Mountains and rivers fall into red

Chapter 42 Fragrant Ink (4)
At the end of March, the sun was warm and warm, and there were no women who were female celebrities with shoe soles outside the alley, and the whole alley was deserted.Ni Xiu'e's left eyelid twitched, feeling that something was going on.She doesn't want to go out these days, and lives her life cautiously.

She saw Xiuxiu and the fourth prince walking side by side on the stone road, and the fourth prince looked down at Xiuxiu from time to time with affection in his eyes.Xiuxiu changed into an apricot red skirt, which was a bit old-fashioned, but the tailoring was extremely elegant.It was Cao Guizhi's favorite dress, for which she walked out of the alley wearing it on purpose, and everyone stared at her.

The fourth prince has an extraordinary bearing and a docile personality. As soon as he appeared, he won the favor of Cao Guizhi.Now she let Xiuxiu put on her beloved clothes, clearly thinking that the fourth prince has taken a fancy to Xiuxiu, so she can climb up to the royal family!

"Child Tianji, you only said that Xiuxiu was not selected by the third prince, why didn't you mention that there is a fourth prince? How could there be so many princes and grandchildren? It seems that Xiuxiu went to Jiangling, Shen Buyu really has nothing to do." She said Said to himself.

Xiuxiu and the fourth prince passed by Chu's house, and there was a faint fragrance in the air.They bowed their heads and whispered, but Ni Xiu'e couldn't hear them clearly. Looking at their backs that were drifting away, she couldn't help feeling a trace of jealousy in her heart.

I can't help but think of Xiuxiu when he was a child, at this time, he often followed Tianji and his three sisters to go up the mountain to chop firewood and pick mushrooms, making him covered in grass mud.It's not like it is now, with beads hanging down and a shy expression.

Thinking of this, her scalp felt aching, so she rubbed it and comforted herself: "Hmph, what's so great about the prince? My Tianji family is not bad! If I hadn't obstructed him in every possible way, Xiuxiu would have been the daughter-in-law of the Chu family long ago. "

The fourth prince lives in Beishanji, he is simple and low-key, except for Ni Xiu'e and others, no one knows that this is the fourth prince of the current Liang Dynasty.Ni Xiu'e didn't like him appearing in the alley every day, she hoped that he would leave.

This time, Xiuxiu sent him back to Pishanji.

Ni Xiu'e looked at the sky, and deliberately swept the floor outside the door. After Xiuxiu finished delivering Xiao Hao, she appeared slowly with her head down, and called her back.

"The fourth prince has returned to Pishanji?" Ni Xiu'e asked knowingly.

Xiuxiu collected his mind and nodded.Her complexion is still very bad, without half the brilliance of the past.

Ni Xiu'e asked again with concern: "Seeing that you are full of worries, does His Royal Highness want to take you back to Jiangling?"

"No matter what, I won't leave." Xiuxiu replied.

"Then when will he leave?"

"He's going back soon." Xiuxiu lowered her head, her voice getting lower and lower.

Ni Xiu'e got a little angry, and said: "Then let him go! This is not Jiangling, where lonely men and widows live together, and others will gossip. Your mother welcomes you very much, she wishes the Fourth Prince would come to see you every day."

Xiuxiu agreed docilely, with some helplessness in his brows.Ni Xiu'e didn't know how to remind Xiuxiu, she vaguely felt that the child was avoiding something, and couldn't pinpoint her thoughts.After Xiuxiu left, she complained fiercely to herself.

"What does this kid like to do? That's Shen Buyu's business. What does it have to do with me? Ni Xiu'e, Ni Xiu'e, don't meddle in other people's business. It's been 17 years, isn't it enough?"

The next day, the fourth prince was still missing, but a familiar face appeared in the alley.

At that time, Ni Xiu'e had just stepped out of the threshold, and when she saw outsiders approaching, she subconsciously turned around to avoid them.The man passed by in a hurry, but Ni Xiu'e quickly recognized him—Shen Buyu's personal butler, Uncle Fu.

Uncle Fu's hair turned gray, his footsteps were still vigorous, and his eyes were murderous.Ni Xiu'e closed the door inside, panicking in her heart.

"God, Uncle Fu must be going back. Let them go, let them go." She closed her eyes and kept praying.

The alley was so quiet that Ni Xiu'e could hear her own heartbeat in a trance.In my memory, the fast-talking woman was struggling in the Yeying Pond, only her shaking hand was visible on the huge lotus leaf.Uncle Fu grinned grimly, and thrust the thick wooden stick into the water.Ni Xiu'e hid in the dark, watching helplessly as the hand finally sank...

She shivered, but there was a layer of sweat on her forehead.

Finally, footsteps sounded from the depths of the alley, as if stepping on Ni Xiu'e's heart.The sound of footsteps disappeared, she listened attentively, and there was a faint sound of horseshoes outside the alley, which gradually faded away.

Only then did she have the courage to open the door, quietly came to Xiuxiu's house, and listened to the movement inside through the tiled wall.

Sure enough, Cao Guizhi's sharp voice came: "Are you going back or not? Master Xiang sent someone here!"

"Mother, don't force me, I don't want to go back!" Xiuxiu spoke with a little pleading.

"You don't want me to live on purpose, do you? If Xiangye gets angry, we will starve to death and freeze to death, do you hear?"

"We have hands and feet, we support ourselves. Mother, I can support you, don't let me go!"

"I beat you to death!"

Then there was a crackling sound, and Cao Guizhi started beating his daughter again.

Ni Xiu'e couldn't bear the numbness of her scalp, quietly went back to her home, and sat there for a long time.That night, she dreamed of the dead Mr. Tao again.

Early in the morning, the left eyelid twitched again.Ni Xiu'e packed her bags and was going to visit her grandson at her eldest daughter's house.The matter of Xiuxiu tormented her mind like silk, and she was extremely chaotic.

The painted brass bells on the lintels were tinkling.Who's coming?Could it be Hugh?Probably crying to her.

She bit the bullet and went to open the door.

A bluish-white figure was reflected at the door, and the shadow of the sun was hidden on that person's face, making him look particularly chilling.Those astonishingly deep eyes, like ice blades, pierced straight into the bottom of her heart.

"Nurse, you are having a good time!"

Most of Ni Xiu'e's soul was out of her shell, she knelt down on her knees involuntarily, and shouted tremblingly: "Master..."

With this call, a piece of smokey past was pulled out.

For 17 years, Ni Xiu'e has always hoped that the master has forgotten that she is still a nanny, so that she can live her quiet life.

Unexpectedly, the master suddenly appeared.

叁

17 years ago.

After noon, Ni Xiu'e walked into Liu Rulan's yard alone.

The young master in the swaddle was half a year old, and was lying in the cradle, babbling and crying, Liu Rulan and the servant Tao Ma were busy making a mess.Liu Rulan rocked the cradle while coaxing her son, when she saw Ni Xiu'e coming in, she smiled and said, "Nurse, look, as soon as you went out, Xin Yang started crying, I'm afraid I will only recognize you from now on."

Ni Xiu'e chuckled, carried the child over, and deftly opened the front of her front. The child stopped crying immediately in her arms and sucked sweetly.

The room was very quiet, Liu Rulan rested her chin with one hand and closed her eyes, her black hair winding down like flowing water.The sky is just right, and the rose branches outside the window are swaying with the wind, sending fragrance through the carved screen window.

Ni Xiu'e looked at her intently, and murmured in her heart: I heard that the second lady's father is in a high position, and the master is still his student.Although the master is the new prime minister, the second wife is considered a concubine, right?If the master marries three and four again, wouldn't she feel wronged?

The child was fast asleep in her arms.A very low cough sounded, and when she looked up, the servant Tao Ma secretly gestured at her.Ni Xiu'e understood, glanced at Liu Rulan, put the child gently in the cradle, and the two of them quietly closed the door and walked out.

As soon as she left the house, Mama Tao took Ni Xiu'e's hand enthusiastically, and said, "The clothes that I asked someone to make have been delivered, and they are placed at my house. Let's go and have a look together."

Ni Xiu'e was very happy and even said yes.In Shen's residence, since Tao Ma was serving Liu Rulan, Ni Xiu'e was the closest to her, and the two of them were naturally the most familiar.Ni Xiu'e is also a person who abides by the rules, except for Liu Rulan's courtyard and the west courtyard where Tao Mama lives, she hardly goes to other places, and she does not get close to other servants in Shen's residence.

On the bank of the lotus pond in front, there was a pale pink figure flickering there, and the two of them involuntarily slowed down.The man came over gracefully and smiled at them very sweetly.That smile came out frivolously from the tip of his eyes, tinged with indescribable charm.

Tao Ma snorted disdainfully, and gave Ni Xiu'e a hand: "Let's go, ignore her."

Ni Xiu'e couldn't help but looked back and asked curiously, "Who is this?"

"It's the Cao Guizhi I told you about. He doesn't do business at a young age, but swings around like a coquette every day. Hmph, the sparrow wants to become a phoenix."

"But she's not bad looking, her eyes are watery."

"Just those eyes are very seductive, do you know who they look like?"

"Like who?"

"Concubine Rong." Tao Ma suddenly covered her mouth and let out a snort.

Ni Xiu'e suddenly realized, and looked back unconsciously, the pink had disappeared.Since entering the mansion, this was the first time she had seen Cao Guizhi, but she had heard about her more than once from Mother Tao.Cao Guizhi used to be the personal maid of Concubine Rong, but after Concubine Rong entered the palace, she stayed in the Shen family.Because of Concubine Rong's face, the members of the Shen family did not use her as a servant girl, so she just walked around the Shen residence at will, doing nothing all day long.

After passing the stone path, the two of them came to the artisan workshop in the West Courtyard.Because Tao's mother was married and had a child, Shen's residence set up a small thatched hut for the couple to live in alone.

Mama Tao's husband, Mr. Tao, was playing with their one-year-old son. Seeing Ni Xiu'e and the others come in, he showed a simple and honest smile.

Mr. Tao is a mason in Shen's residence. He occasionally does odd jobs, understands a little bit of culture, and is gentle, so everyone in the house calls him "Mr. Tao".Ni Xiu'e joked with him once and said: "Mr. Tao, you are knowledgeable, why don't you give your son a name?" My daughter is going crazy, and I have to give birth to a daughter before naming my son."

Ni Xiu'e patted the child's head.After being away from home for a few months, Tianji should have gone to work in the fields with his three older sisters.She picked up the finished children's clothes and admired them, thinking to herself: At the end of this year, she will quit her job as a nanny no matter what, and go home to see her son.

Tao Ma was chattering non-stop beside her.She is very enthusiastic and outspoken. Now talking about the second wife with Ni Xiu'e, she casually said: "Master has a prosperous career in official affairs, and he has made a fortune. Now that he is the prime minister, you will be honored when you go back to your hometown."

The two laughed.Ni Xiu'e felt complacent when she thought of the envious eyes of her neighbors and villagers when she left Mengmata County, so she said, "Concubine Rong is a distant cousin of the master's family, and she gave birth to a little prince. The Prime Minister's House has such a relationship, which is safe and secure. Glorious again."

"You don't understand." Tao Ma glanced outside mysteriously, and whispered, "Concubine Rong's family is in decline, and she lives under the Shen family's dependents. She originally wanted to betrothed to the master, but the master just sent her in In the palace, Concubine Rong is just a stepping stone. Besides, once entering the palace as deep as the sea, which concubine can enjoy the exclusive favor? It is unreliable. It is most practical to tie the leg of the father-in-law."

When Tao Ma said this, Ni Xiu'e couldn't help but said: "The father-in-law you mentioned, are you referring to the second wife's father?"

"That's right. Back then, the current emperor was still the King of Yueyang, the master was only the famous Cao Shi, and the father of the second wife was a high-ranking official in the previous court. Think about it, there are many officials with high positions in Jiangling who are single. The master has long been married, and the second wife's The father has taken a fancy to the master, and he must have known it well by submitting his daughter to marry him. Now that the master has become the prime minister of the court, it can only be said that his father-in-law has a poisonous vision and is accurate in his predictions."

Tao Ma said it clearly, and Ni Xiu'e nodded her head.

Tao Ma gave a thumbs up again and said, "Second Madam is a good person and gave birth to a son, Eldest Madam has nothing to say. Just wait, sooner or later the Second Madam will be the head of the family."

Ni Xiu'e suddenly realized, and said with a smile: "Mama Tao, you know too much, you'd better not say a few words outside, so as not to get into trouble."

Tao Ma smiled disapprovingly: "In the Shen family, I and Sister Liu from the kitchen are the oldest and know the most. I'll just tell you, you don't want to say it."

Ni Xiu'e stayed at Mama Tao's house for a while, and her milk was full again. The young master was afraid that he was going to wake up, so he got up and said goodbye first.

The blush appeared by Yeying Pool again, and Cao Guizhi seemed to be waiting for her specially.

Ni Xiu'e thought to herself: This Cao Guizhi is pretty, but he doesn't know what's on his mind every day.

Cao Guizhi smiled at her from afar.Ni Xiu'e was taken aback for a moment, and returned the gift with a smile.Cao Guizhi walked over.

She bowed her knees and saluted Ni Xiu'e, her voice was clear and soft: "Nurse, Guizhi is being polite here."

Ni Xiu'e saw that although she was young, she was well-mannered, not as arrogant and conceited as others said, so she replied: "Miss Cao is beautiful and good-looking, she is really lovely. .”

The words made Cao Guizhi's face bloom like a peach blossom, and said sweetly: "What did the nanny say? There is something Guizhi doesn't understand, and I still want to ask you."

Ni Xiu'e interjected: "Miss Cao is so smart, what else do you need to ask for advice?"

Seeing that there was no one around, Cao Guizhi lowered his voice and said, "Nurse, you are a good person. Guizhi has something to ask. Guizhi will be waiting for you in the opposite Lanting at this time tomorrow. Please come over here, just a few words."

Ni Xiu'e froze for a moment, not knowing whether to agree or not.She was just being polite just now, but Cao Guizhi took it seriously.She and Cao Guizhi have never had any contact, and today they just meet and nod. I don't know what kind of medicine she sells in the gourd.

But seeing Cao Guizhi look at her pitifully with a pair of bright eyes, her heart was suddenly softened, so she nodded in agreement.Cao Guizhi was overjoyed, bowed deeply, and left gracefully.

Ni Xiu'e looked at her leaving Yuying, couldn't help shaking her head and sighing, bowed her head and walked away.

When Ni Xiu'e arrived at Lanting the next day, Cao Guizhi had already been waiting there.

It was lunch break time, the mansion was quiet, only the teals in the pool were flapping their wings and playing on the water surface.The Orchid Pavilion is surrounded by towering trees, but it is a good place to have a private conversation.

Just as Ni Xiu'e was about to ask a question with a smile, Cao Guizhi suddenly knelt down towards her.Ni Xiu'e's face changed drastically, she hurriedly supported her, and said repeatedly: "Miss Cao, what's the matter? Isn't this killing my life? If you have anything to say, just say it."

Cao Guizhi's eyes were red, and he choked with sobs: "I just want to ask the nanny one thing. If the nanny agrees to Guizhi, Guizhi will definitely reciprocate the great kindness."

Seeing her like this, Ni Xiu'e couldn't say much, so she could only respond: "Tell me something first, and I will promise you."

Cao Guizhi took out a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve pocket and handed it to her.Ni Xiu'e took it, poured out a pill from it, smelled it, and immediately knew what it was.

In the south, it is called "Soul Fragrance Powder". If a woman takes it before intercourse, she will not be able to conceive.If taken for a long time, it will lead to lifelong infertility.This kind of medicine is generally used with caution by others, and Ni Xiu'e knew it, but how could it be in Cao Guizhi's hands?Ni Xiu'e looked at her suspiciously.

With tears in his eyes, Cao Guizhi said softly, "Guizhi just wanted to ask nurse if she has any antidote?"

Ni Xiu'e asked seriously: "What's going on? Could it be yours?"

Cao Guizhi burst into tears and murmured, his pitiful look made everyone's heart skip a beat: "He makes me eat this every time, I don't want to eat it, I just want to give him a baby."

Ni Xiu'e understood it completely, seeing her unable to kneel for a long time, she couldn't help feeling pity.

If this goes on like this, this girl might be ruined.Besides, it is common for officials and eunuchs to marry three wives and four concubines nowadays.This Cao Guizhi is also pitiful, if she has a child, the master will not treat her badly, maybe she will also have a good home.Anyway, since I'm leaving at the end of the year, I might as well find a favor, and the rest will depend on her own luck.

Thinking of this, she sighed, helped Cao Guizhi up, and told her exactly how to cure the medicine.Cao Guizhi was overjoyed, thanked him again and again and left.

After that, every time Ni Xiu'e passed Yeying Pond, she never met Cao Guizhi's pink figure again.For Ni Xiu'e, a foreigner from a remote village, she loves to inquire about anecdotes about officials and officials, but at the same time scrupulously abides by the rules here.She was a little uneasy and regretful, and vowed not to care about such nosy matters in the future.

Three months later.

This day Shen Buyu entered Liu Rulan's room.After teasing the young master a few times, he walked to the sandalwood round table in the house and sat down.Liu Rulan went over to pour tea in person, Shen Buyu took a sip and said, "I'll discuss something with you."

Ni Xiu'e was hugging the fed young master, because the room was spacious, Shen Buyu's voice echoed faintly.

At that time, Shen Buyu was just over [-] years old, tall and strong, with a deep and majestic voice, and confident in giving orders.Ni Xiu'e was afraid when she saw the master, and she didn't even dare to raise her head.

Liu Rulan smiled gently and said, "What does the master want to say to my concubine?"

"When Concubine Rong was in the Shen family, she brought a maid from her natal family. Now that Concubine Rong has been in the palace for several years, this maid is still in the Shen family. How about her. This maid is already eighteen or nineteen years old, and if she stays in Shen's house for too long, troubles will inevitably happen."

"My concubine understands what the master means. Do you want to settle this maid's lifelong matter?"

Liu Rulan said with a smile, and turned her head to tell Ni Xiu'e: "Nurse, let me hug Xinyang. Mama Tao has been ill for three days, you go to the west courtyard to see her."

This meant trying to drive Ni Xiu'e away.Ni Xiu'e was very sensible, put down the child, and went out lightly.

When we arrived at the west courtyard, before we entered the hut, we heard Mother Tao scolding her husband, and Sister Liu, who was lighting the fire in the kitchen, was persuading him.

It turned out that Mr. Tao ran into Cao Guizhi today, helped her up, and said a few words to her.

Mr. Tao seemed to have done something wrong, his face flushed red, and he stammered to explain: "I also accidentally bumped into her. She suddenly shouted dizzy in front of me, and she fell limply. There was no one else, I had no choice but to help her up, and seeing her crying pitifully, I said a few words of comfort."

Mother Tao refused to let go, and said angrily: "You help her up and leave, how can there be so much nonsense? She is just a vixen, whoever pesters her will be in trouble!"

Mr. Tao stopped explaining, and went about his work in a muffled voice.Sister Liu persuaded: "Mr. Tao is an honest man, so don't mention him. But it's a big deal, don't hurt the harmony between your husband and wife."

Ni Xiu'e also responded: "It's no big deal to talk. Tao Mama, you are not in good health, and you are angry, but you are not good for yourself."

Under their persuasion, Mother Tao calmed down and lay down on the bed to rest.

Ni Xiu'e and Sister Liu came out together, and Sister Liu carried a bundle of dry firewood on her back, and warmly greeted Ni Xiu'e, "I wanted to invite you to the kitchen to talk, but Mama Tao delayed the time. Don't take this kind of thing to heart, Mr. Tao is an honest man." To be honest, Cao Guizhi was lucky to meet him, and if it were someone else, he would not pay attention to him, so as not to cause trouble."

Hearing from Tao Mama, Sister Liu was already 20 years old, and she fell in love with the master's personal butler, Uncle Fu, and the people around the second wife, she naturally had something to curry favor with.Ni Xiu'e's habit of inquiring was repeated, and she said with a smile, "Cao Guizhi was not born as a maid, why do you hate her?"

Sure enough, Sister Liu replied flatteringly: "I'm too lazy to talk to her, I'm a vixen and pesters the master all day long."

(End of this chapter)