A Thousand Hills

Chapter 27

The mother-in-law was holding a lantern by the side, Xie Moru stood in the garden, looked towards Fang's small main courtyard, saw that the lights had been turned off, tightened her cloak, and walked back to her small courtyard with the parasol hand .

Zhang Momo saw her daughter came back, she hurriedly stepped forward to help Xie Moru change her clothes, Xie Moru asked, "Is there something going on in the yard today?"

"It's nothing, it's just that someone from the Peony Court just came to ask if the girl is back? After Wisteria came back, I sent the little girl over there to say something, but she didn't say anything." Zhang Momo is not old, but her eyes are a little bit Spending time, fine work at night is inconvenient, helping her daughter to change her clothes, Jingwei removed the jewelry on Xie Moru's head, spread out her hair and combed it neatly, and put on a simple bun with make-up, Xie Moru nodded and asked again, "How is mother? What are you serving for lunch and dinner?"

Nanny Zhang answered one by one.Xie Moru changed into homely clothes, Zhang Nanny said, "The kitchen has prepared a supper, do you want some?"

"I ate at my grandmother's, but I'm still not hungry."

Nanny Zhang smiled, "I asked them to prepare hot water, the girl must be tired for the day I go out, do you want to take a bath?"

Xie Moru smiled, "Alright." She was used to taking two baths a day, and told Jingwei, "Prepare my pen and ink."

After taking a bath, Xie Moru worked hard at his desk at night, which was rare. After recording what Master Wenxiu said today, Xie Moru went to bed to rest.

On the other hand, when paying his respects to Songbai Courtyard the next day, Xie Moyou asked, "Where did eldest sister and second uncle go yesterday?"

Xie Moru said indifferently, "I didn't go anywhere."

Aunt Ning laughed at her daughter, "How did you talk to your elder sister?"

Xie Moyou squeezed a grape, carefully peeled the skin, fed it to Mrs. Xie, and acted like a baby with Mrs. Xie, "Second Uncle only took the eldest sister out to play a few times, and I don't go out often. Second Uncle Even Big Sister and Big Sister didn’t tell me to call me, I want to go too.”

Mrs. Xie ate the grapes and smiled, "You said that again, last time you didn't go by yourself, but yesterday you went outside the city. Didn't you always feel tired from the car before?"

Xie Moyou immediately said, "I'm not too tired."

Mrs. Xie smiled, "When we go to the temple to burn incense, you and your eldest sister will go, okay?"

Xie Moyou naturally praised him.

"Okay, don't bother your grandmother." Aunt Ning held tea and said, "Madam, it's time to prepare autumn clothes. If there is nothing else, I will call the tailor from the embroidery workshop tomorrow."

It's summer now, and it's still far away from autumn, but these big clothes have to be prepared one or two months in advance.There are also needleworkers at home, who do simple and small pieces, and the fine workmanship has to be handed over to professionals.Aunt Ning was in charge of this matter, so naturally she prepared in advance.

Mrs. Xie nodded, "Well, let her come." Then she said to Xie Moru, "What kind of style do you like, just tell the tailor."

Both of them agreed, and after talking for a while, it was time for class. Mrs. Xie resigned, and the two sisters went to Huazhang Hall for class together.

After returning to the Dujuan Courtyard at noon, another maid, Su Xin, came to invite Xie Moru to have dinner in the Songbai Courtyard. In recent days, Mrs. Xie always likes to ask her to have dinner with her. Changed into a light purple gauze dress with dark patterns for going out again, and told Nanny Zhang, "Mama will serve mother for lunch. It's been hot recently, so tell the small kitchen to prepare some white fungus soup to relieve the heat."

Nanny Zhang agreed, and let Jingwei and Wisteria take care of her daughter to go out.Seeing that Xie Moru's face was pale, he gently squeezed her hand and went all the way, but don't show his face to his wife, how difficult it is for her girl to survive.

Grandma Zhang didn't know if her girl understood her hint, she watched her girl out of the gate full of anxiety, and then told the gatekeeper a few words, Fang took the little maid to arrange Fang's lunch.

When Xie Moru arrived, the Songbai Courtyard was full of joy.Aunt Ning, Xie Moyou, mother and daughter are also there, Xie Moru invites Ann, Mrs. Xie smiles, "Sit down. It's quiet at noon, they work as errands, and those who go to school don't eat at home. We girls happen to be together, and it's also lively .”

Xie Mo smiled sadly, "I asked Sister Su Lan, there are live soy snow crystal shrimp today."

"How big a man is to be so greedy." Mrs. Xie smiled.

Xie Moyou's brows were curved, innocent and bright, "Isn't there a happy event, I can't help but be happy when there is a happy event."

Su Lan brought tea, Xie Moru took it, took a sip quietly, and only listened to the happy event in the room. As for the happy event, no one knew what it was, as if they were waiting for Xie Moru to ask. After Xie Moru greeted him, he just sipped the tea by himself without saying a word.

Mrs. Xie smiled, instead of listening to Xie Moyou's coquetry, she turned to say, "The Ning family will definitely treat guests in a few days, why don't Mo You go with me." Although she said this, she thought that she might not want to go of.It's just that since going out, there's no reason to bring only Xie Moyou, whether Xie Moru wants to go, it's up to her.

Oh, it turned out to be a happy event for the Ning family.Xie Moru understood a little bit, and said lightly, "I just want to take some time to sort out what Master Wenxiu said yesterday, ma'am, I won't go."

Mrs. Xie didn't force it, "That's fine. Master Wenxiu is an eminent monk who has attained the Tao. If you can get the master's teachings, study hard."

Xie Moyou's lips moved, but he didn't say anything.On the other hand, Nanny Chen, who was standing behind Xie Moyou, was unwilling to be lonely, and said to Xie Moru with a beam of joy, "Why don't you go, the eldest girl? It's not outside, it's the in-law's master who has been promoted!"

When Su Lan heard this, her eyes widened, she looked at Nanny Chen, and felt incredible: now there is still someone who dares to say such hopeless things in front of the big girl!

Alas, today is really an auspicious day. When she heard that the Ning family was promoted, she knew that Aunt Ning would not be able to hold back. She didn't know that such a considerate servant would hand her the ready-made handle of the knife.If God does not give it, he will be blamed instead.Xie Moru glanced at Nanny Chen indifferently, and asked, "I heard that there is no one in the Fang family, why, my grandfather is still alive?"

At this moment, Aunt Ning didn't know the seriousness of the situation, so she just scolded Mother Chen, "What a talkative slave! Don't let me go down!"

Chen Momo is definitely a loyal slave and servant, she is loyal, she has lived at this age, she naturally knows that this will greatly offend Xie Moru, but now that her relatives are getting bigger and bigger, her grandma and girl should also Stand up now!Unexpectedly, her wild words were not praised by her master, but instead, she was kicked out, her face flushed with embarrassment, and she was so hot that she couldn't speak.It was Aunt Ning's maid, Chun'er, who pushed her and dragged the stumbled Nanny Chen down.

Nanny Chen is Xie Moyou's nanny, Xie Moyou hurriedly spoke kind words to Xie Moru, "Big sister, don't care about this kind of ignorant woman, what does she know? Big sister cares about her, Bai I have lowered my sister's status."

Xie Moru only looked at Xie Moyou, but didn't say a word.

Mrs. Xie's face was frosty, and she slapped Mo You on the case, "What kind of stupid talk is this? Such a lawless slave, the master can't care about it! It's a low status to care about it? Let me tell you, don't care about it." You are the one who has no identity!"

Mrs. Xie said directly, "Su Lan, send her away from me immediately, and she is not allowed to enter the house again!"

Su Lan took the order, and Mrs. Xie was so angry that she couldn't calm down. Seeing Xie Moru's unruffled appearance, she asked her, "Mo Ru, what do you think?" Since Madam Chen has offended Xie Moru greatly, it is natural that Xie Moru should be satisfied with the treatment. .

Xie Moru put down the teacup, and said, "This woman is the nanny of the second sister, she is an old family member who has been in the family for many years, and she has the credit for serving the second sister. If she is treated too much, the second sister may lose face. Let her go out of the mansion alone. At her age, wouldn't she be separated from the family? It would be better to let her family out of the mansion and let the Chen family live freely outside. It is better to be a good citizen than a slave. If the second sister can't bear it If she is punished by the mansion, if you reward her more, you can also win her heart, how can the loyal servant of this family not try her best."

Xie Mo wept with tears streaming down his face, "Big sister must have doubted me when she said that."

Xie Moru looked at Xie Moyou motionlessly, and saw that Xie Moyou's face was uncomfortable, Fang said, "You really don't understand at all." She has something suspicious about Xie Moyou, Xie Moyou's thoughts, she I understood early on.What she didn't understand was why so many people always like to waste time on these meaningless things, Xie Moru stood up and said, "Madam, I'll be back first."

When Xie Moru returned to Dujuan Courtyard, Fang Shi had already started eating.Because the Fang family doesn't have breakfast, the Dujuan courtyard always has an earlier lunch.

Grandma Zhang couldn't help being very surprised when she saw her daughter come back, she thought to herself, could it be that the girl offended his wife, otherwise why did she come back now?However, Nanny Zhang has an advantage. She doesn't call people at first glance, even if she is very worried, she still greets her with a smile on her face. It’s tasteless. This morning, I ordered the kitchen to prepare the vegetarian powder skin that the girl mentioned yesterday. Girl, try it, is it the same as the one in the temple?”

Xie Moru washed her hands, the servant girl added the bowls and chopsticks, she sat down and said, "Grandmother suffered a lot, and my second sister was scolded by her grandmother. I was afraid that I would make trouble in front of my second sister, so I came back first."

When she heard that Xie Moyou was unlucky, Nanny Zhang immediately felt relieved, and gave her daughter some vegetables with a smile.The vegetarian meal I ate at Xishan Temple yesterday had a dish of vegetarian rice noodles, which tasted really good. Xie Moru came back and told Madam Zhang to let the kitchen learn how to make it.

Dujuan’s vermicelli is usually eaten with shredded chicken, which is a summer dish, but this time it is vegetarian. The vermicelli on the plate is crystal clear, sprinkled with a layer of fried and crispy gluten powder, and then seasoned with oil and salt. Son.Xie Moru tasted it carefully, it was as smooth and tender as ever, but the taste was still different from the one in the temple.Xie Moru said, "It's still a bit worse. I can't tell where I'm on business. When I go next time, I'll ask the temple to make an extra copy and bring it back for the cook to taste. Maybe I can learn it."

Nanny Zhang smiled, "Each cooking has its own secret recipe."

"Mammy said so."

Xie Moru read a book at noon, went to Huazhang Hall in the afternoon and didn't see Xie Moyou, Mr. Ji asked, Xie Moru said, "Second sister probably has something to do." Mr. Ji didn't ask, and gave it to Xie Moru Class alone.

Don't look at the Peony Court's concern for the Rhododendron Court, Xie Moru never cared about the Peony Court.Therefore, Xie Moru didn't know anything about Aunt Ning and Xie Moyou crying back to Peony Courtyard.On the contrary, when Xie Song came home from Luoya, he was first reprimanded by Mrs. Xie, "At the beginning you insisted on her coming in, did I tell you two that if you want to come in, you can! But you can only be a concubine for the rest of your life! Back then , how did you respond to me? The words are still in my ears, today Mo You's mother said in front of Mo Ru that the master of the Ning family is the master of the in-laws? Have you restrained her normally!"

Xie Song doesn't know the reason yet, but since this is his own mother, he can just scold him when he scolds him, and he will feel at ease when his mother scolds him.Xie Song served the tea himself before asking, "What's wrong with mother? If you are angry, it's okay to scold your son again, but mother should not be angry."

Mrs. Xie scolded her son, of course she quit the girl, and after being angry for a long time, Mrs. Xie took a sip of tea and told Xie Song what happened today.Xie Song said, "He's just a foolish slave, just let him go."

Mrs. Xie sneered, "If I didn't have this kind of heart on weekdays, I'm afraid my servant wouldn't be so confused!"

Xie Song persuaded, "Mother thinks too much, Ning Shi has always been submissive."

"Lord Ning has been promoted to the Imperial College Jijiu and Zhan Shifu Zhan Shi, she has a big heart." Mrs. Xie said lightly, "If she had forgotten it at the beginning, you can remind her again."

Xie Song hurriedly said, "Don't worry, mother, I will definitely talk to her well."

Mrs. Xie said again, "It's just that her mother is not in good health. She has been lazy to meet people these years. It is not appropriate for you to have only one servant by your side. Although you are not greedy, there should always be someone who understands by your side."

"Mother, I really don't need it. I'd like to teach Ning Shi well. Don't worry, she will never be so negligent in the future." Xie Song said.

Mrs. Xie sighed softly, "Am I the mother who is willing to put people around my son? If she is really sensible, I can only hope for my son's well-being. Ah Song, it's better to grow up gradually, she is your first daughter. Ning Since you have this kind of heart, I have to guard against it. This inner house is the same as you are an official. Besides the main house and the main wife, which concubine can dominate? Her mother is impatient to come out. These years, Ning has looked submissive. A moment of negligence has raised her heart. If she feels wronged by being your concubine, it's better to let her go out of the house and marry someone else as the main wife. Otherwise, her heart is higher than the sky, and she will feel uncomfortable being a little girl in our house But, I will always be alone for her, causing chaos in the family."

Xie Song had a good meal at his mother's place, and he couldn't help blaming Ning Shi when he went back. Ning Shi had been crying for half a day, and her eyes were swollen into peaches. Seeing her like this, Xie Song sighed, "Okay, don't cry, you won't cry anymore. Be careful what you say and do."

Ning cried, "If I have the slightest disrespect, there will be thunder and thunder."

Xie Songdao, "It's not about that, you are fine at other times, just in time for Master Ning to be promoted, it's obvious that this incident happened on purpose."

These words are really sharper than a knife, and it hurt Ning's unbearably.Ning cried bitterly, "I wish I could gouge out my heart, so that the uncle will know if I am innocent or not!" She herself hated Chen Nanny to death, a good situation, and years of forbearance, was ruined by Chen Nanny.

Xie Song had no choice but to persuade his old lady to persuade his aunt, Aunt Ning cried softly at first, but today she cried really hard, her hair was disheveled, her eyes were rotten, she really lost her former beauty.She gave birth to three sons and one daughter for Xie Song. Although she took care of herself a lot, it was inevitable that she would show a trace of her passing years.Xie Song sighed and stroked his concubine's back.

The unhappiness in Mrs. Xie's heart calmed down a little after the incident at Peony Courtyard, and when she saw her second son, she never forgot to say, "It's better to go and have a look."

Xie Bo raised his eyebrows, "It's fine, why did my mother ask me to go and see Mo Ru, what's the matter?"

"If you have nothing to do, why don't you go? In our family, she is the best with you." Mrs. Xie rubbed her brows lightly, not wanting to say more, "Go." The Peony Courtyard is ambitious, but the Dujuan Courtyard is easy to get along with.Don't say that Fang can't move, Xie Moru is not a fuel-efficient lamp.Alas, Xie Moru is not only inefficient, she is also shining brightly every day, which is hard to ignore.

Xie Bai first went back to his courtyard to change his official uniform, and only then did he find out about the Songbai Courtyard after asking the eldest maid, Mo Ju.Xie Bo frowned, he couldn't say anything about the people in the elder brother's room, but that ignorant woman would never say such disrespectful words for no reason!
After asking the reason, Xie Baifang went to the Rhododendron Courtyard.Xie Bai and Xie Moru sat under the sycamore tree in the courtyard, and said, "Your grandmother is worried about you, so she hurriedly asked me to come and see, lest you will be unhappy if you keep the matter in your heart."

Xie Moru said, "What's so unpleasant about this? I knew it earlier."

Xie Bai said, "Mo Ru, don't think about it too much, the concubine is determined in advance, and no one can change it."

Xie Moru smiled, Second Uncle was really reassuring her, assuring her that her status would not change.How could she not know that if Aunt Ning could straighten her upright, she wouldn't be able to wait until now.Furthermore, she has long known about Aunt Ning's and Mo You's thoughts.

The second uncle felt that the problem was with the concubine, no, this was the root of the disaster.

The root of the disaster has been born.

(End of this chapter)