Compared with the magnificent Huayue Hall, Ruo Suzhai looked much more elegant, with two plates of Clivia placed at the door, and the guys were wearing uniform green clothes with silver patterns embroidered on the cuffs.
At the entrance of Ruo Su Zhai, from time to time, a magnificent carriage stopped outside the stone steps, and the staff welcomed the distinguished guests in one by one.
When Bai Yi and Lorna walked to the entrance of the shop, a clerk immediately came up to greet them, sizing up the two without a trace, his eyes paused on Bai Yi's blue eyes, and then he stretched out his hand to make a petition: "Madam Please." His attitude was just polite, not warm.
Snob! Bai Yi was disdainful in his heart, knowing that this guy didn't think he came in a carriage, and he was dressed casually, so he didn't take himself seriously.
Bai Yi didn't bother to argue with such snobbish eyes, and said indifferently: "What's so good about your shop..."
Before she could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by a sharp female voice: "Shopkeeper, I'm an old customer of Ruo Su Zhai, can't you sell me a box of the new 'Ban Yue Jiao' first? ... You don't want to sell it to Madam Xu, do you?"
Following the sound, I saw a middle-aged woman wearing a purple and gold two-color brocade gown standing in front of the counter, with slender eyebrows and triangular eyes, looking a bit tricky.
The middle-aged woman stared at a small shell-shaped porcelain jar on the counter. The porcelain jar was exquisitely made, with gold-plated edges, and the lid and body of the jar were painted with graceful and delicate pictures of plum blossoms. Just this small porcelain jar It's hard to put it down.
"Madam He, how could it be!"
Behind the counter was a woman wearing a dark red gown with auspicious wishful patterns. She was about forty years old, with a round face, but a hint of shrewdness in her amiable demeanor. She was obviously Ruosuzhai's shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper said with a smile: "This 'Ban Yue Jiao' is really not for sale. Mrs. He, you are a regular customer, and I will tell you that the process of making this jar of lip balm is extremely complicated, and it takes a month to get it." Such a small jar. The Crown Princess ordered it last month."
"Shi Zifei?!" Mrs. He blurted out in surprise, "Shopkeeper, this Ban Yuejiao was actually ordered by Shi Zifei?"
The shopkeeper puffed out his chest proudly, and said braggingly, "That's right. Shi Zifei is a regular customer here! If we bring out the old and bring out the new at Su Zhai, we won't be like some time-honored brands that stick to their old ways."
"Since it was ordered by the Crown Princess, that's all I can do." Mrs. He was very regretful, and then said, "Shopkeeper, when your master makes a new 'Ban Yue Jiao', you must inform me first Ah! Silver is never a problem."
The shopkeeper echoed repeatedly with a smile, and ordered the clerk to send that Mrs. He away.
After Mrs. He left, the shopkeeper was about to put away the small porcelain pot, when his eyes dimmed, and there was a young woman with blue eyes in front of him.
"This lady..." the shopkeeper habitually showed a warm smile.
Bai Yi didn't want to be polite to her, so he said directly: "Shopkeeper, I also want to see this fat."
The shopkeeper's smile faded away, he looked up and down the clothes, and said calmly: "Madam, the 'Ban Yue Jiao' in our store is not for sale." There was a trace of impatience in her tone, as if to say, really I don't know how to be interesting, but I have to get along with me even though I heard that the fat was ordered by the concubine Shizi!
Could it be that you can't see it yourself? Then I really have to succeed earlier than Nangong Yue! Bai Yi's eyes turned cold, and said: "Shopkeeper, you are in business... Does it really take a month to make this small pot of 'Ban Yue Jiao'?"
"..." The corner of the shopkeeper's mouth was a little stiff, and a guilty conscience flashed in his eyes.
Bai Yi saw it in his eyes, and said lightly: "Shopkeeper, you just want to 'exotic goods to live in'. Harmony makes money, why bother with money?! I'll offer five hundred taels, what do you think?"
"This..." The shopkeeper held the small porcelain pot in his hand, still hesitating.
Putting on his clothes, he curled his lips in disdain, and when the shopkeeper didn't notice, he suddenly grabbed the small porcelain jar from the opponent's hand, and said with a smile: "Shopkeeper, this pot of 'Ban Yuejiao' sold me, you need to spend more time making it. One jar is for the Crown Princess."
As she spoke, she gave Lorna a wink behind her, and Lorna immediately took out a bank note from her sleeve and put it on the counter.
The shopkeeper stared at the five hundred taels of silver bills, her eyes lit up, and she couldn't hide her greed. Originally, she wanted to grab the small porcelain pot in Bai Yi's hand, but at this moment her hand stopped in midair...
There was a flash of pride in the eyes of the clothes, and he said nonchalantly: "Shopkeeper, I still need to buy some rouge and hair oil, what do you recommend?"
Hearing this, the shrewd eyes of the shopkeeper became even brighter, and she repeatedly said: "Yes, yes!" She opened the counter, and took out a mahogany tray from inside. There were several small and exquisite porcelain jars on the tray, talking endlessly Jedi introduced...
Half an hour later, Bai Yi returned with a full load and took Lorna away, with his head held high, and the haze in his heart before was swept away.
The shopkeeper enthusiastically delivered the clothes to the door in person, until the figure of the clothes disappeared at the corner of the street, the shopkeeper turned back to the shop, still with a polite smile on his mouth.
The shopkeeper ordered the clerk to watch the shop at the front, while he lifted the curtain and went to the VIP room at the back.
A maid in Tsing Yi who was guarding the door didn't enter the room to report, and directly led the shopkeeper into the room. The room was filled with the faint fragrance of tea, and it was far and quiet.
The shopkeeper stepped forward with a low eyebrow, his respectful and restrained look was completely different from when he was outside.
"Concubine Shizi," she gracefully bowed to the woman sitting on the upper chair, "The saint of Baiyue has left."
Nangong Yue responded, and slowly put down the teacup in her hand, with a slight smile on the corner of her mouth, she said, "I'm sorry to trouble Shopkeeper Cheng."
This Ruo Su Zhai is actually one of the properties left by the old prince to Xiao Yi. Fortunately, it did not fall into the hands of Xiao Fang, but was run by the old prince's cronies for more than ten years. After Nangong Yue arrived in Luoyue City, she took it back and invited a master from Jiangnan to make rouge powder.
In the past year, Ruosu Zhai has become famous in Luoyue City, and it is already one of the best shops. However, the people in Luoyue City only know that this is an old shop, and no one knows that it is actually the property of Bixiaotang.
And if the shopkeeper of Ruo Suzhai can keep the shop under Xiao Fang's eyes for more than ten years, it is naturally credible.
Now that I have successfully "sold" the mouth fat to Bai Yi, whether this Wuhe ointment is good or bad, let Bai Yi personally prove it...
Nangong Yue talked gently with the shopkeeper for a while, then picked some rouge powder from Ruo Su Zhai, and then went back home.
Back at Bixiao Hall, Nangong Yue ordered Ying'er to take the rouge powder to the girls in the mansion.
Ying'er bowed her knees and answered, she first went to Yuebiju, and then went to the courtyard of the second room Xiao Ni.
Xiao Ni's maid, Sang Rou, came out after hearing the news, and said, "Sister Ying'er, the girl is copying Buddhist scriptures." She said with some embarrassment, "My wife asked the girl not to see visitors until she finished copying. Sister Ying'er Just hand over the things to me, please thank Shi Zifei for my daughter."
Copy Buddhist scriptures
Ying'er was slightly taken aback, but she also heard that the second wife believed in Buddhism, and often took her daughter to eat vegetarian food and copy Buddhist scriptures.
So, she handed the rouge powder to Sang Rou, and then left.
After Ying'er left, the smile on Sang Rou's face disappeared instantly, she hurried back to the inner room, raised the bead curtain, and saw Xiao Ni leaning against the beauty couch with a pale face, staring blankly Looking out the window.
"Girl, the imperial concubine ordered Sister Ying'er to bring you some rouge and gouache, saying that Ruosuzhai made it this season."
Seeing that Xiao Fei didn't respond, Sang Rou gently put the rouge powder on the dressing table, and was about to speak, Xiao Ni's breathing suddenly became short, again and again, heavy and urgent, and her chest heaved and fluctuated. After a while, her forehead was dripping with cold sweat, and her body gradually curled up.
"girl!"
Sang Rou yelled anxiously, and hurriedly said, "My servant is going to get you medicine."
"Don't..." Xiao Ni raised her hand, her lips were tightly pursed into a line.
She doesn't want it!
Ever since she came back on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Xiao Ni has thought a lot about how she met Miss Gu in Huanxi Pavilion, how she reunited with Miss Gu when she returned the string of white jade plum blossom pendants, and how she foolishly and ignorantly obeyed her. I took the medicine given by Miss Gu...
In fact, these days, the frequency of her asthma attacks has increased significantly. In the past, she seldom had an attack once in a few months, but now, she has frequent attacks every few days, and the interval is getting shorter and shorter.
No method works, only the medicine given by Ms. Gu can relieve it.
like this moment...
"Girl..." Sang Rou's eyes were filled with tears, but she didn't dare to shout out.
Xiao Ni endured desperately, but as her breathing became more and more rapid, her body seemed to be devoured by thousands of ants. Her consciousness gradually blurred, just like that day.
She couldn't control herself anymore, she only stretched out her hand desperately, moaning in pain: "Drug, give me medicine..."
Sang Rou was stunned for a moment, and quickly picked up the small porcelain bottle from the dressing table at a loss, scooped out a small spoonful of black plaster, and fed it to Xiao Ni's mouth.
As soon as the medicine was taken, Xiao Ni's condition quickly improved. First, her breathing gradually calmed down, and then her face also became rosy. After a while, she sat up slowly, and she had completely returned to normal, as if the death-like pain just now was fake, but Xiao Ni knew that everything was real...
"Gu, girl." Sang Rou squeezed the small porcelain bottle, and was about to cry, "There is not much medicine in it."
Xiao Ni looked back at her slowly, and heard Sang Rou say: "The medicine is only enough for two or three times, girl, girl... what should we do?"
what to do
Xiao Ni didn't know what to do either.
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Ms. Gu finally gave her the medicine and told her to think about it when she came back, and warned her that if she told others about it, it would be impossible to get medicine from her again.
The pain during the attack made Xiao Ni's life worse than death, she didn't dare to try it lightly, and she didn't want to cut off her escape route.
Originally, she was thinking that if she could get through it, she would tell her sister-in-law about it, but she couldn't get over it... In the past few days, she had two seizures, but none of them could survive a stick of incense. .
I can still take the medicine three times, do I really have to ask Miss Gu...
However, how could Miss Gu give her the medicine so easily? Of course not!
What should she do…
"Sang Rou." Xiao Ni said awkwardly, "Next time, you tie me up..."
Sang Rou turned pale in shock, and hurriedly said, "How is this possible!"
Xiao Ni's gloomy eyes revealed a hint of unwillingness, she was unwilling to admit defeat like this, she wanted to give herself one last chance...
"Sang Rou." Xiao Ni held her hand tightly, as if holding on to the last straw, "Now, only you can help me!"
Sang Rou's heart was icy cold: how could my girl be so miserable!
But what choice do they have
Unknowingly, the dark clouds in the sky outside were layered upon layer, and the sound of thunder from a distance made the mood of the master and servant even more depressing...
Time passed in a flash, and on the twenty-third day of the first lunar month, Nangong Yue accepted the greeting card from Bai Yi.
So, in the afternoon of that day, Bai Yi came to Bixiao Hall again.
Facing Nangong Yue's calm smile, he felt aggrieved while putting on his clothes, and saluted gracefully.
Nangong Yue's gaze paused for a moment on her delicate red lips, the corners of her lips slightly raised, and she said with a smile: "Put clothes on the side of the concubine, no courtesy."
Ban Yuejiao was prepared by herself, the color is very special, especially when it is applied on the lips, it will still sparkle in the sun, she does not believe that Aimei's swaying clothes can resist this temptation.
"Thank you, Princess Concubine." Bai Yi sat down on her knees, and said straight to the point, "Concubine Princess, Bai Yi is here today to answer the conditions proposed by Princess Concubine on behalf of my king."
Nangong Yue nodded slightly, her calm and composed attitude seemed to be negotiating an ordinary business deal.
Putting back the displeasure in his heart, Bai Yi said: "My king agrees to donate the three cities north of the Lominga River and the seven cities west of Annan Mountain to Prince Xiao." At this point, she paused and straightened her back. He straightened up, and said with awe-inspiring momentum, "I wonder if Shi Zifei can express your sincerity for Xiao Shizi."
Nangong Yue asked with a smile, "How should I express it?"
Bai Yi put forward the condition without hesitation, "Please Prince Xiao immediately send someone to Ruijiang City to rescue His Royal Highness the Sixth Prince of Baiyue."
Nangong Yue picked up the teacup, slowly skimmed the tea foam, and said, "This matter is very easy to handle. But... when will the side concubine Bai Yi send the city of my family's heir?"
Putting his clothes on, his face froze slightly, and he said, "What does Shi Zifei mean?"
"The concubine of this life just wants to remind the concubine who is wearing clothes." Nangong Yue's expression was serious, and after taking a sip of tea, she put down the teacup and said, "Now it is your lord who wants to ask me in southern Xinjiang. Although your lord is willing to pay ten City in exchange, but in the final analysis, these ten cities are like flowers in a mirror, and I have to rely on my men in southern Xinjiang to fight them down with blood, and what your lord paid is actually just a sentence. Speaking of it, I have suffered a big loss in southern Xinjiang. From my point of view, it is better to express a little sincerity for your lord first and send the city here, and the prince will naturally reciprocate and express my sincerity in southern Xinjiang."
Putting on his clothes, he was at a loss for words, Xiao Yi was originally ordered to restore His Royal Highness Kui Lang, and he had already won half of Baiyue's country by virtue of Baiyue, but in Nangong Yue's mouth, he said it as if he had suffered a great grievance.
She took a deep breath, lowered her posture and said, "The concubine misunderstood, hey, His Royal Highness the Sixth Prince is the younger brother of His Royal Highness Kui Lang, and now he is under house arrest by the false king. His Highness Kui Lang just wanted to ask Shi Zi Xiao for another favor." ... If this is accomplished, His Highness Kui Lang would like to send another gold mine as a thank you."
Nangong Yue sipped tea leisurely, smiling without saying a word.
Bai Yi bit her back molars hard, and continued: "One gold mine, two silver mines..." She noticed Nangong Yue's expression, and seeing that Nangong Yue was still unmoved, she gritted her teeth and said the bottom line, "Plus the two cities in the northwest of Mount Annan."
Nangong Yue laughed, and Ruzi said in a teachable way: "This concubine is not for these things. Since I have cooperated with your lord, this trivial matter is not a problem."
Bai Yi forced a smile, his heart ached like it was about to drip blood.
Bai Yi came here with full confidence this time. During the days in Luoyue City, she was almost under the pressure of Nangong Yue. She thought that she would finally be able to suppress Nangong Yue after paying half of Baiyue's country this time. Then take advantage of the situation and let Nangong Yue agree to send troops to rescue the Sixth Highness for Xiao Yi, so as to show her ability. Unexpectedly, Nangong Yue finally pushed her to the bottom line set by His Royal Highness Sixth Prince.
But even so, she could only say: "Thank you, Princess Concubine."
Putting on his clothes, he secretly hated, and told himself to calm down, as long as that matter is completed, everything he has given now is nothing at all! At that time, Xiao Yi will definitely repay him ten times!
Thinking of this, Bai Yi got up and took out a kit from his bosom, offered it with both hands, and said: "This is a written document with my king's private seal, and I hope the concubine will take it away. I implore Xiao Shizi to restore my king, and when the hundred Putting southern Xinjiang will always be an ally."
Nangong Yue reached out and took it, "It's easy to say."
Seeing that she finally accepted it, he heaved a sigh of relief. Finally, this trip to southern Xinjiang was not in vain!
Bai Yi sat down, picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea. After calming down, he tentatively said: "Concubine Shi Zi, Bai Yi is here this time to bid farewell to Concubine Shi Zi.... In a few days, Bai Yi I will go back to the capital with Wuhe ointment."
Nangong Yue smiled slightly, and said, "It's not convenient for this concubine to see her off at that time, and I hope that the concubine in her clothes will go well."
Bai Yi paid attention to her expression, even when he mentioned "Wuhe ointment", she didn't feel strange at all, and she didn't even threaten himself to keep some because of it. Could it be that it was actually his own idea that Han Huaijun wanted to ask Lin Jingchen to test the medicine last time?
However, at least it can prove that the batch of Wuhe ointment should not have been robbed by Nangong Yue, otherwise Han Huai Jun would not have acted so recklessly... Perhaps the false king Nuhar deliberately wanted to ruin His Royal Highness Kui Lang's event.
Putting clothes on and sitting for a while, then got up to say goodbye.
After she left, Nangong Yue opened the kit.
In the kit is a piece of silk paper with beautiful handwriting, obviously it was made by a woman, and then Kui Lang's private cover and fingerprints. Presumably, Kui Lang gave Baiyi a piece of blank tissue paper stamped and fingerprinted, so that Baiyi could do things cheaply.
Nangong Yue stuffed the tissue paper into the bag and gave it to Baihui for safekeeping.
Nangong Yue originally suspected that it was impossible for Bai Yi to get an answer from Kui Lang in such a short period of time, but now it seems that this is indeed the case. It was not Kui Lang who made the deal, but Baiyue's six Prince.
This is very interesting!
A few more days later, the last batch of Wuhe ointment, a full fifty catties, arrived in Luoyue City. Early the next morning, Lord Han Huai came to bid farewell to King Zhennan, and then went to the Lin residence.
Han Qixia personally cooked and set up a table of noodles, and practiced for him together with Fu Yunhe and Nangong Yue.
This time parting, I don't know when we will meet again...
On the thirtieth day of the first lunar month, Mr. Han Huai and his party left Luoyue City with Wuhe ointment.
At the same time, a gray carrier pigeon flew into Bixiaotang.
Que'er came in with a smile on his hands holding the pigeon, and said, "Concubine Shizi, it's a letter from Master Shizi."
"A Yi's letter?"
Nangong Yue put down the half-embroidered belt, stood up, and said joyfully, "Give it to me quickly."
"Fortunately, Xiaohui isn't here today." Que'er said jokingly, "Otherwise, our Bixiaotang will be lively again."
Nangong Yue pursed her lips and smiled, Xiao Hui has been running between Luoyue City and Dengli City these days, having fun without thinking about leaving. No, just came back for a few days, and slipped out to play again. If he didn't come back at night, he probably flew to Dengli City again. I just hope that when Xiao Yi comes back, it can behave a little better...
Nangong Yue took out the tissue paper from the bamboo tube with a smile, just after reading the first line, the smile on her face suddenly became brighter, and she said joyfully, "Ah Yi is coming back!"
After Fu Yunhe and the others returned to Luoyue City, Tian He went to Dengli City on the grounds that he needed to help Xiao Yi rectify the military affairs of the four cities. In fact, as soon as he arrived in Dengli City, he received Xiao Yi's secret order and led his troops to go. Wuyi City in Nanliang.
The stragglers in Nanliang had been wiped out by Xiao Yi long ago, the original royal family of Nanliang was killed, and the whole Nanliang fell under Xiao Yi's control.
With veteran Tian He taking over to rectify Nanliang's government and military affairs, Xiao Yi can finally return to Dengli City with peace of mind.
Xiao Yi told Nangong Yue in the letter that in half a month at the latest, he and Guan Yubai would return home triumphantly with their troops.
This battle, which lasted more than half a year, finally ended with the subjugation of Nanliang!
"It's the 30th day of the first lunar month, which means that Ah Yi will come back before the 15th day of February." Nangong Yue smiled happily, her face full of happiness.
The maidservants on the side were also very happy when they heard the words. These days, they have all seen the hard work that the concubine has put in to make the son have no worries.
Finally, the Shizi is coming back!