Have a good night's sleep.
At one o'clock in the morning, Qingguan was awakened by Yueniang, and Chunni came in with water to wash herself.
Qingguan looked at himself in the bronze realm, picked a hairpin from the dowry and handed it to Yueniang.
"Wear this one today."
When Yueniang saw the hairpin, she had a look of surprise on her face. She bent down and said, "Miss, this was left by the second grandma alone. Can you wear it now..."
"This is exactly what I need to know how to wear it."
Qingguan's brows raised in an upward arc. My mother also had this hairpin, which was given to me by the Queen Mother when the two sisters entered the palace. No one dared to take the things given by the emperor, so they were kept.
Dressed up properly, Qingguan looked at the busy two people and thought: "There are only two of you in my house. This is the capital, not like Suzhou. The Gu family wants to be proud. I'm afraid that in a few days, the big house will be gone." People will come in.”
"The young lady is right. I have inquired. Before the eldest lady went out, there were four personal maids beside her, four second-class maids, four little maids, plus four maids. In the courtyard, There are sixteen people in total." Chunni said clearly.
"Then put Caiyun and Mingyue into the room."
Yueniang frowned and said, "I'm just afraid that the eldest brother will say that these two are young."
Qingguan had a smile in her eyes and said softly: "Don't be afraid, I will have my own explanation when the time comes. All I am worried about now is how to get Sister Liu in. I am used to eating what she cooks, and I can't eat anything else."
"Why don't you let Qian Fu think of something for Miss?"
Qingguan nodded slightly and said after a long while: "We will discuss it when we meet them in the future. Let's go, it's not easy to treat this person today."
Yueniangxu supported Qingguan around the hanging flower gate and walked along the gravel path at the front door of the east wing.
Entering the main courtyard, bypassing a huge marble screen wall, your eyes suddenly open up. There is a very spacious corridor, more than fifty steps in front of it, and you will find a very vast and bright hall.
A row of sixteen large bright vermilion lacquered wooden doors have been opened, with a plaque reading "Shou'an Hall" written in three regular scripts on them.
It's strong and strong, and seems to have the aura of metal and stone. You can tell it is the handiwork of the uncle at a glance. As the old saying goes, calligraphy is like a person. This man is just a wallflower. How could he write such a good calligraphy
Qingguan laughed at himself and looked around. Compared to the grandeur of Suzhou Mansion, this place was even more luxurious and magnificent.
When I walked in, it was already full of people.
The master and his wife sit at the top, and the men and women sit in sequence on the chairs on both sides. The main room is on the left, and the second room is on the right.
Qingguan looked at her seat and saw that Wu Yanling was sitting under the princess, and the two concubine sisters were also sitting in turn. She smiled slightly in her heart and sat at the end seemingly nonchalantly.
Scanning the people in the big room with his eyes, Qingguan frowned slightly and lowered his head when he saw that no one was speaking. He is obviously the only direct descendant of the second room, but the first room turns a blind eye. It seems that this rule is also very sparse.
Qingguan didn't know that as soon as he entered and sat down, the hearts of everyone in the Gu family would tremble.
After the sixth lady recovered from her madness, her words and deeds were quite orderly. She didn't look like she was ill-educated. She even looked more stable than the two concubines from the second wife's house.
Moreover, she had a slight smile on her face from beginning to end, and her eyebrows and eyebrows were very much like the dead Qian's. Coupled with the phoenix hairpin on her head that Qian always wore during her lifetime, this made some people feel extremely uncomfortable. It seemed as if the person sitting in front of him was Qian himself.
Everyone sat down, Mr. Gu coughed slightly, and Mr. Gu Songhan and his wife stepped forward to greet the two elders.
Qingguan took the opportunity to look at it.
The uncle has a dignified appearance, like a scholar, with only a pair of slightly gloomy eyes. He was born second in the rankings, and before his forties, he had already been appointed as Minister of the Ministry of War. He was an official of the third rank, and he climbed up the ranks very quickly.
Gu Shilang had one wife and two concubines. His wife, Mrs. Zhou, had two sons and one daughter, and two concubines, both of whom had no children.
Mrs. Zhou looks rich and dignified, looking like a pampered and carefree rich lady. In the past few years, only the second sister has been born as a concubine in the first house, so the Zhou family's methods are mediocre.
Qingguan retracted his eyes, alert and secretly paying attention.
The couple from the first bedroom bowed, and the couple from the second bedroom stepped forward to salute.
After the ceremony, it was the turn of the grandchildren. The maid handed over the futon that had been prepared. The eldest young master Gu Zixuan and his wife Guan Shi both knelt down to pay homage.
Gu Zixuan is in his early twenties, handsome and talented. He is now a famous official and is preparing for the spring boudoir examination at home next year.
The first wife, Guan Shi, is wearing a brocade robe with rose purple and red borders. She has beautiful features and a plump figure. She gave birth to her brother two years ago and is the first great-grandson of the Gu family.
I heard from Chunni that the eldest young master liked red sleeves to add fragrance to his studies. He already had three aunts in his old house who could recite poetry, play the piano, and paint, and each one was more charming than the other.
The second young master, Gu Ziye, was just sixteen this year, not yet married, and still studying in the Prince's Prison. The child is favored and is Zhou's treasure.
After the ceremony was over, the five young ladies in the Gu family who had not yet left the cabinet stood up one after another and saluted their elders.
Because the eldest lady has been married a long time ago and is not in the capital, she only returns home once every two years. Therefore, the second lady took the four younger sisters.
Qingguan was still at the bottom. She stepped forward unhurriedly and was about to kneel down when the second young lady suddenly said: "Grandpa, grandmother, the sixth sister is the only legitimate daughter of the second wife, so she should stand next to me."
As soon as these words came out, everyone changed their colors.
Qingguan sighed softly, "Second sister, second sister, it's too early for you to stand up for me at this time." This is a slap in the face of the princess.
As expected, Princess Huayang was holding a tea cup with an ugly expression on her face. Sister Ling was brought by her from outside, so she was not considered a direct descendant. After much picking and pulling, the second wife's direct descendant was really only that lunatic.
The second master Gu was afraid that the princess would be angry and was about to scold him, but he thought that the eldest daughter was here, so he swallowed the words that came to his mouth and pretended to drink tea, hiding the embarrassment on his face.
Qingguan didn't move, and stayed in place with a surprised look on her face. She was waiting for the attitude of everyone in the big room.
To her disappointment, no one in the big room spoke, as if it had nothing to do with them.
On the other hand, Mrs. Wei scolded her with a cold face: "Second girl, you have no right to speak in front of the elders. I punish you by copying the Women's Rules ten times today. Girls must be measured in their words and deeds."
The second young lady was neither angry nor annoyed. She lowered her head and said in a low voice: "My granddaughter is not brave in speaking. I am willing to accept the punishment."
Qingguan's eyes flashed and she smiled softly: "Second sister is right. I am the legitimate daughter of the second wife, so I should stand in front. Sister Ling is just from outside."
After saying that, she moved lightly, walked to Qingzhi's side, and squeezed Wu Yanling to the side, acting as if it was natural.
Princess Huayang's face became increasingly green.
Wu Yanling was so angry that her face turned blue and white for a while. The supple and graceful oval face is also a little distorted because of this. She had been in Gu Mansion for five years, and no one had ever dared to poke her pain in front of her.
But she was raised by the county chief after all. After her expression changed a few times, she quickly calmed down.
Mr. Gu has eyes in six directions and ears in all directions. How can he not see it
Thinking that the Gu family still had to rely on the old Prince Qi's palace, he said sternly: "Damn, you are from the outside, you are from the inside, who taught you to be so rude."
Qingguan raised her bright eyes and said innocently: "Grandpa, my granddaughter also heard what the people in the house said. Could it be that my granddaughter was wrong?"
Mr. Gu choked, slapped the table and said in a sharp tone: "Ms. Wei, how do you discipline your servants?"
Wei held the handkerchief and said nothing, but there was a gleam in her eyes.
Just when the atmosphere suddenly changed, Gu Shilang said: "Forget it, it's just a position, there is nothing to fight for, Liu Yatou is right. What's more, my mother is old, how can she control this A servant of a mansion."
These words may sound like mud, but when you chew them carefully, they have a profound meaning.
The princess has always been the master of the second house, so if you want to blame her, you can only blame the princess for her lack of strict management of the family. How can you blame the wife? She deserves to shoot herself in the foot.
Qingwan smiled knowingly, and as the other four women knelt down, no expression could be seen on her downcast face. But it gradually became clear to her that the eldest brother and the second brother were not of the same mind.
That would be easy.
Please be safe.
Mr. Gu began to lecture, which was nothing more than a loving mother, a filial son, a brother, a friend, a brother, and other high-sounding words. Qingguan looks at his nose with his eyes, and his nose looks at his heart, just like an old monk entering concentration.
After half a cup of tea, a morning greeting that was supposed to be hello to you, hello to me, and everyone is well, was hastily dispersed because of Qingzhi’s unintentional words.
With a wave of his hand, the master took his son and grandson into the study, talked about how to cultivate himself and the family, and discussed how the Gu family should restore its glory.
Mrs. Wei moved to the inner hall and gathered with her daughter-in-law, granddaughter-in-law and granddaughter to talk and discuss how to take care of the inner house.
The inner hall faces north and faces south. There is a large couch with a fox blanket spread on it. Behind the couch is a sixteen-door carved screen fan embroidered with plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum.
Mrs. Zhou and the second lady, one on the left and one on the right, helped the wife to sit down.
The princess Shi Shiran sat down at the bottom, showing no intention of taking action. At this time, the maids filed in with tea trays and fruit snacks, and served tea.
Huayang picked up the tea leaves, took a sip of tea, and said, "Sister-in-law, the New Year is almost here, and the New Year gifts in each government are also being prepared."
Mrs. Zhou smiled and said: "Don't worry, brothers and sisters, the old Prince Qi's palace has already prepared some, 20% more than in previous years."
After hearing this, Hua Yang felt something in his heart and said: "I came to Beijing in a hurry this time. Master, madam, and the girls haven't prepared the New Year clothes and jewelry yet. I heard that the embroiderers in Beijing are very good at their craftsmanship. I still can't do this." Sister-in-law, please pay more attention."
Zhou's face was sweet but her heart was bitter. She was living a good life. She didn't have to get up in the morning to say hello, nor did she have to look at anyone's eyes. She made her own decisions about her own territory.
This is a good time. When the second wife comes to Beijing, the whole family will have to spend a lot of money, not to mention eating, drinking and sleeping. There is a mother-in-law at the top, a powerful sister-in-law at the side, and four nieces at the bottom.
People like Zhou who know how to act again will not be able to laugh.
What makes her even more impressed is that the mansion was originally bought by the master. However, when she was proud a few years ago, she spent tens of thousands of taels to renovate it. The money did not go out of the master, but was spent on his big house. private house money.
Now looking at the posture, the second master must be an official in Beijing. The second wife has always been favored, and there is a princess who comes from the royal family. It is hard to say who will end up with this big house in the future. What if... I really suffered a big loss.