Chapter 26 Speech Karma
After returning to Weiyang Palace, Emperor Shen Yuan took out the two pieces of paper in his arms and spread them out on the table. Because the folding time was too long, the imprint was difficult to remove, which made the Rakshasa evil spirit and the smiling Bodhisattva on it a little distorted. He pressed and stroked with his palm, but he couldn't return it to its original state, and he couldn't help but look gloomy.
Baifu walked over with a tray and placed the teacups, teapots and other items within His Majesty's reach as usual, but heard him said in a solemn voice, "Place it further, in case the tea overflow the edge of the cup and wet the paper."
Baifu moved the tray away while apologizing, found four paperweights to flatten the two paintings. He had the intention to praise a few words, but was afraid of flattering on the horse's leg, so he had to resentfully retreat to the side. After pressing for a while, the imprints were still there after the paperweight was removed, and the rice paper that Wencui Building prepared for the guests was thin and yellow, so it wouldn't last long. Emperor Shen Yuan looked at it, and finally picked up the paper and walked towards Ganquan Palace
In Ganquan Palace, Ye Zhen sent away the attendants and was talking with her mother Liu Shi. When talking about how Zhao Luli whipped Zhao Wangshu, Liu shi was so angry and scolded him endlessly, saying that the other person had a bad heart, the tiger who poisoned its child, and so on.
Ye Zhen didn't respond, she just frowned and listened. At that time, she was willing to throw away a pair of children and an extremely infatuated husband to pursue monstrous wealth. It was obvious that she was ruthless and heartless, and naturally would no longer have any nostalgia for the people in the Marquis Mansion. If it wasn't for Zhao Luli still having some use, she would have broken all ties with the other person long ago, and where would she still string him along. Hearing that Zhao Luli punished the pair of children under Guan Suyi's push and handed over all the power of the family to her, she was glad that she was one step ahead. Even the stubborn Zhao Luli could be quickly manipulated by her, if she was allowed to enter the palace, wouldn't it become a serious problem for her confidant?
She didn't know why, even though she had never met her, she had a great hatred and jealousy towards Guan Suyi, hating that she could not be knocked out of the dust, couldn't watch her battered and exhausted, felt death would be better than life.
Ye Zhen hated Zhao Luli for being soft-hearted, cowardly and useless, but she would not let him become someone else's arm. After thinking about it, she was about to instruct her mother to bring Ye Fan into the Marquis Mansion, when she heard a low voice from behind the screen, "What are you talking about?"
The mother-daughter duo were instantly panic, and while they ran out to welcoming the person, they repeatedly recalled what they had just said, whether or not they committed a taboo. The palace servants outside the hall were all crawling on the ground, shivering. Seeing that His Majesty was making an unannounced visit, no one dared to warn them.
Fortunately, Ye Zhen resented Liu shi's vulgar speech, and when she complained, she usually listened in silent, did not like to agreeing, and did not say anything that was not her usual style. And Liu shi hated Guan Suyi very much, and for half an hour, she just gushed about her various evil deeds, and did not expose the secrets of her daughter and the Ye family.
It was not a big deal letting His Majesty listened to her scolding Guan Suyi, on the contrary it could help seamlessly plant the seed. Possibly in the future, in His Majesty's mind, Marquis Zhenbei madam would be a selfish and vicious figure who abuses her stepson and stepdaughter. And His Majesty was an extremely stubborn man, if he hated a person since the first impression, nothing would change his opinion, and vice versa.
Love is added to the knee and hate is thrown into the abyss. This temperament was very easy to please, but it was also very easy to lose control. When he dotes on you, he will be obedient and grant whatever you asked for. If he hates you, you can only pray for more blessings.
Ye Zhen repeatedly recalled the conversation with her mother, determined that there was nothing out of bound, moreover it could said to be a lucky stroke, so she felt relieved. Liu shi was able to teach her daughter to become a Jieyu, her mind naturally could turn very fast. When she knelt down to salute, her pale face returned to normal.
Previously Ye Zhen told Liu shi that even if she left the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, she couldn't turn her face and didn't recognize anyone. On the contrary, it was even more necessary to inadvertently reveal her inner pain and reluctance to win His Majesty's pity; in order to make him understand that she was a weak woman who values love and righteousness, and was forced by life, and needed a strong and powerful shelter.
Because of this, even if Ye Zhen didn't have much affection for the pair of children and her ex-husband, she always showed the appearance of "never forget". But there must to be a perfect balance between "never forget" and "have to forget", otherwise, over time, it would inevitably frustrate His Majesty, and in the end it would be self-defeating.
Therefore, Liu shi did not shy away from mentioning her grandson and granddaughter in front of Emperor Shen Yuan. After saluting, she wiped away her tears and said, "Your Majesty doesn't know, that Guan shi is not at all like the people say, as soon as she passed the door, she urge lord marquis to beat Wangshu, and now he is locked in the house, not even letting him out of the door. And my poor granddaughter should be socializing and entertaining everywhere, so she can take a look at other families, lest the marriage will be difficult in the future. As the Marquis Mansion's mistress she should take the initiative to hold tea parties and flower meeting for her, and develop contacts. Unexpectedly, Guan Shi did the opposite, and repeatedly rejected many posts for Xi'er, and strictly prohibited her from interacting with the daughters of other noble family, and only allowed her to follow and serve her. Your Majesty, you said, how can there be such a mother in the world? She wants to raise Wangshu as a waste, and delay Xi'er lifelong event!"
Speaking until here, Liu shi was already choked up.
Ye Zhen "didn't dare" to cry in front of His Majesty, but her eyes were filled with tears that could not fall, which was more pitiful than crying.
Emperor Shen Yuan laid the two drawings on the table, and slowly flattening them with his palms, his resolute and handsome face did not reveal any anger. After Liu shi finished speaking, he said lightly, "Someone came to report a few days ago, saying that Prince Cheng's Shizi was almost killed by someone breaking his head. Zhen was busy with government affairs at that time and did not conduct a detailed investigation, only ordered imperial physician to go and treat him.
Liu shi gradually stopped crying and looked at her daughter nervously. Ye Zhen thought something was wrong, but she didn't dare to answer, only reluctantly pulled the corner of her mouth.
Emperor Sheng Yuan didn't even lift his eyelid, still staring at the drawings on the table, and continued, "Guess who the perpetrator is?"
Liu shi wiped her tears with her trembling hand, didn't say anything while pretending to choke with emotion and even held her breath. Ye Zhen didn't dare to not answer, and said in a trembling voice, "Could it be Wangshu?"
Emperor Shen Yuan responded lukewarmly, "It's him. Even if Prince Cheng and Prince Jin were imprisoned for treason, their titles are still there, their identities are still there, their bloodline are still there, they are Zhen's brothers, and the members of imperial family. Those who murder the imperial family should be executed, and it can even implicate the nine generations. This is the law formulated by you Han people since ancient times."
"Wangshu, he actually made such a big mistake!" Ye Zhen dropped her body down, put her forehead against the back of her hand and pleaded, "Beg the emperor to forgive his sins, and beg the emperor to be kind. If the emperor wants to punish, then punish this concubine, it is this concubine who owes him. If he had his mother by his side since he was a child to teach him…"
When Emperor Sheng Yuan heard her mention the past, he couldn't help feeling guilty, and waved his hand to interrupt, "Get up, Marquis Zhenbei has beat him up, so this matter is written off. Zhen heard that Zhao Wangshu's temperament is very naughty, if he doesn't properly restrained at home to be grind and taught, it's inevitable that there will be disasters in the future. Zhen can tolerate him once, but not the second time. As for the Guan shi strictly prohibited Zhao Chunxi to interact with daughters from noble families…" He pondered for a moment, and suddenly smiled, "Does she have a copy of "Records of Noble Family" in her hand?"
Before the four kingdoms were destroyed and the Central Plains were unified, this place was once ruled by noble families, and even the imperial family members were not as honorable as the children of the noble family. And Emperor Shen Yuan was used to revere as sole orthodoxy, and didn't like being overwhelmed by others. As the saying goes, "know yourself and know your enemies, and you will never be defeated."
Those scholarly noble families that were far from imperial power, he intended to win over and use them, but the complicated and very tricky powerful official noble families, sooner or later, would become his stepping stone, a ghost under the knife. On the other hand, Zhao Luli couldn't see through his mind. He was always proud of his blood of the Zhao family in Tianshui, and had said it many times, so Emperor Shen Yuan wrote it down. After ascending the throne, someone presented a copy of 'Records of Noble Family', he turned the page of the Zhuo family, he couldn't help but smile, but because of the relationship were estranged, it had not been revealed.
Ye Zhen saw that His Majesty was smiling strangely and wanted to ask the reason, but did not dare to speak. While hesitating, she heard him ordered, "Bring the 'Records of Noble Family'."
This was obviously said to Baifu, after the person took the order, he quickly assigned a quick-footed little eunuch to go th the Weiyang Palace to pick up the book, and in a short moment, the 'Records of Noble Family' had been opened on the table, Zhao shi escaped slavery, written in black and white, clear as bell. Ye Zhen flushed with embarrassment and was speechless for a while, but Liu shi screamed, "The Zhao family cheated the marriage! If he hadn't said that he was the direct descendant of the Tianshui Zhao family…" Realizing that the following words were inappropriate, she immediately closed her mouth tightly.
How could Emperor Shen Yuan not know what virtue the Ye family was. Merchant seek profit. If Zhao Luli had no outstanding point, the Ye family would never marry their exquisite daughter to a young sergeant who was still working hard in the army at that time. However, these past events have nothing to do with him, so he wouldn't bother, just clarify the misunderstanding for Guan Suyi.
He didn't like Liu's mocking remarks towards her. When the noble ones were defiled by the mean ones, the situation were always made people angry.
The mother and daughter of the Ye family were too embarrassed to speak, but he didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, so he slowly flipped through the 'Records of Noble Family' and sighed, "It turns out that the author of this book is also her great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, no wonder…" As if thinking of something, he smiled softly, and his mood instantly brightened.
"Your Majesty, the minister's wife has made a mistake…" Liu shi's scalp was numb by the moody Emperor Sheng Yuan, knelt down and was about to asked for forgiveness, but was interrupted by him, "You have shallow knowledge, you must be careful in your words and actions in the future. Guan shi is dignified and gentle, respectful and cautious, and never climbed over the etiquette, which is inherited from the Emperor Teacher. She is also a model of clan woman, even more, Zhen personally confer her as first-grade title woman. You slander her, you slander the Emperor Teacher and slander Zhen."
The charges were counted one by one, and Liu shi couldn't bear it anymore. She withered to the ground, begging and begging for mercy before being dismissed by His Majesty. When she left, it's as if granted an amnesty.
Ye Zhen also beg for forgiveness, but she felt extremely uneasy. The emperor defended Guan shi like this, wasn't it for the sake of the Guan family's father and son? If Guan family did not fall, it would be difficult to step Guan Suyi into the mud. She thought about it, and finally pressed the deeper and deeper fear.
Emperor Sheng Yuan cleared out that 'love to lecture' woman's name. After letting out his anger, his mood was refresh again, and then pointed to the two drawings that he had already flattened, and asked, "You're good at embroidery, can you embroidered them into a table screen?"
Ye Zhen hurriedly agreed, "Naturally. Where did Your Majesty get these two paintings? The few strokes are extremely expressive, which shows the profound skill of the painter."
Emperor Sheng Yuan laughed but did not answer, handed the drawings to Ye Zhen, ordered her not to wrinkle or break it, after eight days, he would fetch it, then he left. When he walked to the door of the palace, as if remember something, once again said, "After all, Liu shi is from a merchant family, and her words and deeds are vulgar, if you have nothing to do, you can read more. Don't call her into the palace to gossip too often, so as not to disturb the atmosphere."
Who was the person who asked me to call my mother into the palace the other day? Your Majesty, what about your words? But Ye Zhen didn't dare to say these questions, had no other choice but to pull the corners of her mouth in answer.
flattering on the horse's leg: do not flatter in the right place.
Love is added to the knee and hate is thrown into the abyss: it means that love and hate towards other is all determined by ones own likes and dislikes.
Chapter 27 Take Concubine
Ye's family was narrow-minded, liked to seek revenge over a dirty look. Even if Guan Suyi didn't hinder them, as long as she existed for a day, it would be a thorn in Ye Zhen's heart, not happy if it was not removed. Let alone there were two children living under her hands, made it more difficult to relax their vigilance. Due to the presence of the old madam, Liu shi could not reach her hand into the Marquis Zhenbei mansion, so after thinking about it, she had to stuff Ye Fan inside.
Ye Fan was the only di daughter of the second branch of the Ye family. The second branch was born from a concubine. In the early years, the family had already lived separately, and also had no business acumen. The small property he got was quickly exhausted, and his life was very difficult. When she was ten, Ye Fan's father was killed by bandits on the way to do business, and her mother could not survive alone, so she had to send her back to the relative family and remarried herself.
Because of her beautiful appearance, Ye Fan quickly won the favor of the Ye family's head, and she was brought into the main branch and raised carefully, in order to find a wealthy family to marry in the future. Becoming the first wife naturally impossible, becoming a spoiled concubine was more than enough. Ye Fan had had enough of the hard life, and she also already set her mind to drill into the deep house of the rich and powerful, and was not afraid of those shady methods.
She was only six years younger than Ye Zhen, but she separated from her parents when she was young, as they went around to do business. She didn't remember that her relative family had only one di daughter, not a pair of twins. After being adopted by her relative family, she was provided with brocade garment and jade meals, slowly grew from a yellow-skinned little girl to a young girl with beautiful face. When she was fourteen or fifteen years old, her appearance was seven or eight points similar to Ye Zhen. It could be said the her captivating beauty made the fish sink and goose alights, hiding the moon and shaming the flowers, so her heart grew bigger, and she was extremely dissatisfied with several marriages that Liu shi picked, secretly fool around with a son of an aristocratic family.
When the two fell in love with each other, they made a pledge to get married. In order to be together in an open and honest way, they made a ruckus in front of Liu shi. Seeing that Ye Fan was so prosperous, to actually hook up with an aristocratic son, she had no alternative but to hold her nose and agreed. Unexpectedly, just after the marriage was decided, the Jiuli tribe entered the Central Plains. As a result, the fire of war continued for years, bones of the dead were exposed, many vassal states were destroyed, and the noble family giants that had stood for a thousand years without falling were also severely damaged.
When the Wei was established, Ye Fan's fiancé was lucky enough to survive, but the family had long since fallen into disrepair. They couldn't even afford a full meal, and could only count the glory of the past with the tablets of their ancestors. How could Ye Fan willing to endure the hardship? Looking in the mirror, she felt that she could find a better one, so she asked Liu shi to call off the wedding.
The family originally looked down on Ye Fan, who came from merchant family, but fortunately, he was only a shu son born from a singer, so it didn't really matter. But now was different from the past. They were all counting on Ye Fan's large dowry to live. Naturally, they opposed it fiercely, and the two families started to fight.
Ye Fan was delayed by the war, and also entangled by her fiancé's family. If Ye Zhen hadn't been awarded the title Jieyu, and the saint intended to support the Ye family, she would probably have to be buried in the pit she dug herself for the rest of her life. When she finally got rid the bad marriage, she was already twenty-four years old, and soon there was no way out, how could she not be in a hurry? Zhao Luli was young, handsome, and held a high position. He was the dream husband of many Wei's noble daughters. Hearing that Liu shi was going to send her to Marquis Zhenbei mansion to be a concubine, she agreed without thinking.
Ye Fan used to conduct herself well. In order to please Liu shi, she was very fond of the two children left by her cousin, and it was not an exaggeration to say that she watched them grew up. Therefore, the two children were very close to her, and after marrying in, at least the little brats were on her side, which means that lord marquis was on her side, and life would definitely be better. As for the legendary Guan's daughter, who was said to be highly talented, well-educated, knowledgeable, and highly appreciated by His Majesty, she didn't pay any attention to her.
She knew that her biggest weapon was this face that resembled her cousin. Maybe she could only be a stand-in at first, but who could say exactly as time goes by?
Liu shi and Ye Fan hit it off, and the next day they hurriedly knocked on the door of Marquis Zhenbei Mansion. Zhao Luli saw that his mother-in-law had something private to say, so he asked Ye Fan to see the two children. As soon as the two entered the study, Liu shi opened her mouth to ask her son-in-law to take a concubine, and Zhao Luli was so shocked that he couldn't recover for a long time.
"I just got married, I'm afraid it's not appropriate."
"What's wrong? Are you afraid that the Guan family will trouble you? Well, you ungrateful bastard, where did you put my Ye family? If it wasn't for you, how could Zhen'er bear to leave her children to go to that shameful place? How did you get your title, as well as your wealth and life, and how the Zhao family become rich and noble, have you forgotten? Zhen'er gave everything to you, but you turned around and helped the newcomer abuse her son and daughter, if I don't send Ye Fan in, and let her take care the two children so they can grow up safely, I won't be able close my eyes even after dying, and Zhen'er also won't be able to close her eyes after dying! It's my fault that I had no eyes and could not see people clearly, and I thought that Guan shi was a good one, but I didn't expect after entering the door she reveal her original form, kneading Xi'er and Wangshu like clay figurines. My poor Zhen'er, her life is really worthless!" Liu shi sat down on the ground, pointing to the sky and scolding the earth, cried and cried, just like a rural village woman.
When she mentioned his "deceased wife", Zhao Luli suddenly felt heartbroken, he stroked his chest while his eyes became red, and he couldn't say a word to refute. After poking his sore spot Liu shi lobbied again, and finally got a satisfactory answer.
At the same time, Ye Fan was greeting the old madam, and she was shocked when she saw the woman sitting to her right. They all said that rumors were not entirely credible, but the rumors about Guan shi were actually far from being able to reach the person herself. At this moment, she was slowly playing with a bunch of daffodils, with a slight smile at the corner of her lips and soft color in her eyes. Without the embellishment of brocade clothes and jewelry, her gorgeous face, and her graceful elegant were the best decoration and also the most dazzling halo.
Ye Fan, who was instantly reduced to a foil, smiled very reluctantly, and it was not until Zhao Chunxi and Zhao Wangshu ran to see her happily after hearing the news that she finally regained some confidence. The three of them had a good time reminiscing about the old days, and they put the old madam and Guan Suyi aside and ignored them.
In a quarter of an hour Guan Suyi completed a pot of flower ball, and let the maid put it on the low table by the window, cleaned her hands, and wiped off the water while slowly saying, "Xi'er, you came to the main courtyard a quarter an hour late to pay respect today, I have already remind your four maidservants and asked them to hasten constantly, but if they fail to serve their master, they all will be deducted this month's monthly silver. If they commit the crime again, they will be deducted from the next month, and if there is a third time, they all will be sold."
This sentence broke the bubble of happiness in the room. The three people's voices stopped abruptly, except for the four senior maids who knelt down in unison, followed by a series of pleading guilty and ask for forgiveness. In today's Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, no one dared to challenge the authority of the mistress, even the old madam kept her mouth shut and stood on the sidelines.
"At present, although spring is approaching, the weather is still very cold. It doesn't matter if it's late a moment or two in the morning. Madam punishes Xi'er like this, afraid it's too severe, right? I was fostered by my aunt since I was a child, and she always sympathize with me, and in the middle of the winter of the twelfth month, I am excused from paying respect…"
Ye Fan was interrupted by Guan Suyi before she finished speaking, "That's why you can't get married when you already twenty-four. When others look for a daughter-in-law, the most important thing is not her appearance, but her virtue. If a person is not filial to the elders of her own family, how can they expect her to be filial to the elders of other family? Serving the parents-in-law, assist the husband and educate the children are the duties that a mistress should fulfill, and it doesn't matter if the other point is not good. Seeing Xi'er is about to discuss marriage, even if she is unwilling in her heart, she has to put on a filial piety appearance, otherwise when someone from another family come to inquire and learn that she is not even close to her own grandmother, let alone pay respect and accompany her, how can they expect her to be filial to their elders and obedient to her husband after getting married? Is this marrying a daughter-in-law or an ancestor?"
Seeing Ye Fan biting her lip and holding back her anger, Guan Suyi chuckled and stabbed deeper, "For women, especially unmarried women, reputation is very important. Sister Ye must have a deep understanding of this point."
The old madam softened her face and made another stab, "Suyi is willing to discipline her children, that is their blessing, and it's not an outsider's turn to intervene. Zhao Chunxi, If you don't like to see me, don't come, you don't need to force it."
Seeing that her grandmother had clearly expressed her dissatisfaction with herself, if she said a few words outside, who would dare to come to ask for marriage? Zhao Chunxi once again realized that Guan Suyi's words were correct, and immediately knelt down and pleaded guilty, saying that she would never dare again next time. It was at this moment that Zhao Luli and Liu shi walked in. One was ashamed because of his daughter's ignorance, while the other held a grudge because of Guan Suyi's suppression.
Little bitch, wait until Ye Fan enters the door and see how you fall! Thinking like this, Liu shi chatted a few words with the old madam, then said goodbye, but before leaving, she cast a contemptuous and pitying look at Guan Suyi. Zhao Chunxi knew that her mom and grandmother had done what she asked for, and she couldn't help feeling very happy.
Zhao Luli felt very guilty towards his new wife, but he couldn't stand Liu shi's soft and hard pressure. He had no alternative but to invite the old madam to the inner hall to speak, and tried to send others away. Guan Suyi pretended to not understand, and stayed outside to drink tea as usual. Zhao Chunxi also stayed while waiting to see her jokes, but Zhao Wangshu was ignorant and went to play on his own.
"There seems to be a commotion inside, mother, why don't you go in and take a look?" Zhao Chunxi pretended to be worried.
"It's nothing, how can there be an overnight feud between mother and son." Guan Suyi smiled lightly.
After half an hour, Zhao Luli came out first, saw his new wife was still there, his cheeks flushed red, then paled, and then gave her a deep bow. The old madam followed closely, scolding with her crutch, "Unfilial son, get out of here!"
"I'm sorry." It was unknown who this sentence was addressed to, but the when words fell, the person had already gone far, the back looked quite embarrassed.
The old madam collapsed on the soft chair, and she said with tears, "Suyi, you are a good daughter-in-law, our Zhao family have let you down! I am old, and these children have hard wings, I really can't control it. If I'm not here, please take care of marquis mansion, don't let it fall apart, collapse, defeated…"
"Old madam, you are too worried." Guan Suyi patted the back of her hand and said calmly, "Does lord marquis want to take Ye Fan as a concubine?"
"You know?" The old madam raised her head suddenly, as if thinking of something, and sighed, "You are so smart, how can you not see through the Ye family's little tricks. That's right, they want to send Ye Fan in, I couldn't stop it." When the words fell she glared at Zhao Chunxi.
As soon as Zhao Chunxi's eyes showed a hint of happiness, she heard Guan Suyi disapprovingly said, "Then let him accept her. On the day when Ye Fan enter the door, I will send my maid Mingfang too, and make it a double happiness. Old madam, what do you think? Mingfang has served me since she was a child, and she has an extraordinary relationship with me, so I will remove her slave status and give her a few acres of land and a small courtyard. This way, she can be regarded as a good family woman with a serious dowry and she can be a noble concubine like Ye Fan."
These words shocked the old madam and Zhao Chunxi, and after a while, one turned anger into joy, and the other almost choked to death.
After the Ye family shoved their daughter in, Guan Suyi immediately promoted her maid too. The two were both noble concubines. Wasn't this equivalent to slapping the Ye family in the face? The face were all gone! This move was damaging, very damaging indeed, and it's unknown what Ye Fan's expression would look like when that day comes.
The old madam swept away the previous depression, and said, "Yes, both of them are acceptable, so they can spread branches and scatter leaves for my marquis mansion. Your maid is really good, I will give her some more dowry."
Guan Suyi pursed her lips and smiled, letting Mingfang, who was already out of her soul, quickly kowtow to the old madam. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law completely forgot to ask Zhao Luli's opinion. Of course, even if he didn't want to, Guan Suyi had a thousand ways to make him nod.
won't be able close my eyes even after dying: it means that when a person dies, there are still thing in their hearts that they cannot let go, often used to describe extremely unhappiness.
Chapter 28 Wash One's Hand
Guan Suyi came out of the main courtyard, followed by the ecstatic Mingfang and the unwilling stepdaughter. Because the sun was full and the temperature rose up, many bright yellow spring flowers bloomed in the yard one after another. The group was admiring them while walking back to the main house.
Spreading the account book, Guan Suyi pointed to the incoming and outgoing items, and asked Zhao Chunxi to help settle the accounts, while she picked up a book and flipped through it at will. Thinking that it was because she was uncomfortable but didn't dare to show it on her face, Zhao Chunxi plucked the abacus beads and made a chaotic sound, which sounded very annoying.
Minglan pouted in disgust, secretly slandering this duplicitous eldest miss in her heart.
After enduring and enduring, Zhao Chunxi finally couldn't hold back, with great difficulty asked in a calm voice, "Mother, you want to take a concubine for my daddy, why didn't you ask his opinion?"
"Then your grandmother stuffed Ye Fan in, did she asked my opinion? Your daddy went directly to the old madam, did he ask my opinion?" Guan Suyi didn't even bother to lift her eyelids, asked in an elongated voice.
Zhao Chunxi had nothing to say, feeling suffocated for a while before saying, "Even if you want to take a concubine for him, can't you wait a while? Do you have to pick it on the day my aunt passes the door? How uncomfortable my aunt would be?"
"Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire. Your Ye family wants to put Ye Fan in, but you don't choose anytime else, you have to pick it up soon after my wedding with lord marquis? Have you ever thought how uncomfortable I would be?" Guan Suyi closed the book, her voice slowly became cold, "I am now the mistress of the marquis Mansion, and Liu shi forced lord marquis to take a concubine, which means to slap my face in public. The sage said: repaying resentment with virtue, why repay virtue? It is right to repay grievance with grievance and repay virtue with virtue. If others are sincere to me, I will naturally reply them with sincerity. If others want to plot against me, I am sorry, I will let them knock out their teeth and swallow their blood."
When the last sentence was said, Zhao Chunxi always felt that her stepmother was looking at her with sharp eyes, as if she had already understand her careful thoughts, and even her mom's plan was clear. But how could it possible? Despite this thought, she couldn't stop panicking in her heart, just because she really knocked down her teeth and swallowed her blood, just as the other person said.
Guan Suyi curled her knuckles and knocked it on the table, said toward Mingfang, "You go to the government office with housekeeper Zhao now, he will help you eliminate your slave status and become a good citizen. What is the reason for me to lift you up to this point, presumably you are very clear in your heart. In the future you will serve Lord marquis well, and don't let me down. If I can support you, I will naturally be able to hold you down too."
"Madam's great kindness and great virtue, this servants will never forget. As long as you send a message in the future, this servant will definitely jump into scalding water and plunge into raging fire for you." Mingfang knew that miss lift her up to suppress Ye Fan, so she quickly knelt down and expressed her loyalty.
Seeing this person's gesture of pointing to the sky and draws the earth, Guan Suyi laughed inwardly. In the previous life, she also saw through Mingfang's thoughts, but she was afraid that the master-servant friendship would be damaged, so Ye Fan used the condition of lifting her as a concubine to draw the people over. Therefore, Guan Suyi suffered losses in the open and in the dark, and finally almost drowned in the pond. Now, she simply took the initiative to lift up Mingfang. Both were noble concubines, and they went through the door on the same day. In order to compete for Zhao Luli's favor, afraid those two would try to kill each other.
A dog bites a man is a tragedy, a man bites a dog is a farce, and a dog bites a dog is a good show. Guan Suyi would just sat in the main hall, waiting to see this good show. Sending away the grateful mingfang, she caught a glimpse of Zhao Chunxi's extremely ugly face, she said slowly, "There are thousand of ways for the mistress to suppress the concubine, and the worst one is to do it yourself. Ye Fan is your aunt now, and it doesn't matter how close are you to her, but after entering the marquis mansion she will become your father's concubine, so it's better for you to move around less with her, so as not to end up with the reputation of being 'brought up by little woman'."
The little woman was a lowly concubine, and being raised by a lowly concubine was a very humiliating and extremely shameful thing at the time. Guan Suyi's last sentence was vicious and made Zhao Chunxi almost faint. At this moment, Zhao Luli walked in and said furiously, "When I was away, that's how you humiliated Xi'er? What my mother-in-law said was right, no matter how good you look on the surface, you will never really consider Xi'er. I am too gullible! Guan Suyi, you just be prepare, after a month I will let Ye Fan pass the door, and you have to agree even if you disagree. Without her to look after in the backyard, I'm really afraid that Xi'er and Wangshu will be hurt by you." If he hadn't heard and seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have known how his daughter would cry when she returned.
He was originally locked in the study and sulked, but after half an hour he realized that he still had to give an explanation to his new wife, so he walked back to the main house and planned to discuss and persuade in a good voice, but he didn't expect to hear those words, and his anger immediately ignited.
Zhao Chunxi was overjoyed, many tears fell from her eyes, and she threw herself into his father's arms and sobbed. Although she didn't say anything, the appearance of silently enduring everything was heartbreaking enough.
Seeing that Zhao Luli was furious and was about to go wild, Guan Suyi said calmly, "I have a straight temper, if have something to say then I will say it. I have told you this long ago. If you think I am wrong, fine, wait until Ye Fan pass the door, and Xier and Wangshu will all move over to be raised by her, I'll wash my hands and don't care about everything. Are you satisfied?"
Zhao Luli was dumb, Zhao Chunxi was dumb, the father and daughter looked at each other in dismay, it's difficult to get off while riding a tiger. No matter how close Ye Fan was by blood and relationship, she would still be a concubine when she pass the door. Where could there be a di son and daughter who were not raised under the mistress's knees, but sent to the concubine's room instead? If the news spreads, let alone let Zhao Chunxi marry a good family in the future, let Zhao Wangshu enter the imperial examination, even if the two step out of the door, they would feel embarrassed.
The consequence of being too close to Ye Fan was just as Guan Suyi said – brought up by little woman. She did speak straightforwardly, making it uncomfortable to listen to, but she never missed half a point.
Zhao Luli's anger completely extinguished in an instant, secretly blaming himself for pouring the anger he had received from his mother on his wife's head. He had the mind to apologize but didn't know how to open his mouth, his face flushed, stutteringly tried to speak.
Ye Fan merely a shu branch's daughter, that lived relying on other's charity, how could her foundation be comparable with Guan Suyi? If Guan Suyi was really angry and threw herself and her younger brother to Ye Fan to be brought up, how would she live in the future? She didn't have the blood of an aristocratic family in the first place, and her father was rejected by the emperor. By then, wouldn't those handkerchief friends die from laughter? The more Zhao Chunxi thought about it, the more anxious she became.
Her mouth was bitter, her knees were weak, she trembled and tried to kneel to her stepmother, but was supported by her strong self-esteem and refused to admit defeat easily.
Guan Suyi didn't care about the Zhao's father and daughter's apology, and said in a low voice, "I sincerely considered the marquis mansion, but you have never regarded me as your own family, otherwise you would not take concubine less then half a month since my own wedding, and forgot to inform me. Never mind, I'll just be an idle shopkeeper. And one more point, on the day Ye Fan pass the the door next month, Mingfang also has to follow, and lord marquis has to agree even if he disagree, otherwise I will go home and let my parents talk to you. Looking around Yanjing, only merchants from lowly backgrounds who doesn't understand etiquette will take concubines at the same time as they marry their brides. If your Zhao family must follow suit, I will not stop it, you can do whatever you love, who cares." (T/N: it's the title)
"Madam, I…" Only then did Zhao Luli realize that taking a concubine was not only his business, but also a family business. If Guan Suyi was not pregnant in three to five years, no one would stop him from taking a concubine, but now he hurriedly brought in a concubine from the Ye family within half a month of being married. It's no wonder that Guan Suyi was so angry.
He regretted it very much, and was about to explain it properly, but saw the other person speak indifferently, "Since you don't treat me as a family, I won't rush make a tiring effort with no results. That's how I am, I'll repay virtue with virtue, repay grievance with grievance, and exchange sincerity for sincerity. In the future you don't need to ask me if you want to do anything, except for being central feeder I don't care about anything. Now please go out!"
Minglan immediately stepped forward to expel the people, and caught a glimpse of feather duster in the flower vase, she hated that she couldn't whip it on the father and daughter.
Zhao Luli felt anxious, but didn't know how to smooth things out, so he had to retreat in embarrassment, walking back to the door he bowed deeply, and said in remorse, "Madam, please calm down, don't be separated from me. I agree with Mingfang's matter. This family you will always have the final say, and no one can shake your position. This time it's still my fault, and I will never do it again. Before getting angry, I will let myself think it over calmly, and then I will discuss it with you properly, what do you think?"
Zhao Chunxi said with tears in her eyes, "Mother, I also know I'm wrong, please don't leave me alone. I lost my mom since I was a child, and it was my aunt who watched me grew up, so I got closer to her and forgot your feelings. I will listen to you obediently…"
Guan Suyi waved her hands coldly, "No need to say anymore, just go."
Minglan then hurried people out, "Lord Marquis, eldest miss, you go back first, miss is feeling sad right now, you let her lick her wounds alone. Her words are indeed unpleasant, but you have to carefully pondered it in private, when all is said and done, isn't it the truth?" As she spoke, she pushed the people out and closed the courtyard door.
"It's finally quiet." Guan Suyi tapped her knuckles on the tabletop and muttered to herself, "The one who should come then come, the one who should go then go, a good show also must start with an opening gong."
"Miss, it's Mingfang who should go, but where should the Ye family's shu daughter come? If it wasn't for her, there would never be such a bad thing right now." Minglan rolled her eyes in anger.
"When she come, this house will be lively." Guan Suyi smiled very lightly.
"What's lively, there must be a lot of moths. Miss, do you really plan to let her raise the eldest miss and the eldest young master? That's great, these two people are really difficult to serve, the eldest young master likes to beat and scold people, the eldest miss looks very kind, but occasionally shows a particularly sinister look, which is really scary." Minglan patted her chest, looking like she couldn't avoid it.
Guan Suyi shook her head, "I would love to, but Zhao Luli will never agree, jut see." She originally planned to gather these people together and let them play by themselves, but now was not a good time. She was waiting, waiting for the Zhao family to continue tossing, and then she would be "disheartened and left sadly". At that time, let's see if the Marquis Mansion could play the zither, play the qin, play the tune, be happy and laugh, and whether it could make a flower bloom in the already "extremely happy" life.
pointing to the sky and draws the earth: describe a wanton behavior, without fear.
handkerchief friends: small gifts exchanged between women, so it means close female friends.
idle shopkeeper: somebody who asks others to work but does nothing himself.
Chapter 29 Chaos At Home
Zhao Luli was not annoyed after being kicked out of the main house, instead he felt very guilty and anxious. One was because he had misunderstood his wife again, and the other was for the future of his children. At that time, his mother's abuse and scolding brought back many sad memories, and he turned the pain of losing Zhen'er into resentment and poured it on his wife's head. To be honest, Madam didn't know anything, she's the most innocent. Not only could he not show the slightest affection for her, but he couldn't even consummate the marriage with her. It was inevitable for her to be unhappy in her heart, and it was inevitable for her to speak a little bit sharply, not to mention that his mother-in-law shoved Ye Fan at this stall, even someone with the heart of a Bodhisattva would be at the end of their patience at this time.
Zhao Luli walked all the way and sighed, while leading his daughter to the warehouse, where he planned to pick out a few precious gifts and send them to his wife to make amends.
"Suyi spoke a little bluntly, but it's also for your own good. I know that you are close to Ye Fan, but in the future, since she will enter Zhao's house as a concubine, her identity will change, and her relationship with you will also change. You respect her and love her, just hold this in your heart, don't act too much on it, and don't get too close to her. After all if outsiders see it, it's not good for you." Zhao Luli said while he took out a lot of jewelry from the box and placed them on the low table one by one.
Zhao Chunxi obediently promised, on the surface seemed to be peaceful, but on the inside, she was angry and annoyed. This time Guan Suyi scolded her for being brought up by little woman, and daddy could be coaxed back by her with a few words. Next time, if she scolded her more severely, even taught her bitter lesson, daddy would probably pick it up and put it down gently, right? It's not that she doesn't believe daddy's love and affection for her, but she was too afraid of Guan Suyi's mouth. Even if the sky falls, she could easily hold it up with her silver tongue, as long as she wants to.
The more Zhao Chunxi thought about it, the more she regretted it. She shouldn't have taken this big trouble for her mom in the first place. It was indeed easier to invite a devil than to send it away. Even if she brought her aunt into the mansion, it wouldn't block Guan Suyi at all, but put herself in even more embarrassing situation. If she really sent herself and her younger brother to be raised by her aunt, the next day, the di daughter of Marquis Zhenbei Mansion would become a laughing stock in the eyes of the noble children, there would be no dignity left.
When Zhao Chunxi was thinking wildly, Zhao Luli had already put the selected jewelry into the brocade box and instructed, "Give this gift to Suyi in person, and apologize to her sincerely. She is a person with knife-mouth and tofu-heart, will not bother with you. You must know that she is the daughter of the Guan family, and the word 'Guan family' represents benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, honesty, gentleness, respect, and humility, and represents the highest moral character that is highly respected and admired nowadays. If you can touch her light, even just a little bit, you don't have to worry about marriage in the future. She has the blood of a noble family in her body, with a Confucian halo on her head, and behind her back are the three great gods, the Emperor Teacher, chief minister of ceremonies, and His Majesty. Become a good friend with her will be of infinite use to you. It is only by enormous luck that I can marry her, and I don't know how fortunate I am, you also have to cherish it."
This was the first time that Zhao Luli had instilled a utilitarian heart in his daughter. He originally wanted to cultivate her to become a woman like Ye Zhen who doesn't eat the food of common mortals. But Guan Suyi's suggestion made him suddenly realize that a woman who doesn't eat the food of common mortals cannot survive in a deep house, especially in a noble family with complicated relationships.
How can His Majesty become Guan Suyi's backer? His Majesty loves my mom like a treasure, it should be my mother's backer. If my mom meets Guan Suyi, you see who His Majesty will protect! Zhao Chunxi was not angry, but she also knew that His Majesty would protect Ye Zhen, but he would never protect herself, because she was not only Ye Zhen's daughter, but also Marquis Zhenbei's daughter, and Marquis Zhenbei was probably his most intolerable existence.
"Daughter understands what daddy said. In the future, I will stay away from my aunt and get closer to my mother." She had to compromise, because the distant water could not save the near fire, and Jieyu niangniang, no matter how noble, was only her aunt in public eyes and could not interfere with her marriage. After all, the only thing she could rely on right now was Guan Suyi, and she was holding her dowry in her hand.
"Good child, don't feel wronged, Suyi's heart is not bad, you just need to listen to her words, learn the central feed well, and marry into a scholarly family with an honest family style and a high status in the future, and you will have a lot of good life." Zhao Luli gently stroked his daughter's hair.
Zhao Chunxi nodded with a strong smile, and finally went to apologize to her stepmother with the brocade box in her hands. When the father and daughter came to the main house, Zhao Wangshu, who was playing wildly, had been caught by the steward. He was standing at the table practicing calligraphy. Guan Suyi stood side by side with him, also holding a brush in her hand, and was sketching on a piece of rice paper.
"The tiger came out of the cage, and the turtle jade was destroyed in the cage. Who is to blame? It's just one sentence, sixteen characters, you have made six mistakes, and what do these ink balls means? If you don't remember how to write it then leave it blank, don't make the surface of the scroll so dirty, otherwise in the future when you participate in the imperial examination, the examiner will not even bother to read it, will just directly throw it out." Guan Suyi put down the brush, picked up the ruler, and ordered, "Spread your hands."
Zhao Wangshu put his hands behind his back, squinted at her, and said with a malicious tone, "I heard that my aunt is going to marry in next month?"
"Your aunt will be brought in, not marry in." Guan Suyi said expressionlessly.
"Bah! If I say marry then marry! My aunt watched me grew up since I was a child, she is no different from my mom, and my daddy likes her too. When she comes in, you will definitely fall out of favor, because we don't like you! I heard that at noon today, you told my sister that you don't want to manage us anymore, and want to let my aunt take care of us, right? Well,this little master don't care! You only holding me to study, hit my palm with a ruler, and when teaching me to practice calligraphy you still want me to tie a heavy sandbag, you poisonous woman deliberately wants to torture me, and I want my aunt, not you!" Zhao Wangshu said as he removed the sandbag on his wrist, broke the writing brush, brushed off the inkstone, and ran out.
Every time he got off school these days, he would be taken back by his stepmother to practice calligraphy. If he made a mistake, his palm would be hit, and if he wrote two mistakes, he would be hit twice. If the homework assigned by the master was wrong, he would be hit a dozen times at a time, making him miserable. When he heard that his aunt was coming, it was like a divine soldier descending from heaven, and his confident was also grew.
The inkstone fell to the ground, making a loud noise, and the splashes of the ink stained Guan Suyi's snow-white shoes, socks and skirt, and then slowly spread. Minglan knelt down to wipe it for her mistress, and ordered the steward to go out and catch him.
"No need to catch, go down." Zhao Luli blocked the door, holding his son's back collar with one hand, his face extremely ugly. He originally thought that Ye Fan's passing through the door was equivalent to having an extra bowl and chopsticks on the table of Marquis mansion, which was a trivial matter that was not worth mentioning, but how could it bring such bad impact on his son and daughter.
Xi'er was fine, she knew the importance, but Wangshu was so confused to this point. Thinking deeper, if Suyi hadn't woken them up, his son would have been confused forever, and he might harmed himself and the marquis mansion one day. Zhao Luli stepped over the threshold, drove away irrelevant people, put his son down, and before he could stand firm, he slapped him hard and scolded, "Still not apologizing to your mother?"
Zhao Wangshu was startled and covered his face. He couldn't recover for a long time, and after a while, he suddenly slipped out under his father's arms, choked and roared as he ran, "No, never apologize! She's not my mother, I don't want her care!"
"Wangshu, quickly come back!" Zhao Chunxi couldn't catch up, so she could only stare dryly.
"Come on, go and get the eldest young master back!" Zhao Luli was so angry that his fingers were shaking.
Guan Suyi lifted up her cuffs and untied the straps of lead-filled cloth tied to her wrists, her tone was extremely flat, "Forget it, let him go. Children of this age are heavy-minded and stubborn, the more he was restrained, the more noisy he become. You must have heard it, he only wants Ye Fan and doesn't want my care. Forget it, I will never care about your son and daughter. You don't need to apologize, if you have this heart, you shouldn't have taken concubine when we just got married for less than half a month, let alone take the daughter of the Ye family, making me fell into an embarrassing and difficult situation." Guan Suyi rubbed her temples and waved her hands, "Go back, I have a terrible headache right now, I don't want to talk."
"Madam, let you suffer, I'll teach Wangshu properly…" Zhao Luli blushed with embarrassment, he never expected after persuading his daughter, his son would make trouble. This Ye Fan had not passed the door, the family was already chaotic and restless, could not be peaceful. He couldn't imagine what would happen after she passed the door.
Thinking of this, he actually had some complaints about Liu shi, the culprit.
Minglan already hated the Zhao family, so she casually stuffed Zhao Wangshu's four treasures of study, books and files into a bundle, and said coldly, "Lord marquis, you go first, Madam has already sad enough, you let her have some peace. Take a look at the eldest young master's handwriting and homework, isn't he making progress? In order to teach him, madam must take two hours out of her busy schedule to accompany him to read and practice calligraphy. Madam's wrist was weighted down by four pounds of lead, she accompanied him to eat all the sufferings she suffered as a child, hoping that he would become a talent in the future. But didn't expect him to be like this…" unable to differentiate good from bad!
The last word was a bit ugly, Minglan couldn't say it, so she shoved the stuffs into Zhao Luli's arms and slammed the door shut.
Zhao Luli apologized repeatedly and stood for a while before returning with his daughter, who had an equally ugly face. The words Zhao Wangshu wrote and the articles he did, he read and checked them one by one. Compared with before, they were like made by two different people, the progress was really a lot. If he was properly taught by Guan Suyi here, and there was a master who guide him outside, just as Minglan said – he would become a talent in the future.
But now, he was crying and shouting to go to his aunt's place. Ye Fan was just a merchant girl, and she would still be the concubine of marquis mansion in the future. How could she teach him any good things? Wasn't that a self-destructive future? The more Zhao Luli thought about it, the more anxious he became, the more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became, and he had the mind to save it but didn't where to start.
At this time, Zhao Chunxi also wished to catch Zhao Wangshu and give him a slap. If he was always so stupid, in the future don't say become her helper, not dragging her legs was fortunate enough.
On the other hand, Zhao Wangshu himself never felt that he was wrong. Because the mansion was full of his stepmother's minions, he was afraid of being caught and punished, so he had to hide in his grandmother's courtyard who loved him the most, and conveniently complained about her.
"The tiger came out of the cage, and the turtle jade was destroyed in the cage. Who is to blame: from the analects, it is a metaphor for dereliction of duty.
Chapter 30 The Source
"Grandmother, grandmother, you have to decide for your grandson!" Before the person entered the courtyard, Zhao Wangshu's voice penetrated through the window, frightening the parrot hanging from the beam into flapping its wings.
"What's the matter? Who bullies my good grandson, let grandmother know, and I will definitely beat them on the board!" The old madam hurriedly welcomed him with a cane, although her face was still a little ugly, her eyes were full of smiles. When her son was so disappointing, she put the hope of revitalizing the family on her grandson, and it was inevitable that she favored him a little more on ordinary days, and couldn't see him being wronged at all.
Zhao Wangshu threw himself into his grandmother's arms, pouted and shouted, "It's Guan shi." When the words fell he entered the inner hall, rolled up his sleeves, and complained, "Look at this grandmother, she beat me! She even made me tie sandbags on my wrist, causing me wear out several layers of skin, the pain was so painful that I couldn't sleep at night. My sister lied to me, Guan shi is not good at all, I don't want her to be my mother, I want my third aunt to be my mother."
As the old madam checked the wounds on her grandson's wrist and palm, she raised her chin at the steward mama to let her inquire about the situation. Another maid brought golden sore medicine, cotton gauze and other items to bandage the wounds of the eldest young master.
In order to win the love and affection of his grandmother, Zhao Wangshu, although was not in great pain, his mouth screaming very loudly, even frowned with tears in his eyes, showing an unbearable appearance.
The old madam looked extremely distressed, but did not do what he wished which was to call Guan shi to complain or scold her. Guan shi's character was still very trustworthy, not to mention her family's education alone was one of the best in the whole Wei. The Guan family was a family of Confucianism and a noble family. Everyone has selfishness, and everyone may be unfavorable to their stepchildren and stepdaughters, but Guan shi would not. She would never let the Guan family's century-old reputation fall in her hands.
The steward mama who inquired about the news quickly entered and whispered in her ear. Zhao Wangshu kept peeking from the corner of his eyes, and found that his grandmother's brows were getting tighter and tighter, and he thought that grandmother would definitely make decisions for him, so he continued to cry, "Guan shi's heart is so cruel, I don't want to go to her courtyard to study, in the future when my aunt come over, I will move to the courtyard next to my aunt, and my aunt will take care of me. She love my sister and me the most since we were young, and she is very sincere to us, not comparable to Guan shi at all."
"Shut up!" The old madam who had been silent all this time suddenly became angry, slapped the table hard and scolded, "What aunt and aunt, when she passes the door, you can only call her yiniang (father's concubine). I have never heard di sons or daughters who are not raised by the mistress's side, but go to a concubine's room instead. You are already eleven years old, don't you even understand this? Don't call her Guan shi, she is your mother, you must respect her, even if she beat and scold you, and let you to tie a sandbag to practice calligraphy, that is also for your own good, and you need to be obedient. Come, take the eldest young master to the main house to apologize to madam, if he is unwilling, let him kneel outside the door and send him back to the Jingzhe Tower when the madam calms down."
Several strong old women entered in response, with the intention to escort the eldest young master back.
Zhao Wangshu was stunned, and didn't wake up until he was supported out, he then struggled violently and wailing. The old women didn't dare to hurt him, so they quickly let go. But he had nowhere to run, he just lay on the ground and rolled around, beating the ground, complaining endlessly: grandmother doesn't care about me anymore; I don't have a mother, and now I don't even have a father. I'm done; my elder sister lied, Guan shi is vicious, and deliberately tortured me; my aunt, hurry up, you're the only one who treats me with sincerity, and scolded everyone in the house.
The old madam was really surprised to see him look like a scoundrel, as if she really knew this grandson only today.
"Pull him up quickly. If he doesn't like it, let him rolls on the ground, wailing and scolding like a dog, who taught him? huh? Who taught him?" The old madam was so angry that she almost fell down.
At this moment, Zhao Luli and Zhao Chunxi who chased after him finally came over, and their faces became even more ugly when they saw the main courtyard were in chaos and boiling.
Wasn't Zhao Wangshu's appearance of rolling and making a scene the same as Liu shi? A few hours ago, she was still making a fuss in his study, forcing him to agree to take a concubine. Except for Zhen'er, none of the Ye family knew how to write the word "etiquette", that was fine, but they also taught his good son to be like this. Zhao Luli felt miserable in his heart, but he had no place to complain, so he had to step forward and drag his son up.
Zhao Wangshu was most afraid of his father, seeing him was like a mouse seeing a cat. He quickly stood up, wiped away his tears, and then showed a timid smile.
"Go to the ancestral hall and kneel. When you know what is wrong, that's when you come out." Zhao Luli flicked his sleeves slightly, and two guards escorted the dirty eldest young master down.
This time, he no longer dared to struggle, roll, beat the ground, or wail, only glances at his sister over and over again, hoping that she could say a few words of pleading. Zhao Chunxi lowered her eyes and pretended not to see anything. The group gradually walked away, and the main courtyard was finally quiet.
"Let mother be worried, this son is not filial." Zhao Luli apologized towards the old madam who was a few steps above.
"You have done a lot of unfilial things, this is not the worse." The old madam turned around and went back to the house, and said coldly, "After one Ye Zhen leave, one Ye Fan come in, the Ye family is not going to let go my Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, ah! In the early years, you lived as a widow, but never saw the Ye family worry how your two children would be brought up. Now that you are married, and you married the famous Guan shi, they suddenly forced a shu daughter to come in, what do you mean by this? You can't even marry a wife and take concubines by your own will, but always at the mercy of the Ye family. If you ask me, you can simply join the Ye family, and treat me as if I have never given birth to an unfilial son like you!"
Zhao Luli had nothing to say, only silence. Zhao Chunxi secretly grabbed his sleeve as a sign of comfort.
The old madam sighed and said again, "Suyi is good. If she is my daughter, I would rather marry her to a peddler than marry her to you. It was our Zhao family who harmed the Guan family. If you still have a conscience, treat her well, she may be able to wait and see now, but no matter how warm the heart and the feelings are, sooner or later, there will be a day when it will cool down. Even if you want to save it, you will not be able to save it. I've said it all, whether you like to listen or not."
She had no expectations for this son, and after a few words, she ordered someone to prepare a generous gift, and went to apologize to her daughter-in-law in person. If her daughter-in-law really leaves Wangshu alone, there was no future for him to speak of.
Zhao Lu was in a panic for a moment, and when he was about to think about it, the panic disappeared without a trace, but he was full of helplessness and remorse.
—-
Guan Suyi and the old madam talked for a long time until the middle of the night. Due to filial piety, she had to take Zhao Wangshu, this hot potato, back. Fortunately, the old madam didn't mention Zhao Chunxi at all, there was even the intention of throwing away her hands and letting her and Ye Fan gather together in a pile. After a night without dreams, the next day, she greeted her and went back to Guan's house to inform her grandfather and parents about the matter of taking concubines.
"Sure enough, they are descendants of runaway slave, so shameless! How can anyone take a concubine before they get married for half a month, this is clearly to demean our Yiyi! If I had married Yiyi earlier, she would not have to suffer such humiliation like now. Zhao's mansion and Ye family are really deceiving people!" Zhong shi was so angry that if Zhao Luli and Liu shi stood in front of them, they would definitely be torn to shreds by her.
Old Master Guan stroked his beard and shook his head, saying that the Zhao family did not understand propriety and so on. He was an upright person and had a dull temperament. For a while, he didn't know how to help his granddaughter, and his heart was burning like fire.
Guan Suyi did not expect to count on her mother and grandfather, she came back specially to communicate with her father. Don't look at her father's superficial gentleness and open-mindedness, inside he possessed his own tricks. He was knowledgeable but not pedantic, loyal but not old-fashioned, could serve the ruler and be sympathetic to the people, and had a harmonious relationship with his colleagues, had mutual exchange of assistance, and not lack scheming skills. In the last life, he missed the opportunity and wasted his whole life. In this life, he was like a dragon entering the sea, and he was bound to make a great picture.
With her father here, Guan Suyi was not afraid of anything. She comforted her mother and grandfather in a kind voice, and finally said, "Fortunately, Zhao Luli and I have no friendship at all. It's not a big deal for him to take a concubine. I will give him Mingfang as well, so that he can taste the happy fate of the man from Qi. As long as the Guan family does not fall, as long as grandfather and father can still speak in front of His Majesty, who can take me? I am still the mistress of the marquis mansion, no matter how many concubines Zhao Luli takes, it will not shake my status. It's just that Ye Fan's identity is somewhat special, and the Ye family will probably ask Ye Jieyu to support her."
Guan Father understood, and waved his hand indifferently, "The previous dynasty's harem, His Majesty is very clear. No matter how favored Ye Jieyu is, she can't say anything about the court."
He slowly blew the hot tea, and Guan Father's voice became colder, "If she blatantly supports Ye Fan, father will make the Ye family have no face, and let's see who has thicker wrists." He touched the top of his daughter's head affectionately and softened his tone, "You go back with peace of mind, everything is fine, there is father. Marrying into such a family, it is right not to open up your heart, if you don't open up you heart, you won't be sad, if you don't open up your heart, only then you can be heartless. Of course, don't be heartless unless you have to, but if it's really hopeless, our Guan family is not afraid of anyone."
"Your father is right. Repaying grievance with virtue, why repay virtue? The Zhao family is not kind to you, and we don't need to be righteous to him, just keep a good face." Usually Old master Guan would not blame others, even defend them, but if it was involved his granddaughter, he could completely deny his six relatives.
After all, Zhong shi was a woman, so she understood the horror of loneliness in the back house. She pulled her daughter aside and told her to try to hold her husband as close as possible, and not to reach to the point of no return. Guan Suyi promised on the surface, but inside she couldn't agree. She stayed at her maiden house comfortably all day, and only took the carriage back to the Marquis mansion in the evening.
Meanwhile, the debate in Wencui Building was still going on. This was the third round. Because the fame of the first two rounds, there were many people coming back this time, so it was also very lively. Qin Lingyun was sitting in the old place with his sister-in-law, Li shi, and Emperor Sheng Yuan stood by the railing. He seemed to be calm, but in fact his eyes were firmly fixed on the carriages passing by outside the door.
Seeing that Xu Guangzhi and his opponent stepped onto the high platform and began to write the topic of this debate, he finally couldn't hold back, "Why Marquis Zhenbei madam didn't come?"
Before the waiting guard answer, Li shi sneered, "How can she be in the mood to come? Something big happened in marquis mansion. If it's replace it with me, I will cut down Zhao Luli first, then kill the Ye family, and let that nasty people eat the evil consequences!"
Knowing that Guan Suyi was in trouble, Emperor Sheng Yuan frowned. "Why is the Ye family involved? What happened?"
happy fate of the man from Qi: men who have several wife and concubines.
