0p0 Chapter 285 Cousins
Chapter 285 Cousins
Mu Xiang replied: "I remember it, why do you ask this, young lady?"
Shi Yao whispered, "I'm afraid Third Master Xie has taken the blame for his sister."
Gossip can melt metal, and piles of bones can be destroyed.
Most of the rumors were untrue, and judging from the merit points obtained from the merit book, Xie Jibai was not as bad as the rumors said. At least he was a man who valued his promises.
However, my cousin is right. It is better to stay away from such playboys as it will damage a woman's reputation.
Shi Yao secretly remembered the favor that Xie Jibai had done for her, and would definitely repay it to the Xie family if she had the chance in the future.
Mu Xiang thought for a moment and nodded, "Miss, you are right. Mr. Xie has a clear vision and is a decent person. Although he is a bit lustful, he is still a gentleman.
However, his reputation is not very good, and he usually acts without scruples. Otherwise, why would others think that he collected beauties and brought them home when they saw that there were a few more girls in his house? "
Shi Yao nodded: "That's true."
Jiang Miao smiled slightly, nodded approvingly at Mu Xiang, and said to Shi Yao, "You have been out for a while, and you have encountered the assassination of King Cheng. You are also frightened. You should return home early. In the next few days, the palace or the government may summon you and Lord Xiao Tang to explain the assassination. You should think about what to say when you go back."
Shi Yaofu said, "Thank you for the reminder, cousin."
After saying this, he saw Tang Zhan calling for the carriage to come over, so he climbed onto it.
Tang Zhan got on the horse, and Jiang Miao also got on the horse, and asked jokingly, "Master Tang, is your foot wound healed?"
Tang Zhan stopped pretending and smiled, "Thanks to my cousin, I'm fine now."
Jiang Miao just smiled and said nothing.
Speechless all the way.
When the carriage arrived at the gate of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, Shi Yao invited Jiang Miao to talk aside and handed him a few bags of exquisite snacks.
"The snacks at Xiankeju tasted great at noon. I'd like to ask my cousin to bring some back for my uncle and aunt to try. It's a small token of my appreciation and a way to thank you for running around for me these past few days."
Jiang Miao anticipated what she was going to say, and his smile dimmed slightly, but he still took the snack and thanked her.
Shi Yao gritted her teeth, lowered her eyebrows, and gently drew circles with her feet. She spoke with difficulty: "Since I met my cousin, I know what a real brother is like. My cousin and I are related by blood, and I have always regarded him as my own brother. My cousin is good in every way, but we are siblings. I hope that in the future, my cousin will still be my brother."
Jiang Miao's eyes were a little empty for a moment, but he quickly adjusted himself and smiled warmly: "I understand."
Shi Yao looked up and explained hurriedly: "Cousin, do you really understand? We are really siblings! Since ancient times, cousins and siblings with the same surname cannot get married. Why? Because close relatives often give birth to children who die young or are born with diseases. And I personally think that cousins are also close relatives and cannot get married... Cousin, do you understand?"
Under Jiang Miao's gentle gaze, Shi Yao's voice became smaller and smaller.
This topic is really embarrassing.
It's a challenge to ethics and tradition!
Jiang Miao's heart was truly filled with turmoil.
He really didn't expect that Shi Yao would view her cousins' marriage in this way.
It turned out that it wasn't because he wasn't good enough, not because he wasn't outstanding enough, nor because Tang Zhan was good in any way, it was just because Shi Yao believed that close relatives shouldn't get married.
He thought about it carefully and realized that among his relatives and friends, those who got married to cousins often had problems with having children, and many of them died young, or the children were weak and sickly.
As for those children who died at birth, he had heard rumors that several were born with deformities, some died of illness, and some were because their parents and other elders were afraid to face the reality and drowned their children as soon as they were born.
Thinking deeply about this, Jiang Miao shuddered and immediately looked at Shi Yao with a different look.
There is no more sadness or beauty.
He flicked Shi Yao's forehead with his finger, and smiled brightly and relievedly: "Okay, I understand. Don't worry, cousin, I will always be your brother."
Seeing that he was still in the mood to joke and play with her, Shi Yao let out a long sigh of relief, covered her forehead and smiled, "My cousin is as gentle as jade, a modest gentleman, and there will definitely be a beautiful woman to match with him in the future. I wish my cousin to find a good match and be a couple forever."
Jiang Miao smiled and said, "Then I would like to thank my cousin for her kindness." After a pause, he continued, "As for Tang Zhan, I see that my cousin gets along with him very easily. This kind of person is simple and easy to handle in emotional matters, but he is also reckless and cannot carefully understand the thoughts of girls. My cousin will have to take the trouble to train him in the future."
What he meant was that Tang Zhan was attracted by Shi Yao's family background and her beauty at first, and that young man, who was overwhelmed with passion at the moment, would most likely, if he became more passionate in the future, embrace beautiful women and make Shi Yao suffer in vain.
Shi Yao smiled brightly and was about to speak. Seeing them chatting and laughing, and being intimate, Tang Zhan rushed over and hugged Jiang Miao's shoulders, grinning and showing his big white teeth:
"Cousin! It's getting late. My aunt has received news of the assassin and must be anxiously waiting for you to return home. You are a weak scholar. In order to prevent you from encountering bandits on the road again, I, a humble brother, have some skills and can volunteer to escort you personally!"
Jiang Miao snorted, gently pushed him away, and said with a faint smile: "The capital is an important place, how dare those villains commit crimes, Lord Xiao Tang worry too much, Jiang is safe, Lord Xiao Tang does not need to worry. My cousin and I have a deep brother-sister relationship, so I just said a few more words, and now I will take my leave."
After that, Jiang Miao ordered his attendants to bring the horse over, then he climbed on the horse and clasped his fists towards Shi Yao: "Cousin, take care!"
Shi Yao waved her hand and said, "Take care of yourself, cousin."
After watching Jiang Miao leave, she turned around and saw Tang Zhan staring at her blankly.
"Master Xiao Tang, why are you looking at me like that? Grandmother should be waiting for us at Ganlu Hall. Let's go quickly."
Tang Zhan stumbled a few steps, then suddenly his steps became brisk. As he walked, he asked incoherently, "We? Fine, fine, let's go together to pay our respects to the old lady. Um, second sister, that Jiang Miao, uh, cousin Jiang, what did he mean? He said, you two are brother and sister?"
Shi Yao glanced at him and said, "We are siblings. You should be more polite to my cousin in the future."
"Hehe, hehehe." Tang Zhan danced with joy, scratched his head, and scratched his head again, "I know, I know, I'll be polite, I must be polite. Ahem, from now on I'll treat him as my uncle..."
Shi Yao glared at him.
He quickly closed his mouth and smiled with his lips pursed.
In Ganlu Hall, the Madam had been waiting in the garden. When she saw Shi Yao and Tang Zhan coming in together, she couldn't help but look behind them: "Yao girl, where is your cousin?"
"My cousin just went back."
The lady was getting more and more annoyed with Tang Zhan and asked, "Why did he leave when he was already at the doorstep? He didn't even come to greet me."
Shi Yao and Tang Zhan bowed together.
Tang Zhan knew that the lady didn't like him, so he stood aside obediently.
Shi Yao sat beside the old lady, holding her hand, and said with lingering fear: "Grandmother! You don't know, when we went to see off the Ge family's sister, we met the fourth prince and the eldest sister, and also met an assassin! It was so scary! The news spread throughout the capital, and the Jiang family cousin was afraid that the eldest cousin would worry, so he hurried back to report that he was safe."