Shen Yi and the third prince spent half a month playing together. The old lady and Yang also felt that something was wrong, but they didn't know how to deal with it. Women's usual topics are nothing more than fame and family plus income and gifts, and there are few discussions about government affairs.
After dismissing the servants around her, the old lady said to Yang Shi worriedly: "You still have to talk to Yi'er and the others, don't have too close contacts with the third prince. Now I went out to play together for half a month. Don’t know? The court doesn’t want the prince to have too many contacts with civil servants and military generals.”
Yang Shi also sighed and said, "I also told Yi'er, because Lord Hou also told you not to have close friendships with the royal family. But Yi'er said that they had played together before, but this time they met on the road, and the third prince opened the door. After saying that, there is no way to say no. Because the third prince also came to the mansion at the flower festival that year. He didn't drive him out at that time. Now that the eldest prince is about to be canonized as a prince, he refuses him. It seems that our Marquis Mansion It's too spineless. But I also think that Yi'er and the others think that the eldest prince is not authentic, and being with the third prince is also an expression of displeasure."
The old lady shook her head and said: "The child doesn't know the importance! The eldest prince is so concerned about Wen'er's affairs, how can Yi'er and the others do this, how can he not take it to heart? You must find a chance to talk to them, Qian Don't do this again!"
Just as the old lady finished speaking, Yang Shi hadn't found a chance to have a private conversation with Shen Yi. A few days later, she received a post from the fifth princess, saying that she would come to celebrate Shen Xiang's birthday. Holding this greeting card, Mrs. Yang seemed to be on fire, and immediately went to see the old lady.
"Mother!" Mrs. Yang doesn't think the old lady is picking on her anymore, it's a good thing to have an old man in the family who can discuss it. The husband is not there, there is no one in the natal family, and the children are either obviously disobedient or ignorant. I have been in charge of the Hou Mansion all these years, and I have no serious girlfriends. Who else can she turn to besides her mother-in-law
Yang sighed: "The fifth princess is coming, and the third prince must send her here. Doesn't this have to get mixed up with Yi'er and the others?"
The old lady read the post carefully, and asked suspiciously: "Why would the fifth princess come to celebrate Xiang'er's birthday?"
Mrs. Yang was a little embarrassed: "In the early years, I gave birth to Xiang'er, and I finally hoped for a daughter. Didn't our mansion hold a grand ceremony for Xiang'er for a hundred days? Concubine Chen and my family turned a little close. It was lively, so I sent her a post. Of course she didn't come, but she even sent someone to send a gift, which is very humane. Over the years, the fifth princess has only come to the flower fair or something, and has nothing else to do. This time it is She is going to celebrate Xiang'er's birthday for the first time, maybe because Xiang'er is ten years old this year."
The old lady frowned for a while, then sighed slowly: "If you say avoid it, it's not impossible."
Yang asked hurriedly, "How should I do it?"
The old lady looked at the window and said softly: "On that day, find something to pay Yi'er and the others, wait for the fifth princess and the others to leave, and then let Yi'er and the others come back; or, the day before that day, I suddenly fell ill, In this way, Xiang'er will not be able to celebrate her birthday; or, let Xiang'er pretend to be sick and report to the fifth princess... There are many ways."
Yang hesitated: "The mother said, which method should we use?"
The old lady turned her eyes slowly, looked at Yang Shi and said, "You can figure it out."
Yang frowned: "What does mother mean?"
The old lady shook her head slightly: "I'm old, I can't think about it, I don't want to do anything, I just want to live a dignified life."
Mrs. Yang didn't want to understand, so she said goodbye and came out, secretly called her companion Mrs. Qian, explained the matter, and asked: "My mother gave me an idea, but she said she didn't want to use it, and let me figure it out. What's the meaning?"
Mrs. Qian sighed deeply: "Ma'am, the old lady is really angry. Do you still remember what the old lady said when Su Wanniang's maid wanted to die?"
Yang thought about it and nodded.
Mrs. Qian continued: "The old lady is so arrogant. Today, the Zhenbeihou mansion is bought by the old man and the soldiers. If our mansion doesn't even dare to receive the guests who come to celebrate the young lady's birthday, we must let our own The child hides out or the master pretends to be sick. It’s so embarrassing to live. Did those people die just for us to live like this? So the old lady said that she wanted to live a dignified life, and she didn’t want to bow her head. But there are children in our house, She left it up to Madam to make up her mind."
Yang's eyes were red, and he took Qian's hand and said, "Grandma, I also want to live a dignified life. At the beginning, my father always said that if a person is worthy of his conscience, there is nothing to be afraid of. But how can I not worry? Zhengyue Here, Wen'er just quarreled with the eldest prince and the fourth princess, look at what happened next, he can be so shameless!"
Qian was so frightened that she quickly covered her mouth, looked left and right, and whispered, "Ma'am, it's not like you don't know that there are so many people in this house, so don't dare to say such nonsense!"
Mrs. Yang said in a low voice: "Since there are many people in this mansion, we can't do those things about pretending to be sick. If it gets out, our mansion let the young lady pretend to be sick in order to avoid seeing the third prince, and she can't even celebrate her birthday. The face of our house will be completely humiliated! Let me ask Yier, if he is willing, let him go out with Erlang, leaving only Sanlang to receive the third prince. Sanlang is only thirteen years old, and he really met the third prince. It shouldn't be considered a relationship."
Mrs. Qian let out an "ouch" and said, "The third prince is only fifteen years old, and he is almost one and a half years younger than the second son of our mansion and the eldest son of Marquis Pingyuan. Look at the third son, the second son, and Zhang Da The young master is getting along so well, he always plays chess with them, how can he look young? If he really stays, maybe he can play chess with the third prince for a day, so that the third prince can stay longer. "
Yang frowned and said: "Then it seems that we really have to spend it all. But the three boys in the Hou's mansion are not here, and it happens to be the eldest lady's birthday. How can this be unreasonable?"
Qian sighed: "Isn't this just deceiving oneself and others? Who wouldn't be able to see it? It means that the Hou Fu doesn't want the third prince and the young masters to get on good terms, and also conveys a reconciliation to the eldest prince, which means that our house and the princes are reconciled." He's together."
Yang's anger: "Why?!"
Mrs. Qian "hush": "Madam, this is not a trivial matter. This eldest prince is about to become a prince, and will be the emperor in the future. Our house is a courtier, how can we not listen to the emperor?"
Yang said angrily: "But he is not yet!"
Mrs. Qian was helpless: "This is what the old madam means by telling the madam to 'figure out'. In the end, it's up to the madam to make up her mind."
Amidst anger, unwillingness, and worry about her children, Yang vacillated from side to side, and finally decided to talk to her eldest son, and wanted to persuade him to take his younger brothers out of the house, and also wanted to hear his different suggestions. After all, Shen Yi is a seventeen-year-old adult, and he will get married next year, so he always makes up his own mind.
Shen Yi flatly rejected Yang's suggestion to let him go out: "Mother, this is not allowed. I brought my younger brothers to leave the mansion on the eldest sister's birthday, and the fifth princess happened to be accompanied by the third prince to celebrate the eldest sister's birthday. Who cares?" What is the reason for not coming out? If the Zhenbei Hou Mansion acts like this, how can we stand straight in front of others in the future?"
Yang thought that this was the same as the old lady's. Although she agreed with this point of view, how could she not bow her head under the eaves? Or against his will, he asked: "Can my son think of a way to save the face of the Hou Mansion without being friendly with the Third Prince?"
Shen Yi said sullenly: "Mother, let me think about it again, but I haven't yet." But hearing that meaning, he didn't intend to think about it at all.
Knowing that the princess is coming, the mansion has to prepare. I sent a post to a few people who were usually talkative, booked a banquet, and hired an orchestra. It was midsummer in July, and mats and bamboo chairs were placed in the gazebo by the small lake, and a small side hall was arranged for the girls to change clothes or rest.
On the day of Shen Xiang's birthday, Shen Yi's method was not revealed yet. And a few days ago, Yang asked Shen Xiang if he was not feeling well. This birthday was not over, but Shen Xiang refused, and kept asking Yang what was wrong.
Since Yang woke up in the morning, he felt stuffy in his heart and felt like he couldn't breathe. But thinking of going to the hall to meet the children who came to pay their respects, I had to force myself to freshen up and dress up. Even if she is really uncomfortable now, she can't say it out, lest everyone in the Hou family think she is pretending to be sick, and no one will look down on her in the future.
On a summer morning, there was already a hint of warmth in the air.
Yang Shi walked into the hall with heavy steps, sweating a little on his back. In the room, several children stood up and saluted her. Shen Yi wore a white summer shirt with a light green jade belt tied around his waist, looking tall and handsome without fear. This is the eldest son she is proud of, Yang's nose soured, she quickly pursed the corners of her mouth, made a smiling face, and looked at Shen Xiang in a blink of an eye. It was Shen Xiang's birthday, and she was also dressed in short clothes, the light red underwear she liked, and a golden hairpin carved with lotus flowers on her head.
Yang said with a smile: "Today is Xiang'er's birthday, everyone has a good time." After finishing speaking, she couldn't think of what else to say. The old lady came in, and everyone said good morning.
The old lady looked very emotional, and she sat down and said: "I have been waiting for something exciting. I heard that the orchestras invited are very good in the capital."
Yang quickly said: "Yes, I gave them the list, and they said they can order it anytime. If there is any song that Mother wants to listen to, just ask someone to tell them."
The old lady waved her hand and said, "As long as it's festive, it's all good."
Yang said angrily: "The festive ones are all about beating gongs and drums. In this summer, my mother doesn't mind the noise."
The old lady smiled and said: "I'm old, I can't hear clearly, and I'm arguing with you."
Everyone laughed, Yang made people serve breakfast and ate with the children.
Shen Wen remembered that the fifth princess also came to celebrate Shen Xiang's birthday at this time in the previous life, and the third prince naturally also came together, and made gestures with his brothers in the martial arts field. But at that time, I was having trouble with my mother, because my birthday was just over a month later, but my mother said that I was still young and would not let me celebrate it. At that time, she didn't even know whether the Hou Mansion had any sense of its own crisis, whether it was intentional to receive the fifth princess and the third prince, but this time she clearly knew that the old lady, Yang Shi, and Shen Yi had deliberately chosen to be proud, and Not a compromise.
During breakfast, the old lady was as happy as usual, sitting beside Shen Wen, always giving Shen Wen something to eat, telling Shen Wen to eat more, and Yang's face often showed worry. Shen Yi kept a straight face and remained silent, Shen Jian smiled, and Shen Zhuo looked absent-minded. Shen Xiang might be a little excited, his face was red, and he didn't eat much.
After the meal, Yang gave a few more instructions, her voice was a little hoarse, as if she had no strength. Shen Wen closed his eyes, and in his mind, he saw Yang's stagnation of liver qi, probably due to excessive anxiety these days. With the excuse of saying goodbye, he ran up, curled up in Yang's arms, rubbed her, and secretly sorted out the meridians of Zhongjiao for her with his consciousness, and then left with Shen Xiang with a smile.
Yang let out a sigh of relief, feeling refreshed, couldn't help smiling and said to the old lady: "Wen'er made such a fuss, I feel much more comfortable."
The old lady also smiled and said: "Wen'er is a caring child, gentle and sensible. I don't know who will get this blessing in the future."
Yang's mood that had just recovered dimmed again, and she said in a low voice: "Her birthday is a month away, so there must be nothing to do this time." What if the person who came said something, wouldn't it be more embarrassing
The old lady sighed: "Make some clothes for her properly, make some good jewelry for her, and tell her that we will celebrate her birthday properly when she grows up."
Mrs. Yang nodded, and immediately sent someone out to find fashionable jewelry samples.
The fifth princess's carriage arrived at Shen Shi in the afternoon, and the third prince accompanied the fifth princess to get off the carriage in the front yard, and Mrs. Yang came out to greet her. After the two parties saluted, Ping Yuanhou's motorcade just arrived outside the door.
Here Mrs. Yang just left after finishing the etiquette, leaving a few children to talk to the fifth princess and the third prince. Over there, Zhang Yunming, the eldest son of Marquis Pingyuan, also accompanied Zhang Yunjin and the second Miss Zhang who had been here before.
Zhang Yunming saw the third prince and the fifth princess from a distance, and wanted to go somewhere else first, to avoid them, but Shen Zhuo had already seen them, and kept waving to them.
Zhang Yunming had no choice but to walk over with the two girls, and saw that the fifth princess gave Shen Xiang a dagger inlaid with gems, and handed Shen Wen a huge pearl under a net made of gold thread . Shen Wen shook his head, turned to look at Shen Xiang.
Shen Xiang frowned and said, "Such a big bead is too precious to give to her."
The fifth princess smiled and said, "This is the third time I've seen my sister. The beads must be bigger than before before I can give them away."
The third prince said to Shen Yi: "Let your sister hold it quickly, it doesn't look good when you hold it like this."
Shen Yi had no choice but to nod to Shen Wen. Shen Wen picked it up, saluted, smiled and said, "Thank you Fifth Princess."
Shen Xiang smiled to Shen Wen and said, "Next time, don't follow me to see the Fifth Princess."
The fifth princess also covered her face and smiled: "Don't be afraid, if I don't have any bigger beads, I'll give you two smaller ones."
Shen Wen smiled so much that his eyes were almost closed, and he kept nodding his head.
Shen Xiang pulled her: "Don't be so obvious!"
Zhang Yunming and others came to the side, and after saluting one by one, Zhang Yunjin gave Shen Xiang a horsewhip with a golden handle, and Second Miss Zhang gave a beautifully embroidered purse.
The third prince said to Zhang Yunming with a smile: "Congratulations, you have been selected as a scholar. I heard that you will go to the countryside for an exam this year?"
Zhang Yunming replied: "I just went to practice my hands. My father said that I was blinded by my talent. I have to take another exam to show him."
Everyone laughed.
The third prince said to Shen Yi: "It's hard to see you all, let's go to the martial arts field for a few walks. It's really uncomfortable that there is no one to practice in the palace."
The fifth princess smiled and blamed: "I thought you were here with me, but it turned out that I took the opportunity to practice with the brothers of the Shen family, and I didn't ask if they wanted to play with you." angry.
Shen Wen felt that the fifth princess's imitation of Concubine Chen Guifei gradually became true and more and more natural.
The third prince hurriedly said: "I am being abrupt, may I ask if you have time today?"
Having said that, Shen Yi couldn't shirk anymore, so he could only say: "It's hot, just wait to sweat."
The third prince said indifferently: "That's nothing, I have a change of clothes." He turned to Zhang Yunming and said, "Are you coming too?"
Zhang Yunming quickly shook his head and said: "No, no, my hand is sore from writing, and now I feel tired even if I shake my fan."
Everyone laughed again, Shen Zhuo hurriedly said: "Then I just happen to play chess with you!" Pulling Zhang Yunming, he went to Zangshu Pavilion.
Shen Xiang took the fifth princess and the sisters of the Zhang family to the lake, where there were melodious pipe music, and there were girls from the families of middle-level generals who usually had some relationship with the Hou's mansion. Except for the fifth princess and the sisters of the Zhang family, there is no noble daughter.
The fifth princess did not show any dissatisfaction. After seeing the ceremony, she chatted and laughed with the girls in front of her, and even had a happy chat with Shen Xiang who was sitting beside her. The Second Miss of the Zhang family sat not far from the fifth princess, and sometimes leaned over to make up a few words, but Zhang Yunjin who was beside Shen Wen just smiled and didn't speak much.
Shen Wen approached her and whispered in her ear: "How is your eldest sister? It's summer now, but 'she' is better?"
Sitting upright, Zhang Yunjin only turned his face slightly and whispered: "Listening to what my parents said, it's still not good. Usually I can't get out of the yard."
Shen Wen nodded, and asked in a low voice: "What does she like to eat? Will you take some away later?"
Zhang Yunjin finally smiled: "You know how to eat, why do you always say you want to give her something to eat every time you come?"
Shen Wen stared at Zhang Yunjin: "Is there anything better than food?"
Zhang Yunjin suppressed his laugh, Shen Wen said again: "I really don't understand, some people don't like to eat."
Zhang Yunjin asked in a low voice: "Who doesn't like to eat?"
Shen Wen said innocently: "My third brother. He has been playing chess for a while, and when he got up, he stopped eating. Several times, when we were having dinner, Mother asked him to eat, and he said something was wrong. He sent it, but he didn’t eat it. My mother said that he was possessed, so he didn’t eat well for lunch, and he was hungry all day, but he still said he was not hungry.”
Zhang Yunjin pursed his lips and said nothing, Shen Wen said again: "He bought a lot of chess playing books, and said that he must beat your brother. Why is he making trouble with your brother? I think your brother is a very good person."
Zhang Yunjin blushed slightly, and said in a low voice: "You can't talk about others so casually, you have to play hands in my house!"
Shen Wen made a frightened look: "Really? My mother never hits me, and if she wants to hit me, she hits my third brother. His hands are hard, and my mother said it's okay to hit me twice. If your mother wants to hit me, can you Can't let her hit my third brother?"
Zhang Yunjin lowered his head with a smile, and said in a low voice: "Say more?! If you say more, I won't give you snacks."
Shen Wen hurriedly bowed and said: "I won't talk anymore." Then when Zhang Yunjin breathed a sigh of relief, he said: "Then can you give me some snacks?"
Zhang Yunjin smiled: "It's hot, dim sum is easy to spoil, I didn't bring it this time."
Shen Wen showed a disappointed expression, but immediately said: "Then my birthday is the sixth day of August. It's not too hot then, can you bring it?"
Zhang Yunjin laughed hard, and whispered: "Is there anyone like you? Chasing someone to celebrate your birthday?"
Shen Wen continued to pretend to be innocent: "What's wrong with me? Oh, you won't let me say anything? Why did I forget? Is it about my third brother?"
Zhang Yunjin succumbed: "Okay, I'll bring it to you when the time comes, so please stop talking!"
They sat for more than half an hour, and the third prince came. Although he changed his clothes, he could still see his face flushed with sweat. He smiled and said to the fifth princess: "Did you play well? It's time to go back to the palace."
The fifth princess snorted and said, "You seem to have had your fill of fun, so you came to urge me."
The third prince said bluntly: "It's really fun to fight with them. How is the fifth sister?"
The fifth princess pursed her lips and said with a smile, "Of course it's good."
She took her leave and was about to leave with the third prince, when suddenly Shen Zhuo's happy voice came from over there: "I won! I won!"
It turned out that Shen Zhuo had caught Zhang Yunming to play chess. Zhang Yunming thought that before he left the house, his father repeatedly told him to celebrate the eldest daughter of the Hou family's birthday. But as soon as I got here, I met the third prince, and the fifth princess was also with Zhang Yunjin... My mind couldn't help being a little distracted, and if I didn't pay attention, I was pulled into a big dragon by Shen Zhuo. It will take a lot of time to get it back. Looking at the time, it is time to go, so I just throw in the ball and admit defeat.
Now, Shen Zhuoke was overjoyed, ran all the way over, and yelled at Zhang Yunjin, but when he got close, he reacted, laughed a few times, slowed down, walked over, and said to Shen Xiang with a smile : "I beat Mr. Zhang." The corner of his eyes swept over Zhang Yunjin.
Zhang Yunjin's face darkened, and his mouth pouted slightly.
Zhang Yunming came over from behind, patted Shen Zhuo on the shoulder generously and said: "Young people are awesome, Third Young Master Shen is making rapid progress, I am willing to bow down."
Shen Zhuo blushed, and murmured: "It's a fluke, nothing to worry about."
The fifth princess saw that Zhang Yunming was about the same age as her third elder brother, and she looked like a quiet scholar. She even called Shen Zhuo "Young Student", and then forced Shen Zhuo to give up the pride of the winner. smile.
The third prince said with a smile: "I don't know how to play chess. My fourth brother likes it. One day I will bring him out and let him play chess with you."
Zhang Yunming hurriedly said: "With a little skill, how dare you work for the prince."
The third prince waved his hand and said: "Young Master Zhang is too modest, who doesn't know that you are versatile, because there are few romantic names in the capital."
Zhang Yunming quickly shook his head: "Where is there such a saying, I'm ashamed to kill me!"
The third prince smiled and said: "Oh, if you understand poetry, go to Wanhualou tonight. There is a 'Dance of Wanhua' there, and the top dancers in each flowerlou If you want to write poems and lyrics, you should also write one, and it will be sung by others immediately.”
Zhang Yunming shook his head again and said: "I don't have much literary talent, how can I show my ugliness in front of others
The third prince nudged Zhang Yunming and said: "You are always so hypocritical, don't be afraid, I won't eat you again. Just ask Shen Yi and the others, I don't pay much attention."
Zhang Yunming saluted again and said: "The third prince is an aristocrat of the heavenly family, with supreme honor, how can we small people look up to him?"
The third prince covered his face with one hand: "I'm so sour!"
The fifth princess covered her face and smiled.
Shen Zhuo asked with concern: "Does your father know that you talk like this?" The tone was the same as "Does your father know that you steal things?"
Everyone laughed in unison, even Zhang Yunjin raised his lips.
Zhang Yunming's face turned slightly red. Shen Zhuo finally exhaled, happy that he was able to shoot a cold arrow.
After the third prince left with the fifth princess, Zhang Yunming also took the Zhang sisters away. The rest of the guests had dinner, and Shen Xiang's birthday was over.
Back in his bedroom, Shen Wen whispered to Su Wanniang who was beside him: "Do you think I should visit the First Prince's Mansion? See if you can hear what he will say about the visit of the Third Prince and Fifth Princess today?"
Su Wanniang was very reluctant for Shen Wen to go out at night, especially the eldest prince's mansion, so she said, "Does he even need to think about it?"
Shen Wen nodded slowly, the eldest prince must be irritated again, judging from the eldest prince's impatient counterattack against her, he should strike ahead of time. What will he do next? Last time she thought about this question, she didn't remember what the eldest prince did. But thinking of the fifth princess she saw today, her heart moved: Two years later, Concubine Chen Guifei fell ill and died soon. Chen Guifei will not die, and the fifth princess will not be married. Now it seems that Concubine Chen Guifei's death was not accidental. If it was the eldest prince or queen's actions, would it be earlier this time
Shen Wen said in a low voice: "I remember... I think... Concubine Chen Gui will get sick soon, and after two or three months, she will die."
Shen Wen didn't know that she was still a step too late, the eldest prince had already told the queen to do something.
Su Wanniang gasped: "So powerful? This is his brother." Isn't killing his mother just to get rid of the third prince in the future
Shen Wen thought for a while, then whispered: "You write with your left hand: someone will poison Chen Guifei. I will send it to him tonight. Oh, use the most common paper, and don't use the same handwriting as Ji Wenzhao." Chen Guifei If he survived, the First Prince would have an extra opponent.
Su Wanniang frowned and said: "The third prince lives in the palace, the palace walls are high, you should not take this risk, we will talk about it when we have a chance in the future."
Shen Wen said: "Didn't you hear him say that there is the Dance of Thousand Flowers in Wanhuan Building tonight? He sounds very interested. I'll go and see if he will go there."
Su Wanniang was still worried: "There are so many people, what are you going to do?"
Shen Wen didn't have a clue, but he was afraid that Su Wanniang would be more worried, so he pretended not to care and said, "Let's see then, just dress me up as a maid."
With a depressed face, Su Wanniang went to the desk and wrote a note, folded it and handed it to Shen Wen, muttering: "You must never accept other people's beads! I bought you with three beads, which is too bad .”
Shen Wen also sighed: "That's what it means to be greedy for petty gains and suffer big losses..."
Su Wanniang suddenly covered Shen Wen's mouth and said: "Bah bah! What a big loss?! Don't talk nonsense, children! Well, those three beads are worth thousands of gold, you just send a note, it's very easy! Throw it over That's it! Well, we've earned it! Say it!"
Shen Wen kept nodding, Su Wanniang let go, Shen Wen hugged Su Wanniang coquettishly and said, "You are the one who earns the most money! My good sister!"
Su Wanniang said relentlessly, "I also made the Fifth Princess and the Third Prince!"
Shen Wen had no choice but to nod: "Of course! Can't we just make money and not lose money?"
Su Wanniang covered her chest and sighed: "Okay. You worry me more than my brother! My brother at least doesn't do things that make me sleepless."
Shen Wen hurriedly said: "My mother won't let me go out of the house, so you often bring him in and tell him to come and play with me. I want to teach him how to read and pass the addiction of being a gentleman."
Su Wanniang's younger brother is six years old, it's time to be enlightened. But Su Wanniang's mother was still ill, and she couldn't ask for a husband, let alone send him elsewhere. Su Wanniang knew that Shen Wen was helping her again, and felt that Shen Wen had also done a loss-making business here, but she was worried that something bad would happen, so she didn't say anything, and started packing for Shen Wen to go to Wanhualou at night.