Zhao Xiu didn't know that someone was watching him from a distance. After lighting the firecrackers, she ran into the door and covered her ears, watching with joy as the crackles crackled.

Outside the gate of Jiannan Hou's Mansion, there was a group of jubilants, and inside the gate, Zhao Xiu followed his grandmother Zhang and brother Zhao Wei, and they all showed big smiling faces. People from all over the house came to see the excitement, and as soon as the sound of firecrackers stopped, they invariably said auspicious words to Zhao Wei and Zhang. Zhang was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth, and said in a loud voice: "Okay, good." "He also ordered Wang Fulai to give a reward, everyone received an extra month's monthly money, and everyone added an extra meat dish tonight. When everyone heard this, they were overjoyed and hurriedly thanked the reward.

Zhao Wei smiled and said to Zhang's family: "Sun Er has already ordered someone to call Brother Ai and Brother Qixuan to go." Now that the emperor's reward has come down and he has allowed his grandson's invitation, our family can also prepare to return to their hometown. There is a boat in Liufang, so let's simply take the boat in Liufang back to Fengxian, right? ”

Zhang Shi hurriedly said: "This is right, my family has a boat, so why should I be cheaper for outsiders?" Our family has a happy event today, so we don't have to be too public, call a few of your brothers and nephews to come over for a family banquet, and everyone will be happy. ”

Zhao Wei responded, and Zhao Xiu said again: "I don't know if the sixth room can vacate the empty ship right now?" After the autumn, the grain entered Beijing, and the sixth room was doing rice and grain business, I'm afraid that the ships are all used, right? Our family didn't say hello to Liufang in advance, if they really can't take out the boat, then forget it, don't hinder people from doing business. ”

Zhang said: "Where can't you draw two or three boats?" Your brother will take a ride with someone, and you will ride with me. The next person sits on one with big luggage, that is. The six-room family has a big business, and there is still a foundation for this. ”

Zhao Xiu is not as optimistic as Zhang. After all, she didn't mention it to the people in the sixth room, but the matter always had to be asked to the people in the sixth room before she knew how, so she didn't say much. Zhao Wei took people to watch the celebration in front of the door, and after a while, he asked someone to clean up his things. Zhao Xiu took Zhang back to the hospital.

On the way, Zhang's still talked to her: "Fang Cai is really not like words, and your brother is willing to indulge you." I know that you have received the praise of the Queen Mother today, and you are happy in your heart, and your actions are a little out of line. Hold it down. The Queen Mother is kind and kind, and she doesn't know how many daughters she wants to praise in a year......"

Zhao Xiu smiled and followed her grandmother's chatter, anyway, she was happy today......

Xie Xiangfei saw from a distance that the smiling face disappeared behind the gate of the Jiannan Hou Mansion. Not long after, the people at the door dispersed and the door was closed. Suddenly, he stared at the door for a moment. But I don't know what is going on in my head.

The retinue saw him odd. After waiting for a while, there was no movement, so I had to ask in a whisper, "What's wrong with my brother?" It's not early, it's time to set up dinner in the house, brother, let's go back early, right? ”

Xie Xiangfei sighed, manipulated the reins of the horse, and re-embarked on the road home.

When he returned home, what was waiting for him was not a hot lunch, but anxious parents. As soon as Qu Shuibo saw him enter the door, he looked at him nervously. Mrs. Qu Shuibo stood up directly: "What? Did you see my mother? Is Niangniang a qiē good? ”

Xie Xiangfei replied calmly: "Yes, Niangniang's health is fine. It's just not in good spirits. The son has already persuaded the mother, and the mother also has the intention of cheering up, and asked the mother to hand the sign into the palace tomorrow to meet. ”

Mrs. Qu Shuibo immediately recited the Buddha, and there was a smile on her face: "It seems that Niangniang has figured it out?" That's good, that's good......"

Qu Shuibo asked his son: "In addition to seeing Niangniang, have you ever seen the emperor and the two princes?" ”

Xie Xiangfei shook his head: "The emperor is discussing with the courtiers in the Qianqing Palace, how can my son disturb?" The princes went to school in the morning, and lunch was used back to the Qianqing Palace, and the sons did not see them. ”

Qu Shuibo began to sigh: "How is this good? Although I saw Niangniang and persuaded her to turn around a little, I couldn't see the princes, and I didn't know their current situation, which was not a long-term plan after all. He thought for a while, and then asked his son: "Since the mother has cheered up, has she changed her mind?" If that's the case, Ming'er should ask your mother to bring her two younger sisters into the palace for her to meet. People always have to be with her for a long time, and they always have to fall in love with her. ”

Xie Xiangfei hurriedly repeated the queen's instructions, she only wanted to see Mrs. Qu Shuibo alone, and said the queen's speculation, thinking that the Xie family would send the daughter into the palace again, I am afraid that the queen mother and the emperor will not accept it.

Qu Shuibo couldn't help but be a little annoyed: "Is it the queen mother and the emperor who are unwilling, or the queen who is unwilling?!" Didn't you say she had figured it out? Why do you want to be willful?! We want to send people into the palace, what is the picture? Not for her sake?! Does she still think that her father and mother will harm her?! ”

Mrs. Qu Shuibo's eyes were red when she heard this, and she persuaded her husband: "Master Hou, don't mention it again, the queen can't figure it out for a while, and it's human nature." Originally, he was afraid that she would fall out of favor in front of the emperor and would be detrimental to the emperor's eldest son, so the Hou Ye wanted to send his niece daughter into the palace. Now that the queen has decided to cheer up, when she returns to favor, why worry about the unstable position of the emperor's eldest son? Then there is no need to send your niece into the palace. ”

"What do you know?!" Qu Shuibo reprimanded, "No matter whether the queen can regain her favor this time, the harem will still enter the newcomer sooner or later!" Instead of letting people outside send a beautiful woman into the palace to compete with the queen, give birth to a prince and threaten the emperor's eldest son's throne, it is better for our family to send one over by ourselves, not only to occupy the seat, but also not to compete with the queen, but also to help the queen deal with other people, wouldn't it be troublesome? The queen can also take this opportunity to get a virtuous name, so that outsiders can mention it, and say that the queen is jealous and not virtuous! ”

Mrs. Qu Shuibo was dumb, but her eyes became more and more red, and finally she couldn't help but shed tears: "But she doesn't want to...... Hou Ye knew what kind of character the queen was, and he still wanted to do this, and he wanted her to take the initiative to mention it to the emperor, didn't he poke her heart? She is bitter enough now, we are her dearest relatives, we can't protect her, forget it, how can we bear to make her sad again? ”

Qu Shuibo said with a cold face: "What's the point of being sad for a while?" When the eldest son of the emperor sits on that chair, is she still afraid that she will not be able to enjoy the great blessings? But if you can't stand this little sadness, wait for the emperor's eldest son to be calculated by others. When she was in an unstable position in the palace, it was too late to regret it! I said a long time ago that when you raise your daughter, you have to be hard. spoiled her elsewhere, and raised her now that she doesn't know how to measure, but it hurts her! ”

Mrs. Qu Shuibo lowered her head and sobbed silently, Qu Shuibo was sulking to herself, and her face was full of trouble.

Xie Xiangfei looked at his parents' expressions, thought about it, and then persuaded: "Father is good." The son also felt that it was not suitable to mention the matter of sending his cousin to the palace at the moment, so there was no need to persuade his sister anymore. ”

Qu Shuibo turned his head unhappily: "What nonsense are you talking about?" Isn't it possible that you have forgotten the overall situation for the sake of personal feelings? ”

Xie Xiangfei shook his head: "Father." Have you forgotten? The emperor said that he didn't accept the harem now because he wanted to keep a three-year filial piety period for the first emperor. No jokes. Therefore, no matter how much resentment the emperor has against the queen now, he will not break his word. Even if you really want to admit new people into the palace. That will be at least three years after the completion of filial piety. ”

Qu Shuibo suddenly realized: "I forgot!" "Hurry up and think about it." The so-called three-year filial piety period should be twenty-seven months, right? It's been more than a year now, and there's still more than a year to go. That's right, now is indeed not the time to mention this matter, and when the three-year period expires, it will not be too late for our family to mention it. At that time, your third sister was not too old, and your fourth sister was more suitable, so presumably the queen would be able to change her mind at that time. ”

Xie Xiangfei said: "My son didn't mean that. The son just thinks. This matter depends on what kind of charter the emperor has, if the time comes. The queen has regained favor, and the eldest son of the emperor has been established as a prince, and the emperor has no intention of accepting newcomers, so our family does not have to say such things suddenly, so as not to slap the queen's face. ”

Qu Shuibo raised one side of his eyebrows: "If the queen fails to regain favor, and the emperor intends to recruit the harem, shall we propose to send your sisters to the election?" That's fine. If there is really a newcomer entering the palace, the queen mother must be more anxious, at this time, let's mention the matter of sending the girl into the palace, she must not make any more trouble, right? ”

Xie Xiangfei opened his mouth and closed it again. My father had already made up his mind, and it was not so easy to be convinced. Anyway, as long as the queen can get back the emperor's heart in the next year or so, the problem will be solved. If the queen can't, it can only mean that the matter is irreparable, for the sake of the Xie family, for the emperor's eldest son, the father's plan is also very necessary......

Qu Shuibo and his wife had no intention of eating, Xie Xiangfei could only go back to his yard and order the little servant to go to the kitchen to get food. He sat down and took a sip of tea, and before he even had time to change his clothes, the second aunt, the mother of the third girl, sent someone to look for him: "I heard that my brother went to the palace early in the morning to visit the queen's mother?" I don't know what the mother's condition is? Brother next day to sit in the second room? Uncles and aunts are very concerned about the health of their mothers. ”

Xie Xiangfei smiled bitterly and sent the person away. Second Mrs. Xie has a straightforward temperament and doesn't know how to beat around the bush, and it is also possible that she didn't intend to beat around the bush with him, so she said it so explicitly. What does it mean to worry about the queen's well-being? She just wanted to know if the queen had promised to introduce Miss Xie San to the palace, right?

It didn't take long for Miss Xie Si's mother, Mrs. Xie San, to also send someone over, this aunt was more tactful, and did not directly ask Xie Xiangfei to speak, but asked a mother-in-law to bring him two plates of hot dishes, saying that it was sent from Zhuangzi and let him try it. Xie Xiangfei knew in his heart that this was just an excuse, the elders had gifts, and the younger generations naturally had to thank them in person, and if they wanted to talk about some common things, wouldn't it be easy? In fact, Mrs. Xie's purpose is no different from her concubine.

Xie Xiangfei sent the person away again, looking at the two plates of side dishes on the table, he had no appetite at all. Even if the little guy brought his lunch, he still didn't have the desire to eat it.

It was originally a good family, but because of the word profit, it actually gave birth to different thoughts, although it was still a harmonious atmosphere on the surface, in fact, it had already begun to fall apart inside. But he couldn't say what was in his heart, so he could only continue to face everyone with a smile on his face, trying to maintain a false sense of harmony.

Xie Xiangfei couldn't help but think of the bright smiling face he saw on the road just now. He saw that she was talking and laughing with her grandmother and brother, and the family of three was smiling for the happy event in the family. Such a simple family, sensible and generous elders, filial granddaughters, and angry grandsons, the three of them have always depended on each other, they probably have never had such troubles as him, right? He had a faint envy in his heart, but he knew that it was not what he could expect.

Xie Xiangfei silently picked up the tea bowl, took a sip, poured the cold tea into his throat, and went straight to his heart. (To be continued......)