swear not to be concubine

Chapter 43

After Jian Yan and Xu Miaoning returned to Hexiangyuan, the two went to visit their mother respectively.

It turned out that after going out for a stroll, Mrs. Ji and Mrs. Jian felt very tired, so they went back to their houses to rest after returning.

Jian Yan ordered Si Yue to send the square box back to Dongkuayuan, and she took Bai Wei to the East Wing where Mrs. Jian lived.

The green soft silk curtain hangs quietly at the door.There was a servant girl standing under the corridor, when she saw Jian Yan approaching, she immediately bent down to salute Jian Yan, and called a girl.

Jian Yan nodded, and then asked: "Mother has rested?"

Although her voice is not high, it is not soft enough to ensure that people in the room can hear it.

If Mrs. Jian wanted to see her, she would naturally send someone out to call her in. If she didn't want to see her, she would have kept silent.

And sure enough, she hadn't finished speaking for a while when the curtain was lifted and Pearl came out.

She first bowed to Jian Yan's short body, and then said: "Madam let the girl in." After finishing speaking, she stretched out her hand and opened the door curtain.So Jian Yan lowered her head and walked in.

Mrs. Jian was sitting on the Luohan bed in Mingjian, and Shen's mother was standing beside her.

Jian Yan blessed Mrs. Jian and called her mother.

Mrs. Jane nodded, and then said, "Sit down."

So Jian Yan sat on the first rose chair on the right, and Bai Wei stood behind her.

Mrs. Jian looked at Jian Yan, and saw that she was still the same dress she wore when she went out in the morning, and the jewelry on her head was still the same, and had not changed, so she must have been staying with Xu Miaojin since she came back from Taoyuan. At Xu Miaojin's place, she didn't come back.

So she asked: "Did you just come back from Miss Xu Si?"

"Yes. My daughter has been staying with Miss Four in Ningcui Xuan since she came back from Taoyuan. She just heard that her mother is back, so she rushed back to see her." Jian Yan replied obediently and submissively.

Mrs. Jian nodded, thought for a while, and then asked tactfully: "Is Miss Xu Fourth alone in Ningcui Xuan?"

Jian Yan knew very well what Mrs. Jian's question meant, but she still pretended to be stupid and just said, "Cousin Ning is also here."

Mrs. Jian thought to herself, I don't care whether Sister Ning is in Ningcui Xuan, what I want to know is whether Xu Zhongxuan is there.Even though he said that when he was in Taoyuan, a small official came to consult with Xu Zhongxuan on something important, but today is Xiumu's day after all, after Xu Zhongxuan finished handling the matter, wouldn't it be better for him to come back first?It's just that Jian Yan is also a fool, she can't hear such words?
So Mrs. Jian simply asked straight to the point: "Is the eldest son in Ningcui Xuan?"

Jian Yan just thought that Mrs. Jian might not be able to hide Xu Zhongxuan's presence in Ning Cui Xuan this afternoon.Rather than telling a lie now and being found out by Mrs. Jane in the future, it is better to simply tell the truth now.Anyway, since Mrs. Jian has the intention to let her and Xu Zhongxuan get closer, she must be happy to see her and Xu Zhongxuan meet more often.Even if Mrs. Jian was thinking about getting Xu Zhongxuan to accept her as a concubine, such a thing could not be done overnight. She first paralyzed Mrs. Jian and let her relax her vigilance.After a while, who knows what will happen then, maybe he has escaped her control.

Thinking of this, Jian Yan replied honestly: "Yes. The eldest son is worried about Miss Si's body, so he came back to see her early in the morning."

As soon as Mrs. Jian heard it, she immediately liked it or else, she hurriedly asked: "Did the eldest son talk to you? What did you say?"

Jian Yan sneered in her heart.Can't wait to be like this?But he still put on a docile and well-behaved look on his face, and said in a soft voice: "It's just a game of chess and some gossip."

"Oh? He even played a game of chess with you?" Mrs. Jane hurriedly asked.

"That's right." Jian Yan nodded, "Young master's chess skills are so good that even my daughter can't beat him."

"Silly boy," Mrs. Jane laughed, "Even if you can beat him, you have to pretend that you can't beat him. Men don't like women who are better than themselves in everything."

This is very straightforward.But Mrs. Jane actually said that on purpose.

Now that Jian Yan and Xu Zhongxuan have been successfully hooked up, it is necessary for Jian Yan to know something about men and women.In the past, she was only asked to learn those talents, but she always wanted to make her look more elegant and dignified, so no one taught her how to charm and seduce men, and only expected her to figure it out by herself.But looking at it now, this girl is actually a fool, and no matter how she doesn't know how to please a man, it seems that she must slowly learn about some things between men and women.

Thinking of this, Mrs. Jane felt quite hesitant for a moment.Now they are living in Xu's house after all, unlike in the past when they were in their own home, if they want Jian Yan to learn something, they can immediately invite someone to teach her these things, but now I'm afraid it won't work.

She glanced at Jian Yan again, and saw that she was sitting there with her head down, following the rules. She didn't know if she understood the meaning of her words.But she felt that Yi Jianyan's stupid brain must not be able to understand.

For a moment, Mrs. Jian wished she could pull Jian Yan, and personally teach her how to please a man.But she thought about it again, who knows what kind of woman Xu Zhongxuan likes?Maybe she likes Jian Yan who is so simple and stupid.So for the time being, let's observe for a period of time before talking.

So Mrs. Jian didn't say anything more, but after chatting with her a few words, she said that she was tired and wanted to rest, and asked her to go back first.

Jian Yan stood up obediently and saluted her again, and then took Bai Wei out of the house.

Walking to the Chaoshou corridor, Bai Wei saw no one around, couldn't help it, and finally asked in a low voice: "Miss, what did the wife say just now, what do you mean?"

Mrs. Jian has said it so straightforwardly just now, but whoever has ears can't hear it?
Jian Yan smiled, and said slowly: "That's what you think."

"Ma'am, is she thinking of letting the girl marry the eldest son?" Bai Wei was very surprised, and asked directly without caring too much.

"No," Jian Yan shook her head, "With my status, how could Xu Zhongxuan marry me? Mother naturally knew this, so she just wanted Xu Zhongxuan to accept me."

Since ancient times, Bai Wei knew about marrying as a wife and accepting as a concubine.

"Girl," she murmured, but didn't know what to say.

What good is being a concubine?If possible, who would like to be a concubine?Her girl is so beautiful and talented, why would she want to be someone else's concubine?

With a slight smile on Jian Yan's face, she said: "Don't feel sad, and don't need to think about how to comfort me. In fact, I knew my mother's plan early in the morning. My mother raised me, and let people You have taught me so many talents, and you have long planned to make me a concubine."

Jian Yan has never said these things to Bai Wei before, so even Bai Wei always knew that Mrs. Jian was not good to Jian Yan, and Jian Yan was not to Mrs. Jian like a daughter is to her mother, but she never knew There will be these reasons in between.

Bai Wei felt uncomfortable for a moment and was a little speechless.

Jian Yan noticed it, so she hurriedly smiled and said: "What's so uncomfortable? We've been together for so many years, and you still don't know my temperament? I will never be anyone's concubine, and I am It will never let you and April be slaves for the rest of your life."

Bai Wei was very moved, and hurriedly said: "Girl, it doesn't matter if the servant is a slave for the rest of his life? As long as the girl is good, it will be fine. The servant and Siyue are willing to serve the girl all their lives."

Jian Yan didn't say anything more.She was just thinking, if she really wanted to get out of Mrs. Jane's control completely, the daily income of 30 to [-] taels from the woolen shop would not be enough, she would have to find some other income. .

But two days later, news came from Zhou Lin, saying that the lucky cat had been fired, and according to Jian Yan's instructions, she used the big red cushion with orchids embroidered on the four corners to cushion it and put it on the table. on the counter.In addition, he took three more and gave them to Jian Yan so that she could give them away.As for the rest, he put them in the warehouse, and if Jian Yanruo wanted to give them away in the future, she would just say a word to him.

In addition to the Lucky Cat, Zhou Lin asked another question, saying that the cashmere shop has made a lot of profits these days, and there are a few hundred taels of silver, and asked if he should simply sell the shop they are renting now It's a pity that it saves me from paying rent to the landlord in vain every month.

Jian Yan thought for a while, but did not agree to his proposal.

The current working capital in her hand is only a few hundred taels of silver. If all these silver are used to buy this shop, what will happen later?She was thinking about doing some other business, how could she do it without capital.The monthly rent of the left and right shops is only a few taels of silver, what is it worth?It's really useless to take the shop down.In this way, it takes up funds, and the return is small and slow. It is better to save the money to make some profitable business investments, and to continuously increase the value.

Just what are the lucrative investments to make?Jian Yan was very worried for a moment.

She was sitting on the wooden kang by the window, leaning against the autumn-colored Suozi brocade, staring at the crape myrtle tree outside the window.

Bai Wei held a lacquered and gold-painted begonia-style tea tray in her hand, with a plate of lotus flower crisps and a cup of tea on it, she stretched out her hand and opened the green plum blossom soft silk curtain hanging on the green gauze cabinet and walked in.

Seeing that Jian Yan was leaning on the backrest and lost in thought, she didn't make a sound to disturb her, but lightly put the lotus cake and the tea cup on the chicken wing wood corset table on the kang, and then she took the tea tray in her hand, Then he thought about exiting lightly.

But Jian Yan just came back to her senses at this moment, seeing that she was going to be beaten, she hurriedly called out to stop her.

"Bai Wei," she asked, "Where did April go? Why haven't I seen her for half a day?"

Bai Wei stopped in her tracks, turned around and said with a smile: "That little hoof is impetuous, and she can't stay in the room any longer. I saw her swaying back and forth, and no one can calm down and sit properly. When I was eating, I simply asked her to go to the fourth girl's place, and asked, is today's lunch served in the Ningcui Pavilion of the fourth girl, or in the west courtyard of the third girl, or our east courtyard?"

It turned out that after Xu Zhongxuan discussed with Xu Miaojin about having dinner with Xu Miaoning and Jian Yan in the future, he sent Qingzhu to talk to Mrs. Ji and Mrs. Jian about it in the evening.

Mrs. Jane naturally liked it very much at the time, and immediately agreed.She only wanted to let Jian Yan have more contact with Xu Miaojin, and then indirectly contact Xu Zhongxuan more.Thinking about it, with Jian Yan's appearance, after a long time, do you still worry that Xu Zhongxuan won't fall in love with Jian Yan?Although the Ji family was surprised, it would not be a bad thing to think that Xu Miaoning and Xu Miaojin would get closer.Aside from other things, as long as Xu Zhongxuan puts more thought into Xu Miaoning, and later said that this is Xu Shilang's favorite cousin, then Xu Miaoning's marriage will definitely not suffer.As for why Xu Zhongxuan wanted to do this, although what Qingzhu said at the time was that the eldest son said that he was not at home on weekdays, and seeing that the fourth girl, the third girl, and Miss Jian were playing well together, he wanted to trouble the third girl to be with her. Miss Jane, spend more time with Miss Si every day.If the three eat together, the fourth girl can eat more, but Ji always feels that it is not that simple.

On the surface, it seems that Xu Zhongxuan is really thinking about his sister, and only wants to have someone to accompany her every day, but is it because of Jian Yan's relationship inside?During this period of time, she watched Mrs. Jane's jumping up and down behaviors clearly from the sidelines.Besides, Jian Yansheng is good, and she has a very gentle temperament, it is not impossible for Xu Zhongxuan to take a fancy to her.

Mrs. Ji talked about these words with Tao Nanny, and Tao Nanny's answer was, it doesn't matter if his eldest son thinks of Biao girl or not.If you don't like it, left and right have no effect on us.If you really like it, the Biao girl is so good with our sister Ning, if the Biao girl stays with the eldest son in the future, it will be beneficial to us.

After thinking about it for a while, Ji realized that this was indeed the case, so she didn't bother with it anymore.

Since then, Jian Yan ate with Xu Miaoning and Xu Miaojin every day.

Firstly, it was ordered by Mrs. Jian, and secondly, she really didn't want to eat some vegetarian dishes every day and still not have enough to eat. Now that there is such an opportunity to improve the food in a grandiose way, why didn't she agree.

But now Jian Yan listened to Bai Wei's words, turned her head, and glanced at the sun outside the window.

Although it is spring today, the sun is not too strong, but Xu Miaojin's body is really weak, if she is asked to come to Hexiangyuan for lunch, what will happen after walking under the sun for so long? What about.

So Jian Yan said to Bai Wei: "The sun is a bit big today, and you will go to Ning Cui Xuan later, and tell the fourth girl that lunch will be placed at her place. Let's go there later. As for Ning'er, I will go and talk to her later, so you don't have to run away."

Bai Wei agreed, and then said: "It's still early for lunch, girl, let's have some pastries and tea first."

Jian Yan hummed, and Bai Wei turned around and backed out, and went to Ning Cui Xuan to send a message.

Jian Yan looked down at the lotus flower cakes on the plate.

This little lotus flower cake was actually made into the shape of a lotus flower, with a total of six petals.The outer layer of the petals is white, but the inner part is pink. The stamens in the middle are made with red bean paste, which looks very beautiful.

She took a piece and ate it slowly.

The entrance is both crispy and sweet, and it is really delicious.

Jian Yan ate three of them in one go, and then she took out the pastel bauhinia flower teacup, and drank the tea in it slowly.

This lotus flower cake was brought back by Xu Zhongxuan when she was in Ningcui Xuan last time.At that time, there were three dim sums in total, but the two silver rolls and the flan had already been eaten yesterday, and the lotus flower pastry would be eaten today as well.

If it was in the past, she would definitely save these three snacks and eat slowly, because at that time she was never full every day.But now she eats with Xu Miaoning and Xu Miaojin every day, not to mention how many bowls of rice she eats is up to her, no one cares, even the dishes are very good, every meal is not the same .She once probed a few words of Xu Miaojin's words, knowing that Xu Zhongxuan took out the money himself, and specially ordered Mother Xia in the small kitchen to make her cook some delicious dishes for them in different ways every day.

When Jian Yan heard this, she couldn't tell what it was like.Even though Xu Zhongxuan said it was for his own sister's good, he invited them to eat with his sister every day.Even if he paid Mother Xia to cook these dishes, it can be said that it was all for his sister's sake, but Jian Yan didn't know why, but she still felt that she owed Xu Zhongxuan a huge favor.

(End of this chapter)