The Concubine's Survival Manual

Chapter 21

Soon it will be October again.

The frequent news of border success has made the ruling and opposition parties heave a sigh of relief.

Beirong has gradually grown in recent years, but Daqin has seen a little weakening, and it has not grown well year after year.

At this time, if Bei Rong breaks through and enters, maybe the world will really be in chaos...

It is naturally the best that Duke Ping can guard the border.

However, the emperor did not take back his order, and still asked the eldest prince to train troops in the suburbs of Beijing in case of emergencies.

Letters came from the capital again and again. In the past few months, the Elder Master had to discuss with the master in the outer courtyard for a long time every day. He even went to Huanshawu less often. Went out of the outer courtyard tiredly.

The eldest wife felt a little distressed, and invited a good doctor from Ouyang's family to prescribe a few tonics for the elder, and then carefully instructed Mr. Zhang to take care of the cleaning guests and masters outside.

"Although these people seem to have no power and power, they just cling to our family to live, but in fact, they all have strategies, connections, or a good mouth." The eldest wife taught Fifth Lady and Seventh Lady, "On weekdays, you must never Neglect, otherwise kindness and hatred will become enemies, and that will be a trouble that cannot be shaken off."

Both Fifth Lady and Seventh Lady nodded to be taught.

Seventh Lady couldn't help being somewhat curious.

"I'm afraid there is another letter from Jingli?"

In the past few months, more people have written letters from Beijing to Suzhou than ever before.

Even Emperor Qin personally wrote a letter and sent it to Yang's family for the first time.

A little sad expression inevitably appeared on the face of the eldest lady.

"Liu Zheng's case will start trial soon." She let out a long breath.

Fifth Lady was still puzzled, but Seventh Lady gasped as well.

Although the women's relatives don't need to understand the affairs in the officialdom, it's not that Lady Qi doesn't understand the truth behind it.

Now is the time when the crown prince is proud of himself. At this time, Liu Zheng's military ration case will be tried, and the Liu family will not have any good fruit. At least the position of the chief envoy of Zhejiang can no longer be kept.

After the Wang family, another important leader fell—there was an incomprehensible deep enmity between the eldest son of the emperor and the elder.

"I don't know who will succeed Zhejiang as the chief envoy!" Seventh Lady changed the subject.

The eldest lady answered absent-mindedly, and after pondering for a while, she said slowly, "Your father is also rushing to this position. Although Jiangsu is rich and prosperous, Zhejiang is also a land of fish and rice. It is best to arrange for us to sit in this position." .”

Wu Niangzi also understood, and she lamented with the eldest wife about the personnel changes for a while.

Although the Liu family has no relationship with the elder, after all, they have been colleagues for many years, and the Liu family's wives, grandmas, and several young ladies have also met.

It was just one wrong move, and now he fell from the clouds to the mud. If Liu Zheng was convicted of a serious crime that would implicate him, it would become a crime in a blink of an eye...

Who doesn't have a little emotion?
Perhaps it was because of this emotion that the eldest wife sighed for a while, and then revealed the predicament that the old man was facing right now.

"The empress wrote three letters in the name of the crown prince's eldest son, Zheng Changchun, asking us to show up with our great achievements in transporting food, and then invite the crown prince to leave the cabinet."

Both Seventh Lady and Fifth Lady suddenly realized.

This is what worries the Eldest Master the most, right?
It's no wonder that Emperor Qin had to write letters in person to be a lobbyist.

Over the past few years, the elder has been stubbornly refusing to take sides in the battle for the heir apparent, and his family members are also aware of it.

But now that she has offended the eldest son of the emperor and indirectly helped the prince, the queen wants to take advantage of the situation and recruit this great official of the frontier into her command.

Now that Liu Zheng's case is on trial, he must decide on a crime. Since he is guilty, the elder who captured him will have done something, and his status in the emperor's heart may rise again.

At this time, he will come forward to speak for the prince... I am afraid that even the emperor will have to give the Eldest Master and Duke Ping this face!

Wu Niangzi thought about it and asked the eldest wife, "What does father think?"

The eldest wife asked Wu Niangzi, "What do you think?"

Fifth Lady was startled.

Seventh Lady knew it well: as Fifth Lady, she would definitely marry into a powerful family in the future and become the young mistress of the family.

Seeing that she is about to be 13 years old, she has to start teaching her these things no matter what.

"Daughter is thinking..." Wu Niangzi also seemed to understand, she bit her lip and slowly analyzed, "If father wants to stand on the prince's side, he would have expressed his position a few years ago, I am afraid... it is because he has been worried about being jealous by the emperor. Bar?"

A gleam of joy flashed in the eldest wife's eyes, but she didn't speak.

How could Wu Niangzi fail to capture the emotion of the eldest wife?
At the moment, the more I speak, the more confident I am, "I have just made a great contribution now, and the emperor is not willing to reward me because of emotion and reason, but we must be more cautious, so as not to violate the taboo of the emperor and lose the sacred heart instead."

The eldest wife couldn't help applauding softly, "I didn't expect Xiao Wu to have a good eye for this."

Qin Niangzi also had a sense of enlightenment.

All along, she only knew that the elder was unwilling to stand in line, but she didn't think deeply about the reasons behind it.

Now Wu Niangzi has only a few words, but she has analyzed a clear idea.

The collusion between the feudal officials and the imperial prince must have violated the emperor's taboo.Even if there is only one prince in the court, the emperor would not want his important ministers to pledge allegiance to the prince in advance.

Otherwise, is this world his world or the prince's world?
The emperor is only in his 40s this year, at the peak of spring and autumn. Although his body is not healthy, he has not had any serious illnesses for many years.

Offending the prince, there is still plenty of time to mend the relationship in the future, even if it cannot be repaired, the Xu family and the Qin family will stand in the way when the prince takes power.There is always one who retreats completely.

But offending the emperor, falling out of favor is the immediate thing.

It's no wonder that the elder has never been willing to get involved in the matter of seizing the heir.

"Don't look at our female family members living in the deep house for many years. It seems that the outside affairs have nothing to do with us." , you have to know it in your heart. Only then can you cooperate with the male relatives and make your own business flourish. A good wife and husband will rarely cause harm, this is a good saying."

The fifth lady and the seventh lady got up to be taught together.

Qin Niangzi felt even more emotional in her heart: Don't look at the eldest wife who has a small belly in the house, but she does have her own advantages.

After a long conversation on the phone, the eldest lady inevitably showed signs of fatigue, so she leaned on the big welcoming pillow, sipping tea slowly, and casually asked Mama Liang, "Is there anything going on in Suzhou these days?"

Liang's mother hurriedly smiled back, "Yes, there are quite a few things. The Li family came to deliver a letter, and a girl was added, and the Fujian chief envoy Zheng's family also came to pay their respects. This year's gift is even more generous than usual. A few points. And..."

There are so many things, and there are dozens of trifles about old relatives and the Yang family.

Wu Niangzi became a little impatient, puffed her cheeks, and only looked at the girders of the roof.

The eldest wife was also indifferent, and only asked, "Is everything done?"

After getting the word "yes" from Liang's mother, I didn't pay much attention to it, and just reminded me a few more words, "Don't get too close to the Zheng family, the Li family is familiar, and the gift should be extra careful..." A few casual words Confession, no more questions.

When Wu Niangzi saw that all the wives had received their cards and withdrew, she was greatly relieved.

"Let's go to Yuelai hall to play!" While tugging on Qin Niangzi, she was about to get up and leave.

The eldest wife shook her head and sighed, and didn't bother to restrain the fifth lady, "How old is she, but still childish!"

Seventh Lady had to retreat to the outer room with Fifth Lady.

Only then did she break free, "Fifth Sister, you go over first... I still have something to say to Mother."

Wu Niangzi was curious, "What are you talking about, so sneaky?"

Seventh Lady looked left and right for a while, and then mysteriously approached Fifth Lady's ear, "I won't tell you!"

"You!" Fifth Lady stomped her feet angrily.

Seventh Lady smiled shyly, "It's Third Sister's marriage."

"Oh."

Wu Niangzi curled her lips, showing disdain on her face.

"Then I'll wait for you at Yuelai Pavilion!"

After all, she is a prostitute, and the arrogance of her body cannot be removed no matter what.

The fifth lady didn't even bother to meddle in the third lady's marriage.

Qin Niangzi watched her leave the main room, then turned around and entered the east room again.

Mama Wang was talking to the eldest wife, "I don't know who will be the chief examiner for next year's spring..."

September of this year happened to be the emperor's [-]th birthday, so Qiu Wei was pushed to October, and because he ran into Zhengke this year, Enke will be added next spring, and another meeting will be held.Traditionally, the chief examiners of the examinations have always been concurrently served by cabinet ministers, and a lot of twists and turns have been involved here.

"Huh?" Seeing that Qin Niangzi had gone and returned, the eldest lady raised half of her eyebrows, "Why, what jewelry is missing?"

Seventh Lady looked at Mother Wang, "I have something to ask Mother about..."

Mama Wang got up knowingly, "I still have a lot of things I want to tell the people below."

The eldest lady waved her hand.

I was a little curious, "What is so important that even Mother Wang can't hear it?"

"It's better to keep this matter a little taboo..." Seventh Lady felt somewhat embarrassed, "It can be regarded as saving some face for Fourth Aunt!"

The eldest lady sat up straight.

"What?" She finally got a little interested, "Is Xi Kefang thinking about it and making a fuss again?"

The fourth aunt has not been proud of herself in the past few years.

The government affairs are busy, and the grand master favors the three sisters in Huanshawu. Although Xikefang is still honored and favored, it is always a bit lonely compared to the situation where the fourth aunt dominated the favor a few years ago.

The third lady's marriage was not going well, and the fourth lady lost her face again... The fourth aunt gradually fell silent, and she was careful in front of the eldest wife, not even daring to make a mistake.

The eldest wife also gradually stopped paying attention to Fourth Aunt.

"Isn't it the third sister's marriage?" Seventh Lady seemed a little embarrassed, "Actually, Fourth Auntie begged Xiao Qi several times in private in Xia Tian, ​​and wanted to ask Xiao Qi to talk to his wife so that she would let her go and let Third Sister betrothed out."

The eldest lady raised her eyebrows, "Oh?" She was a little surprised, "Why did she ask you for it?"

Seventh Lady didn't care at all.

Lying is about nine points of truth and one point of falsehood.

Even if the people around Qiniangzi would not report to the main courtyard, it is hard to guarantee whether there is any eyeliner in the main courtyard in Xi Guesthouse.

It's better to clarify the words directly, and tell the eldest wife how many times he and Si Yiniang have had private contact.

"However, Xiaoqi feels," Lady Qi lowered her eyes, "it's been too imprudent to sell it off in private and talk nonsense about things that shouldn't be meddled after only being favored for a few years. Therefore, also I never let go..."

The eldest lady's expression softened.

"Xiao Qi is still sensible." She praised Qi Niangzi. "I didn't let go easily..."

"However, Fourth Aunt's eyes are getting lower and lower recently." Seventh Lady smiled, "In the past, the second young master of Mr. Zhang Weiting's family was the one she had her eyes on, but now, even the third young master is willing to give in."

Although the Zhang family is well-off and Zhang Weiting is also a famous scholar in the south of the Yangtze River, he has no fame after all. A bastard from a white-clothed family, if you think about it seriously, it is a shame to the Yang family.

Of course, the Zhang family is a Guanlong family with strong influence in their hometown, and several of Zhang Weiting's brothers have also become officials... This family has wronged her when it comes to the third lady, but when it is zoomed in on the Yang family, it is a beautiful thing.

The eldest wife gradually showed a smile, "Sifang is like this. She heard that the wind is like rain, and the family just started a lawsuit, and she was so frightened that she couldn't hold her breath."

Why is Fourth Aunt "looking lower and lower"?Wasn't it just that he was frightened by the lawsuit between the Yang family and the Liu family, afraid that the Yang family would fall, and the third lady would not be able to say kiss?
In the past, when the Elder Master was as stable as Mount Tai, the family status of the Zhang family and Fourth Aunt might not be in his eyes.

After all, she is a daughter from a small family, so she lacks this grandeur, and a little bit of trouble will scare her into thinking...

"Since Sifang thinks so herself." Seventh Lady said tactfully, "Why don't we help her."

Although the news of Liu Zheng's trial had also spread to the Yang family, Fourth Aunt might not be able to appreciate the inside taste.

In such a hurry, he entrusted favors in private, asking Seventh Lady to speak to the eldest wife, in order to marry Third Lady to such a bastard?
The eldest wife simply let her go, and when the marriage is settled, the news of Liu Zheng's conviction may spread to Suzhou.

At that time, let's appreciate Si Yiniang's regret... Even if she regrets, who can Si Yiniang complain to?This is the marriage she has been asking for thousands of times!
The eldest lady patted Qin Niangzi, "You are almost catching up with your elder sister!"

So he enthusiastically offered advice to Qin Niangzi, "You agreed to Si Yiniang in private! Ask Si Yiniang to tell the master, I will definitely nod here."

Curious again, "Is there any benefit from what Fourth Aunt promised you?"

Seventh Lady was a bit shy, "I promised a few taels of silver, because I was afraid that I would be treated as a little girl who just entered the main courtyard... I didn't agree, so I didn't ask the amount."

The eldest lady clapped her palms and laughed loudly, "What's the matter if you just open your mouth like a lion? As much as you knock, it's all yours!"

Seventh Lady also laughed in agreement. "Yes, mother, Xiaoqi knows how to act."

The eldest lady was thoughtful again, "Thought she was targeting your second aunt again! On the day of the practice banquet, your second aunt went around to Xikefang to chat with her for half an hour..."

"Don't you know how Sifang is?" Seventh Lady just smiled, "I'm used to watching the limelight...She now has to rely on Second Aunt, isn't it because lard has fooled her?"

In the current Yang family, the most useful person to talk to is the wife, that is, the brother and sister of the ninth brother and the seventh lady.

The eldest wife smiled self-consciously, "Yes, she won't count on your second aunt now!"

However, the second wife may not count on the fourth aunt.

Qin Niangzi also understood the unfinished words of the eldest wife.

She didn't answer, but got up to say goodbye. "Fifth Sister is still waiting in Yuelai Hall..."

"Go quickly." The eldest wife came back to her senses, "It's good if you can tell the third lady, so as not to delay the day, your fifth sister Zhanyan will be 13 years old, and she hasn't talked about her husband's family yet."

Then he smiled ambiguously at Seventh Lady, "Third Lady can't tell the Li family, that's fine! In the future, whichever family you like, mother is up to you!"

Seventh Lady was ignorant, with a puzzled expression on her face.

The eldest wife refused to continue, but only urged Seventh Lady, "Hurry up and play in Yuelai Pavilion, I've been tired for half a day, it's time to relax."

Seventh Lady had no choice but to enter the Moon Lai Pavilion, to talk with Fifth Lady and Sixth Lady, and to take up flower names together.

After lunch, she returned to the West Side Hospital.

So he told Li Xia, "Go and see your cousin Xiaoman. On the way, I sent a message to Fourth Aunt, saying that I have passed the message to my wife, and my wife nodded... It is time to start doing what she promised me."

Li Xia nodded silently, turned around and left the courtyard, entering Baifang Garden.

(End of this chapter)