With difficulty, Jiang Yan lifted the bucket full of water up from the well and poured it into the laundry tub full of dirty clothes.
Today's Jiang Yan is the lowest maid in the palace.
She was dressed in rough clothes, her face was sallow and haggard, and her hands were rough.
Compared with the delicate and gorgeous appearance of the same year ago, they are like two different people.
Back then, relying on the one hundred taels of silver that Gu Jiu gave her, Jiang Yan came to the capital from the northwest smoothly and entered the palace smoothly.
After entering the palace, her good luck was completely exhausted.
No money, no background, no connections, and even bad official language, so she has no good looks.
In the palace, what is most lacking is beauty, and what is least lacking is also beauty.
Jiang Yan didn't have the money to foster relationships, and because of her stunning looks, she aroused resentment, and was fined to be sent to the clothes washing bureau, where she couldn't finish washing clothes every day.
Jiang Yan beat her sore waist, her expression numb.
Suddenly, she stopped what she was doing and stared at the reflection in the water.
is that her
Is that haggard-looking person in the water really her
Look at his hands again, is this still the bright and flowery Jiang Yan back then
In less than a year, she was so emaciated.
In another two years, will her most proud appearance still be there? Does she still have a chance to stand up
Jiang Yan suddenly burst into tears.
She squatted on the ground, crying more and more sadly.
She didn't want to die in the laundry bureau, and she didn't want to have endless laundry every day.
The severe cold in winter and the heat in summer, if this continues, she will soon become an old and ugly woman, and she will never have a chance to stand up again.
She can't go on like this.
She didn't enter the palace to wash clothes for others, she wanted to change the status quo, she wanted to stand up.
Jiang Yan wiped away her tears, endured the pain, and finished washing the last basin of clothes.
She didn't even eat dinner, she hid in the room, secretly counting the money she had saved.
Adding up all the net worth, there are only eight taels of silver.
What can this little money do in the palace
Nothing seems to work.
But she is not reconciled.
After thinking about it, Jiang Yan took out five taels of silver, put it on her body, and went out.
She gave money to the gatekeeper's wife and sneaked out of the clothing bureau.
Where should I go next
Jiang Yan thought about it, she was good at needlework, if she could go to the needlework bureau, it would be a chance.
Jiang Yan made up her mind, discerned the direction, and hurried to the sewing bureau.
"Are you courting death? Don't speak."
Walking halfway, Jiang Yan was suddenly pulled into the flowers, Jiang Yan was so frightened that the blood on her face faded away.
Her mouth was covered, and she could only make whimpering noises.
The people behind her scolded her in a low voice: "If you don't want to die, don't make any noise."
Jiang Yan stared at the front with wide eyes.
A group of servants, Xiao Huangmen, passed by with serious expressions. Everyone has a murderous look on their faces.
Only when the group of people walked away did the people behind let go of Jiang Yan.
Jiang Yan turned her head abruptly, it turned out to be a young little Huangmen, definitely not twenty years old.
If Gu Jiu was here, he would be surprised.
When he was in the northwest, Gu Jiu went to the racecourse to inspect, passed by the ruined temple and saw a little beggar, he transformed himself into a palace and became a yellow gate.
"You..." Jiang Yan wanted to ask the other party.
Zhou Miao snorted coldly, "The people from the Execution Department went over just now, did you see that? You rushed out like this and bumped into the people from the Execution Department. You deserve it if you die."
Jiang Yan shuddered all over.
Even the voice was trembling, "The group of people who passed by just now are really people from the Execution Department?"
"Can this be fake?"
Execution Department, recently, Jiang Yan has been in the Clothes Bureau like a thunderbolt.
Thousands of people died in the palace cleansing, and most of them died at the hands of the execution department.
It was rumored in the palace that anyone who entered the execution department should not expect to come out alive.
Instead of thinking about how to survive, it is better to think about how to die more simply and suffer less before dying.
Jiang Yan hugged herself with both hands, looking scared, "Thank you. What's your name?"
"Zhou Miao, in another ten years you will have to call me Mr. Zhou."
Jiang Yan laughed, "You're quite ambitious. Why did your parents give you such a name? Zhou Miao, like a girl's name."
Zhou Miao looked unhappy, "You don't care what name I choose."
He was originally a little beggar without a name, everyone else would say hello, he didn't care if the little beggar called him.
Until he came to the capital, when someone asked him what his name was for the first time, he remembered Mr. Zhou who was with him in the ruined temple, so he made his own decision and took Mr. Zhou's surname.
Mr. Zhou once said that he was a good seedling, so he named himself Zhou Miao. It means Mr. Zhou's good seed.
Zhou Miao looked at Jiang Yan, "You look pretty good, why did you make yourself look like this. You are like this, how can you stand out in the palace?"
Jiang Yan felt sad, "Do you think I want to make myself like this? It's not because I can't help it."
Zhou Miao has been in the market since she was a child, and her ability to read words and demeanor is much better than Jiang Yan's.
"Where do you work?" he asked.
Jiang Yan wiped away her tears, "Huanyi Bureau."
Zhou Miao clicked his tongue twice, "No wonder. The palace gate is about to be locked, and you are still wandering outside. What do you want to do?"
Jiang Yan bit her lip and said, "I want to go to the needlework bureau to find opportunities. My needlework is very good."
Zhou Miao laughed mockingly, "Just looking for a chance based on your appearance? Are you kidding me?"
"I have money, and I brought it out."
Zhou Miao asked, "How much money did you bring?"
Jiang Yan said shyly, "Five taels."
Zhou Miao heheed twice, "Five taels of silver just want to jump from the clothing bureau to the needlework bureau. You are poor and crazy when you are in the palace. Have you never seen silver? You are an idiot."
"I'm not stupid. My girls used to praise me, saying that I'm smart, and I can read and write faster than others."
Zhou Miao was surprised, "So you can read? You used to have a master, why can't you come to the palace?"
Jiang Yan remained silent.
Zhou Miao sneered, "If you say you're stupid, you're really stupid. Is it a human thing to do needlework? Do you want to lose your eyesight at a young age? Since you can read and write, don't you know that this is the right thing to do?" Your biggest capital is more useful than your face?"
Jiang Yan was confused, "I, I don't know. No one asked me if I could read and write."
When Jiang Yan first entered the palace, facing an unfamiliar environment and strict rules, she just remembered to abide by her duty and not cause trouble. The cleverness of the past has not been brought into play at all.
By the time he came to his senses, he had already been dispatched to the Clothes Bureau, and it was extremely difficult to turn over.
When she arrived at the Huanyi Bureau, she was busy washing clothes every day, so naturally she never thought that reading and literacy was her biggest capital. It's a pity that he looks like a flower, and he is getting more and more haggard.
"It's really stupid." Zhou Miao looked disgusted, "Like me, because I can read and write, I found a backer as soon as I entered the palace, and I got a good job."
Jiang Yan was in a hurry, "Then what should I do now? Little Miaozi, I will give you all the five taels of silver. Can you help me find a way? Listen to your accent, you are also from the Northwest, and I am also from the Northwest. We It's a fellow villager, can you help me?"
Zhou Miao looked at the five taels of silver in Jiang Yan's hand with distaste, "Don't just gossip about fellow villagers. The Northwest is so big, where are you from?"
"I'm from Jinzhou, and I used to work as a servant in the Governor's Mansion of Jinzhou."
Zhou Miao's heart skipped a beat when he heard about Jinzhou Governor's Mansion. He hadn't forgotten that the little girl who scolded Mr. Zhou in the ruined temple was from the governor's mansion in Jinzhou.
Because of that remark, Mr. Zhou changed his ambition and rekindled his fighting spirit.
And because of those words, he came to the capital and completely changed his fate.
Zhou Miao looked at Jiang Yan again, and was not in a hurry to ask about the affairs of the governor's mansion.
He simply accepted Jiang Yan's money, "Okay, because you are a fellow villager, I will help you for a while. You can go back and wait for news."
Jiang Yan grabbed him, "Where can I find you?"
"If you can't find me, only I can find you. If you don't trust me, you can take back the five taels of silver, and you can wash clothes at the laundry bureau for the rest of your life."
"I… "
Jiang Yan gritted her teeth, "I believe you won't lie to me. This is my last bit of money. If you really lie to me, I will never let you go."
Zhou Miao sneered, "You have a flowery face, why don't you want to be a ghost. Don't worry, there will be news within ten days at most."
The two separated and left at night.
Jiang Yan returned to the clothes bureau and found that the bed had obviously been turned over. Fortunately, the money was hidden in secret and no one found it.
Jiang Yan was trembling with anger, and glared fiercely at the maid who lived in the same room.
The other party looked arrogant, and rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight at any time.
Jiang Yan's small body is no match for the opponent. The opponent has a big shoulder and a round waist, with all the strength in his body, he can directly knock down Jiang Yan with one move.
Jiang Yan thought for a while, and held back her breath.
When she leaves the Clothes Bureau, she will find a chance to get revenge.
Zhou Miao's work efficiency is very high. After ten days of useless work, someone came to the clothing bureau to call Jiang Yan.
Jiang Yan left the clothes bureau with a feeling of uneasiness.
As she walked farther and farther, she finally entered the Ganlu Palace where Concubine Xue Gui lived, and became a maid in charge of cleaning.
The ladies who sweep the clothes are not much higher than the ladies who wash clothes.
However, the Ganlu Palace and the Huanyi Bureau are one place at a time.
Jiang Yan wept with joy, Zhou Miao didn't lie to her, she finally got out of the clothing trap, she finally took the first step.
…
The Xie family went to the funeral, and after the funeral was over, the Xie family began to be busy with the separation of the family.
In order to separate the family, Mrs. Xie ran to Xie's mansion every day.
Mr. Gu was concerned about her brother who had just died, so he didn't stop him.
Hearing that the Xie family split up, Mr. Gu is also happy to hear it.
He told the two brothers Gu Cheng and Gu Gong, "Stay away from Xie's family in the future."
Gu Ting bowed to accept the order.
Gu Gong was a little absent-minded, "Eldest uncle is gone, and we are far away from Xie's house, will it seem like we are making trouble?"
"Nonsense." Mr. Gu was furious, "The upstart Xie family doesn't need me to add insult to injury, someone will come and step on them. I will serve you when I hear your nonsense in the future."
When Gu Gong heard that he was going to be spanked, he was so frightened that he didn't dare to talk nonsense.
Master Gu was in a bad mood, so he went to the backyard to find Aunt Bai.
Aunt Bai is the most gentle, Master Gu stays in Aunt Bai's room at night and asks Aunt Bai to take good care of her.
But the twelfth brother was ill, and Aunt Bai stayed up all night in order to take care of the twelfth brother, and her face was haggard.
Hearing that Mr. Gu was coming, she felt uncommonly agitated.
She was busy tidying herself up and went out to meet Master Gu.
When Master Gu saw Aunt Bai, he was stunned for a moment, how could he have gained a lot of weight.
The twelfth brothers have already lived for a hundred days, why is Aunt Bai still so fat and white.
Aunt Bai was also very helpless, since she gave birth to her twelfth brother, she has not been able to confine herself to confinement, and has been worrying about her child all day long.
Not only is the person haggard, but the weight has not dropped, but there is a tendency to gain weight.
Some time ago, Aunt Bai refused to see Master Gu on the pretext that she was not healthy.
Now that the child is a hundred days old, she can't refuse Mr. Gu again.
But Master Gu's gaze made Aunt Bai's heart skip a beat, and she had a bad premonition.
She timidly asked: "Master, has my concubine become ugly?"
Mr. Gu wants to say, yes, you have indeed become ugly, and it is not ordinary ugly, which makes me not interested.
However, Mr. Gu still saved some face for Aunt Bai.
He coughed twice and asked, "I heard that the child is sick, does it matter?"
Aunt Bai looked distressed, "Master, can you invite Imperial Physician Hu to come over to treat Brother Twelve? Other doctors and concubines don't look very good."
Mr. Gu entered the room and took a look at his youngest son. The little boy was small and didn't look like he was growing up.
Aunt Bai followed in and picked up the child, "The child has been sick and vomited milk for the past two days, and has lost some weight."
Mr. Gu said: "Mr. Hu may not be available. I'll ask someone to find out if there is a better pediatrician in the capital. Don't worry too much. Leave everything to the servants and take good care of your body."
Aunt Bai shook her head, "I'm worried about leaving the baby to the nanny."
Seeing this situation, Mr. Gu knew very well that the idea of letting Aunt Bai serve tonight was wasted.
Well, he's not interested anyway.
Mr. Gu sat for a while, found a reason and left.
The maid Cui Liu came to Aunt Bai, "Why doesn't Auntie keep Master? It's rare for Master to come here once."
Aunt Bai laughed at herself, "Can you keep it? The master just entered the door, and the way he looked at me made my heart go cold. It was just out of face that he talked with me."
"Auntie, please don't say that."
Aunt Bai shook her head, "I have self-knowledge. I know what kind of honor I am now. The master likes women with a light body. My current appearance has nothing to do with my light body. "
Cui Liu hurriedly said: "Auntie, you can no longer take the child with you all night long, you have to take good care of your health. My brother still counts on you."
Aunt Bai looked at the child in her arms, "I know it all, but I don't worry about others."
"It's better to let the servants come and bring brother at night."
Aunt Bai frowned, "You've been tired all day, and you have to take care of the baby at night, how can you hold on?"
"The servants and the nanny are exchanged. There are slaves staring at the nanny, so don't worry, my aunt."
"That's the only way to do it now."
Master Gu's gaze on her sounded the alarm for Aunt Bai, she can't go on like this.
She has to take good care of her body quickly, restore her previous figure and appearance, and win the heart of Mr. Hui.
Mr. Gu left the Acacia House in a very bad mood.
Aunt Hu? Aunt Wei
He shook his head, neither of the two aunts could do it.
Master Gu sighed, he just wanted to find someone to drink with him, but he couldn't find one.
There are only three aunts in his backyard, and all of them have faded over the years. Even the gentle and charming Aunt Bai became ugly after giving birth.
Mr. Gu is very upset, what kind of life is the dignified governor of the capital. Not to mention red sleeves add fragrance, there is not even a flowery beauty.
Master Gu snorted coldly, and simply went out to meet with his colleagues and drink flower wine.
As soon as Mrs. Xie returned to the mansion, her servants reported to her that Mr. Gu had gone out.
"It's so late, you still go out?"
The servant said cautiously: "I heard that the master is going to drink flower wine."
Xie was stunned, "Are you sure you are drinking flower wine?"
The servant nodded.
Mrs. Xie frowned. After returning to the capital, Master Gu hadn't gone out to drink flower wine once. What's going on today, I suddenly thought of drinking flower wine.
Xie Shi asked, "What's going on?"
"Master went to visit Aunt Bai in the Acacia Courtyard, and left after just sitting down for a cup of tea. Then he went straight out to drink flower wine."
When Xie heard this, he immediately laughed.
She asked Chun He, "What's the situation with Aunt Bai now?"
Chunhe said: "I heard that I am busy taking care of the children every day and don't go out. In the past two days, Brother Twelve has been ill again."
Mrs. Xie raised her eyebrows and smiled, "It's really a coincidence today. I will go to the Acacia Hospital with my wife. As my wife, my aunt is sick, so I have to go and see myself."
"My wife is kind." Chunhe praised her.
Mrs. Xie brought her maid and mother-in-law to the Acacia Court in a mighty way.
Aunt Bai got the news, "What is she here for? Could it be to see my joke?"
The servant girl Cui Liu urged: "Auntie, go out quickly, it's late, and this servant is worried that the wife will pick the wrong one again."
Aunt Bai snorted softly, got up, and went out to meet Mrs. Xie.