Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 166 Qingwen: The lady who entered the Buddhist temple?
……

Fengzao Palace.

Yuanchun has been very upset lately!
Her ancestors, father, and mother all sent messages in, all asking her to do her best to please the emperor, and some even sent her some money so that she could build relationships in the palace.

This made her sad and helpless.

It also made her completely understand how short-sighted they were! This family can only rely on Grandpa!

"Baoqin, is there any news from the master? When will he arrive in Beijing?" Yuanchun asked quietly while sitting in front of the mirror and combing her hair.

Baoqin shook her head and whispered, "The ancestor only said that Grandpa went to Jiangnan, but there is no definite news on when he will return."

Yuanchun raised her neck and said with a smile, "The salt tax reform initiated by our grandfather in Jiangnan was heard by even those of us in the deep palace. It is obviously very successful. It is a great joy for both the court and the people!"

"It's just...Alas!"

"Without the Grand Master in Beijing, I'm afraid I won't be able to hold out for long."

Once she really becomes the emperor's concubine, no matter what she does, will the emperor continue to favor the Jia family? Will he still trust the master without reservation?

"Don't worry, young lady. Grandpa will definitely come to save you!" Baoqin said as she brought in an agate plate from outside and said with a smile, "Just now, the maid Xiuyun beside Concubine Wu came to give you some Yuanxiao."

A royal concubine sends Lantern Festival dumplings to a female historian!
What do you mean?
Yuanchun sighed.

"Got it, leave it there."

"Come with me later to thank the Imperial Concubine for the reward."

Baoqin said happily: "Okay, girl!"

As the two were talking, they suddenly heard someone outside shouting, "Is Sister Yuanchun here?"

Yuanchun stood up quickly, went out to greet her, bowed and said with a smile: "Third Princess, why did you come here in person?"

The third princess' nickname was Nuannuan. Because she was the empress's legitimate daughter, she was given the title "Princess Yongjing" since childhood.

Princess Yongjing waved her hand and said with a smile, "I don't have classes today. I'm bored at home. I came out to play with my sister."

Yuanchun led the people into the house, sat them down, and served them tea while playing the zither.

Princess Yongjing sat down next to Yuanchun and whispered, "My mother asked me to give this to you."

As he spoke, he handed over a note.

Yuanchun was puzzled for a moment, then took the note and unfolded it.

"What did you write?"

Princess Yongjing leaned over to look.

Yuanchun glanced at it, put away the note and said with a smile: "Nothing, the Queen Mother told me that it's been cold lately and I should take care of my health."

Yongjing smiled and said, "The Queen Mother is so kind to my sister."

Yuanchun: "..."

After talking for a while, Princess Yongjing left.

Baoqin came forward and asked, "What did the Queen say? Did she really ask the young lady to take care of herself?"

Yuanchun sneered.

"No."

"The Queen Mother asked me to pay attention to Concubine Wu, saying that she might be harmful to me recently."

"what!"

Baoqin covered her mouth, frightened: "What should we do? Is sending Lantern Festival dumplings a trap? Should we prepare in advance? Or ask the Queen for help?"

Yuanchun shook her head gently: "Concubine Wu has not done anything to harm me at all. We haven't even exchanged a few words. She has no reason to harm me!"

Baoqin said, "But the Queen said that she was jealous of you because you were favored by the Emperor... Uh, I said the wrong thing, please don't blame me, young lady!" Seeing Yuanchun's sidelong glance, Baoqin quickly changed her words.

"Could it be that the Queen wants to sow discord between the young lady and Concubine Wu?"

Yuanchun shook her head and said, "Not really."

"There are no friends or friendships in the palace. No one is really doing good for anyone. Everyone is just living a hard life for themselves."

"So are we."

……

Rongguo Mansion.

Mrs. Wang paid her respects in Lady Jia's courtyard and then went to Lixiang Courtyard to see her sister, Aunt Xue.

Aunt Xue was worried because her son Xue Pan was about to be exiled to the frontier. When she saw her sister coming, she couldn't help but burst into tears.

"My poor Xue'er, I don't know if we will ever meet again in this lifetime."

Mrs. Wang smiled and comforted her, "Don't be afraid, sister. We are just exiled to the coast of the West Sea. After a few years, when things are over, we can find some connections and come back."

Aunt Xue looked delighted.

She knew that her sister had been enjoying great success recently. If Yuanchun became a royal concubine in the future, wouldn't it be just a matter of asking Xue Pan to come back?

"Thank you for your trouble, sister."

Mrs. Wang waved her hand gently: "This is nothing. By the way, where is Baoyatou? Is she still living in that mansion over there?"

Aunt Xue smiled and said, "She lives there with the eldest daughter of the East Mansion. All the members of the East Mansion, except Master Zhen, have gone to Jiangnan, leaving only one daughter at home. Bao was afraid that she would feel uncomfortable at home alone, so she has been accompanying her there recently."

Mrs. Wang snorted softly.

She was very annoyed with Xichun.

It was not for any other reason, but because Xichun always looked down on her elder Baoyu. She used to be the legitimate daughter of the East Mansion, and her status was indeed the highest among the daughters of the two mansions.

Even Lady Jia had to give her some face.

Now!
Her daughter is going to be a royal concubine!
Ten Xichuns put together cannot compare to her daughter.

"Why bother with that girl?"

"Your family has no relationship with the East Palace originally. If Bao girl lives there, it will inevitably cause gossip. It is better for her to move here as soon as possible." Mrs. Wang suggested.

Of course Aunt Xue understood what Mrs. Wang meant.

He wanted to bring Baochai and Baoyu together.

If it were a few days ago, she would have absolutely disagreed.

Now, of course, there is another way of saying it.

The family status of the East Palace is too high, so if Baochai marries there, she may only be a second wife. If she marries Baoyu, she will definitely be the main wife.

Moreover, if Yuanchun became a noble concubine, Baoyu would be the emperor's uncle and might even be able to get a title.

His status is not much lower than Jia Rong's.

Thinking of this, Aunt Xue hurriedly smiled and said, "Sister is right. I didn't think it through. I'll talk to Bao Yatou later and ask her to move in as soon as possible."

Mrs. Wang nodded with satisfaction after hearing this.

She believed that her sister would be able to judge the situation.

Baoyu is the person with the most noble status in the two mansions!
Jia Rong just has a good grandfather. Can Jia Jing be an official for his whole life? Won't he get old one day?
The Imperial Concubine will always be the Imperial Concubine. Even with the power of the Jia Mansion and the Wang Mansion, it is not impossible to move up one step!
That is the true mother of the country!
By then, who can compare to her, Da Baoyu?
The two sisters talked happily for a while, and towards the evening Mrs. Wang walked back, surrounded by Zhou Rui's wife and several other daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law.

When passing by Fengjie's courtyard, Mrs. Wang suddenly smiled and said, "I haven't seen Fengjie for several days. Let's go over and take a look. I heard that she gave birth to a girl?"

Mrs. Zhou Rui smiled and said, "Yes, the Second Madam has a daughter, we should go over and congratulate her."

Madam Wang smiled and said, "The old lady likes girls the most. Feng girl has fulfilled the old lady's wish."

"Yeah yeah."

Everyone entered Sister Feng's yard, chatting and laughing.

Although Wang Xifeng was in confinement, she was able to walk again and went to pay her respects to Lady Jia several times.

But I really didn’t go out these days.

She and Mrs. Wang had never met again after that incident. She was really afraid of her vicious aunt and didn't want to face her.

Seeing that Lady Wang had broken out of the cage by relying on her daughter's status, Feng Ji was very worried that Lady Wang would deal with her, and she was very sure that her mother-in-law would not tolerate her and might even add insult to injury.

"Alas, all I see are enemies."

Just as Fengjie sighed, she heard a group of people coming in laughing.

"Second Madam, the Madam is here!"

The little girl at the door came in and said something.

Fengjie was shocked and struggled to get up.

"Feng girl, you're feeling better now." Mrs. Wang walked into the room with a smile and said to Feng girl.

Fengjie tensed up when Wang Furen looked at her, and she forced a smile, "Madam Lao, please be careful. I am fine now. I was planning to go and pay my respects to Madam tomorrow."

Mrs. Wang stepped forward to help Fengjie up and said with a smile, "There is no rush to pay respects. You just had a baby, so you must take good care of yourself. It would be bad if you develop a disease."

Zhou Ruijia also stepped forward, looked at Fengjie and said with a smile: "Madam is right, Second Madam, you must take good care of yourself, the next baby will definitely be a boy."

Fengjie had always known that Zhou Ruijia was a difficult woman, full of bad intentions. Eight out of ten bad ideas of Lady Wang were from her, so she did not dare to offend her and said with a smile, "Thank you for your kind words."

"All right."

Madam Wang waved her hand and said with a smile, "I just came here to take a look. I won't disturb you to rest. Let's go back."

As he spoke, he walked towards the door.

Suddenly, he turned around and said with a smile, "Now that your mother-in-law has gone to Dongyue, I am old and can't take care of the family affairs. When you are better, come to me and tell me that you can continue to help me manage the family, how about that?"

Sister Feng was stunned and said quickly, "Okay."

Soon, Fengjie understood.

Mrs. Wang has no one available.

Tanchun had already become a traitor.

Li Wan saw through the intrigues in the mansion and refused to get involved.

If Mrs. Wang doesn’t use her, who else can she use?
At least before Baoyu got married, Mrs. Wang couldn't live without her.

After figuring this out, Wang Xifeng felt a little better.

……

Let’s talk about Aunt Xue.

After Mrs. Wang left, she hurried to the East Palace to find Baochai, but found Baochai was playing chess in Xichun's yard. She waited for half a day until it was time to light the lamps before Baochai returned to her yard.

"Mom? When did you get here?"

Aunt Xue said, "I've been here for half a day."

Baochai sat down next to her mother and said with a smile, "Mom, why don't you ask someone to call me instead of waiting here?"

Aunt Xue smiled and said, "It's nothing, so I didn't call you."

Baochai said, "It doesn't look like that."

Aunt Xue: "What's not like?"

Baochai said, "It doesn't look like nothing happened."

Aunt Xue took Baochai's hand and said with a smile, "I can't hide it from you. Do you know what happened in the West Mansion?"

Baochai thought for a moment and said, "Is it about the Emperor's request to see cousin Yuanchun?"

Aunt Xue nodded and said, "If your cousin becomes a noble concubine, the West Mansion will be a royal family. Such wealth and honor are rare in the world, which shows the emperor's great favor." Aunt Xue changed the subject and said, "Your aunt wants to see you. Take some time to come back to live in Lixiangyuan in the West Mansion."

Baochai shook her head.

Aunt Xue asked, "Why?" Baochai said, "It's not possible now. Sister Xichun is the only one in the East Palace. If I don't accompany her, who will? When Rong'er, Miss Lin, Baoqin and others return to the capital, it won't be too late for me to move to Lixiangyuan."

Aunt Xue nodded and said with a smile, "You are very thoughtful."

Originally, the east wind overwhelmed the west wind in the two prefectures, but now the west wind has come with strong support, and it is unknown how the wind direction in the two prefectures will change.

Wait, okay.

……

Ningguo Mansion, Jia Rong's courtyard.

Ping'er was clacking away on the abacus on the table, while Qingwen and Xiangling were doing needlework and chatting boredly.

"How long have you been in Jiangnan?" Qingwen asked.

Xiangling put down her needlework and counted on her fingers, saying, "Let me calculate... Tomorrow will be exactly one month."

Qingwen also put down her needlework, propped her chin with both hands and said quietly: "I don't know when the master will come back."

Ping'er, who was standing under the window, suddenly laughed and said, "What's the matter? Do you two little hooves miss me?"

"Humph."

Qingwen curled her lips: "It's as if you don't want to! You were dreaming about it last night. Oh, Master, don't..."

Ping'er blushed.

"Bah, you're talking about yourself!"

Qingwen said, "Whoever it is knows it in their heart!"

Xiangling smiled and said, "Don't be so stubborn, I've thought about it anyway."

The two pointed at Xiangling and said with a smile: "Look, here comes someone who is not ashamed anymore!"

Xiangling blushed and said, "I was just thinking, don't you think of anything else?"

Qingwen stepped forward and pinched Xiangling's pretty face, saying with a smile: "Silly girl, what else do you want? Do you want to give me a bath?"

"ah!"

Xiangling and Qingwen started to make noises on the bed.

Ping'er looked at him and shook her head slightly, then continued to settle the accounts.

Although Jia Rong did not come back, he kept sending her letters. Recently, he was planning to become a salt merchant and asked her to recruit an agent in Kyoto.

How could she know any agent?

The only person I know...Sister Feng!
Still from Xifu.

Deep down, Ping'er thought that they were two different families.

However, since Jia Rong said that anyone can do business, Ping'er plans to give this opportunity to her former master Fengjie.

Thinking of this, Ping'er stood up and prepared to go to the West Mansion.

Qingwen asked, "What is Ping'er doing?"

Ping Er said, "I have something to do in the West Mansion."

Qingwen hurriedly followed him and said with a smile, "I want to go and have some fun too. I've been bored to death at home these past few days."

Ping Er smiled and said, "Then you can follow me. Where's Xiang Ling?"

Xiangling waved her hand and said, "You guys go ahead. There's always someone to watch over the yard."

Qingwen smiled and said, "Look, this girl is so good, she knows how to look after the house."

The two of them left the yard.

He happened to meet Lai Er, the housekeeper of the mansion.

Lai Er hurried forward and said with a smile, "Ms. Ping, Miss Qing, good morning. Are you going out for something? Do you want me to prepare a carriage?"

Ping Er waved her hand and smiled, "We are fine. We are just going to the West Mansion for a stroll. Let Housekeeper Lai go about his business. Don't worry about us."

"Yes Yes."

Lai Er nodded quickly and said with a smile, "This year, according to the custom, we have released ten maids of appropriate age, and selected six maids from among the children born at home. In a few days, we will buy a few more from outside to make up the number. Since Master Rong is not here, I dare not make the decision. May I ask if Miss Ping has any new maids in her courtyard this year?"

Ping'er looked at Qingwen.

"Either?"

Although Jia Rong entrusted many important matters to her because she was older and more stable, Ping'er always respected Qingwen because she came first.

Qingwen thought for a moment and said, "Of course we need to add a few maids to serve, especially those who are good at sewing."

Ping Er laughed and said, "You just want to be lazy!"

Qingwen smiled and said, "Yes and no."

Ping Er: "What do you mean?"

Qingwen said seriously, "The main reason is that we haven't started making clothes for this summer yet, and we can't handle it without enough people."

Ping'er: "..."

Qingwen asked, "Can you blame me for this?"

"Xiao Xiao followed me out, you spent the whole day calculating accounts, Xiang Ling spent a long time sewing a few stitches, sometimes I just wanted to take it and help her sew a few stitches when I saw it."

"Also, I don't want to use the rough hands and feet of the needlework maids outside. So I have to add a few second-class needlework maids."

Ping Er smiled and said, "Okay, okay, if you say so, I'll add more. Anyway, I love you so much."

Qingwen: "I love you!"

Ping'er: "I love you more."

Qingwen: "I love you so much!"

"Pah, it's getting more and more outrageous!"

"You said it first!"

The two men entered the west corner gate of the palace arguing with each other.

There was a commotion coming towards us.

It turned out that it was Zhou Ruijia who brought a group of old women and dragged the two half-dead girls out.

Ping'er was stunned for a moment.

"Isn't that a colorful cloud?"

"Seems to be."

"what happened?"

Ping'er stepped forward and stopped him and asked.

Mrs. Zhou Rui felt very proud these past two days, especially because she felt that the West Mansion had finally stood up and was able to suppress the East Mansion. She sneered at Ping'er and said, "No matter what happens, it's not your turn to take care of it. This is our mistress's order!"

"Pfft!"

Qingwen couldn't help but laugh.

"why are you laughing!"

Zhou Ruijia looked at Qingwen and said angrily.

Qingwen covered her mouth and laughed, "Is it the lady who entered the Buddhist temple? Has she come out already?"

"Be bold!"

Zhou Ruijia jumped up!

"How dare you, a girl, make up stories about our wife!"

"Someone, bring it to me, slap my face!"

The slap Xiao Xiao gave her in the face was still fresh in her memory. Now that she finally got the chance, she would of course take revenge!
After hearing what Zhou Ruijia said, the maids had no intention of stepping forward to be the first to take action.

"These two are the maids of Master Xiaorong of the East Mansion. They are not easy to mess with. Let's just be patient."

"Yes, Butler Zhou, please be patient."

Several maids who were close to Zhou Rui's wife were ordered to persuade her.

Here, Qingwen almost laughed out of anger.

"Who are you? Slap me in the face?"

"You just came back from the farm down there, right?"

"you……"

"Okay, stop talking." Ping'er pulled Qingwen's hand and whispered, "It's a disgrace to argue with someone like her."

Qingwen thought about it and agreed.

Why bother with a woman?

You never know when the grandfather will come back and lock him up in the farm below again.

then.

Both sides restrained themselves and walked away.

……

Ping'er, Qingwen was pulled by Fengjie to sit on the kang in the inner room, and a little maid served them tea.

Qingwen came here to play, but she just kept eating melon seeds and didn't say anything.

Ping Erh started talking about what was happening outside, and Feng Jieh said, "The Madam is different now than she used to be. She is cruel and ruthless. She beats the maids to death if she catches them. I am a little scared."

Ping Er shook her head and sighed, "Poor Caiyun and Xia, we grew up together, but they ended up like this."

Sister Feng laughed and said, "Don't feel sorry for them. Why are Jin Chuan'er and Yu Chuan'er fine? It's because they saw their mistress fall and were eager to find a new master. But the new master turned out to be useless and the old master made a comeback."

"Let's not talk about them. What do you want from me?"

Ping Er smiled and said, "That's good."

Sister Feng's eyes lit up: "What good news?"

Ping Er smiled and said, "I have a business that can make money. I want to ask if you would like to try it."

Sister Feng hurriedly said, "Hurry up and tell me."

Ping Er thought for a moment, then told Jia Rong about his request to recruit an agent for the salt merchant, and said with a smile, "What do you think, Grandma?"

Sister Feng thought about it for a while and said with a smile, "Brother Rong, the sales channels and personnel are all mine, but he takes the lion's share. Is he planning to make me work for him?"

Ping Er smiled and said, "Madam, just tell me whether you want to do it or not. It's a business that makes money for free. If you don't do it, someone else will."

"Humph!"

Sister Feng was unconvinced and asked, "Besides me, who else do you know?"

Ping Er stood up and said with a smile, "Then I'll go talk to Miss Bao. I think she'd like to earn some dowry."

After saying that, leave.

Qingwen threw away the melon seeds and followed.

Fengjie was anxious.

"Hey, Ping'er is back!"

……

(End of this chapter)