First Concubine

Chapter 106: Leveraging Strength (2)

Zhuge Xi glanced aside and noticed that Yao Cheng's eyes flashed and he avoided her visit. Zhuge Xi's eyelashes trembled, and his eyes darkened a bit.

The old lady said with bright eyes: "The two children will always be together, and it is good to move around more." She did not mention the remarriage of the two, nor did she say anything wrong with their current situation.

Mrs. Yao didn't have much contact with the old lady, and she still couldn't figure out the old lady's character, so she picked up some nice words and said: "The old lady is reasonable. I will come to visit Xiao Xi more often when I have time." ”

Leng Youru raised her eyes and looked at the dazzling sunshine outside the door, and said calmly: "The weather is hot, running back and forth can easily cause heatstroke. Mrs. Yao, please be careful."

Mrs. Yao has cold legs, which cramps in pain as soon as winter comes. She doesn’t feel very comfortable even if she walks a lot on weekdays. Zhuge Xi also looked outside the door, his eyes darkening a bit.

 “The Crown Princess is here.”

Following the report from the maid outside the door, Shui Linglong walked into the bright hall. After seeing the people in the room, she was slightly surprised, but she still greeted everyone calmly.

The moment the old lady saw Shui Linglong, her eyes narrowed into two crescent moons. Linglong is her grandson-in-law, and only with a grandson-in-law can she have a great-grandson. The old lady made a calculation and concluded: Linglong is equal to a great-grandson. …

"Come here, come and sit next to grandma." The old lady waved to Shui Linglong. Ping'er quickly moved a spoon and put it next to the old lady. Shui Linglong walked over and sat down, and the old lady took one and peeled it off. The lychees that she was reluctant to eat were brought to Shui Linglong's mouth, "quenching her thirst."

Shui Linglong ate it into her mouth with a smile. The old lady narrowed her eyes and smiled: "Be good!"

The old lady put a whole plate of lychees on Shui Linglong's hand: "Eat, they still have some after eating."

Mrs. Yao felt sad. The old lady obviously loved Linglong more than Xiao Xi. It was pity that her Xiao Xi still had one in her belly and was so unwelcome!

Feng Yanying lowered her head and said nothing. In fact, in the past in the Yao family, Mrs. Yao and her mother-in-law were also kinder to Zhuge Xi than to her, even though Zhuge Xi had nothing to do and she gave birth to two sons. It was impossible to say that there was no imbalance in her heart, so while she felt sorry for Zhuge Xi, she also felt a little happy that "it turns out that you too will have such a day"... Sigh! People’s hearts are complicated!

Mrs. Yao suppressed the discomfort in her heart, smiled and said, "It's getting late, we should go back home." After saying this, she glanced at Zhuge Xi unabashedly.

Leng Youru said calmly: "Xiao Xi, you and Yao Cheng will see Mrs. Yao off."

"Yes, concubine." Zhuge Xi bowed respectfully, and he and Yao Cheng sent Mrs. Yao off, while Dong Jialin and Feng Yanying walked out hand in hand.

Shui Linglong raised her eyebrows. Today's princess seemed to be less unworldly. Usually she only wears a plain white skirt, but today she wears a purple gauze skirt. The skirt is decorated with jade beads, and the luster is like her fair skin, making her instantly charming.

 The princess is really beautiful when she dresses up...

After leaving Tian'anju, Mrs. Yao winked at Mother Lin. Mother Lin quickly handed the two food boxes she had prepared early in the morning to Hua Rong. Hua Rong twisted them and they were heavy, not like...cakes!

Mrs. Yao took Zhuge Xi's hand and said, "Xiao Xi, I know you like to eat lychees. The Queen ordered someone to send some back to the old lady yesterday. The old lady left some for Brother Tong and Brother Zhi. I’ll give you a few as a toothpaste, and I’ll get the rest for you. If you can’t finish it, you can give it to others or reward others.”

When Zhuge Xi heard that neither Brother Zhi nor Brother Tong had anything to eat, he couldn't help but feel guilty: "I'll just keep one box and give the other box to Brother Zhi and Brother Tong to take back."

Mrs. Yao glanced at Yao Cheng, who looked slightly depressed, with her peripheral vision, and said with a smile: "You and Yao Cheng eat together."

Zhuge Xi felt a little unhappy after hearing this. Is this because he was afraid that Yao Cheng would suffer in the palace? Could it be that if she has good things, she keeps them all to herself and will not share them with Yao Cheng?

Mrs. Yao did have this worry. She recalled that in the past in the Yao family, all of them were very good to Zhuge Xi, even better than Feng Yanying, but the person they loved most was always Yao Cheng, and they had to follow Yao Cheng first in everything. Now that Yao Cheng has arrived at the Zhuge family, she will naturally worry that everyone in the Zhuge family will favor Zhuge Xi and ignore Yao Cheng's preferences, especially since Yao Cheng has lost his official position and has a strange disease... He is easily disliked by others. She is a mother-in-law. I often wake up crying from my dreams...

Yao Cheng noticed that Mrs. Yao's eyes were red. He stepped forward to block Zhuge Xi's sight and asked in a low voice: "Mom, what's wrong with you?"

No matter how sarcastic Mrs. Yao was, she didn't want her son to worry about her. She quickly wiped away her tears and showed a big smile: "It's nothing, there is sand in my eyes. Please stay with Xiao Xi. Mom will go back first."

The moment Mrs. Yao turned around, Yao Chengming saw a few white hairs from her black temples...

After everyone left, Zhuge Xi asked Yao Cheng: "Yao Cheng, did you ask your mother to come here?"

Yao Cheng had become extremely sensitive recently, and now he suddenly saw the white hair on his mother's head, which was so uncomfortable that it made Zhuge Xi's sparse and ordinary tone sarcastic in his ears. He frowned and said in a bad tone: "Does my mother need to get your approval when she comes to visit me in the house?" In fact, he told his mother that the old lady valued Linglong more than Xiaoxi. He felt sorry for his mother. Come and care about Xiao Xi.

 Zhuge Xi originally wanted to say that Mrs. Yao's legs were not good. She had already injured her legs while taking care of her some time ago. How could Yao Cheng be so ignorant and let his mother walk around? But before she could say anything accusingly, Yao Cheng sprayed her in the face! Zhuge Xi's face darkened: "Your mother is really worried about you staying in the palace, isn't she? Your whole family thinks I've bullied you, right?"

Yao Cheng's heart stung slightly: "What do you mean by 'your whole family'? Zhuge Xi, you have always treated me as an outsider!"

 Zhuge Xi had a bad temper to begin with, and now she was pregnant again. Due to the hormonal disorder, she was so angry that she lost all reason: "Yao Cheng! I have already accommodated you so much, how can you say that I treat you as an outsider!"

 Every day when he wakes up, he always asks: "Eh? Xiaoxi, why am I in your boudoir? Have you forgiven me? Don't you want to make peace with me?"

Then, she would answer every time: "Yao Cheng, listen to me, it's already... for some reason. You can't remember what happened after April 18th for some reason. You recorded everything in the book." If you don’t believe it, you can read it yourself. Then you are right, I forgive you, and we are together again... Also, I am pregnant with your child..."

 Day after day, each time is a new memory for Yao Cheng, but for her it is the superposition of countless memories. Every time Yao Cheng finished reading the booklet, he would hug her and say, "I'm sorry, Xiao Xi, I caused trouble for you."

She had to hear this "I'm sorry" message every day, and she had to act very moved every time. Because Yao Cheng was becoming increasingly sensitive, he would get into trouble even if she showed the slightest indifference. He would sit alone in the clean room all morning. …

Yao Cheng only remembered major events with his writing and could not understand Zhuge Xi's pain. His self-esteem was severely hurt by the sentence "I have already accommodated you so much". Accommodation means tolerance, and tolerance means that he has done something wrong. What are the shortcomings that she readily accepts? Even a dandy like Zhuge Yu has become a battlefield general, but he, a dignified third-rank Shaoqing of Dali Temple, has become a wimp who hangs around women all day long. No wonder... he is disgusting!

Zhuge Xi noticed that Yao Cheng had fallen into an eerie silence, and suddenly wondered if her words had hurt him. She reached out to Yao Cheng and said, "I'm tired. Let's go back to the house and rest, okay?"

Yao Cheng smiled nonchalantly: "Okay."

Dong Jialin held Feng Yanying's hand and walked to the second entrance. Feng Yanying stopped and said, "This is it. The rules of the Wang Mansion are no less than those of the Yao Mansion. You should pay more attention."

Dong Jialin said softly: "Yes, I remember it."

Feng Yanying looked around and made sure there were no outsiders before whispering: "You are not young anymore, and your uncle and aunt are not here. I will take care of your marriage, but I try to respect your wishes."

Dong Jialin's eyes flashed and she said, "Thank you very much, cousin, for your concern. I know what's going on."

Feng Yanying hesitated to speak, but finally turned around and walked out of the second entrance.

 “Are you still used to the food in public?” Leng Youruyun asked Xiang Shui Linglong calmly.

Shui Linglong took the lychees handed over by the old lady and said respectfully: "If you go back to your mother and concubine, you are used to eating them."

Leng Youru twitched the corners of her lips, her smile seemed to be gone: "I heard from Xiao Xi and Yu'er that you like spicy food. From now on, I will instruct the kitchen to add one dish to every meal for you."

 Give me a sweet date?

Shui Linglong was flattered and blessed Fu Shen: "Thank you very much, concubine."

Leng Youru added: "Yu'er is not used to spicy food. If I occasionally accommodate you, don't take it seriously."

 A wake-up call!

Shui Linglong blinked and thought, I can’t bear to eat it myself, how can I give it to him? "Yes, concubine, I remember."

The old lady glanced at Leng Youru, her expression a little complicated, as if she wanted to say a few words for Shui Linglong but was unable to do so for some reason.

Shui Linglong felt that something must have happened in the palace that she didn't know about, and it was related to the princess.

 After returning to Moheyuan, Zhuge Yu has not come back, nor has Ye Mao. Shui Linglong walked around to the desk, spread out the paper, and started practicing calligraphy with a pen.

Shui Linglong wrote the word "Qing", looked at the green willows and branches, and seemed to ask casually: "Why don't you talk today?"

Liu Lu lowered her eyes and said nothing.

Zhi Fantian said with a smile: "Maybe it's because without Ye Mao, there is no one to exclude!"

Zhong’s mother took over Zhi Fan’s words: “Why hasn’t Ye Mao returned yet? Isn’t it just sorting out some old clothes? Oops, let me bring you something next time.”

Shui Linglong didn't tell anyone else about Shui Lingqing. The fewer people knew about this scandal, the better. Shui Linglong dipped her brush in ink and continued practicing calligraphy: "It's okay, anyway... there's no rush." ​​That's weird, she Extremely anxious!

Zhi Fan raised his eyes and looked at Shui Linglong, vaguely feeling that Ye Mao's stay in Shangshu Mansion was not just to pack clothes, but to do something...very secret for the eldest lady! The sense of crisis in Zhifan's heart suddenly rose. In the past, she was the maid whom the young lady valued the most. She was aware of all the good things and bad things for the first time. She enjoyed the spiritual feeling that was different from other people's. She was treated like a servant, but now... the eldest lady seems to be neglecting her!

Could it be that the eldest lady saw her feelings for the prince and had the idea of ​​​​cutting her off as soon as the time came?

A thin layer of cold sweat broke out on the back of Zhifan's palms. Only at this moment did she really feel the possibility of losing everything.

If you stop thinking and work honestly, you can have a stable job, have a place to protect yourself from wind and rain, and have the opportunity to admire beautiful men; if you don't stop thinking, if you are charming and charming, you will lose your stable job and a relatively comfortable room, and from now on Living on the streets, meeting countless evil men...

Zhi Fan took a deep breath, she was really crazy to have such a whimsical idea of ​​marrying the prince!

 As for the maids who stay close to each other, they become accustomed to it after using it for a long time. Shui Linglong doesn't want to get rid of any of them unless she has to. Do you really think she doesn't know about Zhi Fan and Liu Lu's troubles? Today she specially brought Ye Mao to give Zhifan the last warning. If Zhifan wakes up now, she will treat her as before. If Zhifan is stubborn and stubborn... Huh, pinch him to death!

For dinner, there was indeed an extra spicy dish on the table, which was beef tripe with sesame oil. Shui Linglong didn’t eat lunch, and her stomach growled with hunger. She quickly ate two bowls of rice with a plate of tripe. As for the other dishes, Except for the fish-flavored eggplant, which she picked up with two chopsticks, she never touched anything else.

 Mother Zhong and others took the dishes and went down to eat, when Ye Mao came back.

Shui Linglong closed the door and said straight to the point: "Qiao'er is awake, what did she say?"

Ye Mao walked too fast and was still a little out of breath: "Qiao'er said... As soon as Miss Wu heard that a Jiangnan cake seller was coming outside, she asked Qiao'er to buy it. She couldn't see clearly that the seller was wearing a bamboo hat. He looked like... But the fifth lady... tasted the cake and said it tasted bad... she wanted to exchange it... Qiao'er went to change it. Within two days... she changed it seven or eight times, and Qiao'er became suspicious... She took the cake for the last time yesterday afternoon When she came in...she tasted one quietly to see if it was really delicious. Unexpectedly, she ate a note that said...'At three o'clock, the carriage in the right alley will be ready.'"

Shui Linglong listened, her eyes almost bursting with fire! Who else could put a note in the cake besides the down-and-out scholar who was good for nothing and only thought about how to deceive Shui Lingqing?

Ye Mao calmed down and continued: "After Qiaoer went back, he directly showed his cards with the fifth lady and advised the fifth lady not to do stupid things. The fifth lady agreed at that time, but at nightfall she suddenly complained of a headache and had to let Qiaoer go. After reporting this to Madam, Madam invited the doctor to come into the house. During the consultation, Miss Wu said that she always had trouble sleeping at night and had nightmares, so the doctor prescribed calming medicine in addition to the cold medicine. Today, Miss Wu was called before dawn. Qiaoer helped her change clothes and said Miss, please come home and she will have to dress up nicely. Qiaoer did not doubt that he was there, so she dressed the fifth lady in a beautiful dress and put her hair in a shiny bun. I gave the breakfast to Qiaoer. After eating it, Qiaoer went back to the room to pack and change clothes. After putting it away, he felt very sleepy..."

Shui Lingqing doesn’t have so many complicated thoughts, it must have been taught by Ah Jue!

She underestimated Ah Jue. As soon as she got married, he couldn't wait to get close to Shui Lingqing and abduct Shui Lingqing!

If she caught such a scumbag, he would have to chop off his hands!

“Have Qiaoer said where they are planning to escape to?” Shui Linglong suppressed her anger and said coldly.

Ye Mao said: "Qiao'er said it seems...to leave Dazhou in the direction of Yancheng."

 If they leave Dazhou from the direction of Yancheng...they are actually going to South Vietnam!

Shui Linglong was filled with anger: "Go tell Anping and let him find a way to contact the Crown Prince, saying that they may have gone to South Vietnam." Although it may not be true, it is always safer to send a team of people to look for them.

 Now she just prays that nothing bad happens to Ah Jue and Shui Lingqing along the way.

"No."

Ye Mao heard Zhuge Yu's voice just as he was about to go out. Immediately afterwards, the broken jade bead curtain was opened, and Zhuge Yu walked in. Behind him was Shui Lingqing, who was wearing a cloak and bowed her head silently.

Ye Mao hurriedly bowed and retreated.

Shui Linglong's eyes lit up when she saw Shui Lingqing, at least her life was safe, but soon her eyes became gloomy again: "Come here!"

Shui Lingqing was too frightened to move, so she just hid behind Zhuge Yu.

 Zhuge Yu turned sideways and spread his hands, indicating that he couldn't continue to cover for you. Shui Lingqing's scalp felt numb, but she still didn't move.

 Zhuge Yu simply walked to Shui Linglong and sat down. Shui Linglong poured him a glass of cold water. He took it and drank it in one gulp. Then he put down the tea cup and began to watch the wonderful show of "Linglong training girls".

Shui Lingqing's head hung low, and she tightened her skirt with both hands, wanting to make a hole out of it.

Shui Linglong glanced at her, and then asked Zhuge Yu: "Where is that **** Ah Jue? Was he killed or sold?"

As soon as Shui Lingqing heard this, she broke out in cold sweat...

 Zhuge Yu looked at Shui Lingqing who was trembling with fear, and said with a half-smile but an indistinguishable meaning: "Oh, you should first ask the ins and outs of this matter and then decide how to deal with that kid. Anyway, I have detained him."

Is there another secret behind this matter? Shui Linglong's cold eyes turned to Shui Lingqing again: "Please tell me clearly! What is going on between you and Ah Jue? If you don't tell me, I will send you back to Shangshu's Mansion tonight and never see you again. I don’t care about you!”

Shui Lingqing was so frightened that she finished telling what happened.

It turned out that it was indeed Ah Jue who sent the note to Shui Lingqing first. The purpose was to ask Shui Lingqing how she was doing and to express her longing for her. Unexpectedly, Shui Lingqing proposed to leave Shangshu Mansion and go to a place where no one knew her. She said that her mother was dead, her two sisters were married, and no one cared about her anymore. Sooner or later, she would be sold by her aunt in Shangshu Mansion. Ah Jue persuaded her several times, and her opinion was very firm. Jue then took her in the direction of Yancheng.

 (End of this chapter)