Luo finally agreed and the old woman picked out a few pieces of jewelry to send to Qu Xuexin.
When she was leaving just now, the old lady asked Luo to take away all the things that Qu Qiuyan gave her, including the things for her two grandsons and two granddaughters, and let her divide them up.
The lady had no intention of dealing with such matters at the moment.
Seeing that Qu Moying didn't look like he would ask for a gift from Qu Qiuyan, Luo didn't refuse anymore. She stood by the roadside, opened the gift box, picked out a few simple items and gave them to Qu Xuexin. She also specifically told the maid to be careful and not let the lady find out.
The old woman repeatedly said that she would be careful, and only then did Luo take her people back to the East Palace.
The old woman waited until Luo left before walking along the path. After deliberately making a few turns, she finally arrived at Qu Xuexin's small courtyard where she lived in seclusion. She looked around to see that there was no one there, so she sneaked up and knocked gently.
The door opened and Bai Mei came out. Seeing the old woman at the door, she quickened her pace, walked to the door, opened it for her, and led her in.
"Where is the old woman at the door?" the old woman asked in a low voice as she walked in.
"There have been a lot of things going on in the mansion recently, and everyone is busy with other things." Bai Mei said. Originally, there were maids guarding the gate in this courtyard, but later the young lady seemed to be very well-behaved. However, when she was sick many times, the two maids were busy decocting medicine and delivering soup, so the gate was usually not guarded.
The old woman went in and bowed to Qu Xuexin.
Qu Xuexin's face didn't look good, revealing an unhealthy paleness and a gloomy expression. After looking at the mother-in-law, she asked weakly, "What's the matter?"
"Today, the third young lady sent someone to deliver a gift to the eldest young lady. Madam asked me to pick out a few pieces and send them to the eldest young lady to see if she likes them." As the old woman spoke, she took out a few small jewelry boxes from her arms. These were also in the gift box just now. When she opened it, there were several exquisite ornaments inside.
It is not gorgeous but very exquisite. You can tell at first glance that it is a fine product, and it may even be owned by the palace.
"Are these... sent by my third sister?" Qu Xuexin picked up a pair of jade earrings and slid them across her palms, asking absentmindedly.
"Yes, Miss, didn't you see that the people from Prince Jing's Mansion sent by the Third Miss kept calling her "Madam" and saying it was the intention of His Royal Highness Prince Jing. The Third Miss is really enjoying herself in Prince Jing's Mansion now." The old woman looked envious.
"Didn't they say... that if we passed by in such a hurry, this status might be unstable?" Qu Xuexin raised her eyes with a hint of other meaning as she held the jade pendant in her hand.
Qu Qiuyan entered the Jingwang Mansion in such a hurry, without even a ceremony. She looked like a concubine with no status. The so-called queen, has Qu Qiuyan really secured this status? I felt a little excited.
“That’s what she said, but the intentions of His Royal Highness Prince Jing are the most important. Besides, there are no other female masters in the mansion at this time. The Third Miss’s status is naturally the highest. If she can give birth to an heir first, then maybe... even the principal wife will have to look at the Third Miss’s face in the future.” The old woman was so proud as if she was Qu Qiuyan.
"Is this... really possible?" Qu Xuexin's heart moved and she became more and more agitated. She squeezed the jade pendant hard with her hand and then let go. Such a jade pendant was already excellent for her, but Qu Qiuyan just gave it to her casually. She had just looked at it and found that the other pieces were also fine products.
Even if she could have obtained it before, it was not so easy. The prince's palace was so difficult, so what about the prince's eastern palace? The prince's eastern palace also only had one concubine now.
Since she is not the queen, then this status is actually not important.
What
Compared to King Jing's affection, Qu Xuexin didn't feel that she was lacking anything, as she also won the prince's affection.
The old woman didn't understand the other meanings in Qu Xuexin's words. She just thought she was asking about Qu Qiuyan, so she smiled and said, "Of course it's possible, Miss. You don't know how much respect the servants from Prince Jing's mansion who just came to the mansion treated Miss San. They always called her "Madam". Even the future Princess Jing may not be as glorious as our Miss San. Besides, there's no telling what will happen in the future."
When the old woman said the last sentence, she deliberately lowered her voice and looked back furtively, as if someone else had come in from the door.
Qu Xuexin's gaze was involuntarily drawn over there as well. She looked behind the old woman with a slightly dazed look, then looked back. If Qu Qiuyan could do it, then she could be even better, right
"Miss, the eldest lady sent a maid to look for the eldest lady, and it seems that she also picked out a few pieces of jewelry." When Yu Dong entered the room, he saw his young lady tuning the strings of the zither again. He put the teacup on the table and reported the news he had just found out.
He actually did not leave just now. He stayed and saw the old woman sneak into the eldest lady's yard, and then saw her leave not long after she entered and then come back.
"Did my aunt really send a gift?" Qu Moying asked again. Although he knew the result, he still asked one more question.
But after asking, I was left with only disappointment, because she had actually already reminded me.
"Yes, it was given as a gift." Yu Dong nodded affirmatively again.
Qu Moying remained silent and stopped talking and asking questions. The room became quiet, and it was a long while before the sound of tuning the strings of a musical instrument could be heard.
"Miss, the Madam of Duke Qi's Mansion sent a gift." Yuchun came in from outside and reported, "It was brought by someone close to the Madam."
The former wife of the Duke of Qi gave the title to her son, and now she has become the wife of the Duke.
Since the gift was brought by someone close to the old lady, it means that the old lady already knew about it.
"Please come in!" Qu Moying nodded. She already knew that Duke Qi had beaten Qu Zhizhen, and she didn't know what to say for a moment.
Yuchun stepped back and soon led a maid over. Coincidentally, there were also four maids behind her, holding gift boxes in their hands.
I don’t know what’s going on recently, but everyone has been sending gifts to the Qu Mansion.
When the maid from Duke Qi's mansion came in, she was very respectful. She bowed to Qu Moying first, then said with a smile, "Our madam specially asked me to send a gift to Fourth Miss Qu, so you don't have to worry. No matter what, Duke Qi's mansion is on your side."
The Duke of Qi's Mansion naturally knew that the old Duke had beaten Minister Qu.
"Thank you, Madam." Qu Moying said softly.
"Miss Qu Si, you are too polite. Our lady said that if you have any problems in the future, you must tell our lady. She will definitely take care of it for you and will never let anyone bully you." The old woman said with a smile.
"Thank you, madam." Qu Moying said politely.
"Miss Fourth Qu, if you have nothing to do in your home, please come to our house to visit our mistress and young lady." The old woman made an invitation.
"Thank you, Madam. I'm afraid it's inconvenient for you as I've been busy lately. If I have the chance in the future, I will definitely go to see you." Upon hearing this, Qu Moying curled the corners of his lips just right, revealing a hint of a smile.
"Then I will go back and report to our Madam.
She will definitely like it very much. I heard from the Madam that when she saw the Second Madam Qu, she felt that they got along very well. Now she also gets along well with the Fourth Miss Qu. The two families are old friends and should have gotten closer. What happened before... Our Madam feels very sad. "
The old woman expressed Madam Qi's feelings tactfully and warmly. If one didn't know, one would have thought that Qu Moying was Madam Qi's granddaughter. It's likely that even Qi Xiangyu, the granddaughter, didn't receive such love from Madam Qi.
Qu Moying thanked her again with a smile, and then said a few polite words. The maid from Duke Qi's mansion said goodbye, and Qu Moying deliberately asked Yuchun to see her off.
Yu Dong remained silent, watching the curtain fall thoughtfully, blocking the view from outside: "Miss, Madam Qi seems to be treating you better."
"Better?" Qu Moying raised his eyebrows.
Yu Dong walked behind her and took off her veil. "That's what I feel. Madam Qi was also nice to Miss before, but she was never this affectionate. And it seems... I always feel that she values Miss more than Miss Qi, and even better than County Lord Jingyu."
"Have you seen how Madam Qi treats Lady Jingyu?" Qu Moying smiled. She now disliked the restraint of the veil more and more. She felt much more relaxed after taking it off.
"Of course I have seen this, but Madam Qi does not seem to be helping Lady Jingyu so wholeheartedly. Or it seems that no matter what the young lady does, she will stand by her side wholeheartedly." This is what Yudong does not understand. Listen to what the maid from the Duke of Qi's Mansion said just now. Does this mean that no matter what the young lady does, the Duke of Qi's Mansion will stand behind her
This is so nice for the lady!
"There is indeed a difference between how Madam Qi treated me before and how Madam Qi treats me now. What do you think is the difference?" Qu Moying asked with a thoughtful smile.
This change was so huge that it made everyone look sideways. Of course, considering the fact that Duke Qi beat Qu Zhizhen at the palace gate, these things seemed to be natural.
I have done more outrageous things, let alone this.
"Is it because of the Duke of Qi?" Yu Dong thought for a moment and asked tentatively.
"It should be this matter!" Qu Moying said calmly, "But I'm afraid it's not just this matter. If my guess is correct, Madam Qi should know something!"
Qu Moying stood up, walked to the window, looked out and said slowly that she had not hidden her guess from Yudong, who also knew something about it.
Hearing her say this, he suddenly became excited: "Miss, do you really think that Madam's life experience is related to the Duke of Qi's Mansion?"
"It should be. Otherwise, neither mother nor aunt has ever experienced such enthusiasm and support from Madam Qi." Qu Moying said this lightly. If it was just suspicion before, now it is just a matter of verification. With all the things mixed together, the answer is almost obvious.
"Yudong, I want to see some things that happened in the Duke of Qi's mansion the year my mother was born. Can you find out?"
Qu Moying asked.
"Don't worry, Miss. I will get it for you right away!" Yu Dong said. He had no way to get these, but there must be a way to get them from Eunuch Ji Hai. It was just that the young lady had always prevented herself from causing too much trouble to Eunuch Ji Hai.
"Then go find it!" Qu Moying's voice was very faint, as if he was talking to himself, and it seemed that he had let go of some obsessions in his heart...