Rebirth as Hou Menfu

Chapter 3

After passing the gate of Nanyang Marquis' Mansion, the mood of watching the market faded a lot, Yingxiu suppressed the trembling in her eyes, let go of her hands and leaned on the soft cushion, squinting her eyes and her face turned pale.

Baoqin thought she was not feeling well, took a small blanket to cover her body, and told the driver outside to walk more slowly.

It didn't take long for the carriage to arrive at the gate of Qiao's Mansion. Ziyan got out of the carriage first and helped her down. Yingxiu put her hands in a pair of velvet white sleeves and walked a few steps up the stairs. Before they were taken into the inner courtyard, Qiao's mansion was almost the same as what I remembered. Grandpa always liked Wuchang, and even the rockery in the flower bed in the courtyard was the same as what I saw when I was a child.

The mother who led the way kept talking about how the old lady misses her, Yingxiu smiled and occasionally answered a few words, and when she arrived at the yard where old lady Qiao lived, the mother who had been serving her for many years was waiting at the door, "Old man People have been talking about this little lady these days."

Yingxiu followed Ms. Wang into the house. Madam Qiao Zhong was giving instructions to her daughter-in-law. When she saw Mrs. Wang bringing her in, she put down the brocade cloth in her hand and beckoned Yingxiu to go over.

Although there was some longing in her heart, Yingxiu still seemed unfamiliar, hesitated for a while, and slowly walked to her bed and settled down. Mrs. Qiao touched her cheek lovingly, and said to Mrs. Qiao opposite, "This girl , how lively she used to be, but the older she grows up, the quieter her temper becomes, and she doesn't know who she looks like, and she is cautious when meeting anyone."

Yingxiu's eyes were sore, Mrs. Qiao saw it, and there was a flash of pity in her eyes, and she embraced her as she spoke, "Our Xiu'er is a poor person, she must have suffered a lot in Shen's residence. gone."

Yingxiu smelled the faint scent of incense, and said coquettishly, "Grandma, Xiu'er will live here for several months, so don't despise Xiu'er then." Yingxiu's temper comes from her mother , talking softly and sounding very comfortable, Mrs. Qiao on the opposite side smiled and said, "Don't talk about staying for a few months, I'm willing to stay longer, I'm afraid you won't be able to stay!"

"Your aunt is right, I'm just afraid that you, a little girl, won't be able to stay." Mrs. Qiao took good care of her words and smiled cheerfully, "You can live in your mother's former yard, A Ling , find someone to clean it up, if there is anything missing, tell your aunt, she, just need a girl to bother her!"

Mrs. Qiao held a semi-finished embroidered handkerchief in her hand and smiled very gently. Yingxiu knew that her aunt was a very capable person. As a housewife, she could make almost all the servants in the house full of praise. The outside world has a high opinion of the eldest daughter-in-law of Qiao Dashi's family, and Yingxiu was also very admired back then.

"That's only if my aunt doesn't annoy me." Yingxiu smiled and picked up a handkerchief from the plate and looked at it, "Is this a gift from Chunfang this year?"

"Yeah, we are also having a headache. What should Chunfang give to guests this year." Mrs. Qiao has been in charge of the family for many years. Most of the women's relatives are relatively well-connected in the capital, and the host's Qiao Mansion will give them gifts, usually with exquisite small objects to win the favor of the wives and ladies.

Yingxiu only came here with her mother when she was very young, and she never came here again. Although the embroidered handkerchief in her hand is a semi-finished product, it is more delicate than the handkerchief Yingxiu usually uses. It's mainly a thought, "Xiu'er has seen an interesting one. A few days ago, one of the maids came over with a piece of pancreas to offer a treasure, saying that it was not sold in the capital. It has a more fragrant aroma, and it is said that it is smoked from flowers."

The two of them glanced at each other, but they became a bit interested. Yingxiu put the handkerchief back on the plate, "If Auntie is interested, I will bring you the piano later. It smells good. I happen to have two handkerchiefs with me." block."

Mrs. Qiao nodded with a smile, and did not say no.After sitting for a while, Ms. Wang came to report that the yard had been tidied up. Yingxiu followed Ms. Wang and walked to the yard where her mother used to go. Baoqin followed her and muttered softly, "Miss, that soap is obviously You made it yourself before, how can you say you bought it?"

Yingxiu paused, turned around and poked her on the forehead, "What's the difference between buying and making, as long as they like it, it's bought, understand?"

Baoqin nodded half-understood, Yingxiu sighed and continued to walk forward, the iron-like fact told her that there are some things that she would rather pretend she doesn't know.

Miss Qiao Qingran's yard was also separate when she was a girl. Compared with Yingxiu's current yard in Shen's residence, it was larger. Mrs. Qiao was often taken care of by others, so it was very convenient to move in. After Mama Wang sent them in, Wanting to help clean up together, Yingxiu held her hand and refused to let her go, "Mother Wang, this is the soap I mentioned just now, please take it to grandma and aunt, everything here is almost packed, I Come and do it."

Yingxiu asked Baoqin to take out the soap she had brought and hand it to Ms. Wang, "I have to trouble Ms. Wang to go this way." Ms. Wang didn't force her anymore, she took the box and went back to Mrs. Qiao's yard.Yan's mother sent people to move all the things in. The yard was cleaned very clean, but there was a deserted smell. Yingxiu asked Baoqin to bring a pair of scissors. Just after leaving the house, a woman dressed as the master's mother led three A maid came over.

"Miss Biao, Madam said that if you finish your work here, you can go to the old lady's yard for dinner." Cheng's mother left the three maids behind, and Yingxiu asked Ziyan to bring some broken silver to Cheng's mother, "I don't have any rules. , you go to Yan's mother to see if there is anything you need to help."

After finishing speaking, she pulled the hem of the skirt and squatted down, took the scissors and began to trim the flower pots beside the flower bed.

The three servant girls looked at each other in blank dismay. One in purple walked towards the house first, and then the two followed quickly. Yingxiu's eyes fell on the dwarf tree with fallen leaves. There are some invisible buds sprouting from the joints of the branches. Looking up, along the wall, dense moss is crawling on it, and there are a few white clouds floating in the distant sky, blue and white.

There was a sound of footsteps at the gate of the courtyard, Yingxiu stood up and tapped her slightly sore legs, a man of sixteen or seventeen came up to him, followed by a boy who was about the same age as Yingxiu, "Sister Yingxiu, You didn’t say a word when you came, and my second brother and I finished running, so grandma came here again.”

Yingxiu smiled and watched Qiao Jinlu mumbling there, "You can also wait for me at grandma's place, see you later."

Qiao Jinze had the illusion that the cousin in front of her seemed to be a little different, and she was different from the time she went to visit that day. She was a little less impetuous, and gave people a more peaceful feeling.

"I thought you wouldn't come." When Qiao Jinze went to Shen's mansion that day, although Yingxiu didn't refuse clearly, she could still tell from her words that she had no intention of coming. When she came back from the academy, she heard her mother say that her cousin was Qiao Jinze was very surprised.

Yingxiu smiled without answering, went back to the house and took out all the gifts given to them, and then took Baoqin to Mrs. Qiao's yard.

Grandpa and uncle hadn't come back yet, Yingxiu had dinner with Mrs. Qiao and chatted for a while, Mrs. Qiao was very interested in the soap, "Yingxiu, is it scented with flowers? It does smell better than normal."

Yingxiu shook her head as she drank the black tea that had been brewed after dinner, "I heard from the girls that incense flower essence was added to it, and it also has a different aroma. The smell of laurel and rose is different." Mrs. Qiao After listening, she nodded and didn't ask any more questions. Yingxiu saw that Mrs. Qiao was a little tired, so she said goodbye and went back to the yard. Qiao Jinlu stopped her halfway.

Qiao Jinlu, who is two years younger than Yingxiu, is very good-looking, with red lips and white teeth, which is a bit girly. Seeing Yingxiu looking at her with a smile and not speaking, Qiao Jinlu blushed and couldn't say enough, "Cousin Yingxiu, two Brother said that Xiu Mu is going to play, you...will you go?"

"I'm going to Wan'an Temple in two days."

"Then let's go to Wan'an Temple, Cousin Yingxiu, let's go together." Qiao Jinlu's tone was pleading, and Yingxiu burst out laughing, "Why don't you go with your schoolmate, what are you doing with me?"

"They are not fun. They talk about the Nine Princes all day long." Things in the court are unpredictable. The emperor is old. Students will naturally discuss in private, and will form their own small parties.

Yingxiu frowned slightly. As far as she knew, the Ninth Prince was not the last candidate for the emperor, nor was the Ninth Prince who was supported by the Marquis. The Emperor was still alive. Such a thing must not be involved. Fortunately, Qiao Jinlu didn't like it. The Qiao family has always maintained a neutral attitude towards such political affairs. Grandpa has always been a royalist faction and did not participate in any courting.

Thinking of this, she was slightly relieved, "Going to Wan'an Temple is very boring. If you can stay, you can go with me for two days." Qiao Jinlu got her approval and went back happily. She was still not used to being with them. Being too close, Yingxiu sighed, even though her grandma's eyes were full of doting on her, she still subconsciously wanted to keep a little distance, as if this life was stolen by herself, it could happen at any time Take it back.

What is the purpose of living so cautiously?
Yingxiu stayed on the path for a while, and followed Baoqin from a distance without daring to bother her. These days, the lady often did this. Sister Qingbi said that the lady knocked her head too much when she fainted. There are many things to think about. Can't get up, the young lady must have thought of something again, Baoqin stared at her and dared not relax, for fear that she would faint again.

When she returned to the yard, Mother Yan had already packed up the house. Ziyan found some fresh mint grass from somewhere, crushed some and put them in the incense burner, and the room exuded a light smell. Aroma, very refreshing.

"Miss Biao, we are sent by my wife to serve you. My name is Ruizhu. This is Qiutong and Zhui'er." The maid brought by Cheng's mother early in the morning was brought into the house by Yan's mother. The leader of the three respectfully introduced himself and the other two to Yingxiu. Yingxiu took a special look at her a few more times and felt familiar, but couldn't remember where she had seen her before.

"I will live in Qiao's Mansion for a while, and I need your help. I don't have a lot of rules, and you can follow Mama Yan from now on. By the way, Ruizhu, are you familiar with Wan'an Temple?"

"I have been there twice with the old lady, so I know something about it." Yingxiu nodded, "Well, I am planning to go to Wan'an Temple to offer incense on my rest day. If you are familiar with it, come with me."

Ruizhu suppressed the surprise in her eyes, nodded and said yes, she felt a little sleepy after rushing early in the morning, Yingxiu asked them to go out and get busy by themselves, and she let Baoqin serve her lunch.

Ruizhu walked out with Qiutong and Zhui'er, and Zhui'er behind her was a little impatient, and when she reached the small kitchen, she couldn't help but uttered, "Sister Ruizhu, that cousin wants you to go to Wan'an Temple , do you fancy you and want to take you away in the future?"

"What nonsense, Miss Biao just wants to find someone familiar to lead the way. Are you dissatisfied with the old lady asking you to serve here?" Ruizhu and the three of them were all assigned by Mrs. Qiao directly, After all, it was Miss Biao who came over from Shen's residence, and in the eyes of the maids in Qiao's residence, it was not a good job to come to serve her.

Zhui'er pursed her lips, "I heard that Miss Cousin is difficult to get along with."

"Who are you listening to nonsense again? Miss Biao is such a nice person." Seeing her despondent face, Rui Zhu was still a little worried, "It's up to us to see if Miss Biao gets along well, not to listen to others, old man Since you let us come here, you have to serve us with all your heart, if you think about it like this, why don't I tell Mother Cheng to let you go back."

Zhui'er was a little anxious when she heard that, she took Ruizhu's hand and said that she knew she was wrong, and then Ruizhu calmed down and took them to prepare things for Wan'an Temple.Not long after, Yingxiu changed her clothes and was about to go to bed, Ziyan hurried in and said something in her ear, Yingxiu nodded, she really saw the right person.

(End of this chapter)