The Concubine's Survival Manual

Chapter 33

The sons and daughters are all waiting for the guests to come to the door in the main courtyard.

Yu Rongyuan had already arranged it a few days ago, Mama Wang took people to see it two or three times in person, and picked out many faults, lest Madam Xu would be dissatisfied.

He also specially opened the side door of Yu Rongyuan to the Guanmao Lane on the right side of Eryang Street to facilitate the entry and exit of the servants of the Xu family.

Brother Jiu didn't have class today either, so everyone sat down in order in the main courtyard room, waiting to welcome the mistress.

The eldest wife and Mrs. Xu probably got off the boat at Weichu, and when they entered Weizheng, they could hear the voice of the old man faintly outside the Chuihua Gate.

Not long after, the eldest wife and a middle-aged lady, surrounded by a group of women and maids, entered the Chuhuamen door hand in hand, and walked slowly towards the main room.

Mother Wang smiled early, walked down the steps with Mother Yao from the small warehouse, and took the eldest wife and Mrs. Xu into the room.

The daughters of the Yang family stood up to greet her.

The eldest wife was wearing a light blue double-breasted gown with dark flowers, perhaps because of the bumpy journey, she described it as a little lighter, and her dress was also very simple, except for the mutton fat jade bracelet on her hand and the pearl hairpin on her head. No other frills.

She nodded and smiled at her children, and she and Mrs. Xu divided the guests and sat down on the two grand teacher's chairs, and said softly, "This is Mrs. Pingguo, your third aunt."

"Meet the third aunt!" Everyone greeted together, and the eldest lady waved to the second lady. "Third sister, she will go to Beijing at the end of this year, and she needs you to take care of her in the future."

A mother-in-law had already brought a futon and laid it out in front of Mrs. Xu.

The second lady knelt down slowly.

Her movements are graceful, like an orchid swaying in the wind.

"Meet the third aunt."

Mrs. Xu was also very plainly dressed, with a dark red lake silk cloud pattern jacket, a brown satin skirt, and a gold hairpin with southern pearls on her head.

Compared with the benevolent round face of the eldest wife, her appearance is much leaner, with raised eyebrows and powerful phoenix eyes, which makes people daunting.

"Get up quickly." She was very polite to the second lady, and bent down to help the second lady herself. "Born very much like the fourth sister!"

The eldest wife and Mrs. Xu were polite for a while before letting the third lady come forward to pay a visit.

Mrs. Xu just nodded and smiled at the third lady, accepted her gift, and didn't say much.

Seeing Liu Niangzi, her eyes brightened.

"What a pretty little girl." She gave an extra compliment.

Liu Niangzi's cheeks were flushed, but fortunately she was quite generous. "Thank you, Auntie, for the compliment."

Seventh Lady came forward with a smile and bowed to Mrs. Xu, "I've seen Third Aunt."

Mrs. Xu asked the eldest wife, "This is brother Jiu's twin sister, right?"

The eldest wife looked at Qi Niangzi's eyes, she was neither hot nor cold, "Yes, I just came to the main courtyard to support this year, and I used to live with Jiu Yiniang in the southern courtyard."

Madam Xu nodded without saying anything.

Brother Nine stepped forward and bowed to Mrs. Xu solemnly.

When the eldest wife saw Brother Jiu, it was as if she saw a living baby. Brother Jiu got up and pulled her into his arms.

"Has grown tall!"

Brother Jiu giggled and leaned against the eldest wife's arms, "Mother has lost weight." His tone was distressed.

Mrs. Xu smiled and shook her head, seeing Brother Nine's gaze softened a bit.

"Feng Jia." She called, "Come to see my cousins."

This call, no one answered.

The eldest wife and Mrs. Xu looked at each other, and the eldest lady asked Liang's mother beside her, "Where is Master Biao? He was still by your side when you got off the car just now."

Mother Liang looked around, then smiled and said, "Xu Shi and Fifth Sister went back to the East Side Courtyard to play."

"Your fifth sister is motion sick." The eldest wife said to the second lady with a smile, her tone sounded like an explanation, "I vomited a few times in the car, and you know that, she likes to be clean."

Wu Niangzi went back to the East Side Courtyard to wash up, and the young master of the Xu family followed by her, which didn't seem to be quite in line with the rules.

Madam Xu frowned.

Mama Liang hurriedly left the main room, and the sisters here visited the eldest wife. After a while, Mama Liang came back.

"Young Master Biao is beside the Elder Master in the outer court." She smiled with eyebrows twisted, "It just so happens that Master Li, the chief envoy of Jiangsu, came to pay a visit, so I will stay to see the elders, and I will send it in after a while."

Mrs. Xu looked relieved.

"Back in the Western Expedition, Li Wenqing was in charge of food and grass, and had a lot of contacts with your third brother-in-law." She smiled and said to the eldest wife.

"Since it's Duke Ping's old friend, I should pay my respects!" The eldest lady didn't say much. "Third sister should go to Yu Rongyuan to settle down first? After dinner, let Feng Jia meet with the sisters."

Mrs. Xu nodded, "It's fine, I've been on the boat and car for the past few days, and my whole body is sticky."

Everyone got up and sent Mrs. Xu away. The third lady, the fourth lady, and the sixth lady all went back to their residences.

The eldest wife also just got out of the car, and she also wanted to wash up. They were joking aside, it didn't mean much.

Second Lady and Ninth Brother had no intention of leaving, Seventh Lady thought for a while, followed Sixth Lady, and left the main room.

"Would you like to stay and talk to your mother?" Sixth Lady teased Seventh Lady in surprise.

Seventh Lady smiled and pinched Sixth Lady, "Don't say a few words, you won't be dumb."

Liu Niangzi broke up with her with a smile, and entered Baifang Garden through the back door of the main courtyard.

Seventh Lady also went back to the West Side Courtyard, closed the door and went to practice calligraphy and embroidery.

Brother Nine's things were all moved back to the main room yesterday.The Xili room is now vacant again as Qinianzi's study.

Li Xia was somewhat curious, "What does Mrs. Xu look like?"

"If you want to know so much, you can accompany me to greet you that night." Seventh Lady smiled and nodded Li Xia's nose.

Li Xia flinched in fright, "How dare I, let Sister Bai Lu go!"

Bai Lu has always been in charge of entering the main room to serve Seventh Lady.She came from the main house, she was familiar with people, and she knew the rules so that she would not make a fool of herself.

Bai Lu smiled and shook her head, "There's nothing to be afraid of."

"Mrs. Xu looks very kind." Seventh Lady opened her eyes and said nonsense, "However, the second room was really rude."

Mrs. Xu is her cousin, even if there is no relative relationship with the eldest wife, the second wife will send a few women to pay her respects.Besides, there is also the eldest wife, the eldest sister-in-law who just returned home.

There was no sound from the second room, and it was spread out, which made people laugh.

"The second wife is born with a weird temper." Bai Lu showed a little disdain. "I'm afraid I have to be urged three times before I come to the door."

While writing, Qin Niangzi chatted with the two maids.

After a while, a little servant girl knocked on the door, "The eldest lady invites Seventh Lady to the main room to talk."

#
Seventh Lady was not surprised.

The transmission of information in ancient times was inconvenient, and many things were not clearly explained in the letter.

After the eldest wife arrived home, Mama Wang, Li Chun, Er Niangzi and Ninth Brother would naturally explain to her all the big and small things that happened in the Yang family during this period... The eldest wife didn't care about anything else, she heard About the gathering of the Eight Immortals, she will also be called to ask clearly.

Besides, with the big heart of the eldest lady, it would be difficult not to care about other things.

Even though she was prepared, when Qiniangzi walked into Dongshao room, she was still taken aback.

Mother Wang knelt on the ground with tears all over her face, and Lichun also knelt beside her.

The eldest wife changed into a bamboo-colored checked jacket and sat by the window with a frosty face, accompanied by the second wife, Liang Mama.

Mama Liang rolled her eyes, looking at the eldest wife for a while, and then at Mama Wang who was kneeling on the ground.

The second lady's expression was faintly angry.

Seventh Lady was very careful, but she wasn't afraid.

Everything can't be justified.

Mama Wang and Lichun have worked hard in the past few months, and they can't find many faults.

The eldest wife is just angry and venting her anger.

"I've seen my mother." She saluted.

The eldest lady's face softened slightly.

"Sit." She nodded abruptly to the chair in the room.

"Second sister is standing, Xiaoqi dare not sit." Seventh Lady pursed her lips and said.

The eldest lady looked at the second lady.

The second lady took the opportunity to say, "This is something that has been arranged little by little over the years... Only Lichun and Mama Wang can use the west side courtyard. That's why I let brother Jiu live in Youhuang - she dares to make a move , why can't we dismantle the move?"

At the end of the speech, there was still a trace of anger.

It seems that the eldest wife is angry because Brother Jiu moved into Youhuangli.

Seventh Lady was slightly surprised.

In the past few months of the Yang family, the few things that have been on the top of the list are nothing more than getting together with the Eight Immortals to listen to the window, the eighth aunt's dystocia, the marriage of the third lady and the relocation of the ninth brother.

Ju Baxian Tingchuang and Ba Yiniang's dystocia did not violate the interests of the eldest wife.She thought that the eldest wife cared more about the third lady's marriage...

It was Er Niangzi's idea for Brother Nine to move, and the eldest wife blamed Lichun and Mama Wang for this. In the final analysis, it was Er Niangzi who was ashamed.

With Er Niangzi's temperament, she was naturally displeased.

"What kind of prestige is your third aunt in the capital! If you say go to Jiangnan, go to Jiangnan!" Who dares to give her a little anger when she sees a few aunts. Our Yang family can't compare to the prestige of Pingguo's mansion, so that's all. Are you slapping me in the face in front of the third aunt? Let her know that I'm not even in the main courtyard. Can't handle it?"

It turned out to be embarrassing.

Beneath the frost on the eldest wife's face, there was deep resentment hidden, and the usual loving smile had long since disappeared.

The second lady turned her head away and said nothing.

Mrs. Xu is about to come down to the south of the Yangtze River to support the eldest wife. Does the eldest wife need to cover up her incompetence?
Seventh Lady looked at Wang Mama and Li Chun who were kneeling on the ground.

Both of them were at a loss, Mama Wang couldn't help but beseeching in her eyes.

She gritted her teeth.

"Mother." She lowered her eyes and said softly, "Mrs. Xu is in charge of the Pingguo government. In private, she will only suffer more than you, and will never suffer less than you. Young Master Biao also has a few brothers who are concubine. , who doesn’t have scriptures that are difficult to recite? They are all sisters, and Mrs. Xu can understand your difficulties.”

Although she doesn't know Mrs. Xu, nor Pingguo Mansion.But just looking at Xu Fengjia's concubine brothers, one can tell that Mrs. Xu also suffered.

Judging from the words of the eldest wife, she is still reasonable.

Even if she was displeased with San Niangzi's marriage, she didn't mean to offend Mrs. Wang.

It's nothing more than anger in my heart, and because of Brother Jiu's move, I feel that I have lost face in front of my sister, so I just exploded.

At this time, I can't argue with her, and with a few words of soft persuasion, the eldest wife's anger will disappear.

As expected, the eldest lady's expression softened.

"Besides, it's because the people in the second room are really too much, even..." Seventh Lady didn't continue, but looked at Liang's mother vaguely, "Li Chun and Wang's mother have to take care of Brother Jiu and take care of housework... ..."

Lichun and Mama Wang have done their best, and there is nothing wrong with it.

In front of Mama Liang, it's not good to lose face to Mama Wang too much.

The eldest lady changed her breath, "I'm also in a hurry."

Seventh Lady hurriedly winked at Wang Mama.

Mama Wang wiped her tears and expressed her loyalty, "It's the old slave who is useless, I can't watch Sifang's movements..."

"Forget it!" The eldest wife was very depressed, "You are a slave, what can you say more. The fourth room has been laying the groundwork for this day, I don't know how long!"

The matter of Jiu Ge's moving is considered to be over.

Mama Liang stepped forward to help Mama Wang with a smile, "Old sister, you are too. At such an age, I still can't help being a little bit wronged... Come on, wipe away your tears."

"Sit down and talk." The eldest lady nodded to Seventh Lady again.

Only then did Seventh Lady and Second Lady sit down.

Lichun poured tea and placed it in front of Seventh Lady.

The eyes of the two met, and Lichun's eyes flashed with gratitude.

As soon as Seventh Lady came, she relieved herself and Wang Mama...

Everyone was silent for a while, Qin Niangzi lowered her head and took a sip of herbal tea.

"I heard from your second sister that during Qingming, the second wife and the fourth room were talking about something at Jubaxian..." The eldest wife really started talking about Jubaxian.

Seventh Lady had no choice but to repeat the matter.

The eldest wife, the second lady, and Mama Liang all listened carefully.

The eldest wife asked Mama Wang again, "Second wife often brings food and drinks over these days?"

"In August, there will always be some melons and fruits in two or three days." Wang Mama lowered her eyebrows and narrowed her eyes, "Sifang also often sends some things back."

Rather than sending melons and fruits, it is better to say it is sending news.

"Did your father say anything?" He asked the second lady again.

As long as the elder is not stupid, he can see the connection between the second wife and the fourth bedroom.

"Father said that the fourth room was just asking about the situation of the second wife's Wang family." The second lady's tone was calm.

A bright red flashed across the pale face of the eldest lady.

"Is he going to pretend to be deaf and dumb?" She seemed to ask herself.

Although the sun was shining outside the window, there was a chill in the house.

The grievances and grievances accumulated over the years have actually made the husband and wife trust to such an extent.

The eldest lady looked at the scorching sun in the yard.

I don't know if it was the glare of the sun or sadness, but two lines of tears slowly flowed down my cheeks.

"For all these years of hard work, he hasn't noticed it at all... It's okay to focus on me, but now that Brother Nine has his idea, he still has to cover up..."

Seventh Lady sighed inwardly.

The second lady suddenly winked at her.

In this matter, Lady Seven is the one with the most authority to speak, after all, she was the one who heard the conspiracy between the fourth aunt and the second wife.

"Mother, please don't be too sad, it hurts your body." Seventh Lady had no choice but to speak carefully.

The cold voice is like a clear spring in a mountain stream, and the exquisite voice is crisp, making people listen to it, like drinking a cup of cool tea.

"After all, this is just a one-sided statement of our main courtyard. In the middle of the game, my father will inevitably be blinded."

From the standpoint of the Eldest Master, the Main Court may have overreacted, after all the Eldest Wife is not around, they may think that everyone is going to hurt Brother Nine.

"In case something happens to Brother Nine, Third Lady will not have a backer in her husband's house in the future." Second Lady also followed what Seventh Lady said. "Maybe my father thinks so, so he insists on not believing..."

The eldest wife sighed and wiped away the tears from her cheeks.

"I don't expect anything now, I only hope that Brother Jiu will grow up safely!" She said lightly, with sadness in her tone.

But compared to the sadness just now, it was much calmer.

The second lady couldn't help looking at the seventh lady.

Seventh Lady was looking at the eldest wife, with some concern in her calm eyes.

After I said a few words, I couldn't help but fight with my mother. As soon as she came, she persuaded the eldest wife with a few words.

still so young...

The second lady smiled slightly.

"Third Sister's marriage is a foregone conclusion." She said, "Seventh Sister, what should we do next?"

No matter how early and profound Qin Niangzi is, as long as Brother Jiu is there, she can only contribute to the main courtyard.

(End of this chapter)