Biography of Concubine Shujia

Chapter 11

In March, spring flowers are in full bloom. After trying several spices, Shi Niang fell in love with Xiangxiang Pharmacy out of control.Every time she pestered Yugui to learn a new prescription, she would lead her maid to work around the house, doing nothing but studying medicine, mixing fragrances and pharmaceuticals all day long.

Mrs. Li is not allowed to go out of her courtyard during the confinement period; Mrs. Chen is busy preparing for the old lady's birthday banquet in April, so she can't take care of bringing Ten Niang by her side to teach her about everything. Since I went to find her, I stopped asking about Shi Niang's life.Therefore, Shi Niang's life during this period is the most relaxed period since the death of her mother, Mrs. Lu.

Not long after the happy days, Mrs. Chen visited the door.In the afternoon, before it was time for Shi Niang to find Yugui to study, Mrs. Chen brought her maid to talk to Shi Niang.Shi Niang hurriedly ordered the servant girl to make tea and serve snacks. Mrs. Chen sat in the main hall of Shi Niang Huanhuayuan without speaking, just watching Shi Niang busy.When Shi Niang served refreshments to Mrs. Chen, she asked Shi Niang to take a seat.

Seeing Chen's serious expression, Shiniang sat in her seat and sipped tea without making a sound.Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Mrs. Chen drinking tea with cakes, his face softened a little, and he felt relieved.Mrs. Chen only picked up the rose cake and ate a few mouthfuls, and immediately knew that this young lady is a successful girl in her heart, but she is too young to have a mother. There are many things that I have to mention a little bit more. The little girl is a little smart and knows how to please. aunt.

The rose cake melted in the mouth, with a lingering fragrance in the mouth. Seeing Shi Niang's filial piety, Mrs. Chen would not embarrass a child too much.Wiping the powder from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief, he took a sip of the tea from Yugui's hand and put down the tea bowl.When she spoke again, her tone was different from the tone she had just let Shi Niang sit down. Not to mention Yugui, a confidant girl who has been with Chen Shi all the year round, even Shi Niang could tell that Chen Shi would not blame her.

I only heard Mrs. Chen say unhurriedly: "A few days ago, the master had discussed with me that he wanted you to learn some poems and books from the daughter's family with the husband at home, and I agreed. It's just that I think, this matter Son, one is that it is difficult to find a new husband after the original husband resigned, and you have to slowly find a female teacher with both knowledge and education to teach you how to read and write; Not too good, I just want you to recuperate your body first, take it easy on the way, and don’t be in a hurry to learn. I’ve been busy preparing for the old lady’s birthday banquet recently, so I don’t have time to teach you .How did I hear that you just play with flowers and grass in the garden with your little maid all day long?"

Mrs. Chen said a few words, then picked up the teacup and drank the green tea.

Ten Niang looked up at Yugui, and seeing Yugui's calm face, she felt relieved, and she just stepped forward to salute, "I'm sorry, mother, I'm so tired, my father is worried about finding a famous teacher for my daughter. Seeing the beautiful spring, the daughter took The maid picked some flowers and made some food spices. She was thinking about her grandmother’s birthday, and the daughter had nothing to give, so she presented some cakes she made herself, not wanting to disturb the mother, and hoped that the mother would cover up for her daughter more.” Ten Many thoughts flashed through my mother's mind, and she answered calmly and calmly.

Seeing Shi Niang's calm look, Mrs. Chen couldn't help but admire her in her heart. She responded well, but after all, she is young and not thorough enough in doing things.

She didn't try to expose Shi Niang's words, she just said, "I was doing my filial piety for your grandmother, but the big girl also needs to know the power of 'people's words are awesome'. Fortunately, I know, otherwise I'm afraid that the naughty girl of Sifang will have a bad reputation. The whole family knows the rumors. In a family like ours, it is good for the girls to wash their hands and make soup, and there is no need to specialize in cooking. That is the job of the servant cooks. Don’t worry about eating a little bit. You must know that there is a limit to everything, too much is too late, that’s the reason. Girl, think about what I said carefully, and see if it’s the reason.”

After talking, Mrs. Chen didn't mention the little lie that Shi Niang told, but followed the excuse Shi Niang made and made Shi Niang feel ashamed.

"What mother said is, thank you mother for covering up for Shi Niang. Shi Niang didn't think of these things before. Thank you mother for reminding me."

Shi Niang was originally admiring Chen's ability, but now she is reminded by Chen, and she also wakes up.Indeed, too much is too much.

He was thinking of living a happy life, but he forgot that this mansion was never peaceful.Without Li Shi, there will be others.Only by being careful can you live a good life.

"Shi Niang is a sensible person, and I won't say much about it. Just one point, after the husband comes home, don't be naughty again, and don't let others laugh at our fourth room. This time, the female gentleman came out of the palace. Lady officer, it took a lot of effort for your grandmother and uncle to invite her to come to our house to give lectures to your sisters. Follow the sisters and learn the rules of learning from the master. Yinshi will still practice with me in the future, and you don’t have to go to my place at other times, follow It is important for you to study, sir. As for Yugui, I will come to your yard to look for you every afternoon, which will save you the trouble of going back and forth."

Chen also explained the importance of Shi Niang's affairs in detail, and she must make Shi Niang clearly realize that she always represents Sifang's identity.

Shi Niang nodded in agreement, and when Chen Shi got up, she took her maid to send Chen Shi back to her own yard respectfully.When Chen Shi was sent away, he learned from Yugui who stayed behind and didn't mention it.

Because Yugui stayed in Huanhuayuan early, today's class ended early.Ten Niang looked at the hourglass on the side. It was not until Youshi, thinking that Jiu Niang moved back to the courtyard of the third room because the third lady returned home. The old lady is now living alone, very lonely, so she took the maid to go to Shangfangyun first. Ran courtyard.

It was still early when Shi Niang arrived at Yunran Courtyard, and she didn't need the maid to inform her, so she acted like a baby on the old lady.Because she is the youngest girl in the family and lost her mother when she was young, the old lady loves her very much. Since Nanshan returned to the mansion, Ten Niang is used to honoring the old lady. After a few months, the old lady also dotes on her. Also act like a spoiled child from time to time.The old lady patted Shi Niang on the head, and said with a smile, "This monkey, get off your grandmother quickly. My old bones can't stand you shaking like this."

Here, Shi Niang climbed along the pole, "Grandmother is not old. Me, even a little monkey can't escape from the palm of the queen mother, grandmother." Liu Niang came out with a maid from the living room.

Holding a small ebony box in her hand, Liu Niang walked forward to greet her grandmother, while teasing Ten Niang, "Grandma, do you see if this is the small box you mentioned? Sister Manao and I found it in the small study room in Xici. Ten Niang Mother is here too? I thought the little monkey was being mischievous somewhere."

Shi Niang blushed with embarrassment, and was so annoyed for a while, "Sixth Sister is used to bullying people, and grandma also bullies Shi Niang, and she didn't tell Shi Niang that the sisters were there."

"You little monkey, you beat yourself up instead. Get up quickly, your sixth sister has already seen your jokes, and after a while, your seventh sister, eighth sister, and ninth sister will see it, but they are not as easy-talking as your sixth sister." The old lady patted aside. Ten Niangs clutching a handkerchief.

When Shi Niang heard the old lady's words, she seemed to think of the scene of being teased by the sisters, and immediately jumped away from the old lady, looking frightened.Her small appearance successfully made the old lady and Liu Niang laugh.Ten Niang became angry from embarrassment, "Don't laugh, don't laugh."

"Okay, grandma doesn't laugh, don't laugh at our tenth mother. Hey, you don't know how your child grows up, it's so painful." The old lady said with a smile, and the maids and women around her were also working hard. Compliment "That's Miss Ten, whom you dote on, Madam, she won't be any cuter if you dote on her."

Holding the small box, Liu Niang looked up at Shi Niang, and saw the eyes under Shi Niang's angry appearance, those bright eyes that smiled but didn't reach the bottom of the eyes.Those eyes found his peeping, and they didn't avoid it, they even raised it provocatively.Liu Niang returned Shi Niang's gentle and tolerant eyes with a half-smile.

For a while, Shi Niang couldn't figure out what the meaning of the Sixth Sister, who had passed the general election and was left to be re-elected three years later.Speaking of the draft, Shi Niang only vaguely knew that it was held once every three years and was sponsored by the Ministry of Household Affairs. Since the current emperor ascended the throne, it has only been held twice in ten years.Liu Niang passed the general election last year, but firstly she did not register her name, and secondly, she did not have a will to confer a marriage, so she was not allowed to marry on her own, and had to wait for the next election to be decided by the emperor.

Shi Niang is still thinking about the few words about the draft that Mrs. Chen mentioned to her, while Liu Niang is already holding a small box and waiting for the old lady to speak.The old lady opened the box in Liuniang's hand, and saw several sets of the Four Treasures of the Study in the small box, and the brushes and inks were rare and top quality.The lake brush is paired with Hui ink Duan inkstone rice paper, which makes people feel elegant and indifferent.

The old lady touched these four sets of four treasures of the study, and said to Liu Niang and Shi Niang, "'The bottom of the wrist contains fragrant books from the past to the present, and the fine end shows the Spring and Autumn Period'. The lake pen and other four treasures of the study were originally given to me by your grandfather. You were not willing to use it, so you stayed. The three of you sisters are about to go to school with your husband, so let’s go to each other. Don’t let me and your grandfather down. "

Liu Niang hurriedly pulled Shi Niang to thank her, and said in her mouth, "'Given by the elders, I dare not say goodbye'. Grandma bestowed on our sisters the writing and ink that my grandfather gave you, and has high hopes for us. I can't promise anything else, but I promise our sisters Be sure to study hard so that you will not fall into the prestige of your grandfather Yunqiwei." Shi Niang replied behind Liu Niang, "Study hard so that you will not fall into the prestige of your grandfather and live up to your grandmother's expectations."

Seeing Liuniang and Tenniang getting close, the old lady was very happy, so she hurriedly pulled the two of them to come forward to choose the ink, and then ordered the maid to call Ba Niang to come and choose.Compared with Ba Niang, the old lady is more optimistic about Liu Niang and Shi Niang.Liu Niang is calm and steady, and Shi Niang is good at strategy, smart and courageous. If the two sisters watch and help each other, they might not be able to fight a bloody way in the deep palace.

Ba Niang is not bad, but Ba Niang is not as calm as Liu Niang, not as courageous as Shi Niang, and Ba Niang was taught to be too fussy by the big lady in charge, only the color is what Liu Niang and Shi Niang can't match.Therefore, the Ba Niang family will not give up easily, but it is not a candidate for key training. As for her future, it depends on her own fortune.

Shi Niang blinked, and came to her senses when Liu Niang pulled her.Chen did not say that there were only three of them studying with her husband. She always thought that except Wuniang who was about to marry, all the elder sisters from Liuniang would study together.Therefore, when the old lady just said that she would reward the three of them for literature and ink, she was stunned for a moment.

Ten Niang's mind was spinning quickly: the three of them, that is, the sixth sister and herself, and the eighth sister who was called by the old lady, have the right to learn from the husband.The fifth sister is ready to marry, the ninth sister is a concubine, wait, seventh sister?It stands to reason that the highest birth among the girls is actually Qiniang, the daughter of a fourth-rank official in the imperial court. Compared with Ba Niang, the first-rank daughter of a noble family who is the fifth-rank, Qiniang can be said to be the most noble and most loved by her parents in the whole mansion. girl.

Why doesn't Qiniang, who is the prostitute's daughter, need to learn to read and write with her husband?Is it because the grandmother has other arrangements or the third uncle has other plans.

When Shi Niang vaguely felt that she was about to touch the edge of the truth, Liu Niang quietly pushed her and asked in a low voice, "Sister Shi, why have you been distracted today? Be careful grandma asks you."

(End of this chapter)