Madam Hou

Chapter 95

It is Princess Shouyang's birthday, and Yinniang goes to the princess mansion for a banquet.

Yin Niang bowed around among the wives, and then went to see Princess Shouyang and gave her a birthday present.It is a statue of Avalokitesvara made of jadeite. Princess Shouyang, like Concubine Cao Gui, believes in Buddhism.

Although the Emerald Avalokitesvara is good, it doesn't appear to be particularly expensive among the many gifts from various prefectures.But what is special about it is that it was consecrated by Master Nianci of Shuiyue Temple.Master Nian Ci is very famous among the noble ladies in the capital, but she acts in a low-key manner and will not easily meet others.For the blessing of Sister Yun, Yinniang walked through the back door and asked Master Nian to consecrate this jadeite Guanyin.

Although the high-ranking people like to hide their emotions and anger, when the maid beside her opened the rosewood box and Princess Shouyang saw the emerald Guanyin inside, she still showed a look of liking.

Princess Shouyang said with a smile, "Yin Niang has a heart, I like the gift you gave me very much."

Yinniang pursed her lips and smiled, and said: "As long as the princess likes it." Then Yinniang said a few more auspicious words, seeing that there were still wives from various prefectures coming forward to present gifts, Yinniang left Shouyang Chang first next to the princess
The eldest princess has a noble status, surrounded by a group of people who want to talk to her.Yin Niang didn't like the crowd, so she got out from inside.As soon as she came out, someone patted her on the shoulder, and Yinniang looked up, only to find that it was Xiao Ying who had just given birth.

Yin Niang said pleasantly: "It's Sister Qing, why are you here for the banquet today, where's Auntie?"

Xiao Ying said: "Mother is not feeling well, anyway, my body has almost recovered, so I came to the banquet."

"Hey, isn't Auntie feeling well? Then I'll go see her tomorrow."

Xiao Ying said with a somewhat unnatural expression: "Uh... Actually, it's nothing serious, but it's just that the winter and spring have taken a bit of cold." In fact, the old lady made a fuss again, forcing Su to pretend to be sick and go on a hunger strike. Madam and Xiao Ying's family wanted to raise Ping's concubine into a noble concubine, Madam Su was annoyed by the disturbance, so she simply pretended to be sick.

Xiao Ying asked Yinniang again: "Have you finished giving the eldest princess a present?"

Yin Niang nodded and said, "I gave you a jade Guanyin."

"Then let's talk over there." After speaking, he led Yin Niang to a crabapple flower nearby to talk.

Yin Niang asked Xiao Ying again: "How are Brother Ming and Sister Yuan?"

Xiaoying's pair of sons and daughters were named by General Su, Su Ming and Su Yuan respectively.Talking about her two sons and daughters, Xiao Ying couldn't help but smile, and said: "They can eat and sleep, and they grow up pretty fast. Now they weigh eleven or two catties. It's just that Brother Ming can cry too much. I have to cry three or four times a day, and my voice is so loud, I am afraid that he will cry out. Sister Yuan is very good, as long as there is food and someone is with her, she will not cry or make trouble. "

"This shows that brother Ming has strength and good physical strength. If he is a tiger, he may grow up to be like his grandfather, a great general. Sister Yuan is a girl, she is well-behaved, just right, and cute."

Xiao Ying tapped Yin Niang's forehead with her hand, and said with a smile: "You can talk, and everything you say will become good."

Yin Niang said: "That's the reason, but my sister is too nervous about brother and sister, so I can't see clearly."

The two continued to talk, and when Yin Niang looked up, she inadvertently saw Mrs. Ning Guogong bringing her second daughter-in-law to send congratulatory gifts to Princess Shouyang.

The son-in-law of this dynasty cannot take real positions, and the two sons of the eldest princess of Shouyang have not yet grown up, so the eldest princess's mansion has no influence in the court.But Princess Cao Gui, the mother of Princess Shouyang, could talk in front of Emperor Jinghui, and Emperor Jinghui almost treated her as half a mother.Because of this, the eldest princess of Shouyang has always been the object of the empress's family and Xue Guifei's family competing to please and win over.After all, if there is a noble concubine who speaks a few more words in front of the emperor for her own side, it is worth attracting an extra second-rank official in the court.

It's just that the noble concubine and the eldest princess of Shouyang follow the golden mean, and neither side helps each other.However, even though we follow the golden mean, there are still more or less inclined to one side.Just like Yinniang and Ji last time, Princess Shouyang is willing to be Yinniang's official guest.In the palace, the interests of the Empress and Concubine Jing are one, and Concubine Jing is Yinniang's older sister. Through Concubine Jing, the Empress and the Yongning Hou Mansion have formed an interest relationship. up.What Princess Shouyang did, if interpreted in a general direction, can be said to have the intention of showing favor to the queen.

On Princess Shouyang’s birthday this time, Kang Guogong’s mansion only sent gifts because of filial piety, and no one came to celebrate her birthday. It’s not surprising that Mrs. Ning Guogong came to congratulate her personally, but the strange thing is that she came with Mrs. Ning Guogong. Mrs. Shizi is actually his second daughter-in-law.

Yin Niang told Xiao Ying about her doubts, and said: "It's strange, Mrs. Ning Guogong always let her eldest daughter-in-law accompany her when she goes out to socialize on weekdays, why is Second Young Mistress Xue coming with her today?"

Xiao Ying said "Huh" and said, "You don't know?"

"What's the matter?" Could there be something she didn't know.

Xiao Ying said: "This incident has been rumored in the capital for a long time. Years ago, Young Master Xue brought back a noble concubine. I heard that she was the younger sister of a lieutenant next to Young Master Xue. That lieutenant was Xue The second master personally picked him up when he was fighting against the Northern Qiang, so he somewhat valued him. Some time ago, the concubine was pregnant, but she had a miscarriage not long after, and the concubine yelled that it was Mrs. Xue who killed her. Mrs. Ningguo also suspected It was Young Mistress Xue who punished her to kneel in the ancestral hall. As for whether the child in this concubine’s room was caused by Mistress Xue, we outsiders don’t know, but it is very strange for a wife who has been in the family for seven years to kneel in the ancestral hall. The act of slapping the face, no matter how willing Mrs. Xue was, someone sent a letter to her natal family immediately, and asked someone from her natal family to take her back to her natal family, but she hasn't come back yet."

It's no wonder that if someone goes to kneel in the ancestral hall, it means that this person has made a very serious mistake, so serious that he needs to confess to his ancestors, which will be a stain on her life.Ordinary families, for the daughter-in-law who has added children to the family, even if she really made a mistake, as long as it is not too big to be tolerated, even for the sake of the child's face, they will not punish the child's mother to kneel in the ancestral hall.Regardless of whether Grandma Xue did this or not, as long as she kneels, neither she nor her son will be able to hold their heads up in the Duke's mansion.And no matter how expensive the concubine is, she is still a concubine. For the sake of the concubine's sake, Mrs. Xue might feel resentment for beating her in the face like this.

Xiao Ying continued: "Now Ningguo's mansion is twisting with Mrs. Xue's natal family. On the one hand, they say that the daughter-in-law is not virtuous and harmed the concubine, and on the other hand, they say that the Ningguo's mansion favors concubines and destroys wives, and wrongs the daughter-in-law. Apologize."

"Actually, it's no wonder Mrs. Ningguo has such doubts. Although Ningguo's mansion is flourishing, Mr. Xue's heirs are not abundant. Mrs. Xue couldn't give birth to a brother five years ago, and then she has nothing to do. That brother My son is sick and weak because of dystocia, and all other concubines gave birth to daughters. There are also concubines who have conceived elder brothers, but they will always be lost inexplicably when they are seven or eight months pregnant."

Thinking about it, Mrs. Ning Guo has long been dissatisfied with her eldest daughter-in-law. After all, the child mortality rate in this era is still very high, and a son is not safe at all, especially the eldest son who will inherit the title.Young Mistress Xue had nothing to do after she gave birth to a son, Mrs. Ning Guogong must hope that her son's concubine can help her have more grandchildren.As a result, all the concubines gave birth to daughters, and none of the concubines gave birth to sons. Any mother-in-law would doubt her daughter-in-law.It's just that both sides usually keep their faces and don't make trouble to the outside world, but the miscarriage of this concubine's room has become the fuse that ignited the dissatisfaction of both parties.

Yin Niang smiled and said: "On weekdays, I see that Ningguo's government is very united in its actions. Mrs. Ningguo and Mrs. Xue are also very affectionate. I can't see anything dirty, but I don't know that such a thing will happen. Also I don't know what kind of person that young master Xue's concubine is, who can turn the Ningguo government, which has always been united, so upside down."

Xiao Ying said: "I know that. I heard that the surname is Zhao, what is the name Zhao Juan? After I gave birth to confinement, I went to Hanyun Temple to fulfill my vows. I once met Young Master Xue who accompanied her to offer incense. She's quite pretty, but definitely not to the point where she can make people turn her into a confidant." After speaking, she looked at Yin Niang, and said, "I'm not as pretty as you."

When Zhao Juan and Yinniang heard this name, they frowned, thinking that this name was really familiar, as if they had heard it somewhere, and more than once.It's just that I can't turn my head, I don't know when I heard it.

After gossiping about this matter, Xiao Ying talked about another matter: "You have heard from your elder son that there may be another war in the south. My father-in-law and your elder son may have to go to war again."

Yinniang knew about this, Lin Fengqi liked to chat with Yinniang about some political affairs, and Yinniang also liked to listen.

The Fusang Kingdom in the south is ready to attack Dayan with all its troops. Now that Ryukyu has been captured, Fusang is preparing to use Ryukyu Island as its base to attack Dayan from Fujian.

The news came back from Fujian the day before yesterday, and it was urgent at [-] li. The governor of Fujian Province said at the same time on the fold that he asked the imperial court for support.Lin Fengqi has always had the ideal of making contributions and rejuvenating the lintel, and he has always been concerned about the wars in various places. The south is where he made his military achievements, and the news is even more well-informed.

Dayan's generals lead troops to fight, and many are good at land warfare, but few are good at water warfare.General Su is outstanding in both water and land battles. Lin Fengqi has never fought in land battles, but he is a rookie who has just emerged in water battles.General Su and Lin Fengqi had led troops in the south, and they were familiar with the situation in the south. Originally, it was most appropriate for them to lead the army, but for this battle, Duke Ning also wanted to intervene. During the two days in court, Both factions are arguing fiercely about who should lead the army.

Yin Niang said: "That's not necessarily true. Didn't the two generals of the Xue family also want to lead the army?"

Xiao Ying curled her lips and said disdainfully: "They really spare no effort to control the entire Dayan army. Their family has already controlled the troops in the north, and the emperor may not be willing to let them contaminate the army in the south. What's more, they have never fought water warfare. Although I haven't read military books, I also know that there are many uncertain factors on water, and fighting on water is much more difficult than fighting on land. In addition, although Fusang is small, it has always been able to fight from time to time over the years. They caused troubles for Dayan, but they were not as easy to fight as they imagined, they really thought they were going to collect military merits. Just wait and see, in the end it must be my father-in-law and your son who went to the battle."

Yin Niang smiled and did not refute.

(End of this chapter)