First Concubine

Chapter 192 Unexpected Discovery (1)

In the Qingya courtyard, Shangguan finished her bath and when she left the clean room, she found that there was no one in the room. Her eyes darkened and she called out: "Who is on duty at night?"

A delicate-looking little maid opened the curtain and came in. She lowered her head and said respectfully: "To Madam, I am your servant. My name is Lotus Root."

Shangguan said in a deep voice: "Where is the prince? When did he leave?"

Lian Ou heard the displeasure in Shangguan's tone and lowered her body a little: "The prince left when you went in to wash up. The prince said that you are tired these days and asked you to have a good rest. He will come to see you tomorrow."

A cold light suddenly flashed in Shangguan's eyes, but he quickly returned to his former gentleness: "Yes, it is indeed inappropriate for me to sleep with you. Your Majesty has other intentions."

Lotus Root didn’t dare to answer the question. At this time, the Defu family knocked on the door outside. Shangguan's eyes flashed, and he ordered Lian Ou to go to Bao Xia to rest. He didn't have to come to serve him at night. Lian Ou was very happy and went to Bao Xia after tidying up. After a while, the Defu family brought a beautiful maid into the house: "Madam, I have inquired about the Mohe Courtyard and found nothing unusual. If you don't believe it, you can ask her."

Shangguanshi gave a gentle smile, like the spring breeze blowing in March, which warmed the heart: "What's your name? Why didn't I see you when I went to Mohe Courtyard yesterday?"

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　since I don’t often walk around the inner room, so my lady didn’t see your maid, my name is Bai Mei.」

Three days passed like a flash, and soon it was time for Brother Hong and Sister Nan's third wedding banquet. The Shangshu Mansion, the Yao Family, the Leng Family, and the Suchenghou Mansion all received invitations. After lunch, Luo’s mother personally presided over the three-wash ceremony. However, due to the different beliefs between the Zhuge family and Da Zhou, the arrangements of the details are also very different.

There is an incense table set up in the outer hall of the maternity room of Zitengyuan, which is supposed to enshrine the thirteen statues of Bixia Yuanjun, Empress Qiongxiao, Empress Yunxiao, Empress Jisheng, Empress Sending Children, Empress Douchan, and Empress Eyes. But Kashgar Qing only believes in Nuwa, so in the center of the incense table is a white jade statue of Nuwa with a human body and a snake tail; the incense burners on both sides contain millet, which can be used as incense ashes to insert incense; a pair of special sheep oil is inserted into the wax sticks. Under the small red candle, there are yellow coins, ingots, thousands of pieces of gold and other all kinds of money and food to worship the gods; the Kang head in the bedroom is not dedicated to Kang Gong and Kang Mother, but to two disciples of Nuwa, Bai Jin and Teng Snake.

Leng Youru is a Buddhist and did not participate in the third ceremony of the Kashgar celebration. Instead, the old lady led Shui Linglong to worship the statue of Nuwa. Mother Luo only wanted to make money, and she had no objection even if she worshiped a turtle!

After several people kowtowed, Mother Luo officially started the three-wash ceremony. First, the members of the palace took the lead in adding a small spoonful of water to the basin, and then put some coins in it, which is called "adding the basin". After the people in the palace were added, it was the turn of the relatives who came to watch the ceremony.

Mrs. Leng threw in a pair of heavy gold ingots and said kindly: "May Brother Hong and Sister Nan have good fortune."

Mrs. Yao added two ruby ​​​​gold necklaces and said with a smile: "Brother Hong and Sister Nan are blessed to the heavens!"

The eldest princess put a bag of lychees, red dates, and peanuts: "Brother Hong and Sister Nan are growing up healthily!"

Zhuge Xi’s mouth twitched, he’s a stingy man! Others also put their own gifts. After adding the basin, Mother Luo picked up a mallet and stirred it into the basin, and said some auspicious words. Then she gave the two children a bath. Three days is not long or short, brother and sister. His face opened a little, as if he was not as weak as before. During the bath, Brother Hong and Sister Nai both cried hard, mainly because they were not used to Mother Luo's rough claws. Shui Linglong's hands were so tender, compared to Mother Luo's, they were not at the same level. However, not only is it not taboo for a baby to cry, it actually connotes good luck and is called "ringing the basin".

After washing, Mother Luo lit some mugwort balls, put them on the foreheads of Brother Hong and Sister Min with **** slices as a support, burned them symbolically, and then combed their hair. Shui Linglong looked at Luo's mother happily, her eyes full of joyful smiles. However, Zhuge Yu had never seen such a posture before. Seeing his little son and daughter turning over and over in Mother Luo's hands, he was so nervous that he didn't even dare to let out a breath, thinking that if she dared to drop his baby, he would Throw her into the river to feed the fish!

After Mother Luo washed the children for three times, she was so tired that she was sweating profusely. Seeing her skillful movements, the old lady liked her very much and gave her a big red envelope, which was full of gold nuggets. Mother Luo thanked me happily. Finally, she didn't spend so much effort in vain. She didn't work so hard to clean others.

 At the end of the washing ceremony, most of the afternoon passed. Zhuge Liuyun and Zhuge Yu went to the front hall to meet the male guests, while the female relatives stayed behind to chat with Shui Linglong.

There was a circle of chairs in the room, with the old lady taking the main seat, Mrs. Leng and Mrs. Yao sitting at the lower left and lower right respectively. Mrs. Zhen was next to Mrs. Leng, with Qiao Hui next to her; opposite Mrs. Zhen, Zhuge Xi and Feng Yanying.

Mrs. Zhen's outfit today is very outstanding. She wears a pipa-collared waisted skirt made of autumn-colored watermarked satin. It is elegant, unique, and refined. The skirt and cuffs have very special totems. They look familiar, but they can't be called her. name.

Mrs. Yao smiled and said: "This material looks good, I seem to have never seen it before."

Mrs. Zhen couldn't hide her proud smile, but her tone was very humble: "How can it compare to the gold-rich Sichuan brocade on your body?"

The old lady usually doesn't pay much attention to people's clothes. She glanced at them lightly. I don't know why, but she always felt uncomfortable.

Shui Linglong glanced at Mrs. Zhen, and soon her eyes fell on Mrs. Leng. Leng Wei died in vain, and the Leng family did not hold the Yao family accountable. It stands to reason that a daughter who was as beautiful as a flower turned into a wrinkled old woman before she died. Even if it was not the fault of the Yao family, the Yao family was still to blame for not discovering it in time. That's all, the Leng family and the Yao family actually didn't find out the real culprit behind the scenes. Is it because Leng Youru handled it too cleanly, or because they don't have the ability?

Mrs. Yao smiled at Mrs. Zhen and said: "Oh! Don't be so modest. I'm afraid you won't be able to find many of your kind in the capital. Let me tell you, at our age, we can still wear Qiuxiang like this." You're so beautiful, I really can't find anyone else besides you!" When he said this, he glanced at Mrs. Leng's skirt intentionally or unintentionally, it was the color of autumn fragrance!

Mrs. Leng shook her bare hands, and the smile on her lips was tainted with a hint of coldness: "Yes, I can't wear the charm of the Second Madam!" By the way, even Mrs. Zhen was disgusted!

Mrs. Zhen was quite happy after hearing the first compliment from Mrs. Yao, but she felt something was wrong after hearing the second sentence. It was a lie to praise her with her, but it was true to use her as a raft to squeeze Mrs. Leng. Annoyed!

The old lady sighed slightly, looked at Shui Linglong and asked: "Brother, do you eat much? How many times do you eat at night?"

Shui Linglong showed a gentle smile: "Three or four times at night."

Leng Youru opened the curtain and came in. When she heard Shui Linglong say "three or four" times, her brows suddenly wrinkled: "Is it three or four times?"

“When I return to my mother-in-law, sometimes three times, sometimes four times.”

"When was it three times? When was it four times?" Leng Youru asked uncontrollably.

Shui Linglong holds her forehead, does this woman have too strict requirements for mathematical accuracy? It was as if she was scratching her head if she didn't understand. Shui Linglong's pupils moved, and she listed the milk volume for several days one by one: "Three times last night, four times the night before."

"Yeah." Leng Youru sighed with relief, then walked to the edge of the kang and sat down next to the old lady. Previously, everyone thought that Mrs. Zhen was beautiful, but now after seeing Leng Youru, they felt that Mrs. Zhen's appearance was too vulgar!

Zhuge Xi lowered her eyes and looked at the tea leaves in the cup. The one-night romance between Leng Wei and Yao Cheng could not be erased from her heart for the rest of her life, because there was a sister Hui who looked exactly like Leng Wei reminding her every day that Leng Wei had enjoyed her. s husband!

Leng Youru glanced at Zhuge Xi and looked away expressionlessly. When she saw Zhen's dress clearly, her expression froze: "Why are you wearing this dress?"

Don’t these clothes look good? Zhen suppressed her unconfidence in her heart and said with a smile: "It's too gorgeous. Wasn't it that I was thinking of Brother Hong and Sister Min's third party? It would be a big day? So I changed my clothes accordingly. Outfit..." At the end of the sentence, the words gradually became inaudible.

Leng Youru shook her head and looked at the totems on Zhen's skirt and cuffs one after another, her eyes slightly focused: "Have you converted to Buddhism?"

 Buddha...Buddhism? Zhen was stunned!

Shui Linglong lowered her head to drink tea and smiled slightly.

"I...I don't understand what you are talking about, sister-in-law? Why did I convert to Buddhism?" Zhen asked dully.

Leng Youru opened the cuffs, revealing a sleeve of a white tunic with a **** embroidered with silver thread: "Buddhist symbol."

 The old lady was so angry that she immediately threw up her sleeves and left the place!

Shui Linglong curled her lips lightly, believing in the Buddha meant betraying their national beliefs. In Kashgar Qing, the pagans were either driven away or beaten to death. It was only after Leng Youru returned to Beijing that she became a Buddhist. Zhuge Liuyun and others tolerated her because, firstly, they were affected by the general environment and felt guilty about Yan'er's death, and thirdly, Leng Youru's blood did not flow from Kashgar Qing's bones. Zhen was different. This person who had sworn to be a follower of Nuwa in front of the temple all his life suddenly put on clothes with Buddhist symbols. This time, he would shed his skin even if he died.

"Well...the children at home are making a lot of noise. I have to go back first, Xiao Xi, let's go." Mrs. Yao resolutely stayed out of the matter and did not allow her married daughter to interfere with her parents' affairs.

Mrs. Leng also stood up and smiled at Leng Youru: "I have something going on at home. I'll see you another day. Don't forget to go back to your mother's birthday for you and the prince. It's for your sake that my mother agreed to move out of the Buddhist hall and have a lively meal. ”

Leng Youru’s eyelashes trembled and she nodded lightly: “I understand.”

"Mother! Mother, believe me! I really don't know! I didn't mean it!" In the old lady's bedroom in Tian'anju, Mrs. Zhen fell to her knees on the ground, crying and begging with panic on her face.

The saying that those who do not know is not guilty is actually unreliable, even if it is considered legally untenable. For example, if a person accidentally knocks another person into a cliff and causes the other person's death, the law will not because of his carelessness. He will be found not guilty. The same is true in life. As a follower of Nuwa, you wear Buddhist clothes, but you are exposed in front of so many people and spread out. How do outsiders view Kashgar Qing? What do you think of Nuwa’s people? This is simply too much of a challenge to Kashgar Qing’s national unity and lofty beliefs!

 The old lady turned blue with anger, and her arm pointing at Zhen was trembling: "You...you...Zhen Minglan, you...you disappoint me so much! You are a disgrace to Kashgar Qing!"

"No... no, mother! I really don't recognize it! I don't know any Buddhist symbols! I have never even entered my sister-in-law's Buddhist temple... I am innocent, mother! You believe me..." Zhen Cried until tears fell like rain.

When people are angry, they tend to think the worst about everything. If Zhen had told her this while they were there, the old lady would not disbelieve her. After all, even the ordinary people of the Zhou Dynasty who were often invited to temples to ask for fortune-telling and worship Buddha might not necessarily recognize Buddhist symbols. . Apart from Leng Youru, who knows everyone in the room? But the old lady was so angry this time: "Innocent, innocent! How long have you been here in Dazhou, and you still feel that you are innocent? Do you think that you can never return to Kashgar Qing, so you changed your faith to false gods? Unforgivable!”

Zhen's head shook like a rattle: "Mom! I don't have one! Dong Jialin made this dress for me. I thought it looked good, so I put it on out of confusion!"

"Good-looking?" The old lady suddenly raised her voice, "You actually think that Buddhist symbols are good-looking? How could a devout believer think that Buddhist symbols are good-looking? I was so upset when I first saw it! You are not pious! So God didn't guide you! You...you are so disappointing!"

At this time, Shui Linglong, Zhuge Liuyun, Prince An and Qiao Hui walked into the room. Leng Youru was too lazy to join in the fun, while Zhuge Yu stayed in the front hall to greet the guests. When Zhen saw Zhuge Liuyun, it was like seeing a life-saving straw when drowning, and threw herself at his feet: "Brother! Brother, I didn't mean it! Dong Jialin gave me clothes, and I wore them without thinking about it! I... I just I can’t bear to violate her filial piety! This is..."

"I can't bear to betray her filial piety, so I would rather betray my faith? Can I wear this kind of clothes casually?" Zhuge Liuyun interrupted her mercilessly!

Zhen was stunned. Even the prince didn’t believe her. How could this happen? It's understandable that the old lady couldn't figure out her thoughts, but the prince is sensible and smart, so he should have figured out that she didn't do it unintentionally, so why... why didn't he forgive her? She looked at her son again: "Ming'er! Ming'er, you believe in mother, right?"

 Prince An couldn't bear it. He walked to Mrs. Zhen and planned to kneel down to plead for her, but the old lady pulled him to the kang and sat down. "Don't lead my grandson into harm's way!" The old lady shouted sternly, suppressing Prince An's plea for mercy back into her stomach! Prince An held the old lady's hand instead, with a pleading look in his eyes.

If he hadn't been exposed in front of so many people, the old lady might have considered giving him a lighter sentence, but as soon as he thought of the concubine in Kashgar wearing Buddhist clothes and swaggering around the city without shame, the old lady would get very angry. ! The old lady turned her face angrily and ignored her grandson's plea: "According to the clan rules, what should be done to those who betray their faith?"

 “Be whipped to death!” Zhuge Liuyun said in a voice like a cold pond.

“Ah—” Mrs. Zhen was almost scared out of her mind, “Your Majesty, please spare my life! Your Majesty, please spare my life! I really didn’t mean it!”

Qiao Hui knelt next to Mrs. Zhen and looked at the old lady with tears in her eyes: "Grandma! Please go around my mother! She definitely didn't mean it! I don't recognize this sign either. I have been going to the temple with my mother since I was seven years old. When I go to burn incense and worship Buddha, I... I have never noticed any signs! Also, we have many statues of Guanyin and Tathagata Buddha in our house, but... I have never seen any signs of Buddhism! , many people are wearing it on the street! Damn, she’s just dressing up on a whim!”

Prince An also fell to his knees on the ground: "Grandma, uncle! Please take my mother's ignorance and make mistakes into consideration and give me a lighter sentence! If not, please let me take the punishment on my mother's behalf!"

The faults of fathers and sons, husbands and wives, and faults of elders and sons are allowed in Kashgar Qing’s clan rules. But Prince An is now an official of the imperial court. If he really wants to be beaten to death, what will the emperor say? Zhuge Liuyun's cold eyes swept over the heads of Prince An and Qiao Hui: "Fifty lashes!"

 Fifty blows, no one can beat Zhen's own blows. Shui Linglong glanced at Zhuge Liuyun out of the corner of her eye. For some reason, she vaguely felt that the prince was... deliberately trying to fight against the Zhen family! The clothes were given by Dong Jialin, so I had to ask Dong Jialin first what her thoughts were, whether she was really innocent or did it deliberately. According to her original plan, this was only the first step, and there was still a second step before Zhen could be caught. However, the prince's attitude directly accelerated Zhen's "destruction", and she didn't know what evil Zhen had done.

"Ah? No, Bai Mei! Didn't you say that what you said that day will rot in your stomach? How could you tell the Defu family and also tell the madam?" Bai Ju was surprised that Bai Mei didn't mean what she said, and was surprised that the newlyweds in the house The woman who came turned out to be the biological mother of the prince! Gosh! Is the princess continuing her relationship? Do you want it to be so scary?

Baimei peeled off a lychee and put it in her mouth. After chewing it, she said vaguely: "I let you rot in your stomach, and I didn't say anything about myself!"

"You..." Bai Ju glared at her displeasedly, "You're cheating!"

Bai Mei spit out the lychee core, picked up another one, and peeled it off to Bai Ju this time: "You have such a temper, you can easily be used as a gunman, if you don't do it right, reporting the news will become a deliberate provocation. I won't Yes, I know how to measure it, and I can make good use of it!”

　　Bai Ju opened her mouth and ate the lychee she sent: "How did you make use of it?"

The reason why Bai Mei likes Bai Ju is that this girl is honest and worse than her, and she admires her from the bottom of her heart. This feeling of being an idol is great! Therefore, she will always protect Bai Ju, well, how should I put it? It's like protecting a pet. Bai Mei took the initiative to reach out her hand to catch the lychee core spit out by Bai Ju and threw it into the trash can.

Seeing her pitying herself so much, Bai Ju felt a little sorry: "I'm sorry, I was too impulsive just now. Don't take it to heart."

 (End of this chapter)