Ordinary clear day

Chapter 230 Funeral Rites
Shu Ning was wearing a blue cotton gown, followed the maid in white linen and white flowers into the inner courtyard of Prince Kang's mansion, and heard the woman's crying from a long distance away.The snow water in the courtyard was half melted, mixed with the mud, making it look particularly embarrassing.

Prince Kang passed away two nights ago. He had been ill for a long time, and after all, he still couldn't survive this winter.His family was clearly prepared for the funeral, and everything was complete for the funeral.During the fifth day of the imperial court, the prince's clan, princes and ministers all went to Prince Kang's mansion to pay homage.

After saluting in the coffin shed, Tong Ying went to the small living room to comfort the deceased's sons, and Shu Ning went to the backyard to visit the family members of the mansion.

There were about twenty women in the dark room, some of them wore black or blue robes, but more than a dozen were covered in white linen.Some of the women in white are over 50 years old, but there are also young women who look less than 20 years old.They either sat on the chairs and wiped their tears silently, or stood on the edge and choked up, or sat with dull faces, or burst into tears under the comfort of the maid.Several Mrs. Fujin from other princely mansions were comforting a few sitting women, persuading them in a low voice.

The maid leading the way reported softly, and then a middle-aged woman in blue raised her head and waved to Shuning, "Is it the daughter-in-law of the second boy of Prince Jian's residence? Come here, I am your aunt of Prince Zhuang's residence." Shuning knew This must be Prince Zhuang, Fujin, he was busy paying respects, so he followed her to see the bereaved family.

Most of the female family members in this room are Prince Kang's wives and concubines, only two are his daughter-in-laws, the eldest son Fujin Borzigit is currently greeting the guests outside, Shu Ning has just met, it is a woman with Nadan Zhu looks a bit like her, but the more beautiful woman just has a bit more fierce aura.

Shu Ning followed the others to comfort the Fujin, looked around, did not see Xu Xu, was a little worried, and seeing that Prince Zhuang Fujin was a kind elder, she whispered to her.Zhuang Wang Fujin quickly recruited people to ask questions, only then did he know that Xu Xu is now resting in his room with a big belly, and cannot come out to meet guests.In fact, several other female family members also fell ill and were not in this room.

A side Fujin of Prince Kang, who is said to be Baltu's biological mother, raised her head when she heard their conversation, and said, "The fourth daughter-in-law is in the eastern courtyard, and I'm going to see her too, so you can come together "It's just that she cried for a long time, her hands and feet were limp, she became dizzy when she got up, and everyone hurriedly supported her.Shu Ning persuaded again and again, and finally persuaded her to ask a girl to lead the way, then she confessed to everyone present and came to the side courtyard.

When seeing Xu Xu, Shuning was startled.She lowered her two heads, tied her hair on the top of her head, and divided it into two braids. The ends of the braids were not tied with a headband, and hung loosely.She has lost a lot of weight, her chin is pointed, and the bones and joints of her hands are a little protruding. She is obviously about five months pregnant, but under the loose cheongsam, she can't see it at all.

Shu Ning hurriedly asked what was the matter, but when she was sick, Xu Xu shook her head and said, "It's just that the first two months were more embarrassing and I had to take care of my father-in-law. Now I am no longer embarrassed, and I have gained a lot of weight When she saw Shuning, she was in a good mood. Seeing that others didn't pay attention, she approached Shuning and whispered, "Don't tell anyone. I slept here alone these two nights, but I slept soundly. It was much better before." Seeing the maid bringing tea in, she immediately shrank back.

Shu Ning felt sour in her heart, knowing that she must be very tired to sleep better in this environment.

What Xu Xu lives in is not her own residence, but a courtyard specially packed for filial piety. There are no kangs or beds in all the rooms.The bedding she slept on was made of several wooden planks on the floor, but several layers of soft straw mats were laid out, finely woven, and only the upper layer was an old mat.Shu Ning reached out and pinched the quilt, although it was covered with coarse cloth, it was still warm, and seeing that the floor in the room was dry, she felt a little relieved.

Xu Xu blushed slightly and whispered: "Master specially asked someone to clean it up for me. This is already very good. At least I live in a yard by myself, so I don't have to squeeze in with others." Because she is pregnant, she enjoys special benefits. Her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law live in the other two courtyards, and they all live together, but here she occupies a courtyard exclusively, which is indeed more comfortable in comparison.However, this yard is smaller and cruder than others. How could it be really comfortable in such a cold weather?

Shu Ning was worried about her body, so she said: "You can't do this, your body is not very good, and you were too tired before, living in this kind of house, and the weather is like this, how can you bear it? Also, why do I just watch Seeing a nanny taking care of you? Didn't the palace give you a few more people? Or, I'll borrow the daughter-in-law from the family. "

Xu Xu hurriedly said: "No, no, I have enough people here, and I have experienced a lot. It's not the first time I have a baby. It's okay. If you want to, just give me a few medicinal materials. Everything else is fine." No need." Although she said this, her eyes flickered between her words, obviously she didn't mean it.

Shu Ning became suspicious and wanted to ask, but Xu Xu refused to say anything, so she had to wink at Cai'er, Xu Xu's dowry girl, when the nanny came to deliver the medicine, and asked outside the house to find out.

It turned out that the confinement lady was sent to the baron's mansion last time, Xu Xu was taken care of in everything, and she was very comfortable, so she accidentally pushed aside the nanny who was assigned to her.She gave birth smoothly at first, but because she gave birth to a daughter, some people gossip, saying that the daughter-in-law sent by her natal relatives is unlucky, and turned her good brother into a little princess.Xu Xu was flustered by the gossip, this time she was pregnant, she was told by her mother-in-law, and she didn't dare to ask her natal relatives again.

Shu Ning sneered in her heart, this is probably the gossip spread by those nuns and women who were replaced because they were not capable enough and had no chance to earn face and ask for rewards.Poor Xu Xu is a coward, married into such a big mansion, and her natal parents are both out of town, so she has to be rubbed by others.Fortunately, her husband is still considerate, otherwise I don't know what will happen.However, Xu Xu has such a personality, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to make her tough.

Just as she was about to go back to the house to accompany Xu Xu, she suddenly saw someone come in and reply to Xu Xu, saying that the wife of the third master Zhartu wanted to borrow a big black woolen cloak to wear for two days.Xu Xu readily asked someone to hand over the key to someone who came to get it, and then told the woman to take care of her father's cotton clothes.Shuning saw the woman's hairstyle and her heart sank.

When she entered the room, she talked with Xu Xu again, and she brought Xu Xu's daughter in her arms.The child is a little thin, but his face is plump and unspeakably cute.Her nickname was Binbin, and it was her father who named her. It is said that Baltu dotes on this daughter very much, and when her daughter accidentally fell ill, he stayed with her all night and took care of her without getting tired.

Shuning hugged the milky little Binbin for a while, but it was a pity that the child struggled a lot, Xu Xu pursed her lips and said, "She must be hungry, when she is hungry, she struggles non-stop, but she doesn't cry, it's really interesting."

Shu Ning hurriedly handed the child to the nurse, only to see that the maid Xiu'er brought a small crystal bowl, which contained half a bowl of white paste, I don't know what it was made of.Cai'er brought a silver spoon and wanted to feed Binbin.

This bowl of spoons is a bit expensive, Shu Ning thinks of the tableware in Beizi's house, which is much better than when she was in her mother's house, but it has not yet reached this point, almost all of them are made of porcelain, which probably has something to do with Tongying's more simple living habits relation.Because the things used in Prince Jane's mansion are also so extravagant.

Seeing the bowl, Xu Xu frowned: "Why do you use this again? Didn't I say that you only need an ordinary bowl and spoon? Now it's in the funeral, so people can see it, but there's something to say."

Xiu'er hurriedly said: "Master Beizi ordered that the things used by Xiao Gege must be good. This one is also plain, so it should be fine." But Xu Xu said: "It's all the same before, but now it's not as good as before, forget it this time , put these away later, and use coarse porcelain for all tableware." After finishing speaking, she turned her head and said to Shu Ning, "Sister, don't take offense, you have to be careful in everything now."

Shu Ning said: "Why are you being polite to me? Just do you have to be so careful? They are just following your master's wishes." Xu Xu shook her head: "Use the good things and use the bad ones later. I'm not used to it. Now that I'm living in the palace, I can still use these, but when I move out, how can I still use them? Our master is different from yours, he doesn't have that much skill..."

Shu Ning heard that something was wrong, but seeing that Xu Xu quickly changed the subject, she couldn't pursue it any further.

Back home, she talked about this to Tong Ying, Tong Ying sighed: "I know this, Prince Kang passed away, once the crown prince takes the throne, it will not be good for them older brothers who have become family members again." If you continue to live in the palace, at least you will have to live with a partition. As Baltu mentioned, most of them will move out, but I don’t know when.” He laughed at himself: “It’s the same in our palace, but now I’m moving out in advance. Just move out."

Shu Ning thought about it, and asked: "Baltu Beizi is equal to your title, why does Cousin Xu Xu mention that they don't seem to be very rich in money?"

Tong Ying only knows a general idea about this matter: "Maybe it has something to do with their family's rules. This is a family matter, so you should not ask about it."

Shu Ning nodded, and mentioned to him that in a few days after Prince Kang's funeral, most people in the palace will go, only a few sick female relatives and Xu Xu will stay, so she wants to stay with Xu Xu for two days.

Tong Ying thought for a while, and said: "It's not impossible, just as Baltu mentioned that there was no one to take care of the mansion that day, and I wanted to ask my wife's natal family to send someone to take care of it. It would be great if you were willing to go, but I still have to ask the clan The government and the elders. After all, we should also attend the funeral."

Things went well. A lady of the Duke offered to take care of the sick female relatives in Prince Kang's mansion during the days of the funeral. She and a side Fujin of Prince Kang were cousins.Shuning's application was also quickly approved.

She and the lady of the state lived together in a small courtyard, and each lived in a room. Although there was no heated kang, there were still beds.The two get along fairly well.The other party was more than 50 years old, she was a widow, a master who ate vegetarian food and recited Buddhism, and was considered highly respected among the clan women.Shuning made an appointment with her to take care of Xu Xu for half a day, and then to take care of the other two female relatives for half a day. Because she was young, she would do all the tiring work by herself.

Shuning brought Zhou Chang's family along with Dongqing and Sandalwood when she came this time, and specially left the former by Xuxu's side to take care of her.After confirming that Xuxu is only a little weaker and nothing serious, I feel relieved, but I can't take it lightly right now.

It is not the first time for her to take care of pregnant women and patients, so she is quite handy.In the evening, seeing that it was getting late, she took sandalwood and went with a little maid to the residence of an old Fujin, intending to replace the lady of the state.

When passing by a courtyard, she vaguely saw a woman standing under a big tree in front of her, and she looked familiar.It's just that the other party is dressed in black, but his complexion is extremely white, which looks a little weird.The little girl leading the way took a few deep breaths, stopped, and asked cautiously, "Who is in front?"

The woman turned her head and stared blankly.Shuning was stunned for a moment.A maid suddenly appeared from nowhere and hurriedly dragged the woman back into the yard.Shu Ning hurried up two steps, and asked, "Is that Big Sister Su?"

(I can’t do it anymore. I’ve taken medicine and my head is dizzy. Forgive me. I’ll post more and more tomorrow...)
(End of this chapter)