Madam Hou

Chapter 89

When Lin Fengqi came back to the inner courtyard at night, Yinniang first told him about Fengzhi and Fengying, and then said that he wanted Qingteng and Qinghua to match up.

Lin Fengqi usually doesn't care much about the affairs of the inner courtyard, and Feng Zhi and Feng Ying are not his sisters, so he has neglected the two younger sisters a lot. If Yinniang hadn't mentioned it at this time, he would have forgotten that they have reached the marriageable age up.Lin Fengqi blamed himself for his negligence, and at this time, he really planned for the two concubine sisters, and said: "Fengzhi and Fengying are concubine daughters, and the concubine of the high family must not be able to marry. If you want to enter the high family, you must either Marrying a concubine is either to be a successor to others. As for the concubine, most of them are suppressed by the aunt to be useless. It’s easy. If you are someone’s stepmother, the former wife usually has children, and stepmothers are not easy to do. They are easy to be talked about if they do more or less, and it’s not a good place for women. I think it’s better to give them a book from a poor family. It just so happens that this year is Qiu Wei, select a few talented and unmarried candidates from the scholars who are going to Beijing for the exam, and relying on the power of the family, I am not afraid that they will treat Feng Zhi and Feng Ying badly."

Yin Niang also agreed with what her husband said, she nodded and said: "Then I will talk to Mother tomorrow."

Lin Fengqi said again: "As for Qinghua and Qingteng beside you, Qingteng has reached her age, I asked Director Lin to prepare a list, you can choose one from the stewards of the outer court, if Qinghua, you might as well keep her for a while Years. There are only these two caring maids by your side, and if they are all matched out at once, there will be no one available by your side."

What Lin Fengqi said was very reasonable, and it also meant that everything was planned for Yinniang.Qinghua Qingteng is a maid brought over from her natal family, so it is naturally easier to use than the maids in the Hou's mansion.If the blue, white and green vines are all matched, Yinniang will have to promote two of the second-class maids in the courtyard.Let's not talk about whether the promoted maid will be used smoothly, and Yinniang has just entered the house and has not yet gained a firm foothold in the mansion. Whether the children of the Hou's mansion will be loyal to her is a problem.

Yinniang was grateful for her husband's painstaking efforts, and Qinghua was not too old and was not in a hurry to get married, so she simply agreed with what Lin Fengqi said, and said: "Then let Qingteng marry first, and Qinghua will choose slowly later."

Yinniang was also afraid that the stewards in the mansion would look down on her dowry maids, and if they were forced to marry Qingteng, they would treat Qingteng badly after they got married, so she told her husband to find those willing stewards.

Lin Fengqi heard Yinniang's concerns, and said with a smile: "Think about who you are now, Mrs. Shizi, Mrs. Hou in the future, and the Hou's mansion will be handed over to us in the future. If our relationship is not good, it's fine. Now we have a good relationship, and the big maids around you, I'm afraid they want to marry you."

Yin Niang thought about it, and felt that she was worrying too much.She married into a noble family with a lowly status. Although she didn't want to admit it, she still had her own thoughts of being superior, so she was afraid that her husband's family would look down on her background.But they didn't realize that although a woman's life is good or bad has something to do with her natal family, but her honor and disgrace are more tied to her husband.What's more, her elder sister gave birth to a prince and was promoted to a respected concubine. The reliance of her natal family is no longer the same as before.

Yin Niang smiled embarrassedly, "I was just worrying."

After finishing the matter of the concubine and the maid, Lin Fengqi hugged Yinniang again, and asked another question: "You will be old in a few days, what gift do you want?"

Yinniang's birthday is the third day of March, and there are still five days left.If Yunying was not married, the Jiji ceremony would naturally be handled by her natal family, but when she married and entered her husband's family, even the whole person belonged to her husband's family, so the Jiji ceremony would naturally be handled by her husband's family.In the past few days, Mrs. Lin Hou has been preparing for Yinniang's wedding ceremony, and she never hides it from Yinniang, and some things are discussed with Yinniang.

Yin Niang said: "I like everything that Brother Feng Qi gave me!"

"That's it, then I have to think about it." After finishing speaking, he bowed his head in a state of contemplation.

On the second day, when Yinniang sent Lin Fengqi away and went to Tangrong Courtyard to pay her respects to Mrs. Lin Hou, she talked about Fengzhi and Fengying, and brought Lin Fengqi's meaning to her.

Mrs. Lin Hou said indifferently: "There is still half a year before Qiu Wei, so let's wait until then."

It's still early for Qiu Wei, and there is really no rush, so Yin Niang didn't say much, and said to Mrs. Lin Hou: "Listen to your mother."

When I returned to Mudetang at noon and just sat down, a maid came to report: "Boss Lin asks to see you."

Yin Niang put down her cup and said, "Please come to the flower hall quickly."

Yinniang met Mr. Lin in the flower hall and gave Mr. Lin a seat.

Manager Lin saluted Yinniang, and said: "I heard that the Qingteng girl next to the young mistress is going to be assigned out. When I went out in the morning, the young master told me to write to the young mistress the unmarried stewards of the right age in the outer courtyard. I have written all these people. It's on paper, please have a look, young mistress."

Yinniang thought it would take a few days to get any news, but she didn't expect Manager Lin to send in the list today. Yinniang praised Lin Fengqi's concern for this matter, and also praised Manager Lin's efficiency in handling affairs.

Qing Teng, who was bringing tea in, heard it, and couldn't help but blush, stepped forward to put down the teacup, and then avoided it.Qing Hua next to him took the list from Manager Lin and handed it to Yin Niang.

Yin Niang took the list and said to Boss Lin, "Uncle Lin has worked hard."

Mr. Lin: "This is a matter of duty"

Yin Niang opened the folded list written on red paper.Only the names of the four stewards are written in it, but the ages of the four stewards, positions in the outer courtyard, personality, family situation, etc. are all clearly written one by one. He wrote in a few people who he thought had more suitable conditions.

From this incident, we can also see Manager Lin's handling methods.If all the unmarried and age-appropriate stewards in the outer courtyard were really included, it would take a lot of effort for Yinniang to select them one by one.If Director Lin only writes one, it is suspected of strongly recommending one of his own.Now I have written four entries, no more, no less, Yin Niang does not need to spend too much effort to choose, and she also gets rid of the suspicion of recommending her own people, there is nothing more appropriate than this.

Yin Niang glanced at the list and said again: "I'll take a look at these people first, and I'll tell you when I've made a decision."

Director Lin bowed his head and said: "Yes." Then he left.

This was to help Qingteng choose a husband and son-in-law, Yinniang thought that Qingteng must be satisfied, so she ordered Qinghua to call Qingteng in to choose together.

Qinghua went out with a smile and called Qingteng to come in together. Although Qingteng's face was still blushing, she didn't show any signs of coercion.After coming in to salute Yinniang, he and Yinniang took a closer look at the several stewards on the list.

There are four stewards, one is the second-class steward of the housekeeper, named He Cheng; the other is the third-class steward of the warehouse, named Wang Yao; Zhuang Danian at two herbal medicine shops in the capital.The four are all in the Youshui Yamen. Qingteng married in the past and basically didn't worry about money. Now it's time to compare the pros and cons of other conditions.

He Cheng is already 25 years old this year. He climbed to the position of second-class manager at such a young age. His ability must be top-notch. mother.

Wang Yao is 24 years old this year, and if he can enter the warehouse to work as a steward, his ability must be good.Both of his parents died, and there was a pair of younger siblings in his family, who were said to have been brought up by him.It was also because he wanted to drag his younger siblings that he delayed the marriage proposal.Now that he is in charge of the warehouse, his family situation must have improved, but there is one thing, I heard that he looks very dark and not very good-looking.

Cheng Ren is 22 years old this year. He is a pretty boy. He is said to be very smart and tactful, and will please his boss.But he was not the son of Hou's family, he was sold in when he was five years old.

Zhuang Danian is also 22 years old, the nephew of Zhuang Momo who is in charge of the kitchen in the inner courtyard.

Yin Niang looked at the situation of each of the managers, and felt that all of them were good. Although there were some minor flaws, they were not major problems. She was a little undecided, so she asked Qingteng: "Which of these people do you think is better?" ?”

Before Qingteng could speak, Qing Hua, who was helping to watch, opened her mouth to arrange flowers first, and said, "I think He Cheng and Cheng Ren are the best, but He Cheng has a daughter, and it's not easy to be a stepmother, so Cheng Ren is the best." .”

Qingteng didn't know if it was possible or not, so she thought for a while and said, "Young Mistress, let's choose that Wang Yao."

Yin Niang was a little suspicious, and reminded: "I heard that Wang Yao's appearance is not very upright, do you mind?"

Qingteng smiled and said: "To marry, as long as the husband's family is considerate, appearance is not the most important thing. I think that Wang Yao can delay the marriage in order to drag his younger siblings to grow up. I think he is a kind person. There is no elder, if I marry, I will be the master of the house, so there is nothing wrong with that. Besides, he is a son of the family, and he is familiar with the situation of the Hou Mansion, so if I marry, I can help the young mistress pay more attention to the situation of the Hou Mansion."

Yin Niang said: "If the family has children, so will He Cheng and Zhuang Danian."

Qingteng said: "Although they are also born in the family, but He Cheng has become a second-class steward at a young age. I am afraid that he is a person who studies deeply. Such people tend to neglect the family. Zhuang Danian is a steward in a shop outside. According to the rules of the Hou Mansion, if I marry him, I have to go to the shop with him, and I cannot enter the mansion to serve the young mistress."

Yin Niang saw that she was very careful about gains and losses, she had planned for her as the master, and she also took care of her own wishes, so she didn't object, and said: "Then I will tell Manager Lin tomorrow, and let him arrange an opportunity for the You see Wang Yao. Although it has been decided, you have to see him once before you can feel at ease."

Qingteng smiled and said, "Yes."

On the second day, Yin Niang told Manager Lin of the chosen candidate, and also said that she wanted to meet Manager Wang first.Manager Lin's work efficiency was really fast, and in the evening, he found someone who asked him to ask Yinniang what the second young master needed to prepare in the warehouse for his marriage, and came into the inner courtyard to show Yinniang and Qingteng.

Steward Wang was indeed very dark. Although he was a little nervous kneeling on the ground, he was still calm.By the standards of ordinary people, it doesn't seem to affect the appearance of the city, but the masters and maids in the inner court of wealthy families often see men whose appearance is above the standard, and Wang Yao's appearance makes them look a little unattractive.Yinniang herself liked handsome men like Lin Fengqi, so she was a little dissatisfied with Wang Yao, so after Wang Yao left, she asked Qingteng again.

Qingteng said: "The slave is still satisfied with him. When the young mistress looked at him just now, he knew that his appearance was a flaw, but he still raised his head without hiding it, showing that he is an honest person. He is like this at this time. He will definitely not hide it from me when the servant is married."

When Qingteng said this, Yinniang had no choice but to agree.After telling Mrs. Lin Hou about this matter, she asked someone to tell Wang Yao, asking him to find an elder to propose marriage as soon as possible.

And Wang Yao is also somewhat capable, and even invited Yuan Momo who is next to Mrs. Lin Hou to propose marriage to her, which is another story.

The day before Yinniang and Ji arrived, the imperial concubine in the palace sent someone to come to the palace to talk with Xuan Yinniang and Mrs. Linhou.

When they arrived at Lanhe Palace, after Yinniang and Mrs. Linhou saluted, Yanniang had someone help Yinniang and Mrs. Linhou up, and said: "They are all from my own family, why bother to be so polite."

Yanniang asked Yinniang to sit beside her again, touched Yinniang's head with a smile, and sighed: "I didn't expect my younger sister to grow up too. Thinking of the scene when we practiced calligraphy together at home, it seems like it happened yesterday. .”

When talking about the things in her childhood, Yin Niang also missed it very much, so she also sighed, while Mrs. Lin Hou sat beside her and smiled slightly.

The two sisters sighed for a while, and then Yanniang asked Mrs. Linhou again, saying: "Madam, Yinniang and Yanli are all ready."

Mrs. Lin Hou replied: "Everything is ready, ma'am."

Yan Niang asked again: "Who are the guests and the praisers invited?"

Mrs. Linhou said: "The guest of honor is Mrs. Yang, Mrs. Weibeihou. If you praise me, I think it's better to let Pingniang come?"

Weibeihou's mansion has always been prominent in Beijing, and inviting Mrs. Weibeihou to be the guest of honor does not count as burying Yin Niang.But Yanniang said: "A few days ago, I met Princess Shouyang and told her about Yinniang and Ji, and asked her if she would like to be Yinniang and Ji's guests. The princess said yes. Now if Shouyang May the eldest princess come to be the guest of honor for Yinniang and Jishi, I wonder if it's okay?"

Mrs. Lin Hou said hastily: "It is very good to be able to invite the princess to be the guest of honor."

Although it is good to invite Xiao Yang to be the guest of honor, of course it is not as good as the emperor's younger sister, Princess Shouyang.When Emperor Jinghui was vying for the heir, Concubine Cao Gui, the birth mother of Princess Shouyang, said a lot of good things in front of the late Emperor. Therefore, after Emperor Jinghui ascended the throne, Cao, who was Concubine Ning at the time, was made Concubine Gui, and she was treated with courtesy. Plus, there is also a lot of favor for Concubine Cao Gui's own daughter, Princess Shouyang.Emperor Jinghui had no sisters from his compatriots. Among all the conferred princesses, the princess Shouyang was the most favored.

Yanniang said again: "I know that my adoptive mother must have helped Yinniang choose the hairpin for tomorrow's hairpin, but I also helped Yinniang choose one here, why not use mine tomorrow, and I am also my sister. I don't know if the stepmother thinks it is good?"

Although it was a questioning tone, how could Mrs. Lin Hou refuse.And since it was the hairpin prepared by Yanniang, it can only be better than what she prepared.

Yan Niang smiled and nodded, and then told Cai Tao to fetch the hairpin.

The painted pottery brought the things up, and on the rosewood tray covered with red satin and painted gold, there was a golden silk inlaid ruby ​​​​and a lotus hairpin.The twin lotuses at the tail of the hairpin are melted from gold, and a ruby ​​the size of a thumb is inlaid in the middle of each lotus, and a small white gem is inlaid on each petal of the lotus. took a breath.

Mrs. Lin Hou knew that Yanniang was favored, and there must be many good things rewarded by the emperor in her private treasury, but she still didn't expect that she could get such good things.

The Bingdi lotus on the hairpin and the white gemstones on the petals are nothing. Although the Bingdi lotus is exquisitely carved, it is not impossible to find skilled craftsmen in the capital. Although the gemstones are precious, it is not impossible to find small gemstones.The most astonishing thing is the two rubies on the hairpin, the size of a thumb, even the imperial palace may not be able to get ten of them.

Yin Niang was also almost dazzled by the hairpin. Her self-cultivation was not enough for Mrs. Lin Hou, and she exclaimed in front of her sister again, and said to her sister with her mouth open: "Sister, this is You can keep the good things in the bottom of the box."

Yan Niang looked at her younger sister's amazed expression, and thought that she could give her a satisfactory gift, she felt a little satisfied, and said with a smile: "The last time Fanbang paid tribute, I paid a box of precious stones, there are more than ten pieces the size of a thumb , the emperor rewarded me with two of the red ones. I originally wanted to keep one for you and Ping Niang, and put them on the hairpins when you were old. I thought about it later, why not set both of them Put it on your hairpin, and when Pingniang reaches Ji, I will find another good thing for her."

Yin Niang shook her head and said: "Such a good hairpin, you might as well keep it for yourself, the hairpin Mother prepared for me is already very good."

Yanniang held her younger sister's hand and said with a smile: "Silly girl, the imperial palace is a place of wealth and honor, are you still afraid that my sister will not have something nice to wear, and what I say to you is yours."

After all, it was my sister's wish. After Yanniang said so, Yinniang didn't make further excuses.

The three of them talked for a while, Yanniang thought that tomorrow would be Jiji Ceremony, Yinniang and Mrs. Lin Hou were afraid that there were still some things to prepare for today, so she asked them to leave, and Caitao sent them out of the palace.

(End of this chapter)