Li's mother was scared out of illness since that night, and she was raised in the room for a few days, coinciding with the twenty-fifth day of the lunar month is the dead birthday of the deceased old lady, and the old lady took the ladies of the house to the Pudu Temple in the eastern suburbs outside the city to play Jiao, although she did not recover, but she still supported to accompany her.

A family, the old lady, Ji's and Wan Niang, the second aunt with Liniang, Rou Niang, plus Jiao Niang, a group of maids and servants followed, Hua Junyi rode a horse, in front of the old lady's sedan chair, seven or eight carriages before and after, occupying a street.

Pudu Temple is located on the evergreen peak, it is said that this evergreen peak is also strange, no snow is allowed all year round, the grass and trees are like spring all year round, and the lush green covers the entire mountain peak, so it is named.

In front of the temple, there were already novices waiting in clothes and incense, Hua Jintang arrived at the arrangement first, waited for the carriage to stop, and personally carried the old lady to get off.

The old lady came at this time every year, and was familiar with the presiding officer of the temple, but today she did not see him, but was greeted by her disciples, and was very strange, so she asked, "Where is your master?"

The disciple replied: "Today, Chang'an Hou is also here, and the master is accompanying him, so that the little monk will come to greet Mrs. Hua." The master said that when he settled down in Chang'anhou, he would meet the old lady again, and hoped that the old lady would not be surprised. ”

Sure enough, there was a green cover bead eight treasure canopy car parked in front, Wan Niang's eyes lit up, and the joy on her face was overflowing. She didn't want to come, and complained to Li Niang in the car, but when she heard that Chang'an Hou was also there, she was suddenly full of energy and urged the old lady to enter the temple.

The little monk led everyone to the backyard, the room had been arranged, the old lady lived in Yanshou Pavilion, Ji and Wanniang lived in Songheju, the second aunt and Li Niang were in the east chamber, and the west chamber was left for Rou Niang and Jiao Niang.

The Pudu Temple was as warm as spring, and the apricot blossoms of the three or two branches were blooming, and the old lady led everyone to play around the temple for a while, until they felt tired before returning to the room, and everyone dispersed.

Rou Niang took Jiao Niang back to the room together, Shui Xiang brought tea to them to drink, Rou Niang tasted it shallowly, the tea was clear and sweet, her lips and teeth were fragrant, she smiled and looked at Shui Xiang and said: "Good girl, you can cook such a good tea, it seems that I went to your girl's place to drink tea before, you are fooling me." ”

Shui Xiang said with a smile: "How dare the slave maid fool the four girls, this is not the credit of the slave maid, the water and tea were sent by the abbot just now." ”

Jiao Niang shook the teacup, "But it tastes not very different from before." Rou Niang also nodded.

Shui Xiang said: "I heard that this year's water is different, and it is taken from the snow on the leaves of the evergreen peak ginkgo tree. ”

Rou Niangqi said: "Didn't you say that there is no snow in Evergreen Peak all year round?"

Qing Huan put down a few snacks and replied: "It's said that this year is abnormal, but somehow, there was a sudden heavy snowfall about a month ago, and it took two or three days to melt." ”

"There must be a demon in everything that is abnormal, it can't be something strange or a catastrophe, right?" said Rou Niang's maid Qiaoxin standing aside.

Rou Niang hated her, "Don't say anything." ”

Jiao Niang drank tea silently, her lowered eyes flickered slightly, she was reborn, is it a strange thing?

At this moment, Mother Li came in, and after saying hello, she said, "Fourth girl, girl, someone from the Ji family has reported that the meal has been set up, let the girls come over." ”

Jiao Niang and Rou Niang got up, Rou Niang looked at Li's mother with a haggard face, "Is Mom sick?"

Mother Li smiled, and glanced at Jiao Niang with a weak heart, "I am old, my body is useless, and when the wind blows, it will be like a papier-mâché lantern falling apart." ”

Jiao Niang swept her and said, "It's all my ...... to blame."

She briefly talked about the events of that night, and finally said sadly: "I don't know if my aunt is thinking about me over there, so she came to my dream, and it is the same as the real thing." ”

Rou Niang didn't think much about it, but said: "This nightmare is not a big deal, it just so happens that we are in the temple, for peace of mind, the fifth sister might as well reward some silver and ask someone to do a small ritual, and grandmother will not say anything." ”

Jiao Niang shook her head, "I came here for my grandfather, so don't do anything else, I'll send someone to do it for my aunt when I go back." ”

Rou Niang told Li's mother to rest more, and went to Ji's house while talking to Jiao Niang.

Today, Wan Niang is very happy, a meal and a kind of atmosphere, after the meal Rou Niang proposed to go out for a walk, Jiao Niang was tired, back to the room to rest.

Just about to lie down, Shui Xiang suddenly knelt in front of Jiao Niang, "Girl, save the slave and maid." ”

Jiao Niang was taken aback, "What are you doing, hurry up." ”

"If the girl does not agree, the slave and maid will not be able to kneel for a long time. Shui Xiang said firmly.

Qing Huan helped her up, "If you have anything to say to the girl, it's not interesting for you to threaten like this." ”

Shui Xiang lowered her head and wiped her tears, "When the girl was eating just now, the Tao Jin family next to the Ji family called me aside, and she told me that her nephew had taken a fancy to me. ”

"Huh?" Qing Huan was shocked.

Shui Xiang sobbed, "She said, tell me to be prepared, and say hello to the girl in advance." When the old lady's legal affairs were completed, she told Ji that she wanted me. ”

Tao Jin and his family are both Ji's dowries, Tao Jin is now one of the housekeepers in the house, specializing in tenant rent collection, Tao Jin's family has been by Ji's side for many years, and he is extremely dependent.

Not only his two sons, but also Tao Jin's younger brother and sister are all working in the mansion, and her nephew has also been with Hua Junyi since he was a child, so his Jin family is very decent in Huafu.

Qing Huan twisted his eyebrows and said angrily: "The family surnamed Tao is too arrogant, he has to follow him if he likes him, they are all slaves, who is much taller than whom." ”

I don't know that the slaves are also divided into three, six, nine and so on, like Tao Jin's family, even Jiao Niang has to be polite when talking to her. It's not difficult for her to want someone from her.

Shui Xiang also understands this, but there is always a glimmer of hope, "The girl doesn't know, that Tao Xi is a bastard hooligan, relying on the power of the eldest prince and his family to tease the little maid every day." When the slave maid was doing miscellaneous labor, he always did something to the slave and maid, and his first daughter-in-law was also abused and beaten to death by him, and it was the Ji family who came forward to hide this matter. If I really follow him, I don't know how many years I'll live?"

She had heard of Tao Xicheng walking cats and teasing dogs every day, but Jiao Niang had never heard of him beating his wife to death, and only vaguely heard that people had died of tuberculosis.

My heart moved, and I asked, "Is this really the case? Who did you listen to?"

Shui Xiang was speechless for a while, as if she didn't want to mention it, and hesitated before saying: "Half a year ago, the girl asked me to send snacks to the Ji family, and I overheard the Ji family and the Tao Jin family talking about this. ”

Looking at her expression, Jiao Niang knew that that incident still made her mind. With her intelligence, she also understands why the Ji family sent her for no reason, so she has been silent since she came back, and she is not as close to her as before, and she still blames her a little.

His knees slammed on the ground, and Shui Xiang grabbed Jiao Niang's hand tightly, "Girl, I beg you to help me, as long as I don't marry Tao Xi, let me be a cow and a horse in the future, and do whatever I do for you." Otherwise, I really don't have a way to live. ”

"You get up first. In the end, she has been serving her for many years, how can she bear to watch her jump into the fire pit, Jiao Niang rubbed her eyebrows, "You let me think about it." ”