A Thousand Hills

Chapter 55

New Year's Day.

On the fourth watch, Nanny Zhang told Xie Moru to get up.

After washing and washing, Mammy Zhang ordered the servant girl to serve hot dumplings, Xie Moru said, "Mommy, sit down and eat with me."

Nanny Zhang agreed, and sat at the head of Xie Moru, and Wisteria hurriedly added a table and chopsticks.Mammy Zhang said to Wisteria, "You and Wutong go to eat first, and you will have to follow the girl there." Wisteria Wutong bowed and retreated, Qiuju Lamei served by the side, Mammy Zhang saw that her girl had no energy, He laughed and said, "This is the only day in a year. We celebrate the New Year's Eve and we get together early. When you come back at noon, the girl will be able to rest and refresh herself." Holding a dumpling for Xie Moru and putting it on the porcelain plate in front of her, she said, "Miss, try it. Taste, this is three fresh stuffing."

Xie Moru smiled, "Nurse eats too."

There are four kinds of fillings for dumplings, one is three delicacies, one is mutton, one is fish, and one is tofu and vegetables.

Xie Moru lacked energy, so he ate one or two of each dish and drank half a bowl of dumpling soup, and he was full.Just when Suxin came over, Suxin invited An to celebrate the New Year, and said with a smile, "My wife said, the princess and the second master will come over today, let me come and serve the girl to go there earlier."

Xie Moru said, "You came by coincidence, Wisteria, give Suxin a red envelope."

Su Xin saluted with a smile, "Thank you, miss." Seeing Xie Moru rinsing her mouth, she hurried over to serve her.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Xie Moru also changed into red clothes in response to Jing'er, combed her hair in a bun, put pearls and flowers on her hairpin, and sat on the couch in the outer hall.Wisteria Wutong pulled the servants in the house to come forward to pay New Year's greetings and kowtow, and Nanny Zhang had a New Year's purse for each of them.Then there are the little maids and rough envoys in the courtyard, each with their own rewards.There are only a limited number of servants in the Du Juan courtyard, and when the servants pay New Year's greetings, Xie Moru confessed to Madam Zhang, "If someone comes to pay New Year's greetings, Madam will watch and offer a reward."

Nanny Zhang agreed, but it was still dark outside, so she told the mother-in-law to carry a lantern to light up the road.

Xie Moru first went to the small courtyard to salute, then took the wisteria and sycamore, followed by Suxin, and went to the Songbai courtyard together.Just after leaving the Rhododendron Courtyard, I saw Aunt Ning and Aunt Sun coming together. Aunt Sun saluted, "Happy Chinese New Year, big girl." Mo Ru walked to meet each other, her feet were slightly sluggish, seeing that Aunt Sun was about to finish her salute, she had to follow along to greet Xie Moru, Xie Moru still received half of the salute sideways.

Xie Moru said, "Mother is still resting, there is no need to go to pay her respects."

Aunt Sun said, "The lady mistress is generous, it's my concubine's blessing. It's just that today isn't any better than tomorrow, we don't dare to take it too seriously, and it's the same when saluting outside the door."

Xie Moru didn't say any more, and said to Wutong, "Go talk to Nanny Zhang about the New Year's purse for the two aunts." After speaking, he nodded slightly to the two, and took the maid and mother-in-law away .

Aunt Ning thinks she has lived for decades, and her concentration and self-control are top-notch. Moreover, after several months of introspection in the Peony Garden, she also understands that she is an aunt after all, and Fang's one day, she must abide by her aunt's duty of.However, face to face is really embarrassing.It's not that Xie Moru was mean, if Xie Moru was willing to be mean to her, Aunt Ning would be extremely happy.However, Xie Moru just ignores, Xie Moru abides by the etiquette, but, from her behavior, words and deeds, you will clearly understand that she turns a blind eye to you in her eyes, as if you are so humble that you cannot enter her eyes.

Aunt Ning took a deep breath, seeing that Xie Moru had left, she said to Aunt Sun, "Sister, let's go."

Aunt Sun nodded, she didn't have the embarrassment and humiliation of Aunt Ning, she just felt that the big girl was very majestic and very unattractive.It's just that the eldest girl can't see her as an aunt, and Aunt Sun doesn't feel it. Her natal family is down and out, and the Shangshufu gave three thousand silver, which is no different from buying.The eldest girl just couldn't see her, and she didn't bully or abuse her. Aunt Sun felt that the eldest girl's turning a blind eye was much better than the second girl's thinking eyes.

The two aunts kowtowed outside the Dujuan courtyard, and Zhang Nai came out, each with a purse, and said, "My aunts are caring, and the eldest grandma is resting, so I won't invite my aunts to come in for tea."

The two thanked each other and received their purses according to the etiquette, and went back to their respective courtyards.

When Xie Moru came to Songbaiyuan, he also paid New Year's greetings.

Xie Moyou, Xie Zhi and the others were already there, and the servant girls put cushions on the ground, Xie Moru went up to kowtow to pay New Year's greetings, saying, "May grandpa, grandma and father be safe and well."

She and Xie Moru have been sisters for more than ten years. Since she can remember, Xie Moru couldn't help the corners of her lips twitching every time she saw Xie Moru paying New Year's greetings.They are all elders who kowtow to each other, Xie Moru is good, and three elders kowtow to each other, how can the elders be divided.

Mrs. Xie smiled, "I'm one year older, and I hope you are safe and well." Handing out lucky red envelopes.

Xie Moru kowtowed and got three red envelopes.After she thanked her and sat down, Xie Moyou brought his younger brothers to pay New Year's greetings to the eldest sister. Brothers and sisters don't need big gifts, Xie Moru also prepared a purse, Wisteria hurriedly handed it over, and Xie Moru gave one to each of the younger brothers and sisters.

After sitting for a while, Xie Bo and Princess Yi'an arrived.No one dared to call Princess Yi'an New Year's greetings. The main reason is that everyone gave New Year's greetings to Princess Yi'an. Princess Yi'an smiled, "Don't be polite to your parents-in-law and elder brother, sit down."

The juniors paid New Year greetings to Princess Yi'an and the second uncle, and each of them got a big red envelope.Xie Bo paid New Year's greetings to the two elders, and then said a few words, Xie Shangshu, Xie Song, Mrs. Xie and Princess Xie Bai Yi'an were going to enter the palace, the courtiers went to pay New Year's greetings to the emperor, and Princess Yi'an, Mrs. Xie, went to the Palace of Mercy to give New Year's greetings to the Empress Dowager.

Mrs. Xie said to Xie Moru, "The family will be left to you and Mo You."

Xie Moru said, "Grandmother, don't worry, Chinese New Year is a festive event."

Mrs. Xie smiled, "That's right."

Xie Moru continued, "I reckon that there must be quite a few people from the clan who came to pay New Year's greetings. The inner house matters include me and my second younger sister. Outside matters, I ordered the maid to heat up the outer study, and asked Ah Zhi to bring Ah Shu and A Yu. As the chief steward assistant, you don’t need to neglect the clansmen.”

This remark was beyond Mrs. Xie's expectations. It is true that Xie Moru is meticulous and thoughtful as a director. For Xie Zhi and the others, it is only meticulous and thoughtful.Normally, Xie Moru didn't talk much to Xie Zhi and the others, he didn't want to take the initiative to ask Xie Zhi and the others to go to the outer study to receive the clansmen who came to pay New Year's greetings.Moreover, Xie Moru's arrangements are so proper that there will be no mistakes if the big housekeeper is to assist.In fact, it is to let Xie Zhi and the others show their faces in front of the clansmen, so that they can get familiar first.Mrs. Xie looked at Shangshu Xie and smiled, "I think it will work."

Xie Shangshu smiled slightly, "Very good."

Princess Yi'an couldn't help but look at Xie Moru more, if she didn't know that Xie Moru killed Aunt Ning personally, if she didn't see it with her own eyes and heard it today, Princess Yi'an would not believe that Xie Moru would just praise her so naturally. There are three Zhi brothers.What a strange person, Princess Yi'an understands why the son-in-law treats Xie Moru differently.

Xie Moyou's eyes were full of gratitude and complexity, as if Xie Moru had said an insignificant matter, and had no special reaction at all.It was Xie Song who confessed to his three sons, "It's nice to entertain the clansmen, if there is anything you don't understand, ask the butler."

The three of Xie Zhi agreed in unison.

Xie Moru and Xie Moyou sent them to the second gate, and Xie Zhi and the others continued to send the elders to the gate.

After returning to Songbai Courtyard, Xie Moru ordered Suxin to go to the outer study, watch it for herself, make a few more charcoal pots, cover them with smoke cages, and order the big maid beside Xie Zhi and the others to clean up the supply of hot water and soup. Send the big hairy clothes to the outer study, and then order the three of them to serve them.

For a while, Xie Zhong's daughter-in-law brought the housekeeper's daughter-in-law over to pay New Year's greetings, Xie Moru ordered Suxin to hand out the reward money, and then the women from all over came to kowtow, and the stewards kowtowed outside the second door, all of them had red envelopes for reward money.

After making the arrangement, Xie Moru held the stove and sat quietly, Xie Moyou said, "Big sister, why don't the rewards from the men be given out from the outer study?"

Xie Moru said, "Why do you face the north when receiving the order at home?"

Xie Moyou was stunned for a moment, she wanted to be kind to her younger brothers, how could it be related to receiving the imperial edict.Nanny Qi whispered, "Girl, your majesty sits facing north and your ministers face north, which means to thank you on the face." Outside the second gate, they all face the direction of the main courtyard.What Xie Moru meant was nothing more than saying that the servants received the kindness from Mrs. Xie and Shangshu, not the kindness from Xie Zhi and others.

Xie Moyou said, "I just think it's cheap, there's no other meaning, big sister, don't get me wrong."

Xie Moru closed his eyes and sat quietly.

Xie Moyou pulled the handkerchief in his hand, pouted, and didn't speak.Nanny Qi secretly sighed, Xie's family has a generous family style, after Xie Bai became the lord, any children in the future will be raised in the princess mansion, and the eldest house will only have these few children, the children are weak and strong, even if they are evenly divided now, Xie Moru is open-minded and doesn't care about small things Otherwise, if Xie Moyou was so careless, if he were to change to a wealthy family with a complicated population, he would have been calculated by others so that there would be no bones left.

When Mrs. Xie Xie Shangshu and others returned at noon, the reunion banquet had been prepared, and the dish of blessing dishes given by the palace yesterday was not forgotten.Princess Yi'an was also invited by Xie Bo to have a reunion dinner together. Seeing Xie Moru, Princess Yi'an replied, "The Empress Dowager asked about Madam Wei."

Xie Moru was a little surprised, and said, "Thank you for your highness, but I don't know what the empress dowager asked my mother?"

Princess Yi'an sat on the warm couch at the top, dressed in red palace makeup, extremely graceful and luxurious, and smiled, "It's nothing, just asking me how is Mrs. Wei?"

"Since the Empress Dowager has asked, I would like to ask Your Highness to return to the palace again. Everything is fine with my mother." Xie Moru smiled cheerfully. She was always indifferent. It was the first time Princess Yi'an saw her so happy, and she felt deeply in her heart. Strange, is this something to be happy about?You know, the Queen Mother and the eldest princess also have a lot of grudges.

Xie Moru didn't seem to have any intention of explaining, sitting behind his food table, poured himself a cup of mellow fruit wine, and drank it slowly.Mrs. Xie smiled, "The empress dowager is gracious, I know you are happy, this table has not yet started, so don't get drunk." I have to wait for the princess to start the table.

"It's more than grace, it makes me terrified." Xie Moru put the wine cup on the table and said, "Fortunately, the empress dowager asked how my mother is. If she asks if my mother is still alive, wouldn't it make people Do you think too much?"

Princess Yi'an's complexion changed drastically, her relaxed back suddenly straightened, and she hurriedly said, "Mo Ru, don't think too much, the Queen Mother has a straightforward temper, she just said it casually." Well, if Mrs. Wei has something good or bad, she can I really can't speak clearly.The queen mother always thinks of what to say. The last time she mentioned old lady Shou'an, she told old lady Shou'an to eat the favor of Princess Wenkang.In fact, speaking of it, Mrs. Shou'an is so innocent, but who is the empress dowager?Even if her old man is wrong, the unlucky ones are those around her.This matter is not as simple as eating and drinking, Mrs. Wei, but if she offends her husband's family and the royal family at the same time, where is her foothold?Thinking about it this way, in the warm hall like spring, Princess Yi'an broke out in a cold sweat.

Mrs. Xie's complexion was also not very good, she smoothed things over and said, "Yes, I think the Queen Mother just said it casually." It's really scary to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Xie Moru didn't have the temperament to be fooled casually, she said, "Last time, His Majesty didn't say a word, and rewarded mother directly, and the reward was silk and antiques, so it can be seen that it is a reward. This time, the Queen Mother just asked, and did not reward. Therefore It can be seen that there are villains around the Queen Mother."

Xie Moyou wanted to say, oh, according to Xie Moru, whoever asks Mrs. Wei Guo has to reward him with something.I heard Xie Moru continue, "We are an ordinary family of officials, and we are dizzy during the New Year, let alone the royal family? The queen mother presides over the palace banquet and rewards orders. How can I suddenly think of my mother? As far as I can remember, my mother has been living in seclusion in the Dujuan courtyard. In the past ten years, I have never seen the empress dowager ask about it. If something goes wrong, it must be a demon. In addition to the busy New Year's Eve, the big festival, the festive day, the empress dowager asked my mother in the midst of her busy schedule, so there must be a reason."

"My mother has the grace of His Majesty to live in the Dujuan Courtyard. If the Empress Dowager has the heart to ask her about the situation of her mother living in the Dujuan Courtyard, she will be rewarded as much as your Majesty. There is no reward, and if she wants to ask, it must be about life and death. Listen to what His Highness said. It is said that the Empress Dowager does not ask about life and death, but only asks good or bad, and there is no reward, so it can be seen that the Empress Dowager's question must be started by a villain." If the Empress Dowager Hu asked about life and death, it might be the emperor's secret instruction, and now this casual question, How abrupt, it must not have been ordered by the emperor.Then, it can only be provoked by the people around him.

Princess Yi'an said sternly, "The queen mother is surrounded by loyal servants, why don't you just make a random guess without evidence, so it's not good to speak so casually."

"I said it casually, it is harmless. There is a difference between loyalty and treachery among courtiers, not to mention that there are many people with ulterior motives around the Empress Dowager." Xie Moru said with a natural smile, "I said it casually, but I just want to warn those people not to try to use the Empress Dowager Your highness, your highness is kind-hearted, but unfortunately there are too many villains in the world, and without knowing it, you have been implicated by their use. Your highness was raised by the empress dowager herself. Friendship and closeness are better than mother and daughter. This matter is strange. If Your Highness thinks that I am talking nonsense, you are noble and you are an elder, you will not care about me, just ignore it. If Your Highness thinks there is one or two things Reasonable, when you speak out to the Empress Dowager, you will not be in vain of the mother-daughter relationship between the Empress Dowager and His Highness."

At this time, Princess Yi'an knew the strength of Xie Moru, she was just passing on a message, after Xie Moru's analysis, she vividly restored the scheme of the Queen Mother.She didn't want to get involved in this matter, but she told Xie Moru that it would be impossible if she didn't get involved!
As far as Princess Yi'an herself was concerned, she was also a little annoyed. Just now she had thought that if Mrs. Wei really made a mistake because of her words, she would really have to take the responsibility for the Queen Mother.It's just going to the palace to pay New Year's greetings and fall into someone else's scheme!Princess Yi'an is also a princess, how can people be so calculating, she said with a cold face, "If there are villains who act like this, I will not allow them!" After a little thought, Princess Yi'an made a decision, said, "Your Majesty is old, and it's the New Year's Eve. I said directly that I'm afraid I'll anger her old man. In the afternoon, I'll go to Sister Wenkang's place to discuss with Sister Wenkang and come up with an idea. I can't let your Majesty be deceived by these villains. .”

Xie Moyou was familiar with Princess Yi'an, and quickly persuaded, "His Royal Highness, calm down. We already know the ins and outs, and the villain has also shown his signs. It is only a matter of time to punish rape and eliminate evil. If such villains disturb the New Year It's just a good day, Your Highness, try it, this is the peach blossom wine brewed by the second uncle."

Princess Yi'an smiled, "That's right, I really disturbed the interest of the villains, and I flattered them." He raised his glass, "Come on, let's have a toast, and hope that the weather will be good and safe this year." To Sherbe.Xie Bai held up a cup to lightly touch her, and Princess Yi'an drank the wine in the glass with a smile.

Everyone did it.

Because the princess is here, the reunion wine is eaten separately.

After the reunion wine, Princess Yi'an and Xie Bai returned to the consort's mansion. In the car, Princess Yi'an couldn't help asking, "My son-in-law, are you really as good as you said?"

Xie Bai said, "Your Highness has made a judgment in his heart."

Princess Yi'an patted the soft couch bitterly, "I thought it was just the empress who said something casually, but I remembered it when I saw Mo Ru. Unexpectedly, it was dangerous."

Princess Yi An really didn't think too much about it, otherwise she would have discussed it with Xie Moru before sending the message.Xie Bai said, "It's better to go directly to the eldest princess's mansion."

"at this time?"

"Naturally." As for Princess Wenkang, Empress Dowager Hu is her own mother, and Princess Yi'an was also raised by Empress Dowager Hu alone. Could it be that knowing that Empress Dowager Hu is being plotted against, she still wants to go back to the mansion to take a nap before telling her?

Princess Yi'an nodded and was silent for a long time, Xie Bo held her hand, "Don't worry, I'm here."

Princess Yi'an sighed, "I know."

(End of this chapter)