The Concubine's Survival Manual

Chapter 183

Because Mrs. Xu has been sleeping restlessly since the beginning of spring, the old mother went to Leshan Residence early in the morning to tell everyone not to disturb her rest.Seventh Lady didn't go back to Mingde Hall, but ordered Lixia to talk to Mrs. Fifth Young Master about the big and small things in the past few days, so that Mrs. Fifth Young Master would not suddenly take over the housework again and be unable to take over.

The Fifth Young Madam smiled and was polite to the Seventh Lady, "Hey, I will just help the Sixth Brother and Sister manage the house for a few more days, and it's just a matter of muddle through. Why are the Sixth Brother and Sister so polite? You have to deal with some things. Woke up."

The first young lady followed the young master back to the Zhishan Hall early in the morning, but the fourth young lady hadn't left yet, she went into the clean room and came out, and she planned to accompany the wife to pick Buddha beans, so she reached the entrance of the small flower hall.

Hearing Madam Fifth's words, she couldn't help turning around, flashing a sneering glance at the sisters-in-law before turning around and striding into the inner hall.

"Old ancestor." Through the curtain, the fourth young lady's coquettish voice could still be heard. "When I went back to Mo's house last time, my mother said..."

Fifth Young Madam's eyes suddenly sank.

The fourth young lady is a relative of Mrs. Tai's natal family. Speaking of which, the relationship is very close.

In the past, she was in charge of the housekeeping power. No matter how the Fourth Young Madam was favored, she did not have much conflict of interest with the Fifth Young Madam.But now that the housekeeper Quan is about to be handed over, Mrs. Tai's favor has immediately become the foundation for Wufang to live and work.

At this time, seeing the Fourth Young Madam fighting for favor, of course she would be displeased.

Seventh Lady watched with a smile, but she had a panoramic view of this change in Madam Fifth Young Madam's mood.

She thought for a while, but she didn't immediately speak out to provoke Madam Fifth, but changed the topic and chatted with Madam Fifth, "It seems that Yu Qiao's marriage is very good."

When it came to Yu Qiao's marriage, he reminded Mrs. Fifth Young Lady that Seventh Lady and her were confidantes in this matter.

"The Fan family is well-off after all, and the population is simple." She smiled slightly, "Grandmother and wife are very satisfied, and the wife of the third aunt also thinks that Yu Qiao is a good boy. I think this marriage can be settled after returning to Yangzhou."

"It's really a marriage of thousands of miles." Qin Niangzi was also very emotional, "It's okay, Yu Qiao said that he went out, so I can mention Yu Ping and Yu An's marriage."

After a few polite words with Mrs. Fifth Young Master, Lixia and Xiao Fuchun came out of the side room hand in hand. Xiao Fuchun smiled and whispered a few words to Li Xia before letting go, The lady murmured away.

However, the small ribbing is still missing today...

Qin Niangzi smiled and got up to say goodbye to Mrs. Wu Shao, and took Li Xia out of Leshan Residence.

Before reaching the gate of Xiao Cuijin, the little girl from Qingpingyuan rushed up panting, and invited Seventh Lady into Qingpingyuan.

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When Qin Niangzi entered the inner room, Mrs. Xu was leaning against the kang to have breakfast.Although she looked rather haggard, she was in good spirits.

"Xiaoqi is here." Mrs. Xu greeted, "Come, sit down and eat some more!"

Although Mrs. Xu has always been good to Qin Niangzi, she has never been so affectionate.

Naturally, Qin Niangzi would not play any high-mindedness at this time.

She overflowed with a faint smile, sat obediently opposite Madam Xu, and greeted softly, "Mother didn't sleep well last night?"

"I'm sick." Mrs. Xu waved her hand indifferently, took a spoonful of almond tea in the hands of the little girl, and then smiled, "Your father-in-law came to see me this morning and said a few words. Song, isn't your spirit much better?"

Mrs. Xu's illness has been caused by many years of thinking, so she can't sleep well.Now what Seventh Lady has done in the mansion is remarkable, let Ping Guogong propose to hand over the housework, Mrs. Tai and Wufang can't say a word of objection, how can she be in a bad mood?When you are in a good mood, your spirit will be much better.

Seventh Lady smiled slightly, Mrs. Ren Xu looked at her appreciatively, lowered her head and took a piece of jujube cake, but didn't say much.

Belittling her, she doesn't take it seriously, praising her, she is also so indifferent, she will never show joy... The appreciation in Mrs. Xu's eyes is even stronger.

Between two smart people, there is never a need for long-winded confession and loyalty. In many cases, the facts will naturally prove everything.Qin Niangzi not only accepted the challenge of Mrs. Wu Shao, but also deserved to be so perfect. Her performance was enough to amaze Mrs. Xu.

It's a pity that back then...

Her pupils couldn't help dimming again, thinking of everything buried in the dust and smoke of the past.

"Brother Shou and Brother Fu, have you been okay?" Mrs. Xu didn't mention housework, but directly turned the topic to the two golden grandsons.

Although Qin Niangzi was a little surprised, she answered quickly.

"It's all good. Brother Fu has already recognized a few numbers, and his words are becoming clearer and clearer." Thinking of Wulang's performance, Qiniangzi couldn't help but smile.

This child has been lively and outgoing since he was a child, and he is really lovable. Even a little scheming makes him very cute.Because Qin Niangzi was afraid that they would have dental caries since they were young, she kept a strict control on sweets, and finally had some guests, or went to play with her grandmother, to eat a few candies.

"Their grandmother came to visit last time." Seventh Lady smiled and told Mrs. Xu a story. "As for Wulang, he acted coquettishly and cheated more than ten pine nut candies from his grandmother. But he didn't eat it, but asked for a small box to put it in. Mother still remembers that Shiro likes the little Pearl River by your side the most. The little doll that I made sometimes refuses to let go wherever I go. Goro also likes to tease his brother. He eats one of those pine nut candies for himself. When Shiro wants it too, he will exchange it with Shiro for a pine nut candy. Give him a little doll to play with for a while..."

Before she finished her story, Mrs. Xu was already laughing loudly.

"What a naughty ghost!" The joy on her face was clearly discernible. "I don't think it's been a few years, when the child is seven or eight years old, the Mingde Hall will be in chaos!"

"Si Lang is not bad either," Seventh Lady pursed her lips and smiled. "This child can talk a lot now. He switched with Goro, but when the maids and adoptive maids changed shifts to go to eat, they tricked Chun Equinox into serving, 'Aunt Chun Equinox, I want a baby'... Chun Equinox Without knowing the inside story, I coaxed the doll away from Wulang's arms and gave it to him. Didn't this mean that he ate sweets again and didn't throw away the doll? On the contrary, he was so wronged that Wulang burst into tears..."

Even the old mother, who had just entered the house, couldn't help laughing.Not to mention Mrs. Xu, at this moment, she seemed to be several years younger, and the corners of her eyes and brows were radiant.

A pair of children can bring endless fun to the elderly.

"Why did this Shiro suddenly learn to speak and learn so quickly?" She happily recited the parenting scriptures to Qin Niangzi. "Just a few days ago, they came to greet me. For the words 'I have met my grandmother, my grandmother is well-being', Shiro said it with a straight voice, no more ambiguous than Goro!"

Seventh Lady didn't hide it from Mrs. Xu, she added and subtracted, and told Mrs. Xu the whole story of Shiro's learning to speak, and she didn't even hide the few words that Silang said before Fifth Lady's spirit.

Speaking of Fifth Lady, Mrs. Xu naturally wanted to sigh a few words, but she was also very relieved, "You always said that Shiro knew in his heart that he was your mother's eccentric son. I've heard of it. In this way, Shiro is really an inner beauty. , I am not confused at all in my heart, I understand it very well!"

She looked at Qin Niangzi with a touch of warmth in her eyes.

Although Qin Niangzi doesn't show it on the surface, she is really good to Shiro and Goro... The most rare thing is that she doesn't shy away from her biological mother, so that the children know how to think of their birth kindness from an early age.For another sequel, whether he can have such a mind is still a matter of discussion.

Mrs. Xu let out a long breath, stretched out her hand, and patted Qin Niangzi on the shoulder.

"Mother is getting old." She leaned on the pillow and signaled the people to remove the small kang table full of dishes and put it aside for tidying up. "The body is not good, and the brain is even less useful—and I don't want to use it."

She carefully observed Seventh Lady's expression.

Qin Niangzi still had a slight smile, calmly waiting for her next words, not the slightest bit of joy, her water-shearing eyes were calm in ancient wells, as if she had neither the slightest expectation nor the slightest fear of Madam Xu's next words.

Mrs. Xu took another deep breath, recalling the past wistfully.

Even at the age of Qin Niangzi, I don't have the tranquility after a lot of tempering... If it is not because of my lack of background, this child is qualified to enter the middle palace!

She didn't hesitate any longer, but calmly pulled off the ruby ​​ring between her fingers and put it on Seventh Lady's hand.

"You're fine." She complimented. "In the past, I had to think about it with my sick body because there was really no one in the sixth room who could make decisions, so my mother had to be sick. Now that I have Xiao Qi, my mother can retire and rest."

Seeing that Seventh Lady was looking at the ring in her hand, she twisted up the heavy gold ornament herself, and put it on the green onion-like knuckles.

"This is a token from Madam Xu's family. I also took it from your grandmother back then." She smiled mockingly. "Of course, your grandmother gave it to me when she couldn't wear it anymore."

Seventh Lady would not understand the meaning of her words: Mrs. Xu asked for this ring from the unwilling Mrs. Tai after the death of Duke Ping.

"When it's time to let go, you should let go. Mother won't learn from her—" Mrs. Xu smiled. "With the ring in your hand, you are the rightful head of the Xu family. Even the mother has to listen to your arrangements. When and how to take over the housework, you decide. I just follow your orders."

Qin Niangzi tightened her fists, savoring the still warm gold jewelry against her palm, for a moment, she really felt a little dizzy.

She didn't expect Mrs. Xu to delegate power so neatly.

Of course, the fifth young lady delegated power, and she did it simply, but after all, it was a choice made after weighing the situation. Fundamentally speaking, she had to do it.

Mrs. Xu is different, Duke Ping is still there, and she can hold this ring in the palm of her hand, considering and instructing Seventh Lady's course of action, and even Seventh Lady herself will not be displeased.After all, she is Mrs. Pingguo, as long as she has this title, she is her own boss, and she also has the power to guide and restrict her actions.

However, Mrs. Xu has handed over all the dominance to herself... For this powerful person who is used to being the mistress, this letting go means letting go of the power that has been held in her hands for decades.Even if her own physical condition does not allow her to be qualified for the position of the Xu family's mistress, how many people can understand this and can let go willingly?

At this moment, she had a little respect for Mrs. Xu: this noble lady is certainly not perfect, but she is really a powerful person.

She didn't make any excuses, but looked at Mrs. Xu sincerely.

"Xiaoqi will not let mother down."

Mrs. Xu nodded, but sighed again.

"I've rarely made a mistake in my life." Her tone dropped again. "Only in the two marriages, they were very wrong. The first one is your second aunt, and the second one is your fifth sister."

"Even if these two marriages were not arranged by me alone." Mrs. Xu's face sank. "But morally, I was wrong. Especially the death of your fifth sister is the biggest regret in my later years."

At this moment, she finally showed her pity for Fifth Lady.

And Qin Niangzi has already understood Mrs. Xu's following.

"I am the third aunt of your Fifth Sister. I have grown up with her, and her temperament is very suitable for me, but she is not suitable to be the mistress of the Xu family." Mrs. Xu raised her eyes, and her sharp eyes pierced into Looking into Qiniangzi's eyes, it seems that she wants to see through her. "Mistress, the overall situation must be put first in everything. You can't let your own temper do anything. Why don't I want to turn the Xu family upside down, and find out the whole thing? Could it be your mother, my dear?" My sister turned against me, I don't feel bad?"

"But at that time, the government had just been overthrown, and your sisters-in-law were not without backers. The matter was too big, and another in-law would turn against the Xu family. If you talk about it, the entire Xu family will probably be involved. trouble." Mrs. Xu's tone became cold. "Feng Jia is in Guangzhou, and you know what she is doing. It's not without danger. Even for the sake of the children, we can't take the risk... No matter how reluctant we are, we can only be confused about this matter, let Wen Zi pledge!"

"When you take over the housework and gain a firm foothold in the mansion, you will definitely find out what happened back then." Seeing that Mrs. Qin was about to speak, she raised another finger to stop Mrs. Qin from speaking. "I will never stop you. I also want the murderer to be punished. Even your father-in-law is not angry."

"However, we are a wealthy family, if even our own affairs are going to make a fuss in the city, what face will we have?" Mrs. Xu sighed. "Besides, there is also a concubine in the palace. This aunt's concern for the Xu family is no less than that of our Xu family's daughter-in-law. What's more, your father-in-law is determined to level this bowl of water among the brothers. Xiao Qi is a smart Man, you know what I mean?"

Seventh Lady let out a sigh of relief.

If Mrs. Xu's previous confession was to express her difficulties to her and to the eldest wife behind her, and meant to ask for peace, her last words had a much deeper meaning.

Seventh Lady is in charge, so she must investigate Fifth Lady's death. The Xu family is well aware of this matter, and her performance in Mingde Hall has not been forgotten so quickly.

But Ping Guogong, the master of the Xu family, will not allow Seventh Lady to make troubles in Xu's family in order to thoroughly investigate Fifth Lady's death, nor will she allow Seventh Lady to use Fifth Lady's death to frame and attack the rest of the family. house.She must walk steadily, and wait until she can present real evidence before coming to Pingguo to discuss and punish the real culprit.

"I understand what mother means." She said sincerely. "There will always be conflicts between what you should do and what you want to do... Mother, don't worry, Xiaoqi knows what to do."

Mrs. Xu sighed in relief.

"From today on, Mother has nothing to worry about!" She glanced at the ring on Seventh Lady's finger with nostalgia, and smiled again. "When you enter the palace at the end of the month, show your ring to the concubine... Listen to the concubine's opinion. A nobleman is bored in the palace, so it's inevitable that you will be a bit long-winded. Don't argue with her, just listen, The nobleman can like you more, and you will have more face in the mansion."

She smiled self-consciously again, "Forget it, with Xiao Qi's intelligence, how could he not know how to act? Xiao Qi told me how to take care of this housework."

Lady Qin tilted her face, and said without hesitation, "Xiao Qi thought, it's not too bad for these few months, so I might as well wait until this autumn to settle the accounts before doing the housework delivery. More months, more Prepare."

Mrs. Xu glanced at Qinianzi in surprise, then exchanged glances with the old mother, and she smiled.

Seventh Lady really deserves to be Seventh Lady.

(End of this chapter)