The Concubine's Survival Manual

Chapter 22

After a few days, the Elder Master really mentioned to the Eldest Wife the matter of marrying the Zhang family.

"After thinking about it, I think this is a good marriage." The old man pondered, "Although our family is currently involved in a lawsuit, it is not convenient to discuss this matter with Brother Zhang, but the Zhang family is well-off. It has nothing to do with the struggle between the court and the central government, the foundation is deep in Guanlong, and the marriage of the third lady has always added a solid foreign aid for us."

If measured by this way of thinking, it is much better for San Niangzi to marry into the Zhang family than the Li family and Wang family mentioned before.

The eldest wife also felt that this marriage was a good one no matter what.

It can also bring tangible benefits to the Yang family and add a boost to Brother Nine in the future.

Several of Mr. Zhang's students are now serving as officials in the court, and there are also literary friends who have been with him for many years, all of whom are contacts.

The grandma of the Zhang family has such an unforgiving temper... I heard that her background is not very good, and the total dowry is more than 3000 taels of silver.

No matter how stingy the eldest wife is, she will at least prepare a dowry of 2 taels of silver for the third lady.

The eldest lady just laughed, "Okay, since the master said it's all right, I'll ask Mrs. Li to come over to ask Mrs. Zhang what she means. ——However, our family is still involved in a lawsuit. The Zhang family may not know what's going on. Isn't it a little unreasonable to ask someone to ask now?"

The elder smiled slightly, "That's why, whether Mr. Wei Ting is sincerely in contact with our family, or whether he only intends to take advantage of our family's influence, can be found out with just one sentence."

The eldest lady suddenly realized.

When he was in a good mood, he flattered, "Master is still thoughtful."

The elder twirled his beard and said nothing, just laughed.

The atmosphere in the house was harmonious.

The eldest wife invited Mrs. Li to speak the next day.

"Thinking about bringing San Niangzi into the Zhang family..." He talked to Mrs. Li about the marriage.

Mrs. Li was a little surprised, but also happy, "Okay, okay, if these two families get married, they will be closer in the future!"

He also complained to the eldest wife, "Are you biased, or do you not like our eleventh man? We have been talking about the matter of the seventh lady for several years, but there is no response, but he took the initiative to mention the matter of the third lady to the Zhang family. !"

The eldest wife was a little embarrassed, "I have to talk about my sister first, and then my sister, right?"

In the aristocratic family, there is a strict priority when talking about relatives, and many children were delayed because of the unsatisfactory marriage of their brothers and sisters.

The fifth lady is also 13 years old this year, and when the second lady was 13, all the grandsons of Dingguo Marquis came to their door to kiss her.

Mrs. Li's eyes flickered, "You're partial!" She half-jokingly blamed the eldest lady, "I knew you liked Seventh Lady early on, and I think it must be because Shi Shilang of our family is honest and dull, and is not good enough for Seventh Lady!"

The eldest lady was speechless, and was about to say something, when Mrs. Li smiled and made her way out, "That's right, seeing Seventh Lady's appearance and her behavior, even I love her, let alone you? It's just a sister, we two The friendship of the family, you daughters who are as beautiful as flowers and jade, must be given to our Li family! Seventh lady is reluctant, sixth lady, are you willing?"

"This..." The eldest lady became a little annoyed.

Mrs. Li did it a little too revealingly, right?

"Sixth Lady, I can't bear it either!" She smiled and played Tai Chi with Mrs. Li, "If you say that, I really can't bear to part with one! Otherwise, take Fourth Lady home!"

The smile on Mrs. Li's face froze suddenly.

Not to mention the concubine's concubine, who is not liked by the aunt's mother, has a gloomy personality, and has lost her appearance...

"Hey, when it comes to this fourth lady, I really worry about you." She smiled like a spring breeze, and changed the subject immediately, "If the third lady can marry into the Zhang family, it can be regarded as a result, but the fourth lady is not ashamed. It's not good... It's really difficult to find a son-in-law in this celebrity's family."

The eldest wife didn't care too much about herself.

After all, the Li family is the strongest backing of the Yang family, and Mrs. Li will come to check on the Zhang family immediately.

"I have no choice but to take one step at a time." She let out a sigh of relief, "It depends on the master's will."

The two wives chatted a few more gossips, and Mrs. Li got up to leave.

He shook the eldest wife's hand again, with a sincere tone, "If you really don't like Eleven Lang, our family's Twelve Lang and Seventh Lady are also the same age—"

The eldest lady really can't laugh or cry.

I had no choice but to deal with Mrs. Li, and turned around to complain to Ms. Wang, "Usually I heard that she is boring, boring, but I don't think it is anything. Now that I have seen it, I know what it means to be really boring."

Mother Liang also looked down on Mrs. Li's style.

"Aristocratic families pay attention to keeping promises... Judging from what she means, it seems that the marriage of a woman here is a business. Whoever's social status has increased, the bid price over there will also increase."

The eldest lady sighed again.

"Oh, it's not easy. None of these ten sons is a fuel-efficient lamp! Dalang Saburo will be in the arena this year. If he has the fame of Juren, it will be even more difficult to restrain himself."

He couldn't help but think of this account in his home.

"Our Brother Ninth doesn't know when he will be able to come home with a fame!"

Mama Liang couldn't help admiring the eldest wife's decision.

Ever since she believed that Brother Jiu's actions in front of Huanshawu belonged to Nightmare Town, the eldest wife seemed to have never been suspicious of Brother Jiu, she always took care of him, only more carefully than usual.

There was a faint chill in her heart.

Qin Niangzi has thoroughly understood the temperament of the eldest wife!

She just smiled and perfunctory the eldest wife, "With our ninth brother's intelligence, I'm afraid we will be able to pass the Jinshi examination in two years!"

He also reminded the eldest wife, "However, Brother Ninth's marriage..."

Brother Jiu will be 11 years old after the Chinese New Year.

The only son of such an heir often gets married early.

His marriage is worthy of the eldest wife's serious consideration.

The eldest wife was thoughtful, "I still have to ask the master about this matter," she smiled self-consciously, "No matter how big I can be if I marry and obey my husband, I have to listen to the master's orders for such matters."

He sighed again.

"I don't have a biological son in my whole life... I just hope that I'm not mistaken about Brother Ninth!"

Mother Liang lowered her eyes and looked at her toes, but did not answer the eldest lady's words.

Two days later, another batch of precious medicinal materials was sent to the West Side Hospital, but the eldest wife was not informed.

#
Mrs. Lee responded quickly.

It is said that Mrs. Zhang even made a few murmurs, and only said that she would ask the master.

It was Mrs. Li who just arrived at the house, and Mrs. Zhang followed Li's house behind.

At the same time, Mr. Zhang also came to visit Mr. Li in person. Wife to wife, master to master, conveyed one meaning: the third lady is from a famous and noble family, and it is a blessing for the Zhang family to have her as a match.

Mrs. Li had such a good result when she was a matchmaker for the first time. Immediately, she turned around beaming and went to Yang's house again, and told the eldest wife the good news.

The news that the Yang family and the Zhang family intended to get married quickly spread in the courtyard.

"I don't know if it's the second young master from the concubine or the third young master from the concubine..."

Sixth Lady was very curious.

Seventh Lady just laughed, but Fifth Lady gave Sixth Lady a white look, "Why, are you in a hurry to get married? I told Mother, let me tell you first, and then talk about my marriage!"

Sixth Lady was embarrassed, "Fifth Sister's words, on the contrary, it seems that you are anxious to get married!"

The two little girls chattered.

Since the news spread, the third lady was so ashamed that she hid in Qilixiang and refused to go out. The fourth lady naturally followed her and did not go home to learn lessons.

Ba Niangzi asked Qi Niangzi timidly, "Seventh Sister, what's going on with this Third Sister's marriage...?"

The little girl was weak, so she coughed a few times after saying these few words.

Seventh Lady patiently and meticulously explained to Eighth Lady, "Third sister and the third young master of the Zhang family..." Then she told Eighth Lady about the matter carefully.

A sincere smile appeared on Ba Niangzi's face, "Then I really want to congratulate Third Sister!"

Seventh Lady was a little embarrassed.

Maybe the little girl really just cares about her sisters...

"It's not bad if this marriage comes true." She said implicitly, "However, the Zhang family has no fame after all..."

Ba Niangzi fanned her long eyelashes as if she had realized something.

A few days later, the results of Liu Zheng's case also arrived in Suzhou.

This case came to a conclusion so quickly, and Liu Zheng's punishment was so severe, even the elder was unavoidably surprised.

"It is said that the emperor personally intervened...the prince did not intervene." He repeated to the eldest wife carefully, "The Qin family and the Xu family did not get involved, it is the emperor's people who are handling this matter. .”

Those who arrived in Suzhou at the same time also had a reward for the Grand Master.

After a long series of meaningless commendations, the Elder Master also received real benefits: Although he was not knighted, the emperor still generously promoted the Elder Master's Wen Xun a few levels up, and promoted him to Zuo Zhu Kingdom .

There was an uproar in Suzhou City, and even the government and the public were shocked by it.

Zuo Zhuguo is an honorary officer of the first rank!

In Daqin, the first-rank official titles were never easily given to others. Historically, only the elders who were headed by the cabinet could also hold the title of first-rank prince and grand teacher.It can be said that the existence of being able to hold the first-rank official title is all powerful officials who can control the wind and rain in the court and exert power on one side.

Even when Emperor Qin's teacher became an official, he was only awarded the rank of first-rank prince and junior teacher.

Although it is just a false title without a salary, the Grand Master has even surpassed the Emperor Qin's teacher. Where else in the Manda Qin is the governor of Jiangnan, who is really lacking in the first rank, and Zuo Zhu at the same time? Wen Xun, the first-class Wen Xun in China?
I'm afraid that even the family of the first-class rich and powerful lords can't compete with the Yang family for the limelight!
In stark contrast, it was the treatment of Liu Zheng, the governor of Zhejiang.

Liu Zheng was greedy for money, perverted the law, and abolished the government for private purposes. The abolished people will never use it again.

Home raids, deportation, and residential surveillance are almost the most severe punishments for civil servants.

Daqin has always given preferential treatment to civil servants. It has been established for more than 100 years and has not killed a single official.Otherwise, I'm afraid Liu Zheng's head will be lost...

The result of this wrestling, of course, needless to say.

Those who are interested have noticed another sentence in the decree: the affairs of Zhejiang Province are managed by the governor of Jiangnan, and one should pay attention to talents and recommend successors.

This is naked/nakedly sending Zhejiang Province into the arms of the Grand Master!
To recommend a successor, can the elder not recommend one of his own?Li Wenqing, the chief envoy of Jiangsu, only followed the Yang family's eyes and acted, but now the chief envoy of Zhejiang has become a member of the Yang family, and there is also the Zheng family, the chief envoy of Fujian who has some connections with the Yang family...

The three provinces in the south of the Yangtze River have really become the private land of the Grand Master!
The Yang family suddenly became lively again.

The Eldest Master and the Eldest Wife opened the main gate of the outer main courtyard, lit joss sticks and set up a case, and brought the whole family, men, women and children, to accept the order of rewards, and then they got busy again: the carriages and horses that came to congratulate were almost going to Eryang Street is too crowded.

Fortunately, they were all well-measured officials, and they didn't show any shameful greedy looks. They politely delivered the gift list of He Shengqian to the door, and said a few words of congratulations to the host, and then they all took their leave and left.Even so, the first wife and the second wife had been busy for half a month before they were free. Even with the help of the second wife, the first wife was so tired that she took a few tonics before she barely regained her spirits.

The fourth aunt entered the main courtyard at this time.

#
Inside and outside the halls of the main courtyard, there was an indescribable joy.

A few more fresh and valuable utensils were added to the table in the main room, and unopened gifts were piled up in the corner, and a few maidservants were going back and forth, unpacking and looking at them, while gathering up silk, satin, gold and silver and carrying them.

In and out, it is the excitement of a big family who only celebrates happy events.

There was also faint laughter from the eldest lady in Dongci's room.

The fourth aunt's eyes dimmed, and she stood still under the steps. She lowered her head and carefully brushed the corners of her skirt, took a deep breath, and then she crossed the threshold with a smile, and greeted Lidong who was at the door of Dongci Room, "—Come to Mrs. Please!"

Lidong nodded calmly, turned around and entered the room to report.

Even if he was surprised, he didn't show it.

How long has it been since Fourth Aunt entered the main courtyard alone to pay her respects?
She was standing in the main room, looking around at the familiar yet unfamiliar furnishings, and was dazed.

Once upon a time, there was a suffocating silence and a suffocating grayness in this main room.

At that time, although she also came in every day to say hello, but why did she pay attention to the eldest wife who was dormant in the main room...

Her world is in the East Side Courtyard, which is the center of the inner house, and all the complicated housework has been collected in her hands in those few years.

——Why didn't I know that I was going to marry my two daughters at that time!

Ah, yes, at that time, the first lady and the second lady in the main courtyard hadn't talked about their marriage yet.

Did he underestimate this narrow-minded and extreme wife...

A regular wife is a regular wife, as long as the status is still there, when the time comes, she can turn the clouds and rains upside down.

A concubine, no matter if it is a good concubine or a lowly concubine, is just a shameless little star after all.

Even if she wanted to marry her biological daughter, she had to cover up and go through countless detours...

Light footsteps sounded slowly from Dongjijian.

Fourth Aunt quickly raised her head.

Already put on a face full of smiles.

Lidong nodded to Fourth Aunt, raised the crystal curtain silently, and watched her gracefully enter the East Room.

"Greetings to Madam." The fourth aunt was very polite, and she was about to salute when she knelt down.

"Get up." The eldest lady smiled all over her face.

The fourth aunt wanted to salute the second wife who was sitting with her again, and the second wife also hurriedly imitated the first wife, "You're welcome."

"Fourth aunt." The seventh lady beside the eldest wife also got up to say hello to fourth aunt.

After a lot of commotion, the eldest wife finally rewarded the fourth aunt for sitting.

"Why do you come here to say hello at this hour?" He cut straight to the point, "If you have anything to do, just tell me."

It seems that the eldest lady is not in a bad mood.

Fourth Aunt also let out a long breath.

"I want to ask my wife for respect, and go to Huiqing Temple to burn incense." She lowered her head and played with the jade pendant on her skirt. "Pray for the third lady and the fourth lady..."

There was a hint of resentment in the words.

The eldest wife admired the traces of unwillingness on the fourth aunt's face, and almost laughed again.

Things change so quickly.

Half a month ago, Fourth Aunt wished she could talk about the marriage right away.

Now, he wished he could regret the marriage immediately and tell San Niangzi a better marriage!

How can it be so easy?
However, letting her go to Huiqing Temple once would probably not cause much trouble.

The eldest wife will let go of her promise.

A regular wife naturally has such a sense of superiority over a concubine—even if he goes to Huiqing Temple, what kind of moths can he make?
Seventh Lady coughed lightly.

"Si Yiniang is familiar with the eminent monks of Huiqing Temple, right?" She looked pleasant, with a trace of curiosity on her face, "I heard that Master Tongguang of Huiqing Temple is the most profound in Taoism, and he can also combine horoscopes..."

If Master Tongguang had combined the third wife and the young master of the Zhang family, the fourth aunt would have an excuse to slander the elder...

"Right now, our family and the Zhang family are discussing marriage." The eldest wife was a little displeased, "Why do you leave without authorization, your biological mother? Wait until the marriage is settled, and then go to burn incense!"

Fourth Aunt couldn't help but look at Second Wife.

The second wife was also looking at the fourth aunt.

She moved her mouth and sighed again.

How could the second wife not be clear about the past between the fourth aunt and the eldest wife.If the eldest wife wants to block the fourth aunt, then no one can talk about it.

Fourth Aunt glanced at Seventh Lady again.

The resentment in his eyes was faintly visible.

The second wife let out a long breath.

"Qi Niangzi will be 11 after the new year, right?" She changed the subject and asked Qin Niangzi with a pleasant face.

Seventh Lady smiled brightly at Second Wife, "Yes, Second Aunt forgot, Eighth Sister and I were born together."

A few people pulled up the homework.

By coincidence, they all seem to have forgotten the fourth aunt sitting on the table.

(End of this chapter)