Rank One Princess Douxian Wang: Phoenix Palace Brocade

Chapter 2
Assimilation Years, Datong Kingdom, Kunshan

The winter in the south is extremely cold, especially when the snow falls for the first time, the humidity is high, and it is accompanied by gusts of wind all the time, even if you wear a thick cotton fur, you can't help shivering a few times.

At this time, the Central Plains dynasty and other countries are happily performing power changes. Only the Datong Kingdom maintains its unique stability and prosperity. Even a small county like Kunshan has an enviable prosperity.

At this time, it was just dawn, and the hazy light made a dilapidated courtyard at the end of the alley look softer.The back door made of wood splinters slammed, and then slammed shut again.

A slender woman gathered up her thin clothes, clutched her withered stomach, and walked quickly through the back alley with her head down, holding a bundle of wrapped cloth.Her complexion is a little yellow, and her dress is simple and dull, but if you look closely, none of these can conceal her graceful and noble spirit.She didn't notice that a group of people who were about to affect the fate of her life had already reached the other side of the alley.

A carriage pulled by four bay red horses passed through the bustling market in the daytime, and entered a dark alley that only allowed the carriage to pass through.A layer of ice had formed on the bluestone floor of the alley, and old gravel was scattered under the corners of the walls on both sides, obviously it hadn't been cleaned for a long time.

"Open the door, the third master of my family is here." The coachman raised his fist and slammed the cracked old wooden door, and looked contemptuously at the boy who came to open the door, "Go and call Mrs. Tai out, the third master has something important to do."

The little servant has long been used to such contempt, opened the door, and led the way for them.The courtyard was very old, without any decorations, and it didn't look like a duke's residence at all. Even the servants who served were few and poorly dressed.

This is the most dilapidated private house of the famous Xu family in Kunshan, and there are two masters living in it.One is Mrs. Cao, who was supposed to spend the rest of her life in her ancestral home. Since her only son died without any offspring, she has been sick for many years. Zheng Chunfeng's proud son and the forces that have been secretly supporting her for many years expelled her here, euphemistically calling it resting.

The other is the grandson's eldest daughter, Xu Jiatong, the fourth daughter of the Xu family.Her father, Xu Xiaozu, was born of the noble concubine Li, but due to some reasons in the genealogy, it was descended from Mrs. Cao Tai, who was also a descendant.It stands to reason that Miss Xu Fourth shouldn't be as down and out as Mrs. Cao Tai, but she killed her own mother and the son in Lin's belly who hadn't been helped by Xu Xiaozu at that time. Xu Xiaozu hated her so much. Send her back to the ancestral house, just as if she had never been born.She was brought up by her grandmother Mrs. Cao, and was later deported here along with Mrs. Cao. For more than ten years, her blood relatives Xu Xiaozu and Mrs. Li have not even asked her about her affairs.

Xu Xiaoxian, the third master of the Xu family, led the two stewards and two wives to the front hall. Seeing a few pots of narcissus placed in front of the stone steps with missing corners, he glanced at them with disgust, left a few people behind, and walked straight to the main seat go.

"Third brother, your seat is over there."

There was already someone at the head seat, Mrs. Cao Tai, who was wearing a dark gray long dress, was leisurely wiping a shuttle with a soft cloth, ignoring the dissatisfaction of the visitor, her body was upright, and she didn't move a muscle.Just this one sentence made the comer lower his momentum.

"Ever since the letter came from the second brother, the whole house has been so busy that everyone is on their backs, but mother is quiet here." Xu Xiaoxian raised his eyebrows, sneered and sat down next to him, gnashing his teeth when he said the word "mother".

"Third son, you don't have to force yourself to hear your mother calling you awkward. Call me Mrs. Madam, don't worry, I won't lose my life. Originally, in the hearts of you and the second son, only your biological mother Li Aunt Tai is the one who deserves to be a mother. Even if my main wife is kicked out of the ancestral house, she is just a concubine. You don't want to be criticized by the officials in the court and the elders of the clan, and you want to be dutiful sons. I'm afraid you can't " Mrs. Cao didn't even lift her eyelids.

If it wasn't for the sly trick, how could the old woman in front of her be still sitting here, Xu Xiaoxian stood up and impatiently placed the letter from his second brother Xu Xiaozu in front of her.

The letter was addressed to Xu Xiaoxian and his concubine Li, saying that the current king ordered ministers, ministers, and famous families to recommend virtuous daughters from various clans to enter the palace alone to choose concubines for several princes, and let them arrange his marriage as soon as possible. Xu Jiatong, the fourth daughter of the first daughter, went to the western capital to be elected.However, because the old lady of the Xu family made the decision to raise Xu Jiatong by Cao's side when he was alive, he had to explain this matter to Cao's, and he must not cause disputes and anger several clan members.

Xu Xiaoxian returned to his seat, and snorted coldly: "Mrs. Tai, once this person leaves, you will be left alone here, and the cost of food and clothing will definitely be reduced again. But even though my grandfather sympathized with your loss back then, In the pain of being a child, I entrust the fourth girl to your care. But she is the second brother's daughter after all, and she will go back one day, you should understand that you will have this day sooner or later."

"Let me guess how he remembered that there was a daughter, A Tong? He only had three daughters in total, and the sixth girl was a concubine, so I won't mention it. The third girl in his palm is now a concubine, but when she was born back then, her biological mother Not yet straightened up, in the eyes of the nobles, she is a concubine's concubine just like the sixth girl. She was coaxed by a beautiful wife and concubine before, and only when the opportunity to become a dragon and a phoenix was in front of her eyes did she realize that he was justified. There is only Ah Tong as the first daughter, so it's no wonder that I have to worry." Mrs. Cao said.

"What is a concubine's daughter who grew up in a private house since she was a child? She is honored to be a concubine of a noble family, and she is not afraid of being ridiculed when she enters the palace. The second brother only has the honor and disgrace of his second wife in his heart, but he has forgotten the honor and disgrace of the Xu clan. Of course he only wanted to offer his own daughter, but the daughters of the Xu family are not only the fourth daughter, but also the fifth daughter of our third room, Ah Qing, who was born by my wife Zheng. With the words of sages, piano, chess, calligraphy and painting..." Xu Xiaoxian's eyes showed mystery.

"Say it straight, don't get involved in the righteousness of the clan, it's extremely hypocritical." Mrs. Cao interrupted him.

"As long as you come forward to testify, Madam Tai, that the fourth girl is seriously ill and cannot enter the palace, I can persuade the second brother and a few clan members to support Ah Qing. After the matter is completed, I can guarantee that you will have no worries about food and clothing in your later years. You also have the final say on the girl's marriage." Xu Xiaoxian used benefits to lure each other, and if they failed, he would threaten them.

"If the second child and Aunt Li Tai heard what you said, they would definitely ask you if you know where the character 'Tong' in the fourth girl's boudoir name came from. What is the lady who is named by the royal pen of the king today? Everyone can replace you! Third, you can't block her way." Mrs. Cao gave him a sideways glance, she pointed to the sky, and her voice suddenly became sharp.

"The current king? Impossible, impossible, otherwise how could the second brother..." Xu Xiaoxian said in disbelief.

Madam Cao sneered and said: "Have you ever seen any senior official in the court who straightened the concubine's room like him? With a concubine as his wife, what else can someone who does such a foolish thing expect? But the old man Three, you are more confused than him. The second child is only confused about love. How can you compare your thoughts and methods? How long can you keep a secret like this? If he finds out, do you think he will let it go? Have you ever been?"

Xu Xiaoxian's tall and strong body was shocked, and the aggression just now no longer existed.The few in charge and the mother-in-law also lowered their heads. Like Xu Xiaoxian, they never thought that Xu Jiatong still had such a big background, nor did they think that Mrs. Cao, who was already at the end of the road in the eyes of everyone, would still have such power.

"We are brothers with the same father and mother, the second brother won't argue with me." Xu Xiaoxian presumptuously wanted to retain the last bit of calm.

"Things in the palace are not only related to wealth, but also life and death. If you take his wealth today, you can take his life in the future. He may still be willing to give up his wealth, but life and death... change places, third child, are you willing?" Mrs. Cao finally looked straight at him, her eyes never turning back.

Xu Xiaoxian came to his senses amidst a chill, and shot down the steps fiercely, and said sharply: "Where is the fourth girl? She must have gone out again, why don't you go looking for it? If you can't find it in half an hour, you will sell everything."

(End of this chapter)