A few days later again.
Beam.
City of Gods.
Hou Mansion.
Su Xian's return date is still undecided.
The last time news came back was ten days ago. Su Xian sent someone to send back a letter home, saying that he was fine in Nanchu and that his wives didn't have to worry about him.
The ladies in the mansion, from the head wife Tang Shuwan, to the common wife Liu Huixiang, to the concubine Luo Xiu Niang, to the twenty concubines who have no status for the time being, feel a little at ease for the time being.
But they did not relax. They went to the Buddhist hall to worship Buddha, burn incense and pray every day, hoping that Su Xian could return safely as soon as possible...
Apart from this, the entire Hou Mansion, and even the entire Daliang court, had nothing to do.
…
One day.
Liu Huixiang is doing embroidery work in her room.
She was sitting in front of the window, holding needlework in her hands, with a serious expression, a faint smile on her lips, and her watery eyes, full of imagination and longing for the future.
Suddenly, there were footsteps outside the house.
Ta-ta-ta-ta!
Liu Huixiang panicked and hurriedly stuffed the needlework and cloth in her hands into the bamboo basket on the side, and then pulled out a piece of silk cloth to cover the entire bamboo basket.
Because she moved too fast, the sharp embroidery needle almost pricked her finger. Fortunately, it was okay in the end.
Winter winter winter!
At this time, there was a knock on the door. Before Liu Huixiang asked who the visitor was, Zhang Cuihua's voice came from outside the house: "Miss, Miss?"
"It's Cuihua."
Liu Huixiang breathed a sigh of relief.
It turned out to be Zhang Cuihua.
By the way, after Liu Huixiang married Su Xian, Zhang Cuihua also came to Su Xian's home as a "dowry".
When Su Xian was granted the title of County Marquis and moved to Shendu, Zhang Cuihua also followed him to Shendu.
In the past, when Liu Huixiang worked hard to run the tofu stall, Zhang Cuihua was her good helper and personal maid.
Now, Liu Huixiang is Su Xian's common wife, and she still has the title of fourth-rank official. Zhang Cuihua is still her good helper and personal maid.
In fact, with Liu Huixiang's current status, she could find a few more maids to serve her.
But she is a nostalgic person, and she can never forget how Zhang Cuihua protected her and followed her after she was kicked out of the family, and how she never left her and stood up for her.
Throw it away after use?
No, they have experienced common hardships and have a deep friendship between master and servant.
Liu Huixiang is not such a heartless person.
Although Zhang Cuihua has a reckless personality, she has no problem doing hard work with her hands, but as for the delicate work of serving people...it's hard to describe.
But Liu Huixiang didn't dislike it. She had taken care of herself for so many years and was already used to it. She was not used to having a maid serve her all of a sudden.
"Come in!" Liu Huixiang stood up and opened the door.
"Miss, I won't go in. There are already clues about what the lady ordered me to inquire about." Zhang Cuihua said standing at the door.
"Well, really? What happened to Xiaolan?"
"..."
The "Xiaolan" in Liu Huixiang's words refers to her biological sister named "Liu Huilan".
Liu Huilan was only eight or nine years old when she was kicked out of her home.
So many years have passed, and the cute and clingy little girl back then has grown up and is old enough to get married.
In fact, Liu Huixiang had already stopped contacting her natal family.
The harm done to her by her natal family is permanent.
Back then, when her biological father threw her burden out of the house, he said:
"Go away, our Liu family will treat you as a daughter. Get away and never come back. If you dare to come back, I can't beat you to death!"
It was this sentence that she still remembered.
It would be a lie to say that she was not angry.
Furthermore, she knew that Su Xian didn't like her being related to her natal family.
As far as she knew, the Liu family sent people to visit the Hou Mansion many times to try to get relatives, but they were beaten back by people arranged by Su Xian in advance.
In this regard, Liu Huixiang adopted a default attitude.
She never takes the initiative to mention her family affairs.
But just a few days ago, when she accompanied Tang Shuwan to worship Buddha and burn incense at a large temple in the city, she accidentally heard a rumor——
The head of the Liu family is planning to marry Liu Huilan, the only legitimate daughter left in the family, to a gangster outside the city in exchange for a high betrothal gift.
Ryu Hye-ran!
Liu Huixiang was shocked all over.
She suddenly remembered the cute eight or nine-year-old girl who would cling to her and call her sister.
After so many years, the little girl has grown into a big girl, right? It seems that she has indeed reached the age of marriage.
etc!
Marrying a gangster from outside the city?
No!
cannot!
Liu Huixiang frowned, looking back at the many hardships she had experienced over the years. Although they were difficult, they had a good result in the end.
But once Liu Huilan marries a gangster outside the city, I'm afraid... her whole life will be ruined!
The final outcome is nothing more than the disappearance of beauty at such a young age...
I want to save Xiaolan!
Liu Huixiang didn't think too much, and this thought came directly to her mind.
It was their sister's misfortune to be born into the Liu family. It was okay for her to suffer the hardship alone. Xiaolan must not be allowed to jump into the pit of fire at such a young age!
Hence, the current scene happened.
Zhang Cuihua returned from inquiring about the news.
"Miss, that rumor is true. The second lady was indeed... betrothed to a gangster outside the city." The flesh on Zhang Cuihua's face bulged, and she was very angry about this.
Liu Huixiang's heart sank heavily, and then a look of determination appeared in her eyes: "We must not let Xiaolan jump into this pit of fire. We must find a way to save her!"
"Yes, miss."
Zhang Cuihua agreed very much, and then said coldly:
"My servant has also inquired about that ruffian and bully outside the city. He has killed countless girls over the years."
"It is said that this man is cruel. Women who marry into his family generally do not survive more than a year. On the hillside behind his house, seven or eight new graves have been added over the years!"
"Xiaolan!" Liu Huixiang's eyes once again flashed the scene of Liu Huilan calling her sister when she was seven or eight years old. She clenched her fists. As the eldest sister, she had to save the poor weak sister.
Because Liu Huilan is innocent.
Her fate was the same, or worse, it seemed.
She can ignore her family members for the rest of her life.
But for her innocent sister Liu Huilan, she will definitely lend a helping hand!
"Miss, if you want to ruin this marriage, or arrest the gangster outside the city and hold him to account, it's very simple. You just need to say something to the Marquis, and the Marquis gives an order, and it can be done within half a day." Zhang Cuihua. suggested.
"No!"
Liu Huixiang shook her head and refused without thinking:
"My husband has never wanted to have contact with the Su and Liu families from the beginning to the end. I can't bother my husband for such a thing."
"Besides, Cuihua, you have to remember that this is a matter between the two of us. You are not allowed to rely on any relationship or power from your husband or the Marquis. This matter can only be solved by ourselves!"
"One more thing, it must be kept secret and no one can find out, especially the husband."
Zhang Cuihua was a little puzzled and said doubtfully: "But Miss, it will be difficult for the two of us alone. The Marquis loves Miss so much, so Miss only needs to open her mouth..."
"no!"
Liu Huixiang flatly refused and frowned slightly: "I have said that my husband does not want to have any interaction with them. I cannot trouble my husband because of my personal affairs. Do you understand?"
"Yes." Zhang Cuihua had no choice but to shut up when she saw this.
"Besides, we have accumulated some money over the years, and my husband has bought a lot of things for me. The two of us alone are enough to save Xiaolan and escape." Liu Huixiang said confidently.
"Yes." Zhang Cuihua didn't say anything more. She turned around and thought again, then said:
"Miss, I also heard that although the marriage has been finalized, the Liu family is a wealthy family after all, and the rules cannot be broken, so the official wedding date will be in three months!"
"Three months later? That would be better. We have enough time to make arrangements calmly." Liu Huixiang breathed a sigh of relief.
"..."
At that moment, the two masters and servants chatted for a while.
Roughly determine the framework of the rescue plan.
Finally, Zhang Cuihua said goodbye and left to do some preliminary preparations.
Liu Huixiang saw her out of the hospital and then turned back.
She was perfecting the plan as she walked, and was very involved. After entering the house, she only slightly opened the door ajar without closing it completely, and went straight back to the window to sit down.
"It should be okay now!"
The sadness on Liu Huixiang's face disappeared.
Thinking that after rescuing Liu Huilan, she would arrange a good and happy marriage for Xiaolan, she couldn't help but smile with relief on her lips.
After dealing with Liu Huilan's matter, her eyes fell on the bamboo basket again.
Open the silk cloth on the bamboo basket.
He took out the needle, thread and cloth that he had just stuffed in, carefully held them in his hands, and stroked them carefully. A longing smile slowly appeared at the corner of his mouth.
There was also a different kind of emotion in her watery eyes.
It turned out that the half-embroidered thing she was holding in her hand was actually a small garment worn by a baby!
This is for her future children.
Every stitch, every stitch, was poured into her hope, vision and motherly love.
Her carefully made baby clothes are warm and soft and will definitely protect the healthy growth of future children!
However, after all, Liu Huixiang was preparing to be a mother for the first time and was a little shy.
She sewed this set of baby clothes secretly and slowly by herself. She never let others see it, not even Zhang Cuihua. She was afraid that Zhang Cuihua's big mouth would not be able to stop it, so she made fun of her and spread it everywhere.
Yes.
She didn't want outsiders to know that she wanted to have a child.
Because she hadn't given birth yet, and her belly hadn't moved at all after so long... Even she was wondering, could she not give birth? Not to mention others.
She doesn't want to hear gossip...
Therefore, when Zhang Cuihua suddenly knocked on the door just now, she was frightened and panicked. She hurriedly stuffed the sewing cloth into the bamboo basket and covered it tightly with silk cloth.
After stroking it carefully, Liu Huixiang picked up the needle and thread and continued sewing.
She was once a lady of a wealthy family, and her embroidery skills were naturally excellent, and she has not lost her skills over the years. Although this little dress is only a semi-finished product, it is already very exquisite.
She was immersed in sewing, and half an hour had passed.
Her eyes seemed a little dry and her arms seemed a little sore. She was ready to put down her needlework and rest for a while.
But at this moment, she suddenly realized that the light around her was wrong, and there seemed to be... a person standing next to her? !
Shocked in her heart, she hurriedly looked sideways, and there was indeed a person standing next to her, smiling and watching her doing embroidery work. Who was that person, Tang Shuwan?
"Sister, why are you here?"
Liu Huixiang was so frightened that she stood up directly, her face turned dizzy for a moment, and she felt embarrassed, shy and panicked. She stayed there at a loss.
I forgot to hide the half-sewn baby coat.
She sewed this little dress all the time in secret, and outsiders never knew.
For some reason today, she didn't know when Tang Shuwan came, and looking at Tang Shuwan like this, she seemed to have been "observing" for a long time!
So embarrassing.
Liu Huixiang didn't know what to do for a moment.
After a few breaths, she finally woke up and hurriedly stuffed the needle, thread and cloth into the bamboo basket.
But Tang Shuwan had already seen it. Wasn't she trying to cover up her behavior like this?
"I wonder why sister doesn't go out these days? It turns out she is hiding in the house secretly sewing clothes for children." Tang Shuwan pursed her lips and smiled, jokingly:
"I originally thought that my sister was unwell, so I came over to take a look, but... pfft, how long have you been secretly sewing? My sister's needlework is definitely the best in the house, and I also like it."
Liu Huixiang was so embarrassed that she slowly took back the piece of sewing cloth that had not been stuffed into the bamboo basket because there was no need to hide it.
Tang Shuwan continued to joke: "Sister wants to have a baby!"
Liu Huixiang was most afraid of this, but now that the matter had come to this, she had no choice but to whisper and beg: "Sister, please stop talking... I wonder when did my sister come?"
"I just came here not long ago."
Tang Shuwan accepted it as soon as she felt good, and said with a smile: "Sister hasn't been out much in the past two days. I thought she was unwell, so I came over to take a look."
"But I never thought that my sister's courtyard door was not closed, and the door to her house was not closed either. I was so frightened that I thought there was a thief in my sister's house, so I hurriedly came in to take a look -"
Although Tang Shuwan was the Marquis of Fanyang County and the wife of the current Imperial Lieutenant, she was still no more than twenty years old, and she was still a bit playful. When she said this, she joked with a smile:
"Who would have thought that it would be my sister hiding here secretly sewing baby clothes? My sister wants to have a baby. This is a good thing. I will tell my husband when he comes home!"
"Sister, please don't tell your husband."
Liu Huixiang was so teased that she hurriedly took Tang Shuwan's hand. Su Xian had actually known for a long time that she wanted a child, but if Tang Shuwan said it through her mouth... she would die of shame anyway!
"This is a great thing for our Hou family. We must tell my husband so that he can work hard..." Tang Shuwan said, already covering her mouth and bending over with a smile.
Liu Huixiang was extremely embarrassed and ashamed.
Just when she was about to say something, Tang Shuwan's personal maid Minglan suddenly ran over, clumsily holding a piece of fabric in her hand. When she saw Tang Shuwan, she shouted with joy:
"Miss, miss, I'm lucky that I lived up to my command. I traveled through most of the divine capital and finally found..."
"Shut up!"
Tang Shuwan's expression changed and she could no longer laugh. She looked very nervous and embarrassed and winked at Minglan crazily.
However, Minglan was so eager to show off her merits that she didn't even see the hint in her young lady's eyes, and said loudly:
"Miss, what's wrong with you? Didn't the miss ask the slave to buy it? This kind of cloth is soft and warm. According to the walking boss, this kind of cloth is the most suitable for sewing baby clothes!"
"Damn girl, why don't you shut up!" Tang Shuwan became so angry that she almost picked up Liu Huixiang's needle and thread and sewed Minglan's mouth shut.
After hearing this, Liu Huixiang's eyes suddenly lit up.
Looking at Tang Shuwan with a smile on her face, she joked: "My sister is still talking about me. It turns out that my sister is also preparing secretly! My sister also wants to have a baby!"
"Sister, don't believe this girl Minglan's nonsense." Now it was Tang Shuwan's turn to be embarrassed and ashamed, and her fair face was instantly stained with two clouds.
