After sending Gu Tingye out, Minglan kept listening to what the housekeepers were saying: The wall between the two houses has been demolished, and construction can begin only after the wood and bricks are delivered... The monthly money has been paid.
, there are some discrepancies in a few accounts... Cotton fabrics have been purchased, and the purchaser asked Minglan to take a look at the goods. The needleworker said that tomorrow we can start making winter clothes for the house... The kitchen at the construction site outside came to pay the bill... There are also examples
There were a lot of miscellaneous things that we needed to do, but Minglan patiently dealt with them one by one. [Ye*] [*]
In a blink of an eye, I saw Danju sitting by the window checking accounts. Over the years, she had become more and more skillful in her abacus calculations, and she could finish a few accounts in a blink of an eye.
Liao Yong's wife is well-connected and has already identified some good young men who are suitable for marriage. Now she has some ideas: some are from well-to-do families, some are farmers with abundant land, and some are stewards of the government who want to marry her.
As soon as you get married, there will be someone to serve you; after the New Year, the shopkeepers from outside will come to Beijing to gather together to see if there are any young and promising ones, or anyone who is motivated.
Ming Lan had a headache thinking about it, so she wanted to ask Dan Ju for a few personal opinions, but she blushed with embarrassment and turned away. Hao Sheng was caught and questioned, but she got angry on the spot and refused to pay attention to him.
"It's your fault, madam. How can anyone ask a girl's family to talk about her son-in-law and marriage?" Cui's mother said with a smile.
Minglan wrinkled her tender cheeks: "It's okay to talk about it. Otherwise, how would I know what kind of person she likes, someone who is gentle, refreshing, calm and down-to-earth, someone who can laugh and be considerate. This is a lifetime thing.
, what is she ashamed of?"
What if there are incompatible personalities after marriage? Uh... maybe she thinks too much.
"Back then, the old lady was so busy worrying about the people below me. Now that she has learned 100%, the people in this house are very lucky." Cui's mother's eyes were gentle, and she became more and more loving when she looked at Minglan. Minglan didn't
Based on experience, I was afraid of missing Dan Ju, so I asked Cui’s mother to help me plan the marriage. Judging from the marriages she had found for several of her nieces, it was quite reliable.
"Madam, don't worry. She and Xiaotao are the ones I care about most. Madam has also asked me to take care of myself," Cui's mother said.
After Cui's mother left, Minglan was leaning on Concubine Xiang's couch, holding a volume of account books as if holding a collection of poems, frowning in a daze. It should be said that Qin Sang was the most worry-free and labor-saving. Her family came all the way from here.
When he came to the countryside, he begged the steward to tell Minglan that Qin Sang was old enough to get married. He asked the Lord to be merciful and wanted to redeem his daughter. Minglan happily asked people to come in and see her.
Qin Sang's parents and eldest brother looked like they were kind-hearted people, dressed simply and cleanly. They walked into the house tremblingly. When they saw Minglan, they knelt down and kowtowed, crying bitterly, which shocked Minglan.
Minglan asked them what kind of family they had found for their daughter, and was a little reassured when she learned that her character and family background were fine.
"...God opened his eyes and met a noble person; he had good food, good clothes, and allowed him to read and write." Qin Sang's mother's face, red and black, wrinkled by the sun, was full of humble gratitude, simple and innocent, "Mrs.
This generation of our family will remember the great kindness of the old lady of the Hesheng family, and the next generation will have to repay her by making a grass ring."
She kept saying that she had no choice but to sell her daughter. She was separated from her flesh and blood, and she didn't know where her daughter would end up or what would happen to her. The whole family felt like it was fried. Qin Sang's father and brother were both honest farmers.
During the meeting, he would cry and kowtow at the same time. He would only get up after having to talk a lot, and stand aside with shrinking hands and feet.
When Minglan said that there was no need to ransom money, the three members of the family knelt down together with a roar, and fell to the ground in gratitude. They cried and thanked each other, kowtowing like garlic. Minglan had never been kowtowed so many times in her life, and she only felt like she was scalping.
After hearing Minglan's words, Qin Sang's family went back first with great gratitude and rest assured to prepare Qin Sang's boudoir and prepare for the wedding.
When Qin Sang comes to pick her up in the middle of next year, that's almost it.
"I wonder what kind of family we have found? How is their character?" Minglan put her head on the pillow of the couch and muttered to herself.
Luzhi came in holding two pillows that had just been fragrant by the sun. After hearing this, he smiled and said: "Madam, don't worry too much. Didn't you let Qin Sang go back to your hometown to visit relatives before you left the cabinet? I have already called you my mother."
Come with me and go see it yourself."
Minglan was slightly shocked: "Qin Sang has seen it himself?"
"Who says it's not!" Luzhi stuffed the warm and plump pillow under Minglan's waist and said with a smile, "That end is a big family in the village. The whole family is a kind person. There are many fields and tenants. That person has a long
Also handsome."
"Damn girl, if I tell you, she will act like an old clam that keeps her mouth shut in front of me!" Minglan was slightly reassured, and then whispered, "...I don't know if people will dislike her for being a girl." Zhizhi.
She sold herself at a young age and had been in the capital for nearly ten years. However, her parents and brothers were not familiar with each other, and she was not very clear about her marriage. Minglan was beyond her reach to find out what was going on.
Luzhi smiled and exclaimed: "What are you talking about, madam? I know that she is the personal maid of a lady from an official family in the capital, and now she has joined the prince's mansion to be the eldest maid. Look at our Qin Sangtong's elegant and demeanor.
If you don't use Zhang as a Qiao, you are just honest and kind, what do they like? Do you still dislike him? You think you are the sour scholar from the outer courtyard!"
Minglan gave her an angry look, knowing who she was alluding to. Luzhi was a capable and decent girl, but she needed some generosity and would not forgive others. Even Ruomei refused to give up when they met.
God was so angry, and he was afraid of being angry and scolded by the Lord, so he never dared to quarrel openly, but only secretly argued with each other. He even denied that there was any conflict between the two of them, just like a child, which was annoying and funny.
Recently, my brain has been getting harder and harder. Not long after I got up early in the morning, I felt sleepy again. Ming Lan pulled her head and squinted on the couch. She was lowering her head to clean up the green branches when she realized that she was saying
After saying this, he fell silent. When he raised his head and saw this situation, he secretly smiled and tucked Minglan's thin quilt in, and walked out quietly.
My whole body was sore from this sleep, and the dark land was endless as far as the eye could see. It wasn't until about midnight that I woke up slightly, and just then Danju opened the door curtain and came in. He said with a smile: "We have a guest. Madam, please get up quickly."
…
"We have just come out of the palace. Because we abide by the rules and are afraid of making mistakes, we don't dare to move much. We come here to ask for a cup of tea." Little Shen has charming cheeks and a bright smile, with a voice as clear and youthful as a silver bell.
A table full of tea and fruit snacks was placed in the waterside pavilion. At this time, it was autumn and the air was crisp. The water on the pool was shining. There were several red-leaf trees that were moved from the Western Mountains beside the pool. There was a slight breeze and a few trees fell.
Pieces of bright red are either dotted on the dry yellow-green grass, or floating on the undulating blue water, really bringing you joy in the wind.
"You still obey the rules? Don't you dare to move too much?" Mrs. Geng, who was sitting beside her peeling oranges, glared, "Since you were a child, no matter how much you climb hills or roll in mud ponds, the Queen is reluctant to touch you with her finger. How dare you?
Say so!"
Little Shen smiled happily and twitched her beautiful eyebrows: "Isn't the Queen Mother here today? If Queen Shan were here, you would look like this. My sister is such a kind and generous person. When has she ever been restrained?
"You guys." He turned towards Minglan and said with a smile, "After standing for more than an hour, I saw that they were all tired and tired, so I suggested that they come to your place to have a rest. What do you think? Don't be unhappy."
Hearing this, Minglan smiled bitterly: "Meng Zheng, Second Grandma, you are very favored. You look down upon this humble house. It's really brilliant. You can come, but don't be too polite." Little Shen didn't answer either.
Smiling proudly.
People were walking around in the waterside pavilion, and seven or eight girls were carrying hot water and throwing handkerchiefs on them.
Mrs. Duan took the warm handkerchief from the little girl's hand and handed it to Mrs. Geng, with a kind and gentle look on her face: "Hurry up and wipe your neck. You are sweating so much that your makeup is all smeared. It's a joke. Why don't you just wash your face."
"
"Thank you very much, why don't you wash it too." Mrs. Geng took the handkerchief generously, pressed it on her shoulders and neck, and asked the maid to wrap a scarf around her chest. There was a maid next to her holding a mirror and a basin.
Wash her face and makeup carefully.
Mrs. Duan thought for a moment and said cheerfully: "That's OK." Then she also sat down and bent over, lowered her head and asked someone to wash her.
Mrs. Zhong on the side looked at the maids serving her well, respectfully and gracefully, with skillful and gentle movements. No sound was heard during the movements, only the rustling of clothes was heard. She pressed her forehead with a wet handkerchief and turned to face Minglan.
She said: "I just wanted to say this when I came back to your place. Even the servant girl here is better than the personal girl in my house." Her eyes passed over the girls with low eyebrows, and a smile appeared on her slender face.
"Good looks, good talents, and better rules."
Minglan scolded slightly, pretending to be helpful, and said with a smile: "Sister Zhong's mouth is so sweet, and the person who said it feels very comfortable. I have a few baskets of fresh bamboo shoots just sent from the mountains. I will take some home with you later."
Have a taste.”
Mrs. Zhong laughed, but before she could say anything, Mr. Shen jumped in and said, "Well, you are a soft-eared person. When people say nice things, you become happy. But we dumb-talkers have no share in it?"
"Yes, yes, everyone who sees it has a share, isn't that enough?" Minglan quickly waved her hands to beg for mercy, as if she had been robbed, and Xiao Shen and Mrs. Zhong laughed together. (·~)
Mrs. Geng had already washed her face and was turning her head to ask someone to put on a hairpin ring and necklace. She finally got some free time and said quickly: "In the front line, I looked for a few more people and said I wanted such a good girl. But...
What a big joke! People say that the best girls from serious and wealthy families are trained since they were young, and their moral character is scrutinized all the way. After a few years, they are selected for the young masters and young ladies. Alas... only
I hope I can find some good nanny who understand the rules and train her slowly."
Hearing what she said was interesting, everyone laughed together. Little Shen was especially happy. She couldn't help but shake her shoulders while holding on to the armrests of her chair. Mrs. Duan suppressed her laughter and joked: "What's the point of this? You are the most powerful one."
The naughty one!"
Duan Chengqian and his wife both came from a famous family in Shu. Although they were from a side branch, they had all the education and rules they needed to know. This time they went to Beijing with their husband-in-law, and the elders of her husband's family and her mother's family gave many useful family members.
, only then can it be done smoothly.
After laughing for a while, Mrs. Geng frowned again and sighed: "When I came to Beijing, there was not much around. I just felt that it was difficult to turn around, so I bought people everywhere. But the big and smart one was too thoughtful.
The honest one is too stupid, and the little one is not easy to handle at all. The capital has its own rules. Last time we hosted a banquet, something went wrong here or there, and we almost made a joke."
"I'm afraid, sister, you are too discerning. You buy and sell girls five or six times a month. It's not that difficult. Although it's not very good, you can make do with it." Mrs. Zhong looked down at the lake and spoke softly.
airway.
Mrs. Geng curled her lips and hummed: "Is it possible that the scheming and careless fox Mei has taught the old and young men bad things?!"
"It's normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines. My sister is almost at the age where she wants a daughter-in-law, so she still can't think about it." Mrs. Zhong smiled half-seriously.
It is said that General Zhong and Comrade Geng have always been brothers and sisters, and they have a deep sense of loyalty. After they got married, Zhong Dayou couldn't bear to see his good brother being eaten to death by his mother-in-law, and even Mrs. Zhong would often tattoo her in front of Mrs. Geng.
Two sentences.
"Okay, okay, you are here again!" Seeing that Mrs. Geng was about to lose her temper again, Mrs. Duan hurriedly came to smooth things over, "What kind of dish is the mother-in-law serving, and Han is willing to eat this? Every family has its own
The best way to live is to say less!"
There is a generation gap in this topic, and it is difficult for a young daughter-in-law who has not given birth to interrupt. Minglan and Xiao Shen both cover their faces with tea bowls and drink tea in silence. Minglan pretended to be cowardly for a long time before she remembered that she is the master today and cannot just pretend.
Silly, he cleared his throat and changed the subject: "Why did it take so long for you to enter the palace to thank me this time?"
The last time she went to thank her, it only took half an hour, including intermission and commercial breaks.
There are rules to express gratitude. Except for large-scale celebrations in a year, large groups of people cannot enter the palace on weekdays, which will hinder the silence of the palace. They have to come in batches. As a newly minted first-class lady, she has received additional royal gifts.
, Minglan was able to be among the first batch to enter the palace, happily bathed in the emperor's favor, and incidentally made a cameo appearance in a soap opera.
The summons was supposed to follow on the second day, but...well, a little, little accident happened.
"What else could be the reason? The man at the Yin Ning Palace has been unhappy these days." Mrs. Geng was blunt and said quickly, "The ladies above are in a stalemate. How can we dare to move? One stop is half a mile away.
ring."
Mrs. Zhong blew the tea leaves gracefully: "Sister Geng, be careful what you say."
"Be careful. When you leave the palace, your face is longer than the face of the horse tied to the front of the carriage!" Mrs. Geng snorted coldly.
Mrs. Zhong's face turned red and Mrs. Duan coughed repeatedly.
Minglan almost sighed, turned to Xiao Shen and said, "What's going on? I haven't gone out these days, and I don't know anything... Is it convenient for me to say this?" She whispered the last sentence.
Xiao Shen had been in a cheerful mood recently. Hearing this, he said boldly: "If there is anything to say, the emperor has issued an edict this morning and everything has been decided. Two thousand palace people will be released in the palace."
"This is a good thing, it will benefit the country and the people." Minglan smiled happily. The palace was half empty, which probably saved a lot of expenses.
Mrs. Duan nodded lightly and said in a gentle tone: "It is indeed a good thing. Those low-level palace maids are waiting for their old age and have no place to live in their lives. It is good to have family members to go to, but most of them are still pitiful in old age. Your Majesty is wise, and the Queen Mother
He and the Queen are also kind and generous, which is really a blessing from God and a blessing to the country and the country."
"But it's not just the low-level palace people who are being released this time." Mrs. Geng lowered her voice, her eyes shining with excitement.
Minglan smiled and showed off her two cute little white teeth: "That's natural. How can a low-level palace maid make up two thousand? If this is true, then no one will do the rough work in the palace." It's normal and reasonable.
The method of layoffs should be to lay off a little bit at each level.
Mrs. Zhong couldn't help but laugh. She called Minglan's smiling face and flashed her eyes. She often saw this childish and cunning smile on the face of her five-year-old daughter, so she smiled and said: "The Queen said so
Nowadays, troops are used to build rivers, and money is needed everywhere. Not only are there fewer palace servants, but the number of palace masters also has to be reduced. From the emperor to the concubines, as well as the emperor's princess, only a certain number of palace maids are left, and the rest are all
They must be dismissed. Of course, the same goes for the two empress dowagers."
"But... the maids and eunuchs in the Yining Palace are not the most..." Minglan was a little confused, and her heart moved. As a senior palace boss, Queen Mother Shotoku has far more people around her than the newly minted Queen Mother Saint An and the Empress.
Much.
"Who says it's not true?" Mrs. Geng's tone was full of gloating.
"The Queen Mother... agreed?" Minglan was surprised and timid.
"I heard that there has been a dispute in the court for several days." Mrs. Duan said softly, "But now that the treasury is empty, and there is still no trace of the silver while counting, the emperor is willing to reduce the palace expenses on his own, and a few people dare to refute. What's more,
The empress dowagers of the two palaces can already keep the largest number of people, even more than the emperor."
Minglan's heart was bright and she couldn't speak for a long time. She was frozen there. The emperor's move was really cruel.
The waterside pavilion was quiet for a while before I heard Mr. Shen speak.
"Yining Palace has been very lively these days. There are several beauties who are particularly in love with the Lord. They are crying and saying that they don't want to leave the palace. They are dying." Her voice was brisk as if she was about to fly out, "This morning
The Ministry of Internal Affairs went to the Yining Palace with an imperial edict to pick up people. Oh, the ones at the head were those two charming people——" she drawled happily, "but didn't the Queen Mother say that day, 'We are old and there is no need to delay.
They've got it; now my wish has come true."
The waterside pavilion became quiet again, and after a while, Minglan said quietly: "I don't know who they will marry?" Why did she always have to worry about this problem today.
Mrs. Geng was extremely indignant towards any woman who wanted to be a concubine, and immediately sneered: "What else can we do to survive, work, have babies, take care of the family and outside? Which woman doesn't do this. As long as she is willing to live a good life.
Yes, don’t be evil, you can be safe and content, and you can’t be far behind if you can be ranked first to marry a girl in the palace. Otherwise, huh..."
This "hum" sound is extremely powerful and probably violates the prohibition of domestic violence in the Marriage Law.
In other words, when we go to the northern Xinjiang, which is thousands of miles away, the wife of a small soldier will not get any results. If she is an ordinary woman who lives her life with peace of mind, it will be a good thing. If it is those who measure happiness by material things and manipulate the powerful
It's hard to say that the strange women who are responsible for their own responsibilities. What's more... Minglan quickly glanced at Xiao Shen. Once they came out, the marriage of those special women would not be allowed to be discussed in the palace.
Mrs. Duan smiled and talked about some family topics, and the atmosphere became harmonious again; they talked again, Minglan left them to have lunch, and said with a smile: "Now that the Marquis has said that he will not come back, I will put a table of good food, and still
There’s game in the mountains, so let’s just have some wine.”
The invitation was sincere, but who knew they all declined it.
"No, no." Mrs. Duan waved her hands repeatedly and smiled heartily, "I know the food here is good, but I have something to do this afternoon and I have to go back." Mrs. Zhong said with a smile: "Exactly, I just entered the palace today, and everyone at home is
I'm waiting to hear the news, I have to go back." Mrs. Geng also said: "Next time, after your garden is repaired, let's talk about it and have some wine together."
Minglan smiled, turned to look at Xiao Shen, and said with an angry smile: "What about you? You don't have a whole family to take care of!"
Unexpectedly, little Shen also shook his head and waved his hands, and sighed heavily: "I have to go to Ziyanzhai. My little niece is going to study in the boudoir. I agreed to accompany my sister-in-law to see the Four Treasures of the Study Room for girls in the boudoir. I specially booked a set in advance.
Sapphire."
"Oh, what a lovely sister-in-law." Mrs. Duan joked, "The Zheng family has a virtuous wife."
Little Shen's face turned red and she said sheepishly, "A sister-in-law is like a mother."
The most depressing and speechless thing about her is that her mother-in-law is weak and kind, not difficult to take care of at all, but she has a sister-in-law who is one of the best in the capital in observing etiquette. She is taciturn, solemn, and very old. All her relatives and friends respect Mrs. Zheng as a dignified and virtuous woman.
When the stern eyes came, Xiao Shen was more afraid than when she saw the emperor.
Minglan sent everyone out in person, and finally said goodbye to Xiao Shen with sympathy: "You know that I am the lazy one and don't like to go out. If you get bored, just come and talk to me."
"Nonsense, you lazy idiot. I came to see you three times, and you got out of bed twice."
Little Shen was moved in her heart. She came from a remote place. Regardless of her accustomed accent or rules and etiquette, it was difficult for her to integrate into the circle of ladies in the capital. She had to hold back in front of others for fear of making others laugh, but she could relax in front of Minglan.
Minglan instantly withdrew her sympathy: "Nonsense, that's just the collapse of Concubine Xiang."
Little Shen didn't have time to ask back, "Is there anything wrong?" She asked the sullen Minglan to push the carriage forward.
Because she was somewhat stimulated, after lunch, Minglan felt that she was not too lazy, so she took a nap and asked someone to call Sister Rong over. She wanted to check her homework. She posed happily
, who would have thought that Sister Rong’s child would have AIAI every now and then, but she wouldn’t know anything about it.
I asked her about the words in the book, but she couldn't answer them. The most outrageous thing was that she couldn't even answer the twenty-four filial piety. She stuttered and made up a few at random, and finally made up a third of it. Didn't she taste feces?
Worrying, she made up "worry about eating shit"; and "burying children to serve their mother", she made up "killing girls and eating meat".
Minglan almost collapsed. Without Sister Xian's supervision and encouragement, Sister Rong's homework quickly slipped again.
"...Maybe these things really happen." Sister Rong looked worried and defended in a low voice, "It's just that it didn't spread."
Minglan looked at the little girl helplessly, not sleepy at all. Well, it can't be entirely the child's fault.
She had long discovered that Gong Hongxiao didn't have much ink in her belly. Not only was her teaching boring, but her knowledge was also limited and she couldn't stand asking questions.
How much is left? In this way, students lack both respect for the teacher's character and admiration for the teacher's knowledge, and teaching will naturally fail.
In fact, Minglan herself is capable of the job. She has carefully studied all the "Four Books for Women", "Women's Guidelines", "Biography of Chaste Women", "Ode of Martyr Women" and a lot of feudal poisonous weeds that a boudoir girl should learn;
She benefited a lot from Mr. Zhuang's auditing class.
It's more than enough to teach a little girl. However, she doesn't want to.
The longer they get along, the more Minglan realizes that Sister Rong's nature is like her father's, wild and stubborn, full of interest in challenging established rules, and full of crooked ideas. The day before yesterday, she told Sister Rong about "The Analects of Confucius" in "The Analects of Women", which is the third year of high school.
In the chapter "Zhang, You Didn't Leave the Bed", this little girl immediately looked at him with interest.
Minglan was embarrassed for a while, and it took a lot of effort to explain to her the importance of "learning and applying".
The elder Yao Yiyi often dealt with heartless victims and scheming defendants, and she seriously lacked experience in dealing with children. Now that she had given birth to a child, she didn't know how to raise it; not to mention this illegitimate child.
A girl?
Her thoughts swirled for a long time, and she struggled again and again. In addition to the little information she just heard, for the sake of her own brain hygiene and mental health, and for the overall growth of her child's perfect personality, Minglan decided to let professionals deal with this issue.
"That's it." Minglan let out a long breath, "You go to school."
Sister Rong blinked her big black eyes, she was simple and innocent, as uncarved as a wild animal.