While Qiao Mingjin and other family members were busy preparing for the New Year, the Zhou Mansion far away in Qingchuan was also busy.
The servants were busy running around, but they couldn't help but be a little cautious.
The atmosphere in the mansion is really depressing.
If the masters don't show their smiles, the servants will naturally keep their lips shut and concentrate on doing things.
In Tingfeng Courtyard, Zhou Yanqing had been locked in his room for several days since he came back from the capital.
He couldn't believe it no matter what, when he braved the wind, snow and cold, regardless of the danger of ice and snow blocking the road, he hurried back to Qingchuan, pulling a cart full of wedding quilts that he had purchased from a wedding store in the capital.
When I returned with red silk, red satin, hijab and phoenix crown, jewelry and clothing, and all the wedding supplies, I didn't expect that the beautiful woman had already gone and the room was empty...
He stood blankly at the brass-locked door, where in the past he had laughed and had banquets, and beauties had sat and accompanied him. He could not return to his senses for a long time.
No matter how many times he walked inside and outside the workshop, he could no longer see the beautiful orchid-like face of the old empty valley...
He has been in charge of the general affairs of the Zhou family for many years, so he naturally has some connections, so it is easy to inquire about the Qiao family. What's more, Zhou Yaozu also personally admitted to him his identity as the second son-in-law of the Qiao family in Yizhou, so Zhou Yanqing had no choice but to
Accepting the fact that Qiao Mingjin's identity changed, the family returned to their original family.
He had read the letters left by Qiao Mingjin dozens of times and could memorize every word.
It was only in the twelfth lunar month that he came back. After learning about Qiao Mingjin's whereabouts, he was waiting for his horse to go looking for her, but he was unexpectedly stopped by his mother, Mrs. Zhou.
After Zhou Yanqing returned to the city, she asked around about the Qiao family. When she couldn't wait to go to Xiahe Village to look for a beautiful woman the day after she came back, Mrs. Zhou didn't stop her.
Anyway, no one is here anymore, so what’s the use of having my son squatting around day and night?
She was very relieved.
Even if Qiao Shijin's status changed spectacularly, from an ordinary poor farmer to the legitimate daughter of a wealthy family, she would not be able to accept a second-married woman with a dragster as her daughter-in-law.
Candidates waiting to become her daughter-in-law can be lined up from the gate of her Zhou Mansion to the gate of Qingchuan City. Besides, the official family in Jingli is spoiled and pampered. She is good at playing music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Isn’t it true that the beautiful and dignified Huanghua eldest daughter came back with her son?
Does she deserve to beg a second-married girl?
The family is big and the business is big, so what if the family is big? They got married and gave birth to a daughter. She couldn't pass it anyway.
But at this moment, Zhou Yanqing realized that Yan, the concubine who had followed him all the way from Kyoto in the snow and scorching cold and could not get out of the carriage without visiting a shop, turned out not to be looking for anything in Qingchuan.
Relatives.
In fact, I traveled thousands of miles to be his replacement.
It was only then that he learned that long before he left for the capital, his mother had written frequently to his uncle, who held an important position in the capital, and had agreed on his marriage.
When he was in Beijing, his mother also wrote to him asking him to buy a lot of wedding supplies at the wedding store in Beijing. He thought that his mother looked down on Qingchuan's things and wanted to give Jin Niang some dignity, but he didn't expect that none of this was prepared for Jin Niang.
What his mother said about coming back before the end of the year and preparing for his marriage turned out to be true, but the person was not the one he had in mind.
If I had known earlier, I would have asked the matchmaker to make a decision before I left. I would have saved myself from having to endure such an unexpected event now.
However, his mother had done all this for him. If it happened again, would he really be able to exchange Geng Tie with Jin Niang before leaving?
Mrs. Zhou directly shattered his thoughts.
Even if she did it again, the result would still be the same. Because she had no intention of accepting Qiao Mingjin.
She was very satisfied with the Yan girl chosen by the Jingli clan brothers for their son.
Although Yan's father is just a small official in the Ministry of Rites, she is the daughter of an official in the capital. Although her Zhou family has great wealth, how can a low-status businessman compare with that official?
My son is a merchant who has lost his wife. His ancestors have blessed him to be able to marry the daughter of an official in the capital.
They didn't ask him to go all the way to Beijing to get married, but sent him directly to Qingchuan so that his son could get married directly from Qingchuan. The dowry was also prepared, which was already valued by his in-laws.
How dare you still be picky?
Offending the Yan family and offending the clan uncle who holds a high position in Beijing is not something Zhou Yanqing can bear on his own.
The Zhou family's business is spread all over the country. Without the help of the capital, I am afraid that it will be just an ordinary merchant who can make a living.
She couldn't afford this result.
Zhou Yanqing also cannot be the sinner of the family.
There are many people in the clan who depend on the Zhou family for their survival.
As for Zhao Liniang, after Zhou Yanqing brought Yan's daughter back from Beijing, she couldn't sit still. She felt that her vulnerable position was seriously threatened.
Although Yan's daughter does not live in Zhou Mansion, she can still sense her gloomy future.
How can an unloved and childless concubine still have a foothold in front of her capable wife?
Zhao Liniang tossed and turned and couldn't sleep at night.
Praying to God, burning incense and worshiping Buddha, and begging for help are all in vain. The right way is to hold on to her husband, the Sixth Master of the Zhou family, tightly.
"Hey, Aunt Zhao is here again? What kind of body-building soup did you make this time?"
The two women who were guarding the door of Tingfeng Court looked at Zhao Liniang coming in and looked at each other with a bit of contempt in their eyes. They curled their lips secretly and said jokingly to Aunt Zhao Li.
Zhao Liniang saw the expressions of the two of them, but the situation was stronger than the others. Although she was the most eloquent person in the Zhou family's Sixth Master, she had not been favored for many years.
In the eyes of the servants of Tingfeng Yuan, her identity as Zhao Liniang was as good as theirs, and perhaps even more unbearable in their eyes.
At least not to mention the maids who served him closely, even the rough lady in the courtyard could often see Mr. Liu. However, she was exiled to a side courtyard, and sometimes she could not see the person she cared about most for several months.
She was also sent by a clan uncle in Beijing, but how could she compare with the clan uncle who personally worked as a matchmaker and a lady from an official family in Beijing?
I'm just afraid that as soon as Yan's daughter comes in, she may die of old age in a side courtyard.
"I have met two mothers. This food box contains ginseng chicken soup made by Liniang herself. Mr. Liu has been working hard all the way, with wind and snow, and he is afraid that a lot of coldness has accumulated in his body. He will eat this ginseng chicken soup at this time.
It's just right. Liniang has been up since dawn. Please ask the two mothers, for the sake of Liniang's hard work, to let Liniang personally present this chicken soup to Mr. Liu. Mom, look, if
It's very cold today. If the chicken soup gets cold, I'm afraid it will freeze and you won't be able to drink it."
After Zhao Liniang finished speaking, she saw the two mothers just staring at the food box in her hand, curling their lips and saying nothing. She rolled her eyes and took out a few pieces of silver from her sleeves and stuffed them into the hands of the two.
"Mom also knows that it is not easy for Liniang in the house, and she doesn't have much money. Liniang got this from the monthly report, and the two mothers took some wine to drink. Oh, by the way, there are special items in this food box.
I made some snacks for the two mothers. The mothers have to work very hard to guard the hospital in this cold weather. Let’s give the two mothers something fresh to eat.”
The two women weighed the scattered silver in their hands and looked at each other again. One of the women turned her head and listened into the courtyard, then said to Zhao Liniang: "Aunt Zhao, please go in. But if Mr. Liu gets angry, you
But you can’t say that we let you in, you forced yourself in. We couldn’t stop you because of your status, so you were able to enter the hospital."
Zhao Liniang was disdainful in her heart, but she pretended to be overjoyed by the favor. She thanked the two women again and again, put down a snack in the food box, and then entered the yard with cheerful steps.
It was very quiet in Tingfeng Courtyard. There was no maid guarding the door, and Zhou Yanqing's personal servant was not outside to listen to orders. It was a bit eerily quiet.
Zhao Liniang came to the door of the main room. After listening, she could only hear the sound of the cold winter wind.
"Master, this is my concubine Liniang. I made ginseng chicken soup for you. It's still hot. Can I bring it in for you?"
After I finished speaking, I listened carefully, but there was no reply.
Zhao Liniang knew that Zhou Yanqing had been staying in Tingfeng Court these days, so she stepped in. No one in the room answered, but Mr. Liu didn't say anything to drive him away.
Zhao Liniang was secretly happy, straightened her clothes, put the hairpin on her head, and then pushed the door open with small steps.
Behind several layers of curtains in the inner room, on a large bed, Zhou Yanqing, dressed in regular clothes, was leaning on the bedside with her eyes closed and her arms folded.
I don’t know whether I fell asleep or closed my eyes to relax.
Zhao Liniang stared at Zhou Yanqing's face longingly.
This is her lover.
Ever since she followed him, her heart has been tied to him. Even though he had very few favors in the past, and he has not been close to her this year, she still thinks of him and looks forward to him with all her heart.
Zhao Liniang's happiness in the rest of her life depends entirely on the beloved person in front of her.
It is best to win the pity of her husband and give her a child before resuming the relationship. Even if the first wife comes in and excludes her, she will have someone to rely on for the rest of her life.
"Sir, my concubine has brought chicken soup. It's heating up. Do you want to use it now? Can you give me a bowl of it?"
After Zhao Liniang finished speaking, she stared closely into Zhou Yanqing's eyes. However, Zhou Yanqing's eyes did not move.
Zhao Liniang waited for a long time. Unwilling to give up, she called out twice.
She has been simmering this chicken soup for a long time. It is best to drink it while it is hot. When the chicken fat is cold, it condenses into a piece, so how can you eat it?
When Aunt Zhao Li was preparing to call her for the fourth time, Zhou Yanqing opened her eyes, first stared at the end of the bed for a long time, and then looked at Zhao Liniang.
Zhao Liniang was frightened by Zhou Yanqing's cold eyes and shrank back.
Seeing that Zhou Yanqing was just staring at her without saying a word, she lifted the food box in her hand upwards. When she was about to speak again, she unexpectedly heard Zhou Yanqing say coldly and without any emotion: "Put the food in."
Put the box down and get out. No re-entry without a summons."
How could Zhao Liniang be willing to leave like this after she had to give up all the money she had dug out of her hands to meet her lover?
But when she took a small step forward, she heard Zhou Yanqing's cold eyes directed towards her again.
Zhao Liniang was frozen there, unable to move.
"Yes, sir, the maid and concubine are going out now."
Zhao Liniang gritted her teeth, put the food box on the round table gently, and looked back, but her beloved had already closed her eyes.
The moment Zhao Li turned around, two lines of hot tears could not stop rolling down her eyes... (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
ps: Sorry guys, it's late again. I'll try to do three updates tomorrow. I'll make up for the missed chapters next week.
