First Concubine

Chapter 209 Fierce business war (3)

Shui Linglong thought of what Xun Feng said to her, "You will win only if you love to work hard." The shopping mall is like a battlefield. There is no high morale, no determination to win, and all experience is flashy. The reason why Li Jing's shop lost was not a loss. In terms of method, he lost to Mu Hua's fighting spirit that even God had to admire.

As soon as the two of them left, Leng Youru ordered Cen'er: "Debit three thousand taels of silver from my account. In addition, Master's repairmen will not go to Gongzhong."

Doing New Year's goods, sewing new clothes, giving out red envelopes...the total amount is more than a thousand taels, visiting relatives and doing favors is about 500 taels, and the money for repairs is not much, thirty-five taels a month, less than 500 taels a year. Two, what are you going to do with the remaining one thousand taels? Cen'er asked in confusion: "Why did the princess withdraw so much money?"

Leng Youru picked up the tea cup, took a sip quietly, and said in a soft voice: "It's useful."

Soon, Cen'er understood what the "useful" the princess meant.

 The war in the east broke out again, and Mrs. Yao was getting old. The Queen Mother could not bear the hardships her father had suffered on the battlefield, so Yang Yunli issued an order to summon the old man back to Beijing and select good generals to go to fight in the east. Guo Yan was originally the first choice, but the third princess couldn't bear it, so she held Yunli's arm and made love in Hualong Palace. The title of Marshal Zhengdong finally fell to Zhuge Yu.

Zhuge Yu is about to conquer the east, and Zhuge Liuyun is not idle either. This year is the last year of Kashgar Qing's twenty-year tax holiday. From next year, the court will officially collect taxes from Kashgar Qing. In order to avoid unnecessary turmoil, Yun The ceremony ordered the canonization of Zhuge Liufeng's eldest son as the crown prince and his eldest daughter as the princess. He also appointed Zhuge Liuyun as the imperial envoy to comfort the people of Kashgar on behalf of the emperor. At the same time, Prince An was allowed to return home to visit his relatives.

Prince An was so anxious that he broke into a cold sweat. Did he still have a way to survive when he returned home?

 On New Year's Eve, the snow is falling. Everyone gathered around a round table to eat New Year's Eve dinner. Compared with last year, there are Mu Hua and three more children at the table this year. Brother Hao is wearing a brand new sapphire blue cotton jacket and navy blue cotton trousers. His hair is combed brightly, and he is much cleaner and fresher. He is sitting on Leng Youru’s table. Next to him, he was quietly eating the food Leng Youru gave him. Zhuge Liuyun touched Brother Hao's little head and smiled happily: "Thank you for your hard work.".

Leng Youru smiled faintly: "It's not hard work, it's just a matter of keeping each other company."

 Zhuge Liuyun's eyes darkened, and he personally filled a bowl of longan and lotus seed soup in front of her: "I will go back to Kashgar to celebrate this time and ask the old witch doctor in the clan. Maybe he has a secret recipe... You are still young."

Leng Youru’s long eyelashes trembled, and the fingers holding the chopsticks pinched out a little bit of white. Brother Hao looked at Leng Youru from the left and Zhuge Liuyun from the right. He didn't know why, but he still frowned.

Mrs. Zhen had a panoramic view of the interaction between Leng Youru and Zhuge Liuyun, and she couldn't help but feel a little sour in her heart. Didn't the prince fall in love with Guan Qian? Why do you seem to have fallen in love with the princess again? Every woman in this house is happier than she is. She has a home she can’t return to, a husband she doesn’t recognize, and a daughter who died... She lives with her son and daughter-in-law, but her daughter-in-law can’t even lay an egg. ! After glaring at Qiao Hui, Zhen glanced impatiently at the laughing brother and the quiet and gentle sister, and the more he looked at them, the more he felt distressed.

Feeling her mother-in-law's disgust, Qiao Hui bit her lip. She had tried her best. She carefully massaged the acupuncture points according to the method taught by Xu's mother, and took the medicine prescribed by Xu's mother regularly. But even if she couldn't get pregnant, she couldn't. Urgent, anxious.

 Under the tablecloth on the other side, Zhuge Yu quietly held Shui Linglong's hand and never let go. Shui Linglong's face turned slightly red, she stepped on his foot, glanced at everyone, and whispered: "You want to have a meal with me, don't you think it's too greasy?"

Zhuge Yu really let go of her hand. However, before Shui Linglong could feel at ease, his evil claws penetrated her skirt...

Snapped! The chopsticks in Shui Linglong's hand fell off! Everyone looked at her, and while enduring Zhuge Yu's malicious teasing, she laughed and said, "Sorry, my hands are slippery and I didn't clamp it properly."

Mu Hua looked at them in pairs and thought of his deceased wife. His heart felt as lonely as snow, and he couldn't help but drink another drink.

In the Pingting Pavilion, Dong Jialin was sitting alone on the kang. The ground dragon was extremely warm, but her heart was extremely cold. It had been five months since the second lady was whipped, and Prince An had never set foot in her yard again.

Xing'er brought a bowl of dumplings and sighed: "Auntie, let's have a bowl of dumplings. It's good luck to celebrate the New Year."

Dong Jialin laughed at herself: "Can life really be auspicious if you seek auspiciousness? I have been eating Chinese New Year dumplings since I was one year old, but what happened? My parents died because I peed so much. Later, my brother and I were taken in by the tribe, and I still make dumplings every year. Eat, but what happened? They didn’t treat me and my brother as human beings, and we almost died.”

After two lines of tears fell, Dong Jialin raised her hand to wipe them away, "Don't talk about things so far away, let's just say that last year, I also ate dumplings and bit one that was wrapped with copper coins. You said to me at that time, 'Auntie, it's a good sign. ! You will definitely be able to join hands with the prince next year and add a new child to the palace! '"

 Xing'er was speechless. Dong Jialin's eyes filled with tears again, but she squeezed out a specious smile: "I don't expect to be able to raise a child to the palace. I just want a care, and this won't work! One year will pass, I bit the copper coin for nothing!”

Xing'er placed the plate on the coffee table: "Auntie, do you regret it?"

The sweetness of the past was still vivid in her mind, and she felt as tender as his hair on the pillow, but she could deceive others but could not deceive herself. She had been alone in the empty room for five months. Five months, no one knows better than her what this means. Dong Jialin glanced at the steaming dumplings: "You can eat, I'll go for a walk."

Xing'er hurriedly stood up, held her arm, and said seriously: "Auntie, it's snowing heavily outside. You may be freezing, so you'd better stay in the house and let me talk to you to relieve your boredom."

Dong Jialin’s voice turned cold: “There’s no need to follow!”

Xing'er was stunned for a moment, looking at Dong Jialin's decisively leaving figure, she stopped in place as she wanted to move.

"Oh, my little sweetheart, you must be tired!" the old lady said distressedly, holding her brother who was yawning frequently.

My brother didn't even have the strength to spit out milk bubbles, his head was drooping, but he didn't cry and fall asleep like other children. My sister had gone to bed early, and now she was lying in Zhuge Yu's arms, a soft ball, and Zhuge Yu's heart was also extremely soft.

Shui Linglong walked to the old lady and said with a smile: "I'll do it."

Brother Hao cast his lonely gaze behind the gauze cabinet. Mu Hua touched his little head and said with a smile, "How about sleeping with father tonight?"

 Brother Hao leaned towards Leng Youru. Mu Hua was slightly dazed. He had a good time during the day, so why didn't he want him at night? The old lady looked at Brother Hao's attachment to Leng Youru, which was revealed intentionally or unintentionally, and her heart relaxed a little: "I'm afraid the snow will get heavier and heavier, don't expect it to stop, just go back!"

 Everyone dispersed, but the man drank a little too much, so the boys helped him back.

Qiao Hui reached out her hand that could have been placed in a hand warmer to keep warm, supported Zhen's arm, and reminded her softly: "Mother, I will take you back to the yard."

Mrs. Zhen glanced at her coldly and said in a strange way: "My husband is going out soon. You are not a wife who can't serve your husband well. What do you want to do with me? We'll be apart for three months, and you can't conceive a child!"

 Qiao Hui was very aggrieved. It had been nearly a year since her last miscarriage. Her stomach was still and there was no movement, especially since the prince had been sleeping in her room for more than five months. Holding back the sourness in her heart, Qiao Hui forced out a gentle smile: "Then I will go back to Pingtingxuan first, and then I will pay my respects to you tomorrow morning."

Zhen made a vague sound! Qiao Hui let go of Zhen's hand and walked forward. She had just taken two steps when a scream came from behind. She quickly turned around and saw Ms. Zhen slipping and falling in the snow. Her face was twisted in pain: "Ouch, ouch, my waist is broken..."

Liuzhu and Qiao Hui squatted down to help her at the same time, but she opened Qiao Hui's hand and said sternly: "You are so disrespectful to your elders! Didn't I just say a few words to you? But you shamed me and gave me a Throw it into the snow, you want to kill me!"

Qiao Hui's eyes were red with grievance, and she apologized: "I'm sorry, mother, I..."

"Crying? Are you still crying? Why are you crying during the Chinese New Year? You are trying to bring bad luck to me, are you?" Madam Zhen looked coldly at Qiao Hui, whose tears were falling down, and said coldly, "Okay ! If you want to make everyone in the house think that I am mean and ungrateful, please stop crying!"

Qiao Hui tried to hold back her tears, but she couldn't hold it back no matter how hard she tried. Mrs. Zhen glared at her with disgust: "Ming'er is so unlucky that I have to deal with your..." He was going to say "a hen that can't lay eggs", but when the words came to her lips, she felt that it was really indecent, so she stopped. He said patiently, "Okay! Go back! It's a good time to serve Ming'er. Ming'er has to walk for a long time and the journey is bumpy. I mustn't forget anything I need to prepare. Do you understand?"

"Yes." Qiao Hui said goodbye to Zhen with tears in her eyes, turned around and disappeared into the endless snow.

Prince An, who returned to Pingtingxuan but did not see Qiao Hui, drank a bowl of sobering soup and then returned to Tian'anju to pick up Qiao Hui. He saw his mother bullying Qiao Hui from a distance. He sighed secretly. When Qiao Hui After leaving, he took a detour and walked towards Zhen from another direction: "Mother."

Zhen was startled: "I was scared to death. Didn't you go back to the yard? Why did you come out in such heavy snow? Look at you, you are covered in snow and what will you do if you are frozen?"

Said sadly, Mrs. Zhen didn't even bother to take the handkerchief, and directly patted the snowflakes on his shoulders with her hands. In a moment, her bare hands turned red from the cold. Prince An held her cold hand in his palm and said sincerely, "Mom, I'm leaving tomorrow. I have something to say to you before I leave."

Mrs. Zhen smiled heart-warmingly: "How old do you get to be reluctant to part with your mother? Don't worry, although your father and Shangguan Hong don't want to see you, you are a high official in the imperial court, and they have to be careful if they want to touch you. Besides, your uncle is here , I will never let anyone bully you.”

"I understand. Thank you very much, mother, for worrying about me." Prince An paused and said seriously, "Mother, please take good care of Xiaohui while I'm gone. I want to live a good life with her."

"You..." Mrs. Zhen was so angry that she fell back and wondered for a long time. Didn't her son come back to look for her or bid her farewell? Instead, he interceded for that little girl Qiao Hui? At this thought, Mrs. Zhen became furious, "What kind of ecstasy soup did she pour into you? You don't even think about me as a mother in your eyes, you only think about her! You are the meat that I shed after ten months of pregnancy, but you choose to help an outsider! You It’s really… it really makes me angry!”

"Mother." Prince An frowned slightly, "Xiaohui is not an outsider, she is my wife and your daughter-in-law."

 How many mothers can bear the thought of their son caring more about their daughter-in-law than she does? Anyway, Mrs. Zhen couldn't bear it: "How long have you been married? The eldest daughter and twins can even get candy and eat it, but she has nothing in her stomach! She still cares about you and won't let you favor your aunt, nor will she give you a wife. Maid! Such a jealous woman, you just think of her as a treasure!"

Prince An said with a smile: "Mother, why am I treating her well because she is the daughter-in-law you found for me? Mother, if you don't believe me, don't you also believe in your own eye for choosing people?"

These words are useful. If Qiao Hui is really that unbearable, wouldn't it be a slap in the face for herself? Mrs. Zhen curled her lips and said angrily: "I know you can't let her go. After all, she is your second wife's direct daughter-in-law. I will protect her no matter what."

In Qingyou Courtyard, Leng Youru was instructing Cen'er to pack the boxes: "...Bring two more pairs of boots, one each of sheepskin and cowhide; add two more sets of cotton clothes, and don't forget the thinner brocade clothes. It will probably be spring when you come back. Already…”

Zhuge Liuyun was sitting on the bedside, holding a Rubik's Cube with Brother Hao each. Brother Hao was spinning extremely well, but he was haunted by blood. From the corner of his eye, he glanced at his wife who was busy working for him from time to time. Every time he glanced at her, The guilt in my heart deepened.

After putting it in and saluting, Cen'er put another four hundred taels of silver into the bottom of the box. Leng Youru pointed to the brocade box on the table: "The big one is for the crown prince, and the small one is for the prince."

Cen'er nodded: "Yes, I know."

Leng Youru finished what she was doing, looked at her grandfather and grandson on the bed, and said calmly: "It's time to rest. Brother Hao will go back to the room with the wet nurse."

 Brother Hao lowered his head and seemed not to hear! Zhuge Liuyun looked at Leng Youru, reached out to hug Brother Hao, and smiled lovingly: "Come, grandpa will carry you back!"

Brother Hao shrank back, whether intentionally or not, and just avoided Zhuge Liuyun's hand. Zhuge Liuyun was stunned for a moment, then smiled: "Do you still want to play? Ask your father to play with you tomorrow, okay?"

Brother Hao glanced at Leng Youru stubbornly, then lowered his head and continued to spin the Rubik's Cube in his hand. Zhuge Liuyun had no choice but to look up at Leng Youru and said with a smile: "It's better you do it, he won't listen to me."

Leng Youru walked to the bed with an expressionless face, and leaned over to take the Rubik's Cube in Brother Hao's hand, but Brother Hao pulled it tightly. Leng Youru exerted a little force, and he exerted more force. As he pulled and pulled, a tear dropped. It dripped on the back of Leng Youru's hand. Leng Youru's long eyelashes trembled and she turned her head to look at him. Brother Hao hurriedly turned his back, but his tears blurred and left mottled marks on the ice blue bed. Zhuge Liuyun was stunned. This child had been in the government for half a year and he had never shed a tear before. He even broke his head and broke his head without letting out a groan. Now, he is crying?

"He is..." Zhuge Liuyun asked Xiang Leng Youru in a low voice. The child was sensitive and did not dare to ask too clearly for fear of hurting his self-esteem.

Leng Youru’s eyes moved and she said in the same tone as usual: “The hot water has been put away. Your Majesty, please go and wash up first.”

Zhuge Liuyun touched Brother Hao's shoulders that were shaking slightly due to forbearance, shook his head and sighed, got up and went to the clean room.

Leng Youru sat down by the bed and pulled his little arm from behind. Brother Hao broke away, but his body shook even more. Leng Youru took off her shoes and went to bed. Brother Hao lowered his head and wanted to hide, but Leng Youru hugged her into Ruanxiang's arms.

 “Do you miss your mother?”

 Brother Hao's heart was shaken violently, and the tears that he had finally stopped burst into his eyes again.

Leng Youru patted him on the shoulder and asked softly: "Seeing that Brother Hong and Sister Nan both have mothers, do you also want to have a mother of your own?"

Brother Hao grabbed Leng Youru’s lapel and cried loudly. At this moment, he finally looked like a four-year-old child. Leng Youru hugged him on her lap, and she didn't know what she thought of. Waves of undercurrents passed through her deep eyes, like dark clouds passing by, covering the entire clear sky. She closed her eyes and shed tears.

In the Wisteria Courtyard, brothers and sisters were snoring one after another. Zhuge Yu played with their little feet and couldn't hide his smile: "Why do you snore at such a young age?"

Shui Linglong pressed the clothes in the box and stuffed ten ingots of gold and several bags of silver nuggets. She looked at the "three auspicious treasures" who loved her and she also loved her, and smiled softly: "Babies under half a year old. It’s like this, it will get better after half a year.”

Zhuge Yu kissed each of their little feet, then carefully put them into the quilt and tucked the corners of the quilt.

Shui Linglong thought of Li Jing, stared intently, and asked, "By the way, have you checked Li Jing? Is he Xun Feng?"

When talking about business, Zhuge Yu looked solemn and said: "My people have fought against him, and the martial arts routine is basically the same as Xun Feng's, but the strange thing is that he doesn't wear a human skin mask. In other words, this face it is true."

Shui Linglong closed the box and started arranging her shoes again: "It's really not a big deal if he has a face. He can create a Jin Shang Palace, and Jin Shang Palace may not be able to get his true biography and imitate Li Jing's appearance to turn him into Li Jing."

Zhuge Yu said thoughtfully: "In a place like the capital, outsiders look down on them. He is playing economic games in the capital in the name of a wealthy businessman from Quanzhou. Without a strong backing and means, he can't survive for more than a month."

When Shui Linglong heard this, something flashed through her mind: "Where is Jin Shang Palace? Have you found her?"

Zhuge Yu hugged Shui Linglong's pink shoulders and put her cool hands in his palms: "Well, Li Jing did have contact with a fat masked woman. That woman was responsible for various matters in the beauty salon. If My guess is correct, she should be Jin Shanggong. "

It sounded very reasonable, but for some reason, Shui Linglong always felt that they had overlooked something. As she was thinking about it, Zhi Fan's voice came from outside the door: "Miss, the princess has sent someone to deliver four hundred taels of silver."

 (End of this chapter)