in spring

Chapter 67

Chunying froze, deeply regretful.How did she just say it?The real Lu Chunying is illiterate, so is she going to pretend? !
But Zhou Nian seemed to think of something suddenly: "By the way, when Brother Chang came last time, I told you to hide in the inner room. Later, you and Brother You left. When I returned to the room, I found the books on the shelf. Someone turned it over. I thought I had misremembered it, but you must have turned it over, right? Do you know poetry? Who taught you?"

Chunying didn't expect that he would find out about it, let alone that he could still remember it. When she was flustered, her thoughts changed: "I don't understand poetry. At that time... it was a moment of curiosity, yes, curiosity!" Not knowing the situation in her family, she calmed down a bit: "My father worked as a porter and was literate. When my mother waited on young ladies, she also learned a few rough and simple characters. When I was at home, I learned a little secretly, but I can read a few characters, but... I can't write well, and I don't understand poetry and dictionaries..." She glanced carefully at Zhou Nian: "Master Nian... I learned it secretly, no one knows , you...you won't tell others, right?" Don't say it!As soon as you say it, you will wear it!
Zhou Nian smiled: "What's the matter? Literacy is a good thing. Although the old man often said that a woman's lack of talent is virtue, but her daughter's family is actually extremely intelligent. After studying, she is no worse than a man, maybe even stronger. Some..." His speech gradually slowed down, as if lost in memory, and his voice became a little illusory: "When my sister was alive... she was very smart. She learned "Poetry" at the age of three, and memorized more than 3000 Tang poems and Song Ci at the age of eight. In my stomach, when I was a child, she was the one who enlightened me personally... People often say that when she grows up, she must be the number one talented woman in the Ming Dynasty, no less than Emperor Taizong's Concubine Huo Xian..."

"Master Nian?" Seeing that he fell silent, Chun Ying called out worriedly, Zhou Nian came to her senses, and smiled in frustration: "I'm sorry, maybe it's the bleak winter, I've nothing to do, and I can't extricate myself from the past It’s a joke.” He straightened his expression and said: “Although you are a girl in this house, it is useless to learn poetry, but you can know a few words. In the future, you will either serve in the study, or be by the head of the grandmother. You can stand out even if you do a job. This is a good thing, and you really don’t have to be afraid of others knowing about it.”

Chunying pursed her lips, what she wanted was not this kind of "getting ahead", but she didn't say much, she just asked curiously about the person the other party mentioned just now: "You just said... the concubine of Emperor Taizong...?" In fact, she wanted to ask about the emperor himself, and it was very likely that he was a time-traveling senior.

"Emperor Taizong is an extraordinary emperor." Zhou Nian said with a smile, "During his reign, he did many surprising things. I heard that he even built a women's school, but unfortunately it gradually declined. There is a Concubine Huo Xian is the daughter of a scholarly family in the south of the Yangtze River. She is quick in poetry, and even the champion of the dynasty is willing to lose. Speaking of which, the Hou family has some connections with her. They are the descendants of Concubine Huo Xian's natal brother."

Chunying clapped her hands together: "By the way, my mother served this aunt when she was young! I heard that all the big girls around her at that time had studied!"

"The marriage of Li and Huo's family was arranged a long time ago, so the mistress of the Huo family must be knowledgeable." Zhou Nian looked at Chunying, "Is it easier now?"

Chun Ying was stunned for a moment before she understood what he meant, and lowered her head in embarrassment: "It's much better, thank you..."

Zhou Nian nodded reassuringly, and thought for a while: "Actually, the matter has come to this point. It is really beyond your control. You are just a little girl in You Ge's nursery. It is best not to discuss this matter with others. I Guess...Brother Chang will be fine in the end, the old lady in the house, down to the big and small managers, will not make this kind of scandal known to everyone. Be careful, don't get yourself burned."

Chunying was startled, and then a little annoyed, but she still thanked Zhou Nian for her kindness.

It was almost evening, and Chunying had to go back.She was a little reluctant.Although Zhumengshan Residence is colder and simpler, she feels much more comfortable staying here than Huanhuaxuan.She would rather chat with Zhou Nian for a while, rather than go back and face the follow-up of the punishment incident in the afternoon.

However, her rationality told her that the work in the small kitchen still had to be done, Aunt Li couldn't do it alone, and Manru still had to wait in the main room, so she had to go back.

Zhou Nian was also urging her: "Go, it will be the same when you come back later. When you see Brother You, send me a letter saying that I want to see him."

Chunying agreed, picked up the empty food box, and left the mountain house in three steps and one turn. When she walked to the outskirts of the bamboo forest, she could still see Sanqing's black figure following behind her.Thinking about it, she treated him coldly, Chunying smiled at him apologetically, waved goodbye, and then turned and walked towards the gate of the garden.

The lady guarding the gate has already returned, but the number of them seems to be less, and they all gathered in the gatehouse, chattering without knowing what to say. Chunying only heard the words "throw out" and "house thief", and she felt disgusted and didn't follow They greeted each other and walked out quickly.

Back at Huanhuaxuan, the little girls have finished cleaning the courtyard, and the blood on the snow has completely disappeared.Chunying stared at the open space in a daze.

Although she had listened to Zhou Nian's words and stopped crying because of self-blame, when she returned to the scene, recalling the bloody scene in the afternoon, her heart became heavy again.

Qing'er...is he dead or alive now?
Shi'er's voice came from nearby: "Chun'er, you're back! Aunt Li is looking for you, go quickly!"

Chunying raised her head in a daze, suddenly came to her senses, said yes, and walked towards the small kitchen. Before she left, she couldn't help but glance at the open space again.

After entering the small kitchen, Aunt Li immediately said, "What time is it? Why did you come back? Come and help me peel off the chicken skin!" Chun Ying hurriedly dropped the food box and took over to peel the chicken skin. Aunt Li was still there While thinking about it, he directed Chunying to turn around. When the food was ready and sent to the backyard, he had time to rest.

Chunying moved her heavy legs, sat down on the veranda railing outside the kitchen, and relaxed her whole body.After a while, she couldn't help smiling wryly.

Zhou Nian is right, she is just a little girl, what can she do?She still had work to do, and she really didn't have time to cry.It's just... Qing'er has a life, and the master can keep it if she wants, and beat her to death if she wants to, just because she is a servant of the Hou family!Human life in ancient times is really worthless... But how can she be willing to do this? !Is she now like Qing'er, worthless in the eyes of the master?Can be killed at any time? !

Chunying gritted her teeth secretly, she must get rid of this fate!How could she endure that her life was determined by the emotional changes of a few ancient people? !
"Chun'er..." There was a call from the gate of the courtyard, Chun Ying looked up and was surprised, it turned out that it was Mei Xiang who had returned.

Mei Xiang's face was still very pale, and she needed someone to support her when she walked, but she spoke clearly and clearly, which was much better than the previous two days.Chunying carefully supported her left hand and Dong'er on the right, and the three of them walked into the backyard slowly.

Mei Xiang's return made everyone in Huanhuaxuan calm down a lot, as if they suddenly had a backbone, and there was a smile on their still-shocked faces.When Lan Xiang saw her, she felt a little sour in her heart, but she still said to Mei Xiang with a straight face: "It's good to come back to recuperate, but it's still not as comfortable outside as here, but don't force yourself too much, your body is important."

Mei Xiang smiled and said: "I can save it. In fact, there is nothing wrong, but my head is a little heavy, and I will be fine after a night of sleep. I heard that there was an accident in the courtyard, and the manpower was reduced. I thought that even if I am not well, I can Let me help you guys. Have you decided who will be sleeping outside the third young master's house tonight?"

Lan Xiang paused, and said dryly: "It's already decided, the third young master ordered Luer and Manru."

Mei Xiang nodded: "Forget it, they are careful people. The wife may have finished her work, and the housekeeper will bring a new wife and girl over soon. You go and do some things, and I want to take a break."

Lan Xiang hurriedly changed her smile and went, taking away Chen'er, who was always wanting to interrupt, while Dong'er was busy tidying up the quilt and burning the kang for Mei Xiang, Mei Xiang leaned on the table and closed her eyes to rest, Chunying was a little worried He asked calmly, "Sister Mei Xiang, are you really alright?"

Mei Xiang opened her eyes and smiled: "It's okay, I can hold on." She sighed again: "I've only been away for half a day, and such a big incident happened, how can I stay at home? Qing'er ...is it really irreparable?"

Chunying lowered her head sadly: "My wife gave the order... The third young master originally wanted to save her, but I don't know who told the story..."

Mei Xiang lowered her eyes: "Chun'er, I'm going to bed first, how about you come and talk to me tomorrow?"

Chunying agreed, seeing that her face was exhausted, she quickly helped her to sleep next to the kang, and together with Dong'er covered her tightly with the quilt, she walked out of the room.

As soon as he went out, he ran into the third young master Li You, who asked anxiously, "They said that Mei Xiang is back, how is she sick?!"

"Sister Mei Xiang just fell asleep, she seems quite tired, but she doesn't seem to be seriously ill." Chunying opened the door and let him take a look inside, "Third Young Master, let her have a good sleep."

Li You nodded silently, looked at Mei Xiang in the room, her eyes were deep, and she didn't know what she was thinking.

Dong'er saluted carefully, then retreated, Chunying turned to leave, suddenly remembered Zhou Nian's instructions, and said to Li You: "Just now... I sent some snacks to Master Nian, he let you go Look at him, I wonder if he has something to say to you."

Li You frowned: "What did he want to say to me? Did you tell him what happened in the afternoon?!"

Chunying shrank her neck: "He asked me when he saw me crying..."

Li You glared at her angrily: "I can't count what I say now, right? No matter what I say, you all ignore it, don't you?! Who do you think you are?!"

Chunying knew she was wronged, she turned her head and ran away in fear.Li You stood where he was, feeling aggrieved and resentful.

Who can he take it out on?His mother was doing it for his own good, and he couldn't object to her decision; and the girls around him had served him for many years, so he couldn't say a word about punishing them severely; he wanted to scold his second brother for being vicious, but he was in the way of his grandmother's face.In the end, he could only lift his foot and kicked the colonnade hard a few times, resisting the urge to shout loudly, and when he heard Lan Xiang calling him, he calmed down and returned to that gentle and elegant young master.

Chunying ran all the way to her room, but Manru stopped her as soon as she left the front yard.

Manru smiled and waved her over, then asked in a low voice: "Chun'er, do you want to go home and have a look? May I give you a day off?"

(End of this chapter)