Danju gently rolled up the two six-door windows facing south, leaving only the two transoms facing east and west for ventilation. Then she stood behind Minglan with a large swing fan and fanned gently. Xiaotao tested the temperature of the water.
Just in time, Minglan brought it over and took a sip, put down the tea cup, glanced at Kang Zhaoer who was standing quietly, and then said: "Your biological mother's surname is Zhou. She was originally bought from outside. When she was fourteen or fifteen years old, she went to serve my aunt.
A few years later, my aunt took the initiative and carried my aunt, and later she gave birth to you. Am I right?"
Kang Zhaoer slowly raised his head, and he didn't know whether it was sweat or tears, shock or fear that was dripping down his face.
Minglan smiled slightly: "My uncle Kang has many concubines, but there is only one aunt named Su who is always decent. She has a son and a daughter. She is your fifteenth sister and eleventh brother. This is not bad, right?" Uncle Kang's skills
Deep and profound, a house full of concubines also leads to a house full of children; Tu Hu checked so many people that he simply counted them by their numbers and didn't bother to inquire about the names of these children.
Kang Zhaoer lost her voice and said: "...how does my cousin know?" She immediately realized that she was rude and quickly lowered her head.
"You have many sisters, and there are three of them who are suitable for marriage now. One is you, one is your fourteenth sister, whose biological mother is a concubine from Kang's hometown, and the other one is the daughter of Aunt Su."
When the family was prosperous, Minglan once met Kang Shiwu once, and she was shocked to see that she was really a charming and charming person with affectionate eyebrows and a natural talent for dealing with people through sex.
"So, why did my aunt choose you to be the Gu family's concubine?" Minglan smiled lazily.
Kang Zhaoer's face showed a look of humiliation, grief and anger, and his lips almost bled from biting them.
"My uncle has many children, except for a few who are honored. Sister Cheng, most of the lives and futures are in the hands of my aunt. Your aunt has no family outside, no support inside, and she is not favored by her uncle. It is not up to anyone to care for her.
?I said yes and no."
Kang Zhaoer raised his dry eyes, as if all the tears were gone, and said numbly: "Everything my cousin said is true."
"I believe you don't mean to harm me by carrying these scissors. So what exactly are you going to do?" Minglan picked up the tea cup on her side and took a sip, "Let's talk about it. What did my aunt tell you?
What?"
Kang Zhaoer looked panicked and looked extremely embarrassed. She endured it again and again, unable to hide her contradictory attitude. After all, she was only sixteen years old. She had been locked up in the house since she was a child and had never experienced such a battle. Her biological mother was cowardly and had no knowledge.
, how can I teach her well? Her heart was in a mess, and her fingers almost twisted the corners of her clothes.
Minglan smiled lightly and said: "I can find out even if you don't tell me, why not sell it to me?"
Kang Zhaoer opened his mouth and closed it again. After several hesitations, the panic on his face still remained, as if he didn't know where to start.
Minglan was not in a hurry, and persuaded her word by word: "What did my aunt tell you about me? I'm afraid there is nothing nice to say." Kang Zhaoer stuttered: "...My wife said, cousin...you love to please and be a good person, and your reputation is very important.
,No...don't dare to appear too jealous..." She looked at Minglan's face carefully, fearing that she might suddenly lose her temper.
Minglan didn't look angry at all, and still smiled kindly: "Then what? What's going on with the scissors? Did you bring it yourself, or did your aunt mean it?" Kang Zhaoer whispered: "...My wife ordered...she said,
If my cousin keeps me, I will find an opportunity to stab myself, and then she will come to my door to make decisions for me and scare my cousin severely. With this fear, my life in the Gu family will be easier in the future." Minglan forbeared.
He couldn't help but nodded again and said with a smile: "But now I will never let you in?"
Kang Zhaoer bit his lips, his face was pale and there was no trace of blood: "...My wife said, if my cousin refuses to live or die... I will not be able to get up on my knees. My cousin is afraid of losing her reputation, so she will either accept me or lock me up. Call me."
I still look for opportunities to hurt myself, and my wife will come to seek justice, saying that it was my cousin who forced me to do this. At that time, it won’t matter if you don’t accept me.”
Everyone in the room was angry after hearing this. Cui's mother was silent by nature, and she was so angry that she was shaking all over. Minglan stood up and came to her, patted her gently, walked back and forth around the room twice, and suddenly turned around and said to her.
Zhao'er said gently: "You haven't seen your aunt do anything since you were a child. Do you really believe that this trick can help you live a good life in the Gu Mansion?"
Kang Zhaoer lowered her head, and her body suddenly started to tremble violently. Thinking of her biological mother's humble and fawning face, she raised her head sadly, looked at Minglan with tearful eyes, and said intermittently: "If you don't believe it, you have to believe it. My aunt, in
Over there..."
Aunt Kang was domineering and domineering, especially her younger sister, and she had no elders to suppress her. Sometimes she even ignored the rules and respectability. Even the housekeepers did not look down upon the children of concubines who had fallen out of favor.
Minglan smiled bitterly and shook her head. It was both threatening and tempting. It was really a lot of effort.
Zhao'er carefully watched Minglan's expression - this was a habit she had developed since she was a child. However, when she saw that Minglan's face was gentle and plain, with no distinction between joy and anger, she became worried and her knees weakened and she knelt down.
He came down and cried: "Please have mercy on my cousin!"
Lu Zhi was so angry that she wanted to step forward and slap her twice, but Minglan's rules were very strict. She couldn't say a word in front of outsiders without her permission, so she had to endure it.
Minglan put one of her hands on the armrest of the chair, tapping her index and middle fingers lightly. Her face was solemn, as if she was thinking about something. After a moment, she suddenly calmed down and looked at Zhao'er with pity.
, said softly: "You know, I was not born in my wife's belly, and I have lost my aunt since I was a child. I often think that if it weren't for my grandmother's love, my life would not be like Piao Ping..."
Her voice was soft and sad, and Kang Zhaoer heard tears welling up again, lowering his head and sobbing softly.
"You and I are both common people, and I can't bear to see you like this. In this case, I will give you two ways." Minglan's eyes were soft and her voice was full of compassion, "Either you come into the house, and from now on you and I will serve the Marquis together.
I think your aunt’s life will no longer be sad.”
As soon as he said this, everyone in the room was shocked and looked at Minglan in disbelief. Kang Zhaoer was also stunned and forgot to cry for a moment.
"If you don't want to do this, then there is another way." Minglan frowned slightly, with a caring look on her face, "Our Sheng family also has some reputation in Youyang, I asked my grandmother to send you there, and my eldest aunt will send you there.
You and your aunt will arrange a marriage for you. With the support of your sister and brother-in-law, not many people in Youyang will dare to bully you, but if you come from a rich family, I'm afraid that won't be possible."
Everyone in the room was even more surprised than before and continued to stare blankly at Minglan; Kang Zhaoer's eyes were also dry, and his eyes were as wide as copper bells.
"Then... where is my aunt?" It took her a moment to react.
Minglan smiled and persuaded: "Aunt Kang thought you asked me to forcefully send you there, so you may not embarrass your mother. Then my second cousin and sister Yun'er will talk to their uncle and finalize the marriage. The matter will be revealed to you.
With father, your aunt will be fine."
Kang Zhaoer's expression changed rapidly, sometimes confused, sometimes hesitant, and sometimes at a loss.
"Whatever, just give me a word." Minglan said with a smile, casually and seriously, "A girl doesn't have much choice in her life, you can make up your mind."
The only thing heard in the room was Kang Zhaoer's irregular breathing, which was sometimes long and sometimes short, sometimes rapid, and sometimes intermittent. Minglan waited patiently.
"-No, I don't want to!" After a while, a loud and sharp cry sounded in the room. Kang Zhaoer raised his head, his pupils were wide open, and his face was almost transparent, "I don't want to be a concubine!
"
She crawled towards Minglan and screamed, "My mother said, don't be a concubine even if you have a simple life! No one is born cheap, marry well and be a decent wife!" she said.
Holding Minglan's clothes, she cried heartbreakingly, as if she was bursting out with a generation of grievances, and kept saying these two sentences over and over again.
Xiao Taodong blinked at the side, thinking that this Miss Kang's cousin must have frightened her concubine. If she had seen Aunt Lin's glory back then, she would know that she could make a successful and rewarding career as a concubine.
Tasty.
After hearing this, Minglan turned cold, stood up solemnly, stared at Kang Zhaoer and said, "Are you serious?"
Kang Zhaoer was extremely excited at this time and murmured in a daze: "Yes..."
Minglan slowly pushed her away, held her belly and walked slowly for two steps in the room. Finally, she stopped beside Kang Zhaoer, and gently put her palm on her sweaty forehead. Minglan said lightly: "That's fine.
That's all I have to worry about. I will add a dowry to you, and from now on, you can live a good life on your own. If your aunt is lucky, there is no doubt that mother and daughter will be reunited in the future."
After saying this, he asked Luzhi to lead two maids to help the stunned Zhao'er out.
As soon as the person went out, Cui's mother couldn't help but said: "Madam, you..."
Minglan gently waved her hand to stop her from talking, and smiled bitterly: "I'm not afraid of fighting them, and there are ways to do it. If I ignore Kang Zhaoer's life and death, it would be very simple; but... after all, God has the virtue of good life, I just call her
Choose yourself.”
Cui's mother seemed to understand a little, and whispered: "It turns out that Mrs. Shicai was testing her."
"If she expected to be rich and happy once she entered a noble family, then she would be sorry. I just threw her to my second cousin and said, 'There is a beautiful story about Empress E's daughter's beauty in ancient times, and my aunt has this."
I plan to simply make a second wife for my cousin. From now on, sisters will serve one husband together. Wouldn’t it be a good story? Then she can do whatever she needs to do. If she wants to find a life and death, she can do whatever she wants."
Minglan sat down slowly and moved slowly, with a deep tiredness on her face, "It would be a waste to worry so much, but she is a good person. I can't bear for her to go back to Kang's house and continue to suffer from Aunt Kang."
Ruin. ~"
Cui's mother was kind-hearted and couldn't help but sigh: "Oh, he is also a poor child. It is all the fault of the Kang family."
5th Floor
"Grandma often said that a little kindness can save a life, and a raise of hands can create new virtues. Just think of it as accumulating virtue for your children."
Minglan slowly caressed her swollen belly, her face full of kindness; Kang Zhaoer's dowry should come from her own private money. She is diligent and frugal in running the house, and manages it carefully. I hope the first sum of money saved can be used in a meaningful way.
A place to help a self-loving and self-respecting girl start a new life.
After being dazed for a moment, Minglan came back to her senses and said solemnly to Cui's mother and Dan Ju: "Go ahead and tell me, no one is allowed to say a word about Zhao'er. I will change her into maid clothes tonight and send her out of the house.
We should still treat her as normal. Let’s discuss carefully what we should do about the details. The most important thing is to tighten the mouth in this courtyard.”
Danju and Cui’s mother responded seriously.
Outside Jiaxi's house, there were several little girls peering in through the trees, flowers and stones. Until it got dark, a girl ran away quickly. After a while, she arrived at Xuanzhi Courtyard, walked quickly into the house, and whispered into her mother's ear.
, and then led her in to report to her mother.
"How is it?" Madam Tai stood up from the couch with sharp eyes.
The little girl said in a low voice: "The entrance there is strictly guarded, and we have been having dinner, so we got some news, saying that Miss Kang made a lot of noise, but we have ordered a search for a pair of scissors, and now they are locked up and specially guarded."
The madam broke out with a charming smile: "Not only does it have to be cut, but it also has to hit the pillar and hit the head. Which one can't do it?"
She asked her mother to go out. When she came back, she heard the wife lying on the Arhat bed and laughing to herself: "I should thank Aunt Chang. If she hadn't made Hu Qin so popular, the Kang family master would have wanted to see her.
Then King Kang may not be willing to risk it all."
"Madam, you have been tired these days. Now you can rest easy for a few days." He smiled at his mother and straightened the cushion for Madam.
Mrs. Tai had just put on her coat and suddenly asked: "Miss Kang is so noisy, so the second daughter-in-law can't do anything?" She thought about it to her mother and said: "There's nothing else around, except that the concierge has just set up a carriage.
Went straight to Sheng Mansion." Madam Tai immediately laughed out loud: "I really think she has three heads and six arms, why don't she have to go back to her parents' house to bring in reinforcements?"
A teacup was thrown heavily to the ground, broken porcelain was scattered everywhere, and the thick amber liquid inside wetted the thin rust-red carpet. All the girls and women in the hall lowered their heads and slumped their shoulders, holding their breaths.
"Do you know this or not?" Mrs. Sheng's face was gloomy, and she stood tall with an ebony cloud-headed staff.
Mrs. Wang was at a loss and kept defending: "How could...how could...my daughter-in-law didn't know anything about this?" She was even more unjust than Dou E.
"It's all your good sister! She's so arrogant and has no appearance of a decent wife. She can't win over her husband and can't take care of her children. When she has free time, she takes out her concubine and concubine. In addition to begging her parents' brothers and sisters, what else can she do?
What kind of ability do you have? A sharp mouth, sharp teeth, mean and vicious, you deserve to be sent to the ancestral hall to have family violence!" Old Mrs. Sheng took Aunt Kang's heart and scolded her very rudely.
Mrs. Wang didn't listen very well and couldn't help but defend her sister: "Didn't you say that Mrs. Gu's wife took a fancy to Zhao'er? It's not my sister's intention..." She became more and more gentle, and finally in Sheng
The old lady stopped talking with her frightening gaze.
"I really don't know what to say! You are also the mistress of the house. Whose daughter is the pork on the stall? If you like it, you can take it.
"I really don't know what to say! You are also the mistress of the house. Whose daughter is like pork on the stall? If you like it, you will give it to someone to be a concubine! She has been embarrassed by generations of the Kang family, no matter how disgusted she is
A concubine shouldn't be treated like this! What she was thinking was just checking that her children were married, and then she let her hands and feet go wild!" Mrs. Sheng hit the case hard.
Wang's face was mortified after being scolded, but she could not argue and did not dare to reply. However, when she heard Old Mrs. Sheng change the subject, she stared at herself suspiciously and shouted loudly: "You really don't know? Don't be the one with her.
It's just penetrated!" Mrs. Wang waved her hands in panic: "Please tell me, mother, my daughter-in-law really doesn't know! I have always treated Minglan and Rulan the same!"
Old Mrs. Sheng took a breath, and suddenly pointed at Mrs. Wang and said: "You, go find your evil-hearted sister and talk to her clearly. No matter what her plans are, we are not happy with this matter. If she wants to keep the Sheng family,
If you are a relative of this family, please give up your thoughts immediately!"
Mrs. Wang was startled, and felt extremely unwilling: "This, this... is inappropriate. Taking concubines is a common thing. Even if my sister has done something wrong, as long as the matter is over, let's just make the mistake..."
The ebony cloud-headed stick hit the ground heavily, and the bright water polished the blue bricks making a harsh sound. Old Mrs. Sheng scolded: "Just now you said that you would take Minglan as your daughter; if this matter falls on Hua Lan and Ru Lan,
You are like this too!"
Mrs. Wang was speechless, and Mrs. Sheng narrowed her eyes and stared at her majestically: "How many times did the mother-in-law of the Wen family want to take a concubine for my uncle? How did you make a quarrel? Hua Lan and my uncle Yuan just happened to be a few days apart, and you persuaded Hua
Lan should take care of those little ones as soon as possible. You think I'm an old fool! If you don't go, I'll go by myself and show off all her scandalous things and see who can be tough!"
"Mom, don't, don't, I'll go, why don't I go!" Wang couldn't argue, so she had to agree.
"Then why don't you go quickly?!"
Wang was stunned: "Going now? It's getting dark already."
Old Mrs. Sheng came over with a sharp look and cursed: "Whenever your sister has something important, let alone now, she will knock on the door of Sheng's house even in the middle of the night. Why, you can't go even if she comes!"
Wang was helpless, she only hated her sister for being too troublesome, which caused her to be scolded for nothing, so she immediately packed up her makeup and drove to Kang Mansion.
The Kang Mansion is located near the eastern section of the imperial city. In terms of location, layout, and scale, it is superior to many grand houses. It has high door beams, wide cornices, and eighteen different kinds of reliefs.
There are 998 bats on the bluestone tile floor all the way to the inside, all symbolizing the glory of the Kang family. Unfortunately, the servants are lazy and the door is desolate, and it has lost its former glory.
Grandma led Mrs. Wang all the way inside until they reached the courtyard of the main house. They saw Aunt Kang just about to have dinner. There were many maids standing on both sides, and a woman dressed in rich clothes was serving dishes to Aunt Kang.
Aunt Kang had known that Wang would come sooner or later, but she didn't expect it to come so soon. She thought that Minglan was flustered and had no choice but to feel very happy. Wang was impatient, and as soon as Aunt Kang had dismissed everyone, she
After a crackling narration, Aunt Kang blew the tea bowl slowly: "I thought it was something important, but it turned out to be this."
Wang was so anxious that she suppressed her voice: "What is my sister's plan? Isn't this harming my sister?"
Aunt Kang replied with a slow smile: "Why are you harming my sister? This is to protect your wealth and safety!"
"What, how do you say this?" Wang was confused.
"Your uncle Gu's family is becoming more and more famous now. He is looking forward to becoming rich and powerful in the future, and even your family will be able to benefit from it in the future. But you don't want to think about whether the wealthy Mrs. Gu Hou is of the same mind as you?"
Mrs. Wang hesitated and said: "She has been a big deal in front of me since she was a child. I treat her very well. How can I not have the same intention?"
Aunt Kang sneered, turning her lips contemptuously: "If I really wanted to respect you and respect you, I would have kicked out the girl you gave me without saying a word!"
"...That Caihuan was chased by my uncle himself..." Wang's voice became much softer.
"Just keep it to yourself. If she hadn't instigated it, how could these gentlemen have thought of this?!"
Aunt Kang took a sip of tea and continued to speak her mind: "She has only been in the house for a few days. When she gets a firm foothold, will she still take you seriously? She is only good with your mother-in-law. In the future, you
In the Sheng family, I'm afraid it will become harder and harder to straighten up!"
"No way..." The more Ms. Wang spoke, the less confident she became. She suddenly remembered something and said quickly, "Does your family Zhao'er have the same heart as you? She wasn't born to you either."
"Not afraid." Aunt Kang smiled proudly, "Her mother is in my hands. I told her to go east, but she didn't dare to go west!"
Mrs. Wang's eyes lit up, and her heart began to waver. Seeing this, Aunt Kang added a few more firewood: "The girl born by the young woman should be taught a lesson, otherwise she will forget her identity. She really thought she would fly up the branch."
Become a phoenix?! After this incident, no matter whether Zhao'er can be successful or not, that damn girl will definitely be more honest, and your words will be more effective."
"Then how can I reply? My mother-in-law is not easy to deal with." Mrs. Wang's scalp went numb when she thought of Old Mrs. Sheng.
"What's the point? Just cry when you go back and say that I just won't beg you no matter what. At worst, I won't come to your door, so you just come to my place secretly." Aunt Kang didn't care, "Throw everything on me
Come on, after all, she can still divorce you."
"Then... where is my master?" Wang's scalp felt numb again.
A look of extreme hatred appeared on Aunt Kang's face: "Man, isn't that what it is? You really believe in the idea of 'husband and wife's righteousness'." This time Mrs. Wang didn't quite agree, and said to herself: You
She and her brother-in-law almost turned against each other, but she and Sheng Hong could still be warm and affectionate from time to time.
But at this moment, Sheng Hong was not gentle at all. As soon as he returned to his house, he was hurriedly called to Shou'an Hall. When Old Mrs. Sheng explained what had happened clearly, he turned green and became depressed.
She exclaimed, "What a foolish woman!"
I don’t know if he was scolding his own wife or his brother-in-law’s wife.
"You know everything, what are you going to do?" Old Mrs. Sheng had suppressed her anger and just sat calmly.
Sheng Hong thought for a moment and said respectfully: "What did mother say?"
"Do you want the Kang family girl to come into the Gu family?"
"Of course I don't want to!" Sheng Hong stood up angrily. Don't be ridiculous, one is his daughter and the other is someone else's daughter. Is it easy to find a noble and powerful uncle? In the future, my son's career and the prosperity of the family will not be known.
How much can you help? As soon as he tasted the broth here, the Kang family came to grab the meat and bones over there. Isn't this annoying!
Once he lost his temper, Sheng Hong felt that he was overly excited and coughed slightly: "I have heard a little bit about my uncle's family affairs. It is almost known to everyone that my stepmother is at odds, but my aunt went to be friendly with Mrs. Gu. I don't know why.
Are you going to hit my uncle in the face?"
If the Kang family gets into trouble on their own, that's fine. But Aunt Kang still uses the name of the Sheng family, so how will he meet his son-in-law in the future? The most terrible thing is that he and the Kang family's brother-in-law have a mediocre relationship. If Kang Zhaoer really
Being favored will only benefit the Kang family.
"In this case, we can't take it lightly." Mrs. Sheng smiled and knew that Sheng Hong had a clear mind and talked to him much more openly. Exchanging ideas with Wang was like walking in a mire with a belt on her legs.
Mud cannot be pulled out or moved.
"What mother said is, I wonder what mother's plan is?" Sheng Hong's greatest advantage is that he is open-minded and good at listening to other people's opinions. That's why he has been able to survive until now. Everyone in the officialdom praises him for being honest and kind, and a humble gentleman.
Mrs. Sheng was satisfied in her heart and said in a deep voice: "Just now while my wife was out, I sent someone to escort the girl of the Kang family to Youyang overnight. Let's drain the fire first, and then we can go our separate ways. Mrs. Kang's family, I taught my mother-in-law a lesson. You..." She smiled lightly, looked at Sheng Hong, and said word by word, "Recently, Master Kang, didn't you ask me to do something for you?"
Sheng Hong raised his head suddenly. He had discussed this matter with the old lady. At that time, the old lady's attitude was non-committal, but now it was instantly overturned. He is gentle by nature and likes to be kind to others, so he hesitated and said: "Isn't this inappropriate..."
The old lady sneered: "Over the years, we have cleaned up so much mess for the Kang family, not to mention exposing a few things, which is enough to bring shame to his family. Now, we just want the person named Kang to know that the Sheng family, Not someone to be bullied!"
Sheng Hong thought about it carefully twice. Mr. Kang is a poor man who cannot be supported. The nephews of the Kang family are also mediocre. As for the other members of the Kang family, there are some officials, but the officials are not big, and the Kang family brothers are not very harmonious. . He gritted his teeth and said, "Just follow what mother said."
After Sheng Hong left, Fang's mother stepped forward to help the old lady go to the inner room, and said softly: "Don't worry, both parties have set off."
Old Mrs. Sheng slowly sat down on the couch in the back room and asked Fang's mother to take off her shoes and socks. She could not hide her disgust on her face and murmured: "Young girl from the Kang family might as well go slowly, but nephew Wei has to go early." These letters can be sent back and forth in six or seven days at most by horse and boat. Hmm, that vicious one, let her know how powerful she is when you turn around! She is not a human being as a daughter, but as for my own, I will give her some pain too!"
Fang's mother had just brought a basin of hot water and was going to warm the old lady's feet as usual. The old lady suddenly thought of something and looked anxious: "I have forgotten all this when I am old. I have been fussing for a long time and haven't given it to Ming Ya yet. I’m here to deliver a message!”
"It's...it's so late." Fang's mother hesitated.
Mrs. Sheng was anxious and stamped her bare feet on the step stool: "The little girl is pregnant, and my uncle is not around. I don't know how anxious I am. I probably won't sleep well all night. Hurry up, hurry up!"
Mother Fang smiled and said: "Yes, I will listen to you. I will call someone right away, and you can explain a few more words."
The old lady thought for a while and said in a loving tone: "Tell her, don't be afraid, there is a grandmother in everything..."
Listening to the coaxing tone of the three-year-old baby, Fang's mother couldn't help but let out a sigh. The old lady gave her a sideways look and continued: "Tell her to take good care of her health. The most important thing is to give birth to a big fat baby."
Fang's mother suppressed a smile and agreed, then asked a girl to serve the old lady and hot her feet, and then went out to give instructions. Before going out, the old lady suddenly stopped her, and she turned around to listen.
"If my wife comes back from Kang Mansion, tell her that I am tired and have rested, and ask her to come back tomorrow."
The author has something to say:
The Spring Festival Gala of Chinese Opera was playing next to me, and a table of mahjong was set up at home. My hands felt so itchy, but I still persisted in typing! What kind of spirit and sentiment is this!