Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

Zili looked at Ning Shan's nails and dodged her claws calmly: "It's really wronged, I thought what my sister said, you have nothing to do every day, and you want to talk to someone. Today I got a good thing, I especially wanted to give it to my sister, but it turned out that it was unfortunate that I didn't have to disturb the good mood of my sister and His Royal Highness. I will make amends here first." Zili said that he wanted to make amends to Ning Shan and his grandson.

Without waiting for Ning Shan to speak, Taisun took the first step to support Zili and said with a smile: "She was just joking, I wanted to ask you to come and talk with us, but she said you don't like being disturbed. Tell you to go. Coincidentally, you are here, let's all sit down and talk. Do you like to play this?" Zili calmly withdrew her hand from Taisun's hand, and she moved closer to the table, pretending not to see Ning Shanxiao fake face.There are several cricket jars on the table. The emperor likes this, and it works well. It has become popular in the palace and relatives' homes.

"I heard that there are good crickets that grow under Mount Tai and Mount Lao in Shandong. It is still spring and the beginning of summer has not yet arrived. Why are there crickets? I am afraid that they were raised in a warm shed last year. They have different colors. Black, with copper heads and iron tails, it took a lot of thought." Zili picked up a jar and casually looked at the origin of off-season crickets.Unexpectedly, Zili, who is usually not very talkative, can suddenly quote from other sources, is knowledgeable, and speaks well. Ning Shan looked at her in surprise, thinking to himself that the girl from the Wang family is really cute, and I was almost pretended by her. Honesty was deceived.The grandson smiled triumphantly: "It's what the governor of Shandong brought in, and the emperor gave it to me. As for how they raised them, I don't know. They probably came out of the greenhouse." This thing was given to Taisun by the emperor, and Taisun took it to show off in front of Ning Shan.Who knows that she is always puzzled by her own mind.He didn't notice Taisun's intention at all, and just followed Taisun's words and said cricket nonsense.When the grandson's mood was waning, Zili suddenly rushed out.It happened to scratch Taisun's itchy spot.

Although she was thinking so in her heart, her face was still gentle and generous, and she praised: "Sister Zili is really well-informed, how much do you have that we don't know, but you have used it today to let us know, Eye-opening. When the Queen Mother asked you if you ever read, what did you say? Now you are still pretending to be foolish and lying to us." Although Ning Shan tried her best to restrain the jealousy in her heart, there was still something special in her tone .

The grandson didn't speak, and looked at the two girls with a smile on his fan.Zhen Ningshan has picturesque eyes, she is in her best years as a girl, her gaze is full of amorous feelings, it makes people feel itchy, just like being brushed with white goose feathers on the soles of the feet, the commotion that arises from the soles of the feet .Although Zili is a little younger than her, and her face is still immature, she has a fresh and lovely look.Zili was concentrating on watching the crickets inside the jar, her long eyelashes flickering like a small fan.

Xiao Zhongliang quietly coughed softly in Taisun's ear, and Taisun realized that he had lost his composure. He touched his nose and met Zhen Ningshan's frightened, shy and shy eyes like a deer.Just now he was too engrossed in his thoughts, his naked eyes made Zhen Ning be kind-hearted like a deer, but Zili on the other side lowered his head and was completely unaware of the good show happening around him.

"You have something good to say, quickly show it to me!" Ning Shan was busy diverting everyone's attention with a fever on his face, Zili raised his head slowly, and said unhurriedly: "Actually, it's also true." Nothing good, I think it's good, it's a joke in front of the grandson. I even forgot to thank His Highness the grandson for the reward, what good things did my sister get? I got two fans and a pair of chess pieces." Zili wanted to hold her back. Sleeves, Taisun stared at Zili's actions and immediately raised his heart.Is this silly girl going to show off in front of Zhen Ningshan? .

Taisun's eyeballs wanted to stick to Zili's body, but she unknowingly opened her sleeves, revealing a section of crystal white lotus arms to Ning Shan. "I got a string of red musk beads, which won't be invaded by mosquitoes. I think my sister has taken care of me for many days, and I have nothing to express my heart. I specially brought it to my sister. I hope my sister will not be disgusted with it." Speaking of which, Zili took off the bead string on his wrist and handed it to Ning Shan.Taisun suddenly relaxed in his heart. Just now he was heaving a sigh of relief, worried what would happen if Zili foolishly took out that bracelet?One must know that the Crown Princess still hasn't given up her desire to make Ning Shan a good concubine.

"How can I accept my sister's things?" Ning Shan smiled and pushed back. She wished that Zili would disappear immediately, but she still had to entertain her on her face. Zili sneaked a look at his grandson's relieved expression, and she was secretly amused. , Hmph, you're still a little tender for wanting to be with me.If Zili is really a little girl, she has never experienced the love between men and women, and she knows nothing about the secret war between men and women.Then Zili will definitely not escape the grandson's tricks, and she will definitely be emotionally involved by the grandson's actions, sometimes rejoicing and shy because of getting the bracelet, and sometimes jealous because of the closeness between the grandson and Zhen Ningshan.Waiting for Zili's emotions to be manipulated by the grandson, Zili will be eaten to death in this veiled love affair, and there is no chance of a comeback.

In the past few days, she has seen from the attitudes of the Empress Dowager and the palace servants around her that the grandson Liangdi is either Zhen Ningshan's or hers.Even if she can't sit on the grandson Liangdi, the chance of going out of the palace and returning home to get married is very slim.There is a high probability that her future will be entangled with His Highness the Grandson.Since being the great-grandson Liangdi is not something that the Wang family and Zili can control, but whether a man's heart is on her or not, they can fight for it.The grandson wanted to make Zili jealous by getting close to Zhen Ningshan, forcing her to show her sincerity and admit defeat first, but unfortunately, Zili took advantage of her tricks and instead teased His Highness a little.

The eyes of Zili and Taisun were like lightning, and they separated in the instant they met in the air, but Zhen Ningshan was ignorant and immersed in his own emotions. "Where is my sister, my things are my sister's. This thing is not a gift from the Queen Mother and Queen Mother, but I brought it from home. Although it is not expensive, it is still rare." Zili stuffed the bead into it. She took it into Ning Shan's hands, stared at Ning Shan sincerely, and said solemnly: "Since I entered the palace, my sister has taught me a lot, and even my own sister didn't reason with me like this when I was at home. Although this thing is not worth anything, it was given to me by my mother. If my sister dislikes it, then the previous words are all fake, and you didn't take me as a sister." Taisun listened to Zili's words, and looked at Ning carefully. Shan: "What did you tell her? This girl has taken you as her own sister in a few days."

Hearing Taisun's words, Ning Shan's face flashed a look of unnaturalness, and she hurriedly accepted Zili's bracelet: "Since my sister said so, I will accept it. You don't have to feel sorry all the time, we can do it by fate." Sisters are also destined by nature. Since you take me as your own sister, I will treat you sincerely." Seeing that he had achieved his goal, Zili left with a wink.Ning Shan wished that Zili would disappear from sight immediately, and sent Zili out of the yard without any words to persuade him.

"Young lady really frightened the maidservant just now, I thought she would--" After walking out of Ning Shan's yard, Shunniang breathed a sigh of relief, patted her chest and said, "Why did you go there at that time, young lady?" It makes people unhappy, and the slaves are watching from the sidelines, and when they heard us coming, the faces of the girls in the Zhen family changed."

"I know what you are worried about. You are worried that I will foolishly show off in front of her with that bracelet and make people hate me. I ran over recklessly, broke her good deed, and made my grandson angry." Zi Liyao Shaking the fan, he said what Shun Niang hadn't said.

Thinking of the colorful expressions on Ning Shan's face when she went in suddenly without notification, she was first surprised, then flushed and began to be shy, then disgusted and tried to hide the disgust, and finally fixed on the expression of the puppy guarding the food .At that time, if Ning Shan had a tail, it must have hung down low between his legs, making a low and menacing growl in his throat.

Thinking of this, Zili couldn't help laughing out loud, she walked while waving her fan while covering her sore stomach, not noticing that Shunniang was not following behind her.Just when Zili was smiling happily, she was patted heavily on the shoulder, and Taisun's depressed voice came from behind: "You really did it on purpose, or you laughed like this! I was almost given to you!" Played!"

It turned out that Taisun had quietly followed Zili out as soon as Zili left. He had been hiding far behind and waited until he saw Zili laughing and trembling before coming out to confront her. Startled, then she returned to normal.She tilted her head to look at the little fat man in front of her, wondering what kind of face was behind this simple-looking face?Does she really want to be tied to this person for the rest of her life?

"I can't laugh anymore? Your Highness has also listened to Sister Ning's words, and you must always pay attention to decency, and you can't talk and laugh at will. I am easy to change, so I have to keep a straight face every day. You can't be airy." Zili smiled sweetly, and the sleeve of her left hand holding the fan slid down slightly, revealing the poorly carved [-]-piece bracelet.

Seeing the bracelet in Zili's hand, Taisun's eyes lit up, and he said triumphantly, "I knew you liked this. This is the olive stone I picked and carved myself." Said Taisun Shen With the index finger of his right hand, he gestured to Zili that there was no more wound: "I hurt my hand with the carving knife, and there was a lot of blood at that time."

Zili glanced at Taisun's fingers, she who was still eccentric just now suddenly became silent and gentle, she didn't speak but just lowered her head quietly. "I haven't been to your place yet. I'm free today. Would you like me to come and sit?" Taisun held Zili's hand and pulled her forward.

Shunniang stood a few steps away and watched Zili and Taisun interact with each other. A smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. It seemed that the girl from the Wang family was much smarter than the girl from the Zhen family.Does she want to go back and ask Xiao Fuzi to clean up the house?Just when Shunniang was thinking about whether to take a shortcut and go back first, she heard Zili sternly break away from the grandson's hand: "It's not convenient for the grandson to go to the lower place of the courtier, please invite the grandson to go back."

Nani? !What's happening here!Taisun was caught off guard by Zili's 180-degree turn. When she first appeared, Taisun couldn't help feeling a little proud.Although Ning Shan and Zili are both determined to enter the palace, but compared to Ning Shan's affectionate eyes and his attachment and submissive attitude towards him, Zili is as unpredictable as the clouds in the sky indefinite.No matter how old or young, men are always a bit cheap and inferior, and what is delivered to them will never catch up with the attractiveness that is close at hand.Therefore, even though Taisun had already begun to think about Zili's preference, her feeling of always being indifferent still made Taisun a little reconciled.When he went to Ning Shan's courtyard by accident and was joking with her, His Royal Highness Taisun felt a little bit of anticipation in his heart.When Zili's appearance just met Taisun's expectations, she still couldn't hold back and came.Hearing Zili's sour and unlucky words, the grandson's heart felt sweet for no reason at that time.

Unexpectedly, with a cup of tea, all the sweetness and pride were washed away by Zili's faint words.Taisun has never been rejected by a girl in his life.He stared, and said involuntarily: "What did you say!" Shouldn't Zili welcome him with joy?

Facing Taisun's surprise, Zili sneered inwardly.The fish swallowed the sweet bait, and the next thing to do is to see her face, Zili lowered her head, although she still spoke softly, but her tone was serious and could not be refuted: "Yes, even though it is in the forbidden palace, the rules still have to be respected." .The courtiers and daughters are humble, and I am afraid that they will pollute the noble body of the grandson, and there is a difference between men and women. If they are seen chewing their tongues, it will damage the reputation of the grandson."

"You - well, you're right! I'm not worthy of stepping into your place." Taisun's face suddenly turned red, he looked at Zili angrily, and found that he was actually a quilt Li Du was speechless. "Xiao Zhongliang, what are you standing there for?" Taisun angrily shook his sleeves and left.

Shunniang watched the grandson walk away, she sighed worriedly and said to Zili who was still standing there: "Why bother, girl. The girls of the Zhen family know that they want to make the grandson happy, so why should the girl be with her everywhere?" The grandson is playing against the tune. Although the girl is right, who here dares to talk about those words?"

"Stop talking, she is her, and I am me. Others dare not gossip about Zhen Ningshan, so they may not gossiping about me. If the grandson is angry, there is nothing he can do about it." Zili said lightly, she turned to the grandson His anger was simply ignored.

Shunniang was about to say something, but she suddenly met Shang Zili's eyes, and her heart skipped a beat. From Zili's eyes, Shunniang suddenly understood that Zili knew everything.The empress dowager and the empress sent people to them to express their preferential treatment to these girls, to show their kindness and generosity, and more importantly, Shun Niang and the others shouldered the responsibility of investigating the future grandson Liang Di around the clock.Shunniang and Xiao Fuzi watched Zili's every move in private, and it spread to the ears of the queen mother and empress.If Zili had agreed to the grandson to go to her place, it wasn't because Shunniang kept it secret, the queen mother and empress would know tonight.After being seen through by a girl, Shun Niang felt embarrassed: "It's getting late, girl, let's go back first."

In the Queen Mother's bedroom at night, "The Empress Dowager is here." Following the announcement, the Empress had already entered in casual clothes, and the Empress Dowager also changed into light clothes before going to bed. She looked at the Queen in surprise and smiled, "What are you doing at this time? coming?"

"Greetings to the empress, the daughter-in-law couldn't sleep after hearing what they said, so she came to see the empress before she rested." The empress had already removed her make-up, she casually tied her hair, without makeup, her face was tired The color is clear at a glance.Of course the Empress Dowager knew what the Empress was talking about. A little court lady had already placed a chair under the Empress Dowager's hand, "Sit down, and Ai's family will not be able to sleep at night, just as our mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are talking." The Empress Dowager pointed to the chair at hand and asked the Empress to sit down .

"The concubine heard that His Majesty approved Wang Changchun's appointment and promoted him to be the commander-in-chief of Liaodong, with full authority over all military and political affairs outside Shanhaiguan." Worry.

The queen mother raised her head slightly: "It's a good thing, that old fox Wang Changchun is very cunning, and it's rare that he is willing to come out to serve the country this time. Dalang doesn't like girls from the Wang family very much. Her grandfather was the general soldier of Liaodong. Listen to me It's more worthy of Dalang."

"However, in the Liaodong war, the imperial court may not be sure of victory. It's good to win, but it's good to lose. I prefer a girl from the Wang family to be the main wife." Grandson Liangdi's background must be perfect.The queen was worried that Wang Changchun would not win, but the loss outweighed the gain: "Are we hinting that the Wang family should not stand out. Anyway, the court has so many people, so why is he going to stand out?" For the sake of her grandson's marriage, the queen must be safe.

"You are confused. Although the Wang family's girl is good, but there is no other good child in the world except her? The grandson's marriage can't be done according to his mind, but also depends on the situation of the previous dynasty. I know you In my mind, that child of the Zhen family is a bit frivolous after all, not a person worthy of great responsibility. When the grandson is old, he can accept the side concubine first. As for the grandson's concubine Liang, if the fate is not here now, he can let go first, sad I think everyone in the Wang family understands the truth, and being the grandson's concubine is the same." The queen mother's face was hidden under the shadow of the lamp, and the expression on her face could not be seen clearly, but her light tone made the queen feel chills.

It turns out that the queen mother is planning for this!It was good for Wang Changchun to win, but Wang Zili became grandson Liangdi and changed his name, and the position of grandson and prince would be more stable in the future.If Wang Changchun was defeated, the grandson Liangdi would choose a girl who was more in line with the interests of the prince and grandson.Even if the grandson likes Zili, it would be nice to have her as a concubine.