First Concubine

Chapter 237 The truth about past lives (1)

In the quiet courtyard, Brother Hao was somersaulting on the bed. Leng Youru was sitting on the chair opposite him, making his autumn clothes. Occasionally she looked up at him and said, "Be careful of falling off!"

However, Brother Hao turned over again to prove that he was not that inferior, then he jumped off the ground, put on the open-toed slippers given by Shui Linglong and walked up to Leng Youru, deliberately letting her sweaty face be seen by her. arrive. Leng Youru put down her sewing work, took out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, then picked up the water glass on the table and brought it to his lips: "Drink some water."

Brother Hao picked up the cup and drank until it was all the way down, then obediently put the cup back in its place, and then smiled as if he was taking credit: "I did a great job, Youru, do you want to reward me with a kiss?" "

Leng Youru suddenly felt funny: "Aren't you ashamed that a grown man still wants to kiss you all day long?"

Brother Hao didn't seem to hear her words, and sighed like a very young adult: "I'll make enough food and clothing myself, I'd better do it myself!" After saying that, he raised his hand and circled Leng Youru's neck, and gave her a big kiss on the face. "Boo" one!

Leng Youru smiled, picked up the fabric and continued threading: "Your father is getting married, which means you will have a mother. What do you think?"

Brother Hao shrugged, opened his eyes and said, "I have no objection! Anyway, I live with Youru. It would be nice if my father could find someone to take care of him."

Leng Youru glanced at him, and her voice was as calm as ever: "You can't live with me forever. When your father gets married, you..." After a pause, her voice became a little softer, "You will probably move. Enter my aunt’s yard.”

"I don't want it!" Brother Hao sat down on the stool next to Leng Youru, pouting his pink lips and humming, "Then if this is the case, I don't like my father getting married! He If my happiness affects my welfare, I won’t do it!”

Leng Youru smiled softly: "Even if your father doesn't get married, you can't live with me forever."

Brother Hao patted his chest stubbornly: "Why is it impossible? When I grow up, I will marry you! Then can we stay together forever?"

Leng Youru finally could no longer do the embroidery work, but looked at him intently: "When you grow up, I will be old, um...as old as your great-grandmother."

Brother Hao thought for a while and gave an unexpected answer: "Grandma Zeng is quite good at her age. Not so many people like her?" Leng Youru was speechless.

In the Mohe Courtyard, Shui Linglong was reading the secret letter handed over by Zhuge Yu's spies. Unexpectedly, it would be the third prince who was secretly colluding with Shui Chenxiang and Shui Minyu. Not long after Shui Minyu entered the prison, she was crazily abused by the jailer. , her methods were so cruel that even someone like her who had lived in the cold palace would make her hair stand on end. And just when Eunuch Zhang was getting more and more happy with the torture, the third prince used his connections to save Shui Minyu. It was impossible to get out of prison, but she was moved to a separate cell, and the third prince sent people to guard her.

Shui Linglong sneered, she thought the mastermind behind this was Li Jing. I don’t know if Shui Chenxiang and Shui Minyu turned against the Third Prince on their own initiative, or if they were instructed by Shui Hangge. While thinking about it, Mother Zhong reported that Ye Mao's mother was here.

Ye Mao's mother is forty-one years old this year. She has an ordinary appearance, slightly dark skin, a round face, and a black mole on the right eyebrow. When she smiles, she shows her white teeth, which is very friendly. "My slave, please pay your respects to the Crown Princess!" Ye Maoniang kowtowed politely.

Shui Linglong raised her hand and said kindly, "Please get up quickly." She looked at Mother Zhong and said, "Give me a seat."

 “Thank you, Crown Princess.” Ye Maoniang felt blessed and stood up. Mother Zhong moved a chair for her to sit down. She gathered up the skirt of her skirt and carefully moved to the edge, not daring to actually sit down. "I came here today to ask for a favor from the Crown Princess. Ye Mao is not young. Now, I have found a marriage for her in my hometown, and they will get married by the end of the year or early next year."

“It’s the end of August now, so it’s too soon.” Shui Linglong’s eyes overflowed with a hint of joy.

Ye Maoniang was greatly impressed when she saw Shui Linglong's expression. No wonder Ye Mao always praised the Crown Princess. This master did not belittle his slave like other masters. Ye Maoniang's smile became a little deeper, "This slave wants to give Ye Mao After redeeming herself, I will not let her go to Beijing after getting married. The couple will guard the land and house of their ancestors. In the future, if I and my wife can no longer do anything, they can return to the countryside to retire. "

Shui Linglong looked at Ye Mao, who had been standing in the corner silently but with red eyes, and felt reluctant: "What's the situation of that man?"

Ye Maoniang didn't expect Shui Linglong to be so concerned about Ye Mao's marriage. She was so moved that she knew there was nothing she could not say: "I am from the same village as my slave, and I know a little bit about sugar making. It will not be a problem to support a family. That's it." The parents died early, and there was only an elderly grandmother and two toddler brothers at home. This delayed the marriage year after year. It was because the slave girl went back to the countryside to worship her ancestors this year that she found such a person. , the village spoke well of him, saying that he was of good character and hard-working. If he had not had two little oil bottles, he would not have been able to find a wife! It happened that this year, his two younger brothers grew up, and his grandmother called him the eldest. My younger brother went to Beijing with the slave girl and got a job in the Shangshu Mansion. No, the slave girl’s family became familiar with theirs after going back and forth. "

If this is the case, this marriage is still a good one. Shui Linglong looked at Ye Mao again. This girl was not dissatisfied with the marriage, but she was reluctant to leave her relatives and friends in the capital. Shui Linglong's eyes moved, and she turned to Ye Maoniang and said warmly: "I would like to congratulate Ye Mao first. Ye Mao has been with me for so long, and the redemption money is free. If you need to leave the house to prepare for the marriage, tell me ten days in advance. I will It’s easy to find someone to take over here and make some preparations accordingly.”

Ye Maoniang hurriedly stood up and thanked her respectfully: "Being able to serve the Crown Princess is a blessing earned by Ye Mao in his previous life! It's a pity that Ye Mao's blessings are so shallow that he can only serve you for a few years in this life. If there is a chance in the next life, I will definitely serve you." Ask her to make cows and horses for you to repay your kindness."

On the other side, Ye Mao was already crying. Shui Linglong's eyes were also a little wet. Among these girls, Ye Mao was the most honest and sincere. She thought she would find a marriage in the capital, but she didn't expect that she would marry in a village so far away! Shui Linglong's heart turned over and over again, and she gave Ye Mao's mother a red envelope, and also packed several boxes of egg tarts, red bean pudding, gold ingot cakes and lotus root taro cake for Ye Mao's younger brother. Ye Maoniang thanked her profusely and was sent out of the palace by Mother Zhong.

On this side, Ye Maoniang has just left, and on the other side, the branches and willows are back. Liu Lu, who has just recovered from a serious illness, looks a little pale and her body is thinner than before, but this does not affect her unique beauty. She wears a colorful dark floral brocade top and a plain white floor-length skirt, walking lightly in lotus steps. , glimmering and scorching, it is already a beautiful scenery in the room without doing anything. "My slave, I bow to the eldest lady. May the eldest lady be blessed and safe!" Liu Lu knelt down and kowtowed.

Shui Linglong rubbed her sore temples and said with her usual expression, "Get up. I see you don't look very good. Sit down."

Liu Lu refused solemnly: "I have something to ask of you. Please allow me to kneel down and finish my speech."

Shui Linglong raised her eyebrows: "What's the matter?"

"Slave..." Liu Lu bit her lip, as if she was engaged in an astonishing psychological struggle. It took her a long time to calm down and said, "Slave, if you want to go back to the eldest lady, you can do anything, bring tea and water, Sweeping the courtyard, cooking... all servants are welcome, please do it, Miss!"

 After experiencing two dangerous situations, she finally discovered how big of a target "the prince's woman" is. Anyone who wants to harm the prince will use her as a raft first. Are she and the prince like candied haws? It would be fine if there were only two of them on this string of candied haws and they were in love with each other. How could she say the poem that the eldest lady taught her? "Life is precious, but love is more valuable." If she loves the prince, she may not mind enduring others' frame-up while staying with him. Don't forget that there is another sentence behind "Life is precious, but love is more valuable" - "For the sake of freedom, both can be thrown away." Even without it, there is no inseparable love between her and the prince. , it’s just some external things and a face that can’t be removed.

Shui Linglong was not surprised that Liu Lu would have such thoughts. Liu Lu did not have the servility of most servants. She was very self-centered and would think about seeking a better future for herself within the controllable range, just as she once rushed to Shui Minyu's yard once returned to her yard, and this time, she wanted to return to her yard again.

Seeing that Shui Linglong didn't speak, Liu Lu's heart pounded: "Miss, it was not my intention that I was taken to the main courtyard by the prince. My mother threatened her life, so I had no choice but to obey. But this time, I am in the village. We started talking with the slave's mother. The risk for the slave to stay with the prince is too high. If the slave dies, the slave and my mother will not get anything good from the prince. It is better for the slave to try to survive and at least earn a little. "What she didn't say was that she told her mother that she was still a virgin, so her mother felt that she might be of higher use in the future.

Shui Linglong still didn't say anything, Liu Lu was anxious: "Miss, Ye Mao is getting married, and you will have less caring people around you. You are not a talented servant, but I have served you for so long, and I have your preferences and habits." I also know better than other servants that slaves are easy to use and easy to use!”

Shui Linglong picked up a longan and said, "It doesn't matter what I said."

Hearing this, Liu Lu was startled at first, and then ecstatically said: "This slave knows what to do! Thank you very much, Miss!" He kowtowed again, and then exited the room excitedly. As soon as they walked outside the door, Zhi Fan and Ye Mao asked, "How is it? Does the eldest lady agree?"

Liu Lu looked back and whispered: "Go back to the house and talk."

Going back to the house where Zhifan and Ye Mao lived together, the three of them sat around the table. Zhifan opened the snack box, brought tea, and urged: "Hurry up and tell me, does the eldest lady agree or not?"

Ye Mao also looked at her with wide eyes, looking very anxious. Liu Lu deliberately delayed saying anything until both of them suppressed their blushes, then she burst into laughter and said, "You two, wait for my good news!"

 Zhi Fan and Ye Mao looked at each other and smiled. Liu Lu took a sip of tea, looked at the house where she once lived, and said with emotion: "It has been nearly three years since the three of us met in Lingxiangyuan. I am the most variable, always coming and going around the eldest lady. Go. It’s better for you, settle down.”

Zhi Fan said disapprovingly: "We are stable, but we are not as profitable as you! How much have we earned in the prince's yard in the past two years?"

Liu Lu snorted: "I don't remember."

Zhifan felt bad, took a sip of tea, and said sourly: "You still envy us! You have been the master of the main courtyard for two years. I heard that even Uncle Yu has to show you some dignity when he sees you. Such a blessing , Ye Mao and I can't even think about it." These words are not without a hint of schadenfreude. The more they remind Liu Lu of her past glory, the more they tell her of the desolation in the future. Of course, it may also be a simple reminder. , anyway, even Zhifan himself couldn’t figure out why he said this.

Liu Lu nodded her forehead and said: "You are good at everything, but you are petty! What else can I do to compete with you when I come here? You have served the eldest lady for three years, and you have never given up and devoted yourself to it. Except for the prince Xiao Xiang, I can't fault anything else! How can I compare with you?" This is also a warning to Zhi Fan that if you don't let go of your admiration for the prince, you will never be able to win the eldest lady. Your trust is useful now. If you are in deep trouble in the future, you will be the first person you abandon!

Zhi Fan’s eyes turned cold, and he couldn’t come up with a word of rebuttal. Liu Lu ordered until she finished her tea, filled it herself, and said: "When I was assigned to Lingxiangyuan, I was not happy at all! I felt that I was a family-born child, so how could I be assigned to a father who didn't care? Working for a concubine whom my mother doesn’t love? Is that what you thought at the time?”

Ye Mao smiled naively: "I have nothing to do. My mother complained a few times."

Zhifan cleared his throat: "You two are from home, but I am not." She didn't have a choice, but she didn't plan to stay with the eldest lady for a long time. Like Liu Lu, she actually wanted to borrow the eldest lady's strength. After developing connections in the palace, he looked for opportunities to run to higher places. But the more she got along with the eldest lady, the more she discovered the charm and cohesion of the eldest lady. To put it bluntly, she felt a sense of security with the eldest lady.

Liu Lu snorted disdainfully: "Zhifan, how can you hide your thoughts from me? If the eldest lady didn't win the plum blossom feast, you wouldn't be so dedicated. You are more powerful than me!"

Zhifan couldn't help but blush when he was told the central issue again: "You...are talking nonsense!"

Liu Lu sighed quietly: "Oh! But I have to admit that you have a more vicious view of people than me! The eldest lady is indeed a rare and good mistress, at least she never takes advantage of others. And anyone who goes against her It doesn't end well! Sometimes, it's not just about brains, but also luck. Do you know luck? Miss, there is nobility in life. So, the three of us want to live a good life. We must hug the big tree of Miss, and of course, we must do our best to protect this tree. If the tree falls, our bright future will come to an end. "

Zhi Fan nodded, and suddenly the conversation changed: "Ye Mao, are you willing to marry so far away?"

Ye Mao's eyes turned red again, and Liu Lu sighed slowly: "You are the most honest among the three of us. I thought you would be the last one to marry, but I didn't expect you to get married earlier than me and Zhi Fan. In fact, why are we reluctant to part with you? Your friend didn't do anything for you, your parents treated you like a cash cow all the time and didn't worry about you. You were so mad that you couldn't let go! You married that man and lived a good life with him. He was able to raise his younger brother against all odds, which proves that he is a wise man. Responsible. Besides, he is ten years older than you, so he will be tolerant to you. Except for the time when you were born, this is the only time your mother has done anything good. "

"Pfft--" Zhi Fan and Ye Mao laughed out loud at the same time, and shed tears at the same time. Liu Lu held their hands, raised her head, and forced the tears back into her eyes.

The night was low, the stars were shining, and the moon was bright in the sky. But for some unknown reason, a strong wind suddenly blew up, and the moon and stars all disappeared into the night. Zhifan had just sent Liu Lu back to the main courtyard, and was now rushing to Mohe Courtyard. How could he have known that he would encounter such strange weather? Is it going to rain heavily or something? He couldn't think of a reason. Anyway, it was the same day whether it was raining or not. So Zhi Fan walked briskly towards the Mohe Courtyard again, but unexpectedly met Cui's mother halfway, who was looking in a hurry. Zhifan raised a smile and said hello when Cui's mother was a few steps away from her: "Cui's mother."

However, Cui’s mother frowned and passed by Zhifan, ignoring her! Zhifan's face doesn't look good. Do you want to show off like this? Isn't she the eldest mother next to Mrs. Leng? As for being so arrogant that he doesn’t even say hello?

In the Mohe Courtyard, Shui Linglong fed the children and bathed them, then asked Qiu Sanniang and Xiaoxia to go down one by one. After a period of running-in, the elder sister and the elder brother gradually got used to sleeping on their own. . When Ge Yu entered the house, Shui Linglong was counting the betrothal gifts given to the Yao family by the prince. The prince regarded Xun Feng as his own son and tried to make the betrothal gifts lower than when Zhuge Yu married her. He was afraid that she would overthink it, so he just said it would be lower. But she understood that the betrothal gift must not be shabby.

Zhuge Yu saw his wife taking care of the palace with all her heart, and a warm feeling surged in his heart. He walked to her side lightly, lowered his head and kissed her on the lips. Shui Linglong was startled, and reflexively poked him with a brush, drawing a black mark on his face. At this moment, Zhuge Yu was also startled. But before he could recover, Shui Linglong took the initiative to kiss him: "Don't be angry."

How could Zhuge Yu be angry with her over such a trivial matter? But it was rare for her to take the initiative, so he enjoyed it for once. The two lingered for about a quarter of an hour. Shui Linglong just realized that he was not wearing the clothes he wore when he went out this morning, so she smoothed a crease on his shoulder blade and asked doubtfully: "Why did you change clothes?" The man went out for a trip, I changed my clothes when I came back. It would be hard to think of myself as any woman.

 (End of this chapter)