12dz Chapter 136 The He Family Visits
Chapter 136 The He Family Visits
When the topic of storybooks came up, Song Nian immediately stopped feeling awkward.
He got up and sat down on an embroidered stool next to him, then slapped his thigh and started chatting with Qin Yizhen: "That's right, I also think that the person who wrote this storybook is a scoundrel. Xie Wanniang suffered so much, and she still forgave that dog."
"He even forgave his concubine and let her serve him alongside him—how shameless!" Song Nian gritted his teeth. "If I ever find out who wrote this, I'll grab a knife and go find them!"
OK OK.
Qin Yizhen nodded repeatedly. Although he liked reading strange and unusual stories, he was still a normal young man. If he agreed with that book, Hongying would never marry him.
Marrying a man like that would mean an incredibly difficult life; it would be better not to marry at all.
Qin Yizhen, on a sudden impulse, asked him, "Are there many people in Qin Capital who enjoy reading storybooks?"
"A lot?" Song Nian paused, thought for a moment, and said, "Definitely a lot. I heard from the bookstore staff that they often can't keep up with demand for storybooks."
"What do you think about opening a bookstore and hiring a few gentlemen to write storybooks to sell?"
"Huh?" Song Nian was stunned. He didn't expect Qin Yi to actually jump to the idea of opening a bookstore to sell storybooks.
Qin Yizhen then asked him, "How is business at Yachun Pavilion these days?"
Song Nian said, “Mr. Deng said it’s going well. Although the Fanghua Pavilion incident has affected business somewhat, people in Qindu still think that Yachun Pavilion is run by Princess Huizhen. In addition, the velvet flowers are really beautiful, and there has never been a shortage of buyers.”
Qin Yizhen said, "Then you can ask Mr. Deng how about opening another bookstore. You can have someone write whatever kind of storybook you want, and you can even make some money."
“Good idea.” Song Nian immediately agreed, thinking it was a great idea, and then immediately took his leave to go find Mr. Deng.
Qin Yizhen picked up her teacup, took a sip of tea, and glanced sideways at Cheng Yan: "Look at me, this matter is resolved, isn't it?"
Cheng Yan reached out and ruffled her hair, about to say something, when Song Nian suddenly turned back.
Qin Yizhen's smile froze on her face.
No, brother, is this how you slap me in the face?
Cheng Yan chuckled softly and asked Song Nian, "Is there anything else?"
"My lord, princess, shouldn't my storybooks be returned to me?" He had almost forgotten that he had 'borrowed' quite a few storybooks.
"It was I who forgot." Qin Yizhen coughed, then called to Lü Qiao, "Lü Qiao, go and fetch the storybook and return it to Song Nian."
Lü Qiao responded with a "yes" from the south wing, then quickly went to the main room to retrieve the storybook.
Qin Yizhen said to Songnian, "Songnian, I can return them all to you, but there are a few that I'm currently reading. How about I finish reading them first before returning them to you?"
Since Qin Yi had spoken so frankly, Song Nian naturally couldn't refuse. He immediately agreed, "If the princess wants to see it, it's fine to lend it to her, but she must return it to me after she's finished reading."
"sure."
When Lü Qiao brought the storybooks, Qin Yizhen picked out all the ones she hadn't read yet, and returned the rest to Song Nian, finally promising, "Don't worry, I'll definitely return them to you after I've finished reading them."
Song Nian looked at the pitiful few storybooks and hesitated to speak, but in the end he could only carry those storybooks away.
Qin Yizhen picked up a storybook and quickly started reading, but Cheng Yan couldn't resist reaching out and taking the storybook from her hand.
"Hey, what are you doing!" Qin Yizhen reached out and grabbed him, preventing him from taking the book away.
"Still reading?" Ever since they got this storybook, Qin Yizhen has been reading one every day. She even hugged one while they finally had some time together.
What's so cool about this?
Is he not good-looking?
Qin Yizhen snatched the book back and explained, "I was planning to read it slowly, but now that I've been discovered, I have to finish reading it quickly and return it to them. Oh dear, it's definitely our fault for doing something so dishonest."
Cheng Yan really couldn't understand: "Weren't you all watching and cursing at the same time? If you were so angry, why did you continue watching?"
Qin Yizhen thought for a moment, then said, "They probably really want to see what happens to those bad guys. Never mind, don't bother me anymore, let me finish reading these books."
Cheng Yan watched as she quickly became engrossed in reading the storybook again, and helplessly reached out and furrowed his brow.
If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have let her know about this thing.
......
The next day was the day the He family would come to visit.
Unfortunately, the weather turned bad; a light rain fell, and everything was wet.
The He family arrived as promised.
Granny Jin personally went to the door to welcome them in and invited them to the Biluo Garden, where they usually entertained guests.
At this time, lotus leaves spread out and covered the lotus pond in Biluo Garden, and some early lotuses had even slightly sprouted buds. Koi carp swam around in the pond.
Qin Yizhen sat on the railing of the pavilion overlooking the pond, holding a lotus-shaped bag of fish food to feed the fish.
Granny Jin told the three of them to wait outside the pavilion, then went up to report: "Princess, the He family has arrived."
"We've arrived, so let them come over."
"Yes." Granny Jin accepted the order, then turned back and invited the three of them forward. The three of them walked over and saw the woman dressed in a begonia-red cloud-patterned dress and wearing a peony-tasseled hairpin. They hurriedly wanted to kneel down and pay their respects.
"There's no need to kneel," Qin Yizhen smiled. "I invited you all here today, so please make yourselves at home."
"Thank you, Princess." Although the three of them did not perform the formal bowing ceremony, they still gave a salute, appearing well-behaved and honest.
Qin Yizhen's gaze swept over the three of them, sizing them up.
Madam He was in her early forties, with a round face that looked like a full moon when she smiled. She seemed particularly kind and not the type to be stingy.
Mrs. He was a young woman, probably in her early twenties, with a slightly pointed chin and a furrowed brow, looking somewhat worried.
As for this Young Master He, he was a young man in his early twenties, wearing a blue robe and a bronze crown. He was neat and tidy, but not tall and not handsome. He was just an ordinary young man.
There was no impatience or expectation in his eyes, only calmness and composure.
"Madam He and Young Madam He, please have a cup of tea with me. The new tea that was sent from the palace a couple of days ago, I wonder if it suits your taste."
Madam He immediately smiled and said, "Then this humble woman must have a good taste."
"Please sit down." Qin Yizhen invited the two to sit down and had a maid serve tea before carefully examining the man who was still standing.
"What is your name? How old are you? What are you doing at home these days?"
Young Master He lowered his head, not daring to look directly at her, and respectfully replied, "Your Highness, my name is Lan Dian, and I am currently studying at Qingshan Academy."
"Lan Dian? He Lan Dian?" Qin Yizhen asked curiously. "The name sounds elegant with just two characters, but when you put the three characters together, it inexplicably reminds one of the Helan Mountains. Is there any origin to it?"