In the late autumn of the first year of Xihe, the Wu'an Hou Mansion is still flourishing, the late autumn flowers and the bright red fruits of the vines compete for beauty, Song Mama of the Jinghe Eldest Princess Mansion hurriedly walked to the big garden behind the Wu'an Hou Mansion with two maids, walked for a long time, and walked to a lively place, planted with seven or eight luxuriant orange trees, a group of maids and daughters-in-law and children accompanied a few young masters to play in the forest.

Mama smiled and stepped forward to greet a few young masters, the boy at the head was Chen Yi'an, the eldest son of the Hou Shizi of Wu'an, who looked about ten years old, obviously recognized her, only nodded, turned his head and shouted to a tree: "Cousin, your grandma is here." ”

Zhou Baolu looked twelve or thirteen years old, her eyes were as bright as the morning star, she reached out and threw a plump yellow orange to the boy, and asked Mama Song: "What are you doing?" ”

Mama Song hurriedly said: "My ancestor, how did you climb the tree, if you want to eat oranges, you just send someone to pick them, why do you climb up by yourself, how can you bump into it." It's just no, so that the ancestors know the Tao, that's what ...... to say. ”

Before she finished speaking, Zhou Baolu had already climbed down from the tree neatly, threw another orange to a smaller boy, and cut off Mama Song's verbosity: "Don't tell grandmother." I ask you, what the hell have you done? ”

Mama Song knew the temper of the eldest lady, and she didn't dare to be verbose, but just smiled: "The ancestor sent a slave to take the eldest lady back to the house." ”

Zhou Baolu frowned: "I won't go back, you go back to greet the ancestors for me, and go back after the New Year." ”

Mama Song hurriedly smiled: "Not only the ancestor, but also the wife of the prince has also returned, when the slave maid went out, I heard that she had entered the city gate, and this time I may have arrived." ”

Zhou Baolu smiled happily: "Really? My mother is back too? Then go back, and I'll talk to my aunt later." ”

He turned back to a few boys: "I'm not here, be careful when you climb trees, don't fall, if you have something fun when you go back, I'll send someone to bring it to you, and if you have something to eat, don't forget me, the little red and yellow in the pool over there, remember to hey, don't get killed." And ......"

Chen Yi'an smiled and said: "Zhilu Dao, cousin, you just have to rest assured, I will send someone to feed you fish, birds, rabbits, and deer, and no one else is allowed to touch it, to ensure that you are still alive when you come back, okay?" ”

Zhou Baolu nodded with satisfaction, walked around, and went back to the princess's mansion with Mama Song.

The princess's mansion was quiet as always, and when the eldest lady returned home, there didn't seem to be any special movement, Zhou Baolu went to Ningde Courtyard first to greet her grandmother Jing and the eldest princess.

The eldest princess Jinghe is the sister of the first emperor and the aunt of the present, although their brother and sister are not born by the queen, but they are the only brother and sister of the same mother.

After the first emperor was on the throne, the eldest princess Jinghe was naturally the first among the princesses, and the eldest princess Jinghe is now sixty people, a lifetime of honor, excellent maintenance, and looks more than ten years younger than the actual age. ”

Zhou Baolu was not afraid of the eldest princess, so she threw herself into the princess's arms with a smile, and said with a smile on her apple face: "Isn't the granddaughter still thinking about the ancestors?" I just want to see my ancestors soon, but I can't wait to go slowly. ”

The eldest princess twisted her face: "As far as you can speak, if you really miss me, can you stay in your uncle's house for three or four months and not come back?" It's all in the imperial capital, how far can it be? ”

Zhou Baolu grinned: "Grandma still doesn't know about me?" I really want to miss my grandmother, but I really don't want to come back. ”

The title has changed from an ancestor to a grandmother, Zhou Baolu knows very well how to coax people.

This kid!

The eldest princess Jinghe sighed in her heart, there are so many people in the mansion, and the only one who is not afraid of her and dares to speak casually in front of her is this eldest granddaughter.

The eldest princess Jinghe has the power of a princess, and she is a little unrestrained by nature, whether it is a son and daughter-in-law, a daughter and a son-in-law, or a grandchild and grandson, etc., in front of her, they are all well-behaved, whether they stand up or sit-up, or talk, they can't help but be a little restrained. Even her concubine Zhou Chao, the prince of the country, was so decisive outside, and he unconsciously spoke in front of her with a little restraint.

Only Zhou Baolu has never been afraid of her, it seems that this is a natural nature, when she was very young, there was a time when Jing and the eldest princess trained Zhou Baolu's father with a straight face, the princess's second son Zhou Jilin, such a momentum, Zhou Jilin sweated like pulp, kneeling and didn't dare to move, and didn't dare to make a sound, Zhou Baolu sat at the princess's feet and listened with a smile for a while, and then climbed on the princess with her hands and feet to hug her, the nurse was frightened and hurriedly hugged her aside, she broke free again, staggered over, and then crawled on the princess, The princess eventually picked her up.

Zhou Baolu has always been like this, she has never been so frightened in front of the princess, she has never had to figure out the old lady's thoughts, she wants to see if the old lady is happy or not, she wants to say something that the old lady likes to flatter, etc., she seems to think that she is her grandmother's own granddaughter, what can't she say?

But Jing and the eldest princess just eat her set, and other people may not be able to get a good one no matter how much they flatter, Zhou Baolu dares to say anything, but Jing and the eldest princess never get angry with her.

At this time, too, the princess sighed: "I know the way." ”

The princess stopped talking, but said nothing more.

Zhou Baolu said with a smile: "I know that the ancestor misses me, and when I get married in a few years, I will take the ancestor to live in my house, and I will be filial to the ancestor every day." ”

Jinghe, the eldest princess, was amused by her: "What nonsense, big girl, there is no taboo to speak, which family has such a thing?" I knew that he coaxed me. ”

Zhou Baolu said with a smile: "Grandma came to tell me what she was afraid of, I won't say it outside!" I'm not trying to coax grandma, I've thought about it! ”

As he spoke, he pursed his lips and smiled: "I'll go to see my mother first, and I'll come over to accompany my ancestor for dinner." ”

As he spoke, he ran away again.

Leaving Jing and the eldest princess amused and sighed at the same time.

Because she is the only sister of the first emperor, she has naturally always been preferential, Jinghe's eldest princess's mansion is larger than other princesses' mansions, and the prince Zhou Jilin lives in Zhilan Courtyard, which is very large, with a five-entry courtyard.

Zhou Baolu entered the courtyard and saw the large wooden boxes that had just been unloaded from the carriage piled up in front of the shadow wall, and people were moving things back and forth, so he felt a little like Mrs. Shizi had come home.

Mrs. Shizi's eldest maid Mangyu watched on the steps as people moved boxes, which ones were sent to the main room, which ones were carried to the backyard, and put them in the ear room, etc., when she saw Zhou Baolu, she came over with a smile and asked for peace: "The eldest lady is back, and the lady will ask when she enters the door." ”

Zhou Baolu smiled and nodded: "Sister Mangyu has worked hard. ”

So he went in with the maid.

Chen, the wife of the prince of Zhenguo, has just arrived at home, changed into homely clothes, is crooked on the kang to close her eyes and recuperate, and there is a maid kneeling under her legs, she is frail and sick all the year round, recuperating outside, at this time when she comes back from a long journey, she feels tired.

Hearing the voice of his baby daughter Zhou Baolu outside, Chen opened his eyes, and his daughter had already run in, lying on the side of the kang, with a happy face, looking at his daughter's youthful and naturally ruddy smile, Chen's eyes immediately turned red, and his voice was choked: "Lu'er." ”

"Hey". Zhou Baolu hurriedly gave her a handkerchief: "Mother, don't cry, I know that you are happy to see me, then smile more, but don't cry, the doctor said that you should cry less." Crying too much hurts the liver. ”

Chen sat up and hugged his daughter: "I know the way, I know the way, I just can't help it." ”

Pulled Zhou Baolu to stand up again, to see if she had grown taller, looked at it once, hugged her daughter, laughed and cried, this is the only heart and liver baby in her life, the seventeen-year-old Wu'an Hou Shizi's eldest daughter Chen married into the Jinghe eldest princess's mansion, after three years there was good news, ten months later gave birth to a daughter, although the mother-in-law and husband did not say anything in front of her, she is a careful person, never thought more, there were some symptoms in the confinement, the body weakened, after a year, pregnant again, less than three months, and had a miscarriage, Since then, he has never given birth, and now the two sons of the son Zhou Jilin are all born of concubines, and there are no sons-in-law.

Zhou Baolu coaxed her mother a few words, and when she saw that she gradually collected her tears, she asked some gossip, what kind of medicine is the doctor prescribing now, has she had a heartache recently, and she can't sleep at night.

Chen asked her, "How are your uncle and aunt?" How many brothers and sisters are good? Is there anyone bullying you in your uncle's house? ”

Zhou Baolu smiled and said: "It's okay, when I come back today, I will go to say goodbye to my aunt, and my aunt will say that my son is coming to see you." I'm the fastest in my uncle's house, who dares to bully me? Even if there are a few people who don't have long eyes, and my aunt is protecting me, I can't afford to lose. ”

Chen smiled and nodded.

This daughter of hers, she is relieved, although her mother's family is not a light place, but her daughter is originally strong, and she will not suffer easily, plus her younger brother and sister are temperamental, and she lives in her hands, and her daughter is in her hands, so there is really nothing to worry about.

Zhou Baolu put her arm around Chen, and the two mothers and daughters were talking affectionately, when they heard someone outside the window shouting, "I heard that Madame is back?" Why don't you come back to me, if I hadn't heard such a noise in front of me and asked someone to come and see, I didn't know what to do, Mrs. came back and I didn't bring my brother to ask for peace, I lost my manners, Mrs. punished him, I only talk to you! ”

The maid outside was submissive, and when Chen heard this, he sighed and did not make a sound.

Zhou Baolu glanced at her mother, but didn't say anything.

I didn't see the maid's report, but I saw a pretty woman walking in with a little boy, twenty-five or sixteen years old, with a goose egg face, bright almond eyes, and a smile like a spring breeze on her face.

This is Zhou Jilin's concubine Aunt Wang, the boy she is holding is seven years old, and it is Zhou Jilin's eldest son Zhou Anhua.

Zhou Jilin now has two sons and two daughters, both sons are from Aunt Wang, the eldest is seven years old, and the younger one is just over a year old.

In addition, because Chen's health is not good, and he can't recuperate outside for a long time, Zhou Jilin's internal affairs in Zhilan Courtyard should always be in the care of Aunt Wang, and in this courtyard, talking is more effective than Chen's.

Aunt Wang smiled and said, "I heard that Madame is back, so I brought my brother over to greet Madame, and it turned out that the eldest lady was also back." ”

Pushed Zhou Anhua again: "Don't hurry up and say hello to Mrs. and Miss." ”

Only then did Zhou Anhua step forward and say: "Mother is good, sister is good." ”

Chen said, "Show your aunt a seat, and bring the fresh fruits I brought back for my brother to eat." ”

Zhou Baolu remained silent.

Aunt Wang's mouth was extremely clever, and she said with a smile: "I finally hope that Mrs. is back, Mrs. is not at home, the people below are not afraid, this yard is chaotic, everyone is lazy and slippery, good things are rushed, a little more difficult will know the way to prevaricate, from time to time also drink and gamble in private, quarrel and quarrel, I can't hate, I can't do it, I scolded two or three times, only slightly better, this is our yard." There are also housekeepers and mothers in the house, the shelves are bigger than the masters, we are not the ones with face, the girls return to ideas, order things, there is no smooth and smooth life, always this is not right, that is not good, always have to send something from time to time, please have a meal, say some good things is better, this time my hair is gray several times. ”

Aunt Wang talked and laughed, the spring breeze was proud, where was there a hint of worry, but in such a blatant way to show off her business in the yard, Chen didn't say much, just said plainly: "Auntie has worked hard." ”

Aunt Wang smiled again: "Where do you dare to be a lady's hard work, it turns out that Mrs. entrusted me with the yard to take care of ......"

"It's a lot of work." Zhou Baolu immediately cut off Aunt Wang's words: "It's really hard aunt, how can you be good?" Fortunately, my mother has also returned, and my aunt will be able to relax. ”

Immediately, no one was allowed to speak, and he instructed his maid without looking back: "Sakura, you go to Aunt Wang's house and take the pair of cards from our yard." ”

Aunt Wang's face was suddenly frozen, she said these words are nothing more than showing off and showing merit, how to work hard, how to mediate in the house, to make this yard clear, but also to show her ability in front of the housewife, after several years of operation, she took this yard.

The main mother is weak, the aunt is strong, this kind of thing is not uncommon, Aunt Wang gave birth to Zhou Jilin's only two sons, and Zhou Jilin favored her, the main mother is weak, her temperament is even weaker, and she retreats step by step every year, this yard is actually Aunt Wang's world.

Only the eldest lady is strong and assertive, but in the end she is a little girl, her words are always quiet, and she lives in her uncle's house all the year round, and rarely comes home.

Twelve-year-old girl, no matter how smart she is, what can she do?

As soon as Zhou Baolu said this, Aunt Wang stiffened, and said with a busy smile: "What the eldest lady said is not right, although I am tired, but I don't dare to bother Mrs., Mrs. is not good, so she has been raised from the outside, and it is even better to give birth to it, how dare you tire Mrs. to work hard?" If the tired lady is a little bad, how can I afford it? ”

Zhou Baolu suddenly put away the smile on her face, and said coldly: "You say I'm wrong? Even you, dare to say that I'm wrong? ”

No matter how powerful Aunt Wang is, she is also a slave, Zhou Baolu is the master, Zhou Baolu wants to pick this reason, and no one dares to say that what Aunt Wang said is right. As soon as this sentence came out, Aunt Wang's smile became even more reluctant: "No, no, eldest lady Mingjian, how dare I say that eldest lady is wrong." I mean......"

Zhou Baolu didn't allow her to explain: "Since I'm not wrong, it's my aunt who agrees with me, even if it's my aunt, I feel good, Sakura, you wait for your aunt to go back and get the right card, so you don't have to work Aunt to send it over, just give it to Sakura." ”

Where is Aunt Wang willing, this little girl is messing around, what does she know? In such a sentence, is it necessary to take away the business that he has been operating in this house for many years?

Aunt Wang refused to move, and only smiled: "The eldest lady has not gone through anything, presumably because she doesn't know the rules of the way, this was the order of the prince, and now although the lady is back, but the prince did not tell me to hand over the matter to the lady, presumably I am also worried that the lady's health is not good, and I can't work hard, I don't dare to make the decision on my own, and I will hand it over to the lady, the eldest lady said yes?" ”

Zhou Baolu saw that she calmed down, spoke in an orderly manner, and moved out of her father every word, which was nothing more than relying on her father's favor and having a son by her side, and not taking the housemother in her eyes.

Aunt Wang can stand out in this courtyard, in addition to her own beauty, she naturally has her scheming, Zhou Baolu wants to make a quick knife to cut through the mess with three or two sentences, and she wants to scare her into handing over the authority in the yard, naturally it will not work.

But where did she know that although Zhou Baolu made such a formation, what she wanted was not that thing.

Zhou Baolu is the first time to do such a thing, seeing Aunt Wang step by step, from the beginning to the present, the number of roads she has walked is the same as her aunt's expectation, she can't help but be surprised, as far as she knows, when her aunt came to see her mother a long time ago, she inadvertently walked face to face with Aunt Wang, Aunt Wang respectfully asked for peace, and her aunt only nodded, this is considered to be a once, in retrospect, she didn't even say anything, how could she expect Aunt Wang's words and actions to be so clear, as if she had seen it once.

And Aunt Wang saw that Zhou Baolu stopped talking, and thought that she was bluffing her, so she just laughed, what can the little girl understand, she was just relying on herself to be the master, and she was just aggressive, seeing that she was not afraid of her, and moved out of the order of the prince, the little girl naturally died down.

Let's teach her a lesson, although the master is bigger than the slave, but many things can not be done with the identity of the master, how can things in the world be so simple, the little girl is too naïve.

However, Zhou Baolu looked disapproving: "What does the matter of the back house have to do with my father, it was originally the mother's decision, who is still in charge of the family's affairs?" And I saw that my aunt was actually very reluctant to take charge of things, and the words were uncontrollable, and before I entered the door, I heard my aunt say outside that my mother came back and no one returned to my aunt, and I saw that I didn't set up the rules, and then my aunt said those words again, I listened, every sentence is not faceless, and the family of slaves in charge of things don't buy it, and I don't know how it's a mess. Since the aunt can't control the inside and outside of the yard, it is naturally not good to embarrass the aunt anymore, and the mother will just take it back. ”

Where is she unable to control it? She's just showing her skills, is her status in this yard good?

Aunt Wang's pretty face turned red, and she scolded loudly and forcefully in the courtyard and didn't reply to her, just to show that she could scold people in the courtyard in front of the housemother, how could she know what to do? was used by Zhou Baolu to make an article, and even those words that actually showed off that she could move around the house were distorted by Zhou Baolu, and she showed no mercy in every word, saying that she was incompetent, saying that she would not be a director, and the tone of her words was extremely unkind, and she was simply used as a slave training!

Aunt Wang said angrily: "The eldest lady keeps saying that I can't be a director, and I beg the eldest lady to say one or two things that I can't do well, otherwise how can I be convinced?" ”

Zhou Baolu sneered and laughed: "You are just an aunt, you just listen to what I say, and you still have to reason with me?" Whose master still distinguishes from the slave? If you don't accept it, the board in our house will naturally let you accept it. ”

Aunt Wang's face turned blue, in front of so many maids of the main house, her own maids, and the housekeeper mother who came in to ask for peace, she was skinned by Zhou Baolu so neatly, and kept calling the master and the slave, which made Aunt Wang, who seemed to be the master of this Zhilan Courtyard, how could she stand it.

Even Chen's felt that his daughter's quarrel was too powerful, but was Lu'er bullied by someone when she was not at home? In the end, she is just a twelve-year-old girl, and now that she is back and has a backer, she can't help but vent her anger?

It's just that I don't know how my younger brothers and sisters were raised, and they developed such a domineering temper, such a lack of understanding of human feelings, and they didn't speak tactfully at all.

Chen couldn't help but say: "Lu'er, Aunt Wang is in charge of such a lot of things, there is a piece and a half that is not well taken care of, what are you not happy about, just say it, don't talk like this, she is also a big girl, it is different from when she was a child." ”

When Aunt Wang saw Chen say this, she immediately sobbed and cried: "Mrs. Mingjian, the slave maid is in this yard, and there will be ten years from end to end, no matter how you say it, serving the prince and serving the lady is also a little hard, and she also raised two masters, that is, the prince and the lady, and also gave me three points of face on weekdays, today I heard that the lady is back, and I am in a hurry to serve with joy, and I don't know where to offend the eldest lady, the eldest lady has no face for the slave and maid like this, and the slave and maid will have no face in this yard in the future!" ”

Chen's family is a little embarrassed, Zhou Baolu is a baby daughter, even if it is a big mistake, she is reluctant to scold, but Aunt Wang is indeed a little aggrieved, Lu'er's temper, how can she raise such a powerful temper, Aunt Wang not only has Zhou Jilin's favor, but also gave birth to Zhou Jilin's two sons, that is, in the future, Lu'er will be out of the cabinet, what grievances are there, don't you have to rely on these two concubines when you go back to this mother's house? Why bother to offend Aunt Wang for some trivial things.

The more Chen thought about it, the more he felt that it was inappropriate, his daughter was really reckless, alas, such a temperament, in the end, she was a young lady at home, and it was not a big problem, and she would go out of the cabinet in the future, but how could she get it.

Chen said, "Lu'er ......"

As soon as he got up, he was interrupted by Zhou Baolu, and said impatiently: "Since Aunt Wang doesn't want to serve in this house, go back to her yard, Sakura, you go and get the right cards." ”

Sakura responded crisply, Chen became more and more anxious, but she was blocked by her daughter and couldn't speak, she has always been an indecisive person, and she hesitated to let Zhou Baolu finish her words.

Aunt Wang trembled angrily, but Zhou Baolu was the master in the end, and Aunt Wang was not a fool, so she didn't dare to really jump up and ask Zhou Baolu to grab the handle, only to be aggrieved, but she quietly pushed her son Zhou Anhua at the bottom.

Zhou Anhua, as the eldest son of the prince of Zhenguo, and there is no sister-in-law to compare, is naturally the most noble, that kind of domineering young master is self-evident, at this time, seeing his own mother being scolded and crying by his sister, he couldn't help it, and was pushed by his mother behind, and immediately rushed out of the gang, and hit Zhou Baolu headlong, and shouted in his mouth: "Don't scold my aunt!" ”

Although Zhou Anhua is a boy, he is only seven years old, Zhou Baolu is twelve years old, and she looks like a big girl, and when she was in the Hou Shizi Mansion of Wu'an, she climbed trees and caught birds, played with everything, and secretly learned some flower boxing and embroidery legs with the boys of the Hou Shizi Mansion of Wu'an.

Zhou Anhua sat on the ground and cried.

Aunt Wang also cried more and more loudly, and for a while the main room was boiling, and there was no open place.

Seeing this, Chen became more and more unable to interject, and reluctantly persuaded two sentences, but he didn't dare to stop Aunt Wang, and he was reluctant to scold his daughter, and even the maid and mother-in-law didn't move, so they didn't hear it, no one dared to come up to persuade them, they all hid far away, afraid that they would get out of their heads, and they would be slapped by their aunt and beaten by the eldest lady.

Chen sighed, sat down on a chair under the window, and stopped talking, just as if he couldn't see.

Zhou Baolu stood up and said angrily: "It's getting worse and worse, my aunt will only cry, and if she doesn't take out the right cards, I don't believe it anymore, I want to take the right cards and you nod!" Come on, follow me to the Red Leaf Building, and I'll get it myself! ”

Zhou Baolu's personal maid Sakura was obviously prepared, and she had already called all the maids in the eldest lady's room, and with a few mothers-in-law, she hugged Zhou Baolu and went to the Red Leaf Building where Aunt Wang lived.