CHAPTER XVII

The sky was slightly bright, and there was a long queue in front of the palace gate. The frames of the ladies of each family stopped and waited for the chamberlain to come to check and check the waist plate of entering the palace, Yu Xiao sat in the car, yawned, and asked impatiently, "When will this go?" Where? ”

Cui Yu, the maid who followed Yu Xiao into the palace, lifted the corner of the curtain and looked at it, turned around and reassured: "I have seen the figures of your fathers-in-law, it should be our turn immediately." ”

Yu Xiao leaned on her chin, she wore a red and gold cardigan today, with a lotus root pink embroidered skirt inside, exquisite makeup, a full set of red gold peony pattern on the head, one of which was obliquely inserted into the temples of the red gold hairpin, and the thumb-sized red gem fell on the sideburns, which was very gorgeous. Although she looks innocent, such a luxurious and solemn dress makes her charming and faintly charming.

"There are a lot of people today, who are they?" Yu Xiao asked as he looked at the Kodan on his fingernails. Cui Yu hurriedly replied: "Because I am accompanying the ten princesses, none of the younger ladies in the mansions came, and most of the older ones were already married, so only thirteen young ladies came this time." In addition to the princes and nobles of the clans, there are also the young ladies of these civil and military ministers. ”

"People are coming......" Yu Xiao muttered in a low voice, and he heard the voice of the waiter greeting from outside the car. Cui Yu got out of the car, went to check the waist plate to enter the palace, the door was wide open, and the waiter glanced around the car, saw that there was nothing unusual, and waved his hand to let him go.

Rao went out early, and after a series of checks into the palace, when the young ladies arrived at the Tenth Princess's Yinyue Palace, it was already sunny. The palace maid led these noble ladies to the side hall, and Fu Shen said: "Ladies and gentlemen, please rest here, Her Royal Highness the princess is changing clothes, and you will be summoned later." ”

Behind her, two rows of maids in palace costumes rushed in and put tea and snacks on the table in the hall. After tidying up, he bowed to the young lady present and retreated. The whole process was orderly, and there was not a single sound. Heavenly prestige, even if these girls present are all from Beijing, they are also a little uneasy at this time, even their breathing seems to be a little shorter, and they dare not make any noise, and several young ladies with a little arrogant temper are even a little stage frightened, and want to leave.

"Why is she here too?" Yu Xiao caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in the room, frowned, and said in a low voice. Cui Yu followed the sound and saw a tall girl about sixteen or seventeen years old, sitting on a chair drinking tea. She has eyebrows and phoenix eyes, and the bridge of her nose is narrow. Wearing a lake blue dark flower narrow-sleeved skirt, the wide belt outlines a slender but not thin waist, there are no ornaments on her body, even her hair is only tied on the top of her head with a white jade hairpin, and the two temples are buttoned up with silver openwork hair clasps.

Among the young ladies in this room, she is very eye-catching. Every move is less shyness of the daughter of the boudoir, with a bit of martial artistry's neatness. This is Qin Xiwen, the eldest daughter of Jingwei commander Shi Qinyu, who has always been at odds with Yu Xiao. Cui Yu peeked at Yu Xiao's face, and sure enough, although Yu Xiao's face was normal, his eyes were already a little dark.

"Miss doesn't care what she does, the important thing today is the tenth princess." Cui Yu picked up the tea and sent it to Yu Xiao's hand, and persuaded in a low voice. Yu Xiao took the teacup and snorted, "Miss Ben uses you to teach?" Cui Yu retreated behind Yu Xiao in silence, Yu Xiao glanced at Qin Xiwen again, and pouted: "No man, no woman......"

Qin Xiwen over there didn't know if she heard it, put down the teacup and glanced at Yu Xiao. She grew up in a family of military generals, and since she was a child, she also likes knives, guns and sticks more than embroidered female red. How sharp the eyes of people who practice martial arts, Qin Xiwen glanced at Yu Xiao up and down, and Yu Xiao felt that the eyes seemed to be able to turn into substance and press on him.

Qin Xiwen snorted and turned her head, no longer paying attention to Yu Xiao, her eyes were three points mocking and seven points disdainful, Yu Xiao was used to it, how could she endure this kind of thing. Putting down the teacup and wanting to find Qin Xiwen's theory, Cui Yu hurriedly held down Yu Xiao and begged in a low voice: "Miss, bear with me for the time being, this is in the palace, don't be impulsive, go back and ask Mrs. How to explain." ”

Yu Xiao glared at Qin Xiwen fiercely, shook Cuiyu's hand away, and scolded in a low voice: "The dog slave doesn't have long eyes, and Miss Ben is also something you can touch?!" ”

At this time, the palace maid who had led them to the side hall stood outside the door and said in a loud voice: "Ladies and gentlemen, please go to the main hall with the maidservant." The palace maid led these ladies through the verandah and entered the main hall of the Yinyue Palace, and as soon as the ladies of the various mansions stood still, they heard the inner attendant say: "Her Royal Highness the princess has arrived." ”

The tenth princess, Xiao Ruyi, is the youngest daughter of the saint today, and is now thirteen. Her mother, Concubine Shufei, was paid tribute by the ministers when the saint ascended the throne, and she was born beautifully and was very liked by the emperor. It's a pity that my health is not good, and I went due to illness two months ago. Since then, Xiao Ruyi has been depressed and unhappy and does not think about eating, and after diagnosing the pulse, the hospital said that it was caused by depression in the heart, and if it is not enlightened in time, it will hinder the body. However, although His Majesty is his own father, in the end, the government is busy, even if he has the heart to accompany his beloved daughter, he is powerless; The queen is virtuous, but there is another layer of separation, and the rest of the palace concubines are even more inappropriate; There are no sisters of the same age in the palace as companions, and there is no one within the palace walls to complain about. Therefore, some palace people advised, you might as well find some playmates of the right age for the princess, and a few girls will talk and laugh together, so that the princess will not be sad and depressed. This is the matter of today's noble ladies entering the palace to accompany them.

Xiao Ruyi walked in under the support of the palace maids, the young ladies bowed and saluted, Xiao Ruyi's little face was pale, her eyes were slightly red, and she said with a forced smile: "Sisters, please get up, let's talk at will, no need to be formal." ”

Concubine Shu was one of the best beauties in the palace before her death, Xiao Ruyi was naturally not bad, although she was young, she could already see her bright demeanor in the future, but she was indulged in pain during this time, and the whole person looked a little sick. The queen ordered to summon these young ladies into the palace in order to accompany and enlighten Xiao Ruyi, at this time the main lord had already sat down, and the young ladies also took out the prepared gifts.

The gifts are all secondary, and the purpose is to persuade Xiao Ruyi to cheer up. It's a pity that Xiao Ruyi has already heard these big truths in the palace, and his ears are calloused, if he wants to be useful, can he still have this one today? Xiao Ruyi didn't want to waste the queen's kindness, so she cheered up and chatted with a few young ladies for a while, but they all stopped at a glance.

Yu Xiao saw that several young ladies of the princess had failed one after another, and his mind moved, and he suddenly said in a mournful voice: "Her Royal Highness the princess is so sad, it reminds me of my uncle who died early, and the death of my dearest relative, this grief is really heartbreaking. ”

Xiao Ruyi looked over when he heard the sound and asked, "You also have relatives who have passed away?" Yu Xiao wiped the corners of his eyes with a handkerchief, looked sad and sad, and said: "The little girl's uncle just left a month ago, my cousin was brought up in Beijing by my grandmother since she was a child, and grew up with me. ”

When Xiao Ruyi heard this, she remembered the scene when her mother died, her eyes were red, and she was about to cry again, but she suddenly heard someone say: "Miss Yu can't cry, you can't cry, don't force yourself." ”

"Qin Xiwen, what do you mean!" Yu Xiao paused, gritted his teeth and said. Xiao Ruyi also looked over and said, "Qin Xiwen? I know you, you are the sister of Concubine De's mother's family. Qin Xiwen smiled at Xiao Ruyi, then turned her head to look at Yu Xiao and said, "Don't you know what I mean?" Your uncle only left a month ago, and you are not at home to keep filial piety, what are you doing here today? ”

As soon as these words came out, all the young ladies present looked at Yu Xiao with a little wrong. My uncle has only been gone for a month, and he didn't even bring a single white hemp to the palace. Although it is understandable for people to go to high places, not only do you not hide this matter in your heart, but it is a bit too much to use it as a cover.

Xiao Ruyi frowned and looked at Yu Xiao. Yu Xiao was carefully dressed up in order to enter the palace, and the belts he wore were all carefully selected by the house, so he said that the red gold hairpin with a ruby pendant was a good thing that Mrs. Xu had purchased at the bottom of the box over the years. It's nothing on weekdays, but Xiao Ruyi has just been aroused by Yu Xiao's grief in her heart, and when you look at Yu Xiao again, she won't feel comfortable anywhere.

"This sister has a good heart, and my uncle can forget the pain as soon as he leaves, and Ruyi is really incomparable." Xiao Ruyi said lightly, Yu Xiao didn't dare to answer, and a fool could see that the tenth princess was dissatisfied with her. Yu Xiao looked at Qin Xiwen and wanted to pounce on her and strangle her.

"Has the princess ever heard of the Sansheng Stone?" Qin Xiwen smiled lazily at Yu Xiao, and then said. Xiao Ruyi didn't seem to be in high spirits, but still replied, "What's that?" ”

Qin Xiwen said slowly: "It's all country talk, and I can't be on the stage, but unfortunately I don't like to read, and now I can only pick up some miscellaneous talk and tell the princess, so the princess should have fun." Xiao Ruyi looked at Qin Xiwen and nodded, Qin Xiwen continued: "Legend has it that after a person dies, his soul returns to the underworld, walks across the Nai He Bridge, drinks Meng Po soup, forgets the past, and goes quietly, and enters the reincarnation to start the next life. ”

"However, there is a sacred stone at the head of the bridge, called the Sansheng Stone. Before each soul who wants to cross the bridge goes to the bridge, he must take a picture of the Sansheng Stone, and the stone will reflect the person they care about the most in the world. If there are people who are nostalgic for the earthly world and miss the time to cross the bridge, they can only stay in the underworld for a long time, and they can no longer be reincarnated. Qin Xiwen's voice paused, Xiao Ruyi listened to it, tears fell all over her face, but she didn't know it.

Qin Xiwen got up and walked in front of Xiao Ruyi, took the handkerchief handed over by the palace maid, gently wiped away the tears on Xiao Ruyi's face, and said softly: "Concubine Niangniang loves the princess the most, the princess is not cheering up now, if Niangniang sees the princess washing her face with tears every day on the Sansheng Stone, how can she leave with confidence?" ”

"Mother...... Mother concubine......" Xiao Ruyi held Qin Xiwen's hand and choked up. Qin Xiwen said: "The deceased is gone, doesn't the princess want to let the mother go with peace of mind?" Niangniang has been kind all her life, presumably the next life will be rich and glorious, will the princess let Niangniang stay on the bridge to worry about you? ”

Xiao Ruyi shook her head again and again, Qin Xiwen is the eldest sister at home, and it is common to take care of the younger sister, at this time, seeing Xiao Ruyi crying pitifully, she gently hugged her and coaxed: "Cry, after crying, I have to cheer up tomorrow, the emperor and queen are worried about the princess, and the lady concubine is also waiting to see the princess smile again, the princess can do it, right?" ”

Xiao Ruyi buried her head in Qin Xiwen's arms, nodded incessantly, and responded, "I can ...... I can ......."

Seeing this, everyone present understood that there was nothing wrong with them this time, and some soft-hearted young ladies were also hooked and began to wipe their tears. Only Yu Xiao stared at Qin Xiwen's back, and the brocade in his hand was twisted.

Hangzhou, Mufu.

Mu Qingling put down a thick account book, and there was already a stack of account books on the table in front of her, all of which were the property of the Mu family. In the brocade box on the side, there are still scattered land deeds. The Mu family has been operating for generations, in addition to the shops and fields in Hangzhou, and the Zhuangzi in the capital.

Mu Qingling rubbed her forehead, and said to Mu Zheng with a long sigh of relief: "Finally finished reading, I am going to let you show me the Zhuangzi here in Hangzhou." Now that my father is gone, it is a little inappropriate for me to stay in the governor's mansion for a long time, and I plan to move at a later date, and when I move to the new mansion, I will have them send there every quarter. ”

Mu Zheng bowed down and said: "Miss has tormented me, I have been in Mufu for decades, Miss will let me follow you into Beijing!" Mu Qingling helped Mu Zheng up, let him sit down on the side, and said, "Uncle Zheng, you can be regarded as watching me grow up." I won't hide it from you, although my grandmother spoils me, but in the end it is the Yu family, what is it when I enter Beijing and bring a housekeeper? Not only you, but the subordinates of Mufu are not going to take them back except for a few maids who have been following me. ”

Seeing that Mu Zheng was about to say something, Mu Qingling interrupted him and said, "I know what you're worried about, but what's the use of all of you going with you?" In addition, my father had moved most of the family business to Hangzhou before his death, and his old man planned to live here for a long time after he became a scholar, so should I move this family business back? ”

"You are old and strong, stay here and help me watch the things of the Mu family, I can rest assured. What I stay here is the roots of the Mu family, and I don't feel at ease when I hand over these things to others, do you understand? Mu Qingling looked at Mu Zheng and said.