"Where is Yuan Niang? Why haven't you come to say hello to me for several days?"
"I leave a wonderful young lady to you to take care of. Is this how you take care of me?"
"Taught her so much that she doesn't recognize her own mother, and even forgets her rules and decency?!"
On this day, Mrs. Zhang once again scolded Feng Yanting for being "nosy" because she didn't listen to the admonishment. She was so angry that she ordered Aunt Zhao to call "Gu Xiuniang" to scold her!
As a result, what made Mrs. Zhang even more angry was that "Gu Xiuniang", a bitch who prided herself on being able to make money, did not take her, her old benefactor, seriously.
She said she was "busy with embroidery", but in fact, she just didn't want to come over and didn't take Mrs. Zhang's summons seriously.
Mrs. Zhang became more and more angry. She didn't care about maintaining the dignity of Mrs. Hou. She ran to the next door angrily and pointed at He Tiantian and accused him.
Mrs. Zhang's voice was so loud that the surrounding neighbors heard it and stuck their heads out to watch the excitement.
Maybe it's because she has lived in the market for these years, and maybe it's because she has really not been having a good time in the past one or two years. Mrs. Zhang has always wanted to maintain the dignity of her wife, Mrs. Hou.
But unknowingly, she has become a bit like a shrew.
For example, if she saw people watching, if it had been in the past, Mrs. Zhang would have subconsciously restrained her temper to prevent others from laughing.
But now, she found that her neighbors were poking their heads at the door and on the wall. Instead of feeling anything bad, she felt that she was emboldened.
right! Get things out of the way!
People around her said that "Gu Xiuniang" was loyal and a rare good person.
At this moment, in front of everyone, she tore off the mask of "Gu Xiuniang"'s pretense, letting everyone see her true face.
What loyal servant
What is sentimental
Pooh!
She is just a bitch with ulterior motives and pretentiousness!
He kept talking about being kind to his old benefactor, but in the end, he secretly instigated the eldest lady and caused discord between mother and daughter.
It's so abominable to be so ambitious and resort to evil deeds!
"You deliberately instigated the relationship between our mother and daughter, Gu Xiuniang, you have such a vicious heart!"
Mrs. Zhang herself didn't realize that she looked very much like the street shrew she once most despised and despised.
"Madam, don't be anxious, let's talk slowly if you have anything to say!"
He Tiantian has a soft voice and a gentle and warm appearance.
Compared with the loud and noisy Mrs. Zhang, "Gu Xiuniang", a woman from a small family, is actually more cultivated.
"Hmph, you still want to quibble? Where's Yuan Niang, why don't you call her out? As a daughter, she doesn't pay her respects to her own mother. Does she still understand the rules and filial piety?"
He Tiantian's unmoving look made Mrs. Zhang even more angry.
She continued shouting at the top of her lungs.
Aunt Zhao heard the noise and hurriedly chased her out from the yard next door.
She comforted Mrs. Zhang while helping to accuse He Tiantian.
Even the neighbors started whispering—
"We, from a small family, are not very particular about it, but Mrs. Zhang is Mrs. Hou, so she is very particular about sleeping in the morning and dusk!"
"Yes, yes, I've heard that too. If you say that, what the young lady did is indeed not right!"
"Oh, what's wrong? The Wei family is in such a state of poverty that they are worse than us ordinary people. What do you mean by this?"
"That's right. Anyway, I think the eldest girl from the Wei family is quite nice, and the lady from the Feng family is also a kind and kind person!"
Although everyone is easily misled, these neighbors are neither blind nor stupid. They all see how "Gu Xiuniang" behaves.
Even if she thought there was some truth to what Mrs. Zhang said, she would not accuse "Gu Xiuniang" without asking why.
"Madam, Yuan Niang is not at home!"
He Tiantian seemed unwilling to say this in front of outsiders. She deliberately pretended to be embarrassed and said to Mrs. Zhang again, "You'd better go inside first. If you have anything to say, let's talk slowly!"
"Just say it here, I don't have any worries and I'm not afraid of being overheard."
But Mrs. Zhang seemed to have caught something against He Tiantian, and she became more and more aggressive, "It's you who are so secretive and hesitant. Could it be that you have done something shameful?"
He Tiantian: ... Well, if you are seeking death, you really can’t blame me for digging holes and playing tricks.
"..." He Tiantian sighed and looked helpless.
"Half a month ago, I took Yuanniang to Qingyun Temple to deliver embroidery to the master of Huayang Temple. The temple owner saw that Yuanniang was smart and lovely, so he wanted to keep her in the Taoist temple these days!"
Speaking of this, He Tiantian deliberately raised his eyes to look at Mrs. Zhang.
Sure enough, when she heard "Huayang Temple Master", Mrs. Zhang's expression suddenly changed.
"Master Huayang? You, are you the old concubine in the palace?"
As the former Madam Hou, Madam Zhang certainly knew the identity of the Master of Huayang Temple.
In fact, just a few days ago, when Mrs. Zhang went shopping and met the second wife, her sister-in-law showed off to her, saying that her natal family was looking for a relationship and was trying to find a way to send the second wife's two daughters to Qingyun Temple.
Unexpectedly, while the second roommate was still thinking of a solution, the eldest roommate Wei Yuanniang had already met the master of Huayang Temple and was still left in the Taoist temple.
This, this... If Wei Yuanniang is Madam Zhang's biological daughter, Madam Zhang will only be happy to know such news.
But the problem is, Wei Yuanniang is not.
Especially when Mrs. Zhang's own son is still a commoner with no fame and no future for the time being, while Wei Yuanniang, the original slave Yangzi, has already embarked on the road to success.
How can Mrs. Zhang be willing to do so
Jealousy, anger, unwillingness, annoyance and other negative emotions all rushed into my heart, and Mrs. Zhang's slightly aged face became distorted!
He Tiantian didn't seem to notice Mrs. Zhang's "change of expression", but continued to whisper softly: "Logically, I should report back to you as soon as possible about the eldest lady's matter!"
"But in those days, you were not in good health. Every time I mentioned the eldest lady, you always said it was up to me!"
"Furthermore, being able to win the favor of Huayang Temple Master and serve the Temple Master is also a great opportunity. When the young lady proposes marriage in the future, she will also have more capital!"
"I, I just made my own decision and left the eldest lady in Qingyun Temple!"
Mrs. Zhang breathed hard for a few times, and finally suppressed the envy, jealousy and hatred in her heart. She gritted her teeth and said: "Qingyun Temple is naturally a good place, but Yuan Niang is young and has a naughty temper. I am afraid she will offend the noble!"
"Let's see. Cousin Yuanniang happens to be well-behaved and obedient, and her age is suitable. Let her stay in the temple instead of Yuanniang."
The cousin Mrs. Zhang is talking about is her niece.
Back then, the Zhang family was convicted and the whole family was exiled. Mrs. Zhang had just been redeemed, and Feng Zhongliang was forced to find a way to save the Zhang family.
However, Feng Zhongliang really had no money at that time. Even if Feng Yanting's private house was sold, it would only be enough to rescue Mrs. Zhang and her party.
In the end, He Tiantian bought a pair of embroidery and redeemed it for one of Mrs. Zhang's nieces.
For this reason, Feng Yanting gave Mrs. Zhang another hard note.
Then this "cousin" of the Zhang family lived with Mrs. Zhang. She was one year older than Wei Yuanniang and was just thirteen years old this year.
If nothing happened to the Hou family and the Zhang family, the cousin would have started talking about marriage at this age.
But now both families are in trouble, and the cousin is a prisoner's daughter.
Based on her conditions, no matter how rich or powerful the family is, even a slightly better family will not consider her.
Mrs. Zhang doesn't want her biological niece to marry a peddler or a commoner, and she is worried about this right now.
That day, Mrs. Zhang heard the second lady mention Qingyun Temple, and Mrs. Zhang also thought it was a good way to "golden" it.
But she has no connections, and she doesn’t have any treasures on hand to impress Master Huayang!
Just when Mrs. Zhang was worried, she heard the news that Wei Yuanniang had entered Qingyun Temple.
This this-
"Yes, call Yuanniang back and ask Zhen'er to take her place!"
The more Mrs. Zhang thought about it, the more she felt that this method was feasible, and she actually gave such commanding orders.
He Tiantian pretended to be shocked and widened her eyes, looking at Mrs. Zhang in disbelief.
"Madam, what did you say? You asked your biological daughter to give up such a good opportunity and give it to a niece instead?"
"..." Mrs. Zhang was choked. She quickly reacted and said covertly: "I told you, Yuanniang is young and has a wild temper. I'm afraid she won't be able to serve the noble man well!"
"Her cousin is older than her, gentle and elegant. Let her go to Qingyun Temple, and noble people will like her even more!"
He Tiantian seemed to finally be able to bear it no longer, and stood up with a roar, "Madam, I risked my life today, and I just want to ask you: Yuanniang, is she your biological daughter?"
"In the past few years, you have ignored Yuan Niang. It was me who took care of the kindness of the Marquis and taught Yuan Niang how to read and write."
"This time it's even more ridiculous. Yuan Niang has been away for half a month, and you, a mother, haven't even noticed at all."
"You keep saying that Yuanniang is unruly and unfilial! I would like to ask you, do you have any kind heart towards Yuanniang?"
"The Hou family is in trouble. Yuanniang is a rich young lady. How can she marry into a good family if she doesn't have a chance?"
"As a mother, have you ever planned for Yuan Niang's lifelong happiness?"
"What's more, Yuan Niang has finally won the appreciation of the nobles with her own abilities. You don't say you are happy for Yuan Niang, but you actually ask Yuan Niang to give up the opportunity to a relative!"
"... Madam, you are really going too far! Even my stepmother is not as vicious as you!"
After He Tiantian yelled these words, he seemed to be a little exhausted.
Everyone could clearly see that the Feng family's legs and hands were trembling.
"Oh, I guess I couldn't bear it anymore, so I had an attack!"
"The Feng family's wife is good at everything, but she is too soft-tempered. She earns money to support a large group of people. As a result, her mother-in-law and that other lady still want to give her men women."
"Tsk tsk, that is to say, the Feng family's wife is kind and easy to bully. If she changes to someone more aggressive, it doesn't matter whether she is gracious or loyal, just beat her out!"
"That's right. But this Madam Hou is also strange. She doesn't care for her own daughter, but she treats her concubine and niece as a treasure!"
"I don't know the superiority and inferiority, and I don't know the difference between closeness and distance. If you don't know, you really think she is your stepmother."
Neighbors and passers-by were talking about it.
They are not rich ladies who know how to be subtle and tactful. They are ordinary people who say whatever they want and go straight.
What he said may not sound nice, but it really makes sense.
Although Mrs. Zhang didn't realize that she had begun to "become a shrew," she blushed a little when she heard all these gossips.
What's more important is what He Tiantian said: "Is the eldest lady your biological daughter?"
These words were like a heavy hammer hitting Mrs. Zhang's heart.
Damn it!
How did I forget this
Yanting is about to end. If everything goes well, he will be admitted as a scholar.
A twelve-year-old scholar can be said to be "rare" if you look at the Zhou Dynasty.
If his life experience was revealed at this time, causing the saint to be furious and the world to be in an uproar, let alone the imperial examination, Yanting's life might not be saved.
"... I feel sorry for Yuan Niang. She has to serve nobles at a young age, and nobles are naturally generous and kind. But after all, Qingyun Temple is not as comfortable as at home. I, I—"
Mrs. Zhang was so anxious that she was sweating profusely and stammered a bit when she spoke.
Aunt Zhao came to the rescue in time and scolded He Tiantian angrily, "You really have no rules. How can you talk back to Madam?"
"Also, Madam is not the eldest lady's biological daughter. Who is? Is it you?"
"As my own mother, Madam, I feel sorry for the eldest lady more than anyone else. If you don't understand, don't talk nonsense!"
Aunt Zhao scolded her fiercely, but without stopping, she held Mrs. Zhang's arm and pulled her back to the next door.
He Tiantian stopped pursuing her, but her words had planted seeds in everyone's minds.
In the future, if Aunt Zhao exposes her again and puts all the blame for the "child exchange" on "Gu Xiuniang", she will not be able to completely clear Mrs. Zhang.
Whitewash what
To say that Mrs. Zhang didn’t know about the “child exchange”, is everything the fault of “Gu Xiuniang” alone
Then, since Mrs. Zhang didn't know that Wei Yuanniang was not her biological daughter, why was she still so mean to her? !
That Mrs. Zhang didn’t know about it at first, but only realized it later
The problem comes again
Now that you know the truth, why not expose it
Wasn't it to protect his biological son and use the innocent Wei Yuanniang as a shield? !
If you think about it from the perspective of "shield", some people will definitely suspect that there may be a hidden reason behind the "child exchange".
Mrs. Zhang will become darker and darker, and she will probably become the culprit behind the scenes.
He Tiantian has worked hard for so long and made so much preparation, just to wait for the day when "the truth will be revealed".
And this day did not wait too long. Soon, news came from the southwest—
"Ping Nanhou is not dead! During the battle, he was seriously injured and lost his memory."
"In the past few years, he has been recuperating in the homes of mountain people in the southwest, and trying every means to find his memory."
"By chance, I saw the Southwest Army fighting with the barbarian rebels, and then Marquis Pingnan remembered his identity."
"Using the skills he learned in the mountains and forests over the past few years, as well as the various information he gathered, he actually managed to reach several barbarian tribes by himself, captured the leaders alive, and then returned to the border town... "
Mrs. Zhang was overjoyed when she heard the rumors. She wished she could rush to Feng Yanting and tell him: Son, you are my biological flesh and blood, and your biological father is back alive!
It was Aunt Zhao who stopped her, for no other reason. Aunt Zhao had not yet come up with a reasonable excuse to "swap her son"...