"My daughter-in-law still remembers to come to visit me. What a rare visitor!" Mrs. Hou said, with a hint of meanness in her tone.
"What did mother say? How can my daughter-in-law come to see her mother empty-handed now that she doesn't have any dowry? She is already having a hard time, how dare she come to disturb her? She usually just shuts herself in the yard and rarely comes out. . If I hadn’t gone to Chongfu Temple this time and specifically asked Master Kongzhi for an amulet for my mother, then I would have dared to come in shamelessly." As he said that, Xia Qingfeng took an amulet from Xia He behind him, holding both hands Passed it to Mrs. Hou.
When Mrs. Hou heard that it was the amulet she had obtained from Master Kongzhi, she immediately held it in her hand like a treasure. That’s Master Kongzhi! An eminent monk who has attained enlightenment is a rare thing.
So, with a much gentler tone, he said, "My daughter-in-law is interested."
"No, mother is the head mistress of the house. As a daughter-in-law, I should be more filial to you." She then pretended to be sad and said, "Oh, mother, you also know that your husband does not value you." I, when I returned to the mansion this time, I locked myself in the courtyard all day long, for fear of offending the concubines in the mansion and making my husband displeased."
"In other words, Jingchen is now promising, and our entire Hou family is still counting on him! You are also his wife after all, why are you afraid of those concubines?" When Mrs. Hou said this, her heart was sour, and her tone was sour. It also brought out a sour smell.
"Alas! Who told me to only give birth to a daughter? Besides, what will happen if I give birth to a son? If a bastard is promising, won't he also take away my status?"
After hearing this, Mrs. Hou's face changed, and her tone was strange: "That's right. The most promising person in the house now is your husband Jingchen, isn't it?"
Xia Qingfeng saw it, smiled slightly, and continued: "So what? The second brother is the legitimate son of the house, let me tell you! There is a difference between the legitimate sons and the concubines. From now on, this Hou Mansion should belong to the second brother. We It’s just to contribute to the Hou Mansion.”
"Alas! What you said is wrong. Now, in the Marquis's house, no one in the house is allowed to look at your husband's face."
At this time, Xia Qingfeng felt that the heat was almost done, so he gently approached Mrs. Hou and whispered: "Mother, are you willing to do this?"
Hearing this, Mrs. Hou was startled and looked up at her, wondering what she meant by her words.
Xia Qingfeng looked around. Mrs. Hou waved her hand, and everyone except the close confidant Nanny Chen withdrew. Ginkgo and Xia He also retreated to the door and stood guard.
"What does my daughter-in-law mean by this?"
"Is mother so willing to give up the Hou Mansion to Xu Jingchen?"
"He is your husband-in-law, and you call him by his first name like this?"
"What's the matter? I think my mother knows about the life my daughter-in-law spent in the house. If I hadn't escaped to Chongfu Temple, I don't know if I would be able to live in this world now? He and I have no relationship for a long time. The relationship is over."
"Really? You have to know that if Xu Jingchen becomes the master of the Hou Mansion, you will be the future mistress of the Hou Mansion. Don't you want to?"
"You are wrong. Before, he was just an unloved bastard in the mansion, and he was so unkind to me. Once he becomes the master of the prince's mansion in the future, how can there be any place for me? I am just a I just want to save myself and my daughter’s lives.”
Hearing this, Mrs. Hou also leaned closer to Xia Qingfeng, looked directly at her and asked, "What do you want, and what are the conditions?"
"The second younger brother is the legitimate son of this family. He has been taught by his mother since childhood. His knowledge and abilities are no worse than Xu Jingchen's. We must give him some opportunities."
"But the third prince doesn't value my son at all, and I can't help it." Mrs. Hou thought: Wasn't it just a small matter that was messed up? From then on, he was excluded and no chance was given to him.
"Brothers working together are more powerful than gold. Although the third prince did not assign any specific tasks to the second brother, it is always right for the second brother to help the elder brother, right?"
Mrs. Hou thought about it and smiled slyly: "That's right. Tell me, what do you want?" Mrs. Hou was not weak to still stand in the back house when faced with a flirtatious husband, so she started to care. , the tone of speaking became much more relaxed.
"I just want to keep my and my child's status in the mansion and no longer be framed by other aunts. My mother is the mistress of the prince's mansion, so she should be able to do this, right?"
"It seems that you have done well before. I already know about Aunt Zhao a few days ago. Do you still need my protection?"
"But there are always some flies hanging around my daughter-in-law's house for no reason, and it's hard to guard against them!"
"This is easy," he said to the nanny beside him: "Remember later and call Aunt Zhao."
"Thank you, mother!" Before leaving, Mrs. Hou rewarded Xu Xiaoxiao with a purse full of golden melon seeds for the first time.
Not long after Xia Qingfeng returned to Qingya Courtyard, Xia He came to report that Aunt Zhao was punished by being grounded in the courtyard for being disrespectful to her mistress. She copied the "Nv's Precepts" three times a day and sent it to Madam Hou's courtyard before sunset. The concubine should take this as a warning and copy the "Girls' Rules" once a day, and Mrs. Hou will send her nuns to check.
Xia Qingfeng smiled slightly after hearing this, Mrs. Hou is still very capable!
Early the next morning, when Xu Jingchen was about to go out, the servant came to report that the Marquis and his wife invited him to go to the study for a chat.
Xu Jingchen was very surprised. After he was favored by the third prince, his father finally regarded him as a bastard, and even his wife no longer controlled him. His status in the mansion is also getting higher and higher. What will happen if you find him this time?
With doubts, he went to the old Marquis's study.
At this time, the Marquis and his wife were sitting on their knees in the study room, and their second brother Xu Jingsong stood beside them.
He stepped forward and bowed: "Father, mother, I don't know if you are here to see your child. What can I do for you?"
The Marquis looked at Madam Hou, and then coughed lightly: "Son, I know that the Third Prince is grounded now, and you are very busy every day. You see, we are doing this for the glory of the entire Marquis Mansion. You are so busy yourself, Father also feels guilty. In this way, let your second brother help you, and let him do what you want to do with you. Brothers are fighting. If you two work together, our Hou Mansion will definitely get better and better. of."
Xu Jingchen glanced at his father in front of him, bowed and said, "Father, it's not that my son doesn't take his second brother with him, but it's just that it's really inconvenient for more people to know about the matters that the third prince entrusted to me."
"Your second brother is not an outsider, so your father won't embarrass you. You don't have to tell him what the third prince specifically told you, just let him follow you and help you. It's better than others!"
"Father, this is a task assigned by the third prince. If something goes wrong, our palace cannot afford it!"
After hearing this, the Marquis felt a little guilty and did not dare to speak again.
At this time, Mrs. Hou said: "Son, your father just said that he was just asking him to help you. Don't you want to do even this for your own brother?"
"After all, you are brothers. From now on, the glory of the Hou Mansion will depend on you two."
Mr. Hou also said quickly: "That's it, it's settled, your brother will follow you from now on." After saying that, he stood up and pulled Mrs. Hou out of the study.
At this time, Xu Jingsong stepped forward and bowed and said, "I hope you will be supported by my eldest brother." When he said this, his eyes were filled with fire. He is just a concubine, but he still wants to support me. When I get the attention of the third prince, I will definitely treat you Kick away.
But Mr. Hou, who had just walked out of the study, rubbed his hands and said to Mrs. Hou: "Madam, I have listened to you and asked Jing Song to work with the boss. Can you give me the one you promised me...?"
Mrs. Hou glanced at him, took out a dozen banknotes from her arms and gave them to him.
