The Concubine's Survival Manual

Chapter 214

Although the fourth young lady has done her best to prepare for the return of the fourth young master, but the fourth young master is a living person with more than a dozen accompanying servants who have to settle down in the mansion. There are still many trivial matters that need to be handled by the family.Fortunately, during the past few days, Qiniangzi has trained these housekeeper mothers to have a set of rules and regulations. Most of these small things, the housekeeper mothers will deal with them by themselves, and report to Qinianzi again the next morning, and submit When the work report is issued, someone will naturally file it, and Qin Niangzi just listens with a pair of ears, so it counts.

There was no news about the suicide incident caused by the accountant's family, and it was suppressed by Ping Guogong and Qin Niangzi together.

Seeing that the Mid-Autumn Festival is coming, the emperor always has to go to the court for such a big solar term, and let all the officials come to congratulate him.In the evening, the people in the palace were even more happy, or there were some people who had a big banquet and summoned their wives to enter the palace for a banquet.Duke Pingguo and his son got the decree early in the morning, and they will go to the palace to receive a banquet on the Mid-Autumn Festival.It happened that the fifth young master was also on duty on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, so after discussing with everyone, they simply moved the Xu family's own reunion day to the [-]th on the [-]th day of the [-]th moon.

The fourth young master returned to Beijing to report on his work, and the arranged face-to-face meeting was half a month later. In the past two days, he was busy having a dust-cleaning feast with his relatives and friends, and took time to visit Mrs. Xu in Xiaotangshan. Xu Fengjia happened to set off with him. Anyway, he actually took Mrs. Xu back to the mansion, and it was agreed that after the Mid-Autumn Festival, she would be sent back to recuperate.Everyone was naturally happy, and they all said, "This year is the real reunion!"

Seeing that the Mid-Autumn Festival is coming, of course Concubine Xu in the palace has rewards, and there are also ritual exchanges between relatives, and the second lady brought her own seasonal snacks to appetize the seventh lady, and invited the seventh lady to Sun's house to play.Naturally, Qiniangzi couldn't neglect, not only came to visit in person, but also took Xiaoshizi to Xu's house for two days, played with Shiro and Wulang, and carried the children back to her mother's house with Xu Fengjia to visit relatives, that is, the sisters-in-law. Those with relatives in Beijing also moved around.The eldest and youngest wives are all dressed up neatly, and they go back to their natal brothers with the young master for a walk, and the Qin family sends festival gifts to invite Shiro and Wulang to play, and the Ni family pays tribute to the old lady with rare things, etc. In short, between the rich and powerful, each other Contact and relatives, the busiest thing during the festival is not the festival, but the relationship between people.

Unexpectedly, on August [-]th, someone came from the palace to spread the word: There are many happy events this year, and the emperor and queen in the palace are in a good mood, so a few tables are set for the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the close wives are invited to enter the palace for fun.Given the relationship between the Xu family and the royal family, of course several sisters-in-law of the Xu family would enter the palace. Even Mrs. Xu and Mrs. Tai invited each other, but the queen also said that if the health is not good, you don't have to go.

Because Mrs. Tai is too old and can't stand the royal rules, and Mrs. Xu must go to bed early. When the royal banquet is noisy, it's easy to stay up all night, and she doesn't want to go.The eldest young lady made an excuse to take care of a few children and didn't want to go. The fourth young lady would rather spend the day with the fourth young master.The Fifth Young Madam also used the excuse that her natal relatives died, and she had brought small merits and filial piety on her body, so it was not easy to go into the palace to offend the nobles. In the end, only the Seventh Lady had to go. , she carefully told the mothers in charge, "Although today is not a big deal, it is still the first day. I am afraid that some of the female relatives in each house will worship the moon in private. You must be careful about incense, and don't make any big fuss." Things are not beautiful."

With such means, she has given the Fifth Young Madam a great embarrassment within less than half a month of taking charge of the housework, and made her cronies, accountant Zhang, and his family get kicked out. How can everyone not be afraid?And Seventh Lady is very knowledgeable and doesn't exploit her servants too tightly. As long as she can get by as usual, and take care of the mothers' profit in private, she will turn a blind eye and turn a blind eye. Those who were not very convinced were also afraid of being the rafters who stood out, so they listened to her orders and laughed, "Young Madam, don't worry, the servants don't have to do anything."

Qin Niangzi looked at the more than ten stewards, nodded and smiled, "I know you are all good. It is still the usual practice, no matter whether it is reward or punishment, you have to file and report it. After this year, I want to change my family. The personnel affairs, you are good to do, how to arrange in the next year, I have a good idea."

When the carrot was hung up, everyone was refreshed, only Lin Shan's family and Peng Hu's family looked at each other, but they were all sad.Turning around, they all looked at Wu Xun's family with resentment, and when Wu Xun's family felt something, Qin Niangzi saw it in her eyes and said, "Okay, what are you still doing in a daze, let's do things. You have to deal with the cards." It’s still the old rule, talk to my mother Mao, sign it and get it.”

Mother Mao was exactly the capable person she had asked for from Mrs. Fifth Young Lady. In the past few months, the four mothers had seen Seventh Lady's scheming methods, so they were naturally tempered.Qin Niangzi promoted Mama Mao to manage the cards, and all those who wanted to deal with the cards had to give reasons first, and then signed and took them away after Mama Mao registered them.This rule is still very new, it is inevitable that some old mothers will not take it seriously because of their seniority, so Seventh Lady emphasized again, and then slowly got up, first left the West Fifth Room, and went back to the West Third Room to have tea and rest.

Ever since she realized that Shiro and Goro lacked playmates, she had brought a few children from Dafang to play with them.At this time, because Mrs. Xu rarely came back and missed her grandchildren, they were all sent to Qingpingyuan together.As soon as the mothers in charge left, the house became quiet. Qin Niangzi rubbed her eyes, rested her chin and regained consciousness, but felt a little sleepy. She yawned and told Shang Yuan, "I'll take a sneak peek for a while, You ask me, if Shi Ziye comes back for lunch, please push me up quickly, so as not to be told by him again."

Shang Yuan looked embarrassed, "But Master Shi said that you are not allowed to sleep during the day, because you are afraid that you will be sleepy at night. Even if you want to sleep, you have to take a nap..."

Seventh Lady gave her a blank look, and her face darkened. "Are you my girl or Xu Fengjia's girl? It's obviously my dowry, one or two, all of them are towards the son of the world—"

When she wanted to complain a few more words, she saw Xu Fengjia enter the main room through the window, and Qin Niangzi quickly stopped talking and dared not say any more.Shang Yuan stood up with a smile, and said, "I'll make tea for you to refresh yourself." Then he left the room quickly.

"Damn girl, you're used to mocking people!" Seventh Lady was so angry that she shouted at her back.Xu Fengjia had already passed Shang Yuan, entered the room, and wondered, "What's the matter, talking loudly and quietly with your girl, isn't it very majestic!"

Qin Niangzi made a grimace, "I won't tell you, how did any of these girls say anything against me before? It's not all because of your instigation, now everyone is my immediate boss! Don't let me sleep , don’t allow me to eat, it’s all up to you!”

Xu Fengjia laughed loudly, "It's because you don't know how to take care of yourself. What's the use of relying on me? When you can eat at the right time and sleep at the right time, I think your body will be much better."

He sat down on the edge of the kang, and pushed Qiniangzi up, "Looking so luxuriant, I want to sleep again."

Seventh Lady glared at Xu Fengjia, and simply sat up and asked him, "Why do you have time to come in today, didn't you go to the palace early in the morning?"

"The festive court meeting is nothing more than singing praises." Xu Fengjia said, curling her lips. "The emperor couldn't bear to listen to those words, so he took advantage of the opportunity to call for a break. Why are we still in the palace? I came back. The fourth brother went to visit the family members of a few colleagues. I was too lazy to go, so I just came in." Take a break."

Because Xu Fengjia strictly abides by the rule of 'after dinner, stop talking about romance', and these days he is busy receiving Mrs. Xu, drinking with the fourth young master, drinking with Duke Ping and other male relatives in Menghuaxuan, so it's a few days Qin Niangzi didn't even find a chance to ask about Beijiang. At this time, when Xu Fengjia mentioned it, she sat up straight and asked, "What's going on in Beijiang? Is it going to be fought again?"

Xu Fengjia shook his head and said, "I don't know how to fight, it's just..."

He hesitated for a moment before lowering his voice. "Even Bei Rong itself is not very peaceful. They are divided into two groups. One group is in charge of Khan's younger brother. This kid is very young. He is in his early twenties this year. He is as shrewd as a ghost. Everyone calls him He's a ghost uncle. He really doesn't want to have a relationship with his little nephew, and I heard from the fourth brother that he has been in close contact with the Gui family, and he might want to submit to our Daqin—it's hard to say."

Qin Niangzi was taken aback, and before she could speak, Xu Fengjia continued, "But fourth brother doesn't think so, and I also think it's weird. Beirong is extremely proud, and would rather die in battle than surrender to us, and the girls in the north Compared with the truth, it is much more staunch. Even if Uncle Ghost Wang wants to surrender, it depends on whether the people under him are willing or not. It is more likely that the fourth brother is probably a stopgap measure... For this matter, he and the Gui family The young masters are not very happy. This time, I may not go to the Northwest when I come back this time."

"Fourth brother is a smart man." Xu Fengjia added without waiting for Seventh Lady to comment. "Looking at Chuhao, I understand everything in my heart. Since he is so pessimistic about the situation in the Northwest, I think if the emperor trusts Uncle Ghost King, after a few years, when they get big, Northern Xinjiang will really be in trouble."

Even if the turmoil is quelled, there will not be much praise: after all, it was caused by the nest itself, and everyone has no face.Since the fourth young master is not optimistic about Uncle Ghost Wang's group of people who are sincerely submitting, it is only natural that he wants to return to the capital.It's just that Qin Niangzi is a little bit uncomfortable: she has experienced soldiers and horses of later generations, and she has always felt that soldiers should protect the border and defend the country as their own purpose. Of course, it is beneficial for the fourth young master to do so, but...

She couldn't help but quietly peel off a piece of her good impression of the Fourth Young Master.

"Fourth brother wants to go back to Beijing, that's fine." She pondered, "We just don't want to facilitate it, at least we don't need to be in vain. Fourth sister-in-law is so anxious to find fourth brother in the spring, I always feel a little uncomfortable. Five Sister-in-law has made such a big commotion again, there are some things that will be more convenient to do in the spring of next year. It's better if she doesn't leave. "

Xu Fengjia glanced at Qin Niangzi, and suddenly sighed.

Seventh Lady wondered, "Why, am I wrong?"

"It's not..." Mr. Xu was unusually shy, and a dark spot appeared on his wheat-colored cheeks.Seventh Lady pestered him again, and he reluctantly said, "In the past, I thought I would investigate Shanli's case by myself. I was really naive."

It must have been this year, after witnessing the struggle in the backyard, that I realized what I said at the time, and I really took it for granted. ——The rarest thing is that when he senses something is wrong, he admits it frankly, without exaggerating.Even Seventh Lady herself did not have this frank confession.

Qin Niangzi's eyes warmed up, she looked at Xu Fengjia and smiled, but did not speak.

But Xu Fengjia lost his mind again, then frowned, and sighed softly, "Looking back at the past now, there are really too many things I don't understand, too many mysteries. I really don't understand. Xiao, don't say anything, but why does Fourth Aunt know that our Xu family is not peaceful at all, but still marry Shanli in... With her temperament, even..."

He didn't go on.

Qin Niangzi also understood what Xu Fengjia meant.

Xu Fengjia was young at the time and didn't know the dangers in the gate of the mansion, so she rashly said that she wanted to marry Seventh Lady.

But the eldest wife is not young, and she also visited Xu's house, and she and Mrs. Xu are biological sisters.The interior of the Xu family is so complicated, Mrs. Xu may not be able to trick Wu Niangzi into marrying her without telling her.And with Wu Niangzi's temperament, how could she not run into walls everywhere in such a place?Even if she hadn't been killed, I'm afraid her life wouldn't be too happy.

Why did the eldest lady make such a decision?
Qin Niangzi let out a short breath, "The same rice feeds a variety of people. Your fourth aunt has a lot of ideas. I think you'd better give up and speculate. She... has suffered from the word stinginess all her life. up."

Xu Fengjia's eyes were deep, she pondered for a while, and then followed Seventh Lady's sigh.

He didn't bring up the subject again, but brought up Brother Nine and his wife. "When you went back to your mother's house last time, did Brother Ninth's wife tell you about her brother? Quan Ziyin just made an appearance in the south of the Yangtze River this summer. Since autumn, he has gone to nowhere. Even the emperor is worried. looking for him."

"Ruiyun herself is a new daughter-in-law and it's not good to go back to her mother's house. I told her that her brother came out to help the victims in the south of the Yangtze River this summer." Seventh Lady laughed when she thought of Quan Zhongbai. "There really is such a fairy-like figure in the world who travels all over the world without knowing where to go."

"He is about to return to Beijing. When he left Beijing, the emperor asked him to open Taiping for the prince for a year. Now that the year is almost over, if he doesn't show up again, the emperor will issue a warrant to get him. Him." Xu Fengjia suddenly smiled. "When he returns to Beijing, the emperor will have a soup. The second home will be our Xu family. Please see your mother's illness first, and let him help your pulse. Ask if this martial arts practice has any effect on your body. Help, if there is, I think about it, many aristocratic families in Cangzhou have women who practice martial arts, we will find a Cangzhou family in the capital, and send you to learn a few sets of boxing and foot exercises for women. Fa, it’s best for you to get up and fight a few sets every day—I see that you’ve been punching me for a month, and your complexion is much better..."

Qin Niangzi only felt that her head was as big as a drum, and she covered her ears and moaned. "When did you talk so badly Xu Fengjia, I hate it, I don't want to listen, I don't want to practice boxing—"

Mr. Xu suddenly put on a smirk, his eyes gradually became hot, and he lowered his voice to make fun of it. "You don't practice boxing, how can you keep up with me? Last night, you only scored twice, and you kept complaining about being tired..."

"You said it!"

In the third room on the west, the embarrassing complaints of Seventh Lady and the cheerful laughter of the young man sounded.

(End of this chapter)