Madam Hou

Chapter 15

Yuan Meme watched Mrs. Chen bow her knees and bowed for a while, but didn't say anything, but turned her body with a smile.To be honest, Yuan Momo looked down on Mrs. Chen. She came from a merchant, and the wife of an eighth-rank official. How could the rules be better? She was even secretly worried about Mrs. Lin Hou. Mrs. Chen doesn't understand the rules and makes some jokes, I'm afraid it will hurt the reputation of the Hou Mansion.

Looking at it now, Mrs. Chen is not bad. Although she is a bit reserved and petty in her actions, there is no big mistake in the ceremony. I know that the seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister, and the steward from the Hou's mansion are better than her, the eighth-rank official. The madam is much more decent, and she didn't act arrogantly just because a daughter entered the palace.Although Yan Niang's status in the palace is not obvious now, she can't bear to be favored by her, and she is covered by the queen. Seeing from the queen's face, Mrs. Chen will have to socialize with some noble ladies in the future. What she fears most is her vision Small, acting insolently, when the time comes, no one will know if he offends.It's a pity, the status is always lower, it would be nice if the status is higher.

Of course, no matter how decent she is, she is still a servant, but Mrs. Chen is the mother of Concubine Chen and the mother-in-law of the son of the Hou family. She dare not accept all the half-courtesy from Mrs. Chen, so she can only accept the half-courtesy sideways. half ceremony.

After receiving the quarter of the gift, Yuan Memo saw two handsome and cute little people next to her, and asked Mrs. Chen with a smile: "Are these two Miss Chen Er and Miss Chen San?"

Mrs. Chen replied: "It is the two maids in the family, the older one is Yinniang, and the younger one is named Pingniang."

Yinniang and Pingniang hurriedly came forward and bowed their knees to salute: "Yes."

Yuan Meme turned sideways and helped Yinniang up with both hands: "I can't do it, I can't do it, you are an old slave."

After Yinniang stood up straight, she looked at Yuan Mame generously, and said in a clear and crisp voice: "You are the one who is able to support the madam, and you are also the one who took care of the elder son. You are regarded as half an elder, but you should accept this gift."

A servant likes to be said to be proud of his master, and secondly, he likes to be said to be credited to his master. Yin Niang's words have covered both of these aspects, even though she knows that Yin Niang is flattering her. , but Yuan Momo was still flattered and felt at ease.Feeling at ease, feeling at ease, Yinniang didn't just treat her future master with respect like before, but exuded a kind of gentleness from the heart, although it wasn't obvious, but Yinniang was faint I feel it.

Yuan Momo nodded in his heart, thinking that this Second Miss Chen might not be a simple person. With her identity quite different from that of the Hou Mansion, the people who came to see the Hou Mansion were also very generous. Her fiancé also showed no twitch, and even opened his mouth to speak out when he wanted to use his fiancé's name, as if his mouth had been fed honey.That's okay, if she wants to break into the aristocratic circle in the future with an identity like her, I'm afraid it will take some effort. A sweet mouth is better than a shut-up crab, and it will be easier to get along in the future.

Yuan Meme smiled and said: "The old slave has the cheek to accept the face given by the second lady."

Then he said to Mrs. Chen: "Madam and ladies, let's go into the city in the carriage of the Marquis Mansion. Madam knows that you and the ladies have worked hard all the way, so she ordered the old slave to lay a thick brocade mat in the carriage, so that you and the ladies will have a hard time. Ladies sit more comfortably."

After finishing speaking, she winked at the maids next to her, and the maids took out the low stools from the carriage one by one, and the others helped Madam Lin, Yin Niang and others into the carriage.

The carriage of the Hou Mansion is much more spacious than the carriage of the Chen family. Mrs. Chen, Yinniang, Pingniang and Qingteng, who are serving, sat in the best carriage in front, and there was more than enough space in the carriage.The remaining maids and wives were squeezed into the remaining two carriages, and no one complained about being crowded.

As expected, the carriage was covered with thick brocade cushions, and it was very comfortable to sit on. For Mrs. Chen, Yin Niang and others who were sore from the bumpy day, sitting here was indeed a lot more comfortable.In addition to the brocade benches for people to sit on, there was a square table of nanmu wood in the middle of the carriage. On the table were a tall glazed plate and an old kiln plate with the pattern of the Eight Immortals. Apples and oranges were placed in the colored glass plate. There are snacks in the kiln dishes.

Looking at the furnishings in the carriage, Qingteng was secretly amazed, and felt that the people in this capital were really rich and noble, and they really couldn't be compared with the people in Linping County.

Mrs. Chen was sitting in the green oil carriage, looking at the horse curtains on the carriage, her heart was also momentarily startled and momentarily worried.The carriage curtain is made of rain silk brocade which costs five taels of silver a piece. This kind of cloth is used as a good material to make clothes in Linping County. The mansion does not know how rich it is. Later, Yinniang came here In the mansion, with such status, and the eldest son and eldest daughter-in-law, I don't know if he can preside over the midwife in this mansion.

Pingniang was sitting in the carriage, her eyes looked up and down, left and right, and she seemed to be very fresh about everything. She didn't have a very specific concept of the value of things when she was young, but she also knew that everything inside was good. .Yin Niang was sitting upright in the carriage, she only glanced at the decorations in the carriage with her eyes, and then began to make calculations in her heart, guessing how much property the Yongning Hou Mansion should have.

The carriage entered the city gate, passed through the long North Street, and then headed westward. It took only half a cup of tea to arrive at Fu'an Hutong where the Yongninghou Mansion was located.

A servant girl took a low stool with footrests and put it on the ground, and helped Mrs. Chen, Yin Niang and others out.Mrs. Chen looked around, and there were two big stone unicorns in front of the door, one on the left and one on the left, squatting on a square stone pillar with bared teeth and glaring eyes, looking a bit creepy.On the crossbeam of the gate are four gold-lacquered characters of "Yongning Houfu", which is said to be a plaque made by Taizu after he ascended the throne.Two bright red lanterns are hung on both sides of the plaque made by She, with the word "Yongning" written on it.

Yuan Memo led Mrs. Chen's group into the gate, boarded the carriage walking in the courtyard, got off the carriage again in front of the double gate entering the inner courtyard, and then entered the vertical flower gate.After entering the Hanging Flower Gate, and then passing through the hallway, you will arrive at the flower hall for entertaining guests in the Yongninghou Mansion.

There are four Taishi chairs on both sides of the flower hall, and between the two Taishi chairs, there is a snail-shaped square table of wenge wood. On the square table is a high-footed plate with apples, oranges, pomegranates and other fruits in it.On the first couch for two people, the couch is covered with brocade mats. There are two carved lacquer tables on the left and right in front of the couch, and sunflower-style saving boxes are placed on the couch.

Mrs. Lin Hou had been waiting in the flower hall for a long time. She wore a real red cherry brocade with a straight collar and small sleeves. For Dongzhu earrings, it looks extravagant but not uncommon.There are three girls waiting with Mrs. Lin Hou, the older one should be 16 years old, and the remaining two are about the same age as Yin Niang, but the one in the middle is slightly older than the one on the left. It's the upper skirt and the lower skirt.

When Mrs. Lin Hou saw Mrs. Chen and others coming in, she hurried up to greet her, and warmly took Mrs. Chen's hand: "Sister, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Madam Chen still said cautiously: "It's my fault that Madam waited so long."

"It's my sister's fault there. I'm too eager to see my sister."

After speaking, he turned his head to look for Yinniang, and when he found it, he took Yinniang's hand and looked around carefully. He saw that Yinniang was wearing a honey-dyed golden yarn plum blossom blouse on her upper body, and a green onion on her lower body. The yellow gauze python skirt, handsome eyebrows and eyes, although not as sharp as Yanniang's beauty, is another kind of tactful and beautiful style.Mrs. Lin Hou smiled and said: "I haven't seen you for more than a year, but Yin Niang has grown taller and opened up, she is more beautiful."

Yin Niang pursed her lips and lowered her head and smiled shyly. After a while, she raised her head and said with a blushing face, "Madam is also prettier than before?"

"Oh, where does it look good?"

"The clothes are good-looking, the hairpins are good-looking, the people are good-looking, and the house is also good-looking."

"Your mouth is still as sweet as before." After speaking, he handed a mutton jade plaque to Yinniang's hand: "Take it and play with it, it's not a good thing. When you pass through the door in the future, I'll give it to you again." Bring out all the good things at the bottom of the box for you."

Yin Niang said with anger and shame: "Ma'am."

Mrs. Lin Hou chuckled, then took Pingniang's hand again, and said, "Little Pingniang has grown up too." Then she hung a jade cicada around her neck.

Pingniang thanked sweetly: "Thank you Ma'am."

After giving Yinniang and Pingniang a meeting ceremony, Madam Lin pointed to the three girls behind and introduced to Madam Chen: "These are the three girls from our family."

Mrs. Chen knew that Mrs. Lin Hou had only given birth to two sons, and when she saw her pointing at the three girls behind her, she knew they were concubines.Mrs. Chen didn't know that she would see three girls at this time, so she was unprepared for a moment, so she took out the two jade bracelets from her wrists, gave them to the two young ladies one by one, and took a jade bracelet from her head. The silk bead hairpin was given to the older lady, and said to the three ladies: "It's not a good thing, the three ladies don't want to dislike it."

The eldest lady was gentle and dignified, and thanked Mrs. Chen generously. Although the middle lady acted a little timidly, she also thanked her in a low voice. Only the youngest lady, the best-looking lady, Looking at the jade bracelet Mrs. Chen gave her, she curled her lips with disgust.

Madam Linhou's eyes turned cold when she saw her, but it was difficult to reprimand her because there were guests here, so she quickly withdrew her eyes, and said to Madam Chen gently: "My sister has been busy all the way, I'm afraid she is tired. Younger sister goes to freshen up first and then take a rest, and in the evening I will clean up my younger sister." After speaking, he ordered the servant girl to bring Mrs. Chen, Yinniang, and Pingniang to Jingxiangyuan, and arranged for a maidservant to serve her.

(End of this chapter)