Zhao Hongqu married Lin Shusen, the second grandson of the head of the Hanlin Academy, which is considered a first-class Qing noble family in Beijing. As the concubine of the Shangshu family, such a family can be regarded as climbing high. Especially when she has a sister with a bad reputation, such a marriage simply makes the concubines in the capital red-eyed with jealousy, and many of the concubines of quite a lot of people hate to bite the handkerchief.

For a while, those who were careful used the greatest malice to speculate about this marriage. What is the second girl of the Zhao family who is the most powerful concubine, but she was born in her aunt's belly, it's a pity; What is the second son of the Lin family who is good at Longyang, and he takes a girl with a low status in order not to be wronged by the little girl in the backyard; What Zhao Er's girl has already been secretly married, but she coerced her son to marry and seek marriage; The second son of the Lin family is actually not a concubine, but just a maid who is raised under his mother's knees......

Naturally, the parties involved in these rumors have also heard it, but their reactions are different.

The Lin family really deserves to be a real noble family, with a clean family style, although they all know the rumors outside, but no one in the house has ever said anything about it. Even for the sake of the heart of the Zhao family, on the day of the appointment, he deliberately made a big circle around the dowry in the capital. The Zhao family reciprocated the favor and immediately spread the news that Zhao Hongqu was raised under the name of his mother-in-law.

And Zhao Bailian thought that she had caused her sister to be involved, and she took care of the kindergarten children with a smile during the day, and couldn't sleep at night, only worried that the Lin family would really withdraw from the marriage because of this. Seeing this, Mingzhu first asked her to stop the class and work as a teaching assistant for Mr. Zhuke for a period of time. On the one hand, I am afraid that she will be unstable and will not be able to take care of the child. On the one hand, I was worried that she would be cranky when she was really idle. It's really heartbreaking.

Zhao Hongqu was also afraid that her sister would think too much, so she went to the kindergarten several times to talk to Zhao Bailian. But they were all blocked back by Zhao Bailian, saying that she was asked to stay married at home with peace of mind, and she couldn't come here to get lucky. If others see their sisters together again, I am afraid that it will be even more ugly. was so angry that Zhao Hongqu threatened to withdraw from the marriage on his own initiative, and Zhao Bailian agreed to see her.

Zhao Hongqu walked into her sister's house, compared to her boudoir at home, the single dormitory was many times simpler. A screen was placed in the center of the room, and she was about to bypass it to talk to her sister in person.

"You're standing there. If you have anything to say, you just stand there and say it. Zhao Bailian hurriedly stopped.

"Sister! - "Zhao Hongqu was a little helpless and wanted to forcibly bypass it, but was stopped by Zhao Bailian's personal maid who was guarding next to him. "Sister, what are you doing?! Are you listening to politics with a curtain, and you are still covering it?! ”

"Shut up! What nonsense?! Don't want to die?! If you have anything to say, hurry up and leave. Don't stay here for long. "Zhao Bailian feels that this sister is too uneasy, she dares to say anything like this?!

Zhao Hongqu felt that her sister was just thinking too much, when would the saint be guilty of some words from her boudoir daughter? ! But she also knows that Zhao Bailian, who has encountered many things, is no longer as confident and cheerful as she used to be. Even cautious, I will think about everything I do. Probably the only thing that hasn't changed is her kindness?! "Sister, I'm going to get married in two days, why haven't you come back?!"

Zhao Bailian shook her head, and thought that her sister couldn't see it at all at this time, so she hurriedly said: "I won't go, on your big day, I, an ominous person, will not go to add bad luck to your good day." Don't keep running to me, people should see it and talk nonsense. Your husband's family has such a good family style, and your granddaughter-in-law has such a notorious sister, she definitely doesn't want you to associate with me. ”

Zhao Hongqu said brightly: "If it is really such a superficial family, I won't marry!" Moreover, I have a life-saving grace for their family, and this marriage was not planned by me with grace, but their family took the initiative to come to the door to ask for marriage! But if their family is really such an unreasonable family, I can ask for divorce or divorce! Look at what other family style and family sound they have! ”

"You're talking nonsense again!! Are you trying to me off?! [Smack!] Zhao Bailian slapped the table, so anxious that tears came out, which family doesn't value reputation when married?! Where can this be considered superficial?! A concubine can get such a good marriage, that's a good thing that the ball can't ask for, so dare to open her mouth to withdraw from marriage and close her mouth to withdraw from marriage? ! If this word spreads, the marriage will have to be withdrawn if it is not returned.

Zhao Hongqu hurriedly explained: "No, I didn't mean that. Didn't I just say that in front of my sister?! Who made you not even participate in your sister's exit ceremony!? At the end, Zhao Hongqu only dared to mumble quietly.

Fortunately, Zhao Bailian also knew that her sister was a mouthless character, so she stroked her heart and asked curiously: "What is the life-saving grace you are talking about?!" Why haven't I ever heard you mention it?! I remember when the Lin family first came to propose, my father couldn't believe it at the time, thinking that there was something wrong with the marriage, and spent a lot of time asking for you. I'm afraid that this second son of Lin has something unspeakable, I guess he is a little unstable in his heart now. ”

Zhao Hongqu knew that in fact, there was his sister who had always felt unstable in his heart. At this point, she also felt that she couldn't say it, so she had to tell the ins and outs of the future: "This is not the beginning of the year, sister...... When the son of the Liu family first had an accident, didn't I accompany my sister to live in Jingyue Nunnery for a while?! That's what happened at that time. The vegetarian food in the nunnery is delicious, and there are often official daughters who go to pray for blessings and stay, but my sister stayed at home at that time and never looked at these. At that time, the scenery of the back mountain was excellent, with flowers and grass, and a pool of extremely clear waterholes. ”

"You went down to swim?!" Zhao Bailian asked coldly, this sister is okay outside, except for a little impulse to be impulsive about justice and righteousness, she rarely does anything rude. But in private, he is also a person who goes up to the tree to catch birds and goes into the water to fish. When Zhao Bailian was young, although she had a strong sense of vanity, she always looked disdainful of this sister outside. But in private, she can't do it. "You don't want to think about it, you are a woman in the wilderness, if something goes wrong, your life will be over!"

Zhao Hongqu smirked: "Hehe, didn't I take the maid with me." Well, you continue to listen to me. Later, I went to the west again, and happened to meet a mother and daughter fishing by the stream. Suddenly, the little girl's foot slipped and fell into the water, and the old lady reached out to pull it, but she was also ripped into the water. In a hurry, I jumped down and rescued them. Later, I learned that they were the old lady and the eldest girl of the Lin family. ”

Saying that, Zhao Hongqu gestured and said: "Tut-tut, two lives!" At this time, their family owes me, so sister, don't worry, their family will not withdraw from the marriage! ”

Zhao Bailian once again sighed for the wonder of life's circumstances: "This is also the blessing of your usual impatience for justice and righteousness, you should cherish it." At this time, she thought that she was fond of vanity at that time, and she had done a lot of ridiculous, hateful, and unethical things. If Zhao Hongqu's marriage is a blessing, is her suffering because of retribution? If so, then the punishment is really too severe. "Go back early to get married, don't be domineering just because you are kind to others. Since you and them will be a family in the future, then you must compare your heart with your heart, as long as they are sincere to you, you must also return the same sincerity, and think more about your husband's family. In this way, you can be cherished by them in the future and live happily. ”

Zhao Hongqu listened to his sister's advice, and his heart was sour. But he still said unrelentingly: "I don't care!" Don't tell me that! If you don't come on the day I leave the cabinet, I won't go out. It's up to you to see if I can do it!! With that, she slammed the door and left.

"Hey! You! Zhao Bailian suddenly had a headache, but she also knew that she couldn't help but go. Although this sister won't really go out at the closing door of the pavilion ceremony, if she keeps dragging it, it is very likely that she will miss the auspicious time.

After Zhao Hongqu got out of the kindergarten, he suddenly breathed a long sigh. Just as Zhao Bailian knows her sister, she also understands her sister.

Sure enough, on the evening before Zhao Hongqu's departure ceremony, Zhao Bailian did not alarm others, and quietly returned to Zhao's mansion from the small door where the servant woman bought vegetables and went out.

The family was waiting for her to finish their meal when they saw her coming from the backyard. Zhao Shangshu was very dissatisfied with his eldest daughter's cowering behavior now, and blamed: "You are a high-ranking concubine, don't go to the main gate, go to the small door?!" That's how your mother taught you?! ”

Mrs. Zhao was also sad, knowing that her daughter's heart knot was difficult to solve, and she couldn't bear to see her being blamed by her father, so she said defendedly: "Xiaolian also doesn't want to cause trouble for Hongqu, haven't you heard the rumors in Beijing recently?!" Pity my daughters have all escaped, and those living ghosts who are going to hell with their tongues are still not going to let her go! ”

Zhao Shangshu was also very aggrieved in his heart, and he regretted it a little as soon as he said it just now. In fact, he was also very distressed to see his daughter like this, but he couldn't pull his face to apologize for a while.

Zhao Bailian said with a smile: "Oh - don't talk about me anymore." Tomorrow is the day of the big day of Hongqu, let's be happy, even if there is something wrong with me, Daddy should not take it to heart. Yes?! ”

Zhao Shangshu glanced at his daughter sideways and sandwiched a piece of pork ribs for her: "Eat more!" Look how skinny you are now! ”

"Sister, I want to sleep with you tonight." Zhao Hongqu licked his face and said with a smile.

It's a pity that Zhao Bailian still feels that she is ominous and doesn't want to have too much contact with her sister, so she deliberately said: "You have to get up and dress up before dawn tomorrow, I finally have a day off, and I want to sleep lazy." Sleep with you, and you won't be woken up by then?! Don't even think about it! ”

Zhao Hongqu felt a little gloomy in his heart, but he also knew that it would not be easy to let his sister come back today, so he didn't say anything more.

That being said, Zhao Bailian actually didn't sleep well that night. I've been worrying about my dress, and I want to dress up more festively for a while, so that my sister is happy to look at it. For a while, I felt that ominous people were not good and too public. I didn't fall asleep until very late, and I woke up before dawn in the wee hours of the morning. Finally, I chose a set of brocade skirts embroidered with butterflies and flowers with apricot yellow and red edges, and a topaz coral tassel was inserted on my head. I looked and looked in front of the mirror again, and saw that there was nothing wrong, so I walked to Zhao Hongqu's yard.

At this time, it was just dawning, and Zhao Hongqu was being picked up and freshened up by the bride in a daze. Seeing my sister coming, I immediately opened my eyes happily: "Didn't you say that you want to sleep a little more today?!" Why so early?! ”

Zhao Bailian sat on the side, looking at her sister with a smile, grinning at the face of the bride there: "These days, I finally got used to the bed in the dormitory, and suddenly came back to sleep." I'm a little unaccustomed to it, what can I do if I can't sleep?! I would have been back this morning. ”

Listening to her sister's insincere words, Zhao Hongqu's heart warmed.

On this day, although Zhao Mansion was a married concubine, it was also very lively. Everyone who came to participate in the pavilion ceremony praised Mrs. Zhao for her virtuousness.

The morning is the day of the dowry, and the dowry will be shown in the woman's yard before going out. The guests who came early only found out at this time that the marriage of this Zhao family's concubine was really good. Although the total value of the dowry is still customary, there is still a lot of room for manipulation in terms of the specific number of things. For the same amount of silver, you can buy some ordinary red gold noodles and send them away. It's still golden, and it looks a lot like that. But like a thousand beds, jewelry, treasures, antiquities, these have silver, and they also have to spend time to find and buy things, so few ladies in charge have to worry about a concubine.

Especially the few pieces of cloth in Zhao Hongqu's dowry, which really made the female relatives who came to watch the ceremony staggered. At this moment, everyone thought of the rumor that they heard a few days ago that Zhao Hongqu would be recorded as a concubine, which everyone thought was an expedient measure for the Zhao family to break the rumors, and now it seems that these things are not something that can be done in a while. This Zhao family, to Zhao Hongqu, the concubine, is really good.

According to custom, the wine is done at noon. Waiting for the guests invited by the woman, after the noon wine is eaten at the woman's side, the man will send someone to pick up the kiss. After passing five levels and cutting six generals, the bride will carry the sedan chair eight times and carry it to the man's house. At that time, it was almost dusk, which is commonly known as the evening prayer and was about to begin. It's almost the chapel, and then the man's guests, where the man eats and drinks his wife.

This general situation, whether it is high or low, can be seen in the guests who attend the pavilion wine and the wedding wine. The Zhao family and the Lin family are almost the same from each other in terms of family background. Everyone is an official in the same dynasty, and the overlap rate of guests on both sides is very high. But because the Zhao family is married to a concubine, the person who receives the invitation generally does not come to the head of the family, or the wife of the family. This is very reasonable in the current concept of etiquette and religion, and everyone does it anyway.

Then, in this game, Zhao Hongqu is inevitably shorter than Lin Ergongzi.

However, just when the wine was about to start, the butler who greeted the guests outside the courtyard announced loudly:

"Princess Pearl has arrived! ——”