A few days later, there were new residents in the mansion. Zhao Pei finally understood what Xiao Yi's resolute back meant that night.
The woman's surname was Xia, and her name was Qingyao. She was in her prime, with a beautiful and charming complexion. Her hair was tied up with a pair of precious hairpins, which made it sparkle. She had a slender figure, and her skin was as white as snow under her light red gauze skirt. Her mouth was as red as cinnabar, and her eyes were even more charming and charming, which could easily seduce people. Zhao Pei looked at her with a smile, but she didn't have any good feelings for her.
Yuan Ming rarely left her courtyard on weekdays, but unexpectedly she went to see this new sister early with Zhao Pei. She was wearing a Yuanqing dress, and there was nothing else in her hair except a jade hairpin she had worn when she first came. Her black hair was like clouds and smoke, and she looked graceful and gentle.
If Yuan Ming is the orchid in the valley, then she is the enchantress with thorns.
Xia Qingyao's eyes also wandered between Zhao Pei and Yuan Ming. When her eyes met Zhao Pei's, she smiled charmingly. Zhao Pei was unhappy, but she still smiled. The two women's eyes met, each with their own thoughts. Yuan Ming, on the other hand, sat obediently at the bottom, with her head lowered and her eyes focused only on the teacup in her hand.
The atmosphere was a bit weird... Zhao Pei spoke first: "Since my sister has entered the palace, we are one family. If you don't mind, just call me sister." She smiled and pointed at Yuan Ming, "Sister Ming has been in the palace for almost three years. Sister, you should also call me sister according to etiquette."
Xia Qingyao smiled charmingly, stood up gracefully and knelt down to salute: "Qingyao meets two sisters here." With a seductive glance, she took two wooden boxes from the maid behind her and said with a smile: "Qingyao has just entered the mansion and has been favored by the prince. She is ignorant and naive. Please give me more advice and tolerance, sisters Jie."
Zhao Pei took one of them and opened it to find that it was an ivory jade ruyi, with exquisite carvings and flowing water. It was a good thing at first glance, and it was luxurious beyond words. He glanced at the one in Yuan Ming's hand, which was roughly the same. But when he looked carefully, he saw that the texture and carving were different. He sighed that Xia Qingyao was not an easy-to-use woman, and her mind was extraordinary.
Zhao Pei smiled faintly, handed the box to Ziye behind her, and said: "Sister Yao, why are you so polite? Since my sister gave me such a big gift, I can't be a fool to go empty-handed. Isn't it a good thing to reciprocate?" After that, she glanced at Ziye and said: "Ziye, go get the red coral and give it to sister Yao." Zhao Pei gritted her teeth while speaking, and whispered in Ziye's ear imperceptibly: "Don't take it from the cabinet."
Ziye glanced at her, a faint smile flashed in his eyes and he responded softly.
Yuan Ming's face flushed, and she couldn't help but express her feelings. She called the maid beside her to fetch the gift.
Zhao Pei stared at Xia Qingyao, feeling uncomfortable. Her intuition told her that this woman was ambitious and that she would not have a peaceful life in the future. She secretly sighed that Xiao Yi was just a pervert who only cared about beauty! Thinking of this, she felt quite upset. A few days ago, he was so affectionate and said such hurtful words to her beside her, which made her think about it and feel guilty for a few days. She tossed and turned and did not sleep well at night.
She shook her head slightly. Why did she interfere with him? Xiao Yi had been tolerant enough of her. She was simply greedy and insatiable. She scolded herself in secret, and then her irritability and annoyance dissipated a little.
But when he looked up, he felt unhappy at Xia Qingyao's beautiful face. Especially the smug smile on her lips, as if she was full of confidence.
Xia Qingyao couldn't help herself and asked with a smile, "Sister, why are you staring at me?"
Zhao Pei was stunned, not expecting her to ask like this. Then seeing the smile in her eyes, waiting for her reply, he also smiled and said, "I was thinking, there are few beauties as beautiful as Sister Yao in the world, the prince is really lucky."
Xia Qingyao covered her lips and smiled coquettishly: "Sister, that's not true. Qingyao can climb up to the high branch of the prince. It is the blessing of Qingyao in her previous life." Her eyes were full of autumn and her cheeks were rosy. Even Zhao Pei couldn't resist her beauty, let alone Xiao Yi. With such a beauty in his arms, his coldness was melted by the passion of the gentle land.
Xia Qingyao turned to talk to Yuan Ming again, and the two women got along very well. Zhao Pei looked at the rose and orchid sitting there. She secretly complained that Xiao Yi was enjoying a good life.
Zhao Pei stopped talking, drank cup of tea and cursed over and over again.
Finally, she heard a sweet voice: "Mom!" Before she raised her head, she saw Hanzhen flying into her arms like a butterfly and rubbing against her: "Mom, my brother smiled at me!"
"Why are you teasing your brother? Can you write today?" Zhao Pei rubbed her head and smiled. Han Zhen was playing tricks in her arms, as if she was treating the other two as air.
Yuan Mingan sat on the side with a smile on her face, and she felt complicated when she saw the deep affection between mother and daughter. Xia Qingyao smiled and said, "Is this Hanzhen? She is so cute when she grows up. She will definitely be a beauty when she grows up."
Han Zhen then discovered Xia Qingyao's existence, and poked her head out from Zhao Pei's arms and replied, "I know this, you don't need to tell me..." She was stunned halfway through her words. Han Zhen stared at Xia Qingyao with wide eyes for a long time, and suddenly asked Yuan Ming, "Aunt Ming, your mother is really young."
As soon as the words came out, the room fell silent.
Yuan Ming was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. Xia Qingyao's mouth twitched, and she stared at Hanzhen, unable to say a word. Zhao Pei's body trembled, and she forced herself to suffer internal injuries. Hanzhen saw the expressions of everyone, turned to look at Zhao Pei innocently, and said in a baby voice: "Mom, did I say something wrong?" Of course, Zhao Pei saw the cunning light in her eyes. Zhao Pei knocked her head and finally held back her laughter: "Silly girl, you should call her Aunt Yao. She is the same age as your Aunt Ming."
Hanzhen said "Oh" and asked, "Is she a maid hired by the mansion?"
Zhao Pei noticed from the corner of Xia Qingyao's mouth twitching violently, and pretended to scold, "Zhen'er, don't be so rude." But she was laughing happily in her heart.
Hanzhen said apologetically: "I'm sorry, it's just children's words. Aunt Yao, you won't mind, right?" She raised her eyebrows slightly and asked Xia Qingyao.
Her face looked very ugly, but she forced a smile to suppress her unhappiness: "Why would I care? Hanzhen's innocent nature is really lovable." She almost said it with gritted teeth. Hanzhen pouted and muttered to herself: People these days are so hypocritical.
Hanzhen gave her a sweet and innocent smile, and exclaimed with wide eyes: "Aunt Yao, your dress is so beautiful!" Xia Qingyao's expression eased a little, and then she heard Hanzhen continue to say: "It seems that mother also has a similar one. But it's really strange, why does mother look like a flower when she wears it, but Aunt Yao looks like a fox when she wears it?"
Zhao Pei was also stunned when he heard this. He tapped Han Zhen's head half in amusement and half in reproach: "Zhen'er, do you know what a fox is? You are talking nonsense here."
"Yes, yes, a fox is not a thing. It is an animal, as written in the book." Han Zhen smiled innocently, with two dimples appearing at the corners of her mouth.
Yuan Ming, who was listening, couldn't help but burst out laughing. With a glance, he saw Xia Qingyao's face flushed red, and she seemed really angry. Zhao Pei felt that the joke was too much, so she quickly asked Ziye to take Hanzhen away, and said apologetically: "Sister, I'm really sorry. Zhen'er is young and can't speak. If I offended you, please don't take it to heart."
Although she was furious, Xia Qingyao smiled and said, "Sister, why would I bother with a kid?" They exchanged a few more pleasantries before leaving in disappointment.
Hanzhen was watching by the door, frowning and looking up at Ziye, muttering: "Sister Ziye, how can these women be so hypocritical?"
Ziye smiled and patted her head without saying a word. (To be continued)