The Moon Over Tang Dynasty

Chapter 99 The dowry incident on the day of building a house

The two rooms of Kudi's house, the main room and the east wing, are now filled to the brim with boxes and cages. In addition to the money, silk and other items that Pei Xingjian sent as betrothal gifts a few months ago, there are also the damasks that Liuli brought back from the palace. Luo Jinxiu, as well as the silks sent by people from Wufu and Sufu, were all decorated with bright red silk and satin, and were tied with flowers, making them look beaming with joy.

Ku Diyanzhong looked around several rooms and nodded with satisfaction. However, Mrs. Cao couldn't help but turn around and glance at Aye. She just felt that she had been really stupid recently - where was her usual lazy and cunning attitude? Already? Is it necessary to put so much effort into packing that bitch's dowry box?

Looking back at the red patch, she felt it was dazzling and couldn't help but frown and said, "How high is this?"

Ku Diyanzhong was instructing Qingquan to pack up the saddles and obstacles for tomorrow, and was looking at the sky again. At this hour, if Liuli had arrived later than the female family members who invited her to the bunkhouse... Hearing Cao's words, he sighed. He took a breath and said, "It's only over thirty."

Ms. Cao hesitated for a moment and then whispered, "The silk satin brought back by the aunt is really rare. I thought it would be better to divide two boxes of Sichuan embroidery and give it to the coral as a dowry. After all, it is something from the palace. In the future, the coral will use it to make clothes or It will be more honorable to send servants away.”

Kudi Yanzhong pondered for a moment, shook his head and said, "This was originally given to Liuli by the Holy Emperor and Zhaoyi. It is not up to us to make the decision. If you have this intention, you might as well discuss it with her."

Ms. Cao choked, and after discussing with her, it was strange that she would agree! After enduring it, he still smiled and said, "Then when the aunt comes back, why don't you tell her? In this family, she only listens to your orders."

Kudi Yanzhong shook his head without hesitation, "How can I interfere in this kind of women's affairs?"

Mrs. Cao couldn't help but look down and said, "Brother from the slave family not only sent two maids here, but also wanted to give one to the aunt. Isn't one maid worth two boxes of Shu embroidery?"

Kudi Yanzhong was stunned. Thinking of the two dignified and comely maids, he finally shook his head and said, "Your brother gave it to me. I have to wait and see whether she wants Liuli."

Mrs. Cao sneered, "What's the point of not bringing a maid from your parents' family when you get married? She doesn't want the maid, so why should Aye follow her?"

Kudi Yanzhong was a little unable to answer the question for a moment. Also, how could a woman not bring one or two slaves from her mother's family to help her when she got married? But the only maid of the right age in the family is Ah Ye. No matter how good-looking or polite she is, she is not on the stage, and her relationship with Liuli is not good, so she is not suitable in any case... Just as he was hesitating, he heard the uncle at the door call, "Auntie is back. !”

Ku Diyanzhong felt relieved. Not long after, the door curtain was raised, and Liuli walked into the room with a smile on her face. Kudi Yanzhong noticed the maid behind her at a glance, and recognized that this maid had come back with Liuli a few times before. , I understood in my heart that this was probably a dowry given to Liuli by Duke Ying's mansion, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Mrs. Cao also looked at A Ni up and down, and saw that she was well-proportioned and generous, and couldn't help but frown slightly.

Liuli saw that the two of them were looking at A Ni, and her heart immediately became alert. She went up to meet Li with a smile on her face. Kudi Yanzhong said a few words of good news, and asked A Ye to quickly get buttermilk.

After chatting for a while, Mrs. Cao smiled and said, "Now everything is ready at home, just waiting for the aunt to come back. There is only one thing. You are getting married tomorrow. It is reasonable to bring a maid from my family to make it look good."

Liuli turned her eyes and saw Aye holding up the curtain and coming in. She smiled and said, "Do you want Aye and Liuli to come over?"

Ah Ye's eyes suddenly lit up, and he glanced at Ah Ni behind Liuli, looking at the new green silk skirt she was wearing, and at the gilt hairpin on her head...

Ms. Cao shook her head hurriedly, "Aye is born stupid, has a stupid temper, and does not know etiquette. He is not worthy of being a dowry! It turns out that I went to your uncle's house last time. The uncle heard about your sister's marriage and specially picked someone from home. I have chosen two of the most outstanding maids, saying that they will be given to your sisters as dowries so that they can help you in the future." Then he said to Aye, "Go and call Qier Ling'er."

 My uncle? Liuli sneered in her heart. Aye's face had already been lifted up, he put the buttermilk on the table and walked out quietly. After a while, two maids came in from the outside. They were both sixteen or seventeen years old, with delicate appearance and slightly plump figure. After entering, they bowed politely and then stood there with meek eyes lowered. Although they could not be said to be outstanding, Everything about the body is in perfect conformity.

Liuli couldn't help but laugh lightly, and she felt clear in her heart: This kind of maidservant could definitely not be trained by a music official's family like Brother Cao's brother. The ability of Hedong Gongfu to seal people was indeed higher than that of Mrs. Zheng who was married to Pei. One step ahead!

Seeing Liuli's smile, Mrs. Cao suddenly made up her mind and said with a smile, "These two servants may seem a little ordinary in appearance, but they are both good at writing and calculating. It's rare to see that they both have good bodies and are good at getting pregnant. A dowry is the most appropriate thing..."

Liuli was slightly annoyed for a while, but nodded in admiration, "It's indeed good, and it looks very appropriate at first glance." Seeing that Mrs. Cao could no longer hide the smile on her lips, she sighed, "It's just that it's Uncle Hualu's kindness. , How can Liuli take advantage of a girl like this? Naturally, it’s only right to give it to Coral.”

Mrs. Cao suddenly felt something in her heart and said hurriedly, "When my uncle sent these two maids away, he said they were for each of you sisters. Now that you are all going to marry into a high family, how can you not have two helpers by your side?"

Liuli smiled and said, "My concubine's words are wrong. The Hedong Duke's mansion that Hualu wants to enter is a serious and powerful family. Naturally, he needs to bring two more helpers. The population of Liuli's place is simple, so there is no need to waste such talents!"

Ms. Cao quickly shook her head and said, "Hualou doesn't have to do anything in the past, but you are going to be a mistress. How can there be any reason for a mistress to marry with a maid..."

Liuli was just about to say that she had bought a maid, but Kudi's house was small and it was not convenient to bring her back when she heard Aye standing at the door loudly say, "Ms. Shi and the Seventh Lady are here." Kudi Yanzhong was listening to them. The visitor was a little impatient and hurriedly stood up and said, "Liu Li, I have invited the An family's eldest aunt and your cousin to help you prepare a house."

Liuli naturally knew that on the day before the wedding, the bride's family would send someone to decorate the new house. The aunt Shi and cousin Kudi Qiniang invited by Kudi Yanzhong were not close to her family, but they were relatives. The two most respectable women among the family members were fairly well-chosen, so they smiled and nodded, "Master, I've taken the trouble."

Kudiyanzhong and Cao immediately went out to greet them, and Kudiyanzhong laughed, "Why bother you to bring so many people?" An unfamiliar female voice laughed, "I only brought two, these Mrs. Shi took care of them all." The door curtain was raised, and two beautifully dressed women walked in from the outside.

Liuli recognized that the tall brown-haired person was her eldest aunt Shi, whom she had met once. The other one must be her cousin Qiniang who was married to an outcast official. She hurriedly went up to meet Li respectfully and let the two of them go. Go sit down on the east side. Naturally, the two of them complimented and teased Liuli a lot, and Qiniang noticed the two women standing in the room. She recognized that they were not servants of the Kudi family, and said with a smile, "Is this the dowry that brother gave to auntie? It seems appropriate.”

Ms. Cao hurriedly said, "It was my uncle who specially selected it and prepared it for the two sisters."

Looking at Shi's face that suddenly changed after being startled, Liuli almost burst into laughter and said sternly, "My concubine, I am the uncle of Hualu!"

As soon as Ms. Cao saw Mr. Shi's face, she realized that she had said the wrong thing, and was thinking about how to make it right. When Liuli said something like this, her face suddenly turned red. Kudi Yanzhong couldn't help but also stared. She glanced. Mrs. Shi had a plan originally, but now her face was as dark as water, and she said calmly, "Liuli's uncle happened to have thought of this. The maids I brought with me today were not just for making a house. If the aunt still lacks a dowry, Maid, if you don’t feel good about the eight maids outside, you still have seven or eight cousins, and you can always pick two suitable ones at home!”

Ms. Cao wanted to break it down a few words, but didn't know what to say. Thinking of the repeated explanations over there, her face turned from red to white. Liuli's heart moved slightly and she said with a smile, "The ones from my aunt's family are naturally good."

Kudi Yanzhong was annoyed that Mr. Cao was speaking rudely, so he could only smile and said, "Isn't this too expensive for my uncle?"

Shi Shi glanced at Cao with a smile, "It's just a matter of being an uncle. Could it be that Da Lang still prefers one to another?"

Kudi Yanzhong was stunned and had to laugh bitterly. Liuli quickly stood up and said, "Liuli, thank you aunt for the reward."

Then a gentle smile appeared on Shi's face, "You and aunt are so polite!" He turned around and ordered the maid behind him, "Let them all come in!"

Seeing a group of eight young maids walking in respectfully, Liuli saw the familiar figure in the third to last one. Her eyes suddenly lit up, her thoughts changed slightly, and she simply asked, "Auntie, why is Xiaotan here? Are you here?"

Shi smiled and said, "Since your eldest uncle has this intention, he naturally asked the other two uncles as well. Among these eight maids, Xiao Tan has served you for several months, and this one named A Yan, Although he is a bit older, he is very smart in planning. He has helped me with the purchase for two years, which is no worse than the accounting department. The other few have also been with us for many years, and they are all bought alone, so they can concentrate on it. I'll serve you." He glanced at Mrs. Cao and said, "Auntie, you also have an uncle, at least you should choose two or three!"

Liuli looked at the "older" Ayan and saw that she was only eighteen or nineteen years old. Her expression was quiet and she didn't look like a Zhaowu person. She knew in her heart that this was the one carefully selected for her by her uncle's family. A maid—for her now, who else could be more useful than a maid who knows how to plan and manage accounts? In this case, there is no need to shirk the matter, and he simply expresses a deep blessing to Mr. Shi, "Liu Li, thank you uncle and aunt. Just as my aunt ordered, let Ayan and Xiaotan follow Liuli."

Shi Shi laughed and said, "Why don't you go over?"

A cheerful smile suddenly appeared on Xiaotan's face, and she walked to the old position behind Liuli in a few steps. However, the maid named Ayan bowed to Shi in a polite manner, then walked to Liuli and bowed. Stand quietly aside.

Liuli caught a glimpse of Mrs. Cao's pale face from the corner of her eyes, and smiled brightly at her, "Liuli understands my concubine's feelings, but the lintel of the Hedong Duke's mansion is noble, and Hualu cannot lose her dignity when she passes by. Both of these maids are It's very appropriate. I will definitely be able to help Coral when I get to Hedong Palace, and the painstaking efforts of my concubine and Uncle Coral will not be in vain."

Mrs. Cao almost burst into tears when she heard what she said about the Duke of Hedong. She wanted to say that it would be good to have one more person to help her, but when she saw the six young and smart women standing in front of her, she really couldn't say it out loud, so she could only force it out. He twitched the corners of his mouth, but his throat was so dry that he couldn't say a word.

Finally, Mrs. Shi and Qiniang Kudi went to the bridal chamber. Ms. Cao gritted her teeth and forced a smile on her face and said to Liuli, "Auntie is also a person who is well-educated and aware of etiquette. Wouldn't she not dare to say no to the gift from her elders?" After all, your uncle is also your elder. If you don’t accept his wishes, wouldn’t it be considered rude to tell others? "

Many thanks to dear kathy. Lu, Mo Yue Lingxi, chengcen1988, Le Youyang and Himalayan Monkey classmates.

 (End of this chapter)