meet His Royal Highness Prince Jin. They talked for a while."
"Does His Royal Highness Prince Jin know about the eldest lady's situation?" Gu asked again.
"Yes, I told him everything."
"How did he say?"
"He said that the Wujun family is blind and doesn't know the treasure!"
After hearing this, Gu immediately ran back to report to her husband. Lu Shenyan was speechless for a long time. The King of Jin actually fell in love with his eldest granddaughter? What kind of vision is this?
Gu whispered, "Master, His Royal Highness Prince Jin is from the north, and I'm afraid northern men like people like Xie Ting."
The words awakened Lu Shenyan, who was dreaming. He slapped his forehead and suddenly realized.
At night, the sound of the piano, like the tinkling of a spring, sounded again, like flowing clouds and water, and like a river of spring water. This time there was no anger or sorrow in the sound of the piano, but more of a tenderness, like the sound of mountains and flowing water, and the joy of meeting a soulmate.
It can be said that, 'In the autumn night, cranes chirp among the clouds, and ancient tunes are played by the zither under the pines. The bright moon and the gentle breeze are my close friends, and the high mountains and flowing water are my bosom friends.'
Xiao Xia stood in front of the window holding a teacup. There was a bright moon in the night sky, and its silver light sprinkled on his face. With a smile on his face, he listened to the sound of piano in the distance. This was the sound of piano that she played for himself.
On the desk behind Xiao Xia, there was a poem that had just been written, the ink not yet dry.
There is a beautiful woman. I will never forget her when I see her.
I don’t see you in a day, thinking like crazy.
Feng Fei soars, seeking phoenix from all corners of the world.
Helpless ladies, not in the East Wall.
Talk about the Qin on behalf of the heart, and talk about it.
When to see Xu Xi, comfort me to hesitate.
Wish to match virtue, hand in hand.
Don’t fly, make me perish.
The next morning, Xiao Xia got up and went to Changshu, and Xiaowanzi handed a lacquered book tube to Lu Xieting.
As the saying goes, you need to be thick-skinned to flirt with girls. After reading someone's shameless request for a lover, Lu Xieting was so shocked that he didn't say a word for the whole morning.
At noon, Lu Xieting replied to her grandfather with a blushing face that she was willing to go to Jiangdu to teach the princess to play the piano.
(End of this chapter)