Ordinary clear day

Chapter 102 Cuilian
Cuilian knew that she had miscalculated, and she complained in her heart why the old lady didn't die two days later, so that she could get her status. Besides, as long as she has the status of concubine, even if she waited two or three years, it would be better than now.But if she wanted to give up at this point, she couldn't swallow it, knowing that there was no hope for Tong's side, so she had to find another way.

She didn't know where to find some high-quality makeup powder and toilet water, dressed up meticulously, and wandered in front of Zhang Bao's study when she had nothing to do, waiting for an opportunity.

The women around Zhang Bao, whether they are wives, concubines, daughters, or servants, don't like to smoke incense, so he can't stand the smell, and Pian Cuilian loves to get close to him, which really makes him miserable, and he can't help but ask The wife complained.

Tong Shi covered her mouth with a handkerchief, lay on the table and smiled softly, looking at her husband's distressed appearance from time to time, his eyes flicked around, which caused Zhang Bao's heart to move, and he walked over and took her hand.

Tong's face blushed, she hurriedly threw her hands and said, "Go aside, there are people outside, what are you going to do?"

Zhang Bao said with a smile: "What's the matter? We are husband and wife, and we are a big brother, and it is only right and proper." He felt that his wife's blushing was more attractive, so he got closer.

Tong spat at him, got up and changed his seat, and said: "It's still early, so I used etiquette and righteousness to suppress people. If I committed a crime, what face do I have to meet people?" He glanced.

Zhang Bao was even more anxious: "Anyway, we are together at night, how can others know? As long as you drink a bowl of that medicine afterwards, you will not even have any future troubles." He walked over again, flatteringly said: "Ma'am——"

Shy and irritable, Tong threw the curtain and went out.As for whether Zhang Bao will get what he wants, it is an unsolvable mystery.

Let's not talk about gossip, and let's say that Cuilian tried a few times, but returned without success, but the news has already spread, and the servants in the mansion all gossip intentionally or unintentionally, even the old days when she served with her. Her maid and servant, as well as the maids and concubines of the "Cui" generation in the other rooms, were secretly laughing at her.When she noticed something, she felt ashamed, and she thought about it.

She took out the silver taels she had accumulated, and bribed a cook in the house, who got some kind of medicine powder.Hearing that Zhang Bao wanted to be alone in the study one night, he spent money to bribe the servant in the study to let her in.The boy had refused to agree before, but this time he actually agreed, which made her overjoyed.

That night, she bought some exquisite wine and dishes, took a good bath by herself, and changed into a light and light pink silk shirt, the buttons of which were tampered with, so it was easy to loosen.She loosely pulled back her hair, carefully put on her make-up, and wanted to turn her three-point beauty into a very fairy, so she took the wine and dishes to the study while no one was prepared.

Zhang Bao asked who was knocking on the door in the room, and Cuilian replied delicately: "Third master, it is Cuilian who brought you the night snack." Zhang Baoxu was hungry, so he let her in, and after the door was closed , all around was silent.

After about a stick of incense, he heard a roar, the door was kicked open, Zhang Bao threw the green lotus into the courtyard, the surrounding voices gradually rose, and many people lit up lanterns to see what happened thing.

Zhang Bao said angrily: "Bitch! I saw that you served the old lady and treated you politely. She is not yet seventy-seven, and you pretend to be like this to seduce you. How dare you put medicine in the wine?! You Is the master easy to bully?!" After finishing speaking, he turned to Tong Shi who heard the sound and said, "Madam, let's see, I don't want to see her again!"

That Cuilian cried into a ball on the ground, her hair was messed up, her neckline was pulled away, revealing her snow-white skin, and the makeup on her face was messed up.She kept begging Zhang Bao and Mrs. Tong for mercy. Mrs. Tong glanced at her, then asked the two daughters-in-law to pick her up and send her to the hall outside. She wanted to ask several wives to interrogate her together.

Wanning heard the wind and knew that the one being interrogated was grandma's former maidservant, so she rushed over immediately. When Cuilian cried and said that she was promised by the old lady to be the third master's concubine, how could the third wife treat her like this? He looked at Tong Shi hesitantly.

Tong sighed and said, "Why don't I know what the old lady means, but she is still keeping her filial piety anyway. There is no reason why my son takes a new concubine less than a year after my death, so the old lady just said, let You came to wait in our room, instead of saying that we would accept the house. Originally, I waited for the three-year filial piety period to pass before officially helping you as a concubine. The old lady has put so much thought into you, but you have failed. It's fine to bully other girls under her old name. You don't even look down on Aunt Liu. Our master is a decent person. If you don't know the way, you will never accept you in private. Who knows you to do such a thing?"

She wiped the corners of her eyes with a veil, and continued: "Look at your current appearance. The old lady has passed away for less than a month, and you are wearing red and green and painted. What kind of medicine did you put in that wine?" What kind of intentions did you have just now? You are so shameless, can you be worthy of the old lady?"

Wanning was furious when she heard it, and asked Cuilian, "Is what Third Aunt said the truth?" Seeing that she was squeaking and daring to speak, she snorted coldly, and turned to her mother and aunts and said, "This is the truth." I don't care about this matter, I ask Erniang and aunts to figure it out." Then she poohed Cuilian and walked away.

Cuilian turned pale and trembled on the ground, not knowing how the four great gods above would deal with her.

Tong said to Nala: "Although this is a matter in our courtyard, this girl has served the old lady for a few months anyway, so I don't want to make decisions on my own, so I invite the two sisters-in-law and younger siblings to discuss it."

But Suo Chuoluo sneered at the side: "What's there to discuss? This kind of vixen who seduces the master should be beaten to death. Don't you want to spare her?" Cuizhen standing behind her couldn't help beating her There was a cold war, and he lowered his head obediently and remained silent.

Mrs. Nala was noncommittal, and asked Mrs. Shen: "What do the four siblings think?" Mrs. Shen said, "This is the internal affairs of the third brother's family. The third sister-in-law can do whatever she likes." Mrs. Nala nodded, and then Ask Tong Shi: "What do the three brothers and sisters think?"

Tong took a look at Cuilian, and replied: "This girl is so bold, she dared to plot against the master, so naturally she can't stay any longer." She saw Cuilian tremble suddenly, and said: "But she will accompany the old lady anyway. After the last few months, just for the sake of the old lady, it’s hard for me to be a wife. Why don’t I ask my sister-in-law to come forward and find a place for her, which can be regarded as finding a good home for her Bar."

Nala nodded: "The third younger brother and sister are really kind-hearted people, anyway, let Sister-in-law Wu take care of this matter." She paused, "It's not the first time anyway."

The matter was thus settled.After a few days, Wu Xinda's family received a letter of approval.

There is a new magistrate who is about to be released. Although he is over 40 years old, he was a Jinshi in the last scientific examination, and it was his turn just now.This man has a powerful wife, no concubines, and no children at such an advanced age.His wife was afraid that he would have no heirs, and that he would be laughed at if he became an official without a concubine, which would damage his reputation as a virtuous man, so she planned to find a young woman from Ren Yazi to be his concubine.

She accidentally heard about Cuilian, and she was a little moved.Firstly, it will be more face-saving to marry everyone's slaves and maidservants as concubines; secondly, this Cuilian has a bad reputation, so naturally it is impossible to have a day when she can be put in charge; thirdly, the old master's family will not support her, she is not Do you let yourself do what you like?So I specially asked someone to meet with Wu Xinda's family to make a deal.

Cuilian was locked up in a dark room for a few days, and when she heard that she was going to marry a young official who was almost 50 years old as a concubine, she refused desperately.Later, when I heard that the man's wife was old and had no children, and she was a virtuous person, I was a little moved. I felt that this marriage was not worse than the original plan, and it was even possible to use my own means to straighten out the wife of an official. , then let go of it.

Mrs. Tong returned her burden to her, and generously gave her ten taels of silver and two horses as a dowry. Cuilian was so moved that she kowtowed to Mrs. Tong, saying that she was a Bodhisattva descending to earth.Tong Shi just smiled kindly, and told her some things about how to deal with people, and then asked her to go with the housekeeper of Nazhi County.

A few days later, the whole family of Nazhi County went to other places to take up their posts. Since then, no one knows Cuilian's whereabouts.

This matter was not considered a secret, so some rumors spread and became an anecdote in the streets and alleys.Some people said that Cuilian was lucky to have a good and tolerant master; He, he also found a good marriage for her.As for the gossip that the wives in the earl's mansion could not tolerate concubines, they were gradually suppressed by other good words.

The secret affairs of rich families have always been a topic that ordinary people in the market love to talk about, even in the homes of the same rich family, and the owner did not mean to stop others from talking about it, and their family status is not low, so the rumors became more and more serious. It became more and more intense, and even spread into the imperial city.

Emperor Kangxi, who is "wise and mighty" in this dynasty, was asking the eunuchs who were serving him closely. He was out of the palace yesterday to handle some errands, but when he heard some anecdotes in the market, he knew about this rumor.He has always been a person who pays attention to filial piety. He heard that one of the protagonists in the rumor is very filial, so he mentioned it when chatting with several princes and close officials.

He said: "This Zhang Bao seems to have done a good job as an official. I remember that he was awarded by the Ministry of Officials two years ago?"

Chen Liangben replied: "Yes, Zhang Bao was excellent in the evaluation of the Ministry of Officials in 28 and 29. In the spring of 30, he was one of the [-] local officials who were awarded by the Ministry of Officials. I have met this person several times. He was born in the Manchu imperial examination, although he can't be said to be shrewd and capable, but he still has talent and ability, but unfortunately he is a good old man, so his courage is somewhat lacking, but he is a good hand in agriculture and civil affairs."

Kangxi smiled: "You have a good memory, so he is a foreign official? Why is he in Beijing? Oh, yes, he is the son of Weiyuanbo Mansion, so naturally he returned to Beijing for his parents' funeral."

Chen Liangben said: "Yes, he was originally the magistrate of Guangzhou, and he had only been in office for less than a year. Because his father left suddenly and his mother fell ill, he went to Ding You, secretly begged his superiors, and found someone else to replace him, saying that he would He stayed in Beijing to take care of his mother. Unexpectedly, his mother passed away in just a few months."

Kangxi nodded: "The prefect of Guangzhou is a fat vacancy. He left as soon as he said it, which shows that he is really a filial son. I heard that the girl who plotted against him, because she had served his mother, so she let it go lightly?"

The prince snorted coldly and said: "This person is too kind to let the servant bully her head. How can such a servant spare her? She should be beaten to death!"

But Suo'etu said: "This is a rumor after all, it may not be credible, maybe it's because his wife can't tolerate concubines, so he drove him away with such a crime?"

Chen Liangben frowned slightly, but remained silent.Seeing that the fourth elder brother next to him hesitated to speak, Kangxi asked him what he wanted to say.The fourth elder brother thought for a while, and said: "Although Prime Minister Suo's words are reasonable, I'm afraid it's not true. Zhang Bao actually has a concubine, and he gets along well with his wife."

Kangxi wondered: "How do you know?" The fourth elder brother said: "His wife is the daughter of Tong's family, and she is the cousin of Huang Erniang, but I have never seen it. It is his eldest son Duan Ning who is married Tong Ying is a good girl, and has met Erchen several times, and his knowledge and character are all excellent. He once mentioned some trivial matters at home to Erchen, so I know."

Only then did Kangxi suddenly realize.The eunuch who told him the rumor said: "I have also heard outside that Mr. Zhang Bao has a wife and a concubine. I heard that the concubine also gave birth to a son, who is eight or nine years old."

Kangxi nodded and said with a smile: "Tong's tutor is trustworthy, but I didn't expect Zhang Bao to be my brother-in-law. Since he has expertise in civil affairs, after he finishes his filial piety, he will be placed in a Relevant seats, we must not waste a talent."

Chen Liangben bowed in response, and everyone laughed for a while, Suo'etu felt a little bored, and stopped talking about Zhang Bao's family.

Instead, the prince asked about the fourth elder brother and said, "Just now you said Tong Ying, but you said the second child of Prince Jian's family? The one who likes to draw?"

The fourth elder brother said yes, and the prince was a little displeased: "A man should learn martial arts if he is not studying literature. Prince Jian has been a famous military general for generations. How could this son like this little trick? The fourth brother should not associate with him." Too much good."

The fourth elder brother bowed his head and said nothing, and the third elder brother said: "The piano, chess, calligraphy and painting have been the knowledge that literati should learn since ancient times. How can it be said to be a trivial skill? Besides, the Prince Jian's residence is a relative of the clan, and the crown prince is exaggerating."

The crown prince was displeased, and was about to refute, but Kangxi said, "Tongying is good, both literary and martial arts are not bad. Last year, when he was in Wanshou, he presented a picture of "Magu's Birthday". I asked him what he wanted. What kind of reward, he said that he wanted to learn painting from Wang Yuanqi and Leng Mei, and I agreed. Later Wang Yuanqi said that he was mediocre in painting flowers and birds, but he was very talented in drawing figures. If he is willing to work hard, he may not become a master in the future. Although I don't know if this is true or not, but I love that if the descendants of the Xinjueluo family can really make a name for themselves in the painting circle, it would be a good thing, as long as they don't delay their careers."

He was about to pick up his teacup when he suddenly remembered: "Speaking of which, after the Longevity Festival this year, I haven't seen this kid again. Where did he go?"

The fourth elder brother replied: "I went back to Fengtian with Prince Jane. He said that the summer in the capital is unbearably hot, and he wants to go home to cool off."

The third elder brother wondered: "Isn't he still studying Zongxue? Why did he run away like this?"

The fourth elder brother said, "I also asked him, and he said that the professors of Zongxue think that he has good knowledge and can be a full teacher, so they let him go home to study by himself."

Kangxi was a little dumbfounded: "How can it be so easy to be full of teachers? I think he patronizes learning painting, and the professors of Zongxue can't do anything to him, so why not just let him fend for himself?"

The fourth elder brother bowed and said: "Huang Ama Shengming, my son also said the same at the time, but he talked about him from left to right, and just refused to admit it."

Everyone laughed, the prince then brought up other interesting things, and the father and son changed the subject.

(End of this chapter)