First Concubine

Chapter 57: Competing for calculations (3)

"Brother Zhi is two years old this year. He is so cute. Brother Tong is six months old and has not calmed down much. Miss, please don't be frightened later." Xiao Qingqiao said with a sweet smile, Shui Linglong couldn't help but pick a question. She raised her eyebrows. A maid who could talk about her young master like this must have a high status. Shui Linglong looked at Xiao Qing carefully and saw that she had picturesque features and was naturally charming when talking and laughing. The fact that the Yao family does not like concubines does not mean that the masters will only have one woman in their lives. This maid named Xiaoqing should be Yao Fei's first wife.

Xiao Qing turned around and bumped into Shui Linglong's smiling eyes. Her eyes flashed slightly and she lowered her eyes: "Ms. Shui is making a joke."

Shui Linglong pretended not to understand: "Oh? What are you kidding me about? It's normal for children to be naughty!" Regardless of whether Xiaoqing exposed her differences from ordinary maids intentionally or unintentionally, Shui Linglong was very concerned about the Yao family's family affairs. not interested!

Xiao Qing was stunned at first, and then smiled: "What Miss Shui said is absolutely true."

 Zhuge Xi and Feng Yanying’s residences were not far away, both in the area of ​​the long house. They walked leisurely for a quarter of an hour and arrived there.

Shui Linglong followed Xiaoqing into the inner room. Feng Yanying had a small face like an oval seed, almond eyes and willow eyebrows, a short nose bridge and a slightly sharp tip, and small cherry lips with light color, which belonged to the Xiaojia Jasper type. The **** are unusually plump, it should be from breastfeeding. The Yao family seems to have strict family rules, but it is more humane than other famous families. No wonder so many rich people want to marry into the Yao family. Unfortunately, the Yao family's men do not produce much, and they do not take concubines.

Feng Yanying was holding Brother Tong in her arms. When she saw Xiao Qing leading an elegant young woman in, she stood up quickly and greeted her. She smiled warmly and said, "Miss Shui, please sit down!"

Shui Linglong took out two pairs of small golden bells from her purse and handed them to Feng Yanying: "I came in a hurry, so I didn't prepare a gift for the child, so the second young lady accepted them."

Feng Yanying opened her eyes wide and stopped Shui Linglong's hand: "Ouch! How can this be so embarrassing? Those who have not left the government are still children, how can any child give a gift to the child? Besides, what your eldest sister gave to Brother Zhi and Brother Tong , I’m afraid I won’t be able to use them all when I grow up, I really can’t accept them from you anymore!”

“Eldest sister likes Brother Zhi and Brother Tong, and so do I. Could it be that the Second Young Mistress despises the things I send?”

"Why don't you like it? Your sincerity is really rare!" Feng Yanying couldn't hold on any longer and accepted it with a smile. She also ordered someone to marry her dowry and picked out a emerald-feather peacock hairpin made by herself as a gift. After giving it to Shui Linglong, Shui Linglong's eyes flashed with amazement, Feng Yanying smiled and said: "I just do it when I have nothing to do. If the young lady likes this craft, I will teach you."

The Dian Cui craft is much more exotic than the rouge formula!

Shui Linglong smiled and refused: "I'm clumsy, I'm afraid I won't be able to learn." After saying that, she looked at Brother Tong who was sleeping soundly in Feng Yanying's arms.

Feng Yanying smiled slightly: "Miss Shui, do you want a hug?"

Shui Linglong blinked her bright eyes, looking forward to it, but shook her head: "I'm afraid I'll fall on Brother Tong. He's so small. How do you hold such a small child? What should you do if you hurt him? What are you doing? Did you learn it?”

"Pfft--" Feng Yanying laughed out loud, "It is a mother's nature to take care of her children. When Miss Shui has her own child, she should be able to teach herself."

Shui Linglong had an expression of "I see." She looked around and asked, "I didn't see Brother Zhi."

Feng Yanying raised her eyebrows slightly: "Oh, Brother Zhi is asleep."

 The older one is sleeping, and so is the younger one. The older one is on the bed, and the younger one is in the arms. Shui Linglong raised her eyebrows. Did the little one just fall asleep? Shui Linglong lowered her eyes, her pupils moved, and she seemed to ask casually: "Is it better if Brother Tong vomits milk?"

Feng Yanying touched her son's little face, her brows filled with love and happiness: "It's much better. I fed him once before going to bed, and he hasn't vomited for half an hour."

 Still holding him in my arms for half an hour? Or maybe he hugged her after he found out about her in bed? Shui Linglong raised her eyebrows again.

Feng Yanying's eyes flashed, and she sighed slowly: "Brother Tong is sick, and I really can't worry about it for a moment."

Xiao Qing served Yunwu tea to Shui Linglong and said with a smile: "Brother Tong kisses you, Brother Zhi kisses the eldest mistress! No wonder you love Brother Tong more!"

Feng Yanying gave Xiao Qing an angry look: "Look at what you said, as if I don't want to see Brother Zhi! It's all the meat that fell out of my belly, but Brother Zhi is older and doesn't need to stick to me all the time. Brother Tong Still young!”

Xiaoqing stuck out her tongue, turned around and stood aside.

Feng Yanying looked at Shui Linglong again, "But Xiaoqing is right. Brother Zhi is indeed very close to my sister-in-law. Maybe I raised Brother Zhi in my sister-in-law's yard for a while when I was pregnant with Brother Tong. Now I don't see him even a day. Even my sister-in-law will cry!"

As he was talking, a soft and waxy cry came from the inner room. It was Brother Zhi who woke up.

Not long after, the wet nurse took out a little baby with tears on his face. Brother Zhi was wearing a white curly coat and trousers with blue edges. He looked exactly like Feng Yanying. He had delicate features and beautiful eyes. He was not tall but strong and was dripping. With a pair of shiny black pupils, Shui Linglong smiled at him timidly, but he still avoided it.

Feng Yanying handed Brother Tong to Xiaoqing, and took Brother Zhi from the wet nurse's arms. Brother Zhi hugged Feng Yanying's neck, which was very sticky. Feng Yanying coaxed: "Be good, Brother Zhi, come here "Please say hello to Miss Shui, okay?"

 Brother Zhi shook his head.

Feng Yanying looked a little embarrassed and said with a smile: "Miss Shui, don't mind, he just woke up and is not very energetic."

 She has little to do with the child. Whether the child likes her or not has no influence on her at all. Feng Yanying thinks too much. Shui Linglong tucked her hair behind her ears: "It's okay."

Feng Yanying kissed her son's head and asked softly: "You are unhappy, but do you miss your aunt?"

 Brother Zhi was stunned and nodded.

Feng Yanying added: "Auntie is busy today, let's go find her another day, okay?"

 Brother Zhi nodded again.

Shui Linglong felt that she was too fierce and frightened an innocent child, so that he did not dare to leave his mother's arms. Shui Linglong held her forehead and said: "Thank you for the hospitality, my grandmother and my second sister were not feeling well just now." He must have woken up by now, so I should go and take a look."

 “Sit for a little longer!” Feng Yanying’s eyes showed a little disappointment inadvertently. As for what she was disappointed with, it was unclear. Shui Linglong stood up and said, “No, thank you Second Young Mistress for your kindness.”

Feng Yanying handed Brother Zhi to the wet nurse. Brother Zhi refused to let go and grabbed her hair. She smiled awkwardly and hugged Brother Zhi again: "I must be bored here, but I don't know where my cousin went. Go, if she is here, you two young girls will not find it boring to talk and laugh. "

Shui Linglong straightened her wide sleeves and said, "Perhaps cousin Ling went to see the party." Or maybe she went to see Yunli, but what does it matter?

“Perhaps!” A bright light flashed in Feng Yanying’s curved eyes.

Out of Feng Yanying's yard, Shui Linglong handed the sweat-stained handkerchief to Zhifan. Zhifan connected it and handed over a new one: "Miss, I think the second young lady is a little strange."

 “Oh? What’s weird?”

“It’s weird everywhere, but I can’t tell you the specifics.”

Shui Linglong lightly touched the corners of her lips without saying anything to Zhi Fan, because like Zhi Fan, she felt weird but couldn't explain why.

A stage was set up in the open space to the west of Yao Mansion, and people were singing and singing non-stop. They were passing through this open space from Feng Yanying's yard to the Yingbin Building. On the way, Shui Linglong and the three princesses who came to watch the show met. They met by chance. The third princess looked around, as if she was looking for someone. She saw Shui Linglong and waved hurriedly. Shui Linglong walked over and saluted: "Third princess."

The third princess blinked her eyes and said, "Where did you go just now? I looked everywhere and couldn't find you!"

Shui Linglong said jokingly: "It turns out the princess is looking for me, I thought she was looking for Guo Yan!"

The third princess pursed her pink lips: "He can't come today! There is a doctor's conference at the end of the month, and he and your father went to survey the venue!"

The grand medical meeting is held every five years with the purpose of promoting the spirit of saving lives and healing the wounded. Famous doctors from all over the country gather to compete in battles. The winner will receive thousands of gold and have the opportunity to tell the emperor a wish. As long as it is not excessive, the emperor will usually grant it. In his memory, Xun Feng also participated in a medical event, but it seemed that it was not this time. Shui Linglong suppressed her racing thoughts and smiled kindly: "The venue construction and grand event arrangements are all matters of the Ministry of Etiquette, why did Guo Yan come to join in the fun?"

"Ha! You didn't know this! Mobei will send envoys to visit the Great Zhou Dynasty this year. Guo Yan is fully responsible for the reception. Your father is the Minister of Rites. Guo Yan will inevitably have to cooperate with him. Therefore, Guo Yan will start from now on. Your father has established a good relationship!" When talking about Guo Yan, the third princess always beams with joy!

They are not father-in-law and son-in-law, so what kind of relationship can they have? No matter how awesome Shui Hangge is, Guo Yan is his superior, isn’t he just trying to fawn over him? Shui Linglong didn't have much interest in this topic. She took out a delicate red purse from her wide sleeve and handed it to the third princess: "This is a birthday gift for the princess. I embroidered it myself. I don't know if it will appeal to the princess."

"Oh?" The third princess's eyes shone brightly. She took the purse in her hand and turned it over and over. The purse was embroidered with a pair of colorful phoenixes flying high with threads of various colors. The colors were bright and lifelike. When the sun shone, , as if it was about to fly out, and more importantly, there were the names of the third princess and Guo Yan on the back of the purse. The third princess couldn't put it down, "This is great! It's much more interesting than those jewelry and silks and satins! By the way, I was just about to ask Come on, since you know medical skills, why do you want Zhang Yuanpian to go to Shangshu Mansion to give you a follow-up consultation? "

 At this follow-up visit, Shui Linglong had no problem, but it was diagnosed that Shui Lingxi might have sequelae! The queen mother then came up with the idea of ​​getting a concubine for her eldest brother. Could this... be a coincidence? The third princess frowned. She didn't like others playing tricks on her.

Shui Linglong tucked her temple hair behind her ears, and raised an elegant smile on her fair and jade face: "The medical skills I learned are not in the same field as those learned by the imperial doctors. Let's put it this way, a person is seriously injured. I know how to care for and rescue someone, but if someone gets infected with typhoid, I am helpless." This is a bit exaggerated, but it is not far off.

"What...what does this mean?" The third princess seemed to understand, but Shui Linglong's eyes didn't look like she was lying. She tilted her head and stopped worrying about the topic. Instead, she asked Shui Linglong to go to the singing hall. He politely refused and took Zhifan to the Yingbin Building. There, Shui Lingxi was still in a coma and the old lady had slowly woken up.

The old lady seemed to have aged ten years in an instant. Lingxi behaved so ugly in public. Not only did she lose her face, but she also lost the prince's favor. Even if they got married in the future, the prince would still have a knot in his heart. Having fallen out of favor before passing the exam, what could be more despairing than this?

"Grandma." Shui Linglong called softly and quickly glanced around. Was Shui Lingqing not here? Shui Linglong winked at Zhi Fan, who understood and quietly retreated.

The old lady raised her heavy eyelids and glanced at Shui Linglong. After a while, a voice that was so deep that it reminded people of dead trees in late autumn floated slowly and unrealistically from her mouth: "Go give Mrs. Yao a call." Say hello, let’s go back home.”

“Second sister hasn’t woken up yet…”

 “What difference does it make if you wake up or not? It’s all embarrassing anyway!”

"Okay, grandma, please rest. I will go and say goodbye to Mrs. Yao now." After Shui Linglong said calmly, she turned around and went to Qingzhu Courtyard. Mrs. Yao took the female family members to listen to the meeting. The girl is quieter. I heard that the Princess of Zhenbei didn't come and only sent congratulatory gifts. If her daughter can't give birth to a child, what kind of face does she have to go to the in-laws' mansion?

Shui Linglong stepped into Qingzhu Courtyard again, and the service attitude of the servants improved to a new level. Fang's mother came out to greet her in person, with a smile on her face: "Miss Shui, have you rested? It's the slave who was negligent. Someone should be sent to help." I'll let you go over there in a soft sedan, I'm sorry!"

Shui Linglong smiled politely and said, "What did Mama Fang say? I want to walk around after getting enough rest. This is also good for the body."

When they came to the door, Fang's mother opened the curtain, and Shui Linglong walked into the room. Old Mrs. Yao waved to Shui Linglong happily, and Shui Linglong bowed respectfully. Then she walked to Old Mrs. Yao, and Old Mrs. Yao pulled her over. Shui Linglong held her hand and said: "I'll stay in Yao Mansion today and be a companion to the third princess, okay? I see, she and Xin'er are cousins, but their relationship is not as close as that of you." ”

 That's because we "acted together" together. Shui Linglong pressed her eyebrows and smiled gently: "I'm here to say goodbye to you. My father is away and my mother is ill. Grandma and we can't leave the whole family alone under any circumstances. Please forgive me, old lady."

As soon as Mrs. Yao heard this, she guessed what the old lady meant. She even woke up, but she didn't dare to hang out because of the incident in Shui Lingxi. She sent her granddaughter to run errands, so it is said that a nouveau riche is a nouveau riche. , even with the title of imperial wife, it is difficult for her to reach the level of elegance! Of course, she really likes Shui Linglong: "In this case, I won't keep you. I asked Fang's mother to prepare some small gifts. You sisters have them. I see that your two little sisters are also very pretty. "If you need anything, just ask me."

Shui Linglong's eyebrows twitched. What does Mrs. Yao mean...are you willing to worry about Shui Lingyu and Shui Lingqing's marriage? For example, find a reasonably good partner for the two of them? But who can be stronger than Governor Jiang in the background so that Shui Hangge and the old lady can change their minds? Shui Linglong thought about it for a while, then showed a modest and polite smile: "Well, Linglong has remembered what the old lady said. If there is any difficulty in the future, she will ask the old lady for help."

Mrs. Yao smiled even more after hearing Shui Linglong's answer. She hated those people who clearly wanted them but pretended to refuse them, making it seem like she was rushing towards others! Mrs. Yao looked at Shui Linglong, who had a gloomy look: "Are you exhausted today? Something happened to your grandmother and second sister, so you have to take care of everything by yourself."

Shui Linglong smiled and shook her head.

"What a sensible child!" Mrs. Yao patted Shui Linglong's hand. She didn't know what she thought of, and a sad look gradually appeared on her face. "You can come to the house more often and help me with my advice." Your eldest sister.”

 Persuade Zhuge Xi? What to advise?

Shui Linglong wanted to ask, but Mrs. Yao obviously had no intention of speaking anymore. She stood up, bowed to him, and left Qingzhuyuan with the courtesy of Fang’s mother. Shui Linglong went to Zhuge Xi's yard and took away Shui Lingyu, who had just woken up. She wanted to talk to Zhuge Xi, but Zhuge Xi was very busy at the singing hall, so Shui Linglong had to talk to her in a hurry. call.

At the second entrance, the old lady, Shui Lingxi and Shui Lingqing waited for Shui Linglong and Shui Linglong for a long time. Shui Lingxi cried so hard that her eyes were swollen. After she woke up, she only found out how ugly she was from the servants' mouths. How could she? She could twitch all over like a madman, foam at the mouth, and have incontinence... The worst thing is, she bit the prince!

 Having grown so big, I have never been so embarrassed!

 How will people in the capital view her in the future? What would the prince think of her?

The old lady glared at Shui Lingxi, "This useless thing has brought shame to the Shangshu Mansion!"

Shui Lingqing lowered her head and said nothing. When Zhifan found her, she was sitting in a pavilion, dumbfounded, not knowing what she saw, and her whole face was red!

Fang's mother ordered people to carry boxes of gifts into the car, bowed to several masters, and was about to follow the Yao family's carriage to the Shangshu Mansion. At this time, Chang Sui Chuyun, who was beside the prince, came. Chu Yun blessed the old lady and said, "His Royal Highness has prepared carriages for the nobles." There were four carriages in total, one each for the old lady, Shui Lingxi, Shui Lingyu, Shui Linglong and Shui Lingqing together.

Shui Lingxi's eyes were shining again, and she knew that the prince had her in his heart!

The carriage prepared by the prince is naturally extremely luxurious and comfortable. The simple couch is covered with thick mattresses, which are filled with top-quality silk. The inside is pure cotton and the outside is satin, which is cool to the touch, soft and delicate. Shui Linglong was tired all afternoon and was very sleepy early in the morning. She fell on the couch and fell into a deep sleep. It was so...comfortable!

 (End of this chapter)