First Concubine

Chapter 184 The joy of dragon and phoenix (1)

When Shui Linglong took Zhifan to the door of the courtyard, she saw a little boy covered in mud, even with mud on his face, being pointed at and scolded by the gatekeeper. The boy was thin and small, hiding in the corner with his neck curled up. He was afraid that his mother-in-law would hit him, but Shui Linglong noticed that in addition to being timid, there was also a hint of...rage that did not belong to this age group in his big eyes! It seems...a little bit familiar, as if I've seen it somewhere.

Shui Linglong took the initiative to ignore the mud on his face and carefully observed his facial features. At this sight, her eyes almost fell off! This, this, this... is completely a miniature version of Zhuge Yu! Shui Linglong finally understood where that sense of familiarity came from. When she first met Zhuge Yu in the temple, his baby-like steel-blue eyes also flashed with such violence.

 The wind in June is extremely hot and humid, but Shui Linglong’s hairs stand up one by one! How come... there is a child who looks so similar to Zhuge Yu? Zhifan's throat slipped: "Miss, are you right? Really...really exactly the same as the Crown Prince! Is...is he the Crown Prince's illegitimate son?"

Shui Linglong's eyebrows twitched, and a sense of jealousy slowly spread in her heart. Although the betrayal in her previous life did not make her a soldier, her confidence in men was indeed greatly reduced. Looking at the condensed version of Zhuge Yu not far away, she said It is impossible not to think the worst at all. Perhaps, Zhuge Yu didn't do it on purpose. Like Yao Cheng, he didn't notice the clue at all...

Shui Linglong accidentally wanted to step forward and wipe the mud from his face, and look at him again, but she touched her belly and stood there again, showing a gentle smile: "What's your name?"

The child still responded to everything around him with timid eyes. When he heard Shui Linglong's question, he quickly glanced at Shui Linglong, curled his lips, and looked away again.

Zhi Fan whispered: "Miss, does he... think you are fat?"

Shui Linglong smiled and gritted her teeth and said: "No one will treat you as a mute if you don't speak." Zhi Fan shrank his neck angrily, Shui Linglong ordered: "Bring the osmanthus sugar and ingot cake, as well as lychees, longan and grapes. "

The cowardice and anger in the child's eyes instantly faded away, replaced by a kind of pure greed and desire for beautiful things. He put his dirty fingers into his mouth.

Shui Linglong frowned, as if a rag was covering her nose, she felt uncomfortable! Little Persimmon, if your brother is this kind of virtuous, I have no hope for you...

Zhi Fan quickly brought out a multi-grid enamel round box with colorful candies and fragrant fruits. Zhi Fan walked towards him. He didn't like the child in his heart. He was too dirty, wasn't he? No wonder the gatekeeper is on his way! Approaching the child, Zhi Fan smelled the scent of soap locust on his body, and his expression brightened slightly. He bent down and handed the fruit plate to him, and said with a bright smile: "It's very delicious, you can try it."

The child pulled out the finger that was in his mouth, timidly stretched out his hand and took out an osmanthus candy, but did not put it into his mouth immediately, but gave it to Zhifan: "You eat it first." It was not soft and glutinous like ordinary children. The voice was low, like an adult's.

Zhi Fan was slightly startled, this... Zhi Fan looked back at Shui Linglong, who nodded towards her, then she took the candy that was covered in saliva from the child, peeled off the wrapping paper and ate it in her mouth. While Zhifan was chewing, the child swallowed his saliva, which showed that it was very hard to endure, but he never made any further move. It was not until Zhifan finished eating the osmanthus candy that he suddenly grabbed the fruit plate in his hand, and then walked away. run!

"Hey - you - you..." Zhi Fan was so angry that he almost cursed the word "bastard", "Miss, what should I do?"

Shui Linglong's eyes, as bright as the moon, flashed with an indistinguishable meaning. She lightly touched the corners of her lips and said, "It's just a box of food!"

Zhifan was not as calm as Shui Linglong. She felt that she had been tricked by a one or three-year-old child, and she was tricked completely. She was really upset! After taking several deep breaths, I managed to hold back the anger in my heart: "Miss, do you want me to chase you?"

Shui Linglong turned around and said casually, "No need." This child appeared out of nowhere. Although he was dirty, he was well-dressed. He must have a high status and must be closely related to the person from Qingya Academy.

 Zhuge Yu, you'd better pray that it's not your mistress and son, otherwise, I will "eunuch" you!

The weather was too hot, so the old lady ordered Ping'er to tell her that there was no need to brave the heat to go to Tian'anju to have a meal, so she could settle the matter in Moheyuan.

Zhong’s mother made a salad of three shredded vegetables, a plate of fried pork with fungus, a bowl of braised crucian carp, a bowl of preserved eggs mixed with tofu, a plate of baby cabbage in soup, and of course, the papaya and pork knuckle soup is a must. Xu Shizhong's mother made too nutritious meals. She was less than eight months pregnant, and already a small amount of milk overflowed, making her whole body smell of milk. Zhuge Yu, that unscrupulous pervert, hum! Or maybe he sucked it out!

“Ouch, stop eating! Look at your belly! How will you get pregnant if you eat it again?” Just when Shui Linglong was about to serve a third bowl of rice, Mother Zhong expressed her objection.

Shui Linglong smashed her mouth and wanted to eat... lowered her head as if she was aggrieved.

Mother Zhong rolled her eyes and said: "Zhi Fan, take off the blouse on the bronze mirror."

Shui Linglong put down her chopsticks: "I won't eat anymore!"

 After eating, she took a walk to eat. When she felt sleepy, Shui Linglong took a nap. As expected, she was woken up again by Little Persimmon. Zhifan rubbed his tired and slightly hazy eyes: "Miss, are you awake? Uncle Yu has been waiting outside for a long time."

Shui Linglong sat upright and took Zhi Fan's hand, and said with a stunned look on her face: "How long have you been waiting, Uncle Yu? Why didn't you call me?"

Zhifan served Shui Linglong and put on a red plain bellyband, a lake blue wide-waisted long skirt, covered with silk and gold-threaded flowers and a transparent gauze dress with hundreds of butterflies and flowers. Dian Cuichai fixed: "After waiting for half an hour, the slave said that you were taking a nap. Please leave a message and return first. You don't have to leave. I will go to the main courtyard to inform him later, but he insists on waiting. I can't, so I will Moved the stool and took the umbrella at the door."

Shui Linglong drank a cup of room-temperature golden bird's nest and red date tea, got up and went outside to see Uncle Yu. Uncle Yu stood at the door from beginning to end in a place without any shade of trees or eaves to block the sun. His face was red from the sun, and his clothes were wet with sweat. When he saw Shui Linglong going out, Uncle Yu cupped his hands and said, "The Crown Princess!"

Shui Linglong had a panoramic view of Uncle Yu and the situation around him, and asked kindly: "Is there anything important that Uncle Yu is waiting for me here for?"

The sweat on his forehead dripped into his eyes, which was salty and prickly. However, Uncle Yu did not raise his hand to wipe it away. He only replied respectfully: "If you want to return to your concubine, please go to Qingya Courtyard at your own convenience." One trip. "I didn’t say why!

Shui Linglong glanced at the boundless summer scenery and said after a moment: "Then let's do it now."

Yu Bo was blessed and took Shui Linglong to Qingya Courtyard. It is said that the moment one steps into Qingya Courtyard, Shui Linglong can't help but think of the time when the incident happened in the palace, and the days when Zhuge Xi and she survived hand in hand. The roses in the front yard are blooming beautifully, and the breeze blows, and the fragrance is compelling; the koi in the pond are swimming happily, there are still eight, no more, no less; and the stone table under the crabapple tree is no longer Yao Chenghe Zhuge Xi's flirting figure... Shui Linglong's eyes were slightly wet, and she missed the two of them a little.

“Prince Concubine, be careful of the steps.” Uncle Yu glanced at Shui Linglong, who was in a daze, and warned in a low voice.

Shui Linglong regained consciousness, lifted up her skirt, and said with a smile, "Thank you, Uncle Yu."

Uncle Yu turned his eyes and caught a glimpse of the emerald bracelet on Shui Linglonghao's wrist. The expression on his face froze slightly, and he lowered his eyes to hide his unknown surprise.

“Brother Hao, come here, I have chestnut cake here, which is much more delicious than osmanthus candy!”

 “Hmm—” the child’s negative nasal sound.

“How about, there are also Yuanbao cakes, look! They’re golden! Call me and I’ll give them all to you…”

As soon as Shui Linglong walked to the door, she heard Zhuge Liuyun's very happy voice. Nearly a year after marrying into the palace, this was the first time she heard a hint of doting in Zhuge Liuyun's tone. Shui Linglong's pupils moved. He moved, could he really be Zhuge Yu's illegitimate son?

Zhifan was also very surprised. He was stunned for several seconds before he leaned close to Shui Linglong and whispered in Shui Linglong's ear: "Miss, is the kid inside the one we saw this morning? He, he, he can't be the prince. His illegitimate son?"

　　Okay, I’ve been promoted to another level! Shui Linglong raised her eyebrows. Her younger brother was more acceptable to her than her son, so she wondered if that was true.

 Uncle Yu cleared his throat and reported: "Your Majesty, the Crown Princess is here!"

 The laughter in the room stopped abruptly: "Come in." His tone was serious, and he once again regained his aloof princely posture.

Zhifan and Uncle Yu stayed at the door. Shui Linglong pushed the door open and saw a very warm scene of a family of three beside the bed: the woman sat with her back against the head of the bed, with a thin quilt covering her waist and abdomen; the child knelt on her inside, Carrying the fruit plate he snatched from Zhi Fan in the morning, the snacks inside had already been replaced; Zhuge Liuyun sat on the edge of the bed, face to face with the woman, staring at the woman and the child beside her with a smile in his eyes...

Zhuge Liuyun pointed to the hexagonal carved teacup about three feet across from the bed, and said in a cheerful tone: "Come and see your mother!"

Like a thunderbolt that exploded in his mind, and like a stone that stirred up thousands of waves, Shui Linglong froze on the spot for a moment. Mom, the only person who can be called "Mother" besides her biological mother is Zhuge Yu's. The biological mother, Nuo Min, is dead, and the other party... Shui Linglong raised her head and looked at the woman. She was used to seeing Leng Youru's stunning beauty, and even the most beautiful person lost a third of her beauty. This woman was about the same age as Leng Youru, The appearance is also outstanding, but it is not the type that will shock the world at a glance. The oval face is fair and clean, the double eyelids are large but somewhat dull, the bridge of the nose is high, the red lips are small, and there is a slight upward arc even when not smiling... Compared with Leng Youru's aloofness and coldness, the woman is much more friendly and elegant.

But Shui Linglong didn't calm down the turmoil in her heart because of her kindness and elegance. Didn't she abandon her husband and son in the first place? Why did you return to the palace again? And how did Zhuge Liuyun, one of the people she abandoned, forgive her? Shui Linglong couldn't put it down with her head full of questions.

The woman smiled slightly at Shui Linglong, her pale face reflected the light outside the window, and she imagined a maternal tenderness out of thin air: "Linglong."

Shui Linglong suppressed the surprise on her face and said politely: "Mother." She really looked like Zhuge Yu! That kid…

 The woman smiled with satisfaction, touched the child's head, and said softly: "Brother Hao, I've seen you soon."

Jinjin is the nickname of my aunt. Shui Linglong was shocked again. So, he was neither Zhuge Yu's illegitimate son nor the prince's illegitimate son, but the child of Zhuge Yu's sister! No wonder he looks so much like Zhuge Yu. But, where are Brother Hao’s parents?

Brother Hao has put on clean clothes and washed his face. He is like a beautiful porcelain doll. He is so cute. He glanced at Shui Linglong and lowered his eyes uneasily. Don't shout!

The woman couldn't help but feel embarrassed, and looked at Shui Linglong with a smile: "I'm sorry, Brother Hao, I'm sorry." Something clearly flashed through her eyes!

Zhuge Liuyun seemed to have said unintentionally: "Yes, I teased him all night and most of the day, but he didn't even call me grandpa."

Shui Linglong said politely: "It's okay, just get familiar with it."

Then Shui Linglong discovered that neither the woman nor Zhuge Liuyun mentioned the strange fruit plate. The child came back with an object that did not belong to him out of thin air. She didn’t know whether they asked Brother Hao about the source or they didn’t ask at all. He came up with a reason, but still let him go. The woman looks good and has a good temperament, but Brother Hao seems to be a little out of place, and I don't know...why.

Zhuge Liuyun cleared his throat and said solemnly: "Xiao Yu and Xiao Xi are not the children of the princess. Shangguan Qian is the biological mother of Xiao Yu and Xiao Xi. Due to some reasons, they have been separated for many years, but from today on, everyone will be together Living under the same roof, you and Xiaoyu must be respectful to your mother."

Shui Linglong sat down on the teapot, not showing any signs of strangeness, she only said calmly and obediently: "Yes."

Zhuge Liuyun glanced at Shui Linglong, his thick eyebrows furrowed slightly, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he turned to look at Brother Hao, as if he wanted to explain something, but in the end he couldn't say it, and just sighed: "Other things... I’ll tell you later slowly!”

Shui Linglong withdrew her gaze from Brother Hao's face: "Okay." She tried hard to recall whether Zhuge Yu's biological mother had come back in her previous life, but unfortunately she had no memory at all. After all, Shangguan Qian just had no status in the laws of Da Zhou, like If a sedan was carried into the house like yesterday, she and Xun Feng might not be alert.

Shangguanshi looked at Zhuge Liuyun, who gave her a reassuring look. Shangguanshi seemed to be encouraged and stretched out her hand towards Shui Linglong: "Child, come here and let me take a look!"

Shui Linglong followed the words and walked to the bed. Shangguan moved in and let Shui Linglong sit down next to her. She took Shui Linglong's hand. The bracelet on Shui Linglonghao's wrist suddenly dropped to the back of her hand. Her eyes Guang trembled and opened his eyes in disbelief: "Xiao Yu... actually gave it to you..."

Shui Linglong blinked, not quite understanding Shangguan's gaffe.

Shangguan touched his pale face and said softly: "This is the wedding gift your father gave me. Before leaving, I gave it to Xiao Yu and told him that it was given to the woman we can spend a lifetime with. It seems that , My Xiaoyu has really grown up! Thank you...Thank you for taking good care of Xiaoyu! I have heard about it...Xiaoyu is living well every day after getting married..."

In the quiet courtyard, Leng Youru is standing in front of the desk writing furiously, and a piece of wild cursive is flying from the tip of the pen on the rice paper, which is very similar to her mood at this time!

Cen'er stood aside and dared not speak, but she glanced at the hourglass on the wall and felt that she had to speak: "Princess, please take a rest. You have been practicing for three hours! From noon to night, you have not stopped. However, this is not the way to torture yourself. Even if you are tortured, who will feel sorry for you? "

Leng Youru ignored Cen'er and only increased the force of her writing, as if she wanted to vent all her life-long anger.

Cen'er couldn't stand it anymore, so he stepped forward and snatched Leng Youru's pen: "Princess! Aren't you just a woman? If you are not comfortable, why bother yourself? You should be making things difficult for her! Why should your pain go to your stomach? Liyan? But she can tell the prince about her pain? Didn’t she know him a few years earlier than you? Isn’t it because your appearance, demeanor, and family background are so different from yours? What we have to do now is not to stay in the house and sulk, but to rush into Qingya Court and take the prince back! More than ten years ago, her son took away your son’s life! Now, she is here to take away your support for the rest of his life! Why should she take advantage of all the good things in the world? "Cheer up!"

Leng Youru's body swayed and she slumped down on the chair. She held her forehead and her chest began to rise and fall violently, like a rolling ocean wave! Suddenly, she threw the pen into the trash can, got up and went to the clean room!

 In order to let the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law get along more harmoniously, Zhuge Liuyun got up and returned to the main courtyard. Shangguan took the initiative to propose a visit to Mohe Courtyard. Shui Linglong could not object. After entering the master bedroom, Shangguan and Shui Linglong talked a lot. They did not mention Brother Hao's parents, nor did they discuss the reasons for leaving that year. Most of them This is an interesting anecdote from Zhuge Yu’s childhood: “…He was very clingy when he was a child. He would follow me wherever I went. Xiao Xi often laughed at him for being a little tail… He spoke early and could talk eloquently at the age of two. A little sparrow, chirping non-stop... He is timid, and when his father scolded him, he was so frightened that he did not dare to speak for several days..."

But dear mother-in-law, now Zhuge Yu no longer likes to communicate with others, no longer clings to anyone, and is not afraid of anything...

As Shangguan spoke, she looked at the door from time to time, but she didn't forget to rub Shui Linglong's chubby little hand. In fact, she had been rubbing it for a long time: "...I'll rub it for you again...Oh, it's really swollen. Is it uncomfortable?"

Shui Linglong shook her head against her will: "It's okay."

At dusk, Zhuge Yu opened the curtain and entered the room with a smile on his face: "Linglong! How do you feel today..." The words stopped abruptly when he saw the people in the room clearly. Zhuge Yu was stunned at first, then his eyes tightened, and he turned around and left. Got the room!

 (End of this chapter)