Dowry maid's daily life [Red Mansion]

Perhaps it was Wang Ziteng who was dissatisfied with the Wang family in Jinling before, but Wang Ziteng has recently become more and more "lonely" and cherishes his husband and wife relationship with Mrs. Li even more.Seeing that Madam Li was puzzled, she used more patience than usual to talk to Madam: "Your Highness is pragmatic, capable, tolerant, and decisive, but the most important thing is that Your Highness has great ambitions for change."

Wang Ziteng seemed to be sorting out his thoughts while speaking.His Highness the Fourth Highness will definitely be a capable monarch in the future, but he may not be willing to be a benevolent monarch like today. A benevolent monarch values ​​the reputation before and after his life. Everyone on his path of innovation will be crushed into dust—the third and sixth princes of the imperial court are already fighting to the death, but the Fourth Highness is still not showing his edge and is very forbearing.There is a knife on the head of the word forbearance. To be able to endure is to be ruthless to oneself, but those who are ruthless to themselves will only be more ruthless to others. What's more, this His Highness has never lacked iron fists, and it is useless to approach him with affection.

This is also realized by Wang Ziteng, thanks to the dream Wang Ren had.In the dream, the prince is in control of the real power outside, the concubine is on the inside, and the holy favor is so good, why is it that once the medicine died, even the concubine in the inner court was not spared, and the nephew and uncle rushed to the underworld one after the other?It can be seen that the emperor turned his face and was ruthless, not to mention the uselessness of old love, maybe it is a "crime" that can be eliminated quickly.

"Recently, I've been thinking, His Highness has such a great personality, why would he show favoritism because of his wives and concubines in the backyard? Since I won't treat Yuan Er differently, why should I do anything unnecessary." The prince laughed heavily: "Besides, Your Highness has kept a low profile for many years. , There are often things that you can’t control yourself. Your Highness doesn’t say it at this time because it’s not yet the time, how can you know what will happen in the future?”

Mrs. Li was shocked: "What does the master mean?"

"Your Highness thinks that we sent our niece into the palace to repay the favor?" Mrs. Li frowned.

The prince hurriedly waved his hands, and said with a smile: "Madam's words are wrong, and she put us too high. We only have to be loyal. How can we get such kindness? If Your Highness accepts Yuan'er, I'm afraid it will be regarded as an exchange of benefits." ' It's just a business."

At this moment, Wang Ziteng thought, even his wife felt that it was an act of "gratitude" for him to choose the side of His Highness the Fourth Highness. It really is that he has been too arrogant all these years. This is not only arrogant, but also underestimated. Fourth Highness——In Wang Ren's dream, I am afraid that I have never been able to see through this point, and I am not wronged to end up like that.

"I sent my niece in in order to help her to show her glory and plan for the future." Wang Ziteng said the words thoroughly, and smiled bitterly: "Your Highness will not fail to see, it is impossible to guarantee that we have been branded as unfaithful and impure. Your Highness In the early years, I was victimized by my relatives, and I have personally experienced the turmoil now. How can I not hate and fear cronies! I couldn't see it clearly before, but now I want to understand it. If Your Highness Jin grants Yuan'er, there are only two roads left for me That's all. One is that in the future, my sense of taste will regress, and maybe I can get a false title and support. Two..."

Wang Ziteng looked deeply at Mrs. Li: "Naturally, it's going up and down! His Highness once said clearly that cliques are fighting for profit and causing trouble for the government. If he wants to come to Dabao one day, he will definitely not tolerate the reappearance of the chaotic situation of fighting for the throne. I'm afraid that people with such thoughts can't bear it. The emperor's mind, today he thinks it's a transaction, but in the future it may not be regarded as a "rebellious act of coercion". Once it is shameful, madam think Think about it in the future."

Mrs. Li was flustered and couldn't help shaking her head: "I can't let it go, isn't Mr. Zhou, who is under the fourth highness's family now, sending his daughter into the mansion as a concubine? There is also Mr. Wu Tianyou from the household department. His daughter will also be welcomed as a concubine in the next year." The second concubine. Master Wu and Master Zhou are both like this, is the master worrying too much?"

"Zhou Rang Zilai is the disciple of His Highness the Fourth Highness, so he said nothing. But this Wu Tianyou, is the same as me, but also different—madam, don't forget the hat of 'pure minister and straight minister' on our heads. He His daughter was accused of being the second concubine, and Wu Tianyou was counted under the command of the Fourth Highness. Compared with us, it has a more upright meaning. However, I have to watch carefully what will happen to this old man in the future, most likely he will not get better. "

"Madam won't you persuade me?" Wang Ziteng handed the teacup to Madam Li with his own hands.

How could Mrs. Li not understand that it would be impossible to change her course at this time, not that she couldn't do it but that she couldn't do it, no matter who was in power, she couldn't tolerate those half-hearted and rebellious ministers.

"Forget it, I told Madam these things not to worry you, but to tell you that it's not too late, and there is still a way out."

Mrs. Li was silent for a while before saying: "What is the master going to do?"

Prince Tengwu smiled: "A talented man is mainly matched with loyal ministers and capable generals. In the future, only the words 'loyalty' and 'capability' will be used—loyalty will follow the holy will, and ability will not give up! In addition, 'knowledge and interest' should be retired." Then retreat', if this is not enough, then it is only my prince's fate, so I just accept my fate!"

As he spoke, he suddenly remembered the ambition of the young Kuang Fu, and a sense of heroism surged in his chest.

Mrs. Li stood up and adjusted her clothes, and solemnly gave a blessing: "I wish to live and die with the master, and we will be in the same boat through thick and thin!"

Wang Ziteng tightly grasped Mrs. Li's hand, held his hands and looked at each other, unable to do so for a long time.

----

"Sister-in-law, what does Second Brother mean?" Mrs. Wang covered her chest with a handkerchief, angry and anxious.

Mrs. Li was half tilted on the couch, and she couldn't help raising her eyes to look up at her eldest aunt when she heard the words: "Wouldn't it be nice if Yuan'er came back and reunited with his parents and relatives, so he wouldn't have to suffer from errands anymore?"

"Back then, my aunt wanted my eldest niece to find a good future, and she persuaded the master to find a way to send the child to the palace, but what happened?" Madam Li said coldly, "How long does it take for Yuan'er to enter the palace?" Years, not to mention the blessings and blessings, all you do is serve people! Isn’t it enough for the child to suffer all these sufferings?”

Mrs. Wang felt that these words were unpleasant, and she trembled angrily: "Why is sister-in-law talking? Yuan'er is already a female official next to the queen mother, good fortune is in front of her eyes!"

Mrs. Li pondered: "The Queen Mother? If it was the former Queen Mother Chen, it would be fine, but what is the situation of our current Queen Mother, does the aunt insist that she doesn't know?" The former Queen Mother Chen was the rightful Queen Mother. The empress dowager in the story is just the empress dowager after the death of the empress dowager Chen. In order to constrain the concubine Zhen, she used some pretense of kindness and merit, and honored a concubine of the former emperor as the empress dowager.This Empress Dowager Geng had no favor and no children in her life, and she did not make any contribution to the royal family. She was completely dependent on the Holy Majesty and had no authority in her hands.

"Didn't my aunt want to ask the queen mother to give my niece a good marriage?" Mrs. Li laughed, she didn't know what to say.

Mrs. Wang's face was flushed, and she burst into tears after a while: "The second elder brother agreed to send Yuan'er into the palace that day, but now he is trampling our mother and daughter into the mud! Yuan'er is suffering in the palace. After all these years, is it in vain?"

Mrs. Li rubbed her forehead. She was used to saying that she couldn't get along with her sister-in-law: "Since I know that the child has been suffering for the past few years and can't make it to the top, how long will it take if I don't retreat at this time? Is it true that Yuan'er will survive until the age of 25?" , use up all your years, and teach her to be the foster mother of other young ladies with the lowly level of a female official!"

Mrs. Wang was clumsy and couldn't explain clearly, she thought in her heart that since she has already suffered, how can she give up halfway, as long as her brother is willing to help, and according to Yuanchun's appearance and background, it is possible to be a prince and concubine.

With great difficulty, she confessed her intentions, and made Mrs. Li look at her like a lunatic: "My aunt knows that our master is only loyal to the Holy One? He never gets involved in the establishment of the heir."

"Whose house does my aunt want my daughter to enter? If my master wants to make it happen, isn't it forcing him to deviate from the holy will and form a party! I just want to ask my uncle and wife what kind of heart is there!" Mrs. Li was not polite. rob white.

Mrs. Wang burst into tears, and hurriedly said: "Second elder brother revealed before that he wanted Yuan'er to enter the residence of His Highness Fourth Highness..."

Before she could finish speaking, Mrs. Li said: "I was there that day, but the master didn't mean that! What the master said at the time was, 'The elder sister only hopes that Yuan'er will marry into the royal family and shine on the family. According to me, for the sake of the child For the rest of your life, you have to think about it carefully, and you must have a title and errands and a simple backyard, so as not to miss the child'——How many masters like this in the royal family, why do uncles and wives only go to His Royal Highness? Think about them!"

"Yuan'er is my niece. No matter how much my aunt loves her own children, she can't say that Yuan'er's background can match the positions of princes and concubines. Even if the second concubine of your highness is not Where are the daughters of officials and nobles? The Fourth Highness is about to welcome the second concubine Wu, whose father is Mr. Wu, the servant of the household department..." Mrs. Li said this, she just pointed her nose and said that Mrs. Wang was wishful thinking. The daughter of an official, how dare to think of such a beautiful thing.

To make Mrs. Wang wronged, Wang Ziteng meant the fourth prince that day. Although he refused to say it clearly, Mrs. Wang dared to say that she would never make a mistake.

"If my uncle and wife mean to ask Yuan'er to be a concubine who is not worthy of the imperial family's royal title, then I think I have wronged my uncle and wife. But there is one more thing I have to say, this idea of ​​my uncle's wife is really spoiling Yuan'er! "

"The master specifically asked us to show Yuan'er a good marriage with all four corners when Yuan'er's house comes. Uncle and wife should think about it carefully!" gone."

Mrs. Wang went home with red eyes, she couldn't figure it out, could Yuan Chun, who had a good fortune on her first birthday, marry an ordinary noble son?A moment of anger, a moment of hatred, and a moment of regret panicked, Mrs. Wang just walked back and forth in the Rongxi Hall.

"Ma'am," Zhou Rui's family approached, "Could it be that my uncle and wife have other ideas?"

"What are you thinking?" Mrs. Wang looked at her while wiping her tears.

Zhou Rui's family swallowed, a little regretful that they shouldn't have spoken, but they had no choice but to insist: "Perhaps I'm a slave who thinks too much. Forgive me, madam. Don't worry too much, I'll just say it."

Mrs. Wang glared at her and said impatiently, "Just talk!"

"The eldest girl has been in the palace for several years. Don't say it sooner or later. Unexpectedly, my uncle and wife just recognized my daughter before. Now I bring it up like this. Could it be that there are other thoughts, such as changing that 'Miss Gan'?" Go in?" Zhou Rui's family hurriedly said: "The second uncle didn't show up this time, and only the uncle and wife relayed what he said. According to my knowledge, I think there is a little bit of guilt for the uncle. But What is the shame of the uncle? Could it be that he lost his niece when he wanted to help the righteous daughter? Earlier, the uncle sent someone to send two carts of things to the "pseudo-lady". I wondered, when did the uncle care about it? What about these small details? Don’t talk about a thing that is only promoted to make your uncle and wife happy, even your own daughter, Sister Yang, has never bothered to do this!”

Zhou Rui's family said cautiously: "I'm afraid I want to win over this adopted daughter."

Mrs. Wang was shocked at first, but then the more she thought about it, the more reasonable she became, she gritted her teeth and wished that someone would arrest Du Yun'an and beat him to death immediately.

"How can a lowly son compare with my Yuan'er? Second brother is also confused!" Mrs. Wang said angrily.

"I've heard that it's good to be born in this kind of background." Zhou Rui's family curled their lips, looking very disgusted: "Not to mention anything else, it's just that the opera sings 'Wang Situ recognizes his righteous daughter and sends Diao Chan off'— — There are quite a few such things in the capital, firstly, if these people get into trouble, they won’t be a burden to the family, and secondly, these people are proud, and they can only rely on the family of their adoptive parents..."

Mrs. Wang, who was listening, clenched her veil tightly, and repeatedly said: "I'm afraid it's true...Second brother is so ruthless! Just listen to my good second sister-in-law's encouragement, where are you going to send his sister and niece!"

It's just that Mrs. Wang knew that Wang Ziteng had made up her mind and would not listen to persuasion to change it. She lay there holding her chest for a long time, then sat up suddenly and asked, "Where is the master now? Go and invite the master, I have something to say." Discuss with the master."

At that moment, Caiyun came in and whispered, "Master is in Aunt Zhao's room, and he said that he has already rested at night, and he will discuss with his wife tomorrow if he has something to do."

Mrs. Wang lost her face, sat there for a while and asked, "Where is the old lady? Where is Baoyu? I'm going out today, but has he been here?"

Caiyun flinched even more: "The old lady is playing horse hanging with Aunt Xue, Miss Bao, Miss San and so on are all playing together. The second master and Miss Shi will ask someone to melt the ice in the pond in the garden. I fished for half a day, but I didn’t have enough fun, and went over after dinner.”

Caiyun is a hemp stalk beating a wolf--the two are afraid, and there is nothing out of his mouth to please his wife at this moment, so he has to try his best to make up: "The old lady ordered someone to light a bunch in the snow pavilion in the garden. Huo, Xiren, etc. are also waiting on the stove and hand stove, and they will not freeze the second master."

Before she could finish her sentence, the angry Mrs. Wang dropped her glass: "Get out! You can't even convey the idea, what do I want you to do!"

In the middle of the night, there was a heavy snowfall from the sky, and the Rongguo Mansion was shining brightly, and all the maids who watched the night watched quietly, but Mrs. Wang shed tears all night at the window.

The next day was the first day of offering sacrifices to the stove. Early in the morning, everyone went to Jia Mu’s upper courtyard. Jia Rong, the eldest son and grandson of the long house, took the lead in preparing for the stove sacrifice.This whole day, I have been busy with this important event, and it was not until dusk and night that I sent the Kitchen God to the sky.

Different prefectures and families also have different rituals to worship Xiaojiazhizao, but there is no need to repeat them.It is only said that Mrs. Wang has been out of her mind all day, and seeing Du Yun'an, who is wearing a frosted sheepskin jacket on grass, sitting around Jia Mu with the decent ladies at home, is even more painful.

The servant of Zhou Rui's family was by her side, and her heart was full of jealousy. She looked back and forth at the Gudong sheep's fur jacket, and the more she knew that the fur was precious, the more she hated it—her sister's niece, Ruiyun, had the opportunity As the dowry of Lian's second grandmother, she was squeezed out by this little hoof surnamed Du, and then she was trampled to death by Uncle Ren. The brother-in-law's family used to be a respectable and well-established family in the second uncle's mansion, but now it is by Ren Da. Grandma was sent to Zhuangzi, but it was impossible to ask everywhere.Zhou Rui's family originally took advantage of the convenience of her sister and brother-in-law in Wang Ziteng's mansion, and told Mrs. Wang about the things in that mansion there. How could he not regard Du Yun'an as a thorn in his side and a thorn in his flesh if he had done his own fault and would always rely on others.

Others may not have noticed the scrutiny of the master and servant, but Du Yun'an, who was being scrutinized, would not be unaware of it.Not to mention herself, even Mei Yue saw it, because she avoided people and asked quietly: "Miss, did you offend that sister-in-law Zhou?"

Du Yun'an remembered that Ruiyun is Zhou Rui's niece, other than that, the two had no intersection, so he shook his head: "I don't know."

He Yue narrowed her eyes, and said with a low laugh: "Maybe it's the leather jacket of sister-in-law Zhou's hot-eyed girl. Why is it that it's New Year's Eve? Didn't the second wife reward her with a nice woolen dress?"

Mei Yue squinted at He Yue, touched Du Yun'an's hand, and felt relieved when she saw the warmth: "It's not the time to wear pearl fur, our wife sent you so many good leather jackets, but the girl just looks for it." After this matter, no matter how much I persuade you, I won’t listen to you!”

What I'm talking about is the two carts sent by Wang Ziteng's mansion a few days ago. There is a cart of good leather jackets of various fox fur, lynx cat, and squirrel ermine skin, and there is also a cart of wolf fur and fox fur bedding. The car is really full of colors and colors.It was still in the name of Wang Ziteng, Yun An saw that the post was written by Mrs. Li, obviously pulling Wang Ziteng's banner to make a face for her.

These leather goods are expensive, and Du Yun'an can't use them with peace of mind. It happened that Eucommia sent someone to send a sheepskin jacket, and Du Yun'an only wore this one, and unexpectedly poked someone's eyes.

"Although the pearl wool jacket worn by the eldest girl is nice, it was put on earlier, and it will be just right when it is warmer." Du Yun'an only said a few words to Yingchun, and then heard Mrs. Wang talking to her.

Du Yun'an lowered his head to look at the gown on his body, feeling a little bored, why did he spend all day on her clothes, and he didn't know how to offend the second wife, his eyes looked a little prickly today.

Everyone looked at Yun An's clothes.

Mrs. Wang asked Xifeng, "Why are the girls making new clothes this year, but didn't they make one for your sister Yun?"

These words also attracted Xiangyun's spirit, and she put away the expression on her face, bowed her head and fiddled with her belt in silence.

Xifeng was so wronged that she made new clothes for this New Year's Eve, and all the girls living in the family got them, and she didn't favor one over the other.It's just that new clothes are made, but not all winter clothes are included. For example, big wool clothes are not made every year. A piece of hair is considered new clothes.This year is the case, the three girls in the family have changed the brocade linings of the latest designs, and the rest of the girls who live in the house are doing it by themselves——Sister Lin and Sister Xue are rich people, so she doesn’t have to worry about it at all, and Sister Shi also has it. The ones that the old lady rewarded in the past have also been refurbished, and she has indeed not left Yun'an. Tete sent Ping'er to ask, if not, give her two of his own.Unexpectedly, Ping'er came back and said that there were several boxes of high-quality fur goods, and in turn brought back a good strip of wolf fur mattresses, saying that Miss An's brother had sent them in.

"We all got it, and we will wear it out on the first day of the year." The girls all said to Sister Feng.

"Is this frost on the grass?" At this time, Jia Mu asked with a smile, beckoning Yun An over, "But I haven't seen this kind of pearl hair of the same size for two years."

Girls don't quite understand this, pearl hair is lamb skin, what is this frost on grass?

Du Yun'an didn't understand either, but Aunt Xue flattered: "I just realized that the old lady's knowledge is really incomparable to us."

Tanchun saw a white tip on the curly black hair, and said with a smile, "Isn't this dyed?"

Jia Mu waved her hand and said with a smile: "How can the dyed one be so well-proportioned and natural? It is a natural kind of sheep. It was originally only owned by the Raksha State in the north. Later, people in Liaodong raised it. We call it 'Bone Winter Sheep'. This sheep is very special. Few, but the coat color is black and bright, and it is very warm, so it is even more rare. And this bone winter sheep, only the lamb skin has a white tip, and it is called "Frost on the Grass". It is soft, warm and beautiful. , that's good!"

"You only feel cold with pearl hair at first glance, but in fact, this dress is similar to the lynx mantle you are wearing, and it is not cold to wear it now." Jiamu said with a smile: "It is not necessary to rely on pearl hair, Squirrel jackets and fox furs are the dead rules, as long as you are not cold, you can wear whatever you want."

But calmly and gently released the siege of Sister Feng and Yun'an, and did not make it difficult for Mrs. Wang, it was a mature person.

What dead rules, Yunan kept the question in his heart, and asked Daiyu when he went back with her.

Daiyu laughed and said, "I just found out by asking secretly. It turns out that it's cold in the north, especially in the middle of the city. From autumn to spring, they wear clothes with big and small hairs for almost half a year, so they give up this kind of atmosphere." They started a procession and said that they started with leather jackets, pearl fur first, and then medium wool clothes like squirrel and ermine. When the winter moon came, they started to put on big fur like fox fur and mink fur. At this time, the weather gradually turned, so I did it again backwards."

Yun An smiled and said: "It's because I'm short-sighted. Mei Yue persuaded me earlier, but I thought she was too wordy and hurriedly hid. It turns out that there are these things in here, so it's not troublesome."

Daiyu covered her mouth: "It's just that some idlers have no business to do, so they have to fiddle with these rules. Everyone is different, just like different flowers are in everyone's eyes, so you have to follow this—— For example, I put on my thickest clothes as soon as it gets cold, I have never felt so cold in winter, if it is so, I have to hide in the house for many days before I can bear it..."

"It's over, now I've spoiled you." Yunan shook her head and sighed when she heard the string of complaints coming out of her small mouth: "The girl who used to be so elegant and detached is now a girl with pickled Laba garlic and window grilles." Scissors, hands in sleeves, chatting gossip-yesterday I wanted to catch fish with a net..."

Daiyu blushed, stomped her feet and said angrily, "Why are you still being a fool! It was you, the elder sister, who said that the ice was broken, and the fish gathered by themselves to catch their breath, and there was no need to catch it at all. That's the word 'caught in one catch' It is most appropriate to use here..."

The little sisters talked and laughed and walked away hand in hand. Mrs. Wang looked over from a distance, her eyes seemed poisoned, she thought to herself, if the second brother refused to help, then she would do it herself, and she couldn't let such a cheap hoof Press it on her Yuan'er's head!

At this time, in the courtyard of Du's house, two brothers climbed into the house: "The wolf furs are not good now, and I will buy some good ones for An'an in autumn next year." Whether she likes it or not, this year is late, next year I can get some good fox fur."