in spring

Chapter 264
Chunying tightened Manru's wrist all the way, and dragged her to the second wife's director's yard.The more Manru thought about it, the more frightened she became, and she kept struggling and begging: "Good sister, good girl... Please forgive me... If our young master and grandma know, how can I survive? Good girl, please... "

Chunying was unmoved: "Don't be afraid, I really mean it. Didn't you want to save your mother? I'm a girl, but I have some face because of our old lady's praise. In fact, I'm still a girl." Unlike you, you will be the second young master's aunt in the future. You are half a master, you have more face than me, and your words have more weight. If you are worried that the second lady will stop you, don't worry, I will ask someone to inquire Now, when she's not here, go and report to our wife. Don't make too much money, be careful not to sprain your hand, or bump into it, the second young master will feel distressed when he sees it!"

Manru was afraid and anxious, but she couldn't let go.She has been serving in the inner courtyard, and she has never done any heavy work at all. Even if she was a little strong when she was a child, she has become slender and weak now.And Chunying lived in Zhuangshang for half a year before, and practiced massage to gain strength, plus she often walks around on weekdays, her body is very good, one hand firmly clamped Manru's wrist, no matter how hard she struggled Can't get away.When she came to a place where people were coming and going, Man Ru looked over curiously when she saw everyone, for fear that they would become suspicious, so she didn't dare to struggle anymore, but kept begging in a low voice.Chunying just smiled and didn't let go.

Finally arrived at the destination, Chunying walked into the gate of the courtyard, and saw a few figures in the room from a distance, and the mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law who were waiting for an answer in the courtyard were almost gone. Looking at the time, it should be lunch time soon. The second young lady never eats in this courtyard, so she went to the porch and called a woman who came over from the East Mansion: "Madam, can you be free now? Who else is in the house?"

The mother-in-law hurriedly replied: "My wife is in the back room, and there are two daughter-in-laws who are answering. When they leave, it's time to pass the meal. The two girls, Fengming and Qingluan, are waiting in the room. Miss is there too."

Chunying pondered for a while, then smiled and said: "Thank you mom, when the two ladies leave, you can pass me a message for me, I have something to report to my wife in private."

The woman also smiled and said: "Don't worry, girl, I understand." But she didn't go to see Manru at all, but went back to wait outside the house honestly, until the second lady Yijun and the third lady Xijun brought a group of maids The son left before entering the house.

Chunying firmly held Manru's hand, standing in the corner, she could feel Manru's body trembling slightly when the second lady came out.The corners of her mouth curled up, and she felt very refreshed. Seeing the old woman came out to wave to her again, she hurriedly dragged Man Ru into the house.

Seeing her pulling someone over, Zhuo was a little surprised: "Didn't you go back to your house? Is there something important that can't wait until night?"

Chunying saluted first, then pointed at Manru and said with a smile: "Madam, this is Miss Cui from the second young master's house. She used to live in the same yard as me when I was a child, but we haven't seen each other these years. A few days ago, because her mother entered The mansion came to see her, and there was a conflict with Aunt Hua, her mother was driven to wash the toilet, she cried and begged to come to the servant, but the servant was really in a difficult situation, so I had to ask the wife for instructions." After saying that, he walked forward. , In Zhuo's ear, tell the secrets that Manru heard one by one.

Zhuo's expression changed upon hearing this, and he gritted his teeth and said a few words: "So that's how it is!" Then he looked at Manru again.

Ever since Manru saw Li, she was at a loss and didn't know what to do.While secretly resenting that Chunying's words meant to arrange herself, she was also worried that the girls present would spread the news about her visit today, so she could only kneel on the ground and kowtow.

As soon as Chunying finished speaking, she shut up and stood aside without interrupting.Zhuo Shi looked at Man Ru, then looked up at Feng Ming, who immediately took the others out knowingly, leaving only himself, Qing Luan, and two daughters-in-law brought from the East Mansion to guard the door.

Zhuo said indifferently: "When did you hear these words? Did your second young mistress mention this again afterward? In the past few days... have you mentioned that she is going out as a guest?"

Manru was worried, thinking that these were not important matters, so she hurriedly answered them one by one. Among them, it was mentioned that the second young mistress, Mrs. Liang, planned to visit her elder sister, Princess Ke, in three days, and she would take the two young ladies there. It's just that the second lady refused, and the third lady was not allowed to go, so the second young lady didn't mention any more.

Zhuo sneered, and asked about the daily life of the second young master and his wife, and even asked if the second young master and Yue's family met each other often on the first day of their marriage.

Manru answered with her mouth, but felt something was wrong in her heart. When she heard Zhuo asked the second young lady's dowry girl whether she had mentioned what the master's natal father, brothers and sisters were doing in her daily chats, she couldn't help but turn pale with fright. Shaking his head: "Second wife, I really don't know this... please forgive me..." After saying that, she fell to the ground crying.She couldn't figure it out, it was clearly just that the second young lady's brother-in-law's family was at odds with Lord Hou in the court, and she wanted to win over the East Mansion to fight against Lord Hou, why things went in a weird direction?It was a serious crime for her to spread the secrets of the second young master and his wife. If the second young lady found out that she had reported these things, wouldn't she be torn up? !

Thinking of this, Manru complained to Chunying even more, and cried: "I just ask the girl to save my mother for the sake of old love, why did the girl want to kill me?!"

"What nonsense!" Chunying glanced at her, "If you want to save your mother, I will bring you to see the second wife. How did I harm you?"

Mrs. Zhuo had already considered it, made a good idea, and asked: "Your mother will not be punished for no reason. What did she do?!"

Manru was stunned for a while, gritted her teeth, and said with a sob: "I have never seen my mother since I became the second young master. That day I begged the second young master to nod and take my mother into the mansion for a reunion. I thought that now I have some face, so I want my mother to enjoy the blessings, so I specially wrapped up the few clothes and jewelry I saved on weekdays, and asked my mother to wear them, and drink tea in a serious manner. Tell her to look at the good life I live... lest she listen to other people's rumors and think that I am suffering here... Unexpectedly, when my mother came in, she met Lord Hou outside the courtyard gate, and Lord Hou just asked out of curiosity. Who, my mother replied, and Aunt Hua saw it from behind and got angry. She didn't dare to say anything to Master Hou, but turned her back and ordered someone to find my mother's bad luck. I had to take my mother to avoid it and go to I went shopping in the garden, but she brought people to block me at the gate of the garden! My aunt is my elder, if she just scolded me, I would have no complaints, but how can I bear her scolding my mother? In a word, Chunying... the girl came over and called the lady in charge to mediate. Later... the girl next to the second lady came to persuade Aunt Hua to leave. I thought it was all right, but someone sent a message into the mansion at night, saying that my mother I was kicked out to wash the toilet..." She begged tearfully, "Second Wife, I know I'm being impolite, so I would rather kowtow in front of my aunt to apologize, and beg Second Mistress to release my mother!"

Zhuo's face was gloomy, she never expected it to be such a trivial matter, and she lost her patience: "I know about this matter, and I will mention it to the second lady later, what's the big deal?!" Called Guo Chunying: "You come back Go to the house, send someone to the school to invite the fourth young master back, and say that I have something important to discuss with him, and let him come here directly, but don't disturb the old lady."

Chunying was taken aback for a moment, but immediately thought that it was about government affairs, the Second Master was not at home, and it was inconvenient for the Second Wife to directly discuss business matters with Lord Hou, so it would be fine if the Fourth Young Master accompanied her, so she hurriedly responded, turned and left.

Manru watched Chunying leave helplessly, but the second wife ignored her. She knelt there and began to suspect that she was being tricked.

After a while, someone took her to dinner, and when she came back, the second lady, Yijun, had already turned around and was talking to the second wife. Seeing her coming, she gave her a hard look, and then said to the second wife: "Since aunt After sending a message, let’s do it like this, it’s actually not a big deal, let Mrs. Cui Chen wash the toilet for ten days, and then get out of here! I won’t have to pay her a salary after working for a full month!”

Manru was overjoyed and hurried forward to kowtow to thank her.Yijun ignored him, and respectfully sent the second wife out, then turned around and said with a nonchalant smile: "Miss Cui really stole the limelight today... I'm helping the housework now, but it's just a matter of having no job and no job. Daughter-in-law, you dare to make a fuss in front of my aunt, and you really disgrace our family! I don’t want to teach you a lesson, and I’ll wait for my brother to deal with it later!” Man Ru suddenly looked sad.

After Chunying returned to the East Mansion, she found someone to inform the fourth young master, and then ignored the matter. After the second wife came back in the evening, Feng Ming came over to say hello to her, saying that Widow Cui would go back in a few days. She left Cui Manru behind.On the second night, Feng Ming jokingly mentioned that the Second Young Master of the West Mansion had a big fuss last night, beating up the people in the house whom he usually loves, and the Second Young Mistress even punished the girl to take off her outer clothes. Wearing a small coat, with a water basin on his head, he knelt in the front yard all night.All the maids and women who came and went saw it, and even the boys who were talking back and forth peeked when they passed by.

Chunying blinked and asked softly, "Did they know?"

Feng Ming knew it well, and blinked his eyes: "Our wife is not so confused! It's just to complain twice in front of the second young lady, saying that the second young master is too unruly, and the second young lady is incapable of suppressing the people in the house, so I let you That girl begged her and made things difficult for her."

Chunying smiled: "Isn't it? It's really embarrassing for us to bring up the confusion between husband and wife, master and servant. After all, what does that have to do with us?"

Then she seemed to have forgotten about it, and she still did her own job every day, and occasionally helped Miss Fourth run errands, but she was still thinking about it. thing.

Mrs. Zhuo seemed to be alright. The fourth young master didn't change much except for being in a daze occasionally. He still came to greet his grandmother every day, practice calligraphy, and endorse books.

After another half a month, Fourth Miss Yajun suddenly invited Chunying, took out an exquisite small box, handed it to her, and said: "This is for my sister. I am young and a beginner in housekeeping. I have many If things are not done well, thanks to my sister for always reminding me..." After finishing speaking, I lowered my voice, "My sister was alert and saved me, I will never forget it in my life..."

Chunying was taken aback at first, but after listening carefully, she guessed that the troubles of Prince Ke's Mansion had been solved. I don't know what the masters of the East Mansion were thinking about?Thinking of this in her heart, she said a few words modestly, only saying that it was her duty, and she refused to accept the little master's thank you gift.

Yajun was anxious, and said with a blushing face, "I made this with my own hands. It's not worth anything, it's just a thought. If my sister doesn't accept it, she will dislike me for being rough."

Chunying had no choice but to take the box, opened it and saw a pure white silk handkerchief inside, with elegant orchids embroidered on the corners, and light green curly grass patterns on the four sides, and hurriedly praised the embroidery for a good job.Yajun just blushed and smiled.

Chunying took this thank you gift back to the house, looked at it over and over again, and sighed.Although the little girl's needlework is still a little immature, she didn't directly reward money and jewelry, but embroidered a handkerchief for herself, which is considered rare. Although it is of no use to herself, I hope she can escape from the palace of King Ke. Help the claws of others!

This incident passed without a sound, and Chunying was not even sure whether the second old lady was aware of it, but she felt that the usual work seemed to be more and more handy, and almost no one would disobey orders when they were done. , the second old lady and the second wife are often rewarded.She put away her things, and when she was free, she asked for leave and went to her second uncle's house, asking him to bring them to the family so that they could make up for it, and inquired about Hu Fei's situation along the way.It's just that the sea is vast, where is there any news?Only a member of the fleet who had just returned from Southeast Asia mentioned that he had seen them in the old port (now Palembang, Sumatra, Indonesia).

While recalling the location of the old port, Chunying guessed where Hu Fei is now, and slowly returned to Dongfu.After entering the Songyi Courtyard and returning to the room, before he could sit down and take a breath, Bai Ling came to look for her.

Bai Ling bowed his head and said: "Sister Chunying and Sister Qiuyan have been raised at home for a long time now, but their condition has not improved. There is no one to do the work in this house. My sister is very free in the sewing room now. Can you... take her Transfer over to replace me for a while?"

(End of this chapter)