swear not to be concubine

Chapter 36

Zhuixia Pavilion has five floors, and each floor is surrounded by corridors, with glazed tiles on the top, shining brightly in the sunlight.

Jian Yan and others followed Qingmei to the top floor of Zhuxia Pavilion.

Xu Miaoning was fine, she moved a lot on weekdays, and it didn't take much effort to climb the fifth floor.But Xu Miaojin's health has always been bad, and she has to rest for a while after climbing the first floor. Jian Yan watched from the side and was also anxious, asking her several times, otherwise we won't go up?Just send a servant girl up to tell the eldest girl, she won't blame us either.But Xu Miaojin's tenacity came up, she insisted on climbing up, and without the help of Jian Yan and Xu Miaoning, she just climbed the wooden stairs step by step while holding on to the railing.

Jian Yan had no choice but to follow behind her with Xu Miaoning, watching her take two steps to catch her breath in fear.

After finally reaching the top floor, Qingmei has already stepped forward to open the plum blossom curtain that Concubine Xiang has fallen to.

Jian Yan, Xu Miaoning and Xu Miaojin bowed their heads and walked in.

It was already full of people inside.Apart from Xu Miaohua, Xu Miaolan, and Wu Jingxuan, there were three other girls whom they didn't know, all around fifteen or sixteen years old.

Jian Yan frowned slightly, feeling a little impatient in her heart.

Just now in the Taolin, I met two groups of people I didn't know.Shen Chuo is certainly a person with a delicate heart and a smooth mind, but the few words that Cui Huiniang said are also true, none of them are good guys.After finally leaving there, I wanted to find a place to breathe, but I didn't want to see these three unknown girls again.And seeing that the clothes on these three girls are all decent, and they are all sitting in the main seats on the left, one can tell that their status is not low.

She was about to turn around and go downstairs, but Wu Jingxuan heard the sound. When she saw the three of them, she stood up long ago, came over to hold Xu Miaoning's hand, and said in a low voice: "Third cousin, the cousin just now I'm in a hurry, I shouldn't say that to you. You, don't annoy me. "

"Cousin is worrying too much," Xu Miaoning said with a smile, "They are all relatives, how could I annoy you."

It's just that although she had a smile on her face, she pulled out the hand that was held by Wu Jingxuan.

Wu Jingxuan didn't care too much about it.Although Xu Wuye was born of the Wu family, he had already gone. It was just a widow of the Ji family with a pair of children, and she couldn't ask for anything from them.The two sentences she said now were just for Xu Zhongxuan and Xu Miaojin to read.

I just looked left and right, but I couldn't see Xu Zhongxuan's figure.She couldn't help asking Qingmei: "Where is the eldest son? Why didn't you come with you?"

"The servant didn't see the eldest son, but only saw the third girl, the fourth girl and the cousin girl, so she invited them over." Qingmei replied respectfully.

Jian Yan noticed with sharp eyes that after Wu Jingxuan heard these words, there was an expression of relief on her face.

So she actually didn't want to see Xu Zhongxuan?Didn't she always wish she could be a humanoid pendant on Xu Zhongxuan's body?It would be best if she followed him wherever he went, but why didn't she want to see him now?

Jian Yan was puzzled, but she didn't say anything.

At this time, the girl sitting at the top on the left could be heard asking: "Why, the eldest son didn't come?"

Jian Yan turned her head slightly, and looked at the girl without any trace.

A light blue jacket with white buttons and a stand-up collar, a pink vase-patterned cloak, and a bright red horse-face skirt.The horse's face is decorated with phoenix patterns embroidered with gold thread, which looks extremely domineering.

Jian Yan soon knew that this girl was Zheng Guogong's daughter, and her name was Li Nianlan.The one next to her is wearing a silver-red cloak of Chinese rose flowers and a ivory-colored pleated skirt, Guo Danqin, the daughter of Wu Kangbo. Zhou Yingying, the niece of the assistant Zhou Yuanzheng.

The three girls are all very big.And from a superficial point of view, except for that Zhou Yingying, the other two are probably the masters of Zhang Yang.

The daughters of famous families also communicate with each other on a daily basis.Or you invited her to come to your house to appreciate peonies, and I invited you to come to my house to see begonias, or meet to go outing together, go to temples to burn incense and worship Buddha, so the sisters of the Xu family, Wu Jingxuan and these three girls have long seen each other. It's over, and there are some friendships, only Xu Miaojin seldom goes out because of her weak body, and none of the girls have ever seen her.

That's all for others, but Li Nianlan immediately asked Xu Miaojin: "Are you the eldest son's younger sister?"

It seems that the attention of this Zheng Guogong's daughter is also on Xu Zhongxuan, and Jian Yan couldn't help but sneak a glance at her.

Li Nianlan's birth was like a peach blossoming in March, with an extremely beautiful and bright appearance.

"Yes." Xu Miaojin answered her neither humble nor overbearing.

After hearing this, Li Nianlan looked her up and down, then raised her hand and pulled out a butterfly flower hairpin inlaid with red gold and rubies from her bun, called Xu Miaojin to come forward, inserted it into her bun with her own hands, and said with a smile: "I am here today." When I met you for the first time, I felt that I hit it off. In a hurry, I didn't bring any gift, so I will give you this butterfly hairpin."

Jian Yan looked at the red gold butterfly hairpin inlaid with rubies. The craftsmanship was the same as the red gold and ruby ​​bracelets on her wrist. Looking at the other hairpins on her head, they were all made of red gold. Rubies inlaid, I think this should be a set of jewelry.

"Thank you." Xu Miaojin took two steps back and bowed to Li Nianlan with a faint expression.

Li Nianlan didn't take it to heart either, she lowered her head and drank tea from the pastel snow teacup on the Begonia-style table.

Guo Danqin has been looking at Jian Yan.

Jian Yan is new here, so she has never seen her before.But for a while, she couldn't remember when there was such a girl in the Xu family that she didn't know, so she waved and asked Xu Miaohua: "Who is this girl?"

After Jian Yan entered the room, she was originally in the last seat with Xu Miaoning, but when she heard Guo Danqin's question, she got up and stood up.

"This is my third sister's aunt's cousin." Xu Miaohua's introduction was very concise and clear.

Originally, she didn't think much of Jian Yan, she always thought she was just a merchant's daughter.And she also couldn't understand Jian Yan's face with a slight smile no matter who she was facing, and felt that it was too fake.But before Xu Miaojin invited Jian Yan to see the peach blossoms together, her grandmother asked her cousin to follow her. At that time, her grandmother and her cousin didn't miss her, but this Jian Yan remembered to invite her together. At that time, Xu Miaohua felt that There is something weird in my heart.So seeing Jian Yan now, she couldn't even tell what kind of psychology she had towards her.

"My little girl, Jian Yan, has met Ms. Li, Ms. Guo, and Ms. Zhou."

Jian Yan didn't dare to be careless, she saluted all three girls with full courtesy.Zhou Yingying got up and returned the salute, while Guo Danqin just sat in the chair and bowed. As for Li Nianlan, she didn't look at her at all, but lowered her head, fiddled with the red gold and ruby ​​bracelet on her left wrist with her right hand, slowly Slowly asked: "Jian Yan? Is there any famous family in Beijing whose surname is Jian?"

The words are very arrogant and rude.After saying this slightly ironic sentence, she raised her head and looked over.

It's just that when she saw Jian Yan's face clearly, the original arrogance and contempt on her face instantly faded away, and instead she was full of surprise and shock.

As for her ridicule, Jian Yan didn't change her face, she still said with a slight smile on her face: "My daughter's ancestral home is Longxing Mansion, she is not from the capital."

"What kind of official is your father?" Guo Danqin asked this sentence.

Being so slighted in person, it could even be said to be humiliating, Jian Yan was also a little annoyed, so the smile on her face faded a little, and she just said: "My father is not an official, just a businessman .”

"So he's a businessman," Guo Danqin sneered, then turned to face Li Nianlan and smiled, "I just said, just now I smelled something that made people feel uncomfortable. I wonder, now that I think about it, it should be the smell of copper."

Li Nianlan didn't say anything, she just stared at Jian Yan, the more she looked at it, the more frightened she became.

This Jian Yan looks too much like that person.Even this graceful and slender body, with a gentle and soft temperament, looks like a full-fledged girl.

Jian Yan was unhappy, but she didn't want to be very angry. Instead, she had to say goodbye to Li Nianlan and Guo Danqin, and then went back to take her seat.

As soon as he sat down, seeing Xu Miaoning's expression on his face was not angry, he was about to shoot the case the next moment, and reprimanded Guo Danqin and Li Nianlan for what he meant.It's just that one of them is the daughter of Zheng Guogong and the other is the daughter of Wu Kangbo, after all, it's not good if their identities are there.

Xu Miaojin's face was indifferent, she didn't show anything, she just beckoned her maid, Qingzhu, to come over, and ordered her to invite the eldest son in a low voice.

Qingzhu responded in a low voice, then bowed and retreated, and went out from behind the curtain inconspicuously.

At this time, Jian Yan was comforting herself, that's all, there is nothing to care about with these two little girls.How little did I suffer from Mrs. Jane's anger in those years?There are times more humiliating than this.It's all right to let the two of them ridicule a few words, and there will be no loss of meat.

So she took the teacup and sipped the tea slowly, turning her head and looking outside.

The fans in the south are all opened, and the sky can be seen upwards, and the peach blossoms can be seen downwards.Occasionally, when the wind blows, the iron horse hanging under the eaves will be knocked, and the sound is crisp and clear.

At this time, the girls in the room were all gossiping, it was nothing more than who's handwriting is good, how beautiful the embroidery is, and what fun things are there around the capital, and they made an appointment to go play together next time .Or they are boasting about what new dresses they got, what fine jewelry and so on.

Jian Yan just kept silent, drinking tea slowly, and eating rose cake in a box of colorful plum blossoms.

At this time, I heard Guo Danqin complimenting Li Nianlan, saying that she has a good painting of plum blossoms, and a good writing of hairpin flowers in small regular script, who in the capital does not praise her?

Xu Miaoning wasn't angry at Guo Danqin's taunting and ridiculing Jian Yan before, and wanted to let everyone know that Jian Yan is actually very versatile, so she interrupted and said: "My cousin also wrote a good hairpin lowercase, it's my elder brother who read it. It’s all agreed. The painting is also good. When you draw a peony, the peony is just like it was picked off and pasted on the paper. No matter how fresh it is. Needless to say, embroidery, you see , the cat fluttering butterfly purse on my body was embroidered by my cousin."

Jian Yan secretly sighed in her heart.

She naturally knew that Xu Miaoning had good intentions, but now she really just wanted to sit here quietly as a decoration, and when she heard that it was almost the same, she would just find an excuse to leave, how much trouble would be saved?But Xu Miaoning's words inevitably pushed her to the cusp of the storm, and she was afraid that she would have to listen to another sarcasm next.

At this time, all the girls in the room looked over, Xu Miaoning hurriedly took off the purse hanging from her waist and held it up for them to look at.

"It's Gu Embroidery," Zhou Yingying's soft voice said, "The color matching is elegant, and the embroidery is exquisite. Miss Jian is very skilled."

When Jian Yan heard this, she nodded and smiled at her, and said politely: "It's very rough, Miss Zhou is too much."

Li Nianlan and Guo Danqin also saw the purse.

Although Li Nianlan was startled when she saw Jian Yan's appearance just now, but then she thought that there are many people who look similar in this world, and she is just a daughter of a merchant. Ghostly?It was because she gave up all the surprise in her heart before, and looked down on Jian Yan even more.And this time, after listening to Xu Miaoning's words, that sentence my cousin also wrote a good hairpin flower in lower script, even my elder brother said it after reading it, it stabbed her deeply, so she glanced at the purse Although he was also surprised by the embroidery on his face, he still showed a look of disdain on his face, and even snorted softly in his nose, and said, "What if the embroidery is even better? Who doesn't have an embroiderer in a family of a serious and dignified family? Naturally, there is an embroiderer who should wear embroidery. Who would bother to do it by himself? Only those families who are small and small, if they don't hire an embroiderer, they will I had no choice but to become an embroiderer myself."

Jian Yan lowered her head and didn't make a sound.

Xu Miaoning didn't expect that she originally wanted everyone to look up to Jian Yan, but in the end Li Nianlan used this to mock Jian Yan again.So she said anxiously: "My cousin is not from such a small family, she is also good at writing and drawing."

At this time, Jian Yan reached out and held Xu Miaoning's hand, shook her head at her, and motioned her to sit down, and don't say anything more.

If you don't like someone, it's useless to say more.Others will always use various reasons to ridicule and ridicule you.

Wu Jingxuan glanced at Jian Yan meaningfully at this time, then turned her head to Li Nianlan and Guo Danqin and said with a smile: "Isn't it? Speaking of which, my younger sister is really talented. Music, chess, calligraphy and painting, female red needlework, what are you like?" Is she not smart? My eldest cousin mentioned her several times in front of me, saying that she is such a talented daughter."

Xu Miaojin glanced at Wu Jingxuan at this moment.

Wu Jingxuan made it clear that she was lying.Speaking of which, Wu Jingxuan never had a chance to see Xu Zhongxuan at all on weekdays, but when Xu Zhongxuan was taking a rest, it was expected that her elder brother would come to see her, so she stayed in her Ning Cui Xuan that day.But when did the eldest brother tell Wu Jingxuan about sister Yan?Li Nianlan and Guo Danqin were obviously trying to make Li Nianlan and Guo Danqin ridicule Jian Yan by lying like this.

At this time, Guo Danqin was really heard asking Jian Yan: "You are a merchant's daughter, can you also write and draw? Don't just know how to hold a pen, tell the seasonings and say that you can write and draw, right? "

Due to the difference in status, Guo Danqin has always flattered Li Nianlan.Whenever Li Nianlan said that the moon in the sky was square that day, she would say that it really looked a little round.If Li Nianlan didn't like someone alone, she would definitely follow him and step on him fiercely.But now it is certain that Li Nianlan doesn't like Jian Yan, and she probably knows some reasons in her heart.

Li Nianlan liked Xu Zhongxuan very much. Regardless of her own face, she begged Zheng Guogong to send someone to Xu's house for marriage several times, but Zheng Guogong refused, so she went to beg her elder sister - her elder sister is the side concubine of King Ning. Seeing her mediate in the middle, but to no avail.But she didn't change her infatuation, she only wanted to marry Xu Zhongxuan, and she couldn't see Xu Zhongxuan saying that any woman was good.Just now Xu Miaoning inadvertently said that the hairpin flower script written by Jian Yan was agreed by even her elder brother, and Wu Jingxuan said that her elder cousin said that Jian Yan is a talented daughter, so she brushed off her scales. It's no wonder she doesn't dislike Jian Yan.

Guo Danqin thought, why didn't she step on such a ready-made opportunity?Firstly, it was to please Li Nianlan, and secondly, it was also a way to show off my sense of superiority.After all, Jian Yan is just a merchant's daughter, so why are you so afraid of her?So she could sneer vigorously, thinking in her heart that Jian Yan didn't dare to do anything, so she could only bear it.

Sure enough, Jian Yan was fine, and there was even a hint of a smile on her face.

"As Miss Guo said, I just know how to hold a pen and recognize a few seasonings. I don't really know how to write and draw."

Li Nianlan didn't know why at this time, she just wanted to compete with Jian Yan intentionally.

What can I say that Jian Yan's paintings are good, and her writing is good in Zanhua Xiaokai? Even Xu Zhongxuan agreed, but she wants to see how good Jian Yan's paintings are. how nice.

So she raised her chin and asked Jian Yan: "Since the eldest son said that you have good handwriting, do you dare to compete with me?"

At the same time, he reached out and took off the pair of red gold and ruby ​​bracelets on his wrist, and threw them on the table next to him, saying: "If you win, this pair of red gold and ruby ​​bracelets will be yours."

Her pair of gold bracelets weighed more than 20 taels, and the rubies inlaid on them were even more crystal clear. This pair of bracelets alone was worth two or three hundred taels of silver.She fully thought that Jian Yan would definitely be moved by seeing such a pair of bracelets.

But Jian Yan only glanced at this pair of bracelets lightly, and then withdrew her gaze, unmoved.

What is this?At that time, she packed some things and asked Bai Wei to take them out and asked Zhou Lin to pawn them in a pawnshop. There were two pairs of such red gold bracelets inlaid with rubies.Not to mention the countless rare treasures she had seen in her previous life, but in this life, Mrs. Jane has never treated her badly in terms of dresses and jewelry.Aside from other things, the two jadeite bracelets on her left wrist are transparent in color, just taking one out is enough to buy two pairs of these red gold bracelets inlaid with rubies.

"Miss Jiao Li is disappointed," Jian Yan smiled slightly, but it didn't reach her eyes, she just said lightly, "I don't know how to write or draw any pictures."

Yibi stood up again, nodded to them, and said, "I've been away for a long time, I'm afraid my mother will miss you, so I'll take my leave first."

After all, without waiting for a few of them to make a sound, they lifted their feet and left.

When Xu Miaoning saw her go, she immediately followed her.Xu Miaojin followed afterward.

"Hmph, so you are such an uneducated person. I don't know how your parents taught you on weekdays." It was Guo Danqin's voice, full of disdain and contempt.

Jian Yan stopped in her tracks.

How did her parents teach her?This is what her father said to her, people should not be arrogant, but they must not be without pride; what her mother told her is that a person should have self-respect and self-love; what her brother told her is, no matter who bullies you, don't ask For whatever reason, just slap her across the face.Don't be afraid, my parents and I will cover you behind.But since she traveled to this era, she endured every day and restrained herself all the time. Even if someone bullied her, she still had to bear it with a smile on her face.She lived so freely and unrestrainedly in her previous life, when did she let others ridicule her like this, and dare not reply a word?

"Miss Li and Miss Guo, don't be upset," Wu Jingxuan said softly, "Sister Yan is young and doesn't know what to do, so you should take it easy."

On the surface, Wu Jingxuan's words were trying to excuse Jian Yan, but in fact, she was still blaming her, saying that she was ignorant.

She still remembers what Jianyan said to her just now because of Xu Miaoning's matter.She just guessed that even though Jian Yan was really good at painting and calligraphy, she would not dare to compete with Li Nianlan.

But at this moment, Jian Yan turned around.

In Wu Jingxuan's impression, whenever she sees Jian Yan, she always lowers her head slightly, with a slight smile on her face, and speaks softly to anyone, as if she is afraid of offending anyone.But this time, I saw Jian Yan raised her head, her eyes were as cold as frost, she glanced at them in a circle, and then landed on Li Nianlan, and said a word lightly .

"Qinqi calligraphy and painting, female red needlework, what do you want to compete? Just let the horse come here."

(End of this chapter)