It was just the beginning of spring, and the wind was still a bit cold. Some pretty little maids put on new spring clothes, and when the spring breeze blew, they shivered and hid under the porch. The camellias in the yard opened a few bushes, and the wind was wrapped in a light fragrance, blowing to the carved wooden windows, but they were separated from the outside by the closed doors and windows.
Indoors, the incense burner spewed wisps of light smoke that seemed to be absent, and curled around the house. The doors and windows were closed, and the whole room was filled with a faint fragrance.
When Ning Nuan woke up, the scent of aromatherapy entered her nose, which immediately made her frown slightly.
"Peach."
Ning Nuan sat up from the couch, and the book she was holding before falling asleep fell to the ground with her movements. Ning Nuan bent down and picked up the book, and placed it on the small table beside her.
Xiang Tao, who was waiting outside, heard the sound and quickly put down the work in her hand.
"Miss, you're awake." Xiang Tao opened the door curtain, and the cold air outside also came in, diluting the fragrance of the house. "Miss, you have slept for several hours now, and even missed your lunch. Would you like a servant to go to the small kitchen to cook some food for you?"
"Bring me some trays of cakes."
"The slaves will go here."
"Wait." Ning Nuan stopped her again: "Has the aromatherapy in the house changed?"
Speaking of this, Xiangtao's face also showed a bit of anger: "This morning, the servant girl saw that she had run out of incense cakes, so she wanted to go to the warehouse to get some, but the maid next to the second lady went a step ahead and took Miss. The commonly used incense has been taken away, and the best thing left is this."
Ning Nuan frowned slightly.
"The servant was angry, so I wanted to go to the eldest lady, and wanted the eldest lady to help me get ahead, but the eldest lady said... She told the young lady to ask for some of the second lady, and asked the servant to come back with this box of fragrant cakes." Xiang Tao was a little confused. She said happily: "Yi Numaid, the second lady is clearly intentional, and the eldest lady is also true. It is clear that you are her daughter, so why does the eldest lady always stand on the side of the second lady and the third lady."
Ning Nuan gave a light hum and interrupted her.
"Take this fragrant cake, you don't have to put it in my room in the future."
"What about you, Miss?" Xiang Tao hurriedly asked, "Second Miss took away all the incense you used, and there's nothing good in the storeroom now."
"Then no need."
Xiang Tao was even more anxious and wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Ning Nuan waving her hand.
"I'm so hungry, bring me some food."
Xiang Tao stomped her feet, but she was still afraid of starving her, so she hurried to bring her something to eat. Before she could go out, she hurriedly turned back and carried the lotus pattern silver incense burner out. As soon as the door opened and closed, the fragrance in the house was also blown off a lot.
Ning Nuan lay back on the soft bed again.
She turned her head and glanced at the book on the small table, remembering that she had just read it halfway, but she was not in the mood to continue reading for a while.
Not long after, Xiang Tao came back with a few trays of cakes.
"The servant has already made the small kitchen work, miss, you can fill your stomach with some cakes." After going out and coming back, Xiang Tao was happy again: "When the servant just went out, I heard that the lady of Buzhuang came, Miss, eat it. Well, let's go and pick them, now that spring has just started, how many new clothes can you make?"
Ning Nuan responded calmly.
Sure enough, it didn't take long for someone to bring the cloth, and of course, the second and third misses picked the rest. The good-looking cloths were picked by those two people. After passing through an unknown number of people, they were picked and picked again. When they were sent to Ning Nuan Courtyard, only the old-fashioned materials were left, and even the old woman thought it was plain.
It didn't take long for Xiang Tao to puff out her cheeks angrily.
She lowered her head and rummaged through the fabrics, muttering something in a low voice, but it didn't happen as usual.
Without him, this situation is already the norm in Ning Mansion.
The old lady gave birth to three sons, but she only favored the second and the third. The eldest son was a well-known dutiful son, but unfortunately this filial piety was stupid and his ears were soft. I was so happy that I couldn't find Bei, so I sent out all the good things.
Since the big room was moved out from the main courtyard, things have been getting worse and worse. Whenever there is anything, it is only sent to the big room after the second room and the third room. Grabbing things in his hands, seeing that life is getting worse and worse, Ning's father is still happy, as long as the brothers are in harmony, even if Ning Nuan puts forward an opinion, she is in turn persuaded to let her sister as the eldest sister. Some, when it comes to the depths, take themselves as an example and let Ning Nuan learn from him.
If it was someone else, seeing the family being squeezed into the side courtyard, I would have already lost my temper, but Ning's mother is also a soft-natured person, and the people of the second and third bedrooms are used to pretending to be good people in front of the old lady, and they are also in secret. I don't know how many times I laughed at my good-natured concubine, and they even took over the housekeeping power. She has always had no idea. She listened to whatever her husband said. Father Ning said that she should give in more and tolerate more, and she just endured it.
Endure it, let it go, and I have reached this stage of the field. Even an ordinary fragrant cake has to be snatched away. The new fabric is turned around in the hands of others, and the rest will be sent to her. come up.
Before Ning Nuan's cakes were finished, someone rushed in outside the door, wrapped in the coldness of the beginning of spring, and rushed in front of her like a gust of wind.
"A Nuan, come and see."
Ning Lang put the bird cage in his hand in front of her. In the cage, the myna's claws tightly grasped the standing bar, and the round eyes rolled uneasily, looking around vigilantly.
"I saw this bird on the street. It's very smart, and it can learn how to speak. If I teach it a sentence, it will learn it immediately." Ning Lang stuck a wooden stick into the bird cage and poked it: "Come on. , Xiaoba, follow me to learn to call A Nuan, A Nuan is my sister, if you recognize her, she will be your master in the future."
The starling in the cage flapped its wings and jumped, avoiding the small wooden stick. It raised its head and stared at Ning Nuan for a long time, with a sharp beak: "A Nuan-A Nuan-" Really smart.
Ning Lang was even more proud: "How about it, I bought this for ten taels of silver, is it worth it?"
"Twelve taels?" Ning Nuan frowned: "It's just the beginning of the month, and you've already spent all your monthly bills?"
Ning Lang's face stiffened.
He quickly changed the subject, pointed to the newly delivered cloths, and said, "A Nuan, you are still young, why do you use such old-fashioned cloth? I think you usually like to stay in the house all day. After staying for a long time, why even dress like the old lady."
Xiangtao interjected: "This is what the other ladies picked and sent."
Ning Lang said indifferently, "Then I'll go to the cloth shop tomorrow and pick it out for you. I'm sure to buy the latest and best-looking cloth and come back to make clothes for you."
The starling opened his mouth to reconcile: "A Nuan—A Nuan—"
Ning Nuan said again, "Do you still have money in your pocket?"
Ning Lang: "..."
"I saw this starling on the street. It was really interesting, and I liked it very much. I thought about you being bored at home, so... just..." Ning Lang paused, suddenly remembered something, and hurriedly asked He took out a box of rouge in his arms, "Ah Nuan, look, what did my brother bring you?"
He pleases and handed the box of rouge to Ning Nuan. Ning Nuan glanced down and saw that the name of the shop in small letters with hairpins was carved on the box, which was the most famous rouge shop in Beijing.
She raised her eyes again and saw the pitiful ingratiating look on her brother's face, but she did not soften her heart and continued to ask, "You didn't go to school today?"
"This, this... Master has something to do today, so I won't go to class." Ning Lang's eyes wandered, very guilty.
Ning Nuan raised his hand and took the box of rouge over, but he was furious, for fear of what his sister would say, so he made an excuse and ran away.
Needless to say, he must have skipped class again.
Although Father Ning couldn't understand the affairs of the back house, his knowledge was outstanding, and his current official position was also the highest in the family. Ning Lang is the eldest son of the eldest house. He is also very concerned about his son's knowledge, but Ning Lang is not good enough. Mind you, I'm pretty good at having fun.
Ning Lang also knew about the situation of the big room, but he didn't care, and he was always very kind to his younger siblings. He heard from Father Ning that he had to be more patient and give in more. He also maintained that he was the eldest brother and did not love peace Brothers and sisters compete, as long as there is no shortage of money in their pockets, they don't feel that there is anything. When the monthly bill was over, Mother Ning felt sorry for her son, so she would naturally spend money from her private house to subsidize him. Ning Lang doesn't care about the housework, doesn't care about the back house, and spends all day playing outside with those friends. He is the most leisurely person in the family.
Ning Nuan squeezed the box of rouge and sighed deeply.
"Xiang Tao, help me put this box of rouge on the dressing table." Ning Nuan said, "Then grab these cloths and follow me to the old lady."
Xiang Tao opened her eyes wide and looked at her in surprise: "Miss, you are..."
Ning Nuan slowly wiped her hands clean: "It's been quiet for a few days. I really thought that the big room was easy to bully. My mother said to be patient, but I won't obey."
Xiang Tao was overjoyed, and hurriedly went to carry the pieces of cloth out.
Before the two stepped out of the house, they heard the panicked cry of the little maid from outside.
"Madam! Slow down, madam!"
Immediately afterwards, Mother Ning's eager voice came over again: "A Nuan? Where is A Nuan?"
Ning Nuan was shocked and walked out quickly.
In the yard, Ning's mother was supported by the little maid, with a sad expression and tears in her eyes. When she saw Ning Nuan come out, she was stunned at first, as if she had passed through several years, and then her eyes burst into infinite joy, and she opened her arms. He actually hugged Ning Nuan tightly in his arms.
Ning Nuan was stunned.
She hugged Ning mother subconsciously, and looked at the little girl next to Ning mother.
The maid said in a low voice, "The madam slept after lunch, but when she woke up, she burst into tears for some reason. The servants persuaded her for a long time to no avail. Later, she thought of Miss, and hurried over to look for Miss. ."
Here, Ning's mother was still holding her sobbing: "A Nuan, my mother is good A Nuan, my mother is sorry for you, it is my mother who is sorry for you..."