She lowered her hands and waited aside, lowered her head and replied: "Master, I have asked around in the bookstore, but I have never seen any calligraphy and paintings of Qianyake. I have also asked about it, but no one here has heard of this name. Jade and Antiques I’ve also been to shops and gold and stone shops, but I’ve never seen a seal like that.”
At the end, he carefully added: "However, at this time of year in Xuanzhou, people in the city are in panic. There are also people who collect gold and stones and collect books secretly."
Lin Rong was silent for a while and then said: "Forget it, it's me who is making things difficult for you." Then he heard the little girl reporting back and forth: "County Lord, Grandma Yu wants to see you."
It had only been more than three months since the city of Xuanzhou was destroyed. The wedding venue was the former Jiedushi Yuan Gu's mansion, and no elders of the Lu family lived here. Lu Shen walked away that day, except for the servants guarding the second door. There was no one to control the normal food and drink expenses, and there was no need to adjust the morning and evening hours. The past few days were quite leisurely.
Seeing this, Aunt Qu persuaded: "County Lord, all the people in this mansion are from Yongdi, and they all talk very tightly. Not to mention the sergeants, there are also girls and women who usually don't gossip with us and can find out. It’s also limited. In name, this Aunt Yu is a servant of the world, but she is in charge of all the affairs of the government, and she has won the trust of Yongzhou pastoralists. There is a popular saying among the people, it is better to ring the golden bell once than to break the three thousand drums..." He did not finish his words. , but the meaning is very obvious.
Lin Rong nodded and told the little girl: "Please come in, Nanny Yu, and serve tea."
Aunt Yu took a look at this garden along the way, but within three or five days it had changed a lot. After crossing the gravel road, she saw a few banana trees. The banana trees were planted there before, but now there are some casual touches all around. There are scattered white stones, and the flowers and trees transplanted from unknown places on the corridor are becoming more and more lush and lush. The carved partitions have been replaced with green screens.
As soon as I entered the main hall, I saw a large red sandalwood case in the middle. On the right was a candied date-colored ancient jade stone chime, a draped silk begonia gauze screen, and on the left was a large Ding kiln holly celadon porcelain plate with three or five on it. Citron is both simple and elegant, fresh and pleasant.
Aunt Yu nodded in her mind: Just move a little or two, and the mood will completely change. The arrangement of the utensils in the room is something that cannot be found unless someone from aristocratic families has been immersed in it for decades, so you would know that it is a sparse and spacious person.
After passing the main hall and entering the blue gauze cabinet next to it, the little girl opened the curtains and saw a very beautiful woman sitting on a small Arhat bed in front of her.
Aunt Yu bowed and said, "I've met Madam!"
Lin Rong waved his hand, and Kingfisher brought a five-legged crab apple tree over: "Mommy, there's no need to be polite, just sit down and talk."
Aunt Yu had been suffering from an attack of paralysis recently, and her legs and feet became numb after standing for a while, but she didn't refuse. After saying "Thank you, Madam," she bowed and sat down. However, she always respected the rules and refused to be looked down upon by this noble lady of the Cui family. She added: "When answering in front of the master, there are no rules for an old woman like me to sit down. I am only considerate, but the old woman has an attack of paralysis, so she has to lick her My face hurts."
Lin Rong smiled and said, "Mom, you are the elder next to me, and I am the junior, so I only have respect. When I first came here, I didn't understand any rules. If there was anything wrong, I had to rely on you for advice. "
These words were spoken in a very low tone, and Grandma Yu felt very happy after hearing this.
He then listened to Lin Rong ask about the symptoms in detail, what medicine to take, what doctor to call, what is his pulse, is he feeling better? Aunt Yu answered one by one: "It doesn't matter, it's a symptom that has lasted for many years. I'm getting better after taking the prescription written by Taoist Wang in the past years and taking three bowls of medicine every day."
The two of them chatted for a while, and then Grandma Yu explained the purpose of her visit: "According to our custom in Yongdi, the bride has to serve the dishes personally for three days after her arrival. The so-called 'three days into the kitchen, wash hands and make soup'. In previous years, The custom for brides in Yongdi is eight cold dishes and twenty-four hot dishes. But in recent years, the kings and princes have issued orders, and everyone in Yongzhou has been practicing frugality, so the old woman thought of making only one dessert as a metaphor."
The thin blood streak on Lin Rong's chin has formed a shallow scar and turned pink. After hearing what Nanny Yu said, she actually felt that the wound was slightly itchy, but she didn't want to see the living King of Hell again no matter what. If one thing is not done well, a new wound will appear on the face.
She wished she could live in this secluded courtyard and slowly find out about her senior brother, while everyone turned a blind eye.
The expression on Lin Rong's face froze uncontrollably, and she gave a frightened smile: "It's my blessing that grandma is willing to give me some advice. It's a bride's duty to wash her hands and make soup for her husband. It's just...it's just that I was born stupid and was not liked by the king. When I met him, it was my fault to make him angry and hurt him."
Aunt Yu didn't notice the scar. She smiled and covered it up lightly: "Madam, you are too worried. Your Majesty has been gentle and generous since you were a child. How could you get angry at Madam casually? But, you never like it." As for sweets, only the bone-in abalone conch from Southland is acceptable."
Lin Rong twitched the corner of his mouth. He had a gentle temperament and was generous to others. He couldn't relate to either of these two words, right? However, when Mother Yu said this, even the topic was determined, so Lin Rong had no reason to refuse.
Bone-in abalone is a snack in southern China. It is complicated to make. It originates from the Western Regions and is a delicacy in the upper reaches. Those with a little wealth in the South often boasted of having a cook who knew how to make bone-in abalone.
After seeing off Nanny Yu, Feng Xiao was a little worried and said: "The county master can't do all these rough jobs, I'll do it."
Aunt Qu shook her head: "We can take care of everything else. It's just that for this dessert, the county owner has to come in person. The taste is just not good, but it's always his intention, and he doesn't let anyone pick on him."
Kingfisher knew it best and smiled: "You are worried in vain. When it comes to these foods, the county master always only uses his mouth and does not use his hands. Only this bone-in abalone snail disliked our poor cooking. During the half year of recuperation, I don’t know how many times I have made it myself. Even the sixth girl’s gluttonous tongue said that the abalone made by our county chief is nourishing for the heart and lungs, and it is rare to see.”
The bone-in abalone at this time was very similar to modern puff pastry cheese, so Lin Rong could certainly make it, but when she thought about having to see Lu Shen again, she actually felt a little scared.
…
Although the name of Wutong Courtyard is Wutong, there are only a few cedars in rows. Behind the water mill walls are four or five Guangsha.
It was raining heavily when Mother Yu came back. She stood on the porch and squeezed the water from her sleeves before entering the inner room.
Several little girls came up immediately and helped her change into clean clothes, shoes and socks. Although there were many people and many hands, they were orderly and not messy.
Aunt Yu took the medicine bowl from the girl's hand and went into the inner room. There was a woman in her fifties lying on the painted bed inside, but her face was pale, her eyes were black and blue, and she was very haggard. When she saw her coming, he immediately forced himself to sit up and smiled: "I agreed to help you. You know, it's no use, you'll fall ill as soon as you arrive in Xuanzhou, and you'll be so tired that you run in both directions."
It was only in the presence of the old sisters of these decades that Aunt Yu could relax a little and leaned on the pillow: "We are also fifty-two or three years old. At our age, we will have to see Mr. Xian in a few years." Yes." He changed the subject: "It's just that before we old guys go, we have to take care of the things we should do."
Lying on the bed was Aunt Jiang. Like Aunt Yu, she was an old man from the Yongzhou Marquis Mansion. However, she was not accustomed to the local environment. She had vomiting and diarrhea as soon as she came here, and had to stay in bed to recuperate.
She nodded, cheered up, drank the bowl of medicine in one go, and asked: "You have been looking at me coldly for a few days. Our new lady, did you find anything out of your taste?"
Aunt Xu shook her head: "I can't see clearly!"
Aunt Jiang was confused when she heard this: "Can't you see clearly? How do you say that there is something about this woman in the inner house that you can't see through?"
Chapter 8
It's not so much invisible as it is strange.
Lin Rong's stunning face immediately appeared in front of Mammy Yu's eyes: "In terms of appearance, she is graceful and graceful, with dazzling pearls that make people forget about the ordinary. She does not fall into the reputation of 'glorious beauty moves the world'. We The fourth grandma in the house has the reputation of being the most beautiful woman in the North. But I think the old lady pales in comparison to this new lady."
Aunt Jiang was overjoyed when she heard this and said three times in a row: "That's good, that's good, that's good." The king passed by Jiangzhou and did not agree to marry the Cui family, but Duke De wrote a letter and came back. After discussing it with the eldest uncle, I finally decided on the marriage. When I sent people to Jiangzhou to propose marriage, my old aunt told me that those southern barbarians are used to bragging, but if you look past it, you can brag. She looks like a fairy. Now, I can slap myself in the mouth."
She was very happy, but saw that the old sister's face was not happy: "What are you worried about?"
Aunt Yu sighed: "In the past, not to mention the generals outside, I don't know how many beauties I gave to the princes, including the old lady, the old lady, the madam, the aunt, and the aunt. No way, why did the prince take another look at them? Last year, my wife got angry, changed the ancestral rules, and criticized them one by one. Only then did the prince relax, and he recruited a beauty to serve as his attendant that night. "
"My wife is as happy as anything. She just thinks that the girl has already accepted her favor and is waiting to have her grandson. Who knows that the girl is timid and has enjoyed the golden life for a few days. Then she shook her head, knelt in front of the wife and told her everything. Then I realized that although the king recruited her that night, he didn't have any luck with her and only asked her to keep vigil outside."
Aunt Jiang frowned: "There's this thing, why didn't I know?"
Aunt Yu said: "You went to the Taoist temple to serve the old lady at the wedding ceremony, and were not in the house. This is not a decent thing, and the lady is taboo about it. Who dares to mention it again? Not long after that incident, there was news outside. When she heard those dirty words, my wife got violently angry. The prince only paid attention to military and political affairs, so he never paid attention to these things..."
Her voice became smaller and smaller at the end, and she sighed heavily.
Aunt Jiang is a bit rougher: "Junhou is twenty-three this year, which is the age when he is vigorous and powerful. According to common sense, how can a man of this age not be fond of women? Junhou's temperament is easy to follow. My lord, it must be those vulgar and vulgar things that cannot be noticed."
Aunt Yu rubbed her knees: "I hope so! On the day of the wedding, the king entered the wedding room and came out after just a cup of tea. In the past few days, I have never been to the new wife's yard. I am I'm afraid that even if this noble girl from Jiangzhou becomes a god, it won't help."
"It's strange to say that this noble girl from Jiangzhou, who came from a thousand-year-old family, must be dignified and self-possessed, and have a high level of ambition. In the past, Tanmasi sent a letter back and said that she was a mistress who liked luxury, fancy clothes, and pearls. In the past few days, I’ve been watching with cold eyes, but it’s not quite right…”
She paused, then continued: "But maybe we can get some clues tonight about what it means."
Just as he was talking, the girl outside reported back and forth: "Mommy, the Kingfisher girl from Madam's yard is here."
Aunt Yu and Aunt Jiang looked at each other, feeling strange. Aunt Jiang was lying on the bed in her middle coat, but she refused to lose her dignity, so she changed into the clothes for visiting guests, forced herself to sit up, and then said: "Ask her to come in!"
Kingfisher was dressed in a water-red dress embroidered with hundreds of butterflies. She was pretty and gentle. She was holding a bamboo drawer food box in her hand. She bowed her knees and saluted: "My servant Kingfisher has seen these two nuns."
Aunt Yu said something polite and asked, "But do you have any instructions, madam? Or is there something missing?"
In front of the people from Yongdi, Kingfisher naturally changed his name and replied with a smile: "Everything is in good condition. There is nothing missing. It's just that my wife asked me to bring the newly made bone-in abalone to the two nuns." Try it. The master is afraid that his craftsmanship is not good enough and will not suit the taste of the king, so I would like to ask the ladies to give me some advice."
After saying that, he opened the food box, revealing a tiger-skin three-color plate. There were exactly two boned abalones on the plate, one pink and one pure white, with a honey cherry on each top.
Aunt Yu tasted it, it was smooth, sweet and crispy, comparable to the Fang family. She knew that this was not here to ask her for advice, but just to give it to her to taste. She cheered and asked: "There are no cherries in the North at this time, which is strange. "
Kingfisher replied: "The cherries in Jiangzhou grew well last year. The women in the mansion picked the best pickled ones and added honey from the wild to preserve them for a year."
Aunt Yu smiled and said a few polite words: "With the addition of cherries, it won't be so greasy and brings a refreshing feeling. Madam is really thoughtful." After a few words of greeting, she ordered the Kingfisher to be sent out.
Aunt Jiang said meaningfully: "He seems to be a smart person."
Aunt Yu answered: "If the prince likes it, it doesn't matter if you are stupid. If the prince doesn't like it, it's useless no matter how smart you are. Okay, take your medicine and don't torment the little girls. I have to go to the prince to take care of you." ”
…
Thinking of Lu Shen's face, Lin Rong couldn't help but feel uneasy. She knew very well that these were troubled times. Lu Shen had killed countless people. If he really wanted to deal with her, she didn't know how many ways he would use to silence her. Dying without interest.
As a low-level civil servant, although she often shouted that she didn't want to live when she was on duty continuously, she cherished her life more than anyone else. After waiting in the yard for a whole day, in the evening, the little girl sent by Grandma Yu came to call: "The Lord has returned to the house, please move, Madam."
It had just rained at this time, and the lights in the garden seemed to be twinkling from a distance, giving it a misty and misty look.
I couldn't see clearly at night. As I approached slowly, I noticed the fragrant smell of vegetation. The little girl holding a palace lantern leading the way smiled and said: "Madam, the prince said that Yuan Gu's house is unbearably vulgar and needs to be renovated." It was too wasteful, so I just transplanted herbs such as Du Ruo, Jiang Nettle, Qing Ge, and Danjiao to smoke out Yuan's turbid smell."
At the same time, he reminded Lin Rong: "It just rained. There is some moss on the stone slab. Madam is stepping on it."
Lin Rong saw that she was amiable and not as cold and defensive as the rest of the people in the house, so he started chatting with her: "Are you from Yongzhou too?"
The little girl smiled and shook her head: "Back to Madam, General Huo gave me this slave girl as a gift to the Lord a year ago. I am now doing some cleaning work in the courtyard. The Lord has given me a new name. Madam, just call me Lu Yun."
After saying this, the group of people walked out of the shadows. Under the dim candlelight, Lin Rong discovered that the girl had a fair face and a delicate appearance, and she immediately understood. The generals under Lu Shen's command have given me beautiful things. I'm afraid they are not serving as maids, but serving the bed curtains.
As soon as I entered the courtyard, I saw the powerful words "Zhi Ge" inscribed on the plaque. After passing thousands of poles of green bamboo, you can see green pines caressing the eaves, and a row of broad buildings come into view.
Aunt Yu stood in the corridor, bowed and said, "Madam, the Lord has just returned home and is taking a nap."
Lin Rong breathed a sigh of relief: "In that case, I won't bother you."
Aunt Yu smiled and shook her head: "The Lord hosted a banquet at Jinmingtai for the generals who had contributed to the defeat of Xuanzhou. The sons of Yongzhou were generous, and the Lord did not refuse their toasts. I heard from the waiter that I don't know how much I drank tonight. I also drank three jars of shochu. The snacks made by my wife moisturize my lungs and nourish my heart, and they are just the right way to dispel the scorching smell of the shochu."
When Lin Rong heard that he was drunk, he didn't want to go in even more. A drunk person's usual emotions are amplified. When you are sober, you can tolerate yourself, the daughter of your enemy, with reason. It's not possible to be drunk. She pretended to have a look of panic on her face: "Mommy, it's better to wait until the prince wakes up before eating snacks. I... I'm really... a little scared..."
Aunt Yu still shook her head, looking at this young lady who was only sixteen years old with a little helplessness, half coaxing and half threatening: "Madam, I don't know, we in Yongzhou have always followed these old rules, even the old lady and the madam have to I asked in a letter. My wife didn’t even wash her hands and make soup for three days without proper etiquette. I really don’t know how to reply to the old lady. As for being afraid, that’s even more unnecessary. How can there be a wife in the world who is afraid of her husband?”
Lin Rong had no choice but to step forward. Suddenly he saw Kingfisher and Fengxiao asking Nanny Yu to stop him outside the door: "Your Majesty likes to be quiet. No servants are allowed in the inner room. Please wait outside."
Kingfisher and Fengxiao both looked at Lin Rong and only listened to her instructions. Lin Rong waved his hand: "Since Mother Yu said so, you two can wait for me in the corridor."
Lin Rong rolled his eyes silently in his heart. He was not allowed to have any attendants or heard any sounds. Do you think he was the Princess and the Pea?
She picked up the food box and walked slowly inside. She saw four foreign-painted Baibu lanterns lit in the four corners, glowing with a faint yellow light.
She opened the curtain and saw a large case with red sandalwood and flat glass patterns. On the wall was a picture of sparse trees in distant mountains, and on the left and right hung a couplet written in cursive script: "Thousands of flowers are deep in the depths of the pines, and a crane is heard when the birds are noisy." There are calligraphy and paintings scattered randomly on it, including a few tortoise-shell purple brushes, an ingot of ancient Suan Ni ink, and an inkstone carved with toad patterns.
Reclining on the lacquered Yunzhi chair behind the desk is a man. He is wearing a homely sapphire blue silk trousers, with a sapphire lotus crown on his head. He flexes his fingers with one hand and gently taps the table with his eyes closed. He looks like a man from a romantic family.
It's just that the sons of the noble family in this world, who come from a higher family background than him, are not as strong as him in military strength, nor as powerful as him in authority.
Lin Rong walked three steps in front of the case and slowly saluted: "I am Cui Shiyiniang, I have met the king."
The man didn't respond. He still tapped the desk with his fingers and closed his eyes to rest.
Lin Rong was neither in a hurry nor slow, and stood there quietly, waiting for three breaths before speaking again: "I am Cui Shiniang, and I would like to pay my respects to the Lord.
Lu Shen then opened his eyes, looked at the strong bamboo outside the window, and said to himself with murderous intent: "Throw a whip to cross the river, and ride to Wushan. Being able to write this sentence shows that Yizhi Xie's ambition is not there." Xiao. First destroy Yizhixie, then go to Jiangzhou, and the world will be safe."
After Lu Shen said that, he turned to look at Lin Rong: "What do you think, madam?"
Lu Shen's eyes were always full of scrutiny and oppression. Lin Rong lowered his head slightly, not knowing what he meant, and replied: "I am a woman and a child. I have little knowledge and dare not comment on military and national affairs."
Lu Shen asked, "Don't you know what happened in Jiangzhou?"
Lin Rong was silent, then opened the hollow heart-saving box, revealing two extremely cute carved abalone shells, and added: "Aunt Yu told me this morning that a bride in Yongdi must wash her hands and make soup three days after she enters the house. Although I I come from Jiangzhou, but I dare not disobey the etiquette of Yongdi, so I disturb the king and ask for forgiveness."
Lu Shen's face softened slightly when he heard this, and then he heard the woman say: "When I was in the boudoir, I heard a poem sung by someone at that time - Jade beauty has been tired since ancient times, who can eat meat to seek for the country? I also heard what others said, and sent my concubine. I don’t know where to use generals. If I am a man and I die on the battlefield, I will have my own destiny. But I am a woman. The grace of childbirth and the fate of my parents are all layer by layer. How can you move after being layered down? The king hates the Cui family, but I am willing to accept it."
These words are very clever. All the beautiful women in the world are mistaken because of their appearance. They are all like duckweeds and cannot help themselves. If Lu Shen was really Ang Zangwei's husband with a magnanimous heart, how could he care about a weak woman?
After hearing this, Lu Shen asked with a hint of teasing in his tone: "I heard that your father spent half a day sitting in meditation in Jiangzhou and half a day talking, and that the military and political affairs were all handled by your mother. Is this possible?"
Lin Rong didn't know anything about this, so he pinched his thigh hard, burst into tears, and choked up slightly: "A son never talks about his father's faults."
Lu Shen looked over and saw the girl standing by the lamp, her head lowered, her almond-shaped eyes slightly moist. She stood upright like a pink apricot flower after the rain. When the breeze blew by, morning dew fell to the ground. ——This is what is so sad about her!
