The Concubine's Survival Manual

Chapter 34

Second Lady and Seventh Lady walked out of Dongshao Room side by side.

It was very quiet in the east room.

Although Brother Nine's playthings were all moved back to Dongci Room, he was always taken away to play when the eldest wife was discussing matters.

Xiaoxue and Chu Shu hadn't returned to Ninth Brother's side to serve, it was Xiao Han who was next to Er Niangzi, who brought Ninth Brother to Dongpianyuan to talk to Fifth Niangzi.

The two siblings have been close since childhood, and after being separated for a few months, naturally they talked a lot.

"Let's go to Dongpianyuan to visit Fifth Sister together." Second Lady said to Seventh Lady.

Although the tone is very gentle, there is no doubt about it.

Seventh Lady had no choice but to follow Second Lady, and entered the Eastern Side Courtyard with her.

This was the first time she had visited Wu Niangzi's residence.

Both side courtyards have only one side room, but the south side room in the east side courtyard does not have a box for the eldest wife, and the courtyard looks very spacious at once. The door of the west side room is wide open, and a few maids are inside. In and out, tidying up the cage inside.The childish laughter of the little maids was faintly heard in the south room.

Xiaohan and Gu Yu were standing at the door of the main house eating melon seeds, when they saw the second lady coming, they hurriedly clapped their hands and went forward to say hello.

"Ninth Brother is eating snacks with Fifth Lady." Gu Yu smiled and let Second Lady and Seventh Lady into the main house.

Sure enough, Wu Niangzi and Ninth Brother sat side by side in the main room affectionately, each holding an ice bowl in their hands, eating deliciously.

"Second Sister." Seeing Second Lady, Fifth Lady smiled and stood up to greet her.

She has grown a lot taller and lost a little weight, and her pupils look more and more like scissors. She looks energetic and has a bright attitude.

Wu Niangzi didn't look like the eldest wife, but she looked a bit like Mrs. Xu.

He raised his eyebrows at Seventh Lady again. "Seventh Sister." The tone was lukewarm.

When Wu Niangzi put on airs at others, she had a kind of natural overbearing.

"Fifth Sister." Seventh Lady greeted her with a light smile, not thinking of disobedience.

As long as Wu Niangzi doesn't come to trouble her, she doesn't mind the relationship between the two of them maintaining the current inseparable relationship.

"This time I went to Beijing, I found some good things for Second Sister." Fifth Lady shouted, "Gu Yu, Gu Yu, where did you get the little clay figurine I bought for Second Sister?"

Gu Yu entered in response, blinking in a daze, "When I was looking for a small bicycle for Brother Jiu just now, the slaves have already picked up the gifts for the ladies in each house, and put them on the table in the main room according to the number of copies. "

Now the Eight Immortals table is empty, only two ice bowls.

Wu Niangzi rushed to Xili Room and searched for a long time.

Seventh Lady took the opportunity to look carefully at the main room.

She thought that Wu Niangzi's house must be magnificent, but who knows, it is similar to the decoration of the West Side Courtyard.

In the room there is an iron wood Eight Immortals table, half-moon tables are placed on both sides of the wall, and two boxwood Wuxi doll ornaments with big heads are placed opposite.A pair of small Duobaoge near the north wall are also filled with wood carvings and jade carvings of cats and dogs. In the corner of the wall lies a lazy big yellow cat, squinting its eyes and taking a nap.

It seems that Wu Niangzi likes animals very much.

The fifth lady rushed out again, holding a big brocade box in her hand, proudly revealing it to the second lady.

Inside is a box of clay figures of various colors, all of which are lifelike.

Brother Nine picked it up to enjoy it carefully, and exclaimed, "My box and this box don't look the same!"

Wu Niangzi was very proud, "Tianjin garrison gave my cousin two thousand clay figurines for my cousin to practice and deploy troops... I specially asked my cousin to give me two hundred, even in Tianjin, it is ugly It's so good."

Qin Niangzi also picked it up and carefully admired the clay figurine.

Different from the tourist souvenirs that were crudely made and sold in large quantities in later generations, the clay figurines at this time were carefully molded, each with different movements and expressions, and what's more, even the texture of the clothing can be imitated. The poor man's hemp... is really exquisite.

"Did you keep the eldest sister and the seventh younger sister?" The second lady couldn't put it down, but she deliberately put on a straight face.

Fifth Lady let out a cry, feeling a little guilty.

They are all concubines who are raised in the main courtyard. If they are kept for the first lady, it is hard not to give them to the seventh lady.

If she didn't leave it for the first lady, it would still make sense. After all, she is a married sister who is far away in Yuhang. It would be hypocritical to ask someone to send a few clay figurines there.

But if you don't even have a share with Seventh Lady... no matter how good-tempered Seventh Lady is, she will be a little embarrassed.

The second lady slipped a glance at the seventh lady.

Seventh Lady didn't seem to hear Second Lady's question, and there was still a warm smile on her lips.

But he has already put the clay figurine back into the brocade box and no longer appreciates it.

Clay figurines also have an earthy temper.

Qin Niangzi has a good temper, but it doesn't mean she won't get angry.

"Yes, yes!" Wu Niangzi rolled her eyes and said with a smile. "It's still in the Xili room. It's a mess. When it's sorted out in the evening, I'll send it to Seventh Sister!"

Seventh Lady smiled slightly, "Then thank Fifth Sister first."

Brother Jiu raised his eyes to look at Seventh Lady, and then at Fifth Lady.

"Second Sister and Seventh Sister, have you ever eaten dim sum?" He changed the subject.

"That's right, why don't you ask Mrs. Cao to make two more ice bowls to eat? It's so hot, why is Seventh Sister wearing silk all over her body? I couldn't stand it anymore, so I turned over the aloes gauze skirt and came out to wear it." Wu Niangzi said to Seventh Lady's attitude warmed up, and she even took the initiative to talk to Seventh Lady.

"It's going to be cold sooner or later. When the night wind blows, it's very cold. Fifth sister, be careful of catching cold." Seventh lady had no choice but to reciprocate.

It doesn't matter to Wu Niangzi whether she will send the clay figurine or not, and it's not a rare thing, and she has never seen it before.

But people treat her coldly, so it's inconvenient for her to be too enthusiastic.

Now that Wu Niangzi knows that she is embarrassed, she doesn't have to take Joe anymore.

The two were chatting and laughing for a while, and it seemed that they were in harmony.

There was a hint of relief in the eyes of the second lady.

Wu Niangzi was inappropriate in doing things.

They were all spoiled by their mothers...

Thinking of how the eldest wife scolded Wang's mother bloody in front of Liang's mother in front of Liang's mother just now, despite her own persuasion, the second lady felt a little irritated again.

They are all 40 years old, and they can't even bear a little anger. How can Ms. Wang not feel resentful when she scolds the general who stays at home like this?

If you did something wrong, it's okay, but you didn't do anything wrong, and you did your best...

Mother's heart is really small.

In order to compete with her father, she spoiled Wu Niangzi into her present ignorant appearance.

Fortunately, the foundation is not bad. I have been mentioning it over the years, and it hasn't completely crooked.

I only hope that she can learn more from Seventh Lady!

"That's right." Wu Niangzi said excitedly, "This time when I came to Beijing, the second aunt, third aunt, and eldest aunt all sent a lot of rare and expensive fabrics, and Xianxiufang recruited many Beijing embroidery inheritors in the capital. Made me some patterned skirts, and I'll show you how to wear them!" With that said, he stomped into the east room.

Ninth Brother flattened his mouth.

"Don't take me to play again!"

"Oh, why don't you go find Cousin Xu." Wu Niangzi's voice came out from the east room, and she was still a little bored, "He just settled down in Yu Rongyuan, he must be bored, go talk to him quickly, Do your best as a landlord—" one said, and the other laughed.

Brother Nine really took Xiaohan out of the East Side Hospital.

Boys never understand women's passion for clothing.

"Mother's letter didn't mention that the third aunt brought her cousin." The second lady dragged the seventh lady into the east room, and asked the fifth lady behind the screen.

Fifth Lady’s bedroom is also very plainly furnished. The rosewood mother-of-pearl bed is very similar to the material and workmanship of Seventh Lady’s. There are long tables, tables and chairs in front of the window, and only the Wu The paintings of Taoist ladies are more expensive than the paintings in the western side courtyard.Nothing else.

The voice of Wu Niangzi came from behind the lacquered butterfly screen.

"Third Aunt didn't intend to bring my cousin here." Mentioning Young Master Xu's Biao, Wu Niangzi's voice was full of intimacy and admiration. "Who knew that my cousin was so powerful! The genius told me the first day that he must go to Jiangnan to see him. He ran away from home the next day and followed us to Tongzhou to get on a boat. None of us knew!"

The second lady raised her eyebrows, and looked at each other with the seventh lady.

"Isn't Pingguo's mansion in chaos?" Er Niangzi asked.

"Isn't it? It is said that Mrs. Tai fainted from fright!" Fifth Lady turned out from behind the screen, "Look, this is a gift from Third Aunt!"

She was wearing a shiny skirt, Seventh Lady took a closer look, and realized that when the satin was woven, it naturally had dense fluorescence. worn on the body.

She twirled the material again and showed it to Qin Niangzi, "It's very light and soft, and it's just right to wear it to enjoy the moon in autumn. The imperial concubine wore this kind of skirt in the Mid-Autumn Festival last year. The emperor praised it, 'the skirt is like a morning star'. Now there are skirts in Beijing." People who are capable do it for their daughters, but the material is so rare that even the Xu family only has two horses."

The imperial concubine is the aunt of the Xu family, and even she only rewarded the Xu family with two horses, which shows that the materials are rare, and it also shows that Mrs. Xu likes Wu Niangzi very much.

Both the second lady and the seventh lady showed envy on their faces, and the fifth lady turned to the back of the screen and said with a smile, "It's also my birthday, so the third aunt is willing to give it to me! I begged the third aunt several times, but the third aunt never let go." , my cousin almost sneaked into the warehouse and cut it for me."

It seems that Master Xu Jiabiao and Fifth Lady have a good relationship.

The second lady obviously also thought of something with the seventh lady.

"You and Xu's cousin always play together?" She frowned slightly, "I remember he is also [-] this year?"

After the [-]th, there is a big defense between men and women.

"No, it's only eleven after the Chinese New Year, and I can still come and go in and out of the inner curtain this year." The fifth lady took off her clothes carefully, and at the same time picked up the conversation just now. "My cousin hid in the bilge where the ballast was placed on the boat, and only sneaked out late at night to steal something to eat. After waiting for three full days, he was willing to come out to meet people. The third aunt was also so frightened that she almost fainted In the past, when I woke up, I would get angry, saying that my cousin would be severely punished, and crying while holding him, saying that my cousin lost a lot of weight... At that time, the boat had gone a long way, and the third aunt was going to send my cousin back. But I was afraid that there would not be enough escorts on the way. I had no choice but to bring my cousin here—it was said that the messenger was going back, and Mrs. Tai was so happy that she fainted again!"

Speaking at one end, she giggled at the other end, obviously admiring the behavior of Young Master Xu's Biao. "Second Sister, do you think Cousin is capable or not? People in Beijing say that he is not ten years old, but adults who are clearly 20 or 30 years old will be fooled by this devil king!"

The second lady frowned slightly, and said to the seventh lady in a low voice, "Cousin Xu's family fights and makes troubles all day long. point!"

Seventh Lady smiled disapprovingly.

Master Xu Jiabiao is a boy and a relative after all, so there must not be too many opportunities to meet her.

Even if it's the devil king of the world, he can't trouble her.

#
When it was time for dinner, everyone had already entered Baifang Garden, and the Jieyu Pavilion was brightly lit.

Although the weather is hot and there are many mosquitoes, the wormwood has been burned in the pavilion, the realgar has been smoked, and the kaempferen and angelica are being lit. The insects have already flown away.

There are icebergs piled up at the foot of the pavilion, and with the evening wind, the coolness comes slowly.

The Xie Yu Pavilion was not very big, Mrs. Xu had a guest seat, the eldest wife had a seat in the chair, the daughters had another seat, and there was a small round table for Brother Nine and Master Xu's Biao.

The two of them didn't arrive.

"When I entered Baifang Garden in the afternoon, I don't know where Ye Shang went." Mrs. Xu apologized to the eldest wife, "Feng Jia is a rough child, causing you trouble!"

"Why are you being polite?" The eldest lady pretended not to care, but there was a hint of worry in her eyes, "Brother Jiu is also with cousin?"

Second Lady glared at Fifth Lady.

Although Ninth Brother couldn't be said to be very weak, he wasn't too strong either. Naturally, he couldn't compare with Master Xu Jiabiao, who was nicknamed the Hunshi Demon King.

The eldest lady was about to send people to search for it when she heard a series of chaotic footsteps on the bamboo bridge.

She immediately felt relieved, and smiled, "Feng Jia still walks in such a hurry!"

"It looks like a dog is chasing and biting him." Mrs. Xu also smiled, and waved to the two boys who came on the bamboo bridge in the twilight, "I'll be waiting for you."

Ninth Brother and Master Xu's Biao entered the Xieyu Pavilion, Ninth Brother bowed to Mrs. Xu out of breath, "Third Aunt!" in a sweet tone.

Mrs. Xu waved at the remaining boy in dark brown straight lace, "Feng Jia, greet the sisters."

Master Xu Jiabiao responded, but he saluted the eldest wife first, "I have met Fourth Aunt." His breath stopped evenly, without any panting.

His voice was deep, with a husky characteristic of a teenager.

The eldest lady smiled and nodded.

Only then did Master Xu Jiabiao turn around.

There happened to be a lamp over his head.

Bright candlelight evenly sprinkled on his face through the glass palace lantern.

Everyone's eyes lit up immediately.

Master Xu Jiabiao's complexion is dark, but it can be seen that his facial features are very similar to Mrs. Xu's. His brows are raised, and there is a cool charm in Danfeng's eyes.

Born very handsome!

Although there was a smile on his lips, he gave the impression of being very proud, as if there was a hint of sarcasm in the corners of his eyes and brows.

"Second cousin." He greeted without haste.

The second lady got up and saluted him.

"Third cousin."

The third lady blushed a bit, she leaned towards Xu Fengjia's half-gift with some embarrassment, and then returned the gift to him.

Xu Fengjia suffered while standing, and did not turn sideways.

Calculated by age, the third lady was two or three years older than Xu Fengjia, and she was his elder sister. Xu Fengjia couldn't bear the full gift of the third lady, but the third lady could accept the full gift of Xu Fengjia.

When I met Er Niangzi before, both of them received the full ceremony, and there was nothing wrong with it.

How come it's the other way round when it comes to San Niangzi.

Mrs. Xu and the eldest wife looked as usual and did not make a sound.

Annoyance flashed across San Niangzi's face.

The fourth lady and Xu Fengjia made a full salute.

"Cousin." Wu Niangzi giggled, and also blessed Xu Fengjia, but Xu Fengjia didn't move. "You have to return the gift!"

"I met you in the capital earlier, and I earned this gift." There was a smile in Xu Fengjia's voice.

Between peers, when they meet each other, they just nod and give each other a little blessing, which is regarded as a salute. This is not the first time they meet, and it is true that there is no need to greet each other like this.So Xu Fengjia said that this gift was a cheap way for him to earn money from Wu Niangzi.

It can be seen that he and Wu Niangzi are very familiar and hit it off.

Mrs. Xu couldn't help laughing, "Feng Jia, don't be naughty."

Wu Niangzi gave Xu Fengjia a white look with a smile, and sat down too.

Liu Niangzi was a little nervous, and she bumped into a blessing, "I've seen my cousin."

Xu Fengjia looked up at her, and there was a flash of surprise in his eyes.

The daughters of the Yang family were all well-born, but the only one who could be called stunning was Liu Niangzi.Although she is still young, she already has picturesque features, like a beautiful woman.

"Sixth Cousin." He took a deep look at Liu Niangzi, and slowly made a shallow bow.

Only then did he walk up to Seventh Lady.

Qin Niangzi respectfully blessed her body and bowed down, "I have seen my cousin."

When she stood up and raised her eyes, she met Xu Fengjia's eyes.

Although some people are well-born, their eyes are rigid and lifeless, like two fake eyeballs.

Xu Fengjia's eyes were a little too lively.

It's like two clumps of wildfire, jumping vigorously, spreading, and trying to crash into the hearts of others.

These are eyes full of aggression.

Seventh Lady didn't delve into it, she looked away, turned half of her body in a proper manner, and waited for Xu Fengjia to return the gift.

"Seventh Cousin." Xu Fengjia also gave her a shallow bow.

His voice was slow and deep.

(End of this chapter)