When Hua Rong saw her husband asking about her savings, she replied with some confusion: "Savings? Let me think about it. With your salary and His Majesty's reward, the family originally had about three thousand guan. Last time they fought against Yang Mo's navy, in order to buy horses and hides. , earthen jars and poison equipment, supplemented by two thousand guan, and the remaining 1,000 guan, I spent 300 guan these days..." Her voice became lower and lower, a little panicked, "Now there are less than 700 guan left. Already…”
"Okay, I'll thank you, Sister Seventeen, and use these seven hundred strings to prepare something for Qiaoniang..." His eyes shifted from Li Qiaoniang to his wife, looking at her light green shirt, half-smiling but not smiling, "Seventeen Sister, I don’t know much about clothing, so let’s compare it to what you have on... "
Hua Rong suppressed the surging emotions in her heart and said with a smile: "Well, I will take care of it myself. Don't worry, I will prepare the best for Qiao Niang."
Li Qiaoniang's face turned red and she said hurriedly: "My husband is always frugal, so there is no need to make any exceptions for the slave family, and there is no need to make any big fuss..."
Yue Pengju chuckled: "Etiquette should still be followed and cannot be omitted. Qiao Niang, you don't have to worry about it. It's been very hard for you to serve the official and his wife these days. From now on, just rest and wait for your wife to take care of it for you." .”
Hua Rong nodded: "Yes, you have worked hard, Qiao Niang. You only need to do some sewing these days. You don't have to do housework. I will arrange it for you."
Li Qiaoniang hurriedly saluted: "Thank you, Madam. It is a great blessing for me to meet Madam."
Hua Rong's heart was cut by a knife, but she still discussed all the details of the concubine with her husband and his "concubine" like a normal person. Only when it came to entertaining guests, Yue Peng said that the war was tense and there was no need to make a big announcement. He only invited relatives and friends. Just have a gathering of friends. As for the guest list, he will arrange it himself, and Hua Rong does not need to interfere.
Hua Rong was noncommittal, and the three of them discussed for a while before going back to their rooms to rest.
Yue Pengju went to bed first, frowning and said, "Oh, this eye disease is really fatal."
Hua Rong walked over slowly, changed his medicine once, and then said softly: "Have a good rest for a while. There are always doctors who can treat eyes in Tanzhou City."
He lay down and said, "Thank you, Sister Seventeen, for your service."
"Need not."
The couple was polite for the first time. Hua Rong turned his head slightly, but when he saw his smiling face, he realized for the first time what it meant to truly "respect each other as ice".
The lights went out, but Yue Pengju seemed not to be sleepy and was very excited. He kept asking: "Sister Seventeen, what do you think Qiao Niang lacks? What clothes does she wear that look good? What jewelry should she prepare?... "
Hua Rong answered every question he asked with great patience. Her whole body seemed a little numb, and she just told herself over and over again that since she had chosen this path, she should play the role of a "good wife" to the end.
Yue Pengju asked again: "Isn't it too little to have only 700 strings to arrange a happy event?"
Hua Rong felt a little guilty and said in a low voice: "I'm sorry, if I hadn't squandered it earlier, I would still have 100 taels of gold..."
"It's okay, Sister Seventeen, you have been with me all these years and have never lived a decent life. It's okay to buy a few clothes. Anyway, I will think of a way. Li Qiaoniang is still young and can no longer be shabby... "
When you are young and beautiful like a flower, you cannot be shabby or shabby. Hua Rong thought, as for your wretched wife, what does it matter whether she is cold or shabby
Finally, Yue Peng was tired of asking questions. Seeing that Hua Rong still answered dutifully, he yawned and said with a smile: "Sister Seventeen's virtue is really rare in the world. I didn't know it before."
She still kept smiling and sighed: "If the Yue family has an heir, I will be a great hero."
Yue Pengju didn't ask any more questions. After all, he was extremely tired and quickly fell asleep.
Where can Hua Rong sleep? But she was afraid of disturbing her husband, and she didn't dare to toss and turn too much. She just opened her eyes wide in the dark night and looked at the unpredictable world quietly, feeling that everything was illusory.
In a daze, she felt her husband's hands on her body so hotly. It was his habit, and it was also her habit. Especially in those days of serious injury and despair, she fell asleep peacefully with such tenderness every night. This gave her great confidence and courage to live. However, everything has changed today. She quietly took away his hand and gently put it aside. He fell asleep, unconscious. , his hand gently grabbed her hand again. This time, she did not push it away. After a while, when she heard his breathing so deep, she quietly moved away, and slowly put on her clothes and got out of bed.
She quietly walked to the window. At this time, the moon was at its zenith, and birds were passing by, their voices low. She stood there for a long time, and heard the sound of her husband turning over. She was afraid of disturbing him, so she quietly went back and lay down.
Although there was no publicity, the news that the Yue family's good things were approaching spread among the family members in the military camp. These days, under Yue Pengju's arrangement, Li Qiaoniang no longer does any housework. Two soldiers came to the house to help with the cooking. She only focused on embroidering at home, making handkerchiefs, sachets, concentric knots and the like that girls like. While Hua Rong was running around outside, buying some things. She knew that all Yue Pengju's money was spent on Li Qiaoniang's dowry. He went there, but he himself was not prepared at all. To be a "groom", you have to look like a groom. Pengju wears coarse cloth all year round, and he doesn't have any decent clothes at all. He must at least prepare for him. It is impossible for the bride to wear gold. Dai Yin, is the groom wearing old clothes
Because Li Qiaoniang had free time, she often went to do needlework with the female relatives in the army. The female relatives saw that her clothes were becoming more and more beautiful day by day. She changed from the Jingchai sarong of the past, and her beautiful girl's appearance was even more prominent. All the female relatives were there. While I greatly envied Li Qiaoniang, I also flattered her greatly. Only then did I realize that this Mrs. Ru was really going to replace Wife Chaochang.
In the evening of that day, Li Qiaoniang packed up her needlework and went back, and several women began to discuss:
"Li Qiaoniang is really lucky. She will become a first-class official's wife as soon as she comes. In the future, it is also possible to become a royal wife."
"Who said it was a gift from the Queen Mother's official family? Her status is naturally superior to others. What's more, she is young and beautiful, she gave birth to a son, and she is definitely favored by Xianggong Yue... "
"Xiangong Yue is famous for his frugality. This time, I heard that he will do something great for Qiao Niang so that she will not be inferior to the status of his wife. If Xianggong Yue doesn't like her very much, how could he be like this?"
"Mr. Yue wants to hold a banquet for guests? But our master hasn't received the invitation yet."
"Why are you panicking? It will happen naturally when the time comes. They are all in the military camp. Why don't you just give me a shout and go?"
"Mrs. Yue is really generous. Not only is she not jealous, but she also personally takes care of everything for Mr. Yue. She gives all the good things to Li Qiaoniang. I can't stand my master's two concubines. When the concubines came in, I didn't care at all. I didn’t give him a good look. Fortunately, I have two sons. Otherwise, I don’t know how I would have been bullied... "
"Mrs. Yue is helpless. Who told her that she can't have children? She has no confidence if she can't have children. Fortunately, Mr. Yue loves the new and never gets tired of the old. He never abandons her. If she wants to consolidate her position in the future, of course she must not Not so, otherwise..."
Wang Gui's wife sneered: "I don't think any man is good. A few days ago, I asked Mrs. Yue to make the decision for me. Who will make the decision for her in the future? For an official as big as Xianggong Yue, who does he want to pamper? Dare you say more? In short, we women have a hard life..."
"There's nothing you can do about it. Women's fate has been like this since ancient times. Who can do anything about it?"
Senior Sister Gao felt very uncomfortable when she heard these discussions. She just thought, Mrs. Yue is really a miserable person.
Contrary to Li Qiaoniang's situation, Hua Rong has formed a sharp contrast with her these days. She has resumed her Jingchai sarong, but there are no traces of haggard. She is still smiling every day, walking in front of and behind others, and is still friendly. She was so angry that her eyes were as bright as a straw mat wrapped around her.
Because of this, the fourth sister in high school who had a good personal relationship with her always did not dare to face her or talk to her. Hua Rong also did not take the initiative to look for her. On this day, she saw Hua Rong returning from the dusk, not She was riding a horse, carrying only a bunch of arrows on her back, and looked in a hurry. She wanted to say hello to Hua Rong, but felt uneasy, so she finally closed the door and pretended not to see him.
How could Hua Rong not know the suspicions of these female relatives? She was indifferent to all this. When she returned home, the afterglow shone down from the treetops all over the house. Li Qiaoniang stood up and looked at a mandarin duck sachet she had just embroidered. She heard the footsteps, raised her head and saw that it was Hua Rong. , blushed: "Madam..."
Hua Rong smiled and glanced at the sachet in her hand: "Qiao Niang, it's so beautiful. You have such skillful hands."
She whispered: "My husband has been on war all year round, so I embroidered a sachet for him to carry with him to keep him safe."
"Well, you're still attentive."
"My family often thinks that my husband and wife are so kind to my family. I really don't know how many lifetimes this family has been blessed with."
Hua Rong said calmly: "You deserve this too."
She turned her eyes and saw that on the table in front of Li Qiaoniang, there was an unembroidered picture of twins. Li Qiaoniang saw her look and said hurriedly: "Madam..."
Hua Rong smiled and said: "I hope you can spread the branches and leaves as soon as possible for my husband."
Li Qiaoniang was a little uneasy and said anxiously: "My family will definitely do their best for the incense of the Yue family."
"Well. Qiao Niang, I feel relieved as long as you take care of my husband."
"Madam, please rest assured that although the slave girls cannot go into battle to kill the enemy, they will serve my husband wholeheartedly so that he will have no worries."
Hua Rong nodded and returned to the room. After drinking a bowl of herbal tea and sitting for a while, Yue Pengju opened the door and came in.
He may have noticed the changes in his wife these days. The beautiful clothes on her body have been replaced by old clothes, and she looks a little haggard. His eyes are eager and he wants to talk to her. However, Hua Rong has no intention to talk to him about anything. Things other than concubinage. Several times, as soon as he opened his mouth, she would put the topic aside. He looked at her blankly for several times before saying, "Sister Seventeen, you don't actually need to be like this."
Hua Rong smiled and said softly: "Pengju, I promised to handle it for you, and I will do it well. Don't worry."
"But there's no need for you to scrimp on food and clothing! I'll find a way myself."
Hua Rong smiled sweetly: "It's not that serious. I just mortgaged the ornaments that I didn't need. Besides, the war is now tense, and there is a long-term drought in the southeast area. The army of 100,000 people is raised, and the people are almost wiped out. How can you still What can I do? Eat less and wear more, what does it matter?"
Yue Pengju stretched out his hand and held her hand tightly: "Sister Seventeen, you have worked really hard. Let's do this. I will ask the guards to prepare for this matter, and you don't have to worry about it."