There is a strange jade in the hall.
The staff sat around the Duke.
One said, "Such a strange jade, although the jade material is of high quality, is actually difficult to carve."
Another person said, "You can make a pair of teacups, crystal clear. His Majesty will be happy when he sees this."
The Duke found it boring and said, "When my father was still alive, he had already given me cups of encouragement, and it would be inappropriate to give them again."
The staff member added, "It is pointed at the top and rounded at the bottom. This jade is perfect for making a Mahora."
A man from outside the door smiled and interrupted, "Mahora is just used by women when begging for luck. It is given to the Holy One. Is it possible that he should give it to the Queen, so that she and the concubines of the Sixth Palace can beg for luck together?"
When the Duke saw him coming, he smiled and waved, "A Ying, sit here."
The seventeen-year-old boy suppressed his smile and sat beside him somewhat obediently. Under the table, someone sneaked into his sleeves to look for his delicate fingers. The boy gently opened his sleeves and avoided them. That cold hand.
The Duke didn't grab his hand, so he had to pretend to support his chin with one hand to speak, "Mahula is not a bad thing. No one has given your majesty a girl's gift yet. I have opened the way, and your majesty may not be able to know the dragon." My heart is filled with joy.”
The young man turned his head and said, "Since it is pointed at the top and rounded at the bottom, it would be a good idea to carve it into a South China Sea Guanyin."
Several staff agreed, "What Cui Ying said is absolutely true. Your Majesty can give the carved Guanyin of the South China Sea to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager firmly believes in gods and Buddhas. This Guanyin will definitely make the Empress Dowager happy, and your Majesty will also satisfy."
Duke Baili smiled and said, "You are clever, but who will carve it?"
Cui Ying raised her knees, lowered her head and saluted, "Young man, please pray to the Buddha."
"Oh, you also know how to carve?"
"Yes, I learned it for several years when I was young."
Some people said inappropriately, "It would be a pity if such a beautiful piece of jade is useless." He glared at Cui Ying angrily.
Few of the staff present were unaware of the relationship between the Duke and Cui Ying. Some felt disdainful, while others were eager to fawn over. Cui Ying's eyes were filled with various expressions, which were a bit subtly ridiculous.
He didn't say how many such people the county government wanted.
What kind of person he is has nothing to do with them. He doesn't care at all. He has long since stopped caring about other people's opinions. From the time he joined the floating boat at the age of fifteen, Cui Ying knew that he would never be able to get rid of those people in his life. look.
They were greedy for his appearance, but they also secretly wanted to destroy him. Such a contradiction did not surprise him at all.
In the mansion, I met several embroiderers carrying court clothes. The Duke lifted up the court clothes, touched the place where the moth had been, and said, "Madam brought her back, she really didn't make a mistake."
He called Cui Ying to look at her and said, "How is it? Although this embroiderer is young, she is very capable. Even court clothes made of this material can be repaired as usual."
Cui Ying glanced at it without making any judgment.
"Where is Nanxiu?" asked the Duke.
An embroiderer stepped forward and replied, "Sir, Miss Nanxiu has fainted. She has been sewing for a day and a night, and she is really exhausted."
"Hahahahaha, I am exhausted day and night. Ah Ying, tell them how long it took you to carve Guanyin?"
Cui Ying said nothing.
The Duke felt bored and said coldly, "Go and ask the doctor to take a look. Don't let people die in the house."
He grabbed Cui Ying's hand and walked away.
The Duke left the mansion for Liangzhu. It would take three months to go back and forth. All matters in the mansion were handled by his wife, while matters in the city were managed by Yu Li, a retainer of the Baili family. Before leaving, he originally wanted to take Cui with him. Ying, Qing expected that Cui Ying suddenly developed a rash before setting off, and his whole body was red and swollen. The servants waiting nearby were also infected with the rash. The doctor said that if he didn't touch him, he could still talk to him, but the journey was long. His disease is approaching violently and he should not travel long distances.
The Duke then left him in Jiuyi City and secretly ordered Yu Li to take more care of him, especially paying attention to his wife's movements. Cui Ying's diet should be checked repeatedly on weekdays.
The Duke's wife called Nanxiu over.
With a smile on his face, he said, "You have solved a big problem for me. After all, I will give you whatever you want."
"Really?" Nan Xiu raised her eyebrows happily.
"Of course, but... you can't leave the palace, not just this matter." She left, where else could she find such an embroiderer.
"My maid has no intention of leaving the palace." She remembered the letter her grandpa wrote to her, in which he told her not to leave the palace. After leaving the palace, life would be even more difficult. If she stayed in the palace, she could still have good food and clothing. Worry about food and clothing.
She has always been very obedient. Grandpa told her to eat well, sleep well, and not to cause trouble to the palace. She did everything well.
"Then what do you want?"
Nanxiu thought for a while, "I want to write a letter to my grandfather, but my maid can't write. Can you please ask Madam to find a sister to teach Nanxiu? If my grandfather knows that I can write, he will be very happy."
The lady smiled and said, "Does your grandpa know how to read?"
"No, but when he writes to me, he always asks the gentleman from the private school at the entrance of the alley for help. If I can write letters, I can find someone to hand it back to me, and the gentleman will read the letter to me."
"I thought you just loved to play and be a good actress, but I didn't expect that you also wanted to learn to read." Madam said with a bit of ridicule.
Nanxiu didn't hear it, "Can I ask Sister Qing next to Madam to teach me?"
"Qing'er? She has something busy recently. Can I find another maid for you?" A smile appeared on the lips of the Duke's wife.
"Thank you madam. If that sister agrees, don't forget to tell me." She thought of another thing and secretly whispered in madam's ear.
This suited the lady's wish, and she replied with a smile, "Why not? I agreed, and I will appoint your lord's staff."
Yu Li was a little embarrassed. After hearing this, he was caught in the middle and didn't know what to do. The county prince was not here now. He said that he was the one who made the decision in the affairs of the city, but in fact, his wife was not too involved and he did not dare to do anything to stop him. It was just Cui Ying. , Madam cannot be driven at will, this is the Duke's original words, whatever she wants can be done according to her wishes. Only Cui Ying could not move.
"Madam, Cui Ying is seriously ill now. If he goes to teach Miss Nan, it won't matter if he gets infected with her..."
"Didn't he never allow anyone to touch him? How could he touch Nanxiu? If he didn't touch her and just taught her to write, how could he get infected?"
"This... it's not easy for me to explain to the Duke..."
"As long as I'm here, what can you tell me?"
"Madam, other matters can be discussed, but Cui Ying—"
"It's not a problem. If Madam wants me to go, I will go naturally."
"That's good. You know the current affairs much better than some people." Madam glared at Yu Li.
After she left, Yu Li sighed, "My lord said that you don't have to obey my wife's instructions to teach an embroiderer to write. It will ruin your reputation in vain."
He couldn't help but laugh, "What's my reputation?"
Nanxiu was so bored that she pulled out the pen in her hand. "Why hasn't that sister come yet?" she said to herself.
(End of chapter)