Xie Shu lowered his eyebrows, but Zhou Miaorong glanced at Xie Shu who was sitting below.
Today, Miss Xie is wearing a light green silk gown embroidered with hibiscus flowers, and a pink eight-panel Hunan skirt. She only has a swallow-tailed bun, and has a gold tassel hairpin inlaid with pink tourmaline butterflies and two pearl beads in her hair. Hua, if this kind of dress was placed in an ordinary place, it would be considered exquisite, but in this Duke Anguo's mansion, the silk and satin jewelry are a bit unsightly, but Xie Shusheng is very good, with fair and delicate skin, eyebrows like distant mountains, and Her eyes were like autumn water, but she was still beautiful without realizing it. There was an air of composure about her that shouldn't be present at her age, so she looked particularly eye-catching.
Zhou Miaorong prides himself on being of high-class appearance, but now looking at Xie Shu, he feels that his appearance is a bit unsatisfactory.
However, after all, Xie Shu was born in the Xie family, and her family background and talents were not as good as hers. She did not have to compare herself with a daughter of the Xie family or look down on herself.
Thinking like this, Zhou Miaorong looked away and turned to talk to his aunt Zhou.
Mrs. Zhou knew that Xie Shu had to go to visit the second wife, Mrs. Wei, so after saying a few words, she smiled and said to Xie Shu: "You can follow your cousin Ying to visit your second aunt. There is no need to waste time here. From now on, when you have free time, you can often come and sit here with me."
After hearing these words, Xie Miao stood up from her seat, said yes to Mrs. Zhou, and then blessed herself to Mrs. Shen, the eldest grandmother, and then followed Fu Ying to leave.
Coming out of Jing'an Courtyard, Fu Ying chuckled and said, "Sister Jiao must be surprised how come Auntie Rong is so close to Cousin Rong and how they get along like mother and daughter?"
Before Xie Shu could speak, Fu Ying explained: "I don't know, sister Xie, but cousin Rong actually grew up in Anguo Gong's Mansion since she was a child. Her biological mother passed away early, and she had a stepmother when she was five years old. She always had to suffer some grievances. The eldest aunt felt sorry for her niece, so she took her over. She stayed here for several years. Even the grandmother in the house sometimes joked that cousin Rong was not like a cousin, but like a cousin. Here’s the girl who is the eldest daughter’s direct descendant.”
"But this is not a joke. Cousin Rong has lived in Anguo Duke's Mansion since then, and her food and clothing expenses are the same as those of my eldest sister Fu Yi. In some places, she is better than me. This is also her blessing. She has an aunt like my eldest aunt who is willing to No one else can ask for her to love her so much."
After talking all the way, the two of them arrived at Yunshuiyuan where the second lady Wei lived.
When they entered, Mrs. Wei and the eldest girl Fu Yi were talking in the room. When she saw Fu Ying bringing Xie Shu over, Mrs. Wei put a smile on her face, pulled Xie Shu to sit down, and asked someone to serve them. Had tea and snacks.
Concubine Xie saluted Mrs. Wei and presented her with gifts. After talking for a while, she said goodbye and came out of Yunshuiyuan.
Fu Ying wanted to send her back, but Xie Shu refused, so she only took her maid Qingdai back to Bihengyuan where she lived.
...
Here, Zhou Miaorong returned to his Zhichun Courtyard with his maid Yixiang.
The maid Yixiang thought that her girl's eyes had been on her cousin Xie Shu, so she couldn't help but ask: "Why is the girl looking at Xie Shu like that?"
Zhou Miaorong smiled softly: "Don't you think this new cousin girl has an outstanding beauty and beauty?"
Yixiang thought for a while and said: "This girl is born better-looking, but although a woman's appearance is important, the most important thing is her family status. Although the girl has a maternal family name, Anguo Gongfu, her surname is Xie, and her father is If you work as an official outside, your official rank is not high. Even if you are good-looking, what does it matter? You can't marry into a high-ranking family in the capital just based on your appearance."
"Besides, as the saying goes, marrying a good wife and taking concubines is not good for a girl who is too beautiful. But a girl like this is just right. Her appearance and status are not bad, and your aunt loves you so much. She is no better than a little girl. Want to be lucky?"
Yixiang thought for a while and then said: "My aunt loves you so much, and you and the second young master grew up together. They are childhood sweethearts. If my aunt cares for you more, maybe you can stay here for a long time." It’s here at Anguo Duke’s Mansion.”
After hearing her words, Zhou Miaorong's expression changed and she reprimanded: "Don't talk nonsense. With my second cousin's status and status, he has been the prince's companion since he was a child, and often goes to the palace. How can I be worthy of him?"
Saying this, Zhou Miaorong couldn't help but show a bit of shame in his eyes.
But Yixiang said: "Girl, please don't belittle yourself. The second young master has a high status, but isn't the girl also the legitimate daughter of the Pingyuan Marquis Mansion? With her background, talent and appearance, how can she not be worthy of the second young master? Yi Nu looks at it, the girl and The second young master is the most suitable one. Not to mention, the second young master has treated you very well during the years you have lived in the mansion. He has not failed to give you birthday gifts every year. Qing Mo brought the gift to the girl, which shows that in the eyes of the second young master, the girl is excellent."
"It's time for the girl to discuss marriage now, but she should plan it earlier, lest the man in the Marquis's house is worried about how he will handle the girl's marriage when the time comes. How should the girl handle herself?"
Zhou Miaorong's eyebrows turned cold as she listened to her words. She knew that what Yi Xiang was referring to was her stepmother Bian.
Bian has a sweet face and a bitter heart. When she was five years old, she dared to ask her subordinates to molest her. That time she was ill, but the doctor diagnosed and treated her and said that she would only recover if she was hungry. Therefore, she was very hungry in those days. Lulu, I almost lost my life. If her aunt hadn't happened to come over to see her and see her like this, she had a fit and took her back to Duke Anguo's mansion. She wouldn't have known how Bian would mess with her.
In the past few years, she has returned to Pingyuan Hou Mansion several times every year. Every time she went back, Mrs. Bian's face was full of smiles, but she said that she was unfilial. She had a family but lived in An Guo Gong Mansion. The family status of Pingyuan Houfu is not high enough.
She never hesitates to speculate the most vicious thoughts on people like Bian.
Seeing his girl's cold face, Yi Xiang continued: "Girl, please don't think that this slave is too talkative. This time my aunt came to Beijing with two cousins. This naughty girl will not say anything. She has a casual temperament. My aunt, her appearance is not very outstanding, but this girl, her appearance is first-class, my aunt may have something in mind. After all, if it were someone else, the old lady would not be able to pass that test, but my aunt is The old lady cherishes her dearest daughter, and if she wants to ask the little girl to marry the second young master, she may not be able to get her wish."
"Girl, think carefully. Instead of marrying to another family, it is better to stay in Anguo Palace for a long time. In this way, the eldest lady will be both the girl's aunt and the girl's mother-in-law. How can the girl suffer any injustice?"
After hearing these words, Zhou Miaorong's face changed again and again, and a burst of anticipation surged in her heart.
It would be great if she could really marry Cousin Xu and stay in Anguo Palace for a long time.
She glanced at Yi Xiang and ordered: "Just say this to me in front of you. Don't say it outside."
Yixiang knew that his girl had listened, and he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and said quickly: "Don't worry, girl, I know the importance of this."
...
After returning to Bihengyuan, Qingdai breathed a sigh of relief and said to Mr. Xie: "We have met. Fortunately, the first lady and the second lady are not the ones who are difficult to get along with."
"Grandma seems to have a good temper, but there is a hint of sadness in her eyebrows. She is also a little thinner, and she seems to be in poor health."
Xie Shu sighed softly in her heart when she thought of seeing Mrs. Shen in the room just now.
Although Shen was married to Fu Hezhi, her situation was somewhat difficult. First, Fu Hezhi was in poor health, which was a disease his mother had contracted in her womb. As a wife, Shen had to take care of her husband who was often sick. Needless to say, it was hard work. But compared to this, Mrs. Shen's biggest concern is that she has never been pregnant and cannot give birth to an heir.
Today she smelled a strong smell of medicine on Shen's body. It didn't look like it was stained with it, but rather like she had taken it herself. It is conceivable that Mr. Shen must have taken a lot of medicine in order to become pregnant.
In fact, she could understand Mr. Shen, and she was not even surprised that in her previous life, Mr. Shen had exchanged the medicine given by the traveling doctor for the imperial doctor's prescription. After all, there are two young masters in the eldest house. The eldest young master Fu Hezhi is different. The second young master Fu Xuzhi is not only in good health, but also the prince's companion when he urinates. He is much more famous in the capital than Fu Hezhi.
It's okay that Fu Xuzhi is not married now. Once he is married and has a son, the position of the heir apparent will definitely fall to Fu Xuzhi.
Shen couldn't help but think about these things, so Shen was so thin, not all because she was tired from taking care of Fu Hezhi. More often than not, it was caused by her thinking too much and being under too much pressure.
Qingdai mentioned Zhou Miaorong again: "This cousin is really loved by the eldest lady. No wonder the second girl said that she can't compare with this cousin in terms of food and clothing. When the second girl said this, she must have some concerns in her heart. .”
"However, everyone has their own blessings. Who told Miss Rong to have an aunt like the eldest lady who is willing to love her?"
As Qingdai was talking, there was a sound of footsteps outside. Immediately afterwards, a maid opened the curtain and came in to report: "Miss, Miss Chaoyun from the old lady's side is here."
When Xie Shu heard this, he quickly asked someone to invite Chao Yun in.
As soon as Chao Yun came in, he saluted Mr. Xie and expressed his purpose of coming: "The old lady saw that you and Miss Yan only had one maid waiting close by, so she pointed out a maid each to come and serve, so that the girl would not have to give orders. You can’t call anyone.”
Xie Shu was slightly startled. This was not the case in her previous life.
She raised her eyes and looked at a maid who was following Chao Yun. She was stunned at the sight. She squeezed the handkerchief tightly to suppress her surprise and not show it.
In her previous life, her soul resided on the Buddhist beads on the wrist of the new emperor Xiao Yan. She had seen this maid beside the new emperor! But at that time, she was Ruyi, the maid serving tea beside the new emperor.
But now, she appeared in front of him. It was conceivable that she was someone Xiao Yan had placed in Duke Anguo's mansion.
Everyone knows that Fu Xuzhi is Xiao Yan's companion, and Anguo Duke's mansion has been regarded as the prince's party. But even so, Xiao Yan also placed an informant in Duke Anguo's mansion.
Thinking of this, Xie Shu felt a chill rising up her back. Although Xiao Yan was a half-king, the depth of his thoughts was probably difficult to fathom.
Xie Shu's heart became even more tense when she thought about how he arranged for this maid to come to her.
