Mistress

Chapter 17

Aunt Zhang and Xu Jing, the cousins, kept chatting and laughing when they got together. Mrs. Tai was in a good mood, and after being infected by the two of them, she joined them and told a lot of hippie jokes.

The three of them get along happily, and they seem to be the mother-in-law and sister-in-law of the direct relatives. Aunt Zhang really treats herself as the daughter-in-law of the Xu family, even though she has no relationship with the Xu family as a concubine.

The whole Cui Song Yuan was rendered lively and festive by the three of them.Brothers Xu Cheng and Xu Ze chatted about housework in a low voice. Don't think that housekeeping is a woman's business, and old men often do housework too.They never talk about political affairs in front of their families, only about family affairs.

Of course, their homework is not as trivial as women's. They will never talk endlessly about Zhang's parents and Li's family, and it's not like some women can chat all afternoon when they get together, so that their cheeks are sore. Go back and drink. Even a pot of water felt my mouth dry, but I didn't feel it at all when I was talking.

As the eldest brother, Xu Cheng is deep and alert, while Xu Ze is a straightforward person with no city.Xu Ze thought that he had not fulfilled his younger brother's duty and caused the eldest brother's family property to be lost. Although he was able to recover [-]% of his property, he still felt guilty.

He gave his eldest brother a detailed statement of Mrs. Tai and Li Nianyun's serious illness, and then lowered his head in shame, "Perhaps Aunt Zhang's prestige is not enough, and the servants are daring. It's all because my brother is cowardly. For my sister-in-law..."

"It's not your fault. The military department is busy recently, and you worry about my affairs. How can you care about these trivial matters?" Xu Cheng's heart is like a mirror. If there is any trouble in the court, he can know the general idea. How many things about the military department's cannon building He had it a month ago.

As for the matter in the mansion, he only needs to use his brain a little bit, and he can make a good guess.At this time, his two attendants Zhang Chun and Wu Qingfeng had also come to the door and waited, it was enough for them to rest for half a day.

Xu Cheng beckoned, and Zhang Chun bent over and walked over.Xu Cheng whispered something to him that no one could hear clearly, and Zhang Chun went to work as if receiving an imperial edict.

Xu Ze saw these things in his eyes, and knew that his elder brother probably wanted to investigate this matter, but he didn't quite understand why his elder brother called Zhang Chun in in front of so many people and muttered in a low voice, didn't he do everything secretly? what?What's more, this matter has been found out, and Dr. Xu and Sun Deng are now being hunted down. Does the eldest brother still have doubts?
Xu Cheng glanced at Aunt Zhang casually, and saw Aunt Zhang and Xu Jing chatting and laughing while sweeping Zhang Chun's back as he went out, smiling a little stiffly.

Xu Cheng has caught her panic.It's good that she can panic, she should be able to reveal her flaws soon, Xu Cheng withdrew his gaze, and there was a gleam of coldness in his eyes.

Immediately, he raised his eyebrows and said with a wry smile: "Second brother, in the past two years, our Xu family has been very beautiful in the eyes of outsiders. There are five major families in the capital, and the Xu family is the most popular. Even the servants feel decent when they go out. People are enviable. I just didn't expect that I had only stayed in Jiaoyang City for two months, and the majestic Prime Minister's Mansion would be reduced to this point. Those in charge fell ill one by one, and those dissatisfied people showed their true colors, such as Like fleas, the Prime Minister's Mansion has been turned upside down. If my soul really returns to the underworld this time, the Prime Minister's Mansion may not be able to last for three months, and the family will be ruined."

Xu Ze thought that the dissatisfied people Xu Cheng was referring to were Dr. Xu and Sun Deng, and he smiled disapprovingly: "Brother is too pessimistic, there are hundreds of slaves in the mansion, so it is common for two thieves to appear. Don't you remember that Dudu Yang was tortured last year because he formed a party with the second prince in private? Most of the servants of Yang's mansion ran away when they found out that day, and the housekeeper Juan fled to Southwest Bianjing with most of his property. , all the concubines fled without a trace, even those with children fled, leaving their children behind. Only Dudu Yang's wives and children stayed in the mansion, waiting for the government to send them to the barbarians Compared with Yang's mansion, there are only two thieves in the mansion when everyone thinks that you can't come back alive. It is understandable. This is because my sister-in-law usually disciplines well, and it is also thanks to the deterrent power of my elder brother. That's why there are very few people who have a different heart. What's more, people's hearts are cold, didn't the eldest brother see through it a long time ago?"

Xu Cheng laughed heartily, "I always thought that the second brother was still ignorant of the world, but I didn't expect that he is actually a sensible person."

Xu Ze smiled and shook his head.

Aunt Zhang saw that the two brothers were talking happily, but she was in a panic.She knew that the second master Xu Ze was talking about Dr. Xu and Sun Deng, so did Xu Cheng also talk about them?She is so scared!Looking at Xu Cheng, the man she had been relying on, she felt ashamed and remorseful.

She was ashamed of Xu Cheng for being selfish, but she felt even more regretful, that is, she hadn't dealt with Li Nianyun early, otherwise she wouldn't have had to go through a lot of trouble and put herself at a disadvantage.

Of course, she still laughed again and again, counting her brightest smile.

Madam Tai suddenly suppressed her smile, caressed the emerald ring on her hand, and looked at Xu Cheng proudly, "Cheng'er, you have made great achievements for the Ye Dynasty, and you are no less than your father, Your Majesty." I will definitely rely more on you. Apart from the royal family in our Great Ye Dynasty, the Xu Mansion should be considered the most popular. You are under one person and above ten thousand people, and you have already been admired by people all over the world. It's just... the Ye family has been going on since the Liang Dynasty. From Shun to the Great Ye Dynasty, it can be said to be one of the best big families. The position of Hou has been inherited for six generations, and each generation has important ministers to accompany the king. It is a pity that it is not as good as before. Your uncle was also talented and resourceful since he was a child, but he was only courageous. Not enough, I dare not speak out in front of the emperor, and the words of the Shangshu are also soft, and have not been reused. You get the opportunity to mention him before the emperor. He inherited the position of his ancestors, but he has nothing that a prince should have. Majesty and power, I feel sorry for him every time I think about it."

The second master Xu Ze looked at his elder brother silently, not knowing how his elder brother would respond.Since their mother was widowed, she devoted herself to her natal family.Fortunately, she is only the wife of the Duke. If she were the queen mother, the emperor would have to spend his whole life just dealing with his relatives.

Xu Ze and Xu Cheng have always disliked their mother. She usually just protects her uncle and aunt. It is understandable for her to treat her niece Zhang Yuliu as a serious concubine.But asking Xu Cheng to mediate for his uncle in front of the emperor, the two brothers felt that their mother was too selfish.

But she is a mother, and a son cannot contradict her.

Xu Cheng had already figured out his mother's heart, so he said with ease: "Mother, don't worry, my uncle is appreciated by the emperor because he doesn't compete for fame and fortune, and is pure-hearted and ascetic. He is only two years older than me, and he will have a brighter future. As long as he doesn't come out Mistake, keep a low profile for a few more years, and there will be a day when it will be reused. What's more, the Ningde Marquis of the Ye family can still be hereditary for two generations. Even if the uncle fails to succeed, won't there be a cousin to inherit. But she has revealed her talents, surpassing Jun'er and Xiao'er, so mother doesn't have to worry about the Ningde Marquis."

Xu Cheng saw that his mother did not show her face, and said again: "As the prime minister of the dynasty, my son is not good at seeking personal gain for others. The emperor has always been wise, and he can see all the selfish intentions in his heart. Whenever he has the opportunity, the son will definitely remind uncle. To speak before the emperor, as long as my uncle is talented, he will not be buried."

Mrs. Tai knew that half of what Xu Cheng said was true, and half was evasion.

She didn't think she was going too far, there are several daughters in this world who are not relatives to their natal families.She is the eldest daughter, and has been loved by her parents since she was a child. If she can protect her natal family and benefit her younger siblings, she thinks it is just doing her duty.Even if some people are just a concubine, their parents do not love their mothers since they were young, and they still have to work hard for their natal families. This is where the marriage is, and it is deeply rooted in people's hearts.

If you can do it but don't do it, you will feel guilty. As a woman, you can't just live for yourself.She has lived most of her life, but still cannot escape this iron law.

It's just that in front of so many people, it's not good for her to say anything else to Xu Cheng, so it's better to take her time.

After a while, Qi'er came to Cuishongyuan under Li Yan's order.

"Mrs. Tai, master, concubine, second master, everything is ready at the Xianghe Tower. Madam ordered my servants to invite you over."

When Mrs. Tai saw Qi'er came to invite her, she was displeased: "I advised her to take care of her body in the morning, but she didn't listen to it and didn't cherish her body."

Qi'er was very upset when she saw that Mrs. Tai said that the wife did not listen to her old man in front of so many masters, but Qi'er was a slave, so she dared not respond.

Aunt Zhang had already thought about making Li Yan look ugly later, so she pretended to smile generously and replied: "Madam has always been diligent, but Yuliu is ashamed of herself."

Xu Cheng couldn't bear to see the rift between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, so he said, "In the morning, I ordered Aunt Zhang to redeem the things. I was worried that the slaves would cause trouble in Xianghe Tower, so I asked my wife to keep an eye on it. It's not that she didn't listen to my mother."

Mrs. Tai and Aunt Zhang were both stunned. Regardless of whether Xu Cheng's words were true or not, it was obvious that he was partial to his wife.What is puzzling is that he didn't show any obvious favoritism before, but this time when he came back, he seemed to be quite indifferent towards the concubines, but he was better towards his wife than before.

There must be something strange about it, and Aunt Zhang was very depressed.

Xu Jing laughed and said, "Sister-in-law, since the elder sister-in-law has recovered, it would be better if she took care of those messy things, and you would be free from now on."

Aunt Zhang nodded her head straight and smiled, "Isn't that right, I will go to Prince Bao's Mansion to learn more when I have free time."

Mrs. Tai's heart sank when she heard this, Jing'er is still so careless, how can she gain a foothold in the palace in the future?The reason why Prince Bao held her in his palm was because he had only been married for half a year, and as a newlywed, Prince Bao's freshness hadn't passed yet.After a long time, Prince Bao is lingering around other women, and her future life may not be easy.

In fact, Xu Jing is not a person without a city, but she is too arrogant, and she looks down on the power of the head at all, and feels that she is tired and unflattering.

Mrs. Tai knows that raising her daughter is not just marrying her to a good family. If she can be blessed in this life, it is a heavy responsibility and a long way to go. She sighed, "Let's go, today is a rare reunion On the day of celebration, our family will be lively and lively."

They walked towards Xianghe Tower in a mighty way, and they saw Li Yan and a group of people waiting at the door from a distance.

(End of this chapter)