First Concubine

Chapter 181 The mysterious visitor (2)

As soon as these words came out, Liuzhu staggered and almost knocked over the basin: "Madam! You are crazy! How can you have such an idea?" The prince and the prince were forcibly dragged into the capital by the Emperor of Zhou Dynasty. They were pledges to Kashgar Qing's stability, and all the people in Kashgar Qing were sincerely grateful to them. Prince An was different. Regardless of whether he had robbed the Third Young Master of his military merit or not, or whether he had disobeyed the clan leader's wishes, the fact that he took the initiative to serve the imperial court as soon as he had made a meritorious deed was considered a naked act by Kashgar Qing. Because of his betrayal, Prince An could not return to Kashgar for Qing, so he could only stay in the capital, and while staying in the capital, he must not offend the prince!

Mrs. Zhen didn’t speak, she just kept crying!

Liuzhu said earnestly: "Madam, the crown prince is the prince's opponent. Even if it is for the future of the prince, you must not be stupid! Could it be that the fourth lady is your daughter and the prince is not your son? The prince is your only support in your old age. Even if you cannot help the prince, you must not hold him back! "

Zhen wiped her tears and said angrily: "I just said it casually! I'm really angry. If Qiao Hui did this, I wouldn't say anything. After all, Shu'er harmed Qiao Hui's fetus, but Shui Linglong... Why should she be nosy? Kuishuer always praises her as a 'sister-in-law' and calls her so affectionate...she is a white-eyed wolf!"

If the Second Young Mistress does this, you will have to divorce the Second Young Mistress immediately! Liuzhu cleared her throat and said, "Don't do things like Concubine Yan again. The Crown Princess didn't pursue the case this time. She probably thought it was the Princess who did it and didn't raise any suspicion on you."

Madam Zhen snorted coldly: "What's wrong with Shu'er who hurt me? I let her worry? Now it seems that I acted lightly! Concubine Yan and the Crown Prince should really be like Leng Wei and Yao Cheng! Yan Yan The concubine is also pregnant with a child, and Shui Linglong is so angry!"

“Second Madam, Aunt Dong Jia wants to see you!”

Shui Linglong finished calculating the account books, went to Tian'anju to have dinner with the old lady, and then went back to her room to read the dictionary for a while. She decided to go to Zhen's place to find out the truth. When she walked to the door of Xianglan Courtyard, she met Mr. Qiao Hui, who had just changed her clothes, twisted the food box and saluted Shui Linglong with a smile: "Sister-in-law!"

Shui Linglong helped her up and saw that she was sweating profusely and twisting the food box. She couldn't help but ask: "You are still not resting at this late hour?"

Qiao Hui said warmly: "I bought some snacks for my mother-in-law in the shop. Sister-in-law, you also have some. I will take them to your yard later."

Shui Linglong raised her lips slightly and said, "Don't run around after a long day. I asked Zhi Fan to go there. How is the Queen? Have you seen the little princess?"

"The Queen looks very good, and the little princess is very cute. She looks more like the emperor. The emperor loves the little princess very much. He also sent people to ask about the little princess several times in the front hall." Qiao Hui said with an envious look on her face. .

Shui Linglong breathed a sigh of relief. She was really afraid that Yunli favored boys over girls. It seemed that she was judging a gentleman with a villain's heart. Shui Linglong's beautiful eyes turned and caught the envy in Qiao Hui's eyes. She took her hand and said, "Has the little day come this month?"

Qiao Hui blushed and replied in a low voice: "I've been here."

Shui Linglong took a weak breath and said slowly: "There will be, don't worry, the one who crawls out of your belly is the legitimate child, understand?" This was telling Qiao Hui that even if Dong Jialin got pregnant before her, It’s okay, the eldest son is the first in line.

  Qiao Hui nodded: "I understand, thank you for your concern, sister-in-law."

 “Haha...is there such an allusion? Then I have to try it!”

“What the old man said, I don’t know if I remember it correctly. Anyway, when I was a child, I always shouted for it.”

Shui Linglong and Qiao Hui walked to the door and heard bursts of hearty and light laughter coming from inside the house. Qiao Hui's face changed slightly, and the hand holding the food box became a little stiff. The maid opened the door for the two of them, and they entered the outer room and met Madam Zhen. Dong Jialin stood up quickly, saluted and said hello to the two of them: "The prince's concubine is safe, and the second young mistress is safe."

Shui Linglong sat down on the chair. Qiao Hui handed the food box to Liuzhu. Liuzhu took it with both hands and asked with a smile: "What did the second young lady bring?"

 Qiao Hui smiled gracefully: "Li Ji's Yuanbao Cake and Plum Blossom Cake."

Dong Jialin spoke softly: "My maid heard that Li Ji's cakes are hard to buy. No wonder I came back so late. The second young lady is really filial."

Zhen thought that her son was going out with Qiao Hui. Qiao Hui was waiting in line. Doesn't this mean that her son was also waiting in the crowd? As soon as she thought of this, the joy in Mrs. Zhen's heart was instantly washed away: "I just ate a few pastries made by Aunt Dong Jia, and my stomach is a little full. Let's leave it for now."

“Yes.” Liuzhu placed the food box on the table. Both Qiao Hui and Dong Jialin looked a little embarrassed.

Shui Linglong held the tea cup and quietly looked at Zhen's expression. Even though she applied thick makeup, she still couldn't hide the swelling of her eyes. She must have cried; her voice was a little hoarse, which showed that she had been crying for a long time and she was still howling. of that type. Zhen's eyes looked at her like a poisoned knife, wishing to draw a blood-stained streak on her face. Only dogs that don't bark bite. Zhen's dare to stare at her without any scruples shows that Zhen has no plans to take revenge like Leng Youru for the time being. In this case, she will let the matter of Concubine Yan go for the time being. If Mrs. Zhen dares to act rashly again, don't blame her for settling old and new accounts together!

Shui Linglong took a grape from the fruit plate and was obsessed with the taste recently: "Is Second Aunt feeling better? I haven't gone to Tian'anju for dinner all day today. Grandma is thinking about it!"

Zhen Shi said with a smile but not a smile: "It's a little bit of a headache, it'll be fine in a few days. Thank you for your concern, Crown Princess!"

Dong Jialin was slightly startled. Did something bad happen between the second lady and the Crown Princess? Qiao Hui knew the inside story, and the prince told her. Her mother-in-law must have blamed her sister-in-law for Zhuge Shu's death. She glanced at Shui Linglong embarrassedly, but she saw Shui Linglong smiling calmly and said: "Second aunt is fine. I feel relieved."

Zhen’s mouth twitched. She didn’t want to see Shui Linglong now!

At night, Prince An first went to Zijingyuan to have a warm relationship with Dong Jialin, and then returned to Pingtingxuan to spend the night with Qiao Hui. Qiao Hui was moved that Prince An's fighting power was so long-lasting in rainy weather that she didn't notice anything wrong. I just feel that even if my mother-in-law's attitude towards Dong Jialin has changed, her husband still loves her more.

It was summer, and Shui Linglong was less than two months away from giving birth, so the whole house became nervous. Leng Youru ordered people to renovate the Ziteng Courtyard where Shui Lingqing originally lived, and built a delivery room, a baby room and several nursing rooms. The construction time was chosen while Shui Linglong was chatting with the old lady at Tian'anju every morning. Therefore, Shui Linglong didn't feel anything at all, and the Wisteria Courtyard took on a completely new look.

Leng Youru took Shui Linglong and others to see the delivery room. As soon as they opened the door, everyone felt a warm breath coming to their nostrils. The floor was covered with a light brown carpet embroidered with guava, and facing a summer lotus screen with white The bottom, green leaves and pink lotus, are bright but not obtrusive. Walking around the screen, you will see a large bed covered with light pink gauze, with pillows one big and one small, quilts one big and one small... Even the toiletries on the washbasin stand are set for the mother and the child...

This time, let alone Zhen and Qiao Hui, even Shui Linglong was shocked. There were still two months left, but looking at the baby pillows, baby quilts, baby basins and sets of exquisitely made baby clothes in the room, Shui Linglong was stunned. It feels as if the little persimmon has been born... How could someone decorate the delivery room with such an atmosphere?

Several well-trained and beautiful maids saluted in unison: "Hail the princess! Hail the princess!"

Zhen Shi was dumbfounded: "Princess, you... you are really... thoughtful..." Why are you so nice to Shui Linglong?

 In fact, it’s not that Leng Youru wants to be nice to Shui Linglong, but that Leng Youru either doesn’t do something, and once he does it, he must do it perfectly. In short, excellence is a habit. Shui Linglong touched her bulging belly and thanked her sincerely: "Thank you, concubine."

Leng Youru casually touched the clothes in the cabinet: "It was made according to the size of Yan'er when she was born. I don't know whether it will fit or not." Without waiting for anyone to react, she added, "I have chosen seven wet nurses. You can decide for yourself. , leaving two.”

 Leng Youru can rarely say words like "one or two" or "seven or eight". Her mathematical accuracy is very high, and the number is the number.

Everyone got up and went to the bright hall of Wisteria Courtyard. As soon as they left, the little maids in the room became furious.

“Oh my god! The second lady lost thirteen hairs! It’s all here, here, here, and here! It’s so easy to lose!”

"The Crown Princess dropped three of them! I was watching, and one of them was hanging on her shoulder. It probably won't fall until she reaches the Ming Hall! Oh, you don't know, how much I want to rush up and pull it off for her!"

“The second young lady dropped five of them! One of them was stepped on by her shoe!”

 “The princess lost six of them!”

 “Hurry up and clean up! Lest the princess comes back to curse!”

 …

In the bright hall, Leng Youru sat down on the main seat, while Shui Linglong, Zhen Shi and Qiao Hui sat on the chairs on both sides. Cen'er presented a set of glazed teacups filled with rose almond water. Leng Youru picked up the teacup, looked at Shui Linglong and said calmly: "The midwife was Mother Luo, who delivered the babies to Leng Wei and Xiao Xi. , I will let her live in Ziteng Courtyard at the end of the month. If you don’t understand anything, you can ask her in time.”

It was good to move in early. Like Leng Wei and Zhuge Xi, both of whom were born prematurely, there was no guarantee that the little one in her belly would not be born early. Shui Linglong put her bare hands on her abdomen and said with a smile: "Yes, but it depends on the arrangements of the mother and concubine. "After saying this, there was a fierce punch and kick in the stomach, which made Shui Linglong gasp in pain. Qiao Hui noticed something strange with her sharp eyes and smiled in surprise, "Did my nephew kick you?"

Shui Linglong smiled: "I've been moving a lot lately." More than that? She tossed and turned all night long, making her have to get up and walk around every now and then. When she walked, the little one became quiet, and when she lay down, the little one started to stir up troubles.

Leng Youru's eyes narrowed slightly, she looked at Shui Linglong and said, "Call people in."

After saying that, seven well-dressed young women entered the bright hall. To be able to catch Leng Youru's eyes, first of all, their appearance must be passable; secondly, their family background must be clean, not to mention their husbands, and whether there are any serious diseases in the three generations of their ancestors. Leng Youru checked everything. Several people saluted those on the seats, and then lined up, waiting for Shui Linglong to choose.

Shui Linglong glanced at her with sharp eyes, secretly praising her, and then asked calmly: "Why do you want to come to the palace to be a wet nurse? What about the children at home?"

"As for the imperial concubine, I want to earn some money for myself and save money for my husband-in-law. The husband-in-law passed the exam last year and my parents-in-law are young and can take care of their grandchildren." The person who answered was a man about two years old. A beautiful girl named Qiu Sanniang.

Shui Linglong, the future talented lady, nodded slightly: "Can you read?"

Qiu Sanniang said: "The husband of the common people taught me some things, but the common people's women are stupid and have learned a few things."

Shui Linglong said "hmm" and looked at the next woman. The woman replied: "As for the imperial concubine, the children of common women will die early as soon as they are born. In order to preserve the milk, the common women breastfeed their neighbors every day." The children of the family want to join the government to earn some money to support their families.”

Shui Linglong nodded calmly, and another woman said: "The civilian woman also wants to make money to support the family. The civilian woman has a younger brother and sister who have just given birth. The two of us have discussed that one of us will be a wet nurse and the other will breastfeed." "Two brothers, there is no need to worry about the son of a commoner woman, it's just..." He bravely looked at Shui Linglong and said in a trembling voice, "It's just that the commoner woman hopes to find a family where the commoner woman can take her daughter."

  Meaning, if she is refused to take her daughter to work, she will stop working. Shui Linglong raised her eyebrows: "What's your name?"

The woman lowered her eyebrows and said, "A common woman's name is Xia Qiudong."

“Pfft—” Mrs. Zhen spat out a sip of tea.

The woman behind answered Shui Linglong's question very respectfully. After making some calculations in her mind, Shui Linglong kept Qiu Sanniang and Xia Qiudong. However, the name Xia Qiudong was indeed a bit strange, so Shui Linglong gave her a Nickname: Xiaoxia.

As for why she didn't choose a woman whose child died young, Shui Linglong's view is that physical health is important, and mental health is equally important. People who have lost children have more or less psychological shadows, and she doesn't have the free time to give to the other person. I don't want to undergo psychological treatment, but I don't want Xiao Persimmon to be subtly affected in some way. Of course, this also reflects Shui Linglong's psychological shadow from the side - Leng Youru losing Yan'er is terrible!

Leng Youru sent four maids to follow Qiu Sanniang and Xiaoxia home respectively. From now on, they are the key targets of protection. From diet to clothing, even etiquette models and living habits, they must be trained according to Leng Youru's requirements. , Qiu Sanniang and Xiao Xia thanked them tremblingly, thinking that two more maids had appeared out of thin air in their house that could not accommodate anyone. Should the others... be thrown on the roof or hung on the wall?

Leng Youru put down the glass cup with two ears, and Cen'er served warm water with a wide-mouthed celadon cup. Leng Youru slowly took a sip, looked at Shui Linglong and said slowly: "Come over to my yard tomorrow morning. Go ahead and ask the embroiderer to measure you and make some autumn clothes. You will lose weight after giving birth, but you won’t be able to return to your pre-pregnancy weight so quickly. “This is saying, don’t wear any of the clothes you had last year.

Since being trimmed three times by Leng Youru, Shui Linglong no longer wears clothes made by Zhifan and Zhong’s mother, lest Leng Youru’s radar-like eyes scan her body again. The clothes at the back were all tailor-made by Leng Youru's embroiderer. If the material cost only ten taels of silver, the workmanship would cost twenty taels. There was no way, according to Leng Youru's standards, at least seven inspections were required before "leaving the factory". There was no time to deal with other customers' business, so No. 1 Embroidery House set up a garment making team specifically for Leng Youru, and only took orders from her for many years.

Leng Youru looked at Mrs. Zhen again: "I also asked the embroiderer to make the clothes for the second bedroom. In the morning, you asked Xiaohui and Dong Jialin to wait at Xianglan Courtyard."

It’s only June now, so I’ve already started making autumn clothes. It’s so early! Mrs. Zhen forced out a bright smile: "Thank you, Princess, for taking the trouble." Leng Youru didn't answer her words. Mrs. Zhen was not surprised. This femme fatale woman smiled at her, which made her feel scared!

Qiao Hui secretly wrote down a series of Leng Youru's housekeeping methods. She felt that although the princess was hateful, she was indeed outstanding in some aspects. The maternity room alone was so gorgeous that she almost didn't dare to stay there, so she ditched her mother and the eldest princess. Several streets.

Leng Youru's eyes fell back on Shui Linglong's smiling eyebrows: "The little guy is really moving a lot, please ask Dr. Hu to take a look. I said hello at the second door. There will be someone on duty no matter how late it is during this period. "

Qiao Hui's heart skipped a beat as she remembered that the third aunt of Sucheng Hou Mansion also gave birth at night, but because the second doorkeeper neglected her duty and went to have a drink, the third aunt's maid went out to invite the doctor but was not invited. The next day when she returned from the wedding with her mother, she found that the third aunt's child was stillborn, and he was a younger brother. At that time, she thought it was just an accident. For some reason, after listening to the princess's instructions, she suddenly suspected that everything was planned secretly by her mother. If you really wanted to welcome this little life, how could you not help Third Yiniang find every possible way?

Shui Linglong bowed and said, "Yes, my daughter-in-law has remembered it. Thank you very much, concubine."

A trace of tiredness appeared in Leng Youru's eyes, but it was quickly covered up. She frowned expressionlessly and planned to leave. At this time, a little maid swayed at the door. Cen'er recognized Finding out that it was someone from Qingyouyuan, he walked outside and whispered a few words to her. When he came back, his expression changed drastically. Leng Youru glanced at her, she lowered her body and reported the maid's words in a low voice, bang! Leng Youru's tea cup fell to the ground...

Shui Linglong returned to Mohe Courtyard, and Qiao Hui also went to sit for a while. Zhi Fan offered fresh lychees, Shui Linglong took one, and Qiao Hui also took one, but did not peel it open, but asked while playing with it: "Sister-in-law, do you think the princess is weird?"

"Why is it strange? What are you referring to?" Shui Linglong ate the lychee.

Qiao Hui pursed her lips: "I think there's something strange about her. She obviously hates my eldest brother so much. She even gave you birth control pills. She didn't want your eldest brother to have a child of his own! But why is everything she does now so annoying? It feels like...she is really looking forward to the birth of this child? Will she...be like the previous times, doing good things on the surface, but actually making mistakes?"

 (End of this chapter)