Phoenix Fight: The First Concubine

Chapter 62
Xiao Mingrui clenched his iron fists tightly, and seeing her expression of pity for Xiao Jinglan, the jealousy surged up.

"It's a pity, heh..." He said angrily, "You've already married me, so it's too late to regret it!"

Murong Wei looked at him with a face full of surprise: "What are you talking about? I mean, he is a man who looks better than Pan An. If he becomes a monk, wouldn't it be a big loss for the daughter's family in the world? Isn't that a pity?"

Xiao Mingrui saw that her expression didn't seem to be fake, so her expression got better.

"This king thought it was a pity that you weren't with him."

Murong Wei blinked: "Actually, he's really pretty good, at least, he doesn't have women like His Highness."

Xiao Mingrui suddenly became short of breath.

What more can he say.

The two of them met too late, even if they met late, they could not change the fact of the past.

Xiao Mingrui sighed, the jealousy and anger just now disappeared.

Xiao Jinglan is also a seed of infatuation, he is jealous that he can love Murong Wei wholeheartedly, and can ignore other things.

But he still has such worries.

Born in the royal family, he can't express his preferences too much.

I don't even want to push her to the forefront.

There are also reasons for keeping those women.

I also don't want her to be said to be a jealous woman by caring people, and her reputation will be ruined.

But he knew that none of his brothers were good people.

When it came to "Wei'er, I can't change the past, but I will do what I promised." He stared at her with downcast eyes, "I only have you in my heart."

Murong Wei smiled slightly: "You know I don't like betrayal. As long as you don't betray me, I will never betray Tathagata or Qing. There is only one thing..."

"what?"

"You also know that when I return to the palace, I still have to hand over the housekeeper's affairs to me. If those women of yours treat me then, what should I do?"

Xiao Mingrui narrowed his eyes, "I can do whatever I want, I keep them as a shield."

Murong Wei was taken aback for a moment, she was also a smart person, and quickly understood what he meant.

Knowing in her heart what this man has done for her, she felt a burst of tenderness and said with a smile: "Since that's the case, I'm not a vicious person. I won't offend anyone if they don't attack me. If someone offends me, I will pay back ten times."

"It turns out that my little concubine is still a kind person." He smiled slightly, "Just let it go, I know you have always been a measured person."

He also understands the tempers of the women in the mansion, after all, they have served him, so he is not mean and ungrateful.

As long as they live in peace, he doesn't mind letting them enjoy the glory and wealth.

But if he thought about what he shouldn't have, and even reached out to his beloved woman, then those affections would no longer exist.

Murong Wei smiled, since she had his permission, she also had an opinion on how to arrange his concubines.

She is indeed not a vicious person, as long as they behave themselves, she can ignore them as air.

If she didn't know what to do, how could she, Murong Wei, be a vegetarian?

Don't think Xiao Mingrui will help them then.

Since he gave him permission, how to get it done within his bottom line is her business.

"I'm a person who distinguishes between likes and hates." Murong Wei snorted twice: "So, the prince must not bully me in the future. Otherwise, the concubine will come back with revenge."

Xiao Mingrui saw that she deliberately put on a fierce expression, but her pretty and charming face was bulging like a little bun, so he couldn't help but stepped forward to seal her little mouth.

When the two returned to the palace, Murong Wei was also tired and happened to take a nap.

After sleeping for half an hour and waking up, Xiangtao brought some snacks.

"Does the princess want some snacks? It's easy to get sleepy these days."

Murong Wei yawned, she was really not used to being in a strange place suddenly.

Getting up and walking to the window of Fengxuan in the Ruyi nest, Murong Wei looked at the scenery outside the house.

The palace occupies a large area, and the palace built according to the ancestral system is a shrunken version of the forbidden palace.

The palace has a palace wall with four gates. After the main front gate, there are Duanli Gate, Chengyun Gate, Chengyun Hall, Chongxin Gate, Cunxin Hall, Sleeping Palace, and Guangzhi Gate (Houzai Gate); the east axis is divided into six bureaus from south to north. , Shizisuo, Qingshudian, Ancestral Temple, Dongsansu, Houdian, etc.; on the west axis, enter the Jimen first, there is the Altar of Sheji on the right, and the Altar of Mountains and Rivers of Wind, Cloud, Thunder and Rain on the left. Dedian and Xisan Institute, etc.In addition, there are also institutions serving the palace, such as the Trial Office, the Dianshan Office, the Fengci Office, the Dianbao Institute, the Jishan Institute, the Good Doctor Institute, the Dianyi Institute, the Gongzheng Institute, and the Yiwei Division.

The standard bed and court, although it is said that when the palace was built, a lot of scenery of rockery and flowing water was added according to the owner's wishes, and it was not completely built according to the system, but basically every palace has this layout.

Xiao Mingrui usually rests in the bedroom inside the palace gate.There are three palace gates and ten wing rooms.There are five front bedrooms and seven halls.There are five rooms in the back bedroom and sixty rooms in the surrounding corridors.There are three back doors of the palace.One room at the top.

The place is not small, like a huge courtyard. The surrounding Langfangs form a large courtyard, and there are large and small courtyards inside.

The so-called five rooms of the palace are just for entertaining guests. There is a main hall of a study room, which is double in front and back, and three rooms in depth. , The lotus pond flower garden is even more secluded.

This is the place where Xiao Mingrui lived, he used to rest here, named it Cunxinyuan.

Going north along the hallway from Cunxinyuan is the place where Murong Wei lives.

There are also five main halls here, the main hall in the middle, and the east and west rooms on both sides have been used as banquet places and study rooms.

Then go in and pass the long road paved with bluestone slabs in front of the hallway. On the west side of the road is a piece of Xiangfei bamboo, which is full of tears.

After passing the corridors on the east and west sides of the hall, there is a large courtyard all the way forward.

There was originally a courtyard on the east side, where Xiao Mingrui's original wife Zhu Shi lived, it was named Qinghe Courtyard, because Zhu Shi liked lotus, she lived there, and after her death, it was converted into a Buddhist hall.

After Murong Wei was accused of getting married, Xiao Mingrui asked people to remodel the yard, re-planned and rebuilt everything, and everything was completely new.

Xiao Mingrui mentioned his name, and on the plaque on the gate of the courtyard there were three big Chinese characters: Tianxiangyuan.

The scenery of Tianxiang Garden is very beautiful. There are five rooms where Murong Wei lives. In addition, there are side rooms on both sides, the concierge, the hall, the corridor room, the attic room, the workshop, the small kitchen, the back room, the sewing room, etc. , add up to a big yard.

Murong Wei could see a large area of ​​peonies blooming in front of her eyes.

She went out of the room and walked forward along the gravel path. The peonies were in full bloom. They were really beautiful, and the flowers bloomed richly.

Around the rockery in front, a grape trellis was placed, and below it was a stone platform and stone bench carved with fish and dragon patterns from the previous dynasty.A few sweet-scented osmanthus trees were planted beside the grape trellis.

There are some pot-bellied bamboos and couple bamboos planted in groups in the east, and there is a passageway directly past the Moon Cave Gate, leading directly to Xiao Mingrui's yard.

It would be more convenient to find him from this narrow passage, or for him to come over.

The doors here are usually locked.

After the bamboo forest path is a red pavilion with green tiles, and some Xifu crabapples are planted beside the pavilion.

These are what Murong Wei likes.

The whole garden is well arranged, quiet and pleasant.

Murong Wei really likes the environment here.

"Miss, this is much bigger than our original yard. The palace is really big, and the servants almost lost their way." Xiangtao made medlar chrysanthemum tea.

Murong Wei tasted it slowly: "I haven't seen this place much, I heard that there is a Qingshu Temple near here. It's probably cooler to live here in summer."

"Yes, miss, can the prince show you around here. Also, there are many officials in the palace, and they seem to do everything. Can miss take care of it? The servant looks scared."

Murong Wei smiled and said: "Why, our Xiangtao is also scared, aren't you afraid of everything?"

Madam Zheng came over at this time, "Go back to the princess, some concubines and aunts in the palace came to see the princess."

Murong Wei raised her eyebrows.

This will see what to see.

"Tell them, the prince said, come back tomorrow. The princess is also tired today, so I won't see them."

Madam Zheng nodded: "That's why, it should be the morning to meet the princess and offer tea to the princess."

Murong Wei looked a little sleepy, she was not interested in seeing his woman.

It's best for them to be quiet.

If they are restless, she doesn't mind adding some color to life, this life is too boring and uninteresting.

Looking at her expression, Madam Zheng knew that she was not happy, so she didn't say much, just smiled and said: "It's getting late, do you want the princess to prepare dinner?"

Murong Wei thought for a while, Xiao Mingrui went to the Cunxin Palace to meet guests, it was getting late at this time, and he was about to prepare dinner.

After thinking about it, "The meals in this mansion are prepared by Dian Shan, right?"

"Yes, my concubine, according to the regulations, it is the diet of the priests and guests in the mansion of Dianshan. There are two people in Dianshan, the principal and the deputy. According to the rules, they formulate the recipes according to the monthly rules of the masters, and the big kitchen is ready every day. It will be prepared according to this, and those who buy will also purchase according to this."

"What about the kitchenette?"

"Those concubines and aunts are not qualified to have a small kitchen, only you, the prince and concubine. The money is deducted from the monthly bill every month. If it exceeds, you have to make up for it yourself. In addition to you two, there is Li Jishan, the entourage invited by the prince. Sir, the treatment is quite good, and a small kitchen is prepared, I heard that the prince often talks about things with that gentleman."

Murong Wei glanced at Mother Zheng, she was quite capable, she had figured out so many things in such a short time.

No wonder grandma was able to fall in love with her, she is also capable.

This is the best way, it is indeed more convenient to have someone who comes out of the palace and knows the rules and etiquette, and works in the palace.

"Is there a kitchen menu?"

Lu'er is still in charge of Murong Wei's jewelry and dowry, Xiangtao is now in charge of cleaning and eating in the house, Xiangyu is helping her as a deputy, while Lu Shao is working with Lu'er, Dong Yu is with Yuegu and Madam Zheng Busy with personnel affairs inside and outside the yard, managing the distribution of money and food.Murong Wei, the other four big maids in spring, summer, autumn and winter, don't know what skills they have for the time being, they just run errands and do some chores for the time being.

As for the second daughter Nugget and Yicui she brought, Murong Wei directly asked them to be third-class maids, who were in charge of cleaning and the flowers and trees in the yard.

She wasn't interested in seeing those two women have a chance to touch her room.

After all, it's a gift from my aunt, so it's not good to lose some face.

Xiangtao nodded: "At noon, the maidservant received a list from the Dianshan Office, saying that they are asking the concubine to order, so they can list the daily menu."

After that, he called Xiangyu to fetch the list.

Murong Wei took a look and frowned: "This dish is too greasy."

Eating such dishes every day is enough, and it is not good for the body.

"Isn't that right, would the princess want someone from the Dianshan Office to come and see her?"

Murong Wei thought for a while: "No need for now, I'll think of a plan first, let's cook in the small kitchen for a few days, and cook according to my usual meal list at home."

When Mother Zheng heard this, she knew that Murong Wei was going to prepare a regulation to readjust the menu of the restaurant.

There are three fires for the new official to take office. Whether Murong Wei can burn these three fires well is still a problem.

Of course she couldn't watch her suffer.

"The servant has something to say, don't know whether to say it or not?"

"Ma'am, but it's all right."

Madam Zheng said flatly: "The princess is new to this place, you might as well just wait and see what happens."

Murong Wei was startled, thought for a moment, and then laughed.

Glancing at Madam Zheng, she smiled and said, "It's not that this concubine is unfamiliar with the place, people haven't recognized it yet."

It's good to just watch the changes, Xiao Gui Cao Sui, no one can find out what's wrong.

Of course, if there is something that is about to move, maybe I can't help but jump out by myself.

People are prone to make mistakes as long as they are in a hurry.

If you make a mistake, you can always find a reason, and then the world will be changed logically.

"You and Xiangyu have made an order for the big kitchen, Xiangtao. Let me see. You can also discuss how to make the kitchen's dishes more delicious. If you think about it, you will be rewarded."

Murong Wei got up and went back to the room.

Entering the door, the brightly polished golden bricks are covered with a bright red phoenix nest and lotus pattern Wufu carpet. On the opposite side is a huanghuali Ganoderma lucidum blessing and longevity scroll pattern. , Riding Baoguang Pearl Coral Tree, and bottle furnace three things.A statue of Avalokitesvara enshrined in mutton fat jade, a pair of mandarin ducks and a gold-plated copper incense burner.

Purple flowers blooming and stalked lotuses under the brightly colored Chengchen, a red sandalwood floor-to-ceiling cover is hung with a big red baby playing soft smoke, and a full moon-shaped Duobao Pavilion is placed in the second room, displaying all kinds of antiques.

There were rewards from the queen, the emperor, and concubine Hui, and some things she brought as a dowry from home.

The jade bottle of Tang Kaiyuan, the Burmese emperor's green jade Buddha rewarded by the empress, the cloisonne plum vase with gold inlaid with jade enamel...

There is a temporary resting place here, and some books are placed here, among which there are huanghuali sea water patterns and the four treasures of the study.

The east side is separated by red sandalwood inlaid and dyed ivory Guangyun Twelve House Fans, and the middle four are opened, revealing the red sandalwood inlaid ivory mother-of-pearl peony and phoenix glass screen that blocks the East Second Room and the East Tip Room.

The golden glass species of big red peonies are blooming, and the colors are extremely gorgeous. There are also antique shelves in the Xici room, some rare utensils, a few ebony rose chairs, and ebony gilded begonia square tables. There are official kiln tea sets.

A few tall tables were placed around the screen wall, on which were placed a large vase of blue and white porcelain with gold-painted phoenix birds, the dressing table, basin rack, clothes hanger, and wardrobes of camphor wood with golden nannen corners were placed in a row. With the gold inlaid jade-encrusted mother-of-pearl cabinet and the red sandalwood eight immortals and eight treasures top cabinet, the whole house looks magnificent, and the bright red gauze curtain accompanied by the bright red Xiaying gauze curtain makes it look more like a wedding.

Murong Wei wrote a few menus on the desk in the next room, and said: "Ask the prince if you come to eat at night? If you come, let the small kitchen add these dishes, but if you come, just eat as I usually eat."

Xiangtao agreed, and went down to tell people to prepare it.

Murong Wei looked at Madam Zheng at the side, "Are the people in the kitchen reliable?"

Madam Zheng said: "It was chosen by the prince himself. The mother Liu Dong, who is in charge of your small kitchen, is from the prince's nanny's family. I think it is reliable."

Murong Wei nodded.

The kitchen is no more important than other places. Xiao Mingrui must attach great importance to it. The restaurant and the big kitchen must be arranged by him.Otherwise, if someone tampered with the kitchen, it would be fatal.

So here she is quite at ease, but the kitchen must be staffed by her own staff, and the mansion still needs to be managed slowly.

There are many things she still hasn't figured out yet.

"Please Madam and Yuegu help me find out what's going on in this mansion."

Madam Zheng hurriedly said: "Don't dare, the concubine is too polite, the servant is your servant, so naturally I have to do things for the master."

Murong Wei smiled and said, "You don't have to be polite, Mommy. I heard that your son is 12 years old this year, right? He's studying?"

Madam Zheng's eyes flickered: "That kid is also stupid, he just reads and writes with his master."

Murong Wei knows that studying at this time costs a lot of money.

It is hard for a woman like Madam Zheng to support her son to study on her own without a husband.

Although she herself was sold as a slave, she did not have a son, and she could still study for the imperial examination.

"It's rare for that child to be self-motivated. Mammy is also a sensible person, and I won't tell you any secret words. Help me do things well. Naturally, your son's future education money will be no problem, and the future can also be arranged."

Murong Wei said lightly, unless the child really failed the examination of a scholar, then he can still donate an official.

Mother Zheng naturally didn't doubt this, the reason why she was so busy was only for her son.

Now that Murong Weiken said so, she has no reason to object.

And she has already followed Murong Wei, so of course it is impossible to betray her again.

If that's the case, let alone Murong Wei, even the Murong family can't let her go.

"Thank you, Princess, I will try my best to do things for Princess."

She politely kowtowed three times in front of Murong Wei.

"Okay, let's get up, grandma chose you for you and me, so naturally she values ​​you very much."

Aichun stopped outside Xici's room: "Reporting to Wangfei, just now the prince sent a message, saying that he will come over for dinner in the evening."

"Well, you help Xiangtao to prepare."

Murong Wei sent Madam Zheng down, and there were still two servant girls, Zhixia and Qingqiu, waiting by the door.

Murong Wei remembered the pair of calligraphy in her room earlier, and asked Lu'er to find it in the warehouse.

When Xiao Mingrui walked to Tianxiangyuan, the sunset had already filled the sky, and as soon as he entered the door, he saw Murong Wei instructing the maid to hang the calligraphy in her study in Xishaojian.

In the second room, a round table and armchairs of huanghuali were placed, and dinner was placed here.

At this time the dinner was not ready yet, when Xiao Mingrui came in, the maids hurriedly greeted him.

"What is Wei'er doing?" He stepped into the west corner room and looked up at the framed banner hanging on Murong Wei's wall.

"The sea is tolerant to all rivers, and it is great if it is tolerant. If you stand on a wall, you can be strong without desire."

Xiao Mingrui's eyes lit up when he saw that word, and he muttered these two famous quotes.

Murong Wei smiled and said, "Nothing, just hang up this banner."

Xiao Mingrui looked at her, his eyes were bright, he stepped forward and waved away the maids, walked to the plaque and looked at it: "Weier, you wrote this letter? I never thought that my little princess has such a heart." .”

Murong Wei knew that he had misunderstood, and quickly said: "I don't have such a big heart, that's what others said."

Xiao Mingrui asked with interest: "Oh? Who said it? This person must have great wisdom and a broad mind, and he must be an extraordinary person."

He obviously has the intention of recruiting.

Murong Wei was helpless, how could I tell him about Lin Zexu?

This is Lin Zexu's famous saying, and there is no such person as Lin Zexu here.

"It was said by a Mr. Lin Zexu."

Xiao Mingrui happily said: "Where is he, did he meet the Murong family?"

"The gentleman is dead. I met him by chance."

Xiao Mingrui was very disappointed, and sighed: "It's a pity that we don't have the chance to meet each other. Such a person has never heard of it."

"Old Mr. Lin is idle and wild. It's normal for the prince not to have heard of it." Murong Wei heaved a sigh of relief, and finally got over the trouble.

Xiao Mingrui sighed: "This sentence of no desire is the best. No desire, no desire, the heart is infinite, infinitely tolerant of everything."

Murong Wei thought of Xiao Mingrui's matter, she had an idea, and said: "The old man also said a word, the ancients said that the best kindness is like water, water benefits all things without fighting, if you fight, you don't fight, if you don't fight, you fight."

Looking at the Yongzheng Dynasty back then, Murong Wei felt that these eight characters were the most wonderful, even Xiao Mingrui can use them now.

At least Yongzheng won the throne.

Although Xiao Mingrui's situation is different from theirs, he also has no children in the middle palace, and now several dragons are vying for the heir.

Xiao Mingrui was startled, "To fight is not to fight, but not to fight is to fight? Okay, wonderful, wonderful!"

He was walking back and forth in the room, and suddenly he took Murong Wei's hand with bright eyes and said, "Come with me!"

Murong Wei didn't know what he was going to do, so she was dragged out of the room by him, and walked in between the Moon Cave Gate.

"Where is your lord taking me?"

Xiao Mingrui smiled and said, "Go to Cunxin Academy and meet someone."

Murong Wei was surprised, but seeing him so excited, it was obvious that those words just touched him a lot.

When they arrived at Cunxinyuan, Murong Wei followed him into the main hall and sat down in the study.

"Go and invite Mr. Li." He told Su De.

Murong Wei smiled and said, "The lord just wants me to meet Mr. Li Jishan? I heard that he is your favorite adviser."

Xiao Mingrui pinched her pretty nose, "I see that Wei Er is my best counselor. What you said is really good."

Murong Wei shook her head and blinked: "I'm not interested in being your counselor, don't you want me to be your wife? I don't know anything about your men."

Xiao Mingrui laughed, knowing that this girl is actually very smart, it's not that she doesn't understand, but she just doesn't want him to think that she cares too much about political affairs.

That's good, he didn't intend to let his wife get involved in the man's dispute.

She is his treasure, his own treasure.

"You will always be Xiao Mingrui's wife."

After a while, Li Jishan came.

Seeing that Murong Wei was there, he was a little surprised, and then looked at the girl in front of him without any trace.

"Caomin has seen the prince and concubine." Li Jishan bowed his hands in a neither humble nor overbearing manner.

Xiao Mingrui gave him a little support: "Sir, you don't have to be polite, this is my concubine, this is the first time you see her."

Murong Wei made a half-respect: "I've always heard that Mr. Li is the prince's confidant and adviser, so I'm being polite here."

Li Jishan turned sideways and said that he didn't dare, and quickly said: "The princess is really ashamed of Li."

Murong Wei said humorously: "Sir, you are being polite, the prince has always been respectful and virtuous, and the concubine has to be a husband and wife, right?"

Xiao Mingrui laughed and said: "If that's the case, then the king should thank the concubine well."

Li Jishan looked at Murong Wei with a pair of pure and restrained eyes, "The princess is a blessed person. Li is not talented and knows some facial skills, but the princess is an extraordinary person."

Murong Wei said with embarrassment: "Mr. is absurdly praised. My lord, I heard that Mr. is from the northwest. I wonder if the family has also brought him to the capital?"

"Not yet. Mr. and his wife have passed away. The eldest son has grown up, and he and the second son are staying in their hometown."

(End of this chapter)