At dusk, the sunset glow reddened the western sky, Bixiao Hall and even the entire palace were shrouded in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Nangong Yue's room was very lively, and the laughter of the girls could be heard from time to time.
"Sister-in-law," Xiao Rongxuan, who was dressed in a lizard red beige with folded branches and flowers, said with a smile on her face, "Last night's Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival was really interesting. Beautiful lanterns were hung all over the street, and there were people dancing lions and dragons on the street..."
Xiao Rongying, who was dressed in a fragrant satin gown with a hundred butterflies and floral patterns, grabbed the gap and said: "Yes! There is also a temple fair in Anlan Palace, and all kinds of gadgets are displayed." , she took a meaningful look at Xiao Rongxuan. According to the information she inquired, Xiao Rongxuan accompanied Fang Zimo to Anlan Palace and was confined for a long time. There must be some hidden secrets...
Sure enough, when she heard about Anlan Palace, Xiao Rongxuan's face froze slightly, she glanced at Nangong Yue nervously, and secretly scolded Xiao Rongying which pot she shouldn't carry.
Complacent, Xiao Rongying winked at the maid, who immediately took out a red lacquered wooden box and opened it.
Xiao Rongying said jokingly: "Sister-in-law, last night at the temple fair, I happened to see a stall with exquisite and interesting masks, so I picked one for you, sister-in-law. I hope sister-in-law will not be disgusted." The mahogany box was presented to Que'er.
The magpie sent it to Nangong Yue, Nangong Yue looked at it casually, Xiao Rongying had a good eye, the monkey mask was not only bright in color, but also painted very smartly, vividly drawing the monkey's sly smile.
"Then thank you fourth sister." Nangong Yue thanked politely.
Xiao Rongxuan rubbed the handkerchief in her hand vigorously, and suddenly she had a flash of inspiration, and she seemed to say unintentionally: "Fourth sister, you really worked hard at the temple fair yesterday. It doesn't count that you helped Cousin Lan make mooncakes, and at the same time, you still have time to choose a mask for sister-in-law." .”
Xiao Rongying's complexion changed slightly, and she hastily retorted: "Second Sister, you must have read it wrong, I didn't help Cousin Lan serve mooncakes, I just happened to pass by to have a look."
Last time, Cousin Qiao offered to serve tea and medicine with their palace in full view, but was rejected by the sister-in-law. Now Cousin Lan suddenly offered mooncakes, and it was clear at a glance what she was asking for. If the elder sister-in-law thinks that she has helped Cousin Lan, she will be unhappy, the second sister is really too cunning!
Nangong Yue felt as if a few flies were buzzing around her ears. At this moment, there was a "meow" sound from her feet, and Mao Xiaobai opened her round mandarin duck eyes without blinking. Blinking at her, for some reason, Nangong Yue saw a trace of sympathy in those glazed eyes: it's so pitiful, I have to play with someone I don't like.
"Sister-in-law, I remember it's called Xiaobai, right? It's fluffy, so cute!" Seeing Xiaobai, Xiao Rongying immediately took the opportunity to change the subject, and praised with a smile, her mouth seemed to have eaten honey, "Sister-in-law, Can I hug it?"
As she spoke, she stood up and took two steps forward slowly, with a hint of fear hidden in her eyes, this cat can't scratch people, right? I heard that a concubine in Dai's mansion was scratched by a cat on the cheek, and she has been disfigured ever since. This cat is still very pampered. If she scratches herself, the sister-in-law will definitely help the cat and not her
Thinking of this, Xiao Rongying hesitated.
"Meow!" Xiao Bai glared at Xiao Rongying, greeted her with his buttocks and tail in disdain, and swaggered away with his tail up.
Seeing Xiaobai leaving just like that, Xiao Rongying's expression was a little embarrassed, she also breathed a sigh of relief, and said with a dry smile: "Sister-in-law's cat is really well-raised."
Xiao Rongxuan on the side covered her mouth with a handkerchief and snickered endlessly.
Nangong Yue felt much lighter after being teased by Xiao Bai, and felt that it was time to cleanse her ears.
These two little girls continued to quarrel, not to torment themselves.
"Second Sister, Fourth Sister," Nangong Yue interrupted their topic indiscriminately, "It will be Father's birthday in a few days, have you prepared a birthday gift for Father?"
This is a matter of filial piety, and the two girls rushed to say:
"I embroidered a handkerchief and two pairs of shoes and socks for my father's birthday."
"I found a Penglai Xuetang Longwei Inkstone for my father."
After finishing speaking, both of them looked at each other with contempt. The former felt that the latter's gift was not filial at all, while the latter felt that the former's making two pairs of socks was simply a way to send off beggars.
Nangong Yue frowned slightly, and said with a straight face: "This year is the fortieth birthday of the father, and the etiquette must not be taken lightly. In my opinion, the two sisters should make another suit of clothes and a pair of shoes for the father."
Making clothes and shoes... The faces of the two girls were a little stiff, and now the birthday banquet is only a few days away. If you want to make a decent robe and shoes, you will not be able to have a good rest in these few days. But there are maids on the left and right who can help...
The two sisters were thinking about which steps to ask the maid to help, they can be responsible for the final stitching, and then embroider some flowers, the time should be about the same.
Nangong Yue pretended not to see the embarrassment of the two, and continued with a smile: "When the father sees the filial piety of the two younger sisters, he will definitely be comforted. Go back and get ready."
The two had no choice but to stand up and leave.
Nangong Yue finally sent the two sisters away through King Zhennan, but this plan can only be used for a while. She secretly planned to ask her husband to do some homework for the two of them after the birthday banquet, so as to save the two of them from being too free. Running to his Bixiaotang all day long.
Not only did Nangong Yue feel clean, even Que'er and the others at the side looked at each other and smiled, thinking: This trick of Shi Zifei is really perfect!
At this time, Huamei walked in quickly, feeling that the atmosphere in the Dongci room was a little weird, but she didn't think too much about it, took out a small blue porcelain bottle, knelt down and said, "Shi Zifei, someone from the tea shop outside the city today Selling heat-relief medicine, he deliberately left a small bottle of medicine, saying that he will go to the tea shop tomorrow at Sishi. The helpers in the tea shop dare not make decisions, so they sent it to the palace for you to see."
Nangong Yue took the porcelain bottle, opened the cork, put the porcelain bottle to the tip of her nose, and smelled a faint medicinal fragrance, Huoxiang, perilla leaves, Angelica dahurica, Atractylodes macrocephala, Tangerine peel, pinellia... It seems that they are still used A unique herbal medicine in southern Xinjiang, Dayezhu.
Nangong Yue can roughly judge that this medicine is made of more than a dozen kinds of herbs, one or two of which cannot be confirmed by smell alone, but she can be sure that it does have the effect of cooling and relieving heat.
She poured out a dark brown pill, observed it carefully, and took another sip. The bitter taste made her squint slightly, but her eyes lit up.
The quality of this anti-heat medicine is really good!
The so-called "surgery industry has specialization", maybe this pharmacist specializes in anti-heat medicine to make such a good medicine!
Nangong Yue said decisively: "Humei, I plan to go to the tea shop to meet the drug seller tomorrow morning." After a pause, she said again, "...Humei, go and see if the eldest girl is back. Don't go with me."
Xiao Fei told her yesterday that today she would go to Fang Zhai to meet her grandparents who came from afar.
"Yes, Shi Zifei." Huamei took the order and left.
After a while, Huamei came back and said: "Concubine Shi Zi, the young lady has not come back yet."
Nangong Yue was startled, it was already dusk, since Xiao Fei hadn't come back yet, she probably had to stay in Fang Zhai for dinner.
Nangong Yue really didn't have a good impression of the third room of Fang's family, but it was Xiao Fei's natal family after all.
Nangong Yue nodded slightly to show that she knew, and asked, "Has Baihui followed?"
These days, when Xiao Fei was just learning to be a director, Nangong Yue asked Baihui to stay by her side to help out. Yesterday, when she heard that she was going to Fang Zhai, she quietly asked Baihui to go with her.
"Yes." Huamei replied, "Sister Baihui and Taoyao went with the eldest girl."
Nangong Yue didn't ask any more questions, but said, "Then let's wait until the eldest girl returns home."
Huamei responded, and ordered a little maid to go to the porter's room and tell her that when Xiao Fei came back, she would send someone here to report...
Just as Nangong Yue expected, Xiao Fei was left behind. At this moment, she was having dinner with Mrs. Chu, Mrs. Fang's wife and Mrs. Fang's third wife in the small flower hall of the Fangzhai.
In addition to the two elders, there are also three young girls from the Fang family who are young and young.
During the banquet, it was very quiet, and people at that time paid attention to food without speaking, only occasionally heard the sound of chopsticks touching the dishes when the servant girl was serving dishes...
At this time, a maid brought a cup of soup and put it in front of Xiao Fei, and said respectfully: "Cousin girl, please use the soup." Then, she raised her hand and lifted the lid of the bowl.
The soup had just come out of the oven, and the lid of the bowl was really hot. The maid couldn't hold it steady for a while, and the lid fell into the soup with a "bang", and the hot soup splashed out, but with a snap of her fingers, it was on Xiao Feiyue's white sleeve. There was a pool of brown soup stains on it.
Xiao Fei frowned slightly, and the maid in Tsing Yi who was serving the soup fell to her knees in fright, begging for mercy repeatedly, "My cousin, please forgive me! Cousin please forgive me!"
Mrs. Fang San reprimanded the servant girl displeasedly: "Why are you so careless! Hurry up and back down!"
The servant girl leaned back in a panic, and Mrs. Fang San said apologetically, "Sister Fei, the slaves in the mansion are rough-handed and clumsy, which makes you laugh. I'll let the servant girl take you to change clothes."
Miss Fang Six, Zi Yi, said, "Cousin Fei, I have a new dress. I just made it and haven't worn it yet. I'll ask the servant girl to send it to you."
Accidents are inevitable during banquets, Xiao Fei nodded and said: "Then I will trouble Auntie."
Mrs. Fang San said enthusiastically: "No trouble! No trouble!"
Afterwards, Yao Huang, the eldest maid of Mrs. Fang's Third, came over and bowed her knees to Xiao Fei, saying: "Cousin girl, please come with your slaves."
After Xiao Fei got up and blessed politely, she followed Yao Huang out of the small flower hall.
Yao Huang led Xiao Fei along a cobblestone path for a while, then turned right, walked through a veranda, and entered a small courtyard.
General mansions will specially prepare one or two small yards for the guests to rest and relax. Xiao Fei used to come to Fang's house from time to time, so she is no stranger to this yard.
Yao Huang led the way and said, "My cousin, please."
Yao Huang led Xiao Fei's master and servant into the inner room, and soon, a little maid rushed over panting, holding a bundle in her hand.
"I've met Biao girl. The seventh girl of my family ordered my servants to come and deliver clothes to Biao girl." After the little maid bowed her knees and saluted, she handed Fang Ziyi's new clothes to Taoyao.
After that, the maidservants of the two Fang Zhai exited the inner room respectfully.
Xiao Fei was served by Taoyao, and hid behind the screen to change her clothes, while Baihui waited outside.
Ever since she came to Fang's house, Baihui never took a step away from Xiao Fei, nor did she relax her vigilance. It was precisely because of this that when there were unfamiliar footsteps outside, she immediately noticed them.
The footsteps were heavy and light, it didn't sound like a woman's gentleness, and there was a strange "da da" sound.
This is the inner courtyard, who is it? !
Baihui glanced at the screen, walked out of the inner room, and closed the door gently.
She raised her eyes and looked in the direction of the sound of footsteps, and at a glance she saw a man in a blue brocade robe walking towards this side with a cane, and the sound of "da da" was just right. It was issued by the crutches hitting the ground.
It's Fang Shilei!
The corner of Baihui's mouth curled into a half-smile, and her cold eyes fell on Fang Shilei's struggling legs and that rosewood crutch.
He appeared here at this time because he wanted to "coincidentally" run into Xiao Fei who was changing clothes.
Baihui strode out of the room, Fang Shilei naturally saw her, and felt that this maid seemed familiar... Wait, isn't this the maid of the imperial concubine
Fang Shilei's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately put on a drunken look, leaning crookedly on crutches and continuing to move forward.
I really don't want to die until the Yellow River! A cold light flashed in Baihui's eyes, she walked down the steps, blessed her body and said, "Master Biao, this is the inner house, please avoid it!"
"Bold servant girl, this is my home, where can I not go? Don't let me get out of the way!" Fang Shilei cursed with a big tongue, and then pushed hard rudely, trying to push Baihui who was in the way, I didn't want my left wrist to be grabbed by the opponent, and the original momentum was resolved.
Baihui was not polite to him, she pulled and twisted, but in the blink of an eye, Fang Shilei felt his right arm was empty, and his crutch was taken away by life, he staggered and fell to the ground, screaming and cursing: "Hey!" Yo! What a lowly servant girl, how dare you do anything to this young master!"
What a foul language! Baihui was disdainful in her heart, and she whispered with feigned surprise on her face: "Master Biao, why did you fall down!" She made a gesture to help, but her right foot took the opportunity to step hard on his old injured right calf. kicked.
This time, it really hurts!
Fang Shilei screamed like a pig being slaughtered, almost toppled the roof.
At this time, there was a sound of raising the curtain, and Xiao Fei quickly walked out of the inner room. She was still wearing the dirty clothes, and the big soup stains on the sleeves were very eye-catching.
She looked at Fang Shilei who had fallen in the yard, and her pupils shrank slightly. At this time, Fang Shilei had long forgotten to pretend to be drunk, and shouted at Xiao Fei: "Cousin Fei, you are so bold that you dare to lay hands on me!" !"
After Nangong Yue's teaching for nearly a year, Xiao Fei is no longer that simple and ignorant little girl who doesn't understand human affairs, and she can understand what's going on at a glance.
She looked at Fang Shilei for a moment, her eyes were as cold as water, and she said slowly: "Cousin Lei, I just ask you a question, why are you here?"
"I... I'm drunk!" Fang Shilei stammered.
Xiao Fei's gaze was even colder, like the frost of autumn, and she didn't want to talk too much with such a low-minded person, it was simply dirtying her own eyes and mouth.
"Cousin please tell grandma and aunt, I'll take my leave first!" Xiao Fei said lightly, did not go back to the small flower hall, and did not plan to say goodbye to Mrs. Chu and Mrs. Fang again, and left with a flick of her sleeves .
Of course she knew it was extremely rude to do so, but her grandfather's family was so despicable, she was really ashamed to be with them, and she didn't want to stay for a moment longer!
"Cousin Fei! Cousin Fei, listen to me..."
Fang Shilei yelled from behind, trying to get up, but the heart-piercing pain from his right calf made him fall down immediately, dripping with cold sweat. Seeing Xiao Fei's behavior, I'm afraid this matter can't be done well!
He has to hurry up and talk to his mother, he should act first!
Xiao Fei didn't care what Shang Shilei thought, she took Baihui and Taoyao away aggressively, and naturally met Fangzhai's servants along the way, including Yao Huang who was leading them, but who How dare you forcibly stop the eldest girl of Zhennan Palace!
Xiao Fei got into the carriage of the palace at the second gate and went straight back to the palace.
As soon as she got back to her house, Xiao Fei dismissed a group of servants and hid in the house by herself.
Before Bai Zhou knew what was going on, Tao Yao explained what happened in Fang Zhai just now. Bai Zhou was dumbfounded and fell silent for a moment. The humblest person is invincible, what the Fang family has done is really outrageous!
Tao Yao glanced worriedly at Concubine Xiang's bamboo curtain, and sighed in her heart: Now she can only wait for Sister Baihui to find Shizi Concubine.
After a stick of incense, Nangong Yue followed Baihui and rushed over.
Tao Yao lifted the curtain to lead Nangong Yue into the room, while she retreated quietly, couldn't help but sighed secretly again.
Xiao Fei leaned sideways by the wide open window, with her right arm resting on the window sill, her small face pressed against her arm, her dark eyes revealing a touch of melancholy and sadness under the moonlight, she looked up at the full moon outside the window.
Nangong Yue sat down beside Xiao Fei and watched the moon quietly with her without saying a word.
Even the bright moonlight could not save Xiao Fei's depressed mood.
Xiao Fei respected the rules, but this time, when Mrs. Fang San and Mrs. Fang Santai came to Luoyue City, she never came to see her because she didn't want to step into the Fang family's door until Mrs. Fang Santai called someone to invite her yesterday.
These days, what the Fang family did made her ashamed, sad, and vigilant.
Therefore, she purposely left Bai Zhou behind, and instead brought Bai Hui with her.
Xiao Fei really hoped that she was thinking too much, that the Fang family was not as dirty as she thought, but the facts have repeatedly proved that the Fang family is miserable.
Xiao Fei said in a low voice, "Sister-in-law, why do I have such shameless relatives?!" Her voice was suppressed and deep, like a little girl who has been wronged, and a thin mist appeared in her eyes.
Nangong Yue looked at Xiao Fei and said softly, "Sister Fei, people are unpredictable. Since I know their shamelessness, I will keep them at a respectful distance from now on."
Xiao Fei lowered her head and said nothing.
Nangong Yue said slowly: "Sister Fei, do you still remember my fourth sister?"
Nangong Lin... Xiao Fei blinked. She still remembered that when she was in the capital, Nangong Lin seemed to be engaged to the son of Guangping Houfu.
Nangong Yue was not afraid of publicizing her family ugliness, so she told Xiao Fei concisely how Nangong Lin snatched the marriage from Nangong Yan, and finally sighed: "Although the fourth sister and I are sisters in the next room, but you can see it from the outside. Come on, we are all daughters of Nangong Mansion, that is, 'one is prosperous and all is humiliated, one is humiliated'. Sister Fei, will you look down on me because of my fourth younger sister's misbehavior?"
"Sister-in-law, of course not!" Xiao Fei hurriedly raised her head and said, then she was startled, and suddenly realized.
yes! The Fang family is the Fang family, and she is her...
Even if Fang's blood is flowing on her body, she is different from those people.
Thinking of this, Xiao Fei's dark eyes flashed with pearl-like brilliance.
Nangong Yue secretly heaved a sigh of relief. After all, Sister Fei was only on the edge of a corner for a while, just think about it.
The third house of the Fang family is indeed despicable, but the Fang family has nothing to do with it, not to mention, not only Xiao Fei, even Xiao Yi has half of the Fang family's blood flowing on his body.
At this time, Taoyao's voice came from outside: "Miss, concubine, the prince sent Miss Jugeng over here, and let the eldest girl go to the study outside." After a pause, Taoyao continued, "The third wife of the Fang family , Mrs. Third Uncle, and Young Master Lei Biao are at Wang Ye's place."
Nangong Yue's eyes darkened, she stood up and said, "Sister Fei, I'll go with you."
Even if they don't come, she won't let this matter go, and she can't let these shameless people think that the dignified Zhennan Wangfu's big girl is at their mercy!
Xiao Fei responded softly, her brows were slightly frowned, her face sank like water.
The two straightened their clothes a little, and went to Zhennan Wang's outer study together with Kikyo.
Zhennan Wang Zhengda sat behind the desk with a golden sword, while Mrs. Fang Santai and Mrs. Chu and Mrs. Fang San sat on the armchair by the window across the desk. It's a little embarrassing.
Seeing a strange little lady beside Xiao Fei, Chu immediately guessed that the other party should be the concubine Shizi, and her heart became even more nervous. Hearing that the concubine Shizi is very powerful, she wouldn't take it out on herself, would she
"I've met my father!" Nangong Yue and Xiao Fei only saluted Zhennan Wang Fushen, completely pretending that the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law of the Chu family did not exist.
"Sister Fei..." Chu said bravely, "Sister Fei, your cousin didn't do it on purpose. He drank too much tonight and got a little drunk, so he was dizzy and didn't know where he was. Sister Fei , I didn’t offend you anyway, for your grandmother’s sake, please forgive your cousin.”
Xiao Fei remained silent, expressionless.
Seeing the embarrassment of the scene, King Zhennan coughed lightly twice, and said, "Sister Fei, your cousin did make a mistake first, but it was an unintentional mistake. In my opinion, this matter is just like this..."
"Father's words are wrong." Nangong Yue showed sullenness, interrupted King Zhennan, and said, "Men and women have different seats at the age of seven. When my daughter-in-law was in the capital, every mansion had rules. At the age of eight, you have to move to the outer courtyard, and you are not allowed to enter the inner house privately on weekdays. The ancients said: "Rule the family with etiquette is the way to manage the family. The daughter-in-law thinks so, and I don't know how the southern border is?"
How could the king of Zhennan make his daughter-in-law feel that southern Xinjiang is not as good as the capital of the king, and replied: "Of course it is the same."
"That's strange." Nangong Yue looked at Mrs. Fang San with a smile that was not a smile, "Dare to ask the Fourth Master Fang this year?"
Mrs. Fang San hurriedly said: "Concubine Shizi, that's not what you said. My brother Lei and sister Fei played together. Tonight is a family banquet, and there are no outsiders, so I didn't bother Brother Lei too much." , I was too negligent.”
"Heh." Nangong Yue sneered and said, "It turns out that the rules of your mansion can be changed at will. Men can move around in the inner house at will, so it's no wonder there will be scandals where brothers take over sister-in-law!"
Mrs. Fang's expression changed, "Concubine Shizi, as a junior, how can you discuss your elders in private, it's simply too presumptuous!"
"The elders don't cultivate their personal morality, so the younger generation can discuss it." Nan Gongyue said coldly, "What's more, the Fang family's misbehavior has also lost the face of our palace."
Nangong Yue's words convinced Zhennan Wang deeply.
Over the past few days, the Fang family's scandals have been one after another, and it can be said that he, the King of Zhennan, has lost face in southern Xinjiang.
He repeatedly urged the Fang family to rectify their family traditions, but now it seems that they have ignored his words
Seeing that King Zhennan's face was becoming more and more ugly, Mrs. Fang San couldn't help feeling a little nervous, and said quickly: "My lord, since you issued a strict order, no one in our house dare to neglect you."
Nangong Yue raised her eyebrows slightly and said, "So, your residence has strict rules?"
Mrs. Fang San raised her head and chest and replied, "Naturally."
Nangong Yue sternly said: "Since the rules are strict, the Fourth Young Master Fang still breaks into the inner house without permission, could it be on purpose?!"
"you… "
Mrs. Fang San's face turned blue and white, and she also realized that she had let Nangong Yue get in.
Admitting that the rules in their mansion are loose, it means that they ignore the strict orders of King Zhennan, and if they insist on strict rules in the mansion, it is admitting that they deliberately allow Brother Lei to break into the inner house and plot against Xiao Fei.
Nangong Yue is simply too despicable!