At the end of August in the golden autumn, the Mid-Autumn Festival colors in Beijing are getting darker, the city is fragrant with sweet osmanthus, and the atmosphere is full of autumn.
A few days after returning from Xishan Manor, Zhang Yanling finally told Axiu what happened with Xu Youtang before going to bed one night.
What surprised Zhang Yanling was that Axiu was not at all surprised by this incident. When Zhang Yanling said this, Axiu was making the bed. She even just paused for a moment and then continued to make the bed. She was not surprised at all as Zhang Yanling imagined.
"Oh, so that's what happened. Miss Xu is very good. Although she is young, she has a lovely personality and understands the rules. Since my husband likes her, I will marry her. Miss Xu should also like my husband.
.This is a good thing." Axiu finished making the bed and sat on the edge of the bed, smiling.
Zhang Yanling said blankly: "Axiu, don't you feel sudden? Surprised?"
Axiu said with a smile: "Why should I feel sudden? This thing is not sudden at all. Why does Miss Xu come to our house to help you? This is a girl's family. She goes to our Lord Marquis' house every day. What are the outsiders doing?
See? People outside don’t say it, but our family members also see it. What will they think? So
So, we can't let others carry a bad reputation. Besides, when the husband was with her, Miss Xu's expression had already said everything. She liked her husband. Myolie and the others were still talking that day,
Sooner or later, Miss Xu will marry into the Marquis's mansion. Look, isn't this right?"
Zhang Yanling was stunned and speechless, and said with a wry smile: "So, everyone in the mansion has noticed it?"
Axiu said with a smile: "Actually, it's very obvious. Especially in the past month, the matter between my husband and Miss Xu's family has been hidden from anyone's eyes. It's just that my husband didn't say anything, and everyone just pretended to be confused.
"
Zhang Yanling smacked her lips and said, "Hey, it turns out I was still deceiving myself. I thought you didn't know. I was thinking about how to talk to you and Ruqing about this."
Axiu pursed her lips and smiled: "Mr., you are worried that we don't agree? Are our opinions so important?"
Zhang Yanling said: "Of course. How can we not get your consent for taking a concubine? We will become a family in the future. If you can't get along, that's not what I want."
A Xiu said with a smile: "My husband's words are enough. In the end, this matter is still my husband's own business. Who my husband likes and who he wants to marry, A Xiu has no right to say anything. My husband thinks highly of A Xiu and can follow me."
I am already very happy to say this. As for this matter, Axiu naturally agrees. There are many sisters in the family, and it is a happy event for the Zhang family to have a new member."
Zhang Yanling sighed: "You are really a virtuous woman, that's why I love you so much, because you are so virtuous, I can't help but love you."
Axiu said with a smile: "My husband, there is no need to put a high hat on Axiu. Axiu doesn't want to be a bad person. Besides, it's too late for me to be happy that there is one more person in charge of my husband. However, although Axiu agreed, Miss Tan didn't
You may not be happy. I'm afraid that Miss Tan will ignore you again because of this."
Zhang Yanling smacked her lips and said, "It doesn't matter if she doesn't agree. Miss Xu and I already have a physical relationship, and I can't just give up."
"Ah?" A Xiucai exclaimed in surprise this time, staring at Zhang Yanling and said: "Mr. sir... you have already got her? Do your parents agree? I'll leave it at that. What if Miss Tan doesn't agree?
?My husband, you...you are too impatient. Is it...Axiu...that you are not serving you satisfactorily on weekdays? So you..."
Zhang Yanling smiled bitterly and said: "Where did you think it went? It was purely an accident. Just like what we did back then... it was just a matter of hotheads and we... slept with her."
Axiu looked at Zhang Yanling angrily and said: "Hey, what can I say to you? Then what are you waiting for? Just marry someone as soon as possible. If your family finds out, or you become pregnant and have a baby, you
How can I survive being called Miss Xu?"
Zhang Yanling smacked her lips, scratched her head, and said softly: "Where is Ruqing, I'll go talk to her. Where is the Xu family...can you go and find out Mrs. Xu's tone for me?"
Axiu said angrily: "What else can I do? Can I not help you with your husband's matter?"
Zhang Yanling was overjoyed and stepped forward to hug her and give Zi'er a kiss. He opened his mouth and blew out the candle, pressed Axiu under him and untied her clothes.
Axiu said in a sweet voice: "My husband, can't you take a night off? I just arranged a half-night stay last night..."
Zhang Yanling chuckled and said, "What's the point of doing this kind of thing? I have nothing to do at night. Just treat it as entertainment."
Axiu had no choice but to sigh and said: "It would be better if you marry someone earlier and share the burden. I really can't bear your husband's tossing. I have to do it every day and night, and even half the night, and I will be ruined by your tossing."
."
Zhang Yanling had buried her head on Axiu's strong chest and said with a vague smile: "There are only cows that are exhausted, how can there be damaged land?"
…
The next morning, Zhang Yanling went to Baizhifang to meet Tan Ruqing and wanted to tell her about the incident.
The back room of the Tan family's mansion was filled with smoke, and the smell of medicine was very strong. More than a dozen medicine jars were lined up on the corridor of the medicine room in the middle of the yard, and the charcoal fire below was burning brightly. The medicine was boiling and gurgling.
The steam was rising and the smell filled the entire backyard.
Tan Ruqing is busy in the medicine room. She and Xiaozhu are cleaning and baking several medicinal materials, some of which need to be cut into pieces, and some of which need to be ground into powder. The two of them are very busy.
Seeing Zhang Yanling coming, Tan Ruqing had no time to salute and shouted: "Master Hou is here just in time, help me prepare medicine. I am too busy right now."
Zhang Yanling smiled bitterly as she looked at the pots and jars on the ground and the rows of steaming medicine jars outside, and said with a smile: "What's going on? Is there a big mistake somewhere? Do many people want to be saved?"
Tan Ruqing kept moving her hands and said angrily: "What nonsense are you talking about? Isn't it time to prepare the prescription for Yunnan Baiyao? I already have an idea, and I have to hurry up and try to prepare it in the next few days."
Zhang Yanling said in astonishment: "So it's to prepare Yunnan Baiyao? Oh, I think you are possessed. If I had known, I would not have told you about this. This is great, I have become a madman."
Xiaozhu smiled while working: "Master Hou, stop complaining and go to work. It's your own fault, but you are here today. This coolie can't escape."
Zhang Yanling was speechless, so she had to roll up her sleeves and pick up the wooden pestle to pound the medicine. Tan Ruqing was busy going back and forth, looking at the medicine jars, watching the dry roasting of medicinal materials, and grinding them herself. She was very busy.
The long skirt was stained with dust and powder, and her bun was a little messy, which she couldn't care less about.
Zhang Yanling knew that this was what Tan Ruqing looked like after entering the state. In the past few months, Tan Ruqing would enter such a state from time to time. Sometimes she was in a trance, because the preparation progress of the medicine was not smooth, or because of the
The disappointment after the failure. But within a few days, she would rekindle her fighting spirit and come up with a formula. And this moment was obviously another high tide after the low tide, and she should feel hope again.
.
"Ruqing, there is something I want to discuss with you." Zhang Yanling said tentatively.
Tan Ruqing immersed herself in her work and asked, "What's the matter?"
"It's about..."
"Oh, Xiaozhu, the water in the medicine jar at the door has dried up. I need to add another bowl of water." Tan Ruqing shouted.
Xiaozhu hurriedly dropped the work in his hands and followed Tan Ruqing out to add water to the medicine in the medicine jar one by one. After working hard, he came in.
"What did the Marquis just say?" Tan Ruqing asked.
"I mean, I have something to discuss with you...about..."
"Hey, Xiaozhu, be careful, that's guanagus, don't get it into your mouth or eyes." Tan Ruqing shouted again.
"Don't worry, miss, I'm being careful," Xiaozhu said hurriedly.
Zhang Yanling was interrupted again.
Tan Ruqing tilted her head and thought for a while, then suddenly asked: "Master Hou, do you have something to tell me?"
Zhang Yanling waved her hand and said: "Nothing. The medicine has been ground, what else needs to be done?"
Tan Ruqing said: "Okay, thanks for your hard work, Lord Marquis will grind these two taels of white ox gall into powder."
Zhang Yanling ate and started to work again.
Soon after, the medicine jar outside boiled again. After checking the medicine in the medicine jar, Tan Ruqing immediately called Xiaozhu to help. The two of them picked up the hot medicine jar and began to filter out the remaining medicine residue.
A bowl of thick concoction was poured into the medicine vessels. A dozen medicine vessels containing corresponding filtered concoctions were placed on the long table.
"Bring the medicinal powder." Tan Ruqing ordered.
Xiaozhu hurried in to get the powder and powder. Seeing Zhang Yanling in a daze, he shouted: "Master Hou, please stop standing. Please help me. Take out these jars of powder. We need to prepare the medicine."
Zhang Yanling hurriedly carried the medicine jar and followed him out. Tan Ruqing had already cleaned his hands and was ready with a small bamboo piece in his hand.
"Three Qian Tian Qifen, Xiaozhu."
Xiaozhu agreed, and quickly weighed three qian Tianqi powder with a small medicine scale and handed it over. Tan Ruqing quickly stirred the mixture of medicine and Tianqi powder, and said again: "One qian of borneol, five qian of powdered silica grass. Two qian.
Borneol."
Xiaozhu followed Tan Ruqing's instructions, weighed the medicine one by one, and poured the powder into it. Tan Ruqing quickly stirred the medicine that had turned into a paste with his hands. From time to time, he had to get closer to watch and smell, with an extremely focused expression.
"Two qian for geranium, one tael for white wine. Huaiyam medicine...pangolin. Broken intestine powder...half a spoon..."
After all the medicines were mixed in order and quantity, the last thing added was half a wooden spoon of gallbladder powder. After a quick stir, the medicine in the medicine dish became a half-wet and half-dry paste.
"Put it on the shelf to dry, then try it a second time." Tan Ruqing said.
Xiaozhu rushed away with the medicine dish and placed it on the bamboo stand under the shade. Taking this opportunity, Zhang Yanling hurriedly asked: "Ruqing, what are you doing?"
"The medicine is being prepared, didn't you see? Are you bored, Lord Marquis?" Tan Ruqing lifted her hair and said with a smile.
"No, I mean..." Before Zhang Yanling could finish his words, Xiaozhu had already rushed back, and Zhang Yanling wisely shut up because he knew that the next round of configuration had begun again.