boudoir

Chapter 66
The old lady was stunned and laughed again.Gradually suppressing her smile, Yu said, "Speaking of this, how is the situation in the north now? How long will this battle last?"

Yang also recognized the truth: "The battle situation in the north is good now. Didn't they take back two cities in a row a few years ago? Marshal Qi's people are now resettling the people. It's just that there is a lack of food and clothing in the ice and snow, and many soldiers are seriously ill and die. Quite a lot. So the imperial court actually spent a lot of money to buy food as military pay this time—oh, it is said that the past two years have been considered good weather, how can the price of food be so high?!"

At the end, she tapped her knee lightly, feeling sad.

Yu Shi and Nie Shi looked at each other and took a sip of tea.

Mrs. Liang glanced at the two of them, and said with a smile, "Is it so hard in the north?"

Yang said: "Second sister-in-law, you and I have never been there, so I don't know. But the soldiers who came back from there said that it started to snow in August and September, and it continued to fall until March and April next year. Trees can be used to burn charcoal, and many people freeze to death every year. I heard from my elder brother that Marshal Qi took all three of his sons to the battlefield this time, and it seems that he is cruel!"

Nie curled her lips and said, "Since it's such a ruined place, what's the point of taking it back at such a cost? In my opinion, it's better to save the energy."

When Mrs. Yang heard this, she stopped talking and watched the little maid serve tea with a half-smile.

The old lady was deeply embarrassed and frowned, and even the Liang family and Qi family twitched the corners of their mouths contemptuously.But Nie didn't know where he was wrong, and was holding up his handkerchief like a fan.Yu Shi stared at him, and she sat down without knowing why.

Mrs. Yu was about to say something to resolve the embarrassment, but someone came to ask Mrs. Yang to go to the Erdao Gate, saying that the sedan chair for returning home was already waiting under the Chuihua Gate.

Yang got up to say goodbye, and Yu went out to see her off.

The old lady was exhausted after making a fuss for most of the day, so everyone got up and left, and came back for the reunion dinner at night.

After leaving the screen wall of the main courtyard, Mrs. Nie bumped into Mrs. Yu who was seeing the guests back, and Mrs. Yu stopped with a gloomy face: "You really can't spit out three ivory from the mouth of a dog! Fortunately, you are still a young lady from Zhengqing's mansion." , You can actually say the words of giving up the city to Hulu! If Yang’s surname is a foreigner today, it’s a matter of losing his head if this word gets out! If you don’t want to live, we want to live for a few more years!”

Nie was so frightened that she hurriedly knelt down: "I am, I just have a quick talk..."

"Stand up!" Shouted Yu: "What are you doing? I am your sister-in-law, why are you kneeling at me? Are you used to being a slave in your natal family? This is Hefu! You are from here Fourth madam! Don't act like a petty person who has never seen the world, it will be taken as a joke for no reason!"

Nie's face turned red and white after being scolded, and she stood there with her head bowed like an angry little daughter-in-law.

Yu looked more and more angry in his heart, shook his hands and walked away: "Sooner or later, I will be exhausted by you!"

Nie watched her walk away, a piece of silver silk in her hand was almost broken.

Rui'er was very happy with the reward Liuli received today, and counted it in front of Liuli again and again, and finally put it into a small copper box and locked it up.

"The servant girl should save all these things for the girl, and make a dowry for the girl in the future."

Liuli was also very happy: "If we accumulate more battles in the future, maybe we can use it to do some business, and make money to make money?"

Ruier also nodded heavily, agreeing with her idea.But she suddenly turned around again and said: "Speaking of money begets money, my servant remembered something. When I went back to send a letter, I met their shopkeeper at the door of the 'Shangpin Study'. He actually recognized my servant and asked 'Young Master' Have you written recently, and if you have, are you willing to put it on consignment with him? The slave girl is not easy to answer, so I just asked 'Young Master' and you can talk about it."

Liuli was very surprised: "Really? He thinks my writing can be sold for money?"

Rui'er said: "Anyway, he kept praising your handwriting."

Liuli mused, in the impression that the calligraphy and paintings made by literati with a strong character are not for sale. Although my grandfather sold them in the past, Xu Niang met He Wei because of selling calligraphy and painting, but he was forced by life.Besides, she is not a famous artist, even if she sells it, she won't be able to sell it for much money, so forget it.

After taking a nap for a while, Tonglou arrived at You hour, and Shuangxi dressed Liuli in a red brocade and gold silk embroidered jacket and skirt, paired it with small cotton boots of the same color, tied on a cloak and went to the main courtyard.

Liuli called Yuegui Haitang to guard the door, brought Shuangxi and Rui'er with her, walked to the door and saw Li Nanny's old face was stretched, she couldn't help sneering secretly, but said very kindly: "Li Nanny should go too." Only then did I see a smiling face.

The banquet is still held in the Haitang Courtyard. Because it is adjacent to the Anxi Hall, it has become a special place for family banquets in the mansion. It also has an attic. Upstairs, the men sit downstairs, without the trouble of being blocked by curtains.Because a stage was specially set up the year before last, it seems that a whole troupe has been invited tonight, and the students are already putting on costumes backstage.

A big family like the He Mansion often has family banquets, and the meal on New Year's Eve doesn't seem very special. It's just that Liuli has been associated with the He Manor for many years, and it's only now that she can legitimately participate in this event as a descendant of the He family. The banquet, the mood is a bit strange.

After the meal, the female relatives accompanied the old lady back to the room to have a rest, and the old man returned to the room soon, so everyone came to say goodbye to the old man and the old lady at this time.

Liuli was last in line as usual, and Shuangxi brought her a bowl of sesame crisp tea, and she took a sip of it and said, "Have Yuegui and Haitang eaten?"

Shuangxi said: "Just now when we were eating, someone sent someone to deliver it."

Liuli groaned, glanced at Nanny Li who was watching eagerly at the rewards that the girls and masters took, and said to Shuangxi: "My dinner is a bit greasy, go back to your room and bring me some tea. "

Shuangxi said: "I know the girl is used to drinking green tea, I've already brought it, why bother to go back and get it?" As she spoke, she quickly went to make tea.

Liuli glanced at Rui'er, very depressed.

Not long after Shuangxi made tea, Liuli was about to pick it up when Rui'er suddenly squatted down, clutching her stomach.Liuli hurriedly said: "What's wrong with you?" Rui'er said with a tight face, "I think I just ate crabs, and now my stomach hurts."

Liuli hurriedly said: "Then do you want to go back to your room?"

Shuangxi glanced up and saw that Yanhua had already arrived, so she said, "I think it's better to stand up first, the girl will be here soon, and it will be bad if I miss the tea ceremony."

Liuli stomped her feet and said, "Isn't there still you in the tea ceremony? Let Madam Li take Rui'er back, and you'll be there to serve me!"

Ruier woke up in time.They stood behind the crowd, but fortunately no one noticed.Shuangxi pondered for a moment, fearing that something might happen, she patted Madam Li on the shoulder: "Rui'er is not feeling well, Madam Annoyed sent her back to the room, and got some medicine for her to apply."

Nanny Li stared: "Why should I send it?! I'm not afraid of throwing my old lady, so why should I serve her?!"

Shuangxi couldn't help being pissed off by her, so she sneered, "Then Mammy just stay put!" After saying that, she helped Rui'er up and walked out of the gate.

Just when Huanhua had finished serving tea, Liuli took a look at Nanny Li, twitched her lips and walked out of the venue.

The old man and the old lady looked down peacefully, and Liuli knelt on the two-foot-square prayer mat, kowtowed three times, and then said: "Liu Li is a farewell gift to the old man and the old lady, and wish the two elders a long life and all the best."

Nanny Li happily took a tray to hold a cup of tea, bent down and said, "I wish the old lady a happy life, too!"

Seeing her, the old lady thought of the day's affairs, and she was a little displeased, and said immediately: "Where is the maid who is serving beside Miss Nine? Why did you call Mama to come out to offer tea?"

Liuli hurriedly said: "It was the maids who were appointed, but Rui'er was startled and uncomfortable, and Shuangxi was afraid that she would spoil the fun by staying, so she asked Nanny Li to see her off. In the evening, the one who was afraid of bumping into each other said that she shouldn't serve a maid, so Sister Shuangxi got angry and sent it herself."

"Bastard!" The old lady's face darkened, and she was actually angry.

The old man was also very dissatisfied, but because he didn't know the scene during the day, he felt that he could bear it, so he said: "Forget it, it's Chinese New Year, don't make trouble for the whole family. —— Serve the tea."

Liuli said yes, and turned to Nanny Li.After the old lady's stern reprimand just now, Nanny Li's momentum immediately lost half of her momentum, and she hurriedly moved the tray closer, but she tripped over something in her haste, she couldn't hold back her momentum, and her round body threw herself forward , a bowl of hot tea fell on the old lady in front left!
Suddenly there were screams in the hall, Liuli rushed forward, wiped the water off the old lady with her sleeve, and said, "Old lady, are you okay? Sister Qingshang, hurry up and get the dry cloth!" Turning around and rushing to Nanny Li stepped forward and slapped her twice in one go: "How dare you be so disrespectful to the old lady, how dare you!"

Nanny Li was already in a state of disorientation, she collapsed on the ground and trembled like chaff.

All the people in the hall rushed towards the old lady, the old lady kept calling Biyun Qingshang, the old lady was so angry that she couldn't speak, she just kept pointing at Li Nanny and said: "Beast! Beast!"

Mrs. Yu and several wives helped her in, and waited for her to change clothes together with Biyun Qingshang. The old man walked a few steps with his hands behind his back, and angrily kicked Madam Li on the shoulder: "Drag her out and punish her in the porch. Kneel for two hours!"

Although he didn't call for a fight, kneeling in the ice and snow for two hours was enough, Nanny Li broke free from the hands of the wives and kowtowed to the ground: "The old master knows clearly, the servant didn't do it on purpose, the servant was wronged! Seeing that the old lady came out after changing clothes, she hurriedly climbed up and said, "Old lady, please forgive me! Just forgive me this time! The servant didn't do it on purpose!"

"If you do it on purpose!" Liuli said with a serious face, "As a nun to teach and guide, you should pay attention to everything and be careful. Now that you have made such a big mistake, you still dare to quibble! You pour a glass of wine on the old lady today!" Tea, tomorrow she will pour a cup of tea on the old ladies and gentlemen, if she is not punished today, how will she convince the public?"

Nanny Li slumped on the ground, speechless.Mrs. Yu scolded angrily: "Don't take it down?!"

(End of this chapter)