in spring

Chapter 279 Persuasion
The second old lady was going to see the old sister-in-law, obviously she wanted to spread the matter out. After all, An was the daughter-in-law of the other party, so how to deal with it would have to be spoken by a serious mother-in-law.The second wife, Zhuo Shi, felt that something was wrong: "Mother, do you want to investigate further? After all, this is the internal affairs of the Hou Mansion, we don't want to intervene easily."

"Ridiculous!" The second old lady scolded, "How can the children of our Li family be regarded as the internal affairs of his family?! If his wives and concubines are fighting for power, or if the concubine's children are fighting for leisure, I I'm too lazy to care about it. But if this matter is not stopped, the reputation of our clan's daughter will suffer tomorrow! Even Brother You's child will be crowned with a bad character. He is the son of the Hou family , who will inherit the title in the future, if there is something good or bad, will our faces be bright?! Your master is defending the country in the north, and we should share his worries in the capital. If his reputation is affected by the tribe, When he comes home in the future, do you have the face to meet him?!"

Zhuo's face was red when he said this, and he knelt down on the ground and said he didn't dare.The mistress knelt down, and the big girls had to kneel naturally, but Chunying somewhat agreed in her heart, she bent her knees, and then moved to the second old lady's side, slowly persuading: "Old lady, calm down, the lady has been doing this since the beginning. Knowing that the matter is important, we still do everything possible to investigate, so why don't we want to stop it? It's just that we only asked a few people, even if we knew the truth, and lacked witness evidence, we were afraid that the wife of the Hou Mansion would deny it, and even bite us back. Why don't you investigate more clearly, collect some evidence, and bring it to the old lady, so she won't believe it?"

Hearing the words, the second old lady calmed down a little. Seeing her daughter-in-law kneeling on the ground with tears in her eyes, who had obviously been wronged but did not dare to refute, thinking of her usual filial piety and thoughtfulness, she softened her heart: "I misunderstood, Don't be surprised, daughter-in-law, Qiuyan quickly help your wife up." Qiuyan hurriedly got up to help her.

Zhuo stood up and said: "Daughter-in-law dare not, it's because the daughter-in-law didn't think carefully and made mother angry. The daughter-in-law naturally knows that this matter is of great importance. If she doesn't handle it well, her two children will be affected. How can you not be anxious? It's just... Our family and the Hou Mansion are said to be a family. After all, they have been separated for many years. His family is not afraid of us. If we rashly tell his family, sister-in-law has done such a thing. How can the old lady believe such absurd things involving her own son? Wouldn't the relationship between the two governments be ruined at that time?"

She didn't think so much at first, but she simply thought that there could only be two reasons for An's spreading such rumors. Weird; secondly, An's fell in love with Fan Xiru and wanted to marry her back as a daughter-in-law, so she fabricated rumors to force her to submit.No matter what kind it is, it has nothing to do with Dongfu. If you rush to file a complaint, you may end up with a feud, so she hesitated, but she didn't expect her mother-in-law to be so angry, so she had to bite the bullet and endure a round of training. Now that Chunying pleaded for her, and listed many very reasonable reasons, she justified herself, feeling a little grateful to Chunying in her heart.

The second old lady sighed when she heard the words, how could she not know?Over the years, her son has been serving as an official abroad, and she, her daughter-in-law, and grandchildren have all gone with her. Only Mr. and Mrs. Xu were left in the central Beijing mansion. Mr. Hou and Mrs. Hou used the excuse of helping to manage the property, and secretly conspired for a lot of property.However, the Marquis Mansion is very powerful and belongs to the same clan. If there is a quarrel, neither side will be able to please, so they can only turn a blind eye and close their eyes.Now her son is up to the challenge, the family business is more prosperous than before, and she can straighten her waist and speak loudly in front of her sister-in-law, unintentionally elevating herself, why did she forget this?
She thought for a while, then said slowly: "Since that's the case, let's find out more, but don't delay too long. In addition, although the suspect cannot be dealt with, but the rumors are too strong, I'd better try to suppress them first, and then check it out later. It’s not too late to be held accountable.”

Zhuo agreed, paused, and said: "If it's really my sister-in-law's doing, just ask the girl next to her, and you will know the truth. A few days ago, Shaoyao's mother came to ask for grace, and wanted to ask for a good marriage for her daughter. At that time, the sister-in-law hadn't taken over the housework again, and Yijun and the others were girls who hadn't left the cabinet, so her mother begged her daughter-in-law. Seeing that she spoke briskly, the daughter-in-law promised her an errand, and now she will do it Name, how about passing someone to ask questions?"

Chunying's heart skipped a beat: Shao Yao has been trapped by An's side for so many years, wouldn't everyone be happy if he could take the opportunity to get her out?

The second old lady said: "I remember that this girl is your sister-in-law's confidant, even if she knows, how can she be willing to tell the truth?"

Zhuo smiled slightly: "It's not difficult. Because my sister-in-law took over the housework again and was not very happy with her mother's asking for grace, I advised her that the girls are getting older, and it's not good to stay around all the time. It's better to marry Going out, whether you are a housekeeper or married to a wealthy family, you can also help yourself. So my sister-in-law let go and pointed her to a relative. It was a happy event, but that family was Anjia That kid is out of shape, he wasted peonies for nothing, she may not know how to complain in her heart."

Chunying was taken aback, and couldn't help interjecting: "Could it be An Sikui? But... Didn't Lord Hou scold him for being useless and dismiss his job?"

Zhuo sighed and shook his head: "That's what I said too, but your eldest wife thinks that the family members who accompany the room are cronies, and cronies and cronies are the best match. You can arrange things again when the errands are gone, but you can't let the fat water go to outsiders." Tian. Shaoyao is her girl, I don't want to persuade her too much, but I feel really wronged for that girl in my heart."

More than wronged?What a great injustice!An Sikui's kind of rubbish is also worthy of Shaoyao? !
Chunying was grinding her teeth at the side, and the old lady on the other side had already agreed to her daughter-in-law's plan and asked her to do it as soon as possible.In the name of asking about his mother's situation, Zhuo passed on Shaoyao.An's didn't take it to heart either, thinking that the sister-in-law was only looking at her own face to praise her girl's family members, and she was secretly proud.

When Shaoyao arrived at the main courtyard of the Eastern Mansion, Zhuo first inquired about her mother's situation, promised a good errand, and then asked Fengming to accompany her to the side room to have tea, and lobbied along the way.When Chunying heard the news in Songyiyuan, she found an errand to deliver things and went to the main courtyard.

After she arrived at the main courtyard to go to the room, Fengming replied not long after: "Shaoyao is not happy about that marriage in her heart, but she refuses to say anything wrong about the eldest lady. The slave girl looked at it, she seemed to acquiesce to the eldest wife." behavior, but refused to come forward to testify.”

Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief: "It's fine to acquiesce, then the matter is the real thing, and now there is only a lack of witnesses."

Chunying jumped anxiously: "She really doesn't want to? Why are you so stupid?! I'll go and persuade her!"

After finishing speaking, she really went to see Shao Yao, and without saying anything, she asked right away: "Now that you are almost in jeopardy, why are you still so loyal to your wife?! Do you really want to marry that An Sikui?!"

Shao Yao was taken aback when she saw her at first, but after listening to her words, she relaxed and smiled bitterly: "This is my fate, good sister, don't persuade me, I can't help you. If I say If my wife speaks badly, who am I? If my wife suffers, I don’t even want to live!"

Chunying said anxiously: "What is fate? Don't tell me this is your fate! We are all the same family girls, but each has its own circumstances. Who said that being a girl must spoil yourself?! My sister married There is a wealthy family outside, Nan Qi is married to a small official, sister Liu Li, which one of them has a good home? Even sister Mei Xiang, who is married in the mansion, has a little Chen steward to match her! What makes you worse than others? You look good, people Competent and always respectable, what kind of guy is that An Sikui? The third-class little girl doesn't bother to talk to him! Why is your wife so confused? You have worked for her for so many years, and she doesn't even let you go out to get married. No, now I finally let go, and I have decided on such a person! Are you willing?!"

Shao Yao's eyes turned red, and she turned her head: "So what if I'm not reconciled? Can I still say no? It's not like you don't know our wife's temper... But don't worry, the third young master has already agreed to speak for me. I don’t know, if I can’t, I’ll accept my fate. Originally, I had already given up on getting married. I wanted to accompany my wife until I grow old, so I found a nunnery to become a monk and become my sister-in-law. Anyway, my family has settled down, and I have younger brothers and sisters. Promise, I have no worries in my heart, and it doesn't matter whether I marry or not. Now... I may not be sent anywhere, and I will not let the person named An over my head."

Chunying sneered: "When you enter the door of his house, how can you let it go? I'm afraid you will be so cruel to death!" Throwing down the cruel words, Chunying felt a little regretful, and slowed down her tone to persuade: "The third young master never disobeyed his wife for a girl. Why did you clenched your teeth and refused to let go? Our wife has no bad intentions, and no one really expects to do anything to your wife. It's just to stop her from messing around."

Shao Yao's expression darkened: "Then I can't say anything, I can't say anything bad about my wife for the rest of my life, otherwise... what will others think of me? What's more, the third young master will inherit the Marquis Mansion in the future, and the wife is his own mother." , he will hate me in the future. Then my life will be ruined."

Chunying stared at her with a headache, and suddenly remembered that Shao Yao and the third young master had always had a good relationship, so she persuaded her again: "I know you are in trouble, but this kind of gossip has the most bad reputation. It will be greatly affected, and outsiders have heard of it, and they only think that he is a frivolous person. What will happen in the future? The third young master still has to take the imperial examination. Wouldn't it be a great injustice to pass him down in the test?! We all watched him grow up, how can we bear to let him suffer this wrong?"

Shao Yao smiled: "He did not play around a lot when he was a child, I am afraid that his reputation has spread out long ago, and now it is just to prove it, what could happen? As for Miss Fan..." She lowered her voice, "If she Marrying into the palace, this kind of thing is naturally a scandal, but if she becomes our third young mistress, others will only say that it is a good story, who would have the leisure to say that the Houfu's boudoir is not clean? Not to mention that it will implicate your young master and lady. Do not worry!"

Chunying was stunned: "You...you mean..." The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous I felt, "Could it be that the wife spread such rumors just to force Miss Fan to marry the third young master?! Isn't she confused?! Then... the county What about the palace?!"

Shaoyao said disapprovingly: "That county prince's mansion is only of great status, in fact, it doesn't manage much, and it didn't formally propose marriage. It's just everyone discussing it privately. I don't know if it will be successful. But with Miss Fan's family background, it is suitable for our third young master. It's not aggrieved. The Hou Mansion and the Fan family have become closer. I heard from my wife that no one in our family's fleet was elected to the Western Affairs Department, but it was Mr. Fan San who entered and got his help. From now on, the Hou Mansion will not have to worry about being compared to others. Miss Fan's father is a local official, so it will only benefit the Hou Mansion."

Chunying shook her head with a smile: "That can't be done like that? They are aiming at the royal palace of the clan, aren't they afraid of turning against each other?"

"Fan's family has already moved out, how do you know this?" Shao Yao looked at Chunying and smiled bitterly, "I also know that there are many loopholes in this matter, but I have persuaded my wife several times, but she refused to listen. What do I have to do?" Solution? In fact, the wife is also in a hurry. The old lady seems to have taken a fancy to your Miss Hai. It’s not that there is nothing wrong with Miss Hai. It’s just that her family background is too poor and she is too old. How can the wife want to marry such a daughter-in-law? If you can't use your family background as an argument, then you will offend your old lady. Unexpectedly, the old lady immediately sent someone to take the horoscopes of the third young master and Miss Hai to ask. The wife was worried that the matter would be settled, so she hurriedly sent Fan The lady threw it out. She always thought that we didn't spread this matter in the first place, and it is someone else's business to pursue it."

Chunying didn't expect that the old lady of Hou's mansion would find someone to marry so quickly, she just felt a headache, and suddenly remembered that she originally wanted to persuade Shaoyao to strive for a happy marriage, but she missed the point when she was bombarded by her call.But now I can't take care of so much, the most important thing is to solve the problem, she flattened her mouth and said: "Miss Hai's marriage, our old lady has already planned, it has nothing to do with the third young master, even if the old lady said it, Master Hai would not agree to it." Yes, please rest assured, your wives! No matter what, let’s get rid of the rumors first, our wife wants you to speak up, just because I’m worried that the Fourth Young Master and Fourth Miss will be implicated, as long as the rumors are gone, naturally everything will be fine Don't think that this matter has nothing to do with the third young master. When you were young, you can say that you were naughty when you were young, but when you grow up, you will have a bad reputation if you make such a thing! Today, the third young master is no more serious than in the past Those who want to take the imperial examination can't just hang around like the second young master? You are also familiar with the third young master. If you can't persuade your wife, why not persuade the third young master? He doesn't like Miss Fan, so he is willing to marry her? No? I said, the third young master has always had his own ideas, I'm afraid he has a different view of his future wife from his wife."

Shao Yao paused, then said hesitantly, "Then I'll talk to him."

"You go to him, not only to talk about this, but also about your own marriage!" Chunying stared at her and said, "If you see that you are married to that kind of person and don't do anything, my sister will definitely scold me The wife wants someone who can help. What is the use of An Sikui? You still need to rely on your wife's praise. Things that can't be supported by mud, it's better to find those who are capable and talented, even if they stay in the house to be housekeepers Wife, let yourself live well! Why don't you ask the third young master, whether there is a suitable candidate for the Hou master or under the third young master? "

Shao Yao blushed: "This... this... doesn't make sense..."

Chunying disapproved: "What is reason? This is a major event in your life. You should be shy and dare not do anything. If you suffer in the future, you can't blame others. If you are really embarrassed, let your family members talk about it. The other sisters are too." Shao Yao lowered her head, twisted her veil and remained silent.

At this time, there was a burst of laughter from outside the door, Feng Ming walked in, held Shao Yao's arm affectionately, and said with a smile: "I thought you were bothering about something, so it's this. Don't worry, our wife won't make things difficult for you Yes. Since it’s inconvenient for you, forget it, go back and persuade your wives more, or let the third young master persuade your wives more, think more about things, don’t be reckless, and cause trouble.” Also called the little girl He brought a box, saying it was a gift from Zhuo Shi to An Shi, and a pair of purses for Shao Yao.

Shaoyao knew in her heart that the matter was temporarily over, so she took another look at Chunying, shook her hand, and returned to Hou's mansion with the box.

Chunying returned to Songyi Courtyard, saw the two old ladies and Mrs. Zhuo present, and hurriedly saluted and apologized: "The servant girl was reckless just now." Mrs. Zhuo waved her hand: "It doesn't matter, on the contrary, you helped me, and now the matter is finally cleared up." " Then asked her mother-in-law: "What does mother think should be done?"

The second old lady sighed: "Calm down, I've lost my anger a lot, anyway, after all, they are all surnamed Li, and they brought witnesses and material evidence to file a complaint, but they became stiff instead. It's just that I have to persuade if I should. Chunying Go prepare the clothes, and prepare a gift, and tomorrow morning, we will go to the Marquis' Mansion."

(End of this chapter)