©Novel Buddy
MTL - Little Cardamom-Chapter 4
"Puff—cough!" Hearing this, Zhang Huaiyu couldn't hold back his smile, took a sip of his wine, and coughed out of choking.
But before he could recover, his eyes suddenly flickered, and then he felt a numbness in his neck and a congested throat. He wanted to open his mouth to speak, but he couldn't make any sound.
Dumb hole!
Although all the people present were practicing martial arts, the one who could do this without a trace, except for the **** of war beside him who made the barbarians of the northern region fearful - Dingbei Wang Jiangxu, didn't think about it at all.
Zhang Huaiyu widened his eyes, picked up the folding fan and pointed at Jiang Xu, accusing.
Jiang Xu didn't avoid it, he just raised his eyelids and looked at him quietly.
Those eyes seemed to sink into a lake of icy water, without any ripples, dark and cold. For some reason, Zhang Huaiyu felt a chill down her spine, and put down her folding fan in the next second.
Outside the window, the lanterns on both sides of the river are reflected on the river water, sparkling with sparkling light. The Nuan Pavilion fell into silence again, only the folding fan pendant on the table was shining with candlelight, and the long tassels were shaking lightly.
"Minmin, did you hear something just now?" Ming Tan asked hesitantly.
"Sound, what sound?" Bai Minmin looked blank.
Ming Tan looked around, was silent for a while, then shook his head and said: "It seems that someone is coughing...Maybe I heard it wrong."
In fact, listening to the rain building has paid attention to sound insulation. The Nuan Pavilion next door is full of martial arts practitioners, so you can naturally hear the movement outside. But if you don't open the window to see the scenery tonight, you can't hear half of it with your bright sandalwood ears.
Maybe it's a defensive feeling, or maybe it's because the important matter has been finished, the two of them will talk about boudoir topics afterwards, it's nothing serious.
At the time of the garrison, the official ship stopped in the middle of the Xianjiang River, ready to set off fireworks.
Bai Minmin stood by the window early on, and Ming Tan put aside the dignified and reserved attitude he usually pays attention to when he is outside. He lifted his skirt and stepped on the small steps by the window.
The Shangyuan night in the capital is always lively and brilliant, as the so-called thaumaturgy and supernatural powers, singing and dancing, and all kinds of dramas are in touch with each other.
On both sides of the Xianjiang River, the lights are brightly lit all night, and the people gather around to wait for the fireworks. There are also river lanterns floating out of the pier to pray for blessings. Looking from a distance, it is a scene of prosperity and prosperity.
Amidst the cheers of the people on both sides of the strait, the fireworks of the official ships finally rose into the sky in clusters, and there were also rich families burning flames on the bank. For a while, the entire night sky seemed to be illuminated by this gorgeous light as if it were daytime.
Ming Tan and Bai Minmin came from aristocratic families, they have seen many good things, but after all, they are fifteen or sixteen year old innocent girls, at this moment they both hold their breath and open their eyes, refusing to blink for a moment.
"It's so beautiful." Ming Tan cupped his face and looked at the night sky, sighing softly.
Bai Minmin nodded and said cheerfully: "I like the rabbit shape the most, it's so cute!"
"I like the kind of golden fireworks sprinkled from time to time. The sound is delicate and very pleasant, like...Look, it's coming again!"
The girl's soft and joyful voice not only attracted her companions to look around seriously, but also caused several people in the warm pavilion next door to unconsciously look out of the window.
Jiang Xu didn't move, he was still pouring wine for himself, but his position was facing the window, and when he looked up, he had a panoramic view of the dreamlike golden rain in the night. His eyes flickered slightly, and the jade liquid trickled down his throat without feeling spicy.
The fireworks are beautiful, but short-lived. When the night sky returned to silence, Ming Tan stood by the window, didn't recover for a while, and even felt a little inexplicably melancholy.
Fortunately, it was not too late, Bai Minmin wanted to go to Nanyuhe Street to have fun, and tried her best to encourage her to go with her. Her melancholy was quickly dispelled by Bai Minmin's description of the parade of floats and colorful lanterns.
Before this, Ming Tan had never been to Nanyuhe Street on the night of lanterns in the Lantern Festival. This long street along the river is very lively and full of fish and dragons. Every year in the Yuan Dynasty, women and children often have accidents in this area. Love let her girls set foot.
The two carefully covered their veils, and when they got off the carriage, the lights were shining brightly and the bustle and bustle in front of them made Ming Tan dazzled for a moment.
Bai Minmin, on the other hand, has adapted well because she sneaked here for several years in a row. She looked around, didn't know what she found, and suddenly let out a "hey".
"What's wrong?" Ming Tan asked.
"It's nothing, it's just that I seem to have seen Second Master Shu." Bai Minmin looked forward with a curious expression.
The second son of Shu, Shu Jingran, is the son of the right prime minister. He is personable and has outstanding literary talent. Not a few women in the capital admire him.
It is heard that he will also end in Chunwei this year. It is said that the second son of Shu is talented and good-looking, and he should be the best candidate for Jinke Tan Hualang.
Ming Tan also met Shu Er halfway from a distance, he is indeed a gentle and noble son like Zhilan Yushu, if he didn't make the family of the Duke's Mansion feel bad about the marriage, it would not be bad if he wanted to come to discuss marriage with the Shu family. Speaking of which, her divorce is a matter of time, and how to find a good relative again should be considered in advance.
Ming Tan was walking, and Bai Minmin was surprised again: "I'm not mistaken, Ah Tan, look, isn't that Lu Dianshuai? Lu Dianshuai is here, and the person with him must be Second Master Shu!"
Ming Tan followed Bai Minmin's line of sight, and saw a tall man with a sword in front of him, a scar that was not deep and not shallow on his left forehead neatly stopped at the end of his brow. .
It is well known that Lu Ting, Shu Jingran and Zhang Huaiyu are friends. Before Ming Tan saw Shu Jingran who was with Lu Ting clearly, Bai Minmin couldn't wait to drag her forward to find someone.
"Hey...Miss!" The maidservant behind her came to her senses and hurriedly chased after her.
The two walked very fast, but there were many people on the street, but in a blink of an eye, the people who were there before disappeared without a trace.
Bai Minmin couldn't help feeling a little regretful for not being able to see the handsome man up close. However, she has a lot of playfulness, and was soon attracted by the various stalls set up by Linhe.
For a while, I want to buy sweet cakes, and for a while, I want to buy fried chestnuts. The gadgets I bought are in my hands, and the food I bought has to lift the veil and stuff them into Ming Tan's mouth.
Ming Tan has always been very particular about food and clothing, he would never dare to swallow these snacks on the street, you stuffed me to hide, the two of them laughed and made a fuss, which was very funny.
"How about it, this Nanyuhe Street is much more fun than the Daxiangguo Temple with colorful sheds?" Bai Minmin proudly asked Ming Tan for credit after setting off the river lantern by the pier.
Ming Tan was about to respond when suddenly someone raised a folding fan in front of him and shouted: "Sister Tan!"?
Ming Tan thought for a moment that he was hallucinating.
——The man quickly stepped forward, proving with actions that she didn't.
"Sister Tan, this is... Sister Min?"
The visitor was handsome in appearance, wearing a jade white brocade cloak with fine materials and exquisite patterns, and a crown of light golden hair, he looked like a nobleman.
After seeing who it was, Bai Minmin wanted to step up and kick him, and said angrily, "Who is your sister!"
The Duke of Ling's Mansion is engaged to the Marquis of Jing'an's Mansion, but they have no relationship with the Duke of Chang's, and Bai Minmin refuses to accept it. This "sister Min" is indeed too close. The person who came did not argue, and hurriedly bowed his body and cupped his hands to show his apology for his abruptness.
Bai Minmin knew that today was not the time to tear his face, but he still couldn't get over his anger, and wanted to stab him verbally. On the contrary, Ming Tan pulled her, tried hard to keep calm, and asked: "My lord, how did you recognize me?"
He smiled lightly, shaking his folding fan and said warmly, "Sister Tan is a shining pearl, even though she covers her face with a light veil, she doesn't hide her brilliance."
Ming Tan doesn't show it on the face, but in his heart he can't wait to slap him and tell him to speak human words.
Strange to say, in the past she saw that her fiancé, Liang Zixuan, was also a good-looking person who was gentle and polite. Compared with Shu Er, although he was a little less elegant, he was also a rare good son-in-law.
But looking at it now, she only felt that her eyes were replaced by Blindness a few years ago, what kind of fan was she shaking in the cold weather! Words are so frivolous! Greasy! pretentious!
Xu felt vaguely that Ming Tan's mood was wrong, and Liang Zixuan explained with a smile: "Actually, I saw the hairpin in Sister Tan's hair. Sister Tan seems to like this hairpin very much."
Ming Tan didn't take over.
Liang Zixuan paused for a moment, then talked to himself in order to hide his embarrassment.
It's just that for some reason today, no matter what he said, Ming Tan remained indifferent, and the one from the Bai family even gouged him out from time to time.
Could it be that...
No, it's impossible. That matter has been kept strictly a secret, how could the Ming family and the Bai family know about it.
If he knew, how could Duke Chang not bother the Duke's government with his short-cherished yet easy-going temperament?
Thinking of this, Liang Zixuan felt a little relieved. But he also realized with hindsight how important the previous mother's explanation was.
He likes his cousin who is weak and pleasant, but he has always regarded Ming Tan as his unmarried wife, and the Ming family and Bai family behind Ming Tan will be a great help in his future career, and this marriage must not be lost.
Thinking of this, when I talked with my mother before, the disapproval of "why is this" finally came to an end. He turned his hands back calmly, and the folding fan tapped his wrist lightly.
At the same time, as if nothing happened, he found another topic and continued to chat with Ming Tan unilaterally.
Ming Tan was waiting for Lu E and the guards to find him, as an excuse to go back to the house and get rid of Liang Zixuan's entanglement. After waiting for a long time, when she finally caught a glimpse of Lu E, there was a commotion in the crowd in the distance.
"Catch the thief!"
"The one in front! Don't run!"
Ming Tan followed the prestige, but before he could see clearly, there were two figures rushing towards the pier in the rioting crowd. Before he could react, he felt a thrust—
"Adan!"
"Miss!"
Accompanied by Bai Minmin and Lue not far away exclaimed, there was a "plop" falling into the water without warning!
Liang Zixuan reacted very quickly, shouted "Sister Tan", and anxiously took off his coat to save others.
Lue stepped forward, seeing that it was the future son-in-law, Liushenwuzhujian seemed to be grasping at straws, and hurriedly nodded and urged: "My lord, please help my young lady!"
Bai Minmin subconsciously grabbed Liang Zixuan, and shouted anxiously, "Don't go!"
No matter how playful she is, she is also from a rich family. No one understands better than her. With Liang Zixuan's rescue, Ming Tan's life will be over for the rest of his life!
"Do you want to watch her die?" Liang Zixuan asked, and then threw Bai Minmin away regardless of the obstruction.
Plop! There was another sound of falling into the water.
Bai Minmin instantly felt cold hands and feet. She knows Ming Tan best, if she is rescued by Liang Zixuan in full view, it would be better to let her drown in this Xianjiang River!
She stared at Jiang's face, forced herself to calm down, and arranged for the guard maid who came:
"You stop the people who are watching the excitement, and no one is allowed to approach!"
"You two go down and pull Liang Shizi away. And you two, do you know how to swim? Go down too, and bring A Tan up for me!"
"I'm afraid it won't last long here, Lue, you go back immediately and bring more guards to help stop people!"
"yes!"
Spring had not yet begun, and the river water was bitingly cold, coupled with the bitter river wind blowing head-on, Liang Zixuan found out that saving people was not as easy as he imagined, let alone saving people, he even Ming Tan I didn't see it anywhere.
Not only did Liang Zixuan fail to see it, but the guards and maidservants arranged by Bai Minmin went into the water to search for a while, but there was no sign of him at all.
The water at this pier is not too deep, and it is logically impossible to drown people silently in such a short period of time, but they are also sure that they didn't even see half of Ming Tan's clothes.
It took about half an hour before the onlookers were forcibly stopped from the pier. It was only known that someone fell into the water, but the reason was unknown.
Seeing this crowd of people blocking people, some idlers guessed that it was the ladies of the family, and they were all gearing up to get into the water, not sure if the opportunity came, they could still rely on the door for a good marriage.
Seeing that it was about to be unstoppable, Bai Minmin was anxious and desperate in her heart, she only hated herself for coming up with the bad idea of visiting Nanyuhe Street, if something happened to Ming Tan, she, Bai Minmin, must be blamed for death!
At this critical juncture, outside the crowd stopped by the guards, suddenly a man in a green shirt raised a handkerchief at Bai Minmin: "Miss Biao, why are you still here? It's really easy for servants to find! My young lady cooked dumplings herself today. It’s waiting for you to come over and taste it!”
The woman in the green shirt deliberately raised her voice.
But the voice sounded gentle and clear, and quite familiar.
Bai Minmin turned her head and was stunned for a moment.
That was...
The most useful servant girl around Ming Tan, Su Xin?
Why is she here?
Also, what did she just say? She...her lady?
Su Xin stepped forward, bowed to Bai Minmin in an orderly manner, and repeated the words that her young lady invited her to come over to taste Yuanzi.
Seeing Liang Zixuan, who was already frozen behind Bai Minmin and being carried up by the guards, Su Xin was slightly surprised and asked, "Did Liang Shizi fall into the water?"
Bai Minmin couldn't react to the current situation, and didn't know what to do.
It wasn't until she caught a glimpse of Lue who was rushing back from behind, still out of breath, waving her hands non-stop, and mouthing "It's okay", that she suddenly understood something as if she had opened up the two veins of Ren and Du.
She hurriedly answered: "Yes, yes. Prince Liang fell into the water. Ben...Miss Ben happened to meet him while passing by, so she sent guards into the water to rescue him."
"Hey, it turned out to be a man."
"A big man has fallen into the water and needs to be rescued, what a loser!"
"The surrounding area is so tight, what's the matter?"
"It's gone, I thought it was the official lady!"
The onlookers waved their hands boredly, and soon dispersed.
"???"
Liang Zixuan was shivering from the cold, unable to speak, but his eyes were full of disbelief.