Time is such a thing, it goes slowly when there is nothing to do, and it goes very fast when there is something, it seems that it is such a blink of an eye, it has jumped from August to October, and the wedding of King Anjun is just around the corner.

The big wedding is the last of the six ceremonies, and it is welcomed. The entire county king's mansion is dressed in red and hung with colors, and it is so busy that it is going to turn the sky upside down.

"Here comes the makeup delivery!" The people in front of the gate saw a team coming from a distance, and immediately delivered the news to the inner courtyard one by one, and opened the door at the same time.

This makeup delivery team is like a long line, attracting countless onlookers along the way, and those who have good deeds have counted them one by one, smacking their tongues and exclaiming: "One hundred and eight lifts!" Good guy, the Jiang family can really accompany the girl! ”

Someone immediately retorted: "She is the princess of the county, and the dowry is prepared by the Ministry of Internal Affairs." ”

Another scoffed, "You don't understand. In that kind of place of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the things that are ready to come out are all good-looking on the outside and light on the inside, what face do you really have when you point to that? Haven't you heard, the prince of the county has added a lot of things left to him by the first emperor into the dowry, and it is not that the dowry prepared for the internal affairs government is not good. ”

"Well, there's no going to be a false lift here, right?"

False lifting refers to the fact that the outside looks like a lift, but in fact, there are few things inside or have little value, to put it bluntly, it is an embroidered pillow-style dowry. Some families marry their daughters and have nothing to accompany them and die to save face, they will do such a thing.

The person who seemed to be quite familiar with the situation of the Internal Affairs Office just now sneered again: "You won't look at that amount? Look at the heavy footsteps of the person carrying the box, how can it be carried in vain. ”

The person who spoke in front of him didn't believe it: "Pharmacist Jiang's family is not a rich and noble family. "The news in the capital spreads quickly, what is the situation of Jiang Xi's family, almost everyone has a number now, unless the Jiang family accompanies all their net worth to their daughter, but his family also has a son, and there is absolutely no reason to accompany the family.

These words refuted the know-it-all, and he squeaked for a while before saying: "Anyway, the princess of the county is married, and it is absolutely impossible to let it go." ”

If there is no evidence for this, it is natural that it will not be able to convince the public. However, the footsteps of the barman who carried the box were heavy and could not be faked, and it was impossible to put stones and bricks in the box to weigh the weight. Therefore, everyone talked about it for a while, some said that the Jiang family did their best for their daughter's face, some said that there were many things sent by the county king's mansion, and some said that the dowry may be large because of the lot, as for the precious and small size of the pearl and jade, there is probably nothing, in short, there are different opinions, no clue.

In fact, the number of makeup delivery teams they saw had been reduced.

Taohua's current dowry is really a lot. Half of this was prepared by the Internal Affairs Government according to the system, and most of the other half were things that Shen Shu added, including the dowry and what he gave privately, and the rest was prepared by Jiang Xi for his daughter.

Nowadays, it is customary to marry richly, and the dowry box is also used to be beautiful, and the more you lift, the more face. Of course, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is not exempt from vulgarity, if according to their method of arranging boxes, Taohua's dowry can be carried out for one hundred and twenty-eight.

Aunt Zheng shook her head when she saw it: "Minus one, don't exceed one hundred and eight lifts at most." "One hundred and twenty-eight is simply the scale of the Son of Heaven marrying a woman, and such a dowry is simply a clear hatred. And some of the things sent by Shen Shu are too precious, so it's better not to show them. But the reduction is too little, and it inevitably brushes Shen Shu's kindness, so one hundred and eight is a good number, which will not be exceeded, and Taohua's face is also bright.

Aunt Zheng had quietly revealed to Taohua in September that she wanted to go to the county king's mansion with her, and Taohua asked the emperor and agreed to her. Now she is also one of Taohua's henchmen, she manages more things than before, and she is more active in speaking. The Jiang family also believed in her, and after she said this, they rearranged the dowry, and sure enough, one hundred and eight were squeezed and sent over.

This number quickly spread, and Dieyi smiled happily as she watched the boxes being brought in in in the newly packed courtyard. Cicada Yi took the list next to him to outline the number, and said lightly: "What are you laughing at, how many things here belong to the prince, but they just changed hands and sent them back." ”

Dieyi pouted, took her hand and said coquettishly: "Good sister, these days are a good day for the prince, don't scold me, I'm just happy." ”

Cicada Yi pulled out his hand: "If you pull me like this, you can't make a list, why don't you go to work quickly." ”

Dieyi saw that she was a little cold, and didn't dare to say any more, so she honestly went to the dowry list.

Cicada Yi sketched on the list while looking into the room. In order to show solemnity, today's Jiang family came to the small family and Jing's concubine, and the shopkeeper invited was a Hanlin's wife, although it was only a six-pin'an person, but the temperament was mild, the in-laws and parents were there, and the children were both complete, and they were recognized as a well-blessed person.

Jing is a shrewd man, he has always been a good observer, while watching the Quanfu people make the bed, and at the same time can also be distracted to pay attention to the dowry box in the courtyard, so when he looks, he finds that there is a well-dressed maid while counting the dowry, and from time to time looking into the house.

Jing Shi remained silent, and whispered to his maid: "Go and inquire, which one is that." ”

Dew is the person Jing's use, although he is young, he knows the end of the head, and walks out with a smile at the moment.

The dowry was sent over, and after the people from the county king's mansion counted the numbers according to the list, it was still up to the Jiang family to pack up and enter the house. Dew smiled and blended in, and after a while, she came to Dieyi's side, and her sister screamed shortly.

She was born with a small round face, looking a few years younger than her actual age, and her mouth was sweet, and after a while, she became familiar with Dieyi, first inquired a few words about the rules in the palace, and then quietly pointed to Cicada Yi and said: "That sister looks at the majesty of Haosheng, if someone in the house violates the rules, will my sister play the handboard?" ”

Dieyi smiled: "That's Sister Cicada, don't look at her with a straight face, she actually has an excellent temperament." As long as you work hard, there are no rules for beating people in our house. However, if you look at the prince and are lenient and have the intention to cheat and cheat, this kind of person can't be tolerated in the house, and there is no need to fight, as long as you sell it. ”

Lu stuck out her tongue in fear, pulled the corner of Dieyi's clothes and said with a smile: "There are no lazy people in our family, but the rules of the county king's mansion are big, and I ask my sister to give me more guidance." ”

Dieyi only thought that this was the maid who was going to marry with the princess of the county in the future, and really told her about the rules of the county princess's mansion. Dew listened with one ear, and her eyes were still looking at the cicada's clothes, only to see her looking at the dowry, and sometimes seeing certain boxes, her expression was slightly disdainful.

The so-called intentional peep at the unintentional. Cicada's disdainful look was not obvious, but Dew stared at her intently, and she saw some clues. After everything was collected and put into storage, the Jiang family went home, and Lu Shui said the cicada clothes in the carriage.

"Although the slave and maid looked carefully, they ...... Maybe the slave has lost her eyes? Lu was a little puzzled, "The girl in the cicada clothes didn't look like that for the dowry of the three girls, but the slave maid looked at a few boxes with antique calligraphy and paintings, and her expression was particularly obvious when she looked at it. "The maid of the merchant family is especially good at figuring out the looks and thoughts of others.

"Antique ......" Jing Shi pondered slightly, already understanding, "I heard that many things have been added to the county king's mansion in the dowry, and those things must be from the county king's mansion!" "Jiang Xi's family shouldn't accompany these.

"Then what does she mean-" Lu was a little surprised, "Is it disdain...... "Can't the Jiang family take something from King Anjun as a dowry?"

Jing sneered: "Sister Tao'er's family affair-" The benefits are naturally great, but the disadvantages are also the same, even a maid in the palace dares to look down on the Jiang family's dowry?

"When you go back, you go to the third girl's side, explain this a little thoroughly, and remember to say her name." The heart of defense is indispensable, and if you know it early, you can plan it early.

Lu agreed, and said suspiciously: "But the slave maid looks, the people in the county king's mansion seem to be quite happy." At least the one called Dieyi likes it very much, and it seems that he is looking forward to our three girls marrying him. ”

Jing frowned, and he couldn't figure out what was going on here: "After all, there is nothing bad about multiple hearts, you just do it." ”

For such a major event as giving makeup, Jiang Xi's family naturally wanted to set up a banquet to thank Xiao Xiao and Jing. Since the separation, it is the first time that they have gathered together like this, and they are happy.

However, only the Jing family was really happy, but the Xiao family and the Cao family had their own hearts, and they ate the same thing as chewing wax at a meal, but they barely coped with it, and everyone broke up.

Dew took advantage of the gap and pulled the mint aside, cautiously told what she had seen in the county king's mansion, and finally said: "It's also something undocumented, my wife didn't want to say it, but it disturbed the mood of the third girl." It's just that I think the third girl should be more vigilant, after all, it's not a big mistake to be careful, so I can't help but come over and tell you. ”

Mint hurriedly thanked her, and when she turned around, she told Taohua: "...... I don't know if I can do this accurately, but the slave and maid looked back at the cicada clothes, and somehow felt uncomfortable. ”

"The second aunt is a cautious person, if there is no shadow, she will not come to talk much." Taohua was a little drowsy when she soaked in the medicinal bath, and said lightly, "But this is inevitable, it was originally all given by the prince, and the second aunt didn't know what the prince sent in private." "If you knew, you would probably know better.

Mint said angrily: "This is all the prince's intention, why should she look down on it?" ”

"It's human nature. She is the prince's maid, not mine. Taohua waved her hand and came out of the tub, "When it's over, you are not allowed to put on any face, just watch." After seeing people's hearts for a long time, what she is like will naturally be known in the future. ”

Mint flattened her mouth and wanted to speak, but Kikyo said outside: "Girl, Sister Baiguo is here." ”

"Don't you think it's wrong for Sister Baiguo?" Mint's eyes lit up, "Girl, ask." ”

Bai Guo came in, and sure enough, he said a few words about today's makeup, but he didn't mention the people from the county king's mansion in half a sentence. Mint couldn't help but say, "Didn't my sister see the people from the county king's mansion?" When they saw the girl's dowry, how did they react? ”

Bai Guo was a little dazed and said, "People from the County King's Mansion? Yes, there are two big maids who said that they were serving the prince, and they brought someone over to order the dowry list. ”

Taohua looked at her as if she was a little absent-minded, obviously not for the purpose of giving makeup, so she said, "What's the matter?" ”

Bai Guo's eyes wandered, and he knelt down after a while: "The slave begged the girl to be the master, but the slave didn't want to go out to get married." ”

Mint was startled by Bai Guo's kneeling, and hurriedly came up to help her: "Sister, what are you doing, who forced you to marry?" Just tell the girl, and the girl will naturally call the shots for you. "Baiguo was bought from outside, and her parents have long lost contact with her over the years, if she says that her marriage is the master's house, no one else can control it.

When Mint asked this, he was originally suspicious that the Jiang family might have years of stewardship to oppress people, but after thinking about it, although Taohua was lenient under his rule, this kind of bullying was absolutely not allowed, not to mention that Baiguo was a big girl, and it was expected that no one would dare to do this. Could it be that someone privately begged the Cao family and wanted to marry him?

Taohua frowned slightly: "If you have something to say, get up and say it." "If someone really wants to marry Bai Guo if they get Cao's words, Bai Guo shouldn't need to be so embarrassed, after all, even if she gets married, if she wants to protect a subordinate, it's just a matter of saying a word to Jiang Xi.

Bai Guo knelt on the ground and did not get up, but lowered his head: "Girl, the slave doesn't want to get married." ”

Mint still didn't understand: "Sister, who let you get married?" Don't worry, the girl has already said that she will still choose someone for you in our house, and she will still come in to be a housekeeper in the future, and she is still counting on you to help Mrs. Governor. ”

Taohua's brows furrowed even tighter: "Mint! ”

Mint was stunned for a moment. Taohua rarely stopped her, and now she suddenly spoke, could it be that she said something wrong?

She was still pondering, but Bai Guo shook a little, and her head was suddenly buried lower. Taohua looked at her and didn't let her get up, but said, "If you have anything to say, just say it." ”

Compared with the sentence just now, the word "get up" is missing in this sentence, and it is a little more cold. Bai Guo was half-kneeling on the ground, and finally said, "The slave wants to stay in the house." ”

Taohua didn't speak, Mint didn't dare to speak, there was a moment of silence in the room, and Bai Guo finally added: "The slave wants to stay and serve the master." ”

Mint opened her mouth and couldn't close it, she understood, Bai Guo is - want to be a concubine for Jiang Xi?

It seemed that he had said the most difficult thing to say, Bai Guo lowered his head, but his words were much smoother: "Mrs. doesn't know how to take care of the house, and the girl has only been selling the middle feed for a few days, and the wife is thinking about how to get money from the public middle school to make up for the second girl." In the future, when the girl gets married, she may have to follow the prince to the northwest, and then the family will be tossed by his wife, how is it good? ”

Taohua frowned again: "Mrs. wants to subsidize the second girl?" ”

"Yes." Bai Guo kowtowed, "The girl knows the slave and the maid, and she will never dare to lie in front of the girl." If the wife just wants to fill in some dowry for the second girl, the slave is only afraid that the wife will compare with the girl everywhere in the future, and always want to make up for the second girl, then it will be endless. And the wife doesn't understand the outside business, if something happens, the master will be wronged, and the brother will also suffer. The old man doesn't care about anything, and the girl is far away, so who else in the family can control the wife? ”

It must be admitted that this is a problem, and it must be confronted. If you want to do business, the Jiang family's medicine hall and Zhuangzi have their own processes, as long as Taohua is instructed to go down when he leaves, without Jiang Xi, the business outside will never change at will. The trouble is the affairs of the family, and Jiang Xi can't be expected to take care of it, so there must be a capable person, even if he is not capable enough, at least he can't always think about eating inside and out.

However, Ginkgo had the idea...... Taohua looked at the white fruit kneeling down, and didn't know what to say, so she said after a while: "You are seriously marrying someone, and you will come in to be a housekeeper in the future, in fact, it is the same." "Bai Guo has always been loyal, to be honest, in front of Jiang Xi, she speaks more effectively than Cao's.

Bai Guo buried his head deeply and said in a low voice: "The lady in charge is also a subordinate, and the wife said that she would send it away." ”

"Didn't the concubine say that she would send it away?" Taohua said coldly. Bai Guo is a concubine from a lowly background, and the deed is in the hands of the master's family, in fact, her status is not much higher than that of a slave or maid, and she can also sell it. Of course, this is only theoretical, in fact, if you have children or are favored by the man, the status is different.

Bai Guo didn't even dare to raise his head, and said after a while: "The slave is willing to serve the master...... Master, it's so bitter......"

Momoka was silent because she didn't know how to answer.

On the one hand, Bai Guo's approach made her hold her breath for a while. Being willing to be a concubine is almost unacceptable in Taohua's opinion, even if she knows the legitimacy of concubines in this era, the education she received before crossing still makes her instinctively disgusted. But on the other hand, all the problems that Bai Guo said existed, and under the circumstance that Jiang Xi could not reconcile with the Cao family, it was most appropriate to accept a concubine to balance the Cao family.

But what Taohua couldn't object to the most was Bai Guo's last sentence, which Cao would never think of and would never say.

"You get out." Taohua could only say this in the end.

Bai Guo kowtowed again, stood up and withdrew. Mint spied on Taohua's face and asked cautiously, "Girl, what is this ......?"

Taohua pinched her eyebrows hard: "What do you think?" "It's true, she doesn't know what to do.

Mint's lips moved for a long time, and finally she could only say gloomily: "The slave doesn't know ......" In fact, she thought that Bai Guo's idea was good, but she also knew that her girl was most tired of being a concubine.

Although Aunt Zheng was in the outhouse, she also heard a few words in the house, coughed lightly, walked in and said: "The slave has one more mouth, as long as the girl holds the identity deed of the Baiguo girl, this method is actually the most suitable." ”

If the deed is not in Cao's hands, she can't dispose of Baiguo at will. And Bai Guo's body deed is still under the control of others, so she doesn't dare to be pampered and arrogant, let alone fight the idea of offending her concubine. For Taohua, although it is not in accordance with the rules to hold the deed of her father's concubine, it can ensure her influence on her mother's family. Moreover, Aunt Zheng is almost certain that Jiang Xi will never object to this, and a father like him who is obedient to his daughter's words, Aunt Zheng has only seen it in her life.

Mint nodded cautiously. She also felt that Aunt Zheng was right, using this method was the most beneficial to Taohua, and even the safest for the Jiang family.

Momoka fell on the table with a headache: "Let me think about it." ”

Aunt Zheng thought about it, but still reminded: "The girl still has to think about this matter." According to the slave maid, I am afraid that the girl Baiguo has this idea for a day or two, but she only brought it up because the girl was about to get married, which is not very appropriate...... "I also want to use this time to urge Taohua to make a decision early." Such a girl should not be a problem in the future, but it should also be guarded against.

Taohua smiled bitterly: "I see." "It is said that people's hearts are changeable, but sometimes it is not people's hearts that are changing, but the environment is changing. Just like peeling an onion, what comes out in the end depends on how many layers have been peeled off the outside.

Aunt Zheng didn't say more. After all, she came later, and some things had to be said for the sake of profit, but she couldn't be persuaded too deeply.

After she withdrew, Momoka opened the box where the slaves and maids of the family were kept. Although the feed has been handed over to the Cao family, this box is still with her. Except for the dowry she wanted to take away, the identity deeds of the rest of the people should be handed over to the Cao family.

Taohua looked at the box for a long time, and picked out Baiguo's deed: "Send this to Daddy." ”

Mint was stunned for a moment: "Girl, don't you take it?" "Didn't Aunt Zheng just say that it was best to let her keep it?

Taohua shook her head: "I can't make decisions for my father in this matter." Tell Sanqi to come over, tell my father about this today, and let my father decide for himself. She can't make the decision to take a concubine for her father, nor can she refuse Baiguo, so she can only leave it to Jiang Xi to decide.

Mint didn't dare to say more, so she took the deed and went out. When I came back after a while, there was an extra flat box in my hand: "Girl, the little girl said that someone sent it to the door, indicating that it was for the girl." ”

"What's coming in?" Taohua frowned slightly, "Is the door confused?" ”

Mint said cautiously: "The door said, look like the little guy next to Jiang Ergongzi......"

What Jiang Heng sent? Taohua took the box and opened it to find a simple wooden hairpin, which was hand-carved at first glance, but polished to a very smooth finish. Four words are engraved on the hairpin: a hundred years of good harmony.

"Girl—" Mint was taken aback, "this, this—the slave will take it and throw it away." "How can a foreign man give a girl's hairpin? What would it look like if someone knew about it!

Taohua waved her hand: "Take it and put it under the box." Good life preservation. Jiang Heng's feelings, she was also vaguely aware of it, and she also thought that this hairpin was probably carved by him himself. I can wish her and Shen a good relationship for hundreds of years, she can't accept this feeling, but she should also be respected.