A Thousand Hills

Chapter 67

The Zhu family quickly sent someone over to send a message, and invited the Xie family to have a drink.

The person from the Zhu family is a daughter-in-law in her forties, she is neatly dressed, she is dressed in blue silk, with one or two gold hairpins on her head, she has a fair complexion and smiling eyes, she is a decent daughter-in-law of the Zhu family.After paying her respects, Mrs. Zhu asked her to sit down. Fang, the daughter-in-law in charge, sat respectfully on the chair, with her hands folded in front of her chest and abdomen, revealing a pair of pure gold bracelets on her wrists.He spoke clearly and neatly, "My wife said, it's not a big deal, just invite aunts, aunts, aunts, aunts, aunts, and young men to come over and have a lively time with the whole family."

Mrs. Xie knew that this was a family feast.But the family banquet may not be small, Mrs. Zhu's maiden name is Shao, and now Mrs. Zhu's brother, Shao Rong, is in charge of the Shao family. Shao Rong is not a high-ranking official.However, Shao Rong's age is similar to that of Xie Shangshu, so we can know how this person's official fortune is.Shao Rong's official position in the court is not obvious, but the Shao family is a wealthy family in Huizhou.Shao Rong's wife, the Su family, was born in the Su family in Huizhou, and she was of the same clan as Su Buyu's father, Su Xiangnai.Besides, Mrs. Zhu's eldest daughter-in-law, the Hu family of Zhu Yan's mother, was born in Cheng Engong Hu's family, the empress dowager's mother's family.His mother is Zhu Shi, wife of the former Marquis Cheng En, and Zhu Shi is also the eldest sister of Mrs. Xie, so the Hu and Zhu families are real uncles and uncles.Everyone knows that the former Marquis Cheng En was beheaded by Princess Ningping and seized the title.

Mrs. Xie smiled and asked the daughter-in-law in charge, "Did you tell the elder sister?"

"The servant girl went to the Cheng'en mansion yesterday, thanks to the blessing of the servant girl. I also saw the old lady Shou'an, and gave the old lady a kiss to say hello." The corner ticked slightly, and quickly stopped the voice.She was so excited when she said that she forgot for a moment that this Miss Sun from the second aunt's family was the face of Cheng Engong's family.Not daring to talk too much anymore, the daughter-in-law in charge ended it with "Auntie said, it's time to go."

Mrs. Xie pretended not to see the embarrassment and cautiousness flashing across the face of the in-charge daughter-in-law, and smiled, "I haven't seen my elder sister and sister-in-law for a long time, so I just took advantage of the happy event of Brother Yan's promotion, so we can have a good get-together." The steward's daughter-in-law went down to have tea.

Mrs. Xie ordered the two sisters to draw up a congratulatory gift for the Zhu family, and also ordered Xie Zhong's wife to prepare the carriage and horses for going out.

Zhu's family banquet is held on holidays, not for other reasons, but for the benefit of each family.

Women's family members are free any day, but the men who are officials are different. It's not a holiday, who has time to come and drink.It is also a common practice for various families to serve wine on holidays.

After breakfast, the big family of Xie's family went to Zhu's house as lightly as possible by car or horseback.The Zhu family is the mansion of the servant, and it is not as grand as the Shangshu mansion, but when you get off the car at the door and change the sedan chair, there are also pavilions, terraces and pavilions along the way. Home.

Until the second gate, Mrs. Xie and the two sisters got off the sedan chair, and the housekeeper's wife came to greet her.When we arrived at the main courtyard where Mrs. Zhu lived, Mrs. Zhu personally brought her daughter-in-law to the door and smiled, "I am thinking about my sister."

Mrs. Xie and Mrs. Zhu held hands and greeted each other. Mrs. Xie smiled, "How dare you trouble my sister-in-law to come out to greet you, you've broken me again."

Mrs. Zhu is in good spirits when there are happy events, and she is a bright person. Although her hair is graying, she still does not change her true colors. .”

The aunt and sister-in-law entered the main hall chatting and laughing, and sat down as the guest of honor, and then a younger generation came forward to say hello.

Mrs. Zhu had three sons and one daughter. The eldest son, Zhu Hong, worked as the sixth-rank official in the master of ceremonies of Honghe Temple. He had to be the sixth-rank official for 20 years, and nothing changed.His son Zhu Yan also passed the sixth grade this year, Xie Moru thought, Zhu Yan's success is in sight.

Zhu Hong has two younger brothers, the second brother Zhu Yi and the third brother Zhu Kuan are both sent out as officials, not in the imperial capital, their official positions are mediocre, but they are all stable.Now under Cheng Huan's knees in the imperial capital are Zhu Hong's family, Zhu Xiao, the eldest son of Zhu Yi, the second wife, and Zhu Yun, the concubine daughter of the third wife.

Zhu Hong married his cousin Hu Shi, and had two sons and a daughter, the eldest son Zhu Yan, the second son Zhu Yun and the eldest daughter Zhu Huan.Although the banquet was held because of Zhu Yan, Zhu Yan was not at home.As Zhu Yun and Zhu Xiao got older, they would not hang out with the female relatives, but went with their father and grandfather to entertain relatives.

At this time, Zhu Hong's wife, Hu Shi, took Zhu Yun's wife, Fang's wife, and Zhu Xiao's wife, Li Shi, to pay her respects to her aunt, Mrs. Xie.

The cousins ​​have met each other before, and Xie Moyou is familiar with it, but Xie Moru is not.Zhu Huan was the oldest, past the age of Ji, and he was talking about the third son of the Qin family, the servant of the Ministry of Rites, who was going to get married next year.Zhu Yun is 14 years old, one generation older than Zhu Huan, one year younger than her, and will be born next year.Although Zhu Yun came from a concubine, fortunately, he was raised under Mrs. Zhu's lap since he was a child, and he is also very generous.In terms of age, the Xie family sisters are still the youngest.

Mrs. Xie and Mrs. Zhu spoke very affectionately. Mrs. Zhu smiled, "I've seen Mo You go out with Princess Yi'an a few times, but it's rare. This child is getting more and more excited."

What Mrs. Zhu is talking about is probably not somewhere else, it must be Cheng'en Gongfu.Otherwise, Xie Moru really couldn't think of where Princess Yi'an went, and Mrs. Zhu also went.Mrs. Xie naturally understood this, and smiled at Xie Moru, "Mo Ruwenjing, I really can't live without her."

Xie Moru shook the round fan to disperse a few wisps of rouge and greasy fragrance that filled the room. He was not modest, but said in a warm voice, "It is right to share worries with grandma."

Mrs. Xie rolled her eyes with a smile, and said to Mrs. Zhu, "This child knows my heart best." Alas, my sister-in-law, don't keep your words in your mouth.What are you talking about.My family has already begun to pay attention to what kind of wife you want to marry your grandson. If you say something in these words, she will pretend not to understand to save face for you.You are a pity.

Mrs. Xie sipped her tea and changed the subject with a smile, "I heard about Brother Yan's promotion, and I told the children about it. Now my sister-in-law, nephew and daughter-in-law can rest assured."

Speaking of her grandson, Mrs. Zhu laughed outright, "I'll tell you my sister, I'm going to beat that scumbag and leave. In the past six or seven years, how have I slept peacefully with your niece and daughter-in-law? We girls have to sleep every month. I went to Xishan Temple to burn incense and pray, hoping that he would be safe. Fortunately, I have been here for six or seven years, and I have done everything with my heart, which is not an insult to my ancestors."

"Sister-in-law is too humble, Emperor He has seen it, brother Yan is also a first-class kid." Mrs. Xie is also happy when her natal nephew is promising, with a constant smile on her face, "When he left, he said this The child acted recklessly, and at that time I persuaded my sister-in-law to do strange things with other people, Brother Yan, you are not an ordinary person. What is going on now, gold is not afraid of fire. This child is the material for this official."

Hu Shi, Zhu Yan's mother, pursed her lips and smiled, "It's not in vain to be a good official."

While everyone was talking, Grandma Shao, Mrs. Zhu's natal nephew and daughter-in-law, arrived. Grandma Shao brought her daughter Shao Fang. Grandma Shao is a junior, and she is also Mrs. Zhu's natal nephew and daughter-in-law. Today, she came to congratulate Mrs. Zhu. Naturally, there are only good things to say.The Shao family is a scholarly family. Shao Fang is 13 years old and is also a gentle lady. She knows all the girls from the Zhu family, but she is not very familiar with the Xie sisters. Zhu Huan introduced Shao Fang to the Xie sisters.

Shao Fang's eyes lingered on Xie Moru's face for a while, and then sat by the side quietly listening to the elders.

Not long after, Mrs. Hu, the wife of the former Marquis Cheng En, Mrs. Zhu's aunt and Mrs. Zhu's mother-in-law, Mrs. Zhu, brought his daughter-in-law, granddaughter-in-law and granddaughter, and other dignified people arrived.Mrs. Zhu, Mrs. Xie and others all stood up to greet them.

Zhu's life was hard to say, and finally married the queen mother's brother, but first she caught up with the emperor Taizu and passed away. He didn't even have a title, and in view of the majesty of the queen mother, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty and the Hu family didn't even dare to fart in the face of such injustice.It was so easy to survive until Queen Mother Cheng died, and then Princess Ningping came to power, and Princess Ningping was relatively generous, and granted the Hu family a Marquis of Chengen.Just a marquis, not even a duke.With such a Marquis of Cheng En, the Hu family had to be grateful and grateful, after all, Princess Ningping was a hundred times more generous than her mother.When her husband became a marquis, the Zhu family was promoted to a first-class marquis, and those years were quite prosperous.As a result, Mrs. Hou didn't enjoy the scenery for a few years, and her husband died all at once.She is the eldest daughter-in-law, it's not that she has no sons, but Princess Ningping insisted on rewarding Lord Cheng En to the second wife, who is now Duke Cheng En.

Don't look at the old lady Shou'an's gritted teeth to hate Princess Ningping, this kind of hatred is nothing more than the hatred of an old mother who lost a child, and a white-haired person gave a black-haired person.For the Zhu family, Princess Ningping was not only the executioner who made her a widow, but also the chief culprit who killed the grandson of the eldest house, leaving the eldest house without a noble to rely on, and had to live under the eaves of the second house.

However, Zhu's temperament is feminine. At the old lady Shou'an's birthday banquet last year, Xie Moru fought against the old lady Shou'an and the two princesses alone. Today, she saw Xie Moru here, and she just said with a smile, "These women Children, all of them are not as good as they are outstanding."

Mrs. Xie said modestly, "She is a child, and the big sister is too proud."

Mrs. Hu obviously helped her mother, and smiled, "Auntie said modesty, mother's words are not wrong, I have seen some people in the world, and all emperors are ladies, but I have never seen someone more outstanding than Mo Ru."

Mrs. Xie glanced at the mother and daughter, tsk tsk, don't be ignorant.At the beginning, my family was able to retreat completely from the face of Mrs. Shou'an and Princess Ningrong. If you don't hit the south wall, you can't shut up.

Mrs. Xie sat peacefully, Xie Moru squeezed a grape from the fruit plate, smiled lightly, and responded to the evaluation of the mother and daughter of the Zhu family and Hu family, "It's natural, the emperor is a lady, and no great-grandmother did it The Empress Dowager, none of the uncles and grandfathers were emperors, and my cousin was also the emperor. Hey, there is no way to do this. It was given by the ancestors, and others cannot envy it. Therefore, I have to accept the praises of the elders. .”

Mrs. Zhu and Mrs. Hu choked to death with a breath lying on her chest. Mrs. Zhu was glad that she didn't have such a mouthful.Mrs. Xie didn't expect Xie Moru to directly use blood to suppress people, so she could only say, "Mo Ru, you still need to be humble."

Xie Moru was slightly surprised, covering her lips with a round fan, "Grandmother is worrying too much, the uncle and wife's house is not outside, otherwise, Mrs. Hu and Grandma Zhu can praise me like this?" His eyes flicked across the mother and daughter , Xie Moru praised, "People say that mothers and daughters are connected, and it really is true."

Mrs. Zhu is ten years older than Mrs. Xie, but she looks like Mrs. Xie's old lady on the outside. Seeing that she is older than her natal sister-in-law, Mrs. Zhu, she giggled like a hen laying eggs, and asked Xie Moru, "Why, Miss Xie now knows that mother and daughter are united, how is Mrs. Wei?"

"Father, mother, husband and wife are loving, how can it be bad?"

father mother!

Did this bastard girl mock her for being a widow for many years!Mrs. Zhu seemed to be stabbed again in an old wound, the pain was unstoppable, but her willpower was still amazing, she forced a smile, put down the teacup in her hand, "Oh, your grandmother is out, and your mother is not there to serve? "

Xie Moru became more and more leisurely, "It's not unusual, last year I went to Cheng'en Gong's mansion to celebrate Mrs. Shou'an's birthday, and I didn't see the eldest wife serving by Mrs. Shou'an's side."

Xie Moru stabbed the second knife, Mrs. Zhu couldn't help but laugh this time, she often served beside her mother-in-law, Mrs. Shou'an, but on the day of her birthday, she was arranged to be in the cubicle to accompany those below the third rank ladies.She is obviously the eldest daughter-in-law!
Zhu's eldest daughter-in-law Wei had no choice but to smooth things over and said, "I heard that Miss Xie is eloquent, but seeing her today, she really deserves her reputation."

Xie Moru said modestly, "It's all the elders who love me wrongly. Everyone likes to talk to me. I have to accompany you a little bit to make the elders happy."

Zhu Shi, one of the "elders", couldn't help laughing this time.

Mrs. Xie pursed her lips and smiled, opened her eyes and talked nonsense to Mrs. Zhu, "No, it could be my happy fruit at home."

Mrs. Zhu said in her heart that she knew that the second sister-in-law was the best at turning a blind eye and pretending to be confused.After all, it is at Zhu's house, Mrs. Zhu can't watch her sister-in-law being driven mad by Xie Moru, so she continues to pretend to be confused by Mrs. Xie, "It just so happens that the pistachios in this fruit plate are new. My son’s dried fruit is rare and sweet, everyone should try it.” I beg you, eat something, shut up if it’s okay.Give your daughter-in-law Hu Shi a wink to appease your mother.

Useless stuff, just added fuel to the fire.

Mrs. Hu dragged her mother Mrs. Zhu to gossip, and Mrs. Zhu went down the donkey down the slope, which really disturbed her natal family's banquet.

The enemy died down, Xie Moru had always been broad-minded, she smiled slightly and withdrew her magical powers.

(End of this chapter)