Ruiniang knelt on the futon, bowed her head, kowtowed three times, and was helped up by the servant woman. Standing quietly again, looking at the people around, the silver-haired old lady sitting on the main seat should be Mrs. Han. It is said that her mother grew up under her knees. Although they are not biological mother and daughter, they are quite close to each other.
"Grandma." Ruiniang said happily.
Mrs. Han had long heard that the nanny beside her mentioned that Han Wan's daughter was in her prime and had a beautiful face, so she wanted to take Ruiniang over to see if she could compete in the ring. If not, it would be a good idea to be considerate for Han Wan, arrange a marriage for her daughter, and win over the Meng family.
I just didn't expect this girl to have more than just a beautiful face. Her face is 70-80% like her mother's, but she is more blue than blue. She is pure and refined, her figure is graceful, her skin is as radiant as snow, her cheeks are so delicate, and her beautiful eyes are full of tenderness. .
Not to mention comparing with Guo Miaoyi, even in Daqi, it would be difficult for her to have a beauty who could compare with her. This was really a big surprise for her.
Therefore, Mrs. Han's attitude became more and more enthusiastic and she couldn't help waving to her: "Come and sit next to me."
Ruiniang walked over with gentle steps. Mrs. Han held her hand, looked her up and down, and wiped her tears and said: "At first, your mother and your aunt were raised by me at the same time. It's a pity that your aunt went first." Well, your mother has been married for more than ten years and still can’t come back. Now that I think about it, both of her have a miserable life."
Seeing Mrs. Han crying like this, Ruiniang also wiped away her tears. She still didn't understand what the Han family was like, so it was best to speak less.
Princess Yongning had just seen her son Han Xian's appearance, and her heart was already "thumping". She also understood Mrs. Han's warm attitude when she saw her again. But she is not a woman in the market. She is open to confrontation with others, and she is not willing to quarrel with the old lady in public.
Therefore, when Mrs. Han introduced several aunts to Ruiniang, Princess Yongning was very considerate and gave her a pair of mutton-fat white jade bracelets.
"Thank you, auntie." Ruiniang thanked her with a smile.
She knew very well that in Tai'an Bofu, although her mother had several brothers, except for her eldest uncle, the rest were always mediocre, and these aunts also had little weight. But Ruiniang treated every aunt with utmost respect and did not treat them differently. After meeting them one by one, Mrs. Han asked the eldest girl Han Yan to come over.
It turns out that Tai'an's residence is not prosperous. Among the third generation, only Princess Yongning has given birth to a son and a daughter. The second brother's son is very sick, and the third brother has no children, only a three or four-year-old son. daughter.
Mrs. Han couldn't help but nod when she saw that Ruiniang was very considerate in her dealings with others. Looking at Han Xian on the right, she knew it well, and it was not easy to offend her daughter-in-law too harshly now. Anyway, it was enough for Han Xian to see her appearance, so she smiled and said: "Brother Xian, I originally asked you to accompany my wife. Chanting sutras, now that your cousin Meng is here, you should go back first and go about your own business."
Ruiniang naturally saw Han Xian. He looked sixteen or seventeen years old, and looked at her with warm eyes, just like an ordinary young man would when he saw her.
But at this time, she knew that she had to be more stable, and she could not be complacent just because of her good looks. This was too frivolous, and for noble children like her cousin, their identities were given by their parents, and their marriages were also automatic. It’s up to the parents to step forward. Therefore, now she has to be more cautious about her status and not let her uncle and aunt look down upon her. Furthermore, although she has come to Beijing, she may not necessarily marry her cousin. Although her cousin's status is valuable, Ruiniang always has an unrealistic feeling in her heart. The idea is that when you marry, you have to marry the person you like.
While I was meditating, I saw a young girl coming in from the door. She was about sixteen or seventeen years old. She was wearing a jade-white middle coat and a goose-yellow plain-faced robe with four-faced Ruyi patterns. There was a white cigarette basket underneath. Plum blossom skirt, oval face, delicate and delicate, elegant and graceful.
This is the daughter of Princess Yongning, Han Yan.
Unlike her mother, who was arrogant, she looked very amiable. When she saw Ruiniang, she quickly stepped forward to say hello.
"Cousin." Ruiniang felt blessed again.
After Han Yan came in, Han Xian went out at some point, and Ruiniang and Han Yan started talking. Mrs. Han said to Princess Yongning: "Princess, have you arranged the residence for your cousin?"
Princess Yongning thought to herself, fortunately, I had the foresight to move this girl's place to be far away from Han Xian's yard early, so she calmly said: "Don't worry, old lady, I have already arranged for someone to take care of Xiangxue Yuan." After Sashu came out, he also assigned two girls to guard there. The courtyard is really exquisite. There are also two pear trees in the courtyard, which bloom every March and April, and the ground is covered with pear flowers. "
"That's good, that's good." Mrs. Han certainly knew how remote Xiangxue Courtyard was. It was originally the place where an unpopular concubine of the old uncle lived. The concubine died five years ago, and the courtyard fell into disrepair. It's locked, and I never thought of using it to live with Ruiniang now.
Huh, Princess Yongning has been worried about Han Xian's marriage these years, and she is also worried that Han Xian will be seduced by another woman. Not to mention the girls outside, even the direct cousins are not allowed to come out to Han Xian. Han Xian was only allowed to interact with her niece. Even the maids who served Han Xian were all ugly, or they were old maids in their thirties or forties.
As the saying goes, you have a good plan, but I have a wall ladder.
Mrs. Han said to Mother Zhao next to her: "Although Xiangxueyuan is exquisite, it is a bit deserted there, especially in late autumn and winter. I remember that I have a carpet sent from Persia. You can take it and lay it down later."
Mother Zhao responded quickly.
Princess Yongning didn't dare to be disrespectful to her mother-in-law. After all, her mother-in-law was Queen Mother Pang's biological sister, but she controlled her husband on weekdays. She smiled and said: "We have a few more pieces of brocade in the store, so I will give them to you tomorrow." The tailor came to make some clothes for my cousin, and the weather is cold, so a coat and a cloak are indispensable."
In fact, Princess Yongning has no objection to Ruiniang herself. After all, Ruiniang's mother is the biological sister of her husband's mother. If she really treats Ruiniang, her husband may also have a problem with her.
But when it comes to her son's marriage, she will not give in on this point.
He also said that Ruiniang knew that her mother's family belonged to her uncle, her grandmother was the sister of Empress Dowager Pang, and her aunt was the princess of the clan. The rules in the family were very strict, but she didn't expect them to be so big.
Just talking about today's reception banquet, regardless of the number of dishes, there were hundreds of people serving the dishes, all holding their breath and concentrating.
During the meal, she didn't talk or sleep. In the past, Ruiniang would always add food to the meal at home, but looking at her cousin Han Yan, it seemed that she only took a few bites of the rice and barely tasted it.
The aunts didn't eat here either, and they all went out after serving the dishes.
After finishing the meal, Mrs. Han said with a smile: "Your other two uncles are not in the capital. Your eldest uncle will come over to say hello later, so you might as well say hello to her."
Ruiniang nodded: "Yes."
Mrs. Han went inside again to change her clothes, leaving Han Yan and Ruiniang as companions. Ruiniang originally thought that Han Yan was only polite to her, but she never thought that she was so kind-hearted and kind-hearted.
"Ruiniang, I grew up under the knees of my grandmother. Next year I will enter the palace to accompany the Queen Mother. This is the last year I will spend at home. I can also celebrate my grandmother's birthday. I have met your cousin again. I Really happy."
Ruiniang smiled and said: "I am very happy to be able to go to Beijing and get to know my cousin. Yes, I am new here and I don't understand many of the rules. If my cousin doesn't mind it, you can give me a few words. I'm afraid I will violate some taboos. "
After hearing this, Han Yan glanced at Ruiniang again, and was slightly worried: "I see that you are also well-educated, cousin, and there is nothing wrong with it. It's just that our family was separated when my grandfather was here, and now we are the eldest son. The old lady is free of charge in the morning and evening on weekdays. The old lady likes to worship Buddha and loves tranquility. My mother takes care of the house. If you need anything, just tell my mother. If it is inconvenient, you can tell me the same thing. "
"Although grandma is exempted from having to take care of herself at dawn and dusk, as a junior, I still have to come often to pay my respects to my parents. But I am afraid of disturbing grandma, so if my cousin comes over any time, please send someone to tell me, and I will follow my cousin. "Ruiniang also tested whether Han Yan was sincere.
Han Yan agreed and asked curiously: "Rui Niang, what do you do at home on weekdays?"
Ruiniang said with a smile: "We women in Xuanfu are much more relaxed. Every month when we go to the market, my mother takes me to the streets to buy snacks and make clothes. Usually I mostly read at home, or I visit my handkerchief's house. , let’s meet on horseback and play on the swing.”
In fact, Ruiniang felt that her life was already boring, but Han Yan was filled with envy: "It's great that you can still go shopping and ride horses."
"That's nothing, right?"
"I have eight maids and four nuns to teach me. Now the palace has sent two aunts to teach me. In addition to learning the rules every day, I also learn the rules. When I was a child, I would go to my grandmother's house. Now, when I go out, I Counting on my fingers, I’m afraid it happened last year.”
Ruiniang listened silently, although she didn't know why the palace sent a nanny to teach her cousin, but considering her cousin's family background, even the princess can do it, so it's no wonder the rules are so strict.
While the two were chatting, Mrs. Han changed her clothes and came out. Unfortunately, her eldest uncle had something to do and did not come over. She even sent someone to pass a message: "Old lady, my uncle is still busy with official duties in the Yamen. When he came back, he went to the outer study."
Mrs. Han's expression became gloomy for a moment, and she had no choice but to call it quits.
…
Xiangxueyuan was a little smaller than she thought, and it was inaccessible. Seeing this, Grandma Yuan's face changed slightly. Seeing this, Ruiniang gave her a look to appease her.
The interior is quite delicately tidied, with fine Persian rugs on the floor, a dressing table, a bed, a begonia gauze tent, and a variety of exquisite utensils placed on the Duobao Pavilion.
The two girls from Xiangxueyuan who were serving here hurriedly came forward to say hello. Ruiniang asked people to look at them and say, "I don't need you to serve me here. You are also tired, so go and rest first."
These two people are not my own, and I cannot speak in front of them.
Aunt Yuan also responded: "Qiulan Qiu Shuang, you guys are guarding the door, Liu Ying is painting the screen, and you guys are helping to pack the boxes and cages in the inner room."
First, someone stood guard at the door, and then Grandma Yuan looked at Ruiniang worriedly: "The girl didn't see my uncle today."
In this mansion, Mrs. Han and Princess Yongning are both female relatives, and the person with the most say is, according to common sense, her uncle Tai'an.
She didn't see her uncle today. Was it because the princess didn't let her see her, or because her uncle didn't see her on his own initiative?
"If you haven't seen it, you haven't seen it. Don't be impatient and don't rush in. My aunt is polite and distant to me. At this time, we can't do anything." Ruiniang looked at Liuying and Huaping as she spoke.
If you get off to a bad start, you can't mess around. You must be ready to go and wait for good opportunities.
