The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival.
The entire Feng Mansion was filled with joy, and beautiful lanterns were hung in every courtyard.
Feng Yibo had already ordered someone to set up a stage and specially ordered several Kunqu operas.
The play was ready, and several tables were set up.
Li Mengshi brought Baochai and You Laoan to the table.
Miaoyu and Youshi sisters were at the same table.
The rest of the respectable servants, such as Aunt Meng, the maids in each room, etc.
They all have their own seats.
The whole family gathered together to eat wine and listen to the show.
So uncomfortable.
In the past few days, many of Li Shouzhong's disciples are about to cross the threshold.
The warehouse of the old couple's courtyard was filled with New Year's gifts.
Li Shouzhong and Feng Yibo were also tired of entertaining and had one meal after another.
Today is a festive day, so the two of you can take a break.
Didn't even come over to listen to the show with the girls.
It also prevents them from feeling uncomfortable.
The two men only talked in the study room, talking about poetry and knowledge.
This is how you cultivate your body and mind.
On the stage, I had just finished singing a verse of "The Story of the White Snake".
What we are singing now is "Listening to the Qin".
Yeah, yeah, it's a scene from "South West Chamber".
It's funny, people say that men don't read "Water Margin" and women don't read "The West Chamber".
Both of these books were classified by Confucianism as instructing adultery and thieves.
Especially "The Romance of the West Chamber" has always been a banned book in ancient boudoirs.
But when listening to the opera, the repertoire of "The West Chamber" is suitable for all ages, and there is nothing particular about it.
Even after adaptation, some "obscene" details are missing from the opera.
But the general plot direction is the same.
The core contained in it is nothing more than praising love.
It is inevitable that people feel there are some double standards.
At this time, all the girls were listening in rapt attention.
Li Mengshi and Mrs. You both smiled and narrowed their eyes, obviously immersed in the music.
A look of good taste.
Baochai also smiled, but her mind was not on the show.
Instead, he observed everyone calmly.
Miaoyu was neither sad nor happy, as if everything had nothing to do with her.
The affection between Zhang Sheng and Yingying could not move her at all.
Second Sister You was shy and timid, looking very nervous.
It can be seen that this person has entered the scene and is sweating for the two people on the stage.
Sister Yousan pursed her lips slightly, seeming a little annoyed.
Maybe he couldn't see Yingying's heartbeat and looked worthless.
On the other side, the girls in each room were immersed in it.
Even Xiang Ling, who had been a little dull in the past, was a little confused at this time.
I don’t know if I thought of something.
Seeing Xiangling, Baochai's heart moved slightly.
But seeing Li Mengshi's eyes narrowed, he didn't rush to disturb her.
At this moment, the play was finished.
Li Mengshi opened his eyes and commented with a smile:
"The accent of this Yingying impersonator is authentic, is he from Jiangnan?"
Mrs. You also had a similar expression, nodded in agreement:
"That sounds like the same thing to me. I must have put a lot of thought into it."
Although all of you here are not experts in Kun Opera, they are all from Jiangnan.
Listening to local accents during the festival is a unique experience.
When Li Mengshi heard what Mrs. You said, she immediately smiled and said:
"Yibo is a child of pure filial piety. Knowing that we girls don't have much talent, it would be most comfortable to listen to some dramas."
"reward!"
When Baochai saw Li Mengshi smiling happily, he said the word "reward".
There were already servants waiting with several dustpans in front of them.
When he heard that he was going to be rewarded, one of them came up to the stage carrying a dustpan of copper coins and said:
"Old lady, madam, Lao An, I rewarded you with buying fruits to eat!"
With that said, he threw the money on the stage.
Just listen to "ding-ding-ding-ding-ding" and the sound of money all over the table.
"Thank you, old lady, for the reward!"
"Thank you Madam for the reward!"
"Thank you Lao An for the reward!"
People in the troupe travel all over the country, so they know the rules.
While holding the money in his arms, he put on a smile and thanked each one in his mouth.
Li Mengshi smiled and said to Baochai again:
"You asked me and Lao An to order first. Now that we've finished singing two plays, you should also order the one you like."
Although Baochai respects the elderly, she is the mistress of Feng Mansion after all.
If she doesn't do it, it won't be easy for others.
At that moment, Baochai smiled and said:
"I see that the old lady is very happy, why not order another episode of "Fat Girl Learns the Tongue"."
"Fat Girl Learning Tongue" is a chapter from "Journey to the West".
This "Journey to the West" is not the book from which Buddhist scriptures were collected, but the "Journey to the West" in "Four Journeys to the West".
This twist is not a martial arts show about fighting monsters, but a lively comedy.
When Li Meng heard this, she naturally knew that Baochai wanted to follow her wishes.
Immediately he shook his head and said angrily:
"You are a thoughtful kid, but you don't have to think about others all the time. You have to point out what you like."
After hearing this, Baochai felt a little warm in her heart, but still smiled and said:
"To answer the old lady's question, I am still young and don't know much about opera. I thought that listening to the opera as a family would just be fun, so I just looked at the atmosphere and casually clicked on it. If I wanted to think of something I like, I would really like it for a while. Can’t think of anything.”
"You!"
Seeing her like this, Li Meng had no choice but to give up.
At this time Baochai looked at the table in the concubine's room again and said:
"You guys can each order a discount."
Miaoyu didn't like this and shook her head.
Second Sister You ordered a discount of "Qin Tiao", which comes from "The Story of the Jade Hairpin".
The plot is similar to the one just mentioned in "Listening to the Qin", both of which use Qin as a means of intercession.
Obviously she didn't hear enough of this love.
Seeing that Miaoyu didn't order it, Sanjie You asked if she could order it for her.
Miaoyu didn't care, so she let her go.
So, Sanjie You ordered a play called Water Margin and a play called Journey to the West to fight monsters.
They are all lively martial arts.
Just as they ordered here, Baochai looked at the other table and said:
"They all ordered it, Xiangling should also order it."
The maids at the table all looked at Xiang Ling with envy, but they all knew that she was different from others.
Xiangling was thinking about the west wing just now, still in a daze.
Baochai spoke, but she didn't react for a moment.
Aunt Meng next to her smiled and poked her, saying:
"Madam asked you to do some drama! Why don't you thank madam?"
Seeing everyone looking at her ambiguously, Xiangling realized what she was doing.
His face suddenly turned red, he stood up in a panic and said:
"Thank you madam, how can Xiangling, a maid, be qualified to order dramas!"
Li Mengshi also asked Baochai quietly, saying:
"Exalted?"
She thought Xiangling had already entered Feng Yibo's house, and Baochai would do this.
Unexpectedly, Baochai shook his head first and whispered:
"not yet."
As she said that, she looked at the shy Xiang Ling and said to Li Mengshi:
"It's just that I never let others serve me. I just treat her differently from other girls."
Li Mengshi frowned slightly when he heard this and said:
"Xiang Ling is a sensible person. She doesn't fight or compete with others all day long. She never relies on her status to do anything."
Baochai's tone was gentle, but what he said seemed to mean establishing authority.
Logically speaking, Li Mengshi should not have intervened even if he really wanted to establish his authority.
But Xiangling had already followed Feng Yibo, and Li Mengshi didn't want to cause discord between their husband and wife.
She said a few words of praise, but in fact she was interceding with Xiang Ling.
"Xiang Ling has a good look and a good character. It was so easy for me to get her back."
Baochai saw that Li Mengshi had misunderstood, chuckled twice, and said again:
"I think it's only a matter of time."
Li Mengshi understood this when he heard the word "rob".
It turns out that Baochai didn't want to establish rules, but wanted to promote Xiangling.
Letting people know her difference is a way of supporting her.
Immediately, he nodded with relief and said nothing more.
Only then did Baochai look at Xiangling, who was still standing cautiously, and said with a smile:
"Xiang Ling, you can order whatever you want and listen to whatever you want. We are all a family here, so there is no need to be restricted."
"Don't dare! Don't dare!"
Xiangling was so frightened that she waved her hands repeatedly and said:
"I don't have anything to think about. I just listen to whatever the masters order."
Although she is usually dull, she also knows how to behave appropriately.
At this time, the hostess gave her face, but she couldn't do it.
Baochai's goal had been achieved, and seeing her at a loss, he waved his hand for her to sit down.
Just as Xiangling breathed a sigh of relief, Aunt Meng came closer and whispered:
"Madam wants to promote you. It seems that good things are coming soon."
"ah?"
Xiangling exclaimed and quickly covered her mouth.
Fortunately, "Fat Girl Learns the Tongue" has already started singing.
After looking around and seeing no one paying attention, he said with a blushing face:
"Aunt Meng, don't be joking. I just want to be a little girl beside you. What's the point..."
At this point, her voice became smaller and smaller, almost inaudible.
"What a good thing."
Aunt Meng looked at Xiangling with a smile on her face and said firmly:
"Just watch."
That night, when Xiang Ling served Feng Yibo again.
His face was red and he didn't dare to look directly.
He also tied Feng Yibo's belt with a tight buckle and was in a hurry.
After finishing tidying up, he went to the outhouse as if he was running away.
Feng Yibo was left there, feeling a little baffled.
Seeing Baochai snickering aside, he said strangely:
"What are you laughing at, madam? What's wrong with this girl Xiangling?"
Seeing this, Baochai quickly stopped his smile and said seriously:
"It's not because of me!"
"I?"
Feng Yibo was even more puzzled. He frowned and pondered for a long time, but still had no clue.
"What's wrong with me?"
When Baochai saw his appearance, he couldn't help but chuckled and said:
"Keke! It's not like I show mercy at all times."
Feng Yibo sat beside the kang and asked confusedly:
"Am I showing mercy? I haven't provoked her recently, either?"
Xiangling will be his person sooner or later, and Feng Yibo is not in a hurry.
Nothing more than the occasional teasing and teasing.
Seeing him thinking hard, Baochai couldn't help but smile.
"Giggle!"
When she smiled, Feng Yibo suddenly had some guesses.
He came closer and tentatively said:
"I know, it's you!"
As soon as he said this, Baochai couldn't hold back any longer.
"Kick-kick! Kick-kick!"
Seeing that she couldn't stop laughing, Feng Yibo knew that he had guessed correctly.
At that moment, he put Baochai into his arms and said:
"Okay! Since you provoked Xiang Ling, I will avenge her today and deal with you, a vicious old woman!"
He was speaking dishonestly, but his hands were also dishonest.
"Don't!"
Baochai was subdued by him three or two times and placed across his legs. He immediately begged for mercy:
"Master, please don't!"
"Snapped!"
The moon on the fifteenth day is round, like a plump jade plate.
A crisp sound in the night seemed to crush the moonlight.
I don't know how long it took, Baochai, who had been cleaned up, lazily huddled in Feng Yibo's arms.
"I originally wanted to support her so that she wouldn't be bullied."
Baochai turned over a little aggrievedly and said again:
"I didn't expect that she seemed to have misunderstood."
Feng Yibo stretched out the corner of the quilt to cover her shoulders exposed by her movements, but said:
"What's the misunderstanding? Aren't you planning on it?"
Baochai was a little angry when he heard this, and buried his head in the bed, saying:
"Hmph! Your sincerity will pay off!"
Feng Yibo also retracted in. Seeing Baochai's angry look, he said softly:
"Okay, okay, I made a mistake. I know you are virtuous and you are thinking about the Feng family and me."
After saying that, he kissed her forehead and said:
"In that case, let her serve you tea tomorrow."
Baochai became even more angry when he heard this, but hugged Feng Yibo and pouted:
"Good people let you do it!"
Feng Yibo said with a smile:
"So that's what you meant when you called me a good person."
He responded with a soft sigh.
"Pooh!"
In the afternoon of the next day, under Baochai's help.
Witnessed by all the concubines of the Feng family and the people in the inner house.
Xiangling was dressed in bright red and shyly held up her tea bowl.
She blushed with embarrassment and nervously came to Feng Yibo and his wife who were sitting in the main hall.
"Master, please have tea!"
Feng Yibo took the tea bowl, took a sip, and said with a smile:
"I originally wanted to help you find your parents before bringing this up."
Xiangling had known that he had been looking for her parents, but there was no news, but she still looked grateful after hearing this.
"However, you have been with me for so long, and I don't want to let you go."
Feng Yibo was also candid and expressed his thoughts directly.
Hearing him be so straightforward, all the wives and concubines snickered when they heard this.
Xiangling's face turned even redder from embarrassment.
"In addition, my wife also persuaded me, so I will accept you first, but don't worry, I will continue to look for your biological parents."
Xiangling quickly lowered her body, bowed and said:
"Thank you for your mercy, sir."
Feng Yibo thought for a while and added:
"From now on, I will use your original name, Zhen Yinglian."
"yes!"
Xiangling responded and came to Baochai again.
"Madam, you have tea!"
Baochai took it, took a sip, and said with a smile:
"It's only now that I realized that I had already given you a break."
She originally thought that Xiangling was bought by Feng Yibo and should be a slave.
Unexpectedly, Feng Yibo told her that he had been a good man for a long time.
It's just that I haven't reached the age yet and I haven't found my parents yet, so I keep putting it off.
Obviously, Feng Yibo had already made arrangements for Xiang Ling.
On the contrary, he was a villain in vain and was punished for nothing.
"Now that I have entered the Feng family, I have become a member of the Feng family."
Baochai first pointed out the identity of her concubine, and then said:
"I will serve you more carefully in the future, and I will also open up branches and leaves for the Feng family."
Xiangling blushed, lowered her head and replied:
"Yes! I obey my lady's orders!"
Then, she saluted the sisters Miaoyu and Youshi who were standing beside them with their hands lowered, and said:
"I've met three sisters."
The three of them all smiled and responded:
"Good sister."
Although there was one more turn, the three of them had no complaints.
Xiang Ling followed Feng Yibo earlier than them, but she was not old enough, so she was delayed until now.
Entering the door now is also expected.
After finishing here, the servants also came over to pay their respects.
"I've met Aunt Zhen!"
Xiangling responded one by one, and the ceremony was considered a success.
After that, Baochai asked him to serve wine again, not to mention the whole family celebrating.
A wing room in the west courtyard has been cleared out to make a new house for the two of them.
After the food and wine were finished, the two of them were sent in.
Set off by red candles, the fragrant water chestnut is shy.
She was already beautiful, and now she is even more beautiful.
Feng Yibo looked at it for a while, then smiled and asked to take off his coat.
Xiangling stepped forward out of habit and said:
"Master, I'm coming!"
Feng Yibo grabbed her hand and said with a smile:
"Don't move, I will serve you today."
After saying that, he threw away his coat and came to help Xiang Ling.
"ah?"
Xiang Ling exclaimed, and Feng Yibo threw her clothes aside.
Before he could thank Feng Yibo for his help, he was picked up.
"Well?!"
Seeing Xiang Ling being placed on the kang, her eyes widened in a daze.
Feng Yibo couldn't help but scratch her nose.
Only then did Xiang Ling react and quickly closed her eyes with a red face.
After that there was no sound.
For a moment, the only sound in the room was the crackling of candles.
It burned for half the night, and the candlestick was filled with tears.
