Lady Zhao

Chapter 42

Mr. Zhao really didn't expect such a happy event. There was no wind and no waves on the front and rear feet. In the end, when the first daughter of the second room fell ill, the culprit was the third daughter who he thought was the most sensible and well-behaved. , slapped him in the face, and at the same time felt a little glad that this incident did not go to the front and saved the face of Duke Dingguo.

As the head of the family and a close minister of the emperor, needless to say, he is busy with business affairs, so he can't take care of the family affairs too much. Fortunately, Mrs. Ye is virtuous and has a mother who is in charge of maintaining peace in the inner house. He had a headache, and he wouldn't take the occasional quarrel between his daughters to heart, but he didn't expect that he would make such a big mess this time, and dare to use spices to harm people!

The one who was most worried at first, was polite and thoughtful, and took care of the overall situation, while Zhao Wenxuan, whom he had always been optimistic about,... listened to the lingering mother in Mingxu Garden explain how the two daughters argued in detail. , seems to have a hidden responsibility for him--Aunt Xia is beautiful and weak, with a gentle temperament, and Mr. Zhao is a high-spirited man with a bit of love for the weak in his bones. He has a strong aura, and she is not a pampered person, and there are reasons why she occasionally messes with the old lady. chaos.

But what my mother said...

It seems that he secretly blamed him for being too partial to Aunt Xia, but on the contrary, Ye Shi, the aunt, had scruples, and many things were difficult to control, so that Aunt Xia became more and more arrogant as she got older. like.

Zhao Wenxuan was trained almost in the mold of Aunt Xia. It is not difficult to see Aunt Xia's intentions in her every word and deed. How a gentle and well-behaved child gave birth to such a crooked mind is hard to avoid.

Mrs. Zhao's harsh words made Mr. Zhao sweat coldly. Reflecting on his own mistakes, he also realized the power of it, and secretly made up his mind not to be arrogant to Aunt Xia again.

Coming out of Mingxu Garden, thinking of Zhao Wenwan's grievances, Mr. Zhao walked to Xiangzhu Garden without knowing it. He didn't want to meet Aunt Xia by chance. The fault pushed Zhao Wenwan on the head, covering it up as a misunderstanding.If this had been said before the old lady, Mr. Zhao might have believed it, but now hearing it adds to the annoyance——Zhao Wenxuan made a mistake, and her mother personally punished her and sent her to Xishan for a month of confinement. Preaching, but what is the meaning of running to this Xiangzhu Garden? There is such a mother?

The scale in Mr. Zhao's heart was seriously tilted, annoyed by her crying, he reprimanded Aunt Xia in a few words, and went inside instead.

In the garden, Zhao Wenwan, who was being pressed by Bao Chan to apply the medicine, saw Mr. Zhao was slightly taken aback, and then got up to say hello, but was pressed down by Mr. Zhao, "Okay, there is no need to be so polite in private, but where else is there?" uncomfortable?"

Zhao Wenwan was speechless, as if he wasn't the one who loved etiquette the most before, "My daughter's symptoms are mild, the doctor said it will be fine in two days, father don't need to worry about it."

Master Zhao looked at Zhao Wenwan, who had calmed down, as if he had been completely reborn, with mixed feelings in his heart. Thinking about it carefully, most of the cute things she did back then were because she wanted to attract his attention. Mrs. Shen left early, and Yuan Li again That way, instead, he deliberately ignored her, and only liked the well-behaved, sensible, and obedient ones, which made the child farther and farther away from him, and there was some rift.

"You did a good job with the banquet this time. Many colleagues praised you at court today, and even inquired... cough, I can consider what reward you want." Master Zhao said to Zhao Wenwan with a bright smile With a look of disbelief in his eyes, he couldn't help but feel his heart tense, remembering that he used to treat Zhao Wenwan...it seemed that there was only punishment and punishment, and it was the first time that he had received rewards. After eating, Dad paused, touched his nose uncomfortably, and said, "You can do the same in the future, Dad will feel at ease."

Zhao Wenwan twitched the corner of his mouth, no matter how it sounded like a leader encouraging his subordinates to continue to work hard?It's just that he has to be serious on the surface, showing guilt, "Wen Wan was ignorant in the past and made Dad worry about it, but it won't happen in the future."

Seeing Zhao Wenwan like this, Mr. Zhao was not without relief. The anger caused by Zhao Wenxuan dissipated a lot in his heart, but he was still a little unfamiliar with his eldest daughter. He asked her to rest well, and sent his followers to the warehouse to collect a lot of gold and silver. The accessories let her choose as a reward, and she left.

Zhao Wenwan was playing with the golden silk, fragrant wood, inlaid cicada and jade beads in his hand, and only picked this one. She got what she deserved, but she was not greedy, which left a good impression on Master Zhao.Suddenly aware of a sharp gaze, Zhao Wenwan turned his head to look, and saw Aunt Xia standing in front of the door with a dark face.

Rare customers.Zhao Wenwan smiled, and said to Qilan, "Didn't you see Aunt Xia coming, hurry up and make a pot of hot tea, my aunt's lips are turning white when it's cold outside." Apparently she knew she had been outside for a long time, but she was waiting for Zhao Wenwan. The master came in only after leaving, fearing that he had something to ask of himself.

Aunt Xia bit her lip, she was definitely angry, seeing Zhao Wenwan's appearance was clearly all right, but she got a lot of benefits for no reason, if she hadn't been solicitous in front of the old lady, Wen Xuan would not have been fined to go to Xishan for a full confinement For a month, there was nothing in Xishan, life was hard, how could Wenxuan bear that crime!
There was resentment in her heart, but she couldn't show it on the surface. She had run into walls with the old lady and Mr. Zhao, and now the only one who could save the situation... was Zhao Wenwan. She approached and said, "Wen Wan, my aunt came here with an unfeeling request. Wen Xuan is the best with you, so my aunt can only beg you."

"It's about the spices." Zhao Wenwan took the conversation, frowned and pretended to be heartbroken, and preemptively said, "My aunt also said that Wenxuan is the closest to me, how could you deceive me like this?"

"..." Aunt Xia's throat was blocked, and she held her breath for a long time. She couldn't calm down, thinking of her daughter who was going to suffer soon, she had to beg for mercy, "Wen Xuan was fooled by a ghost for a while and did something stupid. I will apologize to you, but you also know the place in Xishan, Wenxuan... I can't stand it, the old lady listens to you the most now, my aunt begs you to ask Wenxuan for mercy, maybe the old lady can be punished lightly, Punishment to kneel in the Buddhist hall is also fine."

Although it was a low-pitched pleading, Zhao Wenwan did miss the resentment in her eyes. If she really kept her own place, it would be fine, but she didn't believe that Zhao Wenxuan's elm head could come up with such a plan to kill two birds with one stone.

Therefore, Zhao Wenwan became more and more impatient with Aunt Xia's crying and moral kidnapping, and said in a cold voice, "Zhao Wenxuan can't bear it in Xishan, so I can bear it? In front of grandma, Wenxuan took a mouthful. I insisted that I did it, if I hadn't produced evidence, I should be the one who went this time, how do you want me to think of this sisterhood?!"

"But..." Aunt Xia was embarrassed, and secretly complained that Zhao Wenxuan didn't handle it cleanly, and was speechless when Zhao Wenwan questioned her.

"What's more, today she hurts not only me, but also sister Wenxi, she is much more serious than me, you asked me to open my mouth to ask for this favor, where will sister Wenxi be, Auntie, please go back." Zhao Wenwan was annoyed. Deal with it, and issued a eviction order.

Bao Chan was waiting at the side, and when she heard this, she walked up to Aunt Xia and asked, "Aunt Xia, thanks to Miss San, my young lady has to rest. Please go back, and don't disturb the young lady's rest."

Seeing that the maids around Zhao Wenwan dared to speak so sharply, Aunt Xia glared at her. From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Zhao Wenwan's curled mouth, and felt even more resentful. She pushed Bao Chan away and faced Zhao Wenwan, so she simply didn't pretend He tore his face and said, "Zhao Wenwan, are you really so merciless?"

Zhao Wenwan raised his eyebrows, watching her face change with interest, "Why?"

"I beg you, you shouldn't, you have to force me to take this step?" Aunt Xia smiled coldly, and there was a hint of threat in the coldness, "At the beginning, you thought that the matter was unnoticed. , but I didn't expect to let me see it seriously, if you agree to my request today, I will never mention this matter again, if you don't...None of us can think about it!"

Zhao Wenwan was confused when he heard it, but the expression on his face was profound, and he didn't miss the bottom line. Zhao Wenwan did too many deaths in the past, and Aunt Xia gave too few hints. She couldn't figure it out at all!
Seeing her calm expression, Aunt Xia thought she had hit her vital point, so she couldn't help but feel a little complacent, and said slightly provocatively, "If I were you right now, I'd better go to Mingxu Garden and have a good talk with the old lady. After all, if this matter is exposed, even if the old lady loves you the most, she will not be able to protect you. At that time, I am afraid that even Xishan will be punished lightly. I dare to say it today, so I have the evidence, but I used to read you and Wen Sister Xuan has a deep affection and has never shaken off. If I have to tear my face apart, there is no need for me to hide it. Wen Wan, you have to think clearly."

"What Aunt Xia said, Wen Wan didn't understand a word. Instead of wasting time here, Auntie might as well spend more time with Wen Xuan. After all, it must be difficult to part for a month. Baochan sees off the guests." Zhao Wenwan lowered her eyes, hiding Going away from all the waves in his eyes, he opened his mouth lightly.

"You..." Aunt Xia stared at her in disbelief, her face turned from pale to green to red after a while, and she completely cooled down, "Okay, let's wait and see."

Disagreement at one word, broke up unhappy.

Zhao Wenwan caressed the jade bead, her thoughts drifted away, just because of Aunt Xia's behavior just now, she couldn't have complied with her wishes, although she didn't know what she did, but if she really did as she wished, she would be caught in the future .

When the soldiers came to cover up the water and the soil, she couldn't believe that she couldn't deal with an aunt.Zhao Wenwan's eyes turned cold, he recruited Xueyan, and went straight to Mingxu Garden.

As soon as Zhao Wenwan entered Mingxu Garden, she went straight to the main room and knelt in front of Mrs. Zhao, followed by Xueyan and Baochan who followed her on the ground. The three masters and servants, Zhao Wenwan, were in front, and the two were behind. In addition to the burning sound of candles "crackling" in the quiet main room, there is also a little "dongdong" sound of kneeling on the ground.

The people in the chief seat raised their heads when they heard the sound, and the old lady who was still thinking about things calmed down immediately, replaced by full of doubts and distress, waved her hands and said eagerly: "It's so cold on the ground, get up quickly, You are not in good health."

Mama Yang was standing beside the candle stand in the distance with her back on her back. She also saw the three of them at this moment, raised her eyebrows and quickly extinguished the candle in her hand, and made a gesture to help Zhao Wenwan, who shook her head and said nothing. Ken Qi raised her head stubbornly and her eye circles were slightly red, "Grandmother, it should be like this, Wen Wan will make an apology on her own first, lest someone come to you later and say that your granddaughter was ignorant before."

The doubts on the old lady's face deepened. She guessed that someone went to Xiangzhu Garden to make trouble during the time she went back. After thinking about it carefully, she probably guessed who it was. Seeing Zhao Wenwan kneeling stubbornly on the ground, she frowned and said , "Come to grandma, tell me what's going on?"

Zhao Wenwan didn't make a sound, but when she heard her grandmother's question, the circles of her eyes became more red. The snow geese kneeling behind her glanced at Mama Yang meaningfully.

Yang's mother watched anxiously from the side, "Miss, get up and talk first!" Then she glanced at Xue Yan, and followed the maid's wishes, "Xue Yan, you say it."

The old lady also looked at Xueyan following Mama Yang's line of sight, her eyes showing a bit of coercion, waiting for her to speak, already having some guesses in her heart.

Xueyan, who was named, had a brief moment of hesitation on his face, and finally straightened up and said for the master, "Go back to the old lady, the lady is resting in the Xiangzhu Garden. I don't want Aunt Xia to come to Xiangzhu Garden aggressively. The young lady interceded with the third young lady, but the young lady refused, and Aunt Xia acted like she had eaten gunpowder, saying that if the young lady refused to intercede, she would report the wrong things that the young lady did to you, old madam."

Baochan's tightly pursed lips finally couldn't hold back anymore, angrily, she forgot the rules and interjected, also complaining for her own lady: "Miss is really wronged, what the third lady did is stupid is not our lady's responsibility. , but my aunt was stern, baring her teeth and claws as if she wanted to eat people, she pushed all the responsibility on our young lady, she kept threatening, but she refused to explain in detail what happened. The old lady is sad, it's better to come here and admit my mistake."

Mrs. Zhao immediately turned serious, the anger in her eyes was not directed at the people below, and she said slowly: "Did she really say that?"

Zhao Wenwan nodded silently, her voice was low, and she spoke aggrievedly, "Grandmother, Wen Wan didn't understand the rules before and did something wrong. I'm afraid it's something unsatisfactory that my aunt will remember in her heart, and her granddaughter doesn't know. Since my aunt wants to find out Said, Wen Wan had nothing to say, so she had to come to her grandmother first to admit her mistakes and be punished. Besides, the third sister was punished to go to Xishan today, I was also very sad. If there are some issues of arrogance, it is irrelevant. As the eldest sister, I don’t need Aunt Xia to ask for it. Xiangzhuyuan will naturally come to plead for her."

As she spoke, she sighed, "It's understandable for my aunt to love her daughter, but I have to look at what I did wrong. It's a harmful idea. If I don't discipline it strictly, there will be disasters in the future. Let alone, The most recent one is the incense poisoning case of Prime Minister Du's family that has been rumored for the past few days, and the consequences..."

Mrs. Zhao was startled when she heard that, and Mother Yang was even more terrified. The fourth son of Mr. Wan, Minister of the Household Department, married the concubine daughter of Prime Minister Du's family, and she was also good at making incense. Seemingly gentle and virtuous, she had a feud with her sister-in-law's second wife a few days after her marriage, and a rift arose. On the surface, there was no attack, but poison was added to the incense and given to the second wife.At night, the husband and wife lighted incense, and now, although the husband and wife of the Shangshu family of the Ministry of Households have snatched it back from the ghost gate, they have become crazy because of the incense poison. Lord Wan lost a whole house at once, and Prime Minister Du deliberately covered it up. The fourth wife's son-in-law was not allowed to divorce the letter, Mr. Wan really couldn't swallow this breath, so the matter was brought to the Holy Majesty, and the two good in-laws became enemies who turned against each other.

How similar!

"Sister Wenxi was murdered like that. Now Jinglianyuan has covered all reflective objects, and dare not show her appearance, for fear of being stimulated. How can I plead with Wenxuan at the words of my aunt? She went to Xishan to face the wall and think about it, and after learning the lesson, she will not do it again. When she comes back, sister Wenxi and I will naturally accept it again, just like my grandmother treated me. "

Mother Yang felt that Zhao Wenwan's remarks were quite reasonable. Although the eldest lady was indeed domineering in the past, she was different from the third lady. The former Zhao Wenwan was a little bit more arrogant, and her mind was not bad, so she must not be able to do it. Zhao Wenxuan was different for something that was outrageous and unreasonable. She seemed to be well-behaved, but her moves were ruthless, and she was somewhat similar to the concubine daughter of Prime Minister Lou's family.

"Old madam, according to this old slave, Aunt Xia's vague threats may not be the case at all. Even if the eldest lady has something against her before, it is quite inappropriate for her to use it as an excuse. Rituals, she is an elder, but she threatens others with a sharp tongue, when no one has made a mistake, the Buddhists say that the prodigal son is not exchanged for money, let alone our young lady is still a daughter who is not yet ready."

Mrs. Zhao nodded, and staggered down to help Zhao Wenwan herself, "Get up, no matter what happened, it's over, grandma won't listen to her nonsense."

"Grandmother..." Zhao Wenwan had tears in her eyes, but she was really moved. She got up and threw herself into the arms of the old lady. The old lady comforted Zhao Wenwan, and she felt a headache when she thought of Aunt Xia, "She has always been restless, hey , I really shouldn't have taken it back to the mansion in a moment of soft-heartedness, and now it won't disturb so many things."

"Mother Yang, go and inform Lanyuan, let her face the wall with Wenxuan in the confinement garden this month and think about it." Wenwan's words confirmed her guess in her heart. Ever since Wenxuan made troubles one after another, the old lady I was already dissatisfied with Aunt Xia in my heart.

Today's practice even touched the old lady's rebellion, and she was determined to teach Aunt Xia a lesson. After Wenxuan came back, she would never let Aunt Xia take care of her again. Let Aunt Xia take care of her, and let her take away all the good Zhao family heirs.

Mother Yang got the order and stepped back to leave. Zhao Wenwan sat on the couch with the old lady, raised her eyebrows, and said something else, "Grandmother, a few days ago, I made a budget for the procuring banquet. They should have something in common, just wanted to see how the birthday banquet for father was spent before, but accidentally discovered in the account book that our house had a shortfall, no, it should be said that someone was too courageous and made fake accounts. Looking at the pen and brush is clear, but after careful examination, some of them have no source."

Sensing the surprised gaze of the old lady, Zhao Wenwan paused and continued, "For example, I bought the embroidered silk cloth for the Eight Immortals table at Dad's birthday banquet. But that day I saw someone moving out, so I inquired according to the approval, only to find that the silk cloth for the table was rented temporarily, and it didn't cost much, only [-]% of the silver to buy these embroidered cloths. But it is the purchase price of each batch of embroidered cloth."

"There are still a few things like this. The granddaughter is not capable enough, and some of them really can't see the clues, but the amount of expenditure is quite a lot. Wen Wan feels strange and is planning to tell her grandmother. The matter called Wen Xuan is interrupted. I was delayed, now that I think about it, I will remind my grandma, lest there are dirty hands and feet in the counting room."

When Mrs. Zhao heard this, the more she thought about it, the more she thought, "Is there such a thing? When did you become so presumptuous?"

"My granddaughter encountered all sorts of obstructions in the accountant's room during her investigation, and she only got a glimpse of the tip of the iceberg." Zhao Wenwan added with a solemn expression.This matter was indeed discovered by her during the banquet, and she even found out some interesting things, so she acted first, Zhao Wenwan arranged a good way for Aunt Xia.

"How much is the loss? Your mother didn't find out?" The old lady's words contained a hint of reprimand, her brows were furrowed, showing displeasure.

The mansion has always been the master of the Ye family. This matter should have been done by the Duke's wife, but Wen Wan found out in the end. The old lady questioned the ability of the Ye family's housekeeper, but her granddaughter followed the Shen family. The virtuous and capable, if Shen's daughter-in-law is still there, there may be such troubles in the family. Speaking of which, the old lady still thinks about Shen's in her heart. With comparison, there will be more partiality.

Zhao Wenwan did not comment on Ye's 'actions', "Only the account I found was emptied by ten taels...Twelve taels of gold were spent one by one under other guises. I asked There are a few places, and some of them still can't get the purchase note."

The old lady's face became more serious, and she pondered for a while, "Since you found out about this, I'll let them come to Mingxu Garden tomorrow, so you can come and see what's going on together."

Zhao Wenwan knew who they were in the old lady's mouth, so she said yes.Zhao Wenwan lowered his eyes and raised the corners of his mouth slightly. With his grandmother making a move, there was nothing left to hide.

After stepping out of Mingxu Garden, Zhao Wenwan stopped, looked up at the dark night with only a few stars, and was a little lost in thought.

There was not even a breath of wind in the corridor, and there was a gloomy look. Zhao Wenwan looked away and murmured, "It's like the calm before the storm."

Just for a while.

(End of this chapter)