The Concubine's Survival Manual

Chapter 11

Qin Niangzi did not expect the news to spread so quickly.

The next morning, while she was still practicing calligraphy, Ms. Wang entered the room.

"Mother Wang." Seventh Lady hurriedly greeted her, and wanted to put down her pen to talk to Mother Wang, but Mother Wang pressed her shoulder.

"Qi Niangzi, don't be too polite, continue to practice calligraphy!" Wang Mama's face softened, she smiled and said, "I didn't expect Qi Niangzi to be unforgiving."

Seventh Lady's heart tightened at first, but she soon relaxed again: Mother Wang only hated Third Lady more than she did.

If she hadn't been sure about this, how dare she speak ill of San Niangzi?
She acted nonchalantly, "How can I say that I'm a young lady of the main courtyard... Third sister is too much."

Even if Ms. Wang didn't like Qin Niangzi at first, she now has a good impression of her.

The third lady has always been favored by the Eldest Lady. When the Eldest Lady was at home, the Eldest Lady always greeted everyone with a smile.

The second lady had a cold personality, and the third lady was somewhat afraid of her. There was no conflict between the two of them.

The fifth lady was somewhat envious of the favor of the third lady... As a concubine, she could wear clothes that would not lose to her as a concubine.But she couldn't understand the meaning of San Niangzi's words, and she often got angry secretly after a while.

Only Seventh Lady, who usually doesn't show her mountains and dews, but she is very clever when arguing with Third Lady, this is the first time that Third Lady has been choked like this.It is said that last night he was so angry that he dropped several bottles and jars, and the old man who called to go to Xike Fang to talk to Si Yiniang felt uncomfortable, so he called San Niangzi to say a few words.

"It would be great if these two young ladies could learn from Liu Niangzi." She sighed pretentiously.

Seventh Lady's eyes flashed.

Unexpectedly, Mama Wang could see Liu Niangzi's protective look clearly.

"There is a difference between concubines and concubines!" She responded with a smile, "No matter how you say it, people who didn't even enter the main courtyard, but... who don't know, still think they are Miss Concubine!"

Mother Wang was even more satisfied.

Her attitude towards Seventh Lady became obviously closer.

Li Chun was not surprised at all, but Ninth Brother secretly asked Xiaoxue, "What did Seventh Sister do right? Why does Wang Mama feel closer to her when she sees her than Fifth Sister?"

Xiaoxue had no choice but to tell Brother Jiu, who listened thoughtfully.

On the third day, the second lady knew about it.

In the absence of the eldest wife, the old man dismissed the morning and evening appointments. He is a celebrity, and when he is free in the yamen, he likes Yuanlong to lie high, and he stays in Huanshawu until the sun is up.Sisters have less chance to get together.

The second lady missed her little brother, and was busy embroidering the dowry, so she had to make an appointment with the seventh lady and ninth brother, and let the pair of siblings have dinner in her seclusion every three days.

After dinner, Second Lady gave Seventh Lady a wink, and walked to the small study by herself.

Seventh Lady had no choice but to follow obediently.

Youhuangli is a small courtyard where the second lady loves to clean. She usually eats breakfast and lunch in the West Wing. The Seventh Lady has come here several times, and each time she eats in the West Wing and leaves. This is the first time she has entered main house.

The main room is also small and exquisite, with three rooms inside and outside. The second lady's maid, Xiaohan, stood at the door of the Xili room, smiling and waving at her.

Seventh Lady smiled at her, opened the bamboo-blue glass curtain, and entered the Xili Room.

The secluded huangli is decorated very elegantly and cleanly. There are no extra decorations inside and outside the house, but just looking at the evenly colored glass bead curtains, one can feel the wealth behind the elegance and cleanliness.

There are two or three large pine wood bookshelves in the Xili room, and the books are stacked full of books. Many books have opened a few pages and piled them up in a mess. Xue Taojian... placed a table in a mess.

Seventh Lady looked at it, but felt very kind, and also showed a little more respect to Second Lady.

It can be seen that the second lady is really knowledgeable.

The second lady was sitting in front of the sapphire case, and when she saw the seventh lady coming in, she pointed to a mahogany armchair by the window.

"The story of your quarrel with the third sister has already reached father's ears." She cut to the chase.

Seventh Lady couldn't help raising her eyebrows.

In the past, when she played with her friends when she was a child, quarrels were unavoidable. At that time, she looked down on this kind of person the most. When she got a little angry, she shouted, 'I want to tell my dad'.

Unexpectedly, San Niangzi was such a person.

"Third Sister..." Talking to Second Lady was no better than talking to Wang Mama. She could unscrupulously show her hatred for Third Lady. Seventh Lady pondered for a moment before she was about to speak.

"Third Lady did not do it beautifully." Second Lady interrupted her. "My father was not partial, and said a few words to her."

The Elder Master went to Xi Ke Fang yesterday, and the Seventh Lady only knew that the Third Lady dropped some dishes and was said a few words by the Elder Master, but she didn't know that the Third Lady was not able to file a complaint, but instead she was left behind.

Even this incomplete fact was told by Mother Wang.

The news is so poor!Seventh lady secretly sighed, and immediately admired the second lady's ability, even though she lived in seclusion every day, with a calm expression, she turned out to be so clear about the affairs of Xikefang.

Xikefang is a site that Fourth Aunt has been running for many years, and the things inside are rarely spread to the outside world.

"However," Er Niangzi didn't care about Qi Niangzi's silence, "Although Father doesn't say anything, he will definitely dislike you in his heart. After all, what he likes most is brothers and sisters... a harmonious family .”

A faint sarcasm floated across her face.

Seventh Lady didn't care.

For the sake of Brother Nine, Elder Master wouldn't hate her to the point of 12 points. Besides, such a trivial matter, how much can he not like it?Take a step back and say, don’t like it if you don’t like it. Living in the inner courtyard, what you see is not the face of the elder, but the likes and dislikes of the elder wife.

"Xiao Qi is reckless." She self-criticized in a soft voice.Save face, still have to do.

The second lady didn't think so, "Could it be possible to let her say those shameless words?"

Her tone has always been light, seldom so intense.

Seventh Lady looked at Second Lady in surprise.

"Clearly she is a concubine from a concubine," the second lady's disdain was very obvious, "but she doesn't know the seriousness, gossiping every day, talking sweet and scheming... and the methods of being a concubine are so clumsy! It really makes people laugh!"

The seventh lady immediately became a little closer to the second lady.

When she and Jiu Yiniang arrived in Suzhou a year ago, San Niangzi was the first to visit them in Nanbiaoyuan.

At that time, she smiled very sweetly, and her attitude was very polite.Qin Niangzi was also secretly glad that she was not a difficult person to get along with.

Unexpectedly, she just walked out of the gate of the Southern Courtyard, and she laughed so hard that the silver bell-like laughter spread far and wide.

"Jiu Yiniang's clothes are not as good as those of the rough envoys in Xi Ke Fang!"

Jiu Yiniang and Seventh Lady just sent her out, and they were in the yard at that time, these words reached their ears unscrupulously.

Sometimes, resentment is forged like this.

As long as she thinks of the sadness in Jiu Yiniang's eyes at that time, Seventh Lady can't wait to slap Third Lady a few times to teach her the principles of life.

She barely restrained the urge to meet Er Niangzi.

The second lady is the elder sister, so talking about the third lady is taking advantage of her status and reason.

She is also a concubine, and the younger sister of the third lady. There are some things that the second lady can say, but she can't.

"Third sister is sometimes a little careless." She responded implicitly, "But Xiao Qi is also a bit overbearing, after all, she is an older sister... Please don't be offended by second sister."

The second lady showed a hint of appreciation, but didn't say much.

The two exchanged a few pleasantries, and mentioned Ba Yiniang's belly.

"Dahan served her with all her heart." The second lady said calmly, "It's just that my eighth aunt has a bad mood and she has a lot of things on her mind, so it's inevitable that she will be tossing around for a day or two."

"Forget it, in another four months, there will be another addition to the family." Seventh Lady pretended to be happy.

The second lady sighed, but didn't respond.

Seventh Lady realized that she couldn't see through Second Lady's mind.

Don't look at Er Niangzi's upright and strict appearance, in fact, she has a clear understanding of these things in her heart, right?

#
Soon it was Qingming. On the morning of Qingming, Seventh Lady got up early to wash and dress up.

On such a serious occasion, it is not suitable to pretend to be twins with Ninth Brother. Besides, the second wife is not a fool. Lie the second time, the third time?

That's probably not the idea that the eldest wife called.

However, it is reasonable for the twins to be closer.

Seventh Lady has finished writing a hundred characters, and Brother Nine just got up, rubbing his eyes and walking outside, while Xiaoxue is dressing him, and coaxing him into the clean room to wash up.Brother Nine is used to living in the main house, and often walks the wrong way.

After breakfast, Ms. Wang and Li Chun hurriedly took the keys and went to open the door of the main house. It had already been cleaned yesterday, and everyone wanted to gather here today to listen to what the elder had to say.

Seventh Lady and Ninth Brother entered the main hall of the main house in an orderly manner, counted their ranks and sat down first.Not long after, the sisters arrived one after another, everyone greeted each other, and the elder also entered the main hall with his sleeves twitched.

The old man is an elderly man, and he has been staying in Huanshawu these days, and he is a little listless at this time, and there is a touch of black and blue under his eyes.

He said a few words on the scene, pinched brother Jiu's little cheek, and took him to read the ancestral hall first.

Seventh Lady was sitting next to Brother Nine, and when the Eldest Master's eyes glanced at her, he paused obviously.

Qin Niang lowered her head and lowered her eyes, making a very demure look.

The elder twitched his throat a few times, but finally he didn't say anything, and led Brother Jiu out of the main hall.

As soon as he left, the hall suddenly became lively. The third lady still had a beaming face, and spoke to the fourth lady with a smile, "Fourth sister, help me see if my collar is pulling my hair."

All eyes immediately focused on her neck.

The third lady had a ruby ​​and red gold collar hanging on her chest, and the golden wreath fell heavily on her chest. Looking at it, it was not only pure gold, but also made with great effort and meticulous craftsmanship.And it's golden, it looks like a new upper body.

This collar is casual, and it is worth thousands of taels that cannot be escaped.

Although San Niangzi didn't say a single word to Qi Niangzi, she had already told everyone clearly: it's nothing to argue, and if she was wronged, the Elder Master would naturally make up for it.

Everyone's eyes turned to Seventh Lady again.

Qin Niangzi didn't have any extra decorations on her body, only a bead flower was inserted on her temple, and a blue flower jadeite bracelet made of glass was wrapped around her hand.

Jadeite is not a very precious jade material.

The second lady frowned secretly, her face was a little more cold.

Seventh Lady seemed not to hear what Third Lady was saying, she still lowered her head and concentrated on the handkerchief in her hand.

The third lady chatted and laughed with the fourth lady proudly, talking about the fact that Xiao Xiangxue's plum blossoms were withering and Yuyuxuan's pear blossoms were blooming well.

Then Qiniang raised her head and called Bai Lu, "Pour me tea."

Bai Lu hurriedly smiled and held the teapot with Li Chun, and one by one the ladies joined in, chatting with Li Chun while refilling the tea.

No matter how much your third lady wins the favor of the elder, as long as you are a concubine from the concubine, you can't bring the girl into the main house!
A hint of sarcasm flashed in Liu Niangzi's eyes, and she glanced at San Niangzi.

Although the third lady was still smiling, the smile in her eyes had disappeared without a trace.

The second lady, on the other hand, looked ordinary, cold and indifferent, but her eyes softened.

"My nieces arrived very early," the second wife's laughter suddenly came from the yard. "I'm late!"

"Second Aunt!" Everyone stood up and saluted.

The second wife led a delicate and timid little girl into the main room.

Seventh Lady couldn't help but pay attention to Eighth Lady who met for the first time.

Ba Niangzi, Qi Niangzi, and Jiu Ge were born on the same day in the same year, and Qi Niangzi was born first, and when Jiu Yiniang was still trying to give birth to Jiu Ge, Ba Niangzi fell to the ground.These three children are only two or three hours away.

Unlike Qi Niangzi and Ninth Brother who are tall, Ba Niangzi looks very thin. She is seven years old and looks like she is five or six years old.

She was wearing a pink-blue bright satin skirt, and a peach-red silk jacket covered in golden cocoons. From the appearance alone, she was a beauty, but unfortunately she had a sickly appearance, and she couldn't hold back the beautiful clothes.

The eighth lady seems to be very attached to the second wife, and after seeing the ceremony with her sisters, she leans against the second wife.

The second wife drank two bowls of tea at the guest seat, and then took the sisters to worship at the Nian Temple.

The Eldest Master had already brought Ninth Brother to worship the ancestors, and left first. He didn't meet the Second Wife, but left a message and left Ninth Brother with him for lunch at noon.

Mama Wang and Li Chun couldn't hide their joy: the elder brother loves the most in his heart, or the ninth brother in the main courtyard!
The second wife was not embarrassed either, she listened to the little girl's words with a smile, and nodded to let her go down.Turning around, he took his daughter's family into the ancestral temple.

Nianxian Temple is a small ancestral hall made by connecting three huts. As soon as you enter the house, you can see a row of mahogany long tables, with more than ten memorial tablets on it, and a lifelike picture of sound and face hanging above each tablet.

Seventh Lady just glanced at it and didn't dare to look any further. She followed the Second Wife and put incense on each tablet and knelt down.

There are more than ten memorial tablets, and the worship is soon over.

The originally solemn team came out of the Ancestral Hall, and immediately became lively.

The third lady pulled the eighth lady to her side and teased her with a smile.

Sixth Lady also came to Seventh Lady's side, discussing Eighth Lady's new dress, "Although the material is good, but peach red and pink blue are a bit vulgar!"

Moreover, it also showed the disadvantage of Ba Niangzi's bad complexion.

Qin Niangzi nodded indiscriminately, "Is there Xiao Xiangxue in front?"

Most of Xiao Xiangxue's white plum blossoms had fallen, and half of the roof was faintly exposed in a clump of green leaves.

Liu Niangzi said with a smile, "Well, when you cross this road, you will arrive at Xiaoxiangxue. Go straight and then turn left, you will find the Eight Immortals."

While talking, the two of them walked, and saw Qionghua blooming like snow around Jubaxian.

(End of this chapter)