Chapter 274: Peach Comes from the Sky, There Are Many Eccentricities

The midsummer of June is the hottest time in Beijing, and the subordinates of the rich and noble families water the ground with well water several times a day, and even use ice basins to cool down in the study rooms of each upper room, and even the melons and fruits they buy have increased several times compared with the past. On this day, Zhu Di gave fresh melons and fruits to the military attache of the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies, and now Zhang You, who is serving in the Governor's Mansion of the Left Army, happens to have a share, so in the afternoon, a small lieutenant official sent two baskets of peaches to Zhang's Mansion. Although the door on the door is a gift on weekdays, but when it comes to the reward in the palace, it does not dare to pluck the goose, and several people carefully send things into the weeping flower door, and the report is that it is a royal gift.

Gu's illness has been cured by more than half, and now his appetite is still good, but because of his age, he does not dare to use ice even in the summer, and melons and fruits can only be eaten after pouring well water. At this time, Bai Fang cut a plate of melons and held it up, and when she heard the housekeeper's daughter-in-law, who happened to come and go, say that the emperor gave the peach, she smiled playfully: "The old lady said yesterday that Jiangnan peaches are delicious, and they were actually sent here at this time, which shows that her wish has come true!" ”

"What do you want to come true, that's the blessing of your second master! Just now the daughter-in-law also said that in addition to the prince, the military officials of the five armies have more than three grades in the governor's mansion, and the others are gone, almost all of them are the children of meritorious heroes. After all, this peach was sent from Jiangnan, and it is really difficult to send it by land and water, and I don't know how much it was lost on the road. ”

Gu Shi smiled to himself as he spoke, and then instructed the daughter-in-law in charge: "Let people bring peaches in, and invite the eldest wife and the second wife, since it is a melon and fruit given by the emperor, everyone can taste it." ”

After a short time, the two baskets of peaches were sent to the upper room of the north courtyard. Bai Fang took a few little girls to personally pick out the peaches, and put them on the vermilion carved lacquer tray one by one, and there were only twenty of the two baskets, and four of them had rotted a small piece. All the peaches are the size of a bowl and have bright skins, which are very pleasing to look at. Seeing that Gu Shi was quite sorry to look at the few rotten peaches, Bai Fang on the side hurriedly said: "As long as the rotten flesh is dug up, the rest can still be eaten." The old lady might as well give these undesirable rewards to a few of us in the house to try them, so that everyone can get the emperor's grace. ”

"This is a peach given by the emperor, Bai Fang, you are really good at picking things!"

The curtain outside was already raised high, but it was Dongfang who came in across the threshold, followed by the timid Zhang Yi. Because the marriage is approaching and she is married to a family, she is afraid of losing face, so she has been taking her concubine with her these days to beat and condition, and it is the first time in her life that she is so dedicated. She just heard Bai Fang's words outside the door, and she immediately remembered that last time the Gu family sent this girl to deliver something, so that her good and dignified Liwei gave up halfway, so she spoke a little politely.

After entering the door, Dongfang didn't look at Bai Fang, and asked Gu for peace with a smile. Seeing that the Feng family had not yet arrived, she naturally would not let go of this opportunity to curry favor with her, and said with a smile after the Gu family stood still with her left hand: "I heard that this is the tribute of this year's special tribute from the Jiangnan side, and it is only ten cars in total when it is sent to the palace. Besides, even if the things given by the emperor are rotten and distributed to the next person, it is inevitable that they will be disrespectful when they are known. ”

Although he had praised Zhang Yu just now, at this moment, the Dongfang Clan said such a thing again, and the Gu Clan was inevitably a little unhappy in his heart. And Bai Fang didn't care about a few peaches, just to please the Gu family, but at this time, listening to Dongfang Clan's words about subordinates, it was disrespectful one by one, she was suddenly annoyed in her heart, and she could only smile on her face.

"It's just a few peaches, what's so disrespectful?"

After she gave the salute, she saw that Dongfang's face was not good, she smiled, and immediately pushed Zhang Zhen to sit next to Gu's side, and then said lightly: "When I came back from a trip just now, I heard a few daughters-in-law in charge say that the lieutenant who sent the peach did not let the family go out to kowtow and thank you, which shows that the emperor is truly sympathetic to the hard work of the military ministers, and he will not forbid everyone from receiving grace." I went to the British Mansion first, and it happened that the palace over there also rewarded four baskets of peaches, although the British Duchess said that she liked it, but she didn't dare to eat more, so she only kept two baskets, and let me bring back the remaining two baskets. ”

Because he had just gone out to pay a visit, Feng had not yet changed out of his coat at this time, and the red and golden color luster made people's eyes dazzle, and Dongfang Clan's original vigor was suddenly half extinguished. Although she is also a second-class lady now, she rarely goes to the British Mansion, the reason is very simple, every time Mrs. Wang sees her, her expression is very faint and detached, and she can't find anything to say at all. Therefore, at this time, Feng moved the British Duchess out, and she was unhappy and could only endure it.

Feng Shi went out with a smile and ordered, and the daughter-in-law of the housekeeper outside brought two baskets of peaches, naturally twenty. This time, they were all intact, not to mention rotten, not even broken skin, apparently carefully selected.

Since there were so many more, the eldest daughter-in-law said such a thing again, and the Gu family naturally knew it, and immediately ordered Bai Fang to take out the four half-rotten peaches and let the little girls share them.

After instructing this, she said to Feng: "Although this peach is warm, it is still suitable for people with cold physique. You bring a basket back, and you are only allowed to give him two to eat, and the rest will be divided, but it will be a fresh taste. ”

Seeing Dongfang standing there pulling a handkerchief, she didn't know that the second daughter-in-law had made another awkward mistake in her heart. In the past, she still thought that Dongfang was shrewd and well-behaved, but now she always feels uneasy when she looks at it, and it is ineffective to beat it a few times, so she is too lazy to be wordy: "You also bring a basket back, Brother Chao has never liked these, Brother Chao's daughter-in-law is not allowed to like it, and the one in the second room who is happy, give her two." ”

Gu Shi didn't even want to mention Fang Shuixin's name now, and after assigning the second room of the long room, when she saw Bai Fang and a few little girls entering the door with a smile, she smiled and scolded angrily: "One by one, the monkeys are in a hurry or something, so that people think they haven't seen anything good!" Pick three and send them to the West Courtyard for Lingxi and them, I will keep two here is enough, and the others will be sent to the Du family in a basket. After all, Mrs. Du is Brother Yue's mother, and Master Du is not here, so I have to take care of it as a grandmother. ”

Bai Fang saw Dongfang's smile, which was more ugly than crying, and her heart was extremely happy, so she hurriedly agreed, and rearranged the peaches in the basket with the three little girls. Seeing that Feng and Dongfang accompanied each other to talk and left with their own things, she packed up a three-layer food box, and after putting three peaches at the bottom, she looked at Gu's face, and packed a few snacks on the first and second floors that Gu's had never touched at noon, but they were just rose cakes, almond cakes, crystal cakes, and melon kernels.

"You girl, just think about Lingxi!" Gu naturally saw Bai Fang's "small movements", and sighed, and was really worried about the West Courtyard in his heart, "You should slow down, as soon as Brother Yue leaves, it is inevitable that someone will be snub there." A few days ago, your second wife also said that she would release the monthly money later, so you go inside and rummage through my box, and send them the bag of silver from the last time. There are also a few colors of needlework that you can't finish, send them over together, and let the three of them help do it together. ”

Bai Fang and Lingxi were all right before, and when they heard this order, they were naturally happy, and hurriedly went to fetch things in person. When she came out, she told a little girl to carry a food box, and she went out of the north courtyard to the west courtyard. Because of the joy in her heart, she even felt that her steps were floating when she walked on the road, and she shouted as soon as she entered the gate of the West Courtyard.

"Spirit, Autumn Scar, Amber, come out and see what good things I have brought you!"

As soon as the words fell, the bamboo curtain in the main room was lifted, and it was the autumn marks that poked out of the head. Seeing that it was Bai Fang, she slipped out of the house and ran down the steps, and looked at the food box held by a little girl behind her, she couldn't help but smile and said: "As soon as the young master leaves, no one will pay attention to us, Bai Fang, you still remember us!" It's been vegan every day these days, and at most a bowl of stewed eggs is added, and my mouth is light, what's in this food box? ”

Autumn marks have always been fast, and the first layer was uncovered at once, and he smiled when he saw that it was a two-color delicate dim sum. Bai Fang and her temperament were similar, and at this time, she grabbed the lid and pulled the person into the hall. Seeing that Lingxi and Amber were not there, she hurriedly asked, and when she learned that she was going to get a new tent, she pursed her lips.

"The second wife used to be a fair housekeeper, but now her status is rising, but she is becoming more and more shrewd and stingy when spending money. Today, they also beat me up for a few peaches, but fortunately, the eldest lady said a few fair words next to me. By the way, the four-color dim sum in this food box was sent by the old lady, and the three peaches at the bottom were given by the palace, and the old lady said to let you keep them and taste fresh. ”

As she spoke, she put down the burden in her hand again, and first took out a pair of forehead warmers and ear warmers, as well as various silk threads and embroidery drawings, and then explained: "The old lady has been preparing things for the winter recently, as well as embroidery and clothes for the future young master or daughter of the British Princess, so there are too many needles and threads to do, and I have to ask you to do a favor." ”

"The three of us are so idle that we're going to panic, it's best to have something to do." Qiu Zhen agreed with a mouthful, because she saw that there was still something in the baggage, she couldn't help but say, "If you have anything, take it out and hide it, what's the matter?" ”

"That's the old lady who is sympathetic to you and asked me to send twenty taels of silver!" Bai Fang told the truth at this time, because she was stunned when she saw the autumn marks, she said with envy, "The old lady was afraid that you would have no money when the third young master left, so she ordered me to do this." Speaking of moving from moving to Beijing, although there are many items, but the expenses are also large, seeing that July is the prince's Qianqiu Festival, I heard that the second wife in order to prepare for this trip, the first Zhuangzi in those opportunities have been put on board! ”

Just when the emperor gave the military ministers peaches, and on the day when many people were thinking about the Qianqiu Festival of the crown prince in July, Zhu Di's will suddenly came from the palace - the crown prince was exempted from the Qianqiu Festival. This is the third consecutive year that the crown prince has been exempted from the gift of the Thousand Autumn Festival, although this will has saved a lot of expenses for the family of civil and military officials and meritorious heroes, but people have to speculate.

The Crown Prince's Thousand Autumn Festival has always been a banquet in the Wenhua Palace, and now most of the officials have moved to Beijing.