In August of the third year of Tianqing, Suzhou Mansion was the back house.

Autumn is high and cool, the cluster of osmanthus blooms, the golden chestnut dotted between the osmanthus trees that are evergreen all the year round, the leafy leafy trees, the real name is "the leaves are dense and the layers are green, and the flowers bloom ten thousand points yellow". In the elegant courtyard, there is an intoxicating fragrance of osmanthus everywhere, which is clear and dust-free, and can go far.

In the wing room on the west side of the back house, a young woman with a light and graceful figure sat leisurely on the rose chair, grooming in the mirror. She was about 20 years old, wearing a light yellow embroidered folded branch flower bright brocade gown, a blue cloud silk long skirt, and a colorful golden step on the playful bun, inlaid with beads and treasures, shining brightly, which made her smooth and beautiful face more and more beautiful.

In the mirror, she is graceful, delicate and indescribable, and she is clearly a rare beauty. However, she was still dissatisfied with her face in the mirror, and examined it with a critical gaze for a moment, and her slender jade hand reached out to the fat powder, wanting to touch up her makeup again.

A slender and graceful girl with a delicate face stood beside her, her eyes full of envy. Isn't that enough? You are already very beautiful, I am a girl's family, and I am also thrilled to see you.

"My good young lady, dare you ...... again" The door curtain was raised, and a middle-aged grandmother in green clothes walked in, a little anxious, and did not dare to speak loudly, suppressed her voice and accompanied her smiling face, "The third grandmother is about to give birth, and the eldest grandmother is busy with her feet not touching the ground." Good miss, you are the second grandmother of the Pei family, the younger daughter-in-law of the eldest grandmother, it is not good to let the sister-in-law suffer alone, so you can help out. ”

The young woman didn't pay attention to her, but still looked at the mirror intently, swept her eyebrows, and lightly fluttered her rouge. She was so inappropriate to understate, but the poor lady in Tsing Yi was in a hurry, so she had to beg softly, "My good young lady, auntie, just listen to the nurse!" ”

"Unconscious young lady, she is the mother of two children, and she is still so childish!" Mama Tsing Yi looked at the young woman who was concentrating on the mirror and lamented in her heart.

This young woman's name is Lin Youhui, the youngest daughter of Lin Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, the wife of Pei Mi, the second son of Pei Kai, the prefect of Suzhou, and the second grandmother of the Pei family. Her father, Lin Xun, had been the governor of Su Song for several years, and because the governor of Su Song was stationed in Suzhou, he was familiar with the Pei Governor's Mansion.

Governor Lin has two sons and two daughters, and Lin Youhui is the second daughter and the youngest. Since she was born, she has been loved by her parents, spoiled by her brothers and sisters, and her temperament is very delicate. No, there have been a lot of things in the past few days, and her younger daughter-in-law and the third grandmother of the Pei family, Xu, are about to give birth again, and she still has the mind to take a break and dress up. Mama Tsing Yi's surname is Li, she is her nurse, how can she not worry when she sees her like this.

The Pei family is a good family who is innocent and kind, and it is also a family that respects rules. As a daughter-in-law in the Pei family, you can't be careless.

In fact, no matter which family you are a daughter-in-law, you can't be careless. Only until the day of becoming a mother-in-law can I take a breath.

Governor Pei is an upright official, and he is quite strict in disciplining his children and grandchildren, and he has never allowed his children to be careless. Mrs. Fang has a generous and loving temperament, but her mother-in-law is her mother-in-law, and her daughters-in-law are very respectful and filial when they come to her.

The grandmother of the Pei family, Gu, was born in the old family in Jiangnan, gentle and virtuous, and she was in charge of all the affairs of the family. She also cares about her two younger daughters-in-law, and has the demeanor of being an eldest sister-in-law.

The third grandmother of the Pei family, Xu, has an extraordinary background, she is the concubine of the Duke of Wei, the pearl of the Duke of Wei and the Duchess of Guo, but since she married into the Pei family, she has also been conscientious and does not dare to slack off.

is her own young lady, from Miss Lin to the second grandmother of the Pei family, from a girl in the boudoir to the mother of two sons, but she is still innocent and temperamental, obsessed with brocade clothes and food, loves to decorate, and has never changed.

Governor Pei and Mrs. Fang are both very fair elders, but the Pei family has three sons, the eldest son is naturally the most valued, the younger son is naturally the most favored, and Pei Erye is sandwiched in the middle, and he is the son who is most likely to be ignored by his parents. Miss, you are married to your second son, and you are still so willful, you are really anxious.

Mama Li was thinking about her thoughts, and at the same time persistently begged, "Good young lady, auntie, don't do this." Adding people to import is a big deal, the third grandmother is about to give birth, the eldest grandmother is busy, Miss, you are the second grandmother of the Pei family, you can't hide from this no matter what. ”

The young woman retouched her makeup, looked at the mirror for a long time, and showed a satisfied smile on her white jade-like face, "Nurse, you don't have to panic, it's okay, I know it." Although it is better to be a daughter-in-law diligently, I am the second daughter-in-law, which is different from the sister-in-law. Besides, the third brother and sister have only been launched for a short time, and they are still early. ”

Xu, the third grandmother of the Pei family, is now the third child. When she gave birth to Brother Heng, she tossed for two days and two nights, and it was not smooth when she gave birth to her second son, Brother Jing, with her physique, this third child could not be smooth, it must take a long time. Now that she is starting to hold her stomach and cry out for pain, the sisters-in-law have to guard her nervously?

Mama Li didn't think so, and tried to persuade her again, but the young woman smiled and raised her hand to stop her, "Okay, nurse, I know what to do, so I'll go over and help my sister-in-law." "Don't be verbose, I'll go, can't you?

The young woman stood up and said in a manly voice: "'The middle woman is not as worried about her family as the eldest woman. She turned her head and smiled at Mama Li, "Nurse, the second daughter-in-law is busy and loves to dress up, Song poems say so, it can be seen that from ancient times to the present, people are sophisticated, and there is little difference." ”

Mama Li is angry and funny, Miss, you chant crooked poems and talk crooked reasoning! You're so naughty when you're young, it's nothing when you're under the knees of the lord and lady, and now you're married and have children, and you're still naughty.

Mama Li and the eldest girl Hanzi went out together to serve the young woman. The young woman walked on the clean path, breathing in the pleasant fragrance of osmanthus flowers, and a faint smile appeared on her lips, "Do you smell the fragrance of wood?" Mama Li and Hanzi were used to following her, and they replied with a smile, "I smell it!" ”

The fragrance of osmanthus is everywhere, how can you not smell it.

The young woman smiled smugly, walked lightly, and walked deeper into the path—

Liujiagang in Taicang, Suzhou, at this time, there are hundreds of treasure ships, warships, boats, horse ships, grain ships, high walls and big masts, set like forests, cloud sails cover the sun, and the momentum is overwhelming. This is the empire's huge ocean-going fleet, returning from the Western Ocean. When they set sail from Liujiagang to the West two years ago, they took with them silk, porcelain, jewelry, medicinal materials and other items that were well-known overseas in the empire. When they returned two years later, they brought back lions, leopards, unicorns, camels, ostriches, spices, and, of course, the most important thing was the tribute and submission of Western countries, which was valued by His Majesty the Emperor. Originally, the purpose of going to the West was to "show off the foreign land and show China's prosperity and strength." ”

In the yamen of the Suzhou prefect, a man in his fifties and a handsome appearance sat on an official hat chair with a solemn face. When the ocean-going fleet returned, nearly 30,000 people needed to be supplied by Suzhou Prefecture, which was not a small amount.

Do you give it to the people? No. The tax grain of the entire empire was only more than 29 million stones, while the grain tax of the seven counties of Suzhou was 2.89 million stones, accounting for one-tenth of the taxes of the entire empire. The people of Wuzhong are already bitter enough.

"Let's open a position." The man made a decision.

However, if he really wants to open a position, it is not something that he, the prefect of Suzhou, can do alone. On the territory of Suzhou, there is a person with greater authority than him, and that is the governor of Su Song. Today's Governor Su Song's surname is Tie Mingqiang, his temperament is upright, and he is really a bit iron-faced and selfless.

Governor Pei stood up and gave a concise and clear order, "Prepare a sedan chair and go to the governor's yamen." ”

After dark, Governor Pei came back exhausted. Mrs. Fang greeted him with a smile on her face, and personally widened her clothes for him and changed into a comfortable robe, "The third family was born, and he is a kid." Sir, we have eight grandchildren! ”

Governor Pei was stunned, and asked with some disappointment: "Another kid?" ”

Mrs. Fang was disgusted, "What? Do you dislike Hachi? She just got a white fat grandson, and it was the time to be happy, and she couldn't see her husband's undisguised look.

Governor Pei smiled bitterly, "My own grandson, what do I dislike?" I just thought, we only have three sons, no daughters. The eldest and third are the same as us, they each have three sons, and they have no daughters; The second child has only two sons and no daughters; Madam, if we don't have a daughter, don't we even have a granddaughter? ”

Mrs. Fang sighed softly, "What's so good about girls?" I have worked hard and painstakingly to raise it, but I have to endure the pain of marrying into someone else's family, and live by watching the faces of my in-laws and husbands. ”

Although she said this, her eyes showed pity and regret.

Governor Pei has been a husband and wife with her for decades, how can anyone not understand her? She wants her little granddaughter more than anyone else, but she is just stubborn.

The couple looked at each other, both feeling helpless.

"Can things go well in the yamen?" Mrs. Fang handed over a cup of hot tea and asked softly.

"The ocean-going fleet is back, and the rations of nearly 30,000 people need to be urgently supplied. Fortunately, the iron governor took pity on the people and agreed to open a warehouse. Governor Pei took a sip of tea and said with a smile.

"That's very good." Mrs. Fang was very pleased.

The ocean-going fleet has to go to the West about every four years, and the place where they set sail and return is Liujiagang under the jurisdiction of Suzhou. Heavy tasks such as replenishing supplies for ocean voyages are also handled by the Suzhou government. If we can supply the ocean-going fleet in full without increasing the burden on the people of Suzhou, it is of course very good.

"In two years, I'm afraid I'm going to sail again." Pei Taishou put down the teacup and said lightly.

This has been the case for more than 20 years, and it takes about two years to go to the West each time, and two years to rest after returning. After that, go back to sea.

Once every four years, it takes countless manpower and material resources.

Of course, His Majesty the Emperor did not bother to pay attention to the huge cost of going to the West. As the true son of heaven who reigns over the world, how can he take these things in his eyes? Foreign merchants came to the Celestial Empire to do business, and he also specially instructed not to collect taxes, "Now the Yi people come to worship righteousness, but they are encroaching on their profits, and the income is geometric, and the losses are generally many." ”

A gentleman is still ashamed of his words, let alone the emperor.

However, the magistrate is not good. Those who are magistrates must pay their taxes in full and on time and to the state treasury. The magistrate has to do practical things, and he can't be high.

Thinking of the supply of the ocean-going fleet that he would face in two years, Pei Taishou lost his mind for a moment, and Mrs. Fang was also silent.

"We still have a happy letter in our family!" Mrs. Fang cheered up and told her husband with a smile, "Today, Zhonglang's daughter-in-law seems to be not in good health, and she quietly went back to the room several times. The eldest daughter-in-law was not at ease, so she specially invited the doctor to ......"

Speaking of this, Mrs. Fang paused, smiled and looked at Pei Zhifu, but did not continue.

Governor Pei coughed lightly, "I'm happy, right?" Madam, in my opinion, Zhonglang and we, as well as his eldest brother and third brother, are all the same fate. ”

I have three sons, and my sons each have three sons, so it's all in one.

Mrs. Fang looked worried, "Won't it?" Or a kid? It's also too ...... What a coincidence, right? ”

Although Mrs. Fang said so, she really believed it in her heart: Zhonglang's daughter-in-law is also a kid this time.

It's no wonder that Governor Pei and Mrs. Fang have no confidence, but in fact, they have been giving birth to sons one after another for most of their lives. When the son grows up and marries, he will have one grandson after another, one, two, three...... It was born until the eighth.

For the little granddaughter who had been thinking about it for a long time, they no longer dared to count on it.

"I'm afraid it's another kid." Not only Pei Zhifu and his wife think so, but also the Pei family, Zhonglang, and San Lang.

To everyone's surprise, the second grandmother of the Pei family, Lin's pregnancy expired in October, and the melon was ripe, and she actually gave birth to a baby girl.

The whole family thought it was strange.