On the wooden table in the middle of the flower hall, there is a mutton fat white jade pot, which flashes exquisitely in the skylight.

Since the Han Dynasty passed through the Western Regions, after the jade was imported into the Central Plains, the jade pot had the meaning of innocence and nobility. Yuefu poetry "straight as a silk rope, clear as a jade pot ice." And the most popular is Wang Changling's sentence "Luoyang relatives and friends ask each other, and a piece of ice is in the jade pot". After the Han and Tang dynasties, the literati all regarded collecting this object as a good thing. The curling stone is pure white and transparent. This jade pot, whether it is jade quality or carving, is the best choice.

Li Ruoxue has an indifferent temperament and loves curling. Zhang Ruzhou did everything possible to search for this jade pot, just to his liking, he had already determined its authenticity in his heart, and the so-called identification of Yunyun was just a clumsy excuse. However, such a clumsy excuse was not rejected. Although the five governments especially protect the marriage of sergeants, with the dignity and status of sergeants, once they find that their dependents have different ideas, most of them will not reluctantly forgive, but will solve it with a letter of resignation. The Xia State takes self-defense as the way to build the country, and there are laws and regulations for peace and separation, and in such a situation, even the General's Mansion cannot interfere.

Thinking of this, Zhang Ruzhou's heart was hot, and he secretly swallowed a few mouthfuls of salivation.

Sensing that his gaze was different, Li Ruoxue frowned slightly, secretly regretting that she did not turn this person away, and was about to say a few words casually, so she asked him to say goodbye and leave, at this time, the servant came to report, and the marching Sima Zhangding asked to see, Li Ruoxue groaned slightly, gritted her teeth, and asked the servant to reply that there was a guest visiting today, and it was inconvenient to receive Zhang Sima, and then he didn't speak for a long time, his expression changed, and he looked at the jade pot as if he was out of a trance, and he was silent.

Zhang Ruzhou's heart was itching, and he smiled: "Master Li, what do you think of this jade pot?" ”

"Well," Li Ruoxue said in a low voice, "It's really top-grade, congratulations to Mr. Zhang." ”

"That's very good." Zhang Ruzhou said with a smile, "My brother knows that my junior brother is good at this thing, and since it is a top grade, I will give it to my junior brother." ”

If you are a peer in the bachelor's house, you will be called "senior brother" and "junior brother". Zhang Ruzhou is accustomed to being a person, although Li Ruoxue is a woman, her talent does not make her eyebrows at all. He is called a "junior", pretending to be heroic, showing respect in his affection, and covering up his filthy heart, which is difficult to refuse. Even if Li Ruoxue shirks and doesn't accept it, Zhang Ruzhou will be stalked, using generosity and heroism as a cover, and she must accept this valuable gift. As the saying goes, a strong woman is afraid of pestering her, and before Li Ruoxue could refuse, Zhang Ruzhou had already thought about the words of persuasion several times in her heart.

Li Ruoxue's eyebrows frowned slightly, and at this time, someone behind the flower hall said loudly: "Take the things back!" The two looked up together, and before the words fell, an old man with pale hair and a thin face walked out of the back hall. Li Ruoxue immediately stood up and said, "Father." The old man looked at Zhang Ruzhou with a gloomy face, and did not hide his disgust. Although Li Gefei's official position is not high, he has been famous for decades, and he has long heard of his name in the Kansai Bachelor's Mansion. Zhang Ruzhou hurriedly stood up, his face respectful.

He insisted on the gift of his juniors, but Li Gefei was not polite at all, looked at him and said: "The old man has family affairs, Mr. Zhang will go back first." ”

Zhang Ruzhou looked at Li Ruoxue with a suspicious face, but seeing that the hostess was standing behind her father, she had no intention of objecting, so she had to give up her hand and say: "In this way, the junior will retire first." Just as he was about to turn around, Li Gefei stopped him again: "Take the things back." "The old gentleman Jiang Gui's temperament, the old man is spicy. At this time, it was already early summer, and Zhang Ruzhou actually felt a slight chill behind his spine.

"The jade pot Bingqing was originally intended to be given to Master Li's elegant play." He reluctantly explained.

"Take it back!" Li Gefei said in an accentuated tone, "You are not welcome in the house in the future!" ”

He looked at Zhang Ruzhou with a knife-like gaze, as if he hesitated again, and this gaze alone would cut him into dozens of pieces. "Father." Li Ruoxue whispered. "Don't speak." Li Gefei reprimanded, turned his head to look at Zhang Ruzhou, and said sharply: "Wang Changling is an official of the imperial court, and he writes poems and words. This mutton fat white jade pot is worth tens of thousands of dollars, you are so generous to give it away, but do you want to bribe my son-in-law? If you dare to force it to stay, I will immediately send it to Luoyang Mansion as stolen goods. ”

Zhang Ruzhou was stunned for a moment, and no matter how strong he argued, he couldn't say anything, so he had to pick up the jade pot and turn around and leave.

"If a woman doesn't teach, it's the father's fault." Li Gefei turned his back to his daughter, and a low sigh came into Li Ruoxue's ears, she couldn't help but be shocked, her face was red to the base of her neck, she looked at her father's back, and argued with wide eyes: "Bachelor Zhang is just using a jade pot to appreciate, not a bribe!" Li Gefei suddenly turned around, looked at his daughter and said in a deep voice: "Of course I know it's not a bribe." ”

He looked at his daughter with pity, and immediately pressed it again, "A woman's name is more precious than a jade pot." If it weren't for your reputation, I wouldn't have let this shameless person go so easily. In his early years, he worked in Han Qi's curtain, and he was used to seeing all kinds of characters, and he could see through a person with thin morality like Zhang Ruzhou at a glance. In fact, Zhang Ruzhou's intentions, Li Ruoxue didn't know, only because she was angry with her, that she had such a mistaken move. In Li Gefei's opinion, this is a self-defeating act, so it is even more painful, if she is not a wife, she would almost have to ask a monk to discipline her daughter.

Li Ruoxue saw the old father's face showing regret, and felt aggrieved, arguing: "Just allow him to take the princess to Yangzhou, can't I see a colleague from the bachelor's house?" She had a clear mind and a strong temperament on the outside and inside, and when she spoke, tears were already rolling in her eyes.

"You are familiar with poetry and books, don't you know the difference between men and women?" Li Gefei shook his head and said: "Not to mention that Zhao Yuanzhi married the princess of Wu Guo, there are many twists and turns in the middle. There is a difference between men and women, and you and this shameless person are vain, and no matter what your intentions are, it will always be detrimental to your reputation if you spread it. Is it more important for you and your husband to be angry than to maintain your honor? In vain, I taught you to read women's training since I was a child, have you forgotten it? Do you believe that you are so talented that you don't even pay attention to the teachings of the sages? Do you want to let Zhao Yuanzhi, the two children, and the Zhao and Li families be disgraced because of this? If you are still obsessed, how can you educate your children, and I will teach them to be righteous and honest with me. He sighed and spoke, coughing occasionally, looking very excited.

"Father," Li Ruoxue choked up, "my daughter knows that she is wrong. She bit her lip lightly, tears streaming down her white jade cheeks.

Li Gefei looked at her sad appearance, as if he saw the daughter who had been wronged for the first time, not a wife, but a general's wife who was a mother.

"Alas—" He sighed and said in a low voice, "Zhao Yuanzhi was chosen by us, and also by you." Since we have chosen him, we can only believe in him. He was thousands of miles away, and until he returned, he could only keep believing. He looked at Li Ruoxue and said in a deep voice: "When Zhao Yuanzhi comes back, if he is sorry for my daughter, your mother and I will support you." Li Gefei has also read the "Legend of Qin Xianglian" script circulating outside, although he knows that this is false, he is still angry in his heart, if Zhao Xingde does not give a reasonable explanation after he comes back, the old man will not let go of this person with a bad heart.

"It's good to know that you're wrong, during this time, your mother and I won't go anywhere, and we will accompany you in Luoyang together."

"Father......" Li Ruoxue choked up, "My daughter knows that she is wrong." ”

In the hazy eyes of tears, his father's back was like a towering Mount Tai in front of him, protecting himself and shielding himself from the wind and rain. At this time, the maid came to report that the Luoyang regimental training envoy Mrs. Zhang came to visit, Li Ruoxue hurriedly wiped away her tears, and ordered the servant to remove and replace the tea that was suitable for entertaining Zhang Ruzhou, and then went to the second gate to welcome Zhang in. Seeing that Li Ruoxue's eyes were red and swollen, Zhang felt pity, took her hand, and patted her gently sympathetically.

Chen Zhong said that it was inconvenient to write at sea, and he had already informed the marching department that if there was a letter from General Zhao's family, he would pass it back according to the royal family's fastest pigeon book. General Zhao is out on expeditions all the year round, and there are many prodigal children in Luoyang, and I don't feel at ease with a jade person like my sister! You are in Luoyang with your children, if there is any trouble, just tell me, if someone disturbs the tranquility, you can send a word, sister, even if I am thousands of miles away, I can teach them to regret the wrong birth. ”

Zhang Caiwei took Li Ruoxue's hand, smiled and whispered, looking from a distance, it seemed that two women were chatting about family life.

She rushed over immediately because she got the secret report from the marching department, and she was originally a little angry in her heart, but she met Zhang Ruzhou at the gate of Zhao's mansion and left in a hurry like a lost dog, and immediately her good impression of Li Ruoxue was doubled back. She didn't know what to do, but Li Ruoxue was thin-skinned and couldn't withstand the harassment of these crazy bees and butterflies, so she immediately made a decision, even if she used the influence of the royal family, she would make these shameless people dare not fight this idea again.

Although it was only a few words, Li Ruoxue's mind was clear, a faint flush appeared on her pale face, her heart was slightly confused, she didn't speak, just nodded slightly. The two held hands and walked slowly together in the peony-blooming garden.

Zhang Caiwei took Li Ruoxue's arm and said in a low voice as she walked: "The Protector Mansion is dizzy, and he actually promised the Song State to let General Zhao command the sailors to expedition to the Great Food Country. In the past few months, Chen Zhong has recruited people with lofty ideals in the Song Kingdom, often lamenting the lack of a figure like General Zhao who can control the overall situation and convince the public. It's a pity that the Song Kingdom is in chaos like that, if the Protectorate insisted on it at the beginning, maybe they would have promised to let General Zhao return to Luoyang, and my sister could be reunited as a family. Chen Zhong said that as long as the sailor arrived at Dashi, he would reunite General Zhao and his sister's family as soon as possible. ”