concubine leisurely

Chapter 2

The next morning, in Meng Lai's room.

Meng Lai sits at the top, and below stands a beautiful young man, wearing a blue Japanese satin robe, wearing a jade belt inlaid with gemstones and embroidered double dragons playing with pearls, and wearing a gold mop on his forehead. His appearance is as beautiful as spring flowers and autumn moons.

Leisurely came in and greeted Meng Lai first, Meng Lai smiled and said, "No courtesy, fifth girl." Then he pointed to the beautiful boy and said, "This is your second elder brother."

You Ran hurriedly saluted respectfully, "Second brother is well." The movements were standard and graceful, and the voice was clear and pleasant, and there was not a single flaw that could be picked out.

Meng Zhengxian also greeted with a smile on his face, "Fifth Sister." The surprise and admiration in his eyes couldn't be concealed, this concubine has such a good personality!
Meng Lai looked at the two brothers and sisters with a smile all over their faces. The second son was personable, the son of Zhuo Shijia, and he was more handsome than himself back then, let alone his daughter. One, if there are children like this, what more can a husband ask for.

"It's been six years since we saw each other, and Mu Ruan has grown into a handsome young man." Meng Lai sighed with emotion.

"Six years ago, my son followed his uncle to the Southwest border. He went there for three or four years. When the son returned to the capital, his father went to Guangzhou. He couldn't listen to his father's teaching every day. His son was unfilial." Meng Zhengxian's attitude of pleading guilty was very sincere.

"Although Mu Ruan was raised by his grandfather's house since he was a child, he saw you from time to time when he was in the capital. I haven't seen you for more than six years, and I miss you as a father. I followed my uncle in the southwest, didn't I cause trouble?" Meng Lai is not only a good friend to You Ran The father, the same to the son.While observing, Youran thought that this is rare. She has seen many scholar-bureaucrats, no matter whether they love him or not, they always speak harshly to their son on the surface.Isn't Jia Zheng in Dream of the Red Chamber just like that?

"Not only did my son not get into trouble in the Southwest, but he also made a lot of progress. My eldest brother and I came to pick up my father. The son hadn't seen his father in six or seven years. He was impatient and left quickly. The eldest brother will arrive soon." Meng Zhengxian said.

Leisurely, with a gentle and virtuous appearance, pretended to be a lady with lowered eyebrows and narrowed eyes, listening attentively to what Menglai and his son had to say.Mu Ruan?It's the name of the second son of the Meng family. At this time, people of the same generation don't call their sons by their first names. Usually they are called by their first names. Parents and elders can call their sons by their first names. It's a title, Menglai is like this now.

The second youngest of the Meng family, whose name is Zhengxian and style name Muruan, had a happy conversation with his father who had been separated for six years.

Leisurely, the second youngest of the Meng family, has been famous for a long time.

Speaking of which, the current situation of the Meng family has a lot to do with the second young master of the Meng family.

Meng Lai is the second son of the Meng family. He married Zhong, the youngest daughter of the Marquis of Ji’an. Zhong has two sons and two daughters. The eldest son Zhengxuan is 20 years old. , was engaged to Dupeng, the eldest son of the Marquis of Changxing, and the marriage date is two months later; the second son Zhengxian, 16 years old, was raised in his grandfather's house since he was a child. Xinran, 11 years old, is most loved by her siblings.

The concubine Ding Ling also has a son and a daughter. The third girl Yanran is 13 years old, and the third wife Zheng Yu is 11 years old.

Aunt Du has four daughters, An Ran, and Aunt Huang has five daughters, You Ran, both 11 years old.

There was also Aunt Lu, who gave birth to a daughter and died, and then gave birth to a very handsome brother, but unfortunately also died in less than two months. Aunt Lu was devastated and practiced fasting in the family temple.

The Meng family came from the Meng family in Tai'an. The Meng family ruled that men in their [-]s had no children, so they were allowed to take concubines. After Meng Lai and the Zhong family got married, the couple got along well. In the seventh year, the second son Zhengxian was just born, and Meng Lai's third brother Meng Ben, unexpectedly died of illness this year, Meng Ben only left one daughter, the old lady Meng loved her youngest son the most, and the white-haired man sent the black-haired man, almost crying to death, the third room of the Meng family was full of crying, sad Afterwards, Mrs. Hu, the third-bedroom wife, proposed to adopt a step-heir.

The Hu family is young and widowed, and the third family has no children. It is understandable to have adoptive heirs. Although the Meng family’s third-party wealth is not too much, it is not too small. It is an excellent thing, and there are indeed a few poor relatives who racked their brains to adopt their youngest son to the third wife, but Hu did not want to, and insisted on adopting the second son of the second wife. constitution.

Meng Lai’s elder brother Meng Yun’s official career was not going well. He was admitted to Juren at the age of 30. He was studying teaching in a neighboring county. He only had one son at that time, so he must not be adopted. But it should be possible.It's just that Zhong's dowry is generous and his life is rich. How can a son with the same lifeblood be willing to adopt him?Therefore, I only advise the Hu family to adopt in the family. There are relatives who can't eat, and the youngest son is only a few months old. Wouldn't it be the same as his own to take him up and raise him?
Mrs. Hu is the niece of Mrs. Meng's natal family, and also Mrs. Meng's favorite daughter-in-law. No matter how Meng Lai and Mrs. Zhong persuade her, Mrs. Hu insists that Zhengxian is the closest in blood and only wants to adopt Zhengxian.Although the old lady Meng was silent, her attitude made it clear that she was supporting her niece.

Zhong's mother, Mrs. Ji'an Houfu, dotes on her young daughter the most, and her grandson is even more sympathetic. The adoption has been going on for a month, and Mrs. Tai has trouble sleeping and eating for a month.At this time, Zhang Tianshi, a well-known master in the capital, came back from his travels. He happened to meet Zhong's mother and son who were having a funeral at Baiyun Temple, and figured out that Zhengxian's fate was strange.Zhang Tianshi has a profound morality, and everyone in Beijing is convinced. Zhong was shocked when he heard this, and after discussing with Meng Lai, he sent his second son back to his natal family overnight to raise him. Meng Lai took his cousin Ding Ling as his concubine, explaining that Ding Ling will give birth to a son in the future and he will be adopted by the third wife.

Since Meng Lai and Zhong Shi got married, their official careers have been smooth, and they have two sons and a daughter. They don't want to accept Ding Ling, who looks mediocre. Son, I have a pity that your younger brother didn't even have a son, so he left early! If you are willing to adopt a son to your younger brother, I will leave everything to you; !"

Meng Lai frowned and said, "The nineteenth uncle's little grandson was born very well, and it's only two months old. Wouldn't it be the same as the one born to me?"

The old lady Meng was furious: "That child is not half as good as Xian'er! Xian'er is only three months old. Wouldn't it be all four corners to adopt to your younger brother?"

When mentioning his second son, Meng Lai couldn't help feeling extremely distressed.Not only the Zhong family was unwilling to adopt, Meng Lai was also extremely unwilling.Although the son is fostered in the Yue family, everyone in the Yue family loves him from top to bottom. Mrs. Ji'an Houtai is even more lifelike. The son can still see her often, and she can also call her father. Once adopted to her younger brother, she can only call her uncle. , is tolerable or unbearable!
Under the rage of old lady Meng, Meng Lai gave in.Anyway, he just has one more woman, which is better than having one less son.

Mrs. Zhong managed to keep her son, but was assigned to her husband. She was naturally dissatisfied with Mrs. Meng and Mrs. Hu. From then on, there was a rift between the two.

The old lady Meng and the second wife Zhong, one is a mother-in-law, and their identities are naturally dominant. This dynasty ruled the country with filial piety, who would dare not be filial to his mother in an official family?One is a noble daughter from a famous family, the first wife of the second wife, the Meng family only has the second wife, and for ten or even twenty years, the Meng family can only rely on the second wife, so the old lady Meng and the second wife, the Zhong family, can be regarded as formidable rivals.

Ding Ling's first child gave birth to the third girl, Yanran. The Meng family had strict rules and a clear line of concubines. There was never a concubine to raise the children, and they were all raised by the main family. However, Mrs. Meng surpassed the Zhong family to raise the third girl herself. Ding Ling naturally took care of the children. He is close to Mrs. Meng, and obeys Mrs. Meng and Hu's two aunts and nephews in everything.

As a result, the balance was broken, Zhong was at a disadvantage, and was often subject to the joint camp of Mrs. Meng, Hu, and Ding Ling. In desperation, Zhong had no choice but to lure the wolf into the house. After coming down, I bought Huang Xin, a stunning woman from outside, and sent it to Meng Lai to serve.

Du Qing gave birth to the fourth girl, An Ran, and Huang Xin gave birth to the fifth girl, You Ran. The contract of selling Du Qing and Huang Xin was in the hands of the Zhong family, so it was only the Zhong family who followed suit. With Du Qing and Huang Xin as two pawns, the Zhong family began to step by step. Take back lost ground.

You Ran sometimes wondered wildly, was the original owner a victim of the struggle between Mrs. Meng and the Zhong family?The inner house is peaceful on the outside, but rough inside. A clever maidservant who is favored by her father is not liked by her aunt, nor by her grandmother.

"Fifth Sister? Fifth Sister?" Meng Zhengxian's voice brought Youran back to her senses, she had deserted!
You Ran blushed in embarrassment, and looked at Meng Zhengxian apologetically, "Second brother."

Meng Zhengxian laughed and said, "Fifth Sister, what interesting things are you thinking about, so engrossed?"

"I didn't think about anything, I didn't think about anything."

"Don't want to tell brother? That's fine."

"No, no." Youran hurriedly distinguished.

"You are brothers and sisters, what is there to hide? It's okay for the fifth girl to tell your brother directly." Meng Lai laughed.

Leisurely looked at Meng Zhengxian, who was obviously pretending to be angry, and was very cooperative, and asked innocently, "My sister doesn't want to tell my second brother, but it's hard to tell what my sister thinks, for fear that my second brother will blame me. My sister is thinking about my second brother." Brother's name is Mu Ruan, which Ruan is Mu Ruan?"

"Which Ruan do you admire?" Meng Lai listened to Zhi Le, "Listen to Wu Yatou."

"Fifth sister thinks, which Ruan does second brother admire?" Meng Zhengxian asked with a smile.

After thinking about it leisurely, her eyes lit up and she said loudly, "Ruan Dayou!"

The Marquis of Ji’an started with military exploits, and several generations of Marquis have held important positions in the army. Meng Zhengxian grew up in his maternal ancestral home and was brought up by his uncle, Marquis of Ji’an. I will admire the writer Ruan Yu, and I must admire the Northwest General who guarded the Northwest border for 20 years in this dynasty and made the Qiang people fearful. Ruan Dayou, the contemporary No. 1 general!
"Oh?" Meng Zhengxian said with interest, "Fifth Younger Sister knows General Ruan?"

"I know, I know," Youran nodded repeatedly, "During the Bingzhou defense battle, I kept reading the mansion newspaper all day long. General Ruan was very wise and brave, and that battle was fought beautifully!"

Meng Zhengxian was a little surprised, "Fifth sister is so concerned about the military?" Isn't the little girl trapped in the inner house only to be a female celebrity?Then he laughed and said, "What Fifth Younger Sister said is that I admire General Ruan. I believe that one day, I will go to battle to kill the enemy and make great achievements!"

The firm tone and solemn expression gave this 16-year-old boy a strange brilliance.

Seeing the seriousness of the second son, Meng Lai was relieved at first, but then frowned.

It is a good thing to make achievements, but it is very dangerous to go into battle and kill the enemy.Meng Lai is a civil servant, how could he be willing to send his son to the battlefield?
The atmosphere was tense for a while.

Leisurely pursed her lips and said with a smile, "In the future when the second elder brother will fight the enemy, the younger sister will give the second elder brother the same gift."

"What gift?" Meng Lai and Meng Zhengxian asked together.

"A mask. The second elder brother is so handsome, he will be looked down upon by the enemy when he goes into battle, so it's better to wear a hideous mask." You Ran smiled mischievously.

"Okay, you dare to laugh at my brother." Meng Zhengxian blushed, after all, he was only a 16-year-old boy, and now he is a boy in the first year of high school. He was praised by his half-sister for being handsome, and the second youngest felt shy.

Leisurely and pitifully apologizing, Meng Lai laughed and scolded, "Five girls are not allowed to be the same age as brother." Meng Zhengxian hurriedly said, "What do my brothers and sisters have?" The room was happy.

(End of this chapter)