The Concubine's Survival Manual

Chapter 26

Mother Wang didn't say much about Xiao Xiangxue's food.

She didn't speak, and Lichun naturally wouldn't say anything unpleasant.

Seventh Lady is young, so there is nothing taboo about going to Xiaoxiangxue to play on the swings.Seventh aunt, mother and daughter have always kept aloof from the world. Although they are not as close as the first aunt, fifth aunt and eldest wife, they have never caused any trouble to the eldest wife. The eldest wife is still very friendly to them.

Brother Jiu complained, "I came back so late, where did I go? Let me eat alone again."

Li Xia's heart skipped a beat, but he couldn't see it on his face, but his gaze was involuntarily turned to Qiniangzi.

What they did today is no longer simply a matter of eating and drinking... If people find out, I'm afraid it's just a luxury to go back to the Nanpianyuan!

Seventh Lady felt a little sorry: Ninth Brother has always been used to the excitement, now that the eldest wife and Fifth Lady are away, he is indeed a lot lonely.

"Next time I'll just go on the swings, and won't eat at Xiaoxiangxue." She promised with a smile, and it looked no different from usual.Still so calm and steady.

Brother Jiu's eyes lit up when he heard the swing.

Before he could open his mouth, Mother Wang said, "When the eldest wife is at home, if you want to hang out, you can do it anytime. If the eldest wife is not at home...don't even think about it!"

As soon as Brother Jiu flattened his mouth, he was about to make a fuss.

"Could it be that Brother Nine has to wait for Xiao Xiangxue's swing to be dismantled before he can give up?" Mama Wang said with a dark face.

Although Mama Wang has always been very polite to Brother Jiu, but given her temperament, Brother Jiu is still somewhat afraid of her.

Qin Niangzi looked around, smiled, turned around and entered the east room.

Bai Lu leaned against the mahogany armchair by the window doing needlework.

"Seventh Lady." Seeing that Seventh Lady came in, she hurriedly smiled and stood up to greet her, then reached out to touch the teapot to test the heat of the tea. "Seventh Lady is back."

"Hey." Seventh Lady's eyebrows were curved, and a rare smile appeared on her face. "Swinging in Xiaoxiangxue, I was sweating profusely."

"Shangyuan, Zhongyuan, go to the small kitchen and ask for water for Qiniangzi to take a bath." Bai Lu put down her sewing, went out and called two little girls to come out to do something.

When he came back, he smiled and showed Qin Niangzi the needle and thread in his hand.

"I made you a bellyband."

This is a very bright work, with large peach blossoms embroidered on the red silk, which is very outstanding in terms of composition and craftsmanship.

"Sister Bailu has a heart." Seventh Lady smiled at her, and there was a tacit understanding between them.

Li Xia didn't pay attention.

If it was as usual, she would probably still be a little unhappy.

After all, she was the one who struggled with Qiniangzi from the Southern Courtyard.

Bai Lu gained the trust and favor of Seventh Lady so quickly...

But today, her mind is all on that bouquet of viburnum flowers.

If, if this gets out of hand...

Li Xia was a little out of control, and Qin Niangzi called her twice before she came back to her senses.

"What is Seventh Lady calling me?" She hurriedly showed a slight smile, "Thinking of the good food in Seventh Lady's house, I can't help being distracted."

I have learned to hide it!
Seventh Lady smiled and said, "I told you to wash my hair."

Bai Lu glanced at Li Xia, shook her head slightly, and leaned in front of the lamp again, carefully threading the needle.

When Li Xia helped Seventh Lady wipe her hair, her hands trembled slightly.

The child only now knows how to be afraid.

"It's just an old mother!" Seventh Lady said softly.

In her eyes, the familiar fearlessness appeared again.

Li Xia thought of a few months ago, when they first arrived at the West Side Hospital, they were waiting for Fifth Lady at the entrance of the corridor after school.

At that time, Qin Niangzi also said to her softly, "It's just a little girl!"

Although Fifth Lady didn't like Seventh Lady, she still couldn't make her suffer.

She straightened her back, "Yes!"

#
Sifang has been calm, the bouquet of viburnum seems to have been blown away by the wind, without causing any waves.

On the contrary, Fourth Aunt reduced the number of times she went out, and she just stayed in Xi Ke Fang all day long, tending a canal of lotus.

Seventh Lady would meet with Third Lady and Fourth Lady in morning and evening classes every day.

The third lady still had that happy look on her face, but in the embroidery class, she often got stuck on her needlework and became dazed.

Anyone could see the reluctance in the smile.

On the contrary, Si Niangzi has always been cold, and she can't see anything wrong.

In the enlightenment class in the morning, my husband finally finished reading the Four Books for Women and began to teach "Enlightenment of Rhythm".

The course is much more interesting than the Fourth Nvshu.

The third lady, the fourth lady, and the seventh lady all became serious in listening to the class.

Only Liu Niangzi was still yawning.

Seventh Lady was still reading Mrs. Wei's words, so the master asked her to imitate Mrs. Wei's meaning and copy the rhythm and enlightenment.

This is a big project. During and after class, Qin Niangzi listened to it and wrote it calmly.

Liu Niangzi was even more boring. She used to chat with Qi Niangzi, but now she had to sleep.

When San Niangzi is free, she often reads Qi Niangzi's calligraphy.

"Tea is to wine, poetry is to poetry, swallows are to warblers. Planting flowers is to planting bamboo, catkins are to gossamer. Four eyes, one leg, robin to egret. Half a pool of red stalks, and a stand of white tea. You can wait for a gust of autumn wind, but you don't know when a plow of spring rain will come."

Seventh Lady has already copied to the branch.

The third lady looked at it, and asked the seventh lady with a smile, "Seventh sister will not only read the Enlightenment of Enlightenment in private, will she?"

The question seemed to be casual, but his eyes were fixed on Qiniangzi, revealing tension.

Qin Niangzi was a little puzzled, "I also read some poems, songs, and strange novels, all of which are used to relieve boredom."

"You need to read more books." The third lady smiled and nodded to the fourth lady, "The fourth sister usually reads Song Ci when she is not doing embroidery, and she has already read Zhang Xian."

Then he called Si Niangzi, "What is the poem you read yesterday? It sounds so good. I'll listen to it when you recite it."

The fourth lady didn't talk to the third lady at all, and the third lady didn't feel annoyed. After thinking about it, she recited it to the seventh lady.

"Tingping is white, sweet water is green. Whenever the flowers are in music, we will have a feast everywhere. When we leave, we will join hands to watch the spring scenery. The fireflies are now flying through the autumn evening. The dry river is as narrow as a belt. Let the body be as light as a leaf, what is the plan? Yes. Broken Clouds and Lonely Flock to the Green Mountains. Wandering upstairs, endless memories."

Six Niangzi had long been drowsy when she heard them talking about poems and songs.

Seventh Lady's heart moved, she looked at Third Lady, just smiled, but didn't speak.

The third lady also smiled at the seventh lady, and the joy gradually faded in her crooked eyebrows, revealing a trace of inexplicable melancholy. "Seventh sister should read more when she is free." She glanced at Liu Niangzi, "Father likes people who are full of poetry and books."

Qiniangzi went back and borrowed the complete Song Ci from Brother Jiu's room to read. After searching for a long time, she realized that Zhang Xian's nonsense was called "Recalling Qionghua".

#
One day in June, Xiao Han, who was next to Er Niangzi, came to the West Side Courtyard to look for Mama Wang.

The two muttered for a long time.

Qin Niangzi finished writing a hundred characters, went to the clean room to wash her hands, and came out to sit with Brother Nine for breakfast.

Breakfast is very simple, nothing more than eight-color side dishes, two or three kinds of porridge and water.Brother Nine picked black dates and japonica rice porridge and drank half a bowl, and looked enviously at Qiniangzi.

"Seventh sister, why do you wake up so early every day!" He was full of envy.

Brother Nine is young and still loves to stay in bed. Every morning, Xiaoxue and Chushu do everything possible to coax him up, but he just has breakfast and is about to go to school.

Seventh Lady smiled and glanced at Brother Jiu.

"Because I am diligent."

Although Qin Niangzi still has a child's body, the willpower in her mind that belongs to an adult has never been lost.

Ms. Wang finished her conversation with Xiao Han and entered the room with her usual expression.

"Ninth Brother also needs to learn more from Seventh Sister." She smiled and began to preach, "We can no longer spend three days fishing and two days drying the net. When the younger brother in Ba Yiniang's womb is born, I will give my younger brother even more attention." Set an example!"

Brother Jiu curled his lips and didn't reply.

Although his temperament is not too arrogant, he is by no means approachable.

Mother Wang didn't care either.

She raised her head and winked at Seventh Lady.

Qin Niangzi took another sip of soy milk, then got up, picked up the handkerchief, and wiped her mouth.

"Brother Nine, take it easy." She said with a smile, "I have to change clothes and go to school."

With that said, he entered the east room.

Li Xia and Bai Lu had already packed their clothes, ready to change for Qin Niangzi.The weather was getting hotter, and the maids had already changed into gauze clothes. Seventh Lady also took off the crepe clothes she usually wore at home, and put on a light yellow jacquard poplin short jacket and a dark purple ranunculus silk pleated skirt. While reading this book, she waited for Mama Wang to enter the door.

Mother Wang walked into the room, looked at Qin Niangzi, and couldn't help but narrow her eyes in admiration.

Her long hair was braided into two braids, hanging by her ears. Although she was young, she was dressed meticulously, with a low-key and luxurious appearance. She looked more like a concubine in the main courtyard than the detached Fifth Lady... …

"Seventh Lady," she said with a smile, but her tone was clear and urgent. "I have something to ask you."

Bai Lu and Li Xia looked at each other, and then exited Dongli Room one after the other.

Seventh Lady put down the book in her hand, and raised her eyebrows at Mama Wang in a little surprise.

"Mother Wang, please tell me."

Her voice was clear and quiet, like the cold stream at the end of March, full of coolness.

Mother Wang stared at Seventh Lady, and said slowly, "Seventh Lady must not know...Master Li came to visit last night."

The Master Li she was talking about was naturally Li Wenqing, the chief envoy of Jiangsu.

Li Wenqing and the old man had always been very close friends, and there were always more than ten days a month when they would go to the Yang family's door. Seventh Lady didn't speak, but just stared at Wang Mama quietly.

Mama Wang continued, "Before he left, he mentioned the third lady's marriage to the elder."

According to the rules of Daqin, two relatives will not propose marriage face to face, and they always have to entrust a matchmaker to come to the door, so that they can talk.Otherwise, if things go wrong, both sides will be embarrassed, which will affect the friendship instead.

Seventh Lady was surprised.

"This is against the rules!" She couldn't hide her confusion. "How can two parents say such things face to face!"

Seeing the undisguised surprise in Qiniangzi's eyes, Ms. Wang softened her gaze.

Such a young child, even in acting, can't act so realistically.

As soon as she uttered her words, the astonishment in Qin Niangzi's eyes flooded up. If she had a half-detailed understanding of this matter, she wouldn't have reacted so quickly and so sincerely.

Having said that, if it wasn't for Seventh Lady, the main courtyard would still be kept in the dark by Fourth Aunt and Second Wife!

No matter who the informer is, they will not be from Qin Niangzi's house... Lixia's parents are both from the laundry department. Mother's goddaughter, no matter what, will not go to the fourth aunt.

Then who on earth reminded Fourth Aunt?

Mother Wang's thoughts suddenly became heavy.

"Master Li is not proposing marriage for his own son, he is proposing the third son of the Fujian chief envoy Wang's family..." She said casually, her thoughts had already turned away from Qin Niangzi.

Seventh Lady couldn't help frowning slightly.

The Grand Master manages the south of the Yangtze River, and manages the three provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian under his hands. Although he opened a government office in Suzhou, it does not mean that he will relax in Fujian and Zhejiang.Whether it is the Liu family in Zhejiang, the Li family in Jiangsu or the Wang family in Fujian, they dare not neglect the Elder Master, and usually send people to pay their respects. Master Liu and Lord Wang come to Suzhou every year to see the Elder Master.Therefore, the Yang family is no stranger to the Wang family.

The Wang family is a family from Fujian. Although Fujian is not as rich as Jiangsu, it is a rich place in the south, and the people are peaceful. Over the years, the Wang family is also very prosperous... However, unlike the Li family, the Wang family's descendants are also very thin , the eldest son and the second son both died young, but now the longest son is the third son, the fourth son and the fifth son are still very young, and the third son is only sixteen or seventeen years old this year, and he has no fame yet.

The third young master of the Wang family and the third lady are well matched in terms of status, future, and degree of favor.

Although the third young master has no fame, the oldest son of the Wang family is of course valued by Master Wang. He has visited with Master Wang many times before.His biological mother passed away a long time ago, and he has been raised by his aunt. It is said that the Wang family has a strict and harmonious family style, and his aunt's concern for him is no less than that of his son.

Although the rank of the Wang family is not as high as that of the Yang family, the third lady is just a concubine who did not grow up under the wife's knees, so as the third young master and the third lady, they are considered a good match.

Although this marriage is not the best, it is definitely more affordable than the marriage that the eldest wife told San Niangzi.

The first few years after the third lady passed the family, it was a bit difficult, but as long as the third young master of the Wang family can be admitted to fame, and she will be released with the power of the Wang family in the future, her life will be easier.

For the face of the Yang family, Mrs. Wang couldn't make things difficult for her.

Seventh Lady lowered her eyes and sighed silently.

For this marriage, Fourth Aunt must have spent all her time.

The Wang family is far away in Fujian, and this year is nothing more than passing through Suzhou at the beginning of the year. How she contacted the Wang family, and how the Wang family entrusted the Li family to come to propose marriage is really a mystery.

Mother Wang couldn't figure it out either.

"I thought it was the Li family... From this point of view, you misheard a few words at the time, and it's hard to tell." A sad look appeared between her brows. "However, the Wang family has entrusted the Li family to come here. I'm afraid Fourth Aunt's foreshadowing is very deep. Even if the wife is at home, I'm afraid there will be no way to deal with it for a while."

Although Ms. Wang herself didn't have much affection for San Niangzi, she didn't have a deep hatred either.

Because of Qin Niangzi's eavesdropping, Mother Wang not only had no fault in this matter, but had merit.

The eldest wife can't punish her for this matter.

This is enough for Mama Wang.

I just didn't expect Fourth Aunt to move so fast...

Mama Wang couldn't help frowning.

It seems that the viburnum flowers blooming like fans in Jubaxianli appeared again in front of my eyes.

Who on earth spread the news, and most of her calculations fell into empty space...

As for the marriage of the third lady... it was all entrusted to the Li family, and when it came to the Elder Master, it seemed that it was a foregone conclusion.

Seventh Lady could not help secretly admiring Fourth Aunt's determination.

However, San Niangzi's marriage has taken shape...

Seventh Lady couldn't help but look at Brother Nine.

Mother Wang followed her gaze and turned to look outside the door.

Xiaoxue was bending down to whisper to Brother Ninth, but Brother Ninth's small figure was mostly shrouded in shadow.

(End of this chapter)