swear not to be concubine

Chapter 29

After Jian Yan left Mrs. Jian's East Wing, she walked back slowly on the chaste veranda, but she was thinking about something.

Since Mrs. Jian has vaguely mentioned to her that she wants to meet Xu Zhongxuan more, according to Mrs. Jian's temperament, I am afraid that some opportunities will be artificially created soon for her to get in touch with Xu Zhongxuan more.

What Qin said that night, Jian Yan still remembers very clearly word by word, she really didn't want to shamelessly approach Xu Zhongxuan's side, causing countless people behind her to laugh at her.

In fact, this is not what she values ​​most. She is not afraid of others laughing at her, nor does she care what others think of her.To her, the word reputation is just a noun, and she doesn't care about it at all.The point is, Xu Zhongxuan is a young talent wherever he goes. With his status, his wife will definitely be a daughter of a noble family in the future. I'm afraid there will be many concubines. What are you going to do?With her current status, she is definitely not qualified to be a wife. To be a concubine?Hehe, Jian Yan chuckled lightly, she would not be anyone's concubine, and she never even thought about getting married.

She doesn't bother to do the kind of things that are confined to a house, with a group of women every day, paying attention to which woman's house her husband enters today, and calculating how to make herself more favored tomorrow. .In her life, even if she can't conquer the stars and the sea, she still needs to be free.

Jian Yan was so engrossed in her thoughts that she walked faster and faster, and she didn't even hear the voice of Bai Wei calling her from behind.

In the end, Bai Wei had no choice but to reach out and pull her arm, and said in a low voice: "Girl, my concubine and Mother Tao are in front."

Jian Yan came back to her senses at this time.

She looked up, and sure enough, she saw Mrs. Ji and Nanny Tao coming in from the courtyard gate of Hexiangyuan, walking on the verandah of chasing hands, followed by two little maids.

When Jian Yan saw it, she quickly took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down her agitated mood just now, and with a decent and polite smile on her back, she also walked forward slowly.

When she was three steps away from Mrs. Ji, she stood still, bowed to Mrs. Ji, and called her aunt.

Mrs. Ji also stood still, looked at her with a smile on her face, and asked, "Are you coming from your mother?"

"Yes." Jian Yan replied respectfully, "Just now my mother asked me to go over and chat a few words."

But she didn't ask where Ji came from.Speaking of which, Mrs. Ji is her elder after all, and she can't be considered too close, so if she asks others where she has gone, she is always afraid of causing resentment.

However, Ji is also a gentle person, at least in Jian Yan's limited contact with her, whether listening to her talk or seeing her doing things, they are very gentle and gentle, so getting along with her is not a problem. what pressure.

The two chatted a few gossips in this corridor, and then Jian Yan resigned, and took Bai Wei back to her small courtyard, while Ji Shi and Tao Nanny continued to walk forward along the chasing corridor, all the time. To the porch of his main house.

There is a parrot hanging on the corridor. Its feathers are as white as the first snow, but its crested head is light yellow.

Mrs. Ji stood on the porch and teased the parrot for a while, and said to Nanny Tao: "I remember that Sister Ning likes this parrot the most, and she would come here every day to tease it for a while, why haven't I seen you in the past few days?" Did she come here to tease her?"

Tao Nanny smiled and said, "Sister Ning has been very angry these few days. She spends every day facing the copybooks in her courtyard, so she doesn't leave the courtyard easily."

"Really?" Mrs. Ji was surprised and delighted, and hurriedly asked, "My sister Ning has always been like a monkey. Let her sit there to read and practice calligraphy, but it looks like there are iron nails on the chair." , no matter how hard you can’t sit still for half an hour, why are you willing to practice calligraphy honestly now?”

While talking, he walked into the house.The little maid who followed her hurriedly stepped forward and opened the door curtain.

Ji's family and Mother Tao went straight into the East room.Mrs. Ji sat down on the wooden kang by the south window, and asked Nanny Tao to sit too.Nanny Tao thanked her first, and then sat down with one foot resting.

A little maid brought tea over on a tea tray, and Ji continued without drinking it, but just put it on the rosewood and mother-of-pearl kang table at hand, and asked Tao Nanny: "Why is my sister Ning willing to practice so hard all of a sudden? Started to write? Mother Tao, tell me quickly."

Tao Nanny smiled and said, "Sister Ning didn't want us to tell you that she wrote your favorite "Ai Lian Shuo" after she felt that her handwriting was good. Alright, I’ll give it to you. But now that the wife has asked, the servant will say what’s necessary.”

"This little girl is so troublesome." Ji laughed and cursed, but there was a smile in the corners of her eyes and brows, and she urged Tao Nanny, "Tell me how this girl changed her temper."

Tao Nanny smiled and said: "I also heard about this from Qing Ya who was serving Sister Ning. It was said that that day, Sister Ning took her cousin girl to play in the garden, and happened to meet the Eldest Young Master. Eldest Young Master Didn't sister Ning always let us copybooks? At that time, he asked how many copybooks Ning had produced recently, and Ning said that only one copybook had been produced. Sister Ning came back and came back with fifty sheets, saying that he would check when he came back from Xiumu next time. I heard that Sister Ning had a bitter face at that time, and she wished she could cry. Thanks to Cousin. The side persuaded her, and then said that she wanted to accompany Sister Ning to write the copybook. Hearing from Qing Ya, the small letters written in the small letters on the hairpin hand of the cousin girl are beautiful. Our sister Ning was dumbfounded at the time, and then we The cousin asked her to teach. The cousin also agreed. After that, she would go to sit in Sister Ning’s yard every day when she was free. The wife also knows that the cousin is the most quiet. People, she sits there, or quietly reading copybooks, or reading books, or embroidering something. After a long time, our sister Ning's temper has also calmed down. No, listen to Qing Ya During lunch two days ago, she went to ask sister Ning to eat. Ning sister was facing the copybook, but she said that she was noisy and told her not to make noise. I will use it later at lunch. It is important to practice calligraphy first. "

"Amitabha," Mrs. Ji recited the Buddha immediately after hearing Tao Nanny's words, and then said with a smile, "I don't know how many times I have told her about practicing calligraphy for reading. She is always left-handed." It’s never a big deal to go in one ear and out the other. Now it’s better, and it’s finally time to calm down.”

"That's right," Tao Nanny echoed, and then laughed, "Speaking of which, it's all thanks to the cousin. We, Sister Ning, seem to really like this cousin."

"It's not only Sister Ning, I also really like Sister Yan. These days, I look at the past coldly. This child has a Wenke temper and always smiles at everyone. I have never seen her when she is angry. Let's do things It's also fine, look at this wipe on my forehead, "

Nanny Tao looked up and saw that it was a ginger-yellow matte forehead, with several winter jasmine flowers embroidered on it.The winter jasmine on the side is smaller, and the one in the middle is the largest.The wonderful thing is that there is a small pearl inlaid in the heart of each jasmine flower, and the pearl inlaid in the center of the jasmine flower in the middle is bigger, it looks round and has a good gloss.

"It's hard for this child to know that I like winter jasmine and pearls the most, so he made me a forehead like this. When I saw this forehead, I fell in love with it. I wear it these days .”

Nanny Tao nodded and said with a smile, "Ma'am also look at the forehead wipe on my forehead. Isn't it the one made by the cousin girl?"

Tao Nanny now wears a maroon forehead, but it is not embroidered, only inlaid with three turquoises, which suits her identity very well.

Mrs. Ji took a look, and then said with a smile: "Isn't your forehead wipe the one made by Sister Yan? I remember that she brought a maid over that day, handed over these two forehead wipes, and said yes In the past two days, I wiped the foreheads of my mother and Shen’s mother next to her. I thought I would also make one for my aunt, and you too. He also said that we should not dislike her for her poor craftsmanship. Just wear it. This kid is really very humble."

Seeing Ji's happy appearance, Tao Nanny first said a few words such as that this cousin girl is really good, but then changed the subject and said: "Madam, let this servant say something disrespectful, this cousin The girl is indeed good, but the servants also feel that she is too rich. Not to mention, we just went to say hello to the old lady, and I saw the golden forehead on the old lady's forehead, which I have never seen before. So I asked a lot about the colored beads that the old lady waited on. Who knew it was made by the cousin girl. Just think about it, it is just a small thing like wiping the forehead, but the cousin girl can know that the old lady likes peonies , specially embroidered peony flowers on her forehead; knowing that you like winter jasmine and pearls, I specially embroidered winter jasmine on your forehead, and inlaid pearls on it; I also know that slaves love dates most Red, I specially made such a maroon forehead wipe for the servant. Madam, think about it, how long has it been since the cousin came to our Xu family? She can find out the preferences of all of us. Just thinking about it, the servant thinks about it I feel a little scared."

Ji was taken aback for a moment, then sighed, and said: "How many girls in the mansion are pure in their thoughts? It's myself. If I didn't have my own thoughts back then, How can there be a day like this?"

It turned out that the fifth master of the Xu family was disabled. He had been paralyzed on the bed since he was born and hadn't been on the ground for a day.That's why the Xu family is an old family after all, and Xu Wuye is also a descendant, but no one is willing to marry his daughter.

When the Xu family sent a matchmaker to the Ji family to talk about their marriage, the Ji family did not quite agree.But Ji couldn't stand her repeated request to get married, so she had no choice but to agree to the marriage in the end.

At that time, the Ji family was thinking that the Ji family was already in decline. Even if the elder sister was still a prostitute, she just married a businessman. She was just a concubine, so what kind of good family could she marry?It's nothing more than marrying a small family, or simply being a concubine for that big family.Although the small family is a regular wife, the poor and lowly couples are sad, and the days of suffering are coming.To be a concubine for that rich family, if you meet a better wife, it will be fine, but if you are unlucky, if you meet such a tigress, you will be tortured to death within a few years.And this Xu Wuye, after all, is a younger brother of the old clan who was born in the same family, and he was paralyzed from birth. After marrying, the parents-in-law will look at her highly, not to mention, even Xu Wuye will not accept it. Concubine, how many troubles in the back house have been saved?Then as long as she can give birth to a son and a half daughter, she will be able to gain a firm foothold in the Xu family, and the future will be full of good times.

Ji had a good plan in mind, so she was determined to marry at that time.And after marrying, she has a docile temperament, and she is also very liked by Wu Shi.Later, twins were born in one fell swoop. At that time, she only said that Mrs. Wu was so happy from ear to ear, and only said that Mrs. Ji had made great achievements. She never thought that Wufang would have a son.

And because of the birth of this pair of dragon and phoenix twins, Ji's heart is also proud, knowing that she will have nothing to worry about in this life.So when Xu Wuye died later, instead of being sad, she felt a little happy instead.

Aside from other things, at least in the future, I won't have to see such a person in the house every day, paralyzed on the bed lifelessly.

When Ji talked about these past events, Nanny Tao also sighed.

"Ma'am," she said softly, "I'm sorry for your good looks and good temper. In this life, there should be someone who knows what's cold and what's hot to take good care of you. Who would have thought that you would be so young?" It's easy, alas."

"Mother Tao, I don't regret it at all." Ji said softly with a smile on her face, "Is it difficult for me to live now? The old lady only has Brother Ze and Brother An I have two grandchildren, and speaking of it, only Brother An is the one born in the direct line, and now the old lady is in charge of the house, but as long as the Xu family is here, can my mother be short of food and drink by three? Don't worry about anything."

Tao Nanny nodded, and then said softly: "If it's true, the old lady is really nice to you. I heard two days ago that the wives and brothers and sisters in each room all lost weight. There is a monthly allowance of silver, but our house has not lost anything. I heard that because of this, the first wife and the second wife have a lot of opinions on the old lady. They scold cats and dogs all day long, pointing at Sang and Huai, just talking The old lady doesn't know how to housekeeper. There is no movement on the third wife's side."

"Sister-in-law Three didn't make any noise at all," Ji chuckled, "It's just that sister-in-law thought that there was a third-rank official in her room, and she said that the Xu family's reputation was supported by brother Xuan." For the second sister-in-law, after all, the second uncle was born of the old lady, and now he is an official, even if he is a separate family, she is not afraid of going out; only for the third sister-in-law, the third uncle was originally a concubine. Moreover, she left early. Although Jing Geer is fighting for spirit, she is still a scholar now, and she is not sure what she will be like in the future. What will she use to fight? The only thing she can do is to knock down her teeth and swallow her blood That's all."

Speaking of this, she laughed again: "As for us here, how can the old lady treat me well? It's just for the sake of Brother An. But I'm not like my sister-in-law and second sister-in-law, but I insist on rushing to be the family What's so good about being in charge? As the saying goes, even being in charge for three years is a dog. And I've heard some gossip these days. Our family, now it's just a matter of face, but it's just like that on the inside. Zhuangzi has been harvesting year after year Not good, the income in the shop is not a little worse than in previous years. Although the second uncle has a salary, but the second sister-in-law doesn't give a cent, but it is honestly held in her hands. Brother Xuan On the other side, speaking of this child, since he was a concubine, and the uncle was born before the old man after all, how much suffering and coldness did he suffer when he was young? I see that his family relationship is also weak, and it is nothing more than being opposite to him. Seeing that Miss Jin is still caring, so I came back to take a look when I was taking a bath, otherwise, I guess he would never come back from the capital where he lived for a long time. So I expect him to use his salary to support this family Son, that’s out of the question.”

"The eldest son is still interested in our sister Ning," Tao Nanny added with a smile, "when it's okay, he will urge our sister Ning to practice calligraphy."

Mrs. Ji nodded: "We Sister Ning and Sister Jin are usually close, and our relationship is better than ordinary people, so Brother Xuan will naturally give our Sister Ning a high regard."

"My servant thinks that this is our sister Ning's temper, which is flattering. If you say that you can get the eldest son's favor if you get close to Sister Jin on weekdays, then this servant looks at Miss Xuan who is in the upper room. Even though I'm getting close to Sister Jin, I don't see Eldest Young Master looking at her very high."

"Miss Xuan?" Mrs. Ji sneered, "But anyone who is not blind can see why she is getting close to Sister Jin. Speaking of the old lady, it was the same for the old lady, and now she sees her The big house is promising, and he wants to get in. The sister-in-law's nature, is it because the old lady can get in? Brother Xuan is not a vegetarian. I watched him talk to sister Xuan every day. It's annoying to hang around in front of him, but it's just because of the old lady's face that she still tolerates it. But I guess, the reason why he hasn't taken action against sister Xuan is actually just waiting for his sister-in-law to take action. At that time, I would be happy to be able to push, push, two, five, six, my hands will not get muddy, and nothing will happen. So if it is true, Brother Xuan is just a gentle man on the surface, but he is afraid of it on the inside. He is also a cannibal who doesn’t spit out bones.”

Mother Tao agrees with Ji's comments on Xu Zhongxuan's two sentences.

"To be able to achieve the position of Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Rites at such a young age, the eldest son will naturally not have the nature of a bodhisattva. I'm afraid we haven't seen his methods, and we dare not even think about them. It's just madam, there is something that I don't know whether I should tell you or not."

Ji said: "We have been together for decades, no matter how many difficult times we have supported each other, there is still something we can't say? You can just say it."

Nanny Tao didn't speak at first, but looked out instead.

A lattice window in the shape of a cross crabapple was opened, and one could see the hanging silk crabapple in the yard outside.

Now the flowering period of crabapple flowers has not yet arrived, but the flower buds like small lanterns are all over the tree, just looking at it makes people love and pity from the bottom of their hearts.

The curtains in the east wing were hung vertically, and there was no sound, and one could no longer see what the people inside were doing.

Tao Momo looked away, then lowered her voice, and said slowly: "The slaves passed by outside this east wing two days ago, and I heard my concubine and Shen's mother discussing matters. I have to think about it How can the cousin win the eldest son's favor, so as to pave the way for the cousin's future career. Ma'am, you see, the concubine's thoughts are so real that the servants don't even know what to say."

There was no surprise on Ji's face, as if she had known Mrs. Jane's thoughts for a long time.

"Sister is the most aggressive person. She is also the daughter of an official, but she married a businessman. How can she bear to be a businessman's wife for the rest of her life? Brother-in-law, he means that he is unreliable. He can only point out that I'm relying on Brother Qing. But this Brother Qing, as far as I can see from a cold eye, is also missing such a muscle in reading. Sister, this child," Ji sighed softly, "is first-class in appearance and talent, and has a rare gentle temperament. He is good-natured to everyone. If he can be born in a family of officials I'm afraid I can find a good husband and son-in-law with similar looks and talents? But now, alas, the better officials' families look down on her, and the poorer small families have wronged her again. Let her be a concubine? It's better to marry someone from a small family, anyway, she is also a regular wife."

"That's not how you say it." Mother Tao agreed, "If the concubine really loves the cousin girl, she should give her a generous dowry and marry to a small family with an innocent family background. You won't suffer any grievances, and you can live comfortably. As for the official family, the third floor is big and the second floor is small, so you can't be a wife, you can only be a concubine. What good can you do if you can’t call yourself a first-time mother?”

Mrs. Ji also sighed: "My sister is not confused? It turned out to be Brother Xuan's idea. I'm afraid she also wanted to let Sister Yan become Brother Xuan's concubine. But Brother Xuan, isn't it? I said, he has a cold nature and is not a good man. According to his status, the status of his wife will be poor? There will be fewer people in the room? How many people want to stuff their own daughters and sisters over? I saw a sister Xuan, and a girl from Zheng Guogong's mansion. I heard that the family that my uncle had arranged for him when he was there, although the girl was unlucky and died, but now I want to take that house away. The girl's younger sister came over, and the two families got married again, but the eldest son never agreed. What is it that Sister Yan is caught in the middle? My sister is really, I think so badly."

Nanny Tao wanted to say something later, but out of the corner of Ji's eyes, she saw that the curtain of the East Wing was opened, and Mrs. Jian was coming out of the room, it seemed that she was going to come to her, Ji He hurriedly put his finger on his lips, signaling Tao Nanny to keep silent.

And Mrs. Jian came to Ji's side to discuss with her about inviting everyone from Xu's residence to Taoyuan to enjoy the peach blossoms in a few days.Naturally, Mrs. Ji was full of good words, and then asked if the date was fixed?Mrs. Jian said that it was scheduled to be five days later. Taking advantage of the day when the eldest son was taking a bath, all the brothers and sisters in Xu's house were invited to go together.After hearing this, Mrs. Ji still said yes with a smile on her face, but in private, she exchanged a glance with Nanny Tao, and at the same time, she was thinking in her heart that my sister said publicly that she was going to invite everyone from the Xu family this time. Let's go to enjoy the peach blossoms together, but in fact, I'm afraid that the drunkard's intention is not to drink.

(End of this chapter)