♂?，，

  At night, as usual, Li Jingxian stayed at Han's place.

  Mrs. Han carefully flattered, personally brought over a cup of hot tea, placed it on the desk within Mr. Lao's reach, without affecting his reading, and then went to adjust the lamp wick, her voice soft: "Mr. Lao, take a rest for a while, you've been busy lately, look at how thin you've become."

  Li Jingxian lifted his teacup, swirled the tea water around, and sighed: "This time it's disaster relief funds again, and then there's military supplies to prepare for, allocating military salaries... the national treasury is emptied in an instant. The Emperor wants to implement benevolent policies, wants to reduce and exempt various taxes... where am I supposed to get the silver from? Alas... it's difficult"

  "Life has seven necessities: firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar and tea. Not a single one of these can be had without spending money. I'm exhausted from managing this small household, let alone you, sir, who are in charge of the finances of an entire nation. How much more toil and labor must you endure? Still, no matter how hard it gets, you must take care of your own body."

  Li Jingxian nodded slightly: "Fortunately, nowadays there is Mingyun to help, some things can't be said to outsiders, only to his own son, he often gives good advice and helps me share a lot of worries."

  Han's heart began to feel sour again: "Now Ming Yun is a great success, but poor Ming Ze is still just a scholar."

  Li Jingxian furrowed his brow: "Who can be blamed for this? It's only because he himself didn't put in enough effort."

  "Last time, Ming Ze couldn't be blamed for the loss, if it wasn't for Yu Yan's unpreparedness, there wouldn't have been such a big mistake. Alas, I can only blame myself as his mother, not being by his side at that critical moment..." As she spoke, Han Shi's expression turned sorrowful.

  "It's pointless to bring up what has already passed." Li Jingxian said calmly after taking a sip of tea.

  Han wiped the corner of his eye and said, "In a few days, Ming will go to take the exam. I heard that this time the chief examiner is Pei University Scholar. Master, you have a good relationship with Pei University Scholar, isn't it..."

  Li Jingxian cast a cold glance, his voice chilly: "Give up this idea as soon as possible. Last time you made a fool of yourself in front of everyone, and it's already embarrassing for me. The imperial examination is much easier than the civil service exam, if he can't even pass that, then I'd rather not bother to ask for favors on his behalf. It would be better for him not to take the exam at all, so as not to humiliate himself."

  Madam Han saw the old master getting angry, and hastily smiled: "I'm just a woman's opinion, don't get angry, sir. I've been watching him for several months now, he's been very diligent, so there shouldn't be any big problems."

  Li Jingxian's expression slightly eased: "Tell Ah Jin to go and tell Ming Ze, tomorrow I will test his homework first."

  Mr. Han smiled and said: "Being able to receive your guidance, I will definitely benefit greatly."

  "He's just a restless character, he needs someone to keep an eye on him, with a big whip cracking behind his head, only then will he behave. If he could have half the diligence of Ming Yun, there's no worry that he won't pass the exam."

  Han Shi listened with a bad feeling in her heart and sighed: "If Ming Ze had been able to receive Master's teachings since childhood, he wouldn't be like this now. I feel sorry for him that his father can't recognize him, and I always feel that I owe him too much, so I'm too harsh on him."

  Li Jingxian did hear this and couldn't help but feel a bit guilty: "The exam is still over ten days away, I'll teach him some more."

  Han's expression slightly eased, and after a moment of silence, she hesitantly said: "Master, there is something I'd like to discuss with you. Of course, this is also what the old madam thinks."

  "Say." Li Jingxian took another look at the folded paper.

  "Tomorrow Lin Lan's pharmacy is going to open, since she started preparing for this pharmacy, every day running around, busy to the point of no rest, when her shop opens, it will be even busier, Old Lady looks on with concern, worried that Ming Yu has no one to take care of him..."

  As she spoke, Mrs. Han observed the old master's expression and saw that his brow was slightly furrowed, so she continued: "Originally, men should be in charge of external matters and women should be in charge of internal matters. Now, both men and women are in charge of external matters. Master, do you think this is still like a family? Although there is a maid serving in the Luoxia Studio, when Mingyun returns home, he will at least have hot tea to drink. But how can a maid be as considerate as a wife, or as thoughtful in her arrangements... What Old Lady meant was... if Linlan doesn't take care of this family, should Mingyun take a concubine?

  Li Jingxian's eyebrows tightened again, as if he was slightly moved.

  "Besides, Lin Lan's body isn't very good, and it's not suitable for her to get pregnant for the time being. The old lady is eager to hold a great-grandson, so she wants Ming Yu to take a concubine and have a fat white grandson as soon as possible..."

  The room fell silent for a moment, then Li Jingxian said, "What you said makes sense, and I can understand Old Lady's thoughts. Lin Lan is indeed busy, but... Ming Rong doesn't even mind himself..."

  "Master, Ming Rong is a man of great affection and righteousness. Even if he has the intention to take a concubine, he would be embarrassed to mention it due to Lin Lan's presence. If we elders intervene, Ming Rong won't be put in an awkward position, and neither will Lin Lan have anything to say. We can't just watch as Ming Rong lives like someone without a family, the old lady is worried about him." Han Shi added her efforts.

  "In that case, let's go find Lin Lan and talk to her first. After all, they've just gotten married and are still in the honeymoon phase. Ming Yun has a deep affection for her, so we don't want to ruin things." Li Jingxian said thoughtfully.

  Mr. Han smiled and said: "That's natural, after all it depends on their own intentions."

  Having obtained Old Master's consent, it would be much more convenient to handle things. Han's heart secretly laughed coldly and couldn't wait to see Lin Lan's angry but unable to speak expression.

  In the Luoxia Studio, Lin Lan finished checking the account book and asked Yin Liu: "Has Second Young Master not settled it yet?"

  Yinliu chuckled and said, "I just went to take a look, that bathtub is really too big, it can only be placed in the east wing. Second Master is calling people to move the screen, charcoal basin, and hang up the curtains. He also said that tomorrow he will ask someone to come and divide the three rooms into separate compartments."

  Lin Lan was inwardly grieving, what did he want to do? Was he going to turn the east wing into a bathroom or something?

  "I'll go take a look." Lin Lan couldn't sit still any longer and got up to leave.

  Before entering the east wing, Mingyun was heard saying: "Change the bed sheets and quilts to new ones..." Lin Lan's face suddenly turned red. He not only wanted to turn the east wing into a bathroom but also set it up as a new room? His implication was... Young Master would use this big bathtub to play with Second Madam tonight, and then...

  "Pfft", behind him, the silver willow laughed out loud.

  Lin Lan turned back and glared at her, Yin Liu hurriedly covered her mouth, but unfortunately the smile in her eyes was not hidden.

  "Second Young Mistress..." Zhao Aunt and others carried out the water bucket, smiling and greeting Second Young Mistress: "Second Young Mistress, just one more trip and the hot water will be ready."

  Lin Lan became even more depressed, randomly muttered an "uh-huh", and walked into the east wing with her head down.

  The room was filled with mist, and the screen painted with plum blossoms, orchids, bamboos, and chrysanthemums seemed to be surrounded by it. A huge bathtub made Lin Lan feel startled for a moment, and Li Mingyun was being too exaggerated.

  "Lan'er, just wait a bit longer, it'll be ready soon." Li Mingyu said with a smile.

  Lin Lan was extremely speechless and awkwardly said: "I just came over to take a look, I'm busy, I'll go back first."

  "Hey... don't go, come and try the water temperature, isn't it too hot?" Li Ming allowed her to pull him in front of the bathtub.

  The water surface was still floating with flower petals, and as the steam rose, it scattered a faint fragrance, just like in TV dramas. Lin Lan snorted and said, "What's the point of a big man taking a flower petal bath?"

  Li Mingyun wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and whispered in her ear: "This is what I've prepared for you, do you like it?"

  ()

  Complete works txt download, full text free, e-book, remember 77 reading books