The Road of the Concubine's First Wife

Chapter 9
"Mother."

Just as the room was enjoying itself, a voice came in through the door curtain, followed by a handsome young man.Wearing a sapphire blue brocade gown, a black and purple mink fur coat, and a scholar's cap that is popular among teenagers nowadays, whoever it is, is it not Qiao Shaotang, the young master of the Qiao Mansion.

"Brother is well." The young ladies in the room greeted Qiao Shaotang sincerely.

"Hello, sisters." Qiao Shaotang replied with a smile, but there was a bit of urgency in the smile, not as calm as usual.

"Shaotang, isn't this the time for you to study? Why do you have time to come to your mother?" Seeing Qiao Shaotang, the wife's eyes were full of joy, and she looked at her son, full of pride in being a mother .This son can earn her a royal order.

Qiao Shaotang passed the examination as a teenager, followed the teacher's instruction and did not rush to take the examination.Over the years, I have either traveled abroad to study, or studied poetry and books at home.Countless great scholars who have met Qiao Shaotang said that Qiao Shaotang is full of knowledge, and now he will take the test. As long as there is no accident, even if he fails to win the first class, he will be among the second class Jinshi.

However, Qiao Shaotang did not become complacent because of this, on the contrary, he abided by his teacher's order even more, read thousands of books and traveled thousands of miles.I want to wait until I get married and become a father before going to the scientific examination.

"Mother, cousin Zhiyi is here, and the boy who came to report the news has already arrived. Counting his schedule, he should arrive in the afternoon." Qiao Shaotang bowed to his mother and said.

"Zhiyi is here?" The wife's expression at this time can no longer be described simply as a happy brow, this is a real honored guest.

The cousin Zhiyi mentioned by Qiao Shaotang is the real son of Qiao Sihai's biological sister, Lin Zhiyi, the eldest son of the Duke's Mansion in Runan.This Lin Zhiyi is a man of both civil and military skills, not only he is highly valued by Lord Runan at home, even the current emperor is also highly valued by him, and personally appointed him to be the prince's companion.Not only that, the current emperor's younger brother, Ninth Prince Chu Dichen, and him are even more inseparable friends, and Lin Zhiyi's future is even more limitless if he can climb up to this level of relationship.

"You all go back and prepare well for the Yuanxiu draft. It's only two months away, so don't waste the time." The wife said to the concubine girls in the room.

"Yes, mother." Everyone in the room stood up and bowed to their wife, then to their elder brother Qiao Shaotang, and then retreated out in an orderly manner.

Qiao Shaotang bowed sideways and waited for everyone to leave. Qiao Shaotang sat next to his wife and said to his wife, "Mother just sent a letter to my aunt a few days ago. I think my cousin didn't come here for my sister's business this time, but anyway, Cousins ​​are all distinguished guests, we have to prepare well."

"Shaotang, you are right. It's just that this time Yiyi came suddenly. I didn't even have a letter before. The time is so tight, it's hard to prepare. Now is the critical moment for your sister's draft. Don't let him think that we Neglect, it will affect your sister's draft." The wife looked at Qiao Shaotang, and there was a little nervousness in the joy.

"Mother can rest assured. I know how my cousin is. He is not a person who pays attention to etiquette. Even if there is something inconsiderate, he will not take it to heart." Qiao Shaotang said.

The wife looked at Qiao Shaotang and nodded and said: "Yes, your cousin is polite and interesting, but we can't neglect him because of this. I will send someone to clean up the yard, and you will lead the people to the gate of the city to meet your cousin. "

"Yes, mother. My son will go first." As he said that, Qiao Shaotang was about to leave.

"Shaotang." The wife called Qiao Shaotang to stop.

"What else can mother order?" Qiao Shaotang looked at his wife and asked.

"It's important to welcome your cousin, but your own body is also important. Find a tea shop to sit and let a servant wait for you at a distance. Lunch must be well spent." The wife made arrangements for Qiao Shaotang. Adjust the clothes, looked at Qiao Shaotang and instructed.

"I know, mother." Qiao Shaotang didn't dislike his mother's wordiness like those ignorant dandies, and his wife's words warmed his heart.No matter how the mother treats the concubine younger sisters, for him and his younger sister Yuanxiu, she really thinks about them from the bottom of her heart.

"Well, let's go." The wife patted Qiao Shaotang's hand lightly, watched him walk out of the courtyard, and then told the servants beside her: "Mother Fang sent someone to call the chief housekeeper and the second housekeeper to the second housekeeper. If you come to see me in the meeting hall, forget it, you go in person and let them come over immediately."

"Yes, ma'am." Listening to his wife's instructions, Fang's mother went to inform the first housekeeper and the second housekeeper.

Seeing Mother Fang leaving, the wife ordered Yuzhuan to comb her hair into a more dignified and kind bun again, and changed into a more formal attire before going to the second gate.

Seeing the two housekeepers in the outer mansion, the wife ordered them to go down, and the mansion started to move up and down.Mother Fang led the people to tidy up the guest house and come out.

All the brand new mahogany furniture in the guest courtyard were just taken out of the warehouse.In the guest courtyard, many antique calligraphy and paintings were newly brought to hang.

The rough envoy women cleared the snow on the ground over and over again, and found a lot of sawdust to spread on the ground to prevent slipping. After a while, they found sawdust that could cover the entire courtyard. The butler really has some tricks.

And those little girls also carried pokes and wiped the furniture, window lattices, floors, etc. in the house over and over again, and some even took high-quality silver charcoal to warm every room.

Not long after noon, someone went out with Eldest Young Master Qiao Shaotang and waited for Biao Young Master Lin Zhiyi's servants to come back, saying that Biao Young Master's carriage had already entered the city, Eldest Young Master followed, and they were heading to Qiao's Mansion together.

Not long after, there was a sound of horseshoes.

"Here we come, here we come." The servants who reported the message rushed to the mansion happily, and of course they got a lot of rewards.

The gate of Qiao Mansion creaked open, and the head of Qiao Mansion, Qiao Sihai, came out from the gate in person.A not-so-luxury carriage stopped in front of Qiao's mansion.

Although the carriage didn't seem to match the status of the son of Lord Runan, the strong guards at the back were eye-catching.

The carriage stopped, and a handsome young man with sword eyebrows and starry eyes jumped out of the carriage, his energetic appearance did not look like he had been sitting in the carriage for a long time, whoever it was Lin Zhiyi, the son of Lord Runan.

"Zhiyi, it's been a hard journey." Qiao Sihai said with a smile when he saw Lin Zhiyi get off the car.

Qiao Sihai was originally on duty in the Yamen, but as soon as he heard his family members report that his nephew Lin Zhiyi, the eldest son of Lord Runan, had come, he quickly asked for leave and returned home.

When Lin Zhiyi saw Qiao Sihai, he made a gesture of saluting: "My nephew has seen my uncle."

How could Qiao Sihai accept Lin Zhiyi's gift, he quickly stepped forward and lifted Lin Zhiyi's arm and said: "Why is Zhiyi and uncle more polite, get up quickly."

Lin Zhiyi forced a salute before standing up with Qiao Sihai's hand, and said to Qiao Sihai: "My nephew came in a hurry this time, I hope I won't disturb my uncle, aunt and cousins ​​in the house."

Qiao Sihai laughed and said: "I only have your mother as a younger sister, isn't your uncle's home your own home, so why be polite when you get home."

Lin Zhiyi looked at Qiao Sihai and replied: "Uncle is right. Mother often talks about Uncle in Beijing. She has always wanted to come back to visit Uncle. It's just that she is busy with family affairs and can't find time. Mother regrets it."

Qiao Sihai sighed, and seemed to see the little girl calling her brother, running towards him with a windmill, and in a blink of an eye, the little girl grew up and got married.Slowly, the little girl's figure merged with the handsome boy in front of her.

Looking at Lin Zhiyi, Qiao Sihai couldn't help being filled with emotion, and said to Lin Zhiyi, "I've been working as a magistrate outside, and I haven't returned to Beijing to report on my work for many years. It's true that I haven't seen your mother for a long time. How is your mother?"

"Uncle, don't worry, everything is fine, mother." Lin Zhiyi said, and then smiled at himself, and then continued: "When my mother trained me, she was full of energy."

Seeing his father and cousin talking at the gate of the mansion for a long time, Qiao Shaotang couldn't help but feel a little helpless. Although it was bad to interrupt the elders, Qiao Shaotang interrupted: "Father, cousin is tired, or Let’s talk about it after we settle down in the advanced mansion.”

Qiao Sihai blushed, and said with some embarrassment: "Look at me, I just want to chat with you, but it doesn't matter what the occasion is. Hurry up and go to the mansion. Your aunt has sent someone to tidy up the guest house. You settle down first and then we can talk."

Lin Zhiyi looked at Qiao Sihai and said respectfully, "Uncle please first."

"It's okay, let's enter the mansion together, your aunt has been waiting for you for a long time." Then, Qiao Sihai took Lin Zhiyi's hand and walked into the gate of Qiao's mansion together.

As soon as he entered the gate, Lin Zhiyi saw his aunt, and the wife of the head of Qiao's house was waiting with people.When he walked in front of his aunt, Lin Zhiyi gave another big gift, saying: "Zhiyi has seen my aunt, and my aunt is well."

The wife supported Lin Zhiyi, and said in a reproachful voice: "Look at this child, the whole family is so polite, what's the matter? It's impossible to see your uncle and aunt."

"Zhiyi doesn't dare, it's just that etiquette cannot be broken." Lin Zhiyi looked at his aunt and said.

"This child." The wife snorted again, looking at Lin Zhiyi with a smile.

The Mansion of Lord Runan is the biggest reliance for Miss Qiao Yuanxiu to enter the palace draft. Even if Qiao Yuanxiu successfully enters the palace, Lord Mansion Runan will still be her help in fighting for favor in the palace, so the wife's attitude towards Lin Zhiyi is somewhat unreasonable. It is as good as it is.

Although Lin Zhiyi is a close relative, but no matter how he is an outsider, there is no reason for the courtyard to be arranged in the inner courtyard, and the small banquet prepared by his wife for Lin Zhiyi is in the inner courtyard.Therefore, the group of people parted ways in the outer courtyard.The servants of the Qiao Mansion led the guards to the guest courtyard prepared for Lin Zhiyi, but Lin Zhiyi followed his uncle and aunt to the inner courtyard.

(End of this chapter)