ordinary people's house

Mrs. Du held the maid's hand, walked in slowly, and said lightly: "Old Ba? What are you going to do?"

Yuan Ba ​​let go of little Yuan's arm at once, and little Yuan took a step back and walked to Madam Du's side, Madam Du said: "I heard you shouting here from so far away, tell me, what can't be solved? Do you want me, the old woman, to give you a verdict?"

The fourth aunt flinched and didn't dare to speak out. Yuan Yuer still had some confidence, but she looked at Yuan Ba ​​and then at the little Yuan Shi. Although her face was still arrogant, she didn't speak. Only Yuan Ba ​​said: "Mother. ...It's the fourth sister, she..."

"Shut up!" Mrs. Du said coldly, "A man's family, not to mention being loyal to the country, but doing things for your father, and spending all day in the back house thinking about sisters and sisters! Get out—"

Yuan Ba ​​didn't dare to say a word, and ran away in despair.

Mrs. Yuan helped Madam Du to sit down. Madam Du looked around and said, "Didn't you talk lively just now? Why is there no movement now?"

Si Yiniang laughed dryly: "Si Gu grandma wants to come to see me...why is Madam here?"

Mrs. Du glanced at her and said: "The fourth aunt is Mrs. Jinjiang uncle. Many of the grandmas and wives who came to the house today came for the second young master of the Jinjiang uncle's mansion. I said I was waiting in the room, why did the fourth aunt return?" Why don't you come? Ask someone to inquire and find out that Fourth Gu's grandma is here for you."

There was a trace of cold sweat streaming down Fourth Aunt's forehead, Yuan Yu'er bit her lower lip, and said in a low voice, "Fourth Sister...why didn't you say it earlier?"

Little Yuan actually didn't know whether what Madam Du said was true or not. Madam Du took a sip of tea and said suddenly: "How did I hear that Miss Fifth is going to be engaged? How come I don't know?"

Fourth Aunt was startled again. Before she could speak, Madam Du continued: "Or, this time, Fourth Aunt and Fifth Miss still found the Duke, the one whom the Duke favored for Fifth Miss? Since it is Look at it, why do you still ask the fourth aunt to negotiate peace?"

Yuan Yu'er blushed. When she saw Fifth Auntie and Seventh Auntie watching the fun outside the door, she felt even more angry, and she was too smart to speak, "How dare I go to my father? What happened a few years ago was just because I didn't tell my mother, but my father agreed. As a result, my fourth sister found a good home. I became an old girl that everyone ridiculed. My fourth sister, who shares the same father and mother with me, is an imperial uncle, but I want to marry an ordinary person and live a miserable life?"

The whole room was so frightened that they held their breath after hearing Yuan Concubine's words, the little Yuan Shi also looked up at Yuan Concubine, Madam Du waved her hand, her maid closed the door, Wu Yiniang and others did not dare to listen, She hurriedly retreated, and when the room became quiet, Madam Du smiled and said, "Fifth Miss, tell me, why should I marry you to the uncle's house? What are you better than your fourth sister?"

"I..." Yuan Yu'er clutched the clothes on her chest, breathing rapidly.

Only then did Si Yiniang come to her senses, she grabbed Yuan Xier and knelt down on the ground, saying: "Madam, Madam, I dare to say such things to you because of lard, you have a lot of adults, don't talk to her children General knowledge."

Yuan Yu'er's eyes were red, she lowered her head and said nothing.

Mrs. Du smiled and said: "If you don't say it, then I'll talk about it. Your eldest sister left early, and my old lady can't let go of the Jinjiang uncle's family. There is no one to take care of her. She likes the hard work of the fourth girl. You go with me first." Let me tell you, I didn't even tell the fourth girl about this matter, how did you mother and daughter know?"

Fourth Aunt lowered her head, Yuan Concubine also broke out in a cold sweat.

Mrs. Du said: "Later, I dealt with that girl. Our family is in the northwest, and we should support each other. If I also deal with your mother and daughter, our family will be in chaos. Don't talk about this, I will continue to ask, niece, What do you mean by being orderly? Do you know what you need to know to be a family? It’s not about clothes, jewelry, refreshments, outings, concubine, housekeeper, you have nanny in your room, what have you learned?”

Yuan Yu'er looked at her in a panic, and then at little Yuan Shi.

Madam Du's tone sank, and she continued: "Your concubine, being a housewife is not enough to please a man. You are indeed good-looking, more beautiful than the other girls. If you marry into Jinjiang uncle's mansion, you want As a stepmother, how do you treat the married Yunlang? How do you treat the two young masters?"

Yuan Jin'er raised her head, her expression a little dazed.

Mrs. Du laughed again, "You have considered yourself too high since you were a child, and you have looked down on other sisters, and you have also looked down on your own sister. You are jealous and selfish, how can you be a good wife and stepmother? Your fourth sister married to the capital In the past few years, which wife doesn't boast that she can manage the house and get along well with the children... My son, you have been upset for so many years, do you understand?"

Little Yuan sighed silently, and Yuan Yuer was quiet for a while, but then remembered that since she could not be a wife, she could also be a concubine, the concubine of the most honorable person in the world.

Mrs. Du didn't know that she had thought so much again in a flash, she stretched out her hand and asked Mrs. Yuan to help her up, Mrs. Du said: "Think about it, today's words will not flow out, you have figured it out, and then discuss marriage Things."

Yuan's concubine was grounded, and Xiao Yuan accompanied Mrs. Du to meet the wives of various families, only to realize that many people were thinking about Xiao Dulang, and Xiao Yuan laughed one by one when they heard them cryptically saying that their daughter was good. promise.These wives were talking, and suddenly one of them said: "The second young master of the Su'an mansion will enter the palace in the future, and it will be difficult for us to see him in the future. Madam, why don't you ask the second young master to speak out today? If the second young master is still here If there is anything missing, you are welcome."

Mrs. Du smiled, and said: "He, he just stays in the room all day and doesn't know what to do, Pei'er, go and see the second young master and ask him to greet the ladies."

"Yes."

A lady squeezed a handkerchief and gently wiped the corners of her mouth, "... I seem to have heard from our master a few days ago that after the emperor gets married this year, he will no longer choose concubines to enter the palace."

The room was silent.The ladies looked at me and I looked at you, even smiling awkwardly, but Mrs. Du was not annoyed at all, and said with a smile: "There is such a thing? Mrs. Dong, did you listen to what Dong Shangshu said?"

Mrs. Dong, Mrs. Hubu Shangshu's wife, said with a light smile: "I also heard what our master said casually. I thought to myself that this is a rumor spread by someone. Ma'am, you are the most kind and generous mansion. Who in this world doesn't know that the children you raise are all virtuous and capable. The royal family is not unusual, if any emperor has only one queen, it is really... the biggest joke in the world." Mrs. Dong seemed to think that It's funny, I laughed myself, the rest of the wives just felt embarrassed, many of them had the same thoughts as Mrs Dong, and managed to raise the girls to be beautiful, just to be sent to the palace to bring prosperity and wealth to the family, but the emperor said to be frugal , unwilling to spend money on the general election.So, how can the empress of the palace ask a man to do it? Men and men have the same heart, and a lover is not allowed to be unfaithful, but she sees one and loves the other.

When he came to the second young master of the Yuan family, he had a prominent status. He and the Yuan family behind him could restrain the emperor. He forbade the emperor to accept concubines, and the emperor had no choice.

Mrs. Du's expression was indifferent, and Xiao Yuan smiled and said: "Mrs. Dong has the news soon. We have never heard these words. The emperor is really a man of benevolence and filial piety. The previous emperor's filial piety period has passed, and he still respects the previous etiquette. The emperor, there are not many people who can have the character of the emperor."

Speaking of filial piety, Mrs. Dong was a little embarrassed, but another Mrs. You smiled and said: "If you say so, will the emperor choose another concubine next year?"

Little Yuan said: "Oh, we women rely on our husbands who are doing business for the emperor. Whether the emperor chooses a concubine or not is the emperor's family business, so it's meaningless for us to discuss rashly."

"Mrs. Xiao's words are wrong. If it is a matter of one or two concubines in our family, it is really nothing, and I am not afraid of being discussed. The emperor's concubines and the princes of the concubines are related to the country."

Little Yuan was about to speak when a group of women heard someone outside the door laughing loudly: "The emperor's concubine and concubine are related to the country? I don't understand what Mrs. You said."

The wives were taken aback, the maid opened the door, and Yuan Ruheng walked in. Although he hadn't become a queen yet, no one dared to show his face. They all stood up. Madam Du smiled lightly and patted Clap little Yuan's hand.

Yuan Ruheng sat down and said with a smile: "Mrs. You, Ruheng dare to ask, which concubine in your mansion is in charge of the family affairs? Which concubine will inherit the mansion in the future?"

Mrs. You was taken aback, and said with a dry smile: "Our family, how can we compare with the imperial palace."

Yuan Ruheng said: "Everyone, small furniture is the same. There are no rules to make a square. If the concubines are in chaos, family disasters will arise. In the previous dynasty, there were many concubines who killed their wives and used concubines as concubines. It's better not to be known. If this kind of scandal is known to others, how can anyone stand? Ruheng has been selected as the middle palace, and now he is saying a few disrespectful words. People who are short-sighted think that the crown prince's status will not be guaranteed, but you also know later that the crown prince is born of the queen of the main palace, his blood is noble, it is orthodox, he is the foundation of the country. Mrs. You, do you think so?"

Mrs. You broke into a cold sweat from his long speech, Yuan Ruheng drank a cup of tea, and continued: "Since this is the case, a few concubines and a few concubines are not harmful to the inheritance of the emperor's heir, why does the emperor insist on it?" What about it?" Yuan Ruheng smiled, "Or, do you think it's okay to have another chaos like the late emperor? Do you remember how many rebellious officials and thieves were beheaded when the emperor ascended the throne?"

Mrs. You's face turned blue and white, and Mrs. Dong's hands trembled slightly.Yuan Ruheng changed the subject and said with a smile: "But since I am in the middle palace, jealousy is unacceptable. Hey, if the emperor has that intention, I will naturally take care of it for him. When the concubines enter the palace, I can only persuade the emperor not to be jealous. It is too much to pamper them, if it hinders the previous court, I will really sin."

Yuan Ruheng probably didn't have enough to eat. While talking to these ladies, he casually took the cakes on the table and ate them. After Mrs. Dong and Mrs. You, no one dared to take the lead for the time being. Don't forget to say: "Ladies, please, this hibiscus cake is made by the cook here at my grandmother's place. You can't eat it at other places. Because the raw materials are hard to find and are extremely precious, my grandmother only makes a little bit to eat here every time, so only Only a few people can eat grandma's cakes, if they don't want to eat, it's a chance for others, don't you think?"

Several ladies said "yes" and no, and said "no" and no, their faces were distorted, and they couldn't eat the exquisite pastries.

One day at the beginning of October, Xiao Yunlang watched Xiao Mulang go to greet his relatives in person with his five-month-old belly in his arms. His belly suddenly became bigger in the past month. Lin Yulan was shocked. Many people guessed that Xiao Yunlang was pregnant with twins. Doctor When they came, they said no. Some pregnant women did not have a big belly when they gave birth, and some, like Xiao Yunlang, had obvious belly since April.

The doctor was so used to it, he didn't think anything about it, but Xiao Yunlang was frightened, thinking that he had eaten too much recently, raised the child, and it would be difficult to give birth in the future, so when Lin Yulan fed him, he refused to eat those greasy food. Yes, he only ate a few mouthfuls of food, and every day, he asked Lin Yulan to accompany him out for a walk for a while. Lin Yulan felt that walking was nothing, but it was difficult not to eat.

Xiao Yunlang's stomach has indeed not grown any longer in the past few days, the family tried every means to get Xiao Yunlang to eat, but Xiao Yunlang refused to cooperate, it seemed that within a few days, it was the day of Xiao Yunlang's marriage.

Xiao Yunlang and Lin Yulan changed into bright clothes, Xiao Yuan didn't let Xiao Yunlang go to crowded places, and only told him to talk to the Xiao family's relatives and relatives in the backyard, but Lin Yulan arranged to receive them in the front yard because of lack of manpower guest.

Xiao Yanlang's wife also had a second child, and Qinglan sat beside her sister-in-law, quietly, occasionally glancing at Xiao Yunlang.

Mrs. Du asked about Xiao Yunlang's shop, Xiao Yunlang said with a smile: "Thanks to Brother Yan, I never worry about going outside. After the weather got colder, the number of customers in the shop also increased. I think I will have to ask Brother Yan to watch it for me in the future." on."

Du said with a smile: "They are all relatives of my own family, and they are all Yan Lang should share."

Xiao Yanlang's father was originally hopeless for promotion, but he was promoted to a higher level last year due to his relationship with the Xiao family. Xiao Yanlang has the signboard of the Imperial Merchant, and earns a lot of money. The two families can be regarded as what they need. Xiao Yunlang sees Looking at Qinglan, he said, "Your sister has settled for someone else?"

Mrs. Du pointed at Qinglan with her index finger and said helplessly, "I was just trying to trouble my aunt, my sister is not good enough, and there is no one suitable for her now."

Qing Lan pursed her lips in displeasure and glanced at Mrs. Du, saying, "Sister-in-law knows how to make fun of me."

Du Shi turned around and smiled, but there was a twinkle in his eyes.