If not abolished

After the Lantern Festival, Hu Shanxiang had no news of Zhu Zhanji. During that time, she even went to Huangcheng Temple to burn incense and stayed there for a while. She thought she could meet him, but unexpectedly, she didn't see him. It was as if the person she used to see often had suddenly disappeared without a trace.

Lingzhi watched her girl sitting in a daze in the room every day after the Chinese New Year, sighing from time to time. Whenever she asked about something, she would not tell her. She thought that she had grown up with the girl since childhood, and she had always treated her as her own sister. She did not expect that one day, the girl had something on her mind and did not tell her, which made her sad.

"Third Miss, the old lady asked you to come over." The nanny outside knocked on the door and reported.

Hu Shanxiang came back to her senses when she heard the sound, "Grandma, is there anything I can help you with? Please come in and have a cup of tea, Mammy." Hu Shanxiang understood Lingzhi and went to open the door.

But the maid outside the door said, "Don't bother Miss Three. It's very windy outside. I have to go and ask the other girls. The old lady told the girls not to worry, to wear something thicker, and to bring two more hot water bottles."

"Thank grandma for me. I'll get ready and go right away." After hearing what the nanny said, Hu Shanxiang didn't force her and quickly asked someone to help her change her clothes.

"I don't know what kind of big event it is, but it sounds like they want to call all the young ladies over."

Hu Shanxiang didn't care too much: "It's useless to guess now. We'll know when we can't get out of here." Hu Shanxiang opened her hands and the maids put layer after layer of clothes on her. After they were all dressed, she felt that she could hardly lift her hands and feet, and she was a little short of breath due to the pressure. "No, I can't even walk to my grandmother's yard wearing this. I'll faint. Take off two layers." They could only help her take them off again.

When Hu Shanxiang arrived after finishing her work, it was a little late, but fortunately she was not the last one.

"The third girl is here." As soon as she came in, she was surrounded by people and asked to take off her outer clothes and change her hand warmer.

"Here you are, come and sit next to grandma." As soon as the old lady heard her coming, she called her over.

"Granddaughter pays respects to grandmother." Hu Shanxiang came over happily, and when she saw her mother sitting there, she immediately bowed to the old lady. "Paying respects to mother."

"You're one year older, but you don't know how to be more steady." Mrs. Hu had no idea what to do with her daughter. She learned the rules some time ago, and she was the only one among her sisters who was lazy and inactive. But the old lady and the master at home spoiled her, so she would hide in front of the old lady as soon as she said a few words.

The old lady spoke up immediately: "She heard me calling her, and she is the most well-behaved girl. Besides, it's okay for a little girl to be lively at home, but it's good for her to be well-behaved outside." However, the old lady turned around and said to her granddaughter: "Your mother is doing this for your own good. You are a grown-up girl now, and you should set an example for your younger sisters."

Hu Shanxiang nodded in response and sat down quietly. After sitting down and looking around, the sisters nodded to each other.

After a while, Aunt Liu and the Fifth Young Lady arrived and waited for them to come in and sit down.

The old lady said, "Now that everyone is here, let's get down to business."

Mrs. Hu asked, "Does mother have any instructions?"

"It's not a big deal. Shanji wrote to say that my grandson-in-law is very motivated and will come to Yingtian to participate in the Spring Examination. Shanji also came with my grandson-in-law."

When Aunt Liu heard this, she straightened up and a look of joy appeared on her face.

When the old lady saw her like this, she knew what she was thinking, and said sternly: "Next, I have something to say. Although Shanji is here, she is married after all, and it is not good for her to live at home. Secondly, Sun Guye is here to take the exam, and it is not good for him to live at Yue's house. So even if Shanji comes back, it is better not to meet before the results are out."

"This - I finally got here, but I can't even see my family members." Aunt Liu said in shock when she heard this.

"If you want your son-in-law to have a reputation for nepotism before he even enters the officialdom, then go and see him."

Upon hearing this, Aunt Liu waved her hands and said, "I'm just talking. Of course, I'll follow the old lady's arrangements."

"It's good that you have this awareness. Also tell Shanji to take good care of your husband at home during this period. Your grandson-in-law is a capable man. Just wait patiently for a good result." After the old lady finished speaking, she picked up the teacup and started drinking.

"understandable."

"Well, that's it. You go back first." After the old lady finished speaking, she started to chase people away.

"Yes." Aunt Liu stood up, bowed, and left with the fifth lady.

After everyone left, the old lady said, "During this period of time, stay at home and don't let Liu communicate with the outside world. Don't write to her from Shanji's side. Don't act rashly again."

"My daughter-in-law knows what to do, but she's afraid that the second girl won't listen to my advice."

The old lady frowned when she heard this. "No matter what, you are her mother. She has just arrived and is unfamiliar with the place. If she still doesn't understand after you explain the interests to her, then she is as stupid as a pig."

"Yes." Mrs. Hu knew that she could not refuse this matter, so she could only agree.

"You go ahead and do it. I'll talk to Er for a while."

After everyone left, the old lady asked Hu Shanxiang to come to her.

Hu Shanxiang was just a spectator, and she had many doubts and questions to ask.

"When will my second sister arrive in the capital? Why so suddenly?"

"Originally, your brother-in-law was here to take the imperial examination, but your second sister insisted on coming along. We only found out about this after our in-laws wrote to us. Otherwise, the family would have been unprepared and it would have been difficult to arrange for someone to come along."

"Brother-in-law is here to take the exam. Why don't you wait until he gets into high school and then..."

"No one thought that your father would return to the capital one day. At first, I thought I would marry in Jining so that it would be close to the capital. Alas, when your second sister heard that your father was coming to the capital, she ran to our house and cried."

"And there's this."

"This time she followed your brother-in-law to Beijing to take the exam without knowing the proper course. Her in-laws didn't let her come, so she said she came to see her parents. That's why her in-laws wrote to us." The old lady told us truthfully.

"That's not impossible, then why don't you let my second sister live at home?"

"Your brother-in-law is coming to take the exam and there is a place for students to live. It's not a bad rule for your second sister to live at home, but we want her to know that she can't do whatever she wants. We will rent them a small courtyard in the alley next door. Your brother-in-law won't be back for a while after he finishes the exam. He has to wait until the results are announced. It will be uncomfortable for him to live at your father-in-law's house then."

"Besides, your father is being watched by many people with envy, so it's always better to be careful."

"That's right." Hu Shanxiang heard the whole story.

"I asked you to come here because I wanted you to learn something. Don't be as soft-hearted as your mother."

"Then I should follow my elder sister's example." Hu Shanxiang knew that her grandmother had no problem with her mother. She was very satisfied with her most of the time. It was just that she was sometimes disappointed with her mother's character.

"Yes, you should ask your sister for advice." The old lady followed her words.

"I'm afraid in two years, our daughter will also be married."

"Grandma wants her granddaughter to get married, but I don't want to leave her."

"What? You want to stay at home forever?" the old lady joked.

"Then I will stay with you forever."

"How many years do I have left? You still have a long life ahead of you. Grandma only wants you to live the life you want." Old Mrs. Hu said, touching her head.

"I hope so." Thinking of the person she hadn't seen for a long time, Hu Shanxiang lowered her head.

"You seem depressed these days. Are you feeling unwell or for some other reason? After the New Year, go back to the temple and burn incense and stay there for a while." The old lady looked at her with a strange expression.

Hu Shanxiang raised her head and smiled, "Nothing happened. I just couldn't sleep well at night, so I went to calm down."

"That's all."

"That's all."

"Okay, just be sensible."

A few days later, Hu Shanxiang could no longer hold back and decided to go find her second brother to ask him where that person was. As soon as she walked into her second brother's yard, she saw her eldest brother. Hu Shanxiang wanted to avoid him, but she was stopped by him, "Third sister."

Seeing that she had not dodged it, Hu Shanxiang turned around and said with a smile, "Hello, brother. I am strolling in the garden. Haha."

"Walking into your brothers' yard while walking in the garden?" Hu An obviously didn't believe it.

Hu Shanxiang knew that her eldest brother would not believe such a clumsy lie, "I just came to see my second brother to see if he has time to play chuiwan with me."

"He's in there. Go ask him yourself. I'm leaving now."

"Okay, take care, big brother." Seeing Hu An leaving, Hu Shanxiang hurried to find Hu Xuan.

Hu Xuan saw his sister standing in front of him, hesitant to speak, and asked, "Do you have something to ask me?"

Hu Shanxiang wondered in amazement how her second brother suddenly came to his senses. "You asked me to ask this."

"Well, you said."

"Well, I just want to ask, you and your colleague, where did you go recently since I haven't seen him with you?"

"Oh. Him. He and His Majesty are visiting Beijing and won't be back for a while."

"So that's how it is. Okay, thank you, second brother. I'll leave first." Hu Shanxiang said and ran away.

"Hey, that's not right. Why are you, a girl, asking about a stranger? You're not attracted to him, are you? I'm telling you, it's not possible." Hu Xuan shouted from behind, but Hu Shanxiang naturally couldn't hear it.

Afterwards, Hu Xuan talked about this matter with his eldest brother. Hu An looked at him as if he was a fool. Was this stupid brother going to sell his own sister and count money for the crown prince?

"Hey, brother, you said that Third Sister was asking about His Royal Highness, could it be..."

"You have helped His Royal Highness the Crown Prince several times, but you only react now. Isn't it too late?" Hu An criticized.

Hu Xuan looked at his brother as if he had been struck by lightning.