Zhao Jinyu felt that this post came at the right time. She couldn't find anyone to talk to her right now, and now a confidant finally came. It was as appropriate as being given a pillow when she wanted to sleep.
After the old lady had finished speaking in the morning, Nanny Li came over with a bunch of things in the afternoon, a box of red coral jewelry, walkers, earrings, hairpins, necklaces, etc., a total of fifty-two pieces, all of which were exquisite and luxurious treasures. The coral red is just like the dazzling fire, very beautiful.
Pearl didn't dare to touch it, as if she was afraid of breaking it, and said, "This is the stuff in the bottom of the old lady's box, and it is said to be one of the dowry brought back from her mother's house."
Who doesn't love a nice tidy up? Zhao Jinyu was no exception, and she was naturally very happy. She fondly touched the pair of hairpins and was very grateful to the old lady, full of warmth, and said, "Grandmother is so kind to me."
Pearl smiled and said, "Missy is the old lady's blood relatives, so naturally she loves Missy very much, and others will never reach her."
Zhao Jinyu felt that there was something in Pearl's words, and she seemed to be referring to the unconcealable disappointment on Zhao Ruizhi's face in the morning. She said with a headache, "Don't say anything, insinuations are really unpleasant."
Pearl froze, bowed her head quickly, and said, "Miss, I'm wrong." In fact, she just couldn't see Zhao Ruizhi's wronged look... Who should I show the wronged? It's just an adopted daughter brought in, how much better is her background than these maids? If she was lucky enough to be adopted when she was a child, she thinks she can do no worse than Zhao Ruizhi, or even better.
Since the snacks are good, the clothes are good, the old lady also loves and enjoys the pampering, now that the rightful owner has come, she must know how to be grateful, but who knows but has been secretly competing with the eldest lady, what is there in comparison to her? That eating appearance is really ugly.
Pearl couldn't help muttering in her heart, just wait and see, something will happen sooner or later.
Zhao Jinyu didn't know what Pearl was thinking, she didn't really have much feelings for Zhao Ruizhi, as long as this person didn't block her way or trip her up, she wouldn't embarrass her either, as long as the two of them didn't interfere with each other.
The fabrics that the old lady gave Zhao Jinyu were all very good, many of which were not available in the market, but unfortunately some colors were too dark for Zhao Jinyu, and some were too light and thin for winter clothes, so I picked three or four. The colors of the clothes are lake green, hibiscus, and carmine, all of which are very bright colors, and I asked the woman in the house who specializes in needlework to make them, but five clothes were made in two days.
Zhao Jinyu pinched her waist specially when asked to do it. The hibiscus-colored half-sleeves are fresh and refined, and with the fitted waist pinch design, Zhao Jinyu wears it like a budding green willow branch, which is very graceful and elegant.
The old lady couldn't help but nodded, and said, "It looks good, I still need to dress up more." Then she looked up and saw two small plum blossom hairpins with red coral on Zhao Jinyu's head, which were both unique and very elegant..., Suddenly tears came out of his eyes, looking sad.
Mother Li was taken aback, and said, "Madam, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell again?"
The old lady refused to raise her head, she shook her head and said, "Qingluan, go quickly, don't waste time on the way."
How could Zhao Jinyu go now, she stepped forward to support the old lady's arm, and said anxiously, "Grandmother, what's wrong with you? Don't scare your granddaughter."
The old lady became more and more sad when she heard Zhao Jinyu's delicate and soft voice, which made Nanny Li, Zhao Jinyu and others extremely anxious.
After a while, the old lady stopped crying, but she refused to be asked why, so she let Zhao Jinyu go out without explaining... Zhao Jinyu looked back three times, but saw that the old lady was in good health, maybe it was just an emotional problem, so she was relieved walked out.
Nanny Li helped the old lady into the room to rest, but the old lady said, "Let's go out for a walk."
Grape vines are planted in the small garden. In winter, the leaves are bare and only the branches are left. It looks very depressed, but it is a good place to bask in the sun. Nanny Li helped the old lady sit on the stone bench of the vine, watching The colorful sunshine said, "The sunshine is really good today."
The old lady nodded, and in a blink of an eye, she saw the old man Zhao Xingkun who came over at some point.
Zhao Xingkun was ready to be scolded, but the old lady said calmly, "Are you here?"
"Well, I'm here." Zhao Xingkun was quite flattered, he didn't dare to get too close, and stood three steps away from the old lady. "Why are you crying?" Zhao Xingkun saw the old lady's red eyes, and said rather reluctantly, "You said you are so old, why are you still acting like a child?"
The old lady looked at the warm winter sun, with inexplicable sadness flowing in her eyes, and said, "I just thought, Qingluan is such a good girl, she is going to marry soon, and I feel uncomfortable. I haven't seen enough, I haven't raised her yet." Enough."
Zhao Xingkun was also quite moved, and said, "Girl Jin is still young, why are you in a hurry?"
"Didn't it mean that you brought out an illegitimate child?" The old lady's expression darkened suddenly, and she said in a low voice, "If it wasn't for Xiao Zhenshan's appearance, how could the second room and the fifth room, which have always been at odds, join forces to deal with you? How could you be trapped now? A few of them are forced to the point where they are in a hurry and can't take care of themselves?" Originally, Zhao Xingkun used the second room to check and balance the fifth room, but now it is because of Xiao Zhenshan that broke the balance.
"I know, it's all my fault, don't be angry." Zhao Xingkun said in a good voice, "But you can't take Jin girl's marriage as a joke, what is the Bai family boy? He has no fame, and he is not a family member. The son-in-law, who is in the middle, is the father who doesn't love his mother, not to mention the pedantic spirit all over his body, and those who care about it at a young age are also talking about it.
The old lady snorted immediately, "At the beginning, my parents praised you, saying that you are good, famous, good-looking, good-spoken, and a legitimate son... Who would have thought that such a thing would be done to me in a blink of an eye? It's just a blow to the head." The old lady looked at the old man's face turning blue and white, and said more bluntly, "Am I right?"
Mother Li was so scared that her sweat was about to drop. The old lady has always respected the old man very much, and she has respectfully cared for her for decades. When did she become so embarrassing? What he said was really ugly.
In the end, just when Nanny Li thought that the old man was about to lose his temper, he held back with great difficulty, and replied a sentence that almost made her jaw drop. She heard the old man say, "You're right."
Nanny Li couldn't help digging her ears, did she hear correctly? The old lady scolded the old man unceremoniously, but he still said that he was right
"Anyway, don't worry about this matter, I'm going to marry Qingluan in a splendid manner." After finishing speaking, the old lady got up and looked at the old lady warningly, "Did you hear that?"
The old man said with a bitter face, "This boy from the Bai family is really inappropriate..."
"The matter of Qing Luan is Qing Luan's matter, and the matter of you and me is another matter." The old lady pointed to the grandfather who wanted to come over to please her and said, "We must reconcile."
Granny, "..."
After waiting for the old lady to leave, the old man Zhao Xingkun stood on the spot angrily for a long time, blowing his beard and staring, and said, "What is this called? Are you still reconciled? You are still messing around at such an age? Isn't this a joke for the younger generation? ?” It’s just that no one is talking to him now.
When Zhao Jinyu arrived at the second gate of Gu's mansion, she saw Gu Fuying, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, wearing a white pink and green embroidered bamboo leaf and plum blossom collar, and a white lotus coat trimmed with rabbit fur. wait for her.
"Jinyu?" Gu Fuying greeted her, then grabbed Zhao Jinyu's hand excitedly, and said, "It's really you?" After speaking, her eyes turned red.
Zhao Jinyu said with a smile, "Why are you crying?"
Gu Fuying wiped her tears and said, "You don't know, I heard about your house..." Gu Fuying stopped suddenly in the middle of speaking, as if realizing that this is not a place to talk, she dragged Zhao Jinyu inside, "Let's go in and talk, you first Go see my mother, she has been thinking about you all the time."
Mrs. Gu is a typical southerner, fair-skinned, slender, very delicate, with a gentle voice. Originally, Zhao Jinyu thought Gu Fuying was very beautiful, but compared with Mrs. Gu, she looked a bit like a northerner Come on, not to mention that Gu Fuying's straightforward personality is actually more like her father Gu Jue.
Zhao Jinyu greeted Mrs. Gu, but was kicked out by Mrs. Gu, and said, "Fuying has always thought of you, and after finally coming here, I went to her Xiaoxiang residence to play. There are many interesting things in it." The butler lady on the side said, "Let the kitchen deliver the frozen pears from the north. I remember that Jinyu used to like eating them the most." Then she glanced at Zhao Jinyu with a smile, as if asking, is that so
Zhao Jinyu felt that Mrs. Gu was the real woman, just looking at you so tenderly... her heart softened into a puddle of water, and she hurriedly said, "Thank you, Auntie, for remembering."
Mrs. Gu said with a smile, "It's fine if you like it, go quickly." Then she said to Gu Fuying, "Don't bully Jinyu."
"How could I bully her?" Gu Fuying said angrily, "Are you my mother? You actually speak for outsiders."
Mrs. Gu smiled helplessly, with a hint of doting in her eyes, and said, "You are just spoiled by me." Then she looked at Zhao Jinyu with a smile and said softly, "Jinyu, don't be afraid, if she bullies you , you come and tell me."
Zhao Jinyu couldn't help but chuckle, and said, "Auntie, I remember."
Gu Fuying stomped her feet angrily, dragged Zhao Jinyu outside, and muttered as she walked, "What kind of ecstasy soup did you pour my mother into?"
"No, maybe you are usually too powerful."
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Soon, the clear and sweet laughter of two people came from outside.
Mrs. Gu couldn't help shaking her head, and said to the woman beside her, "Go and see what the young master is doing?"
As soon as the old woman rolled her eyes, she immediately understood Madam Gu's meaning, and said, "Your servant is here to take a look."
It was rare for Zhao Jinyu to be so happy. The two of them chatted and laughed all the way to Gu Fuying's Xiaoxiang Residence. It was a very unique small courtyard. Bonsai looks green even in winter.
"Look at the goldfish I raise." Gu Fuying pulled Zhao Jinyu to the side of the water tank, pointed to a white goldfish inside and said, "This one is called Phoenix Tail Silver Scale. It's my favorite one. Isn't it beautiful?"
Zhao Jinyu couldn't help admiring, "Beautiful."
Gu Fuying couldn't hide her complacency, and said, "That's right, I spent a lot of thought on raising it."
Zhao Jinyu smiled narrowly, "I'm afraid it's not you raising them, but your brother is taking care of these fish." Gu Fuying's personality is a little impatient and impatient, and Gu Fuying's brother Gu Zhaocheng used to help her take care of them.
Gu Fuying smiled guilty, and said, "Well, my brother is taking care of me."
The two of them entered the room hand in hand. A servant girl had already received the letter and put a box of snacks on the table, including candied fruit, melon seeds, crisp candy, and a plate of thawed pears.
Zhao Jinyu stepped forward to take a frozen pear in surprise and said, "There are really frozen pears. It really is the eldest lady of the magistrate's family. She has everything you need."
Gu Fuying stepped forward to beat Zhao Jinyu, and snorted, "Aren't you making fun of me? You are the eldest lady of the Zhao family, do you want to eat anything? I, a little prefect, can't even compare to your fingernails." Come on." Gu Fuying's words were not exaggerating, a prominent family like the Zhao family was indeed higher than the magistrate.
Zhao Jinyu stuck out her tongue, picked up the frozen pear and took a bite, immediately a sweet and sour cool taste poured into her mouth, very enjoyable, she showed a relieved look, and said, "My grandmother said it was a cold pear. Do not eat anything."
Gu Fuying said, "Your grandmother is right."
Zhao Jinyu nodded, showing a bit of helplessness, "I know that grandma is doing it for my own good, but I feel a little uncomfortable, as if..."
Gu Fuying smiled, "You are bound everywhere, right?"
"Hmm." Zhao Jinyu couldn't deny the old lady's kindness to her, but sometimes this kindness would become a burden, which made her feel a little out of breath. "It's good if I have a small physique. Don't talk about eating frozen pears in winter, it's okay to eat ice cubes." Zhao Jinyu and his brother made shaved ice when they were in the capital before.
"That's because your brother spoiled you. In fact, your mother didn't let you eat it, and your brother took you there secretly..." Gu Fuying said and stopped suddenly. The originally happy family is now torn apart.
Zhao Jinyu's expression darkened, and she said, "Yes, my brother really loves me." But does he really love him? Then why did he abandon her when she needed it most
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became gloomy, and Gu Fuying said with some guilt, "It's all my fault. You are doing well now, but I bring up old things."
"No, I've actually seen it for a long time." Zhao Jinyu smiled encouragingly and said, "Let's not talk about it, let's talk about something happy. When is your marriage with your cousin scheduled?" Zhao Jinyu knew Gu Fuying and her cousin have been married since they were young, and the two have a very deep relationship as childhood sweethearts.
Two red clouds appeared on Gu Fuying's face, and she was as beautiful as a lotus in the water, and said, "It will be next spring. My mother said that she wants to stay at home for one more year, and my cousin will also take the exam."
"Is it the wedding night when the gold list was named?"
"Bah! You really dare to say anything with this mouth." Gu Fuying jumped up angrily and grabbed Zhao Jinyu's arm, pretending to twist her arm, Zhao Jinyu exaggeratedly shouted, "Oh, the magistrate is going to beat someone gone."
Who knew that at this moment a person hurriedly walked in from outside the door, shouting anxiously, "Sister, are you bullying Jinyu again?"
The person who came was none other than Gu Fuying's elder brother, Gu Zhaocheng. He was about twenty years old, wearing a brocade gown with lake green tufted patterns, with delicate features and a tall figure.
Zhao Jinyu saw that it was Gu Zhaocheng who brushed his hair back, pressed the hem of his skirt that was messed up, walked over to bless him, and said charmingly, "Brother Zhaocheng."
In the past, the four of them played together all the year round, so they were considered childhood sweethearts. If Gu Zhaocheng hadn't already engaged in marriage, Mrs. Gu would have thought of marrying Zhao Jinyu.
Gu Zhaocheng smiled softly and said, "Get up, I haven't seen you in a few years, and you are already this big."
Gu Fuying covered her mouth and smiled, and said, "Brother, what you said is really old-fashioned. It doesn't sound like my brother, but rather like the old master who taught me."
Gu Zhaocheng's face turned red all of a sudden, and he stammered, "What nonsense are you talking about? Old Master Xu is well educated and highly respected. Don't take Old Master as a joke."
Gu Fuying curled her lips, and showed a helpless look towards Zhao Jinyu, as if to say..., look, my brother is still like this after all these years.
Zhao Jinyu couldn't help but also laughed. Gu Fuying used to be very envious of her brother, because Zhao Jinyu's brother Zhuang Qing would tolerate Zhao Jinyu without a bottom line. I have never blushed since I grew up, but Gu Fuying and her brother Gu Zhaocheng are different, because Gu Zhaocheng has a rigorous temperament, but Gu Fuying is lively and bold, so she often teaches Gu Fuying a lesson, the two have quarreled since childhood grow up.
The three of them ate snacks together and talked about the past. Gu Zhaocheng took advantage of Gu Fuying's time to go to the palace and asked, "Jinyu, brother wants to ask you something."
Zhao Jinyu knew that Gu Zhaocheng had something to say to her when she saw Gu Zhaocheng's hesitation before, so she hurriedly said, "Brother Zhaocheng, just speak up if you have something to say."
Gu Zhaocheng saw that Zhao Jinyu was still treating him as usual, without any estrangement, and was quite touched in his heart. He was happy and a little disappointed at the same time, and said, "I heard that you and the third son of the Bai family are going to get married. ?”
Zhao Jinyu felt quite a headache, and said, "I haven't decided yet, but I just mentioned it." These days, the old lady took the opportunity to ask her what she meant, and she couldn't take it anymore.
After hearing this, Gu Zhaocheng showed a somewhat relieved expression, and said, "I shouldn't have said such things... But I watched you grow up, and you are just like my sister."
Zhao Jinyu felt quite emotional when she recalled the past, and said, "Brother Zhaocheng, I also treat you like a brother."
"Yeah." Gu Zhaocheng couldn't help but smiled heartily after hearing this, and continued, "I also know that young master Bai." Hangzhou Mansion is so big, and many children from aristocratic families know each other. Gu Zhaocheng said in a deep voice, " The person your grandmother picked is quite good, and his character and family background match yours, except for one thing...he brought back a woman when he went to the capital to take an exam in his early years."
Zhao Jinyu was astonished and said, "That means he has a concubine by his side?"
Gu Zhaocheng nodded, "That's right. In fact, having a concubine or a roommate is not a big deal. It's not a big deal in a family like ours. The main reason is that the concubine's birth is very beautiful. If you go, I'm afraid..." Gu Zhaocheng Zhao Cheng had seen the concubine for a while, and his every move was coquettish, and a girl from a noble family like Zhao Jinyu could resist it.
Zhao Jinyu remained silent with a sullen face. She always thought that Mr. Bai's family was innocent, but who knew there was such a big stain.
Gu Zhaocheng said, "I think it's not unusual for the third young master Bai to like that concubine. You should consider this marriage carefully..." Gu Zhaocheng still remembers that once the third young master Bai went to the temple to beg for a safe talisman. Because the concubine was ill, she was just a concubine, why did the third son Bai do this? What kind of affection is this
Zhao Jinyu boarded the sedan chair in a daze, and the whole journey was filled with Gu Zhaocheng's words... Does grandmother know about this? She leaned on the sedan chair and closed her eyes wearily.
Waiting to send Zhao Jinyu away, Mrs. Gu called Liu Lu, the maid beside Gu Fuying, and asked, "What did the young master and miss tell Miss Zhao?"
The servant girl Liu Lu has been waiting in the room, so naturally she knows everything.
After a while, Mrs. Gu waved her hand and said, "Go down."
The old nanny at the side said with a smile, "It's not that the young master has no idea at all, otherwise he wouldn't have told Miss Zhao what Mr. Bai was about."
Madam Gu bowed her head and said nothing, the sunlight outside reflected on her quiet face, there was a kind of quiet beauty.
The old mother continued, "Because the young mistress left in front of her too quickly... she just got married and fell ill just three days ago, and the young mistress's family said that we treated the young mistress harshly, causing the ups and downs." Damn, the young master's marriage has been dragging on for the past few years, Madam is really worried about it." The old nanny smiled and said very relieved, "It's all right now, Miss Zhao is Madam He grew up watching him since he was a child, and he knows the whole story, and he is from the Zhao family. If the marriage is real, it will be a very enviable marriage in the entire Hangzhou government. It should be seen by those little people who look down on others. "
Mrs. Gu nodded and said, "Actually, if it weren't for how difficult the Zhao family is now, our Zhaocheng family may not have a chance, but since it is possible now, I always have to give it a try, instead of letting that girl Jinyu marry The Bai family, why not marry into our family, I will never treat her badly. "
"It's just like this, the old slave is probably also happy thinking about the young master."
Whose son knows..., Mrs. Gu thought, if her introverted son hadn't really thought about it, why would he tell Zhao Jinyu such a thing
"Of course he is happy."
It was already night when Zhao Jinyu arrived at the Zhao Mansion, and she didn't care about anything else, so she went directly to the old lady's room.
"Grandmother, do you know that the third son of the Bai family has a concubine?"
The old lady was drinking tea, and she almost dropped the teacup on the ground after hearing Zhao Jinyu's words. A trace of displeasure flashed across her face, and she said, "Who told you this?"
Zhao Jinyu's heart skipped a beat, and she said, "Is this true?"
"Jinyu, go wash and change your clothes first, and grandma will tell you when you come back later." The old lady calmed down and said in a gentle voice.
Zhao Jinyu felt as if her heart was on fire, she didn't have the time to wash and change her clothes, she stood unsure of moving, and said, "Grandmother, just tell me if it's true or not."
Seeing Zhao Jinyu's stubborn appearance, the old lady was furious, and said, "Is this how you treat your grandmother? Why don't you understand any rules?"