A melodious and melodious piano sound came from an elegant seat on the second floor. Sometimes it was like spring water jingling, sometimes it was like big beads falling on a jade plate, and sometimes it was like birds chirping...
A woman in emerald clothes came out of the private seat, closed the door quietly, and walked towards the stairs. Before she reached the stairs, she heard a sound of "dump, tread, tread" going upstairs. There was an old woman's loud voice: "I think this piano is played well, very smooth and festive. This girl must be beautiful."
The old woman's voice was full of anger, but from her words, it could be heard that she must be someone with little ink in her stomach.
"Mother is right." Then another female voice sounded, with a hint of helplessness in her tone.
During the conversation, four female guests walked up the corridor, obviously three generations of grandparents. The lady in Cui Yi hurriedly moved aside, letting the four guests pass by first.
The head of the four female guests is an old woman with gray hair on the temples, she is full of energy, she is wearing a pea green plain beanie, her gray hair is combed into a neat bun, and only a bamboo stick is inserted in the bun. Hairpin, wearing a pair of dull silver bracelets on the wrists, dressed very plainly, even the girls in green clothes in Huanxi Pavilion are better dressed than this old woman.
In contrast, the middle-aged woman beside the old woman and the two young girls behind her seem to be of extraordinary background. Their appearances are somewhat similar, they should be sisters, the elder sister is wearing a begonia with gold thread and red makeup, and the younger sister is wearing a peach red brocade pattern all over the body, and the feet are wrapped around the branches. The material should be from the south of the Yangtze River years ago The fancy styles just arrived, and the hairpins, earrings, collars, etc. worn by the three of them, everything is exquisite and luxurious.
The four female guests stood together, and it seemed that the old woman was a bit out of place.
The woman in Cuiyi knew it well. Unlike Wangdu and Jiangnan, there are many centuries-old families with profound backgrounds. In southern Xinjiang, there are many families called "upstarts" by some families. For example, the largest family in southern Xinjiang The "upstart" is probably the Zhennan Prince's Mansion, and his fortune has only been a few decades, and the ancestors can't tell how many generations... There are too many families like this in southern Xinjiang!
Some people come from hard times and wish they could wear gold and gold, and put all their belongings on their bodies, while some people are used to hard times, and even if their lives are better now, they are used to simplicity.
"Sister Wei, do you hear that the sound of the piano is coming from there?" The old woman said as she walked towards the private seat quickly.
"Grandmother!" The older of the two girls hurriedly followed, and persuaded softly, "It's not appropriate for you to go there like this?"
"What's wrong?" The old woman smiled disapprovingly, "I listened to her piano and thought it was good, so naturally I should praise her. Sister Wei, you should also learn a little bit, don't always play those sad songs. Cut... I feel weak when I hear it."
The complexion of the woman in Cui Yi changed slightly. Judging from the old woman's tone, could it be that she wanted... Oops! If this disturbs the cleanliness of the few nobles in the private seat, it will not be beautiful.
"Old lady, wait a minute..."
The lady in Cui Yi hurriedly wanted to call the old woman to stop, but she was a step too late, only heard a "squeak", the old woman had already pushed the door open regardless, and said, "Excuse me?"
The sound of the piano in the private seat stopped abruptly, and then, the girl named Sister Wei blurted out in surprise: "Shi... Mrs. Xiao?"
The lady in Cuiyi was stunned for a moment, did they know the concubine Shizi? !
Then, the middle-aged woman also said apologetically: "Mrs. Xiao, I'm really bothering you."
Seeing Nangong Yue chin slightly, Baihui said politely: "Mrs. Chang, Miss Chang, please sit inside."
The door of the private seat was closed, and the lady in Cuiyi breathed a sigh of relief, and continued to walk towards the stairs.
But Xiao Rongxuan, the second girl in the private seat, was not so happy, and secretly gave the visitor a glare.
She was playing the piano well, and wanted her sister-in-law to have a good look at her piano skills, so that her sister-in-law would know that compared to her fourth younger sister, she is a talented woman who is good at both piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but she ran out three Cheng Yaojin halfway through. interrupted her. But since the visitor knew the sister-in-law, he must be a person worthy of the name, so he had to sit dignifiedly where he was, smiling politely.
Xiao Rongying glanced at her second sister indifferently, applauding secretly for the Chang family.
Mrs. Chang didn't notice the spark between Xiao Rongxuan and Xiao Rongying, and she was secretly delighted. She didn't expect her mother-in-law to do a good thing by accident. She was worried about her bad luck last time, and she couldn't get along with the concubine Shizi in Bixiaotang. After saying a few words, I didn't expect to come to Huanxi Pavilion by chance this time, and I bumped into it like this. It seems that there is some kind of fate between my family and the palace, and today I have to find ways to make the two daughters get closer to the Shizi Concubine and Miss Xiao.
"I've seen the concubine." Mrs. Chang stepped forward to greet Nangong Yue with a smile, her eyes gliding over Xiao Fei, Xiao Rongxuan, Xiao Ni and Xiao Rongying, secretly guessing, she didn't know which one was Miss Xiao, He said enthusiastically, "This is my concubine's mother-in-law and youngest daughter, her boudoir name is Huanzhi."
Chang family? ! A look of disapproval flashed in Xiao Rongxuan's eyes, no wonder so, I have heard for a long time that this old Mrs. Chang was born in the countryside, and she made a lot of jokes in her early years... Now it seems that after so many years, she hasn't even washed off the mud on her legs. present.
No matter what Xiao Rongxuan was thinking, she could only stand up and greet the Chang family as if nothing had happened.
After meeting each other, Mrs. Chang smiled as soon as she sat down: "Concubine Shizi, I just heard the sound of the piano outside, and thought it was very festive and pleasant, so I came here to see which girl was playing the piano, but I am disturbing the concubine " As she spoke, she sized up Xiao Rongxuan with a smile on her face.
Xiao Rongxuan's expression was a little subtle, she didn't know whether to be happy that the other party praised her piano skills in front of her sister-in-law, or to dislike the other party's vulgar words, what a celebration, she clearly played this song with a melodious voice.
"Old Madam Chang, don't worry, my sisters and I are just resting here." Nangong Yue smiled gently.
Although this old lady with a bold temperament is a bit reckless, she does not lose her temperament. She is obviously very different from Chang Huaixi, but she somehow makes her feel that the grandparents and grandchildren are indeed the grandparents of the real relatives.
Mrs. Chang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, as long as the concubine Shizi is not angry, she said: "Didn't the concubine Shizi also go to Anlan Palace to pray for blessings and come here to rest?" The implication is that the four of them also just came out of Anlan Palace to pray for blessings .
Nangong Yue responded with a smile.
"It's a coincidence!" Mrs. Chang slapped her thigh boldly and laughed, "I heard that the concubine Shi Zi went to Yanding City just a few years ago. I wonder if I have seen my grandson? Concubine Shi Zi, my family Brother Xi didn't cause any trouble, did he?"
Hearing this, Mrs. Chang was dumbfounded. The mother-in-law said the previous sentence so well, what does the last sentence mean? Is there a mother-in-law who asks this question? ... Isn't this too honest
Mrs. Chang frowned speechlessly, and looked at Nangong Yue nervously, lest she would offend her.
Mrs. Chang was really worried. Although she was the one who made the decision to let Brother Xi go to the military camp to fight for his future, Brother Xi is really a master who does whatever he wants, especially his stubborn temper, just like his grandfather! She didn't say anything, but for the past six months, she was worried day and night that he would cause trouble there, thinking that his grandfather had made the old prince angry a lot back then, and he didn't know how many times he had endured the military stick.
The last time my daughter-in-law went to the palace to give a new year gift, she came back and said that the grandson must be reused by the eldest son, but after asking her daughter-in-law carefully, she couldn't tell why. Hey, my daughter-in-law is always doing things in such a roundabout way, why don't you just ask me clearly? ! Don't have to speculate secretly.
Mrs. Chang's last question made the atmosphere in the private room relaxed, Nangong Yue and Xiao Fei couldn't help laughing.
The smile on Nangong Yue's face grew stronger, and she said in a gentle voice, "Old Madam Chang, you can rest assured that Ling Sun has never caused any trouble."
There was a clear sense of intimacy in the concubine's words, and Mrs. Chang finally let go of her hanging in the air. It seems that the mother-in-law made a mistake, and a few words made the Wangfu and their Changfu a lot closer.
"It's good if you don't cause trouble!" Mrs. Chang laughed a few times, thinking: The concubine is worthy of being a concubine, she really has a good personality, that's how a woman should be! In the past, when they were in the countryside, the men were fighting outside, and if the women were soft-tempered, they would be bullied without any scum left. No wonder the son of the world has won many battles and victories over the years, this is Wife Xian! Well, just like when I was young!
The more Mrs. Chang looked at Nangong Yue, the more she felt that everyone was of the same kind, and she said cheerfully: "Concubine Shizi, please tell Shiziye, even if you use Laoshen's grandson, this boy needs to be raised rough and tempered. Hard work, it’s not like there’s a saying about jade and other utensils. This boy is raised so expensively, he’s just like a baby girl.” As she spoke, she deliberately glanced at her daughter-in-law, and Mrs. Chang’s face have no choice.
"What Mrs. Chang said is that if you don't cut jade, you can't make it into a weapon." Nangong Yue nodded with a smile, and said in her heart: There is another saying, an old man in a family is like a treasure.
"Concubine Shizi, that's the reason!" Mrs. Chang clapped her hands excitedly.
The old and the young have very different temperaments, and they actually continued to talk for a while... For a while, only Mrs. Chang's bold chatter and laughter came from the private seat from time to time.
After lunch in Huanxi Pavilion, Nangong Yue and his party headed back home. As soon as they returned to their yard, Huamei hurried forward and reported that Zhu Xing had just sent something.
Nangong Yue raised her eyebrows slightly, walked in quickly, and saw a small box on the table at a glance.
It seems that Zhu Xing succeeded!
Baihui on the side was also staring at the box, vaguely guessing what it was, with anticipation in her eyes.
Nangong Yue opened the box, and saw a white porcelain jar with some complicated red patterns inside. As soon as the jar was opened, a familiar smell of medicine came over her face. From this smell alone, Nangong Yue recognized that the black ointment in the jar was Wuhe ointment.
Years ago, Nangong Yue asked Zhu Xing to ask Mr. Han Huai to urge him to put out Wuhe Gao, and then the dark guards waited for the rabbit. Until today, they robbed it from the Baiyue people who brought Wuhe Gao.
Huamei looked at Wuhe Gao with a smile, and said with a slight twitch of the corner of her mouth: "Shizi Concubine, I'm afraid the concubine of Baiyi never thought that we were the ones who robbed Wuhe Gao." Thrush made me feel happy in that desperate look.
There is only a small jar of Wuhe ointment, only two or three catties, but it is of great significance to their experiment.
Nangong Yue closed the box and said, "Baihui, take this Wuhe ointment to the Lin's house and give it to my grandfather."
"Yes, Crown Princess."
Baihui swiftly picked up the wooden box again, lifted the curtain and went out, only the strings of beaded chains collided with each other and dangled endlessly.
The matter was very important, Baihui didn't delay, and immediately came to Dongyi Gate with the small box.
After a while, the groom drove over in a green-covered carriage.
Baihui lifted her skirt and was about to get into the carriage when she heard a serious and rigid voice not far behind: "Miss Baihui!"
It sounds like...
Baihui turned around and followed the sound, and saw Mother Chu wearing an ocher-colored gourd-patterned gown, walking towards her slowly with a straight face, followed by two young maids who were only seven or eight years old. .
"Mother Chu." Baihui gracefully blessed that Mother Chu.
After Nanny Chu entered Bixiaotang, Nangong Yue temporarily asked her to bring a few new maids who had just learned the rules to clean the unused yards. The work was still free, so she wouldn't be left with nothing to do. , and there will be no suspicion of treating the old servant harshly.
Nanny Chu just came back from the northeast corner. When she saw Baihui here, she seemed to be going out, so she hurried over.
Nanny Chu glanced at the carriage behind Baihui, frowned, and asked, "Miss Baihui, are you going out of the mansion? Why are you leaving the mansion?" Her tone sounded neither happy nor angry, but it was clear obvious question.
"I'm going out of the mansion at the order of the concubine." Baihui answered the first question, but avoided the second one.
Mother Chu frowned even tighter, and thought: The concubine Shizi is too young, the rules of this servant are really not strict, how can a maid go out of the house at will if she has nothing to do!
"Miss Baihui," Madam Chu said righteously, "I think that when the former princess was alive, she set the rules for Bixiaotang. The maids and mothers-in-law in the inner courtyard should not leave the house easily without a waist card, so as not to Something happened outside, which will damage the reputation of Wangfu and Bixiaotang."
Even though Mother Chu has only been in Bixiaotang for a few days, after all she went out from the mansion, and immediately chatted with some old people she knew before, and found out a lot of things about Bixiaotang from them. For example, this Miss Baihui is the maidservant of the First Concubine, and she is also the person who is most valued by the Concubine. In the palace, it is said that the Concubine Baihui plans to keep Miss Baihui by her side as the head of the inner court after she gets married. It can be seen that the imperial concubine attaches great importance to it.
If he wants to gain a foothold in Bixiaotang, he must first subdue these flowers. Nanny Chu secretly said to herself, as long as she stood up for reason, even if she sued Shi Zifei, she was justified.
Baihui looked at Nanny Chu indifferently, her dark and deep eyes were calm and clear, calm and calm, as if she could look directly into people's hearts.
"Come on!"
She uttered two words, and the woman waiting for the carriage immediately greeted her with a bow and bow.
"Nurse Chu is tired, take her to rest." After Baihui gave her orders, she lifted her skirt and got into the carriage neatly.
Nanny Chu was prepared at first, thinking that Baihui would fight with her, but she didn't expect the other party's behavior to be so simple and rude, it was really...
Mother Chu still wanted to go forward, but was blocked by the woman: "Mother Chu, don't make it difficult for the servants..." During the words, another rough woman also came to welcome her.
Nanny Chu's face darkened, she was different now, thinking back when she took care of the eldest son, who would have dared to treat her like this. It can be seen that if the rules of the inner courtyard are not easy to be rectified, sooner or later the etiquette will be messed up and jokes will be made.
You must have a good talk with the Crown Princess!
Although I didn't follow the order of the first princess to take care of the elder son to grow up, but that was a last resort, the first princess will definitely understand me. Now that I am back, I will definitely make up for the helplessness of the year, and take good care of the inner courtyard for the son.
Thinking of this, Mother Chu obliged to walk towards the main courtyard of Bixiao Hall.
But…
He couldn't even enter the courtyard, so he was stopped by the little maid.
Not long after, Que'er came out and said with a smile: "The Concubine Shi Zi is resting, and the slaves dare not disturb her."
Nanny Chu frowned and said, "What time is it now, Shi Zifei really..."
"Mother Chu." Que'er put away her smiling face and interrupted her coldly, "The concubine is the master, and you are the servant. Mother Chu still needs to recognize her identity." The sleeves left, leaving only Mother Chu with a pale face behind her.
When Que'er returned to the house, he saw Nangong Yue lazily leaning on the beauty's couch, flipping through a book of travel notes in his hand.
She replied softly: "Concubine Shizi, you are still outside."
"Never mind." Nangong Yue said nonchalantly.
An old servant like Nanny Chu has a certain arrogance because she has served the former concubine before. Only by getting rid of her arrogance first and letting her understand her identity, can she be honest.
It has been nineteen years, and there is no rush for this moment.
"Has Xiao Hui come back?" Nangong Yue asked, since last night, Xiao Hui hadn't been seen, and she probably went to look for Han Yu again.
This little gray, since he went to Yanding City, his temper has become more and more wild!
Ah Yi got used to it all!
Thinking of Xiao Yi, the corners of Nangong Yue's lips curled up, and her eyes subconsciously looked in the direction of Dengli City...
The quiet afternoon passed away quietly, the sun was gradually setting, and the night was getting heavier and heavier.
The night in Dengli City is quiet, but it is different from the dead silence before, and the silence now is quiet.
In the garrison mansion, the candles were still burning, and in the silent night, the flames danced lively.
Guan Yubai, who had already bathed and changed his clothes, was sitting behind the huge desk with his long black hair loose, staring intently at a map placed on the desk. Beside the map were a few pieces of tissue paper with scattered names and some Place names: such as Kuilang, Nuhar... Siglei Mountain, Ruijiang City...
Guan Yubai's long and slender fingers flicked on the map from time to time, seeing how concentrated he was, it was obvious that he had no plans to go to bed for a while.
Xiaosi frowned, wanted to persuade but in the end he didn't persuade, he picked up the celadon teacup in Guan Yubai's hand, intending to add some tea to the young master, but he stopped after only one step, and looked out the window …
Guan Yubai immediately noticed Xiao Si's strange movement, and raised his eyes thoughtfully.
Outside, there was a little gray shadow in the silver moon, and the gray shadow was getting bigger and bigger, flying closer and lower... It could be vaguely seen that it was a white dove, and there was a gray eagle following behind.
The chubby white dove was obviously frightened, its wings fluttered non-stop, and occasionally a few thin white feathers fell down, and the gray eagle behind it was obviously playing with the dove, every time the white dove struggled forward After flying a little, Gray Eagle intentionally lengthened the distance between them, but then vibrated its wings heroically twice, and caught up again in the blink of an eye...
The poor white pigeon was desperately struggling to escape, Xiao Si frowned, this little gray really knows how to take time, and came to bully his own pigeons again!
Xiao Si put down the teacup, casually propped it up on the window sill, and quickly flew out of the study.
After a while, he returned the same way, holding the fat white pigeon in one hand, and a small bamboo tube sealed with wax in the other hand, and handed it to Guan Yubai.
Immediately afterwards, Xiao Hui also flew over, did not enter the house, but stopped on a branch outside the window, looking down into the house.
Xiao Si didn't look at Xiao Hui either, and said to Guan Yubai affirmatively, "My lord, it's from Nanliang."
"Coo coo—" The fat white pigeon let out a soft cry as if responding to him, its bulging body trembled, and it shrank straight into Xiao Si's arms, trying to avoid the "cold terror" outside the window. His gaze really scared the pigeons to death!
Guan Yubai quickly took out the tissue paper from the small bamboo tube, unfolded it quickly, and looked down ten lines at a glance, with a faint smile on his lips.
Feige came from Xiao Yi.
There was only one sentence written on the silk paper - Wuli city was broken, and the king of Nanliang was captured alive.
Wuli City is the capital of Nanliang. In December, Xiao Yi had already approached Wuli City, but he did not attack the city for a long time. It was not until all the surrounding cities were mopped up that the drums were officially sounded three days ago.
In just three days, the city of Wuli was broken!
The country of Nanliang perishes!