Ajiu

Chapter 68 Pearl
Taihu stones, chicks breaking their shells, eagles, watermelons, all kinds of exotic fruits, food... Ajiu counted the gifts he gave her, and felt even more guilty.Well, the traditional virtue of the Chinese nation is to reciprocate courtesy. What should I give myself for my younger brother’s birthday?
"Brother Ten, is your birthday coming up? Congratulations." Ajiu smiled flatteringly, revealing her small white teeth that looked like shellfish.

Seeing her sweet smile, the tenth prince twitched his lips, "It's strange, it's obviously in the yard, why is it so warm?" Junior sister, your indifferent look like the cold wind has finally disappeared.

"How can it be warm in the yard? Brother Ten, let's warm up by the fire inside." Ajiu stretched out her fat little hand, and warmly greeted the Tenth Prince.

She wanted to make a "please" gesture, but the tenth prince smiled lightly and grabbed her chubby hand, "Okay, little junior sister, let's warm up in the house." He led her and walked slowly to the house walk.

Thinking about that important question, Ajiu followed him into the room with a cute smile on her face.In the middle of the room is a large three-legged cloisonné enamel brazier decorated with patterns of blooming flowers and riches on a sapphire blue background. The fire is burning vigorously and the room is very warm.

A black fox fur mattress was spread on the big kang by the window, and there was a red brocade backrest and pillows. Ajiu ordered the maid to remove the cloak for the tenth prince, and patted the black fox fur mattress, "Tenth brother, please sit down." He also took off the crane cloak and sat down on the kang.

There was a small kang table between the two of them, on which were placed peanuts, melon seeds, chestnuts, walnuts and other dried fruits, freshly washed winter jujubes, pinpo fruits, grapes and other new fruits, a few snacks that Ajiu liked to eat, and a small teapot , fine porcelain small teacup.

Ajiu eagerly reached out to carry the small teapot, and wanted to pour tea for the younger brother herself. "Dianhong tea, it tastes very good. The soup is bright red and has a long-lasting aroma. It is most suitable for drinking in winter." This small teapot is Erye Pei. The pot was specially placed for her, the pot is not big, and the handle is small, she can hold it.

The tenth prince hurriedly stopped her, "Junior Sister, put it down." The little servant who followed him winked, and hurriedly stepped forward to hold the pot and pour tea.The sweet and mellow black tea aroma is rippling, fresh and long, and lasts for a long time.

"Good tea!" The tenth prince took a sip and praised with a smile.

Ajiu was very proud, and let him eat fruit and snacks, "Brother Ten, I'm very hospitable." Seeing that she was learning and selling, the tenth prince was happy, so he picked up a piece of horseshoe cake and ate it, "Little sister , your dim sum tastes very good."

"Of course, I instructed the cook to do it." Ah Jiu boasted.

Eating snacks and drinking tea, Ajiu asked courteously: "Brother Ten, what kind of birthday gift do you like?" The Tenth Prince smiled, "Little Junior Sister, you just go to the palace to have fun, and you don't need to give me a gift. If If you really want to give it away, just give it to me as a painting, you can draw whatever you want, I like whatever you want to draw.”

"That's impossible." Ajiu shook her head seriously, "It's too short."

If I draw well, it's fine, but the problem is that the chickens I draw look like ducks, wolves look like dogs, and peonies look like wild flowers.

The tenth prince was playing with the fine porcelain teacup in his hand, with a smile on his lips, "During my mother's Qianqiu Festival, the little junior sister drew a very good picture, so why don't you draw one for the tenth brother."

"No way." Ajiu's little face was full of distress, "I have never had any contact with Lingtang, so I don't care what to give, as long as I like it. But, my friendship with you is extraordinary."

The tenth prince frowned when he heard Ajiu say "I have no relationship with Lingtang", and wanted to reason with Ajiu.However, when he heard "I have an extraordinary friendship with you", his face glowed, he immediately forgot what he had just thought, and said softly: "Of course our friendship is extraordinary, little junior sister, we are from the same sect. "

The teacher only accepted us two students, just you and me.

The two gave a few silly laughs, as if they were both very happy.

Ajiu smiled sweetly, and asked hopefully, "Brother Ten, do you like pearls? If you like pearls, that's fine." Although the tenth prince was a little confused, seeing her longing expression, he nodded involuntarily, "I like it, Junior Sister, I like pearls very much."

Ajiu was elated and beaming with joy, "Brother Ten, you like pearls, that's great! When I made a pearl belt, I'll make one for you too, keep the pearls shining brightly, and look forward to shining!"

Junior brother, I am not stingy, I will make a pearl belt for you, it is very beautiful!

The tenth prince said brightly, "Okay, my junior sister and I each have one."

Happy to set a birthday present, the two peeled peanuts, kneaded melon seeds, and chatted all over the place, very happy.After the chat, the tenth prince went to meet Lin Youhui and sent an invitation card face to face.Lin Youhui smiled, "It is necessary to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty the Tenth Prince." The Tenth Prince bowed his hands politely and thanked, "Thank you, Mrs. Madam." After inviting the guests, he stood up and said goodbye.Lin Youhui and Ajiu sent him to the yard, Jin Yiwei and the servants hugged him and walked away.

Ajiu Xuxu talked about what happened just now, showing off her intelligence, "Mom, what a birthday gift." Lin Youhui patted her little face and smiled, "Exactly, this birthday gift is beautiful and practical, It doesn’t cost you any money, it’s the best of all three.”

In fact, pearls are also very expensive, but there are plenty of pearls in Xiyuan at the moment.

After Second Master Pei returned home, he heard that his students had come to send invitations, and he pondered, "This is the eighth birthday of the tenth prince. He hasn't been crowned king yet, so it won't be too grand. Except for the emperor, the queen, the prince's family, The princes and princes in Beijing, that is, the eldest princesses, princesses and the Marquis of Jinxiang will enter the palace to congratulate, and the rest of them are very few."

To put it bluntly, I was still a child, so my birthday shouldn't be too exciting, it's just a busy day with my relatives.Second Master Pei felt that it was unnecessary to invite him to his house on such an occasion.However, it is also true to say that "heaven, earth, king, relative and teacher", Second Master Pei is the "teacher".

For those who are enthusiastic about official careers, this is an excellent thing.As the prince's teacher, he is valued by the royal family, and he will be honored to receive invitations for the prince's birthday party, and he can toast with the most honorable family in the world.However, Second Master Pei and Lin Youhui looked at the flowery Ajiu, and wished they could refuse the invitation.

Ajiu is their darling, the darling of the entire Pei family, she doesn't want to go to that incomparably noble place in the palace, what Ajiu wants is to be carefree and carefree.

In Pei's house, from grandfather onwards, no one does not love Ajiu and refuse to let him.But in the palace, Ajiu is just the daughter of an editor of the Hanlin Academy, so inconspicuous.

Lin Youhui told the story of how Ajiu entertained the tenth prince, Second Master Pei laughed, "This naughty boy." Knowing that our family has pearls, he tempted the tenth prince to say that he likes pearls, Ajiu is so naughty.

"Ms. Jin is here, I didn't see her." Lin Youhui told Second Master Pei about the day's events.Second Master Pei nodded, "It's okay to see this kind of person." In a good girl's house, how many unmarried young men can't marry, and they must rob their three children for their father?Back then, they almost didn't force the Wu family to death, they were too bullying, the behavior of the Jin family was disgusting.

The next day, Erye Pei went to work and left work as usual.He had just left the Imperial Academy, and a man got off a long-awaited carriage at the alley, and greeted him with a smile on his face, "Editor Pei, long time no see." Second Master Pei is used to working with Prefect Pei, He has a very good memory, and people who have met him will hardly forget it. After looking at the person, he bowed his hands politely, "Master Lin is doing well."

This man is the husband that the Jin family snatched, and Lin is in charge.

Mr. Lin exchanged a few words of greeting, and cordially invited Second Master Pei to sit in the tea house. Second Master Pei smiled and shook his head, "I'm sorry, I have to go home immediately. My daughter has loved the sugar-fried chestnuts at the intersection of the street for the past two days, looking forward to it. I'll be back early." Ajiu is waiting for me eagerly, how can I have time to drink tea with you.

Second Master Pei politely declined, but Master Lin refused to back down, begging softly, "Just sit for a while, just sit for a while." He begged again and again.

Didn't the Jin family go to Yinding Bridge yesterday? Not only did the trip go in vain, but they also made a fool of the Jin family.After she left Yinding Bridge, she visited a few shops on the street, and then went to Jin's house to wait for Jin Yuanwailang to go home.Jin Yuanwailang's wife, Lu Shi, never liked her, so when she came back, she naturally had a bad face.

This is no wonder Lu Shi.The Jin family is an outsider girl, and she was taken back to the Jin family until she was fourteen or fifteen years old. Such a "daughter" appeared out of nowhere, and she had to spend all her time choosing a family for her, and she had to give up her money to make a dowry for her. Who would be happy?What's more, Jin's pick and choose, and finally married a married man, making Lu's shame.

Jin Shi was not raised by Lu Shi, so he was not close to her.Be it her dowry or her marriage, Mrs. Lu didn't help at all, it all depended on her own father.In this way, Jin's will not pay attention to Lu's even more.Seeing Lu's coldness, Jin also became angry.

"This man has been in Hedong for 30 years, and Hexi for 30 years. I don't know what will happen in the future." Jin said in a strange tone: "I was ordered by my father to go to the West Garden of Yinding Bridge to visit Pei. Second Mistress. When I went, she was still a sixth-rank Anren, and when I came out, she didn't know what to do."

They are all surrounded by Jin Yiwei, what good things do you think can happen?Not ransacking the house, but also being arrested and imprisoned, no matter how hard it is to see the light of day.

Mrs. Lu was also surprised when she heard this, "Second Master Pei is a noble scholar, what can be the matter?" Although Mrs. Lu has no relationship with the Pei family, Second Master Pei is the second best and the one who has been in the limelight.He just entered the Hanlin Academy as an editor and the teacher of the Tenth Prince, how could Mrs. Lu not know about it.

Mrs. Jin triumphantly told about the fact that the West Garden was surrounded by Jinyiwei, "...it's all here, what else can I do?" After hearing this, Mrs. Lu also nodded.This is true, surrounded by Jin Yiwei, this family is miserable.

When Jin Yuanwai Lang returned home, the Jin family rushed forward excitedly and said, Jin Yuanwai Lang's face turned pale with anger, and he spat at her, "You don't know anything! Your Majesty, if you go out, the prince will also go out!" Surrounded by brocade guards, do you understand?"

You went in the morning, if something happened to Pei's house, would I not know?
Edit Pei is the teacher of the Tenth Prince.The tenth prince respected his master, sent Taihu stones to the West Garden as soon as he paid homage to his master, who in the capital didn't know, who didn't know?Only you, an ignorant woman, will see Jin Yiwei, and you will conclude that the Pei family is doomed.

Seeing that her father was really angry, Jin didn't dare to be wronged, knelt down and kowtowed to admit his mistake, "Father, my daughter is useless." Seeing that the useless daughter was so annoying, Jin Yuanwailang kicked her, "Get out!"

In fact, Jin Yuanwailang usually dotes on this daughter very much, but when he told her to visit Second Grandma Pei, she didn't even see anyone, and she said these nonsensical things.Jin Yuanwailang was in a hurry, so he moved his hands with her no, no, moved his feet.

Jin Yuanwailang ordered Jin Shi to go back and let Mr. Lin come to see him.

No, Master Lin was ordered by his father-in-law to block Second Master Pei.Mr. Lin himself is weak-tempered and doesn't have any ideas, that's why when the Jin family father and daughter force marriage, he becomes confused.If he was successful, he would not be able to do the immoral thing of abandoning the Wu family and marrying another Jin family.

According to Master Lin's temperament, since Second Master Pei refused to attend the appointment, it was inconvenient to force him.But he obeyed his father-in-law's strict order, but he didn't care about anything else, no matter how clear Erye Pei's rejection was, he just kept obsequious.

Second Master Pei smiled, "Master Lin, if you have anything to say, just ask clearly, Pei knows everything, and he can talk endlessly." With your appearance, you obviously have something to do, so just say it directly, don't hide it.

Master Lin is really not tactful. Seeing that he could not invite Second Master Pei, he was afraid that he would not be able to deal with his father-in-law. He panicked and revealed his truth, "You received a great reward from the emperor the day before yesterday. Is it because you should be worthy of the order? You are envious of the dead."

After saying this, Master Lin himself felt impolite, and his face flushed red.If someone with friendship said this, it would be normal; but if there is no friendship, and you don’t have that much relationship with them, you should be very taboo to ask them why they are rewarded by His Majesty the Emperor.Can you inquire about His Majesty's preferences and tastes like this?
Second Master Pei smiled slightly, "Ms. Pei doesn't like to make public when things happen. Big things are turned into small ones, and small things are turned into small things. In case of housework disputes, education should be the first priority, and punishment should be the second." Master Lin's question has nothing to do with it.

In winter, Mr. Lin was sweating on his forehead, said a few polite words vaguely, and left in a hurry.

Second Master Pei looked at his panicked back and shook his head.

Bring home sweet and glutinous sugar-fried chestnuts, the whole family sits around and peels and eats, warm and sweet.Ah Jiu came up with the idea to bury a few small sweet potatoes in a charcoal brazier that was about to go out, and after half an hour, the small sweet potatoes were pulled out from the ashes, and the smell was so fragrant that it made people happy.

"Ajiu is not a bad idea." The brothers were very happy, and praised their sister while eating sweet potatoes.

"Ajiu has a lot of good ideas." Lin Youhui smiled, "She even suggested ideas for the tenth prince's birthday gift, which is not bad. I guess, our family's birthday gift should be ingenious."

Ah Jiu smelled the aroma of small sweet potatoes and smiled triumphantly.

When Lin Youhui made a pearl belt for Ah Jiu, he also made one for the Tenth Prince.Both belts used Suzhou Song brocade, the tenth prince's was light bean paste ball dragon unicorn Tianhua brocade, and Ah Jiu's was vermilion ground double lion ball brocade.The firm and soft Song Brocade is inlaid with four rows of round pearls, giving it a brilliant luster, gorgeous yet elegant.

This is a birthday gift!After seeing it, Ajiu clapped her small palms and smiled happily.

Before Ah Jiu could enter the palace, another annoying guest came to the West Garden.Mrs. Jinghai Hou ordered someone to post a post in the West Garden. On a snowy winter day, she brought her only daughter Cao Ying to visit.

Jinghaihou's Mansion was an honored official when the country was founded, and it has been standing tall and strong. It can be regarded as a big tree with deep roots in the capital.Cao Wushang, Marquis of Jinghai, was a powerful figure. He went to battle and killed the enemy since he was ten years old, and made countless achievements in battle. Now he is the Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Army Commander-in-Chief and also the commander of the Jinwu Guard.

Jinghai Hou's mansion is a Xunchen, Pei's family is a civil servant, and the two families have never had any contact.Lin Youhui felt very strange when he received the post, but it is not easy to offend such an honorable person, of course he should be treated politely and thoughtfully.

Mrs. Jinghai Hou is not young, she looks in her early forties, fair and beautiful, and she speaks in a gentle and gentle manner.The little girl Cao Ying is about the same age as Ah Jiu, with fair skin and thin eyebrows, but there is an indescribable pride in her face.

It's no wonder that she has such a family background, so she is a little arrogant, which is understandable.

She was not the only girl in the Cao family, but the rest belonged to her uncle's family.Cao Wushang, Marquis of Jinghai, has only one biological daughter, who loves like a pearl.

Lin Youhui was making refreshments with a smile on his face, and chatting with the guests, but he couldn't figure out the purpose of the mother and daughter's visit.

It's too general to guess.

Ajiu looks cute, she sits with little girl Cao Ying, invites little girl Cao Ying to drink tea and snacks, and chats with little girl Cao Ying, like the most obedient little girl.

After the tea was changed three times, the two sides talked about the weather, clothing and cosmetics in a gentle and polite manner. Only then did Mrs. Jinghai Hou seem to mention it casually, "I will also take my daughter there on the tenth prince's birthday. When that day comes, how will you dress up? To tell you the truth, the little girl Su likes to be red, and on that day, she will wear a red shirt and dress, so don't get married to your family's daughter."

Mrs. Jinghaihou's tone was very gentle and polite, Lin Youhui felt angry when she heard it.Your daughter is delicate, and if she wants to wear bright red, does my daughter need to change her color?

Lin Youhui calmed down, and said gently: "The little girl is usually willing to wear any color, but when she goes out, she must wear bright red. She said that bright red is the first to catch people's attention and is the most imposing, and I will not force her to change it. To tell you the truth Madam said, whether you want to enjoy plum blossoms or go to a banquet in winter, if you look around, you can see all the red feather gauze cloaks, and the wide clothes are mostly red, true red, and real red jackets, what is the point of this.”

Isn't that the most common way to wear bright red when you go out in winter?

Mrs. Jinghai Hou was a little displeased, and said with a smile: "On that day, there will be only two girls of the same age, the daughter of your family and the young girl."

Lin Youhui also smiled lightly, politely and distantly, "My daughter is the daughter of a civil official family, but your daughter is the daughter of a Xungui family. The two of them will not sit at the same table, and there will never be a need to compare. Madam, in the hearts of my husband and I , the little girl is unique and extremely precious.”

Mrs. Jinghai Hou looked up at Lin Youhui, a sharp look flashed in her slender eyes.She had always been polite and polite until now, it was revealed that she was originally a military general's wife, and not only gentle and docile.

Lin Youhui met her gaze calmly, "Ma'am, Ling Ai and my daughter just met by chance when they went out as guests."

Mrs. Jinghaihou and Lin Youhui looked at each other for a long time, stood up, and said lightly, "Farewell."

Lin Youhui nodded, "Go slowly."

The little girl Cao Ying stood up with a look of disgust, and Ajiu smiled, "Miss Cao, go slowly."

After the strange mother and daughter said goodbye, Lin Youhui was very angry.Ajiu ran around playing in the house, "They're just some boring passers-by, don't think about her, don't get upset about her."

The corners of Lin Youhui's mouth curled up.

On the day of the tenth prince's birthday, Ah Jiu put on a red silk jacket and a white fox cloak with a red feather gauze, and happily entered the palace. "Brother Ten, do you like the birthday present I gave you?" Seeing the Tenth Prince, he hurriedly asked.

The tenth prince's eyes were full of smiles, "Brother Ten likes it so much!" Junior sister, do you have the exact same one? That's great.

That day, Ah Jiu ate birthday noodles in the palace, played for a while, and was going home early.The tenth prince was not very happy, "When these people are gone, the tenth brother will take you to have fun." Although there is no need to be too grand, but the emperor, empress, prince, princess concubine, royal princes, county kings, plus Several eldest princesses, princesses, and Jinxianghou's mansion had many guests, and he, the little birthday star, had to be with him.

"No, Brother Ten." Ajiu grinned, "You're very busy today, I'd better go home early. I have an appointment with my cousins ​​to roast beggar's chicken and charcoal-grilled pork together."

The tenth prince was drooling when he heard it, but seeing that Ajiu was very persistent, he sent her away early, "Little junior sister, tenth brother really can't beat you." The tenth prince said helplessly.

After all these people are gone, Brother Ten can take you to play around, and even take you to see your parents.But you are playful and want to go home to roast beggar chicken and charcoal-roasted pork, little junior sister, brother ten really can't do anything with you.

Lin Youhui took Ajiu and left early, which really baffled many people at the banquet.What, let's go now?As the wife of a sixth-rank Beijing official, she finally had the opportunity to have a banquet with the concubine, the princess, and the prince's wife. She didn't curry favour, and she didn't deliberately make friends, so she just left?And that little girl of hers, seeing so many little noble girls from high-ranking officials and eunuchs, didn't she think of making a few handkerchiefs?This mother and daughter are too self-motivated.

"The family members of civil servants are noble." "Same as Pei Kai, a little arrogant." You can say anything.

The queen sat upright, with a playful smile on her lips.This Lin family, this little girl from the Pei family, is really confusing.If they have no scheming, they can seduce Xiao Shi to treat each other wholeheartedly. If they have scheming, they will let go of this rare opportunity gently, without nostalgia.

"Anyway, if a girl gets too close to a man, she will only suffer." The queen smiled, "Families with girls in this world should be more careful, cautious and cautious. Women are not easy in the world. If you make a mistake, your reputation will be ruined and your bones will be gone.”

Mrs. Jinghaihou looked at her eldest sister, Mrs. Jinxianghou Mrs. Cao sullenly, feeling depressed.This Mrs. Lin refused to be obedient and insisted on making her little girl wear bright red. It was really irritating, irritating to death.The husband is just a sixth-rank official, a small Hanlin, what is he so arrogant about?

Mrs. Jinghaihou held her breath until the end of the banquet.

Mrs. Jinghai Hou of course brought her only daughter Cao Ying, and Mrs. Jinxiang Hou brought her ten-year-old daughter Zhang Yi and nine-year-old niece Zhang Tian. At the end of the banquet, Queen Zhang smiled and told the tenth prince, "Little Ten, see off your aunt, and cousins."

The tenth prince objected in a low voice, "Mother, men and women are different, I should avoid suspicion. Cousin, cousin, please ask the eldest sister and second sister to give it to me." His eldest sister, Princess Ningshou, and second sister, Princess Fushou, are of course also there today.

Empress Zhang laughed, "How old are you, so you know how to avoid suspicion?" She laughed at him, and ordered the eldest daughter Ningshou and the second daughter Fushou to see the younger brother off.

The tenth prince's birthday party came to a successful conclusion.

The emperor loved the tenth prince, so he specially called him to Qianqing Palace, and asked with a smile, "Xiao Shi is eight years old today, is the birthday banquet going well? Are you happy?" The tenth prince told the truth, the birthday banquet is Great, but he wasn't too happy.The little junior sister went home early to have a barbecue, leaving him alone, so deserted.

Make the emperor happy.Dare to feel that the guests in this hall are not considered human beings, your little junior sister is gone, you are alone, so deserted?

"You have a lot of battles back and forth, and the troubled censor has already impeached you, saying that you are disturbing the people." The emperor paused deliberately, "However, you can only celebrate your eighth birthday once in your life, and father can't." Let you leave regrets."

The tenth prince's eyes lit up, "Father, what do you mean...?"

The emperor smiled, and ordered his servant Xuan Jinyiwei to come in to see him.The tenth prince gave a cheer, rushed over, held the emperor's chubby face, and kissed him hard, "Dad, you are so kind!"

The emperor touched his face and smiled.Xiao Shi, you are like this, it is worth it for Dad to waste his energy and talk with those officials.

In the West Garden, Ah Jiu sat by the grill with his brothers and cousins, grilling and eating by themselves, enjoying themselves.Ajiu grilled a piece of fresh lamb, which was tender and just right.She put the piece of mutton into her small plate, and sighed contentedly, "It's winter, it's better to eat mutton."

At this moment, the tenth prince came with a large group of people, Xiong Jiu Jiu, in high spirits.Seeing the tenth prince, Ajiu stood up hurriedly, stretched out her small hand to protect the small plate in front of her, "I just baked it, it's very tender and tender!" Her eyes were wide and round, lest the tenth prince would eat her Just roasted lamb.

The tenth prince came over with a smile, "Today is the tenth brother's birthday, little junior sister, you wouldn't even be willing to give tenth brother a piece of barbecue."

Brothers, cousins ​​and cousins ​​all watched with smiles, but did not speak.

Ajiu looked at the Tenth Prince, looked at her own small plate, struggled for a long time, and reluctantly pushed the small plate over.

The tender and delicious roasted mutton entered the mouth, and the tenth prince sighed in satisfaction, "Little sister, your roasted mutton is really delicious!" Smiling and looking at Ajiu, it probably means that he wants to eat again.

I've already given you a pearl belt, and you still want to eat roast lamb!Ajiu looked at the Tenth Prince with accusing eyes, sat by the grill, and took another piece of mutton.

The tenth prince sat beside Ajiu, watching with a smile.

Ajiu muttered softly, "Do you know that there is oily smoke? If you grill too much meat, I will turn ugly, do you know?" The tenth prince reached out and rubbed her little head, and also took a piece of mutton, and grilled it with her.

The tenth prince had the most interesting, fun and unforgettable birthday in his life.

(End of this chapter)