"Brother Chengru, please listen to me clearly.
In Zhou Xueying's boudoir, she held on to Zhang Chengru's sleeve and shook it.
"I have nothing to say to you."
"If you are such a heartless person, why did you skip the night and come here today when you heard that I was seriously ill?" Zhou Xueying rushed over and hugged his back, pressing her whole body softly against him, "I know that my brother is still thinking about me. Mine, I'm worried about you, brother, too."
She hugged him with both hands, and Zhang Chengru closed his eyes in despair and enjoyment.
"Brother Chengru is now dead. I know you feel sad. Forgive me for lying to you about being sick. But if I didn't say so, why would you come to see me? I'm worried about you."
Who can withstand sincere words and gentle words?
"I know that brother is not happy now. There is no one in the family who cares about you, but you still have me. I have always cared about you in my heart."
"But you..." Zhang Chengru began to waver, and his tone became much softer, "haven't you always admired His Highness the First Prince?"
"Brother, why are you so confused?" Zhou Xueying scolded, "Is it possible for the two of us? I will be reduced to your shameful woman in this life, not even as good as an outside wife. I just want to use him to make you angry, look. You just don’t care about me.”
The ancients said that it is a technical job for a woman to chase a man.
On that day, Zhang Chengru fell into the gentle country and made up for the grievances, depression and unwillingness he had suffered for several months. They were originally a pair of drywood for peace, and they were rekindled without any effort.
Zhang Chengru was caught up in his own grievances and short-lived happiness, completely ignoring the difficulties at home.
The days of Zhang Mansion are already in dire straits.
There was one less person receiving a salary in the family, and the Gu family's private money had also bottomed out. It was the middle of winter, and there was no charcoal fire to burn in the house, so they had to light a fire at night and cover it with a few more cotton sheets. Being quilted, I managed to fall asleep.
The financial constraints of the Zhang family are no longer a secret. Although the younger members of the family don't say it, in their hearts they are no longer as afraid of the Gu family as before. If I had known that they had relied on their sister-in-law's money to support their extravagant life, I shouldn't have been respectful to this mother-in-law who told the truth. Instead, she was instigated by her to turn against my sister-in-law, and now I want to curry favor with her. I can't even find the door.
The Gu family has lost its former glory. Song Qingyue stays behind closed doors every day. Wang Peilan runs to her parents' house every day without fear. Gu family can't control it and doesn't dare to say anything. It would be nice to have someone to care about her face, let alone the past years. The back and forth between the old sisters during the New Year's Day, the comparisons and showing off, has nothing to do with her now. She simply claimed to be sick this year and refused to go away. In fact, everyone knew the real reason.
There were only a few people around, and the yard was deserted. In the second house, either the young couple were quarreling and throwing bowls, or the second master was sighing and the children were crying. The whole day was full of chaos, but when it calmed down, it seemed even more deserted and deserted. poor.
How come this day has ended like this?
In the third room, Wang Peilan had just returned from outside. Her husband was preparing to eat dinner alone. When he saw her coming in, he complained: "Where have you been again? I haven't seen anyone all day."
Wang Peilan wasn't angry either. He put the roast duck, pork head meat and a bottle of shochu he bought on the table with a smile. He quickly closed the door and said, "I remember how hard I have worked these days, and I want to give you something." Order the food."
Oh, what a delicious dish. Zhang Chengzhong smiled broadly and took his wife to sit at the table.
"I heard that people in Ningxiang Pavilion eat mutton pot every day?" Mr. Zhang asked his wife.
Wang Peilan said that was not the case, "How can I say that my sister-in-law is rich? All the servants at home are here. Three times the salary. If you add a little more, it will almost catch up with your salary."
Mr. Zhang curled his lips and said: "If you ask me, it's my mother's fault. We were deceived by her. We didn't know how he treated my sister-in-law. If I had known that this family was supported by my sister-in-law's money, who would have trouble with money? .”
"Who wouldn't say anything?" Wang Peilan sighed, "There is also Song Qingyue, a vicious and evil woman with a black heart. She didn't even leave any money for us, and robbed the old lady of all her personal money."
Mr. Zhang was stunned and asked, "Didn't mother give you the land deed and house deed at home?"
"Ah?" Wang Peilan knew she had made a mistake and quickly said, "Hey, those things need to be managed to be cashed in. It's not that easy, but it's not as useful as cash."
"Yes, it's all my fault. Mother has been partial to the eldest brother since she was a child, and is afraid of the fourth child and his wife. She tries hard to exploit me and the second child. Now it's fine. They eat up everything and wipe it clean, leaving us an empty shell."
"Hey, this family still has to rely on you, madam."
"It would be great if my mother could ask my sister-in-law for help."
…
Under the candlelight, Shen Que had just finished writing the documents on the slips and unfolded the letter written by Li Luansong to her.
In order to avoid suspicion, they had not seen each other much for more than half a month, so Li Luansong wrote her a letter almost every day, reporting to her the situation in the Zhang family in detail. He could often write some very interesting words, which made Shen really sad. Smirking.
At this time, Eunuch Shi is always worried. What is going on? Whose letter is His Highness reading? Why do the words on it look familiar?
In his letter, he said that the Zhang family was now in a state of decline, and the rumors about the Fifth Lady were too unpleasant to listen to, and that Zhang Guanhua was not normal either, and his hair problem was getting worse. Mrs. Gu even hired a doctor to look at her, but he didn't tell her why, so she simply killed her. Detained at home and not allowed to go out.
Zhang Chengru was nowhere to be seen, and the whole family didn't know where he had gone, but he said to reassure her that he had sent someone to monitor him.
Except for the princess and the consort, there is nothing to mention about the lives of the other rooms. He also said that his ears reported to the gods that everyone said privately that only now did they know that it is better to be a eldest lady. At that time, they lived like a fairy.
Finally, a peach tree was drawn in the lower left corner of the letter. The tree was full of pink peach blossoms. Under the flowers stood a handsome young man, as if waiting for someone.
Shen Que found it interesting and without thinking about it, he wrote back and asked how he was doing. He said that there were "medicine introductions" sent by several queens and empresses, and he planned to give them to Lao Wu, and asked Li Luansong to find someone to take Wu Niangzi to see him in person. Witnessing how her beloved lover hugged her from left to right after not seeing her for a few days, and his heart was full of love, it also made that silly girl give up.
As for the rest, it's none of her business.
Finally, Shen Que also drew a little lady in a hurry in the lower left corner.
He carefully folded the letter and handed it to Eunuch Shi to ask someone to hand it out. Only then did Shen Que see that it seemed to be snowing outside.
It’s another year, and the days go by so fast.
It's not even the twelfth lunar month yet, and it's already snowing. Shen Que remembered that in previous years she would make a few hand guards and scarves for her family members, but now she doesn't have the need to do so, and she feels really disappointed.
Then I thought, why is it unnecessary? That "big lady" will definitely not do this. Why not make it for him, he will definitely like it.
Just do it.
Shen Que closed the door, secretly found some needles and thread and started working on the girl's hair all night long. The color should be low-key yet luxurious. Black gold is too heavy, so gold should be wrapped in silver. Silver is bright and gold thread is not eye-catching, but it does not lose the identity, and then embroiders on it. Beautiful green plum embellishment...
Under the candlelight, "His Royal Highness the King of Jin" is concentrating on being a female beauty. This scene is as weird as it is weird.
Of course, no coincidence can make a book.
With a "bang", the palace door was knocked open, and Eunuch Shi flew in holding his hat:
"Your Highness, hurry up, pack up and go to bed."
Shen Que:...Is it a ghost?
"The queen came to check the post, probably to see those young ladies." Eunuch Shi was panicked.
When he saw His Highness Prince Jin sitting cross-legged on the bed and embroidering, his whole body burst into tears.
Eunuch Shi: ...God, please make me blind, what have I seen?
It was time to panic at this time. Before Shen Que could sort out the things in his hands, he had already seen the train of the queen's phoenix robe.
"Mother."
Shen Que hurriedly threw the embroidery in his hand into Eunuch Shi's arms and went over to meet him.
Her original intention: The Queen must have come to find her. As long as she could handle it, she would be able to make room for Eunuch Shi to hide those things.
Sure enough, Eunuch Shi immediately understood what His Highness meant. He had to hide them quickly without going into detail about what these things were for.
However, just as he was about to take action, the Queen stopped him:
"Eunuch Shi, wait a minute, what are you holding in your arms? It's so beautiful."
Shen Que: ...It looks good, my opinion.
Eunuch Shi: ...Does it look good? What should I do?
"Mother... mother..." Mr. Shi's words were incoherent.
"Don't call me mother, I am not your mother." The queen looked directly at him, "Hey, embroidery, this is..."
The queen looked at her father-in-law and then at her son in horror, and exclaimed in her heart: Who among them is doing such a shameful thing?
Shen Que was hesitant about what kind of excuse he should make up to excuse him. Over there, Eunuch Shi was afraid that the Queen would think too much, so he almost blurted out:
"This is what the old slave did."
Shen Que was shocked: ...I won’t thank you for your kindness.
Eunuch Shi: ...No, I want to hear it, a hundred times.
As soon as these words were spoken, not to mention the Queen, everyone in the room, including Aunt Huang and the maids brought by the Queen, were turned to stone.
Everyone looked at Eunuch Shi, full of fear and disgust: Tsk, tsk, tsk, okay... then what.
Fortunately, it wasn't Song'er who did it. The queen slowly calmed down her mood and smiled awkwardly: "I didn't expect that father-in-law Shi actually has a pair of skillful hands. Don't tell me, he is really good at embroidery."
She looked around and asked again: "Where are those women? Are Song'er satisfied?"
Shen Que quickly said: "Those sons..."
Seeing Shen Que picking his fingers in embarrassment, Eunuch Shi was afraid that it would be difficult for His Highness to tell him, and the gift to the Fifth Highness could not be publicized, so he quickly spoke again to stop Shen Que from saying:
"His Highness gave the old slave those medicine introductions."
As soon as these words came out, everyone's eyes almost popped out of their heads. Even Aunt Huang, who usually took great care of Father-in-law Shi, had a look of shock on her face, and then she became disdainful.
Nanny Huang: ...You are so dishonest, can you do that? You really have misjudged the wrong person.
Father-in-law Shi endured the strange looks from everyone that night, groaning secretly in his heart, feeling completely embarrassed.
