==Chapter 48==

What happened when Xiao Hang was called to Anrong Courtyard that day, Jiuniang didn't know.

She only knew that it was only one day, and the rumors of the entire Anguo Mansion were suppressed, and no one dared to spread a word again. According to the news that Lianzhi inquired about and came back, he said that he had disposed of several subordinates in private, so everyone didn't dare to talk about it anymore.

How did Chongyue Pavilion react, I don't know for the time being, with the ability and means to suppress the rumors, there will be no second person except for Duchess Anguo. Originally, it was the means of the county lord of Chaoxia to deal with Xiao Jiuniang, but it became a trick for the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and I don't know what the county lord of Chaoxia would think.

Anger is inevitable anyway!

Jiu Niang didn't guess wrong, knowing that someone had taken action to suppress the rumors, Chongyue Pavilion had a big temper that day.

"This damn old pious woman, why didn't she die? If you don't shoot early, you don't shoot late, and you deliberately rush at that time! In the past two days, Xiao Lang has been coming to Chongyue Pavilion, and the county lord sent someone to invite him, which is also a lot of excuses. Needless to say, it must be the old pious woman who gave the county lord eye medicine in front of Xiao Lang! ”

The broken porcelain pieces smashed on the ground, and the county lord of Chaoxia was still angry, and you can imagine how angry she was at this time.

The nurse Li stood aside, and she didn't dare to make a sound, until the county lord of Chaoxia scolded for a while, and sat down on the soft couch in anger, she persuaded her: "The county lord, you said that you wanted to deal with the nine ladies that day, but the slave didn't agree, and you don't know her current identity." ”

The county lord of Chaoxia raised his eyebrows and said disdainfully: "What is her identity?" Isn't it just a county lord, this county lord is still the county lord of the Holy Lord! The county lord's maternal uncle is the current Chengyuan Emperor, and the county lord's mother is the princess of Changping, who is the same mother today. ”

Li sighed slightly in his heart, considered his words, and said again: "Indeed, that Xiao Jiuniang can't be compared with the county lord, but you also know that the Xiao family has always behaved and behaved, and Xiao Jiuniang is extremely important to the Xiao family in terms of appearance and identity. And—"

"And what?"

"How did Xiao Jiuniang's position as the county lord come about, the county lord should know, it is reported that His Royal Highness the King of Chu also looked at her differently back then. Now the king of Chu is gaining momentum, and he has been favored by His Majesty, and the East Palace is also quite close to him, not to mention the favor of not being allowed by His Majesty to stay in Chang'an to build a mansion, and this year he was awarded the governor of Chu Prefecture and held the local military and political power. There are also many vassals under him, and there are many officials who serve in the six ministries, and he is the second person among the princes in addition to the prince, even if it is the king of Cheng from the queen and the king of Zhao from Liu Guifei, they cannot be compared. ”

"Just that cripple?" Lord Chaoxia was dismissive.

Li looked panicked, and hurriedly made gestures to stop the lord of Chaoxia County, and looked left and right to see if anyone else was. Seeing that there was no one else in the room except for the two, I was relieved.

She sighed again and again: "It stands to reason that the slave and maid should not say this to the next offender, but Her Royal Highness the princess ordered the slave and maid to take care of the county master, and the slave and maid are naturally duty-bound." The county lord, you have to remember that even if the princess is the sister of His Majesty, and you are the niece of His Majesty, after all, there is a layer of separation. Even Her Royal Highness the princess is taboo about the king of Chu, and treats each other with courtesy, how can you put the word 'crippled' in your mouth. ”

"There are many people in this capital, who doesn't know that the king of Chu is crippled, but who dares to complain? Why is the King of Chu like this, you should know, this has always been a knot in the heart of His Royal Highness the Prince, whoever dares to say it is to provoke His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to be unhappy, and to provoke His Royal Highness the Prince is not to break ground on His Majesty's head. Thinking that Li Chenyu was the son of Rong Guogong back then, just because he was drunk and ridiculed the King of Chu for a while, he was questioned by His Majesty, implicating hundreds of people up and down Rong Guogong. ”

The county lord of Chaoxia looked suspicious, although there was still a look of anger on his face, he still didn't say anything radical in the end.

"Now everyone knows what the Xiao family has in mind, the queen and King Cheng and even the Xiao family are not resentful of the power of the king of Chu, but in the end, they still have to envelop this big help, so they naturally dare not offend each other lightly. It's just that this King Chu has always been a cold face, even if he treats King Cheng and others, he never pretends to be colorful, and this Xiao Jiuniang is an opportunity to ease the relationship between the two parties, how can you say that Madame can allow you to break this chess piece in her hand. ”

The county lord of Chaoxia pursed his lips tightly and said after a long time: "Then what do you say the nurse should do now?" ”

"Wait."

"Wait?"

Li nodded, "Let's just wait and see now, you must know that this is not what it used to be, and if you look at each other back then, maybe it will be a few years now, after all, it has been a few years." It's just that before this clue is revealed, we should not act rashly. Wait for the King of Chu to show his attitude, once that person loses his due role, is it not for us to slaughter? ”

This Li family is worthy of being the think tank arranged by Princess Changping for her daughter, and her words are to the point, and she is extremely scheming, which shows that she is also a difficult opponent.

"But what if the king of Chu still doesn't change his attitude towards her?"

"No, it won't." Li Shi showed a confident smile and said slowly: "After all, so much time has passed, and the two of them have only been together for more than a month at that time, the reason why Xiao Jiuniang can get the position of this county lord is actually because she has the grace to save her life in the King of Chu." Now that the favor has been repaid, the king of Chu is such a temperament, how can he continue to look at a yellow-haired girl differently. And there have always been rumors that the King of Chu actually has a sweetheart, who is Meng Changxi, the youngest daughter of Meng Guogong. At a young age, Meng Changxi has the reputation of the color of the city, and she relies on the Meng family behind her, which one is comparable to Xiao Jiuniang? ! ”

"In other words, the time when she will let us slaughter is not far away?"

Li nodded, "So as long as the county lord is patient for the time being, when the Xiao family is disappointed in Xiao Jiuniang, and when Xiao Jiuniang returns, she will have no backer, and how the county lord wants to deal with her in the future, naturally no one will hinder her." ”

"Okay, I'll listen to the nurse. What about that cheap girl? The county lord really sees her as an eyesore, why don't you remove her from Liuniang? ”

Li shook his head in his heart, and sighed for the 10,000th time how he had such a master. But as the nurse of the county lord of Chaoxia, she has both glory and loss, and she can only try her best to assist her.

She said patiently: "Don't forget Lang Jun, since the play has been acting for a few years, why not continue to act, let's not do big moves, it doesn't mean that small actions can't be done, such a good knife is naturally just right to pinch in your hand, and occasionally you can add to the blockage with that Xiao Jiuniang, and you can envelop Lang Jun, it's just to reward her for food, why not?" ”

Li's words entered the heart of the county lord of Chaoxia, making her nod her head in approval. sighed that he couldn't listen to people's persuasion in his early years, so that he missed many good opportunities, if he had listened to the nurse earlier, he would not have experienced the previous unsatisfactory.

Seeing that the county lord of Chaoxia listened to his persuasion, the Li family couldn't help but feel relieved, and he was safe for the time being.

*

In the blink of an eye, everyone in the Anguo Mansion shifted their attention.

Without him, it is all because the Duchess of Anguo has arrived.

Duchess An Guo celebrated her sixtieth birthday this time, which is the most important thing in the house now, and everyone up and down is starting to get busy.

Strictly speaking, preparations have been made since last year, and the invitations and preparations for the feast of the day have been distributed and prepared a month in advance.

Jiuniang had known about this for a long time, and before returning to Chang'an from Lanling that day, she said that she was going to catch up with the Duchess of Anguo before her birthday. As for the birthday gift, Jiuniang prepared it in advance, but it was just a pair of shoes made by herself.

Young ladies like them, if they want to give anything priceless and rare, they don't have that ability, and the congratulatory gifts of the day must be extraordinary, so a hand-made object can not only be handy, but also express filial piety, and it is also more attached to the identity of Jiuniang and others.

On this day, the Anguo Mansion was very lively.

The people began to get busy as early as dawn. All the men and women in the house got up early in the morning, and when the day dawned, they came to Anrong Courtyard to ask Mrs. An Guo to celebrate her birthday.

Duchess An Guo was dressed very solemnly and festively today, sitting at the top with a kind smile on her face. The men and women in each room are in order, and they enter the door one by one to congratulate the Duchess of Anguo on her birthday and present birthday gifts and congratulatory messages. After that, those with a slightly higher status in the house were all stayed, and the others were scattered, and then everyone accompanied Duchess Anguo to use a bowl of longevity noodles, and Jiuniang was also among them.

After that, there will be no such thing as these juniors, everyone will disperse, and the others will go to the front yard to the front yard, and those who should stay in the back yard will stay behind. There are many guests today, I am afraid that people who are a little famous in Chang'an will come, there are many guests, and there are naturally a few banquets, and ordinary guests are naturally entertained in the front yard, like some slightly close people or more important people naturally have to be arranged in the back.

Fortunately, the defense of men and women in Daqi is not strict, and many banquets are held by men and women, which is not too difficult to deal with.

Jiu Niang is a junior, so naturally it is not her turn to come forward, but the Xiao family estimates that the plan to let a few little ladies show up today can be regarded as officially entering everyone's eyes, so the Cui family also ordered that Jiu Niang and the others go back to rest for a while, clean themselves up, and wait for someone to summon them.

I got up too early today, so after returning to Cuiyun Pavilion, Jiu Niang slept for a while. After sleeping for half an hour, Lianzhi's maidservants woke her up and began to dress her up.

Today's occasion is different, naturally can not do ordinary dress, clothes and jewelry are prepared in advance in the house, Jiu Niang is a goose yellow double luan pattern cross-collar narrow sleeve short undergarment, with a garnet red chest skirt and five halos of silver clay shawl. Jiuniang already had a fair and smooth skin, and being lined with this outfit made her eyebrows and eyes exquisite, and she was gorgeous.

Lotus branch combed the flying bun for Jiu Niang, first divided the hair into three bundles, and then tied it with fine silver silk, coiled upwards into a ring, pumped its bun straight up, and then fixed it with gold hairpins, and inserted a few sideburns and a tired red gold sideburns next to the sideburns, the thin gold tassel on the sideburns hung down on the eyebrows of Jiuniang, lined with the golden flower in the center of her eyebrows, showing a luxurious temperament.

Smart but noble, glamorous but not bewitching.

This is the first time Jiuniang has dressed up, and she looks particularly bright.

When they arrived outside the Liubo Pavilion, Shi Niang and the others arrived with her one after another.

This Liubo Pavilion is said to be a pavilion, but it is actually a lakeside water pavilion with a wide area, and it is rarely open on weekdays. Today, perhaps there are so many guests, so this place is set as a place of hospitality. Naturally, the feast was not set up here, but it was just a temporary place for some noble ladies and ladies to relax.

When Jiu Niang and the others walked in, there were already a lot of people, most of them were noble ladies and some noble girls, all dressed up graceful and luxurious, bright and moving or fresh and refined, shining this pavilion out of thin air.

The arrival of Jiuniang and a few people attracted everyone's attention, and Cui's called a few people to his side, and introduced them to several noblewomen as juniors in the house.

Since those who can come here are not simple people, several noble ladies naturally followed the words to praise Jiuniang and others for being beautiful embryos, and there will definitely be a few more famous beauties in Chang'an City in the future.

Xiao Sanniang and others are also here, but they are different from Jiuniang, they are descendants, and they have been in various social circles with their parents and elders since they were children, and they also have a lot of their own playmates. It's already scattered among them, each talking to their own playmates.

Seeing Cui's calling herself, Xiao Sanniang walked over, and then brought Jiuniang and a few people into the group of noble women, which can be regarded as letting them integrate into this circle.

It's just that they don't know each other in the end, and after a few words of greeting, Jiuniang and a few people sit next to them, and they are regarded as escorts.

After talking for a while, some people said that the house was too stuffy, and they went outside to relax. Several groups of noble girls who happened to be scattered around had this intention, so Xiao Sanniang led everyone to the garden outside.

Without the elders in front of them, these noble ladies are much looser, some of them talk together in twos and threes, and some go to the flower garden and grass to flutter butterflies and play or enjoy the flowers.

At this time, the sun is shining, it is early summer, although there is a sun, it is not hot, the birds are singing and the flowers are fragrant, and the laughter of the girls is pleasant, forming a very beautiful picture.

Xiao Sanniang is older than everyone else, and she is the host, so she is naturally responsible for entertaining everyone, so she arranged a group of girls who did not want to stay in the sun to sit in a pavilion in the garden.

This pavilion is a wide area, and the table and couches are ready-made, and there are tea and delicious melons and fruits prepared by the maidservants. There are more than ten girls in this group, some are older and some are young, some are sixteen or seventeen years old and similar to Xiao Sanniang, and some are thirteen or fourteen years old and the same age as Xiao Liuniang and others. It was divided into several groups, one group sat with Xiao Sanniang, one group sat with Si Niang and Liu Niang and others to talk, and there were also two or three people sitting in other places in a group, scattered in this bright pavilion.

Without the elders, these girls all seemed to be uncomfortable.

Jiuniang and the others were not familiar with everyone, and it was difficult to leave, so they could only continue to do the work of sitting together. Jiuniang has seen a lot of this kind of occasion, and she is naturally calm, Xiao Qiniang and Xiao Banniang and others have come into contact with this kind of occasion for the first time, and it can be seen that they are a little restrained. Especially Xiao Qian and Xiao Banniang, maybe they are used to being cautious in the day, and it is not good to always sit on the side as a wooden person, so they diligently arrange tea for a few places.

Xiao Liuniang and Xiao Siniang sat together, and couldn't help but pout when they saw this picture, and most of the others understood why she pouted. They are all noble girls of the family, and their identities are almost the same, and the maids naturally do this tea service, and a noble girl does this, but it falls to the lower level.

It's just that each person's personality is different, and their views are different, and those who are more generous in temperament will treat each other as young and extremely hospitable, and their behavior will be a little inappropriate at most. As for some of them, they have the same opinion as Xiao Liuniang, and feel that this person is too devoid of the manners of noble ladies.

"Xiao Liuniang, this is your sister? It's very diligent! A pink-shirted girl of the same age as Xiao Liuniang said.

Xiao Liuniang glanced at her, "I don't have such a sister!" ”

This group of people was still some distance away from where the others were sitting, and the two of them were whispering, so it didn't reach Xiao Qian's ears, but the few girls beside the two of them heard it, and they all pursed their lips and smiled.

Everyone knows that Xiao Liuniang and Cui Siniang have always had contradictions, and once the two stay together, they are at the tip of the needle, but they are not surprised by the scene that happened in front of them.

"I don't remember that she seems to be called Xiao Ba? You are Xiao Liu, she is Xiao Ba, is it not your sister? Cui Shi Niang's words were teasing, but in the end, they were in other people's homes, and most of them were restrained. Seeing that Xiao Liuniang seemed to be about to blow up, Cui Siniang shifted her gaze again, "Hey, that person seems to be from your family, but he is a beauty." ”

She was talking about Xiao Jiuniang, who was sitting not far away, looking calm.

"I remember that she seems to be the daughter of the Xiao family's Wulangjun, and she is ranked nine, called Xiao Jiuniang." There was a girl who listened carefully to Xiao Sanniang's introduction before, and interjected.

"Isn't that your own sister?"

Xiao Liuniang was extremely depressed, on a level, Xiao Jiuniang was indeed her father's own sister. But she was raised by the bishop of Chaoxia County since she was a child, and where would she recognize a 'little slut' as her own sister. It's just that this kind of thing is definitely not easy to say in front of everyone, so you can only turn your face sideways in anger, and treat it as if you didn't hear it.

Seeing this, the smile on Cui Shi Niang's face became even stronger.

"I remember that the Xiao family seems to have a county lord, it's this Xiao Jiuniang, right?"

"I think so."

This news is not a secret among the wealthy families in Chang'an, so most of these nobles have heard of it.

Back then, because this county lord with a foreign surname who had food and food caused a lot of heated discussions in Chang'an City, so at this time, most people remembered it, and because of this, they looked at Xiao Jiuniang with envy.

Cui Shi Niang's words were provoked, she naturally would not let go of this good opportunity to laugh at Xiao Liuniang, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief and smiled, "It's strange, this person is obviously your sister, but she was named the county lord over you." You must know that Liuniang, your grandmother is a princess, and your aunt is the county lord of the Holy Qin, according to this honor, how can this county lord also be awarded to you, do your father and aunt prefer this sister? ”

Xiao Siniang naturally wanted to speak for Liuniang, and hurriedly said: "Cui Siniang, don't talk nonsense, Liuniang and Jiuniang are not sisters." ”

Cui Shi Niang's eyes rolled, "That means that this Xiao Jiuniang is a concubine, and the concubine actually crossed the concubine and was named the county lord, Xiao Liuniang, how can you bear it?!" ”

Xiao Liuniang naturally couldn't bear it, and when the holy decree of canonizing Xiao Jiuniang came down, she had a long trouble with the county lord of Chaoxia. But this county lord is not casually sealed. Titles such as county lords and county lords are generally only eligible for royal women. There are also foreign surnames, but they are very rare, and they are generally either made great contributions by themselves, or their father's power is monstrous or their contributions are very great.

Back then, the county lord of Chaoxia was a little inappropriate, and it stands to reason that after the princess got married, although she was still a member of the royal family, her husband and her children were not. The county lord is generally given to the daughter of the prince or prince, and the county lord of Chaoxia is just a woman with a foreign surname. But Princess Changping is different, she is the sister of Emperor Chengyuan, and the county lord of Chaoxia is the niece of Emperor Chengyuan, so it is not impossible to give her niece the title of county lord.

But if it is from the identity of Xiao Liuniang, it is another layer away, and Daqi does not have the rules that the daughter of the county lord is named the county lord.

Xiao Liuniang had endured her temper, but now she was stabbed by Cui Shi Niang like this, and it suddenly exploded like a lit cannon barrel.

"Cui Shi Niang, are you finding fault?"

It's really finding fault. But Cui Shi Niang wouldn't say that, she blinked her innocent eyes, "I was just curious and asked, how did I displease Sister Liuniang again?" ”

"You-"

"Hey, isn't that Sister Changxi? Why did she come here today, and I went out to meet her. ”

A gentle female voice interrupted Xiao Liuniang's words, and for a while, everyone's eyes focused on the outside of the pavilion.

Under the pale golden sunlight is a girl in a pink shirt, with a small face with a big palm, jade skin that can be broken by blowing, eyebrows like willows, a small and delicate nose, big watery eyes, and a chuckle next to her mouth. She strolled from a distance, which made people suspect that she was as beautiful as the Nine Heavens Xuannu, and she didn't need pink to be beautiful and beautiful.

The girl is not very old, and her cheeks are a little immature, but she can already see the posture of the alluring city, no wonder some people in Chang'an have spread it that the Meng family has a daughter, and the color of the allure is unparalleled.

This person is the youngest daughter of the Meng family, Meng Changxi.

The girl who spoke up greeted her, and the people in the pavilion also got up and walked out.

The Meng family is special in Chang'an City, and everyone knows it. has enjoyed dozens of years of honors, if there is no accident, as long as Emperor Chengyuan does not die and the prince does not die, the Meng family is a special existence above all families.

And Meng Changxi, whose ancestor is Meng Guogong, the father of the former queen, his father is the brother of the former queen, Meng Xiao, the eldest of the Zhongshu Province of Zhongshu, the daughter of the Meng family is few, and the descendants are even rarer.

Especially Meng Changxi has been close to Prince Yuanzhang since she was a child, and Prince Yuanzhang loves this little cousin very much, so Meng Changxi's status is particularly special. This is a darling who has been born with all the enviable roots, and is always the focus of everyone's attention.

"Sister Changxi, why are you free today?" Zheng Qiyu stepped forward and said affectionately.

She and Meng Changxi are of the same age, and Meng Changxi's mother, Mrs. Zheng, is Zheng Qiyu's aunt, so the two have known each other since childhood, and their relationship is relatively close.

Meng Changxi saw Zheng Qiyu, slightly stuck out the tip of her tongue, and smiled innocently, "A-Niang originally detained me and didn't let me go out, but today King Cheng and Brother Chu Wang are here, so I will come with them as guests." I thought it was too stuffy in the house, so I came out to enjoy the scenery and relax. ”

Most of the others had only met Meng Changxi, but they were not familiar with each other, and it was not easy to come forward to talk, so they could only stand aside and watch the two talk.

Hearing that Meng Changxi came up with the two royal highnesses of King Cheng and King Chu, he was naturally envious. It's just that other people's status is there, and going in and out of the court since childhood is like their own home, but it is incomparable to others.

At this time, a few girls who were familiar with Zheng Qiyu stepped forward by leaning on their heads, but also said a few words to Meng Changxi, who had an easy-going attitude, attracting the envy of everyone.

For a moment, everyone's eyes gathered in that place.

At this time, an object suddenly ran out of the flowers on the side, snow-white and fluffy.

It is a precious Persian dog.

At first glance, Jiuniang thought it was Xiao Jiu'er, but when she looked at it again, she found that it was not, Xiao Jiu'er was snow-white, and there was no stray hair on her body, but this one was a pinch of black hair in the center of her little head.

I saw Meng Changxi bend down and beckoned, "Rain, come here, don't run around." ”

At a glance, it was clear that this puppy belonged to Meng Changxi.