Concubine Chen looked at her brother Ding'anhou's very haggard face, and couldn't help crying.

"It's hard work, brother."

"Where is the mother, this is just filial piety as a son of man." Ding'an Hou waved his hand again and again and said.

Xiao Lu stood tightly beside Concubine Chen, supporting Concubine Chen, who was overly grieved and unstable, and kept wiping away her tears with a handkerchief in her hand.

As a man, Ding'an Hou has rarely been able to see Concubine Chen and Xiao Lu since his sister Concubine Chen married into the palace.

Earlier, because Mrs. Ding'an Hou often entered the palace, but she lost her two sons in a row and never entered the palace again.

The old lady of Ding'an Hou has been arrogant and loves face all her life, and her children and grandchildren are not angry, so she is too lazy to enter the palace. Until recently, in order to give Deng Hong a chance to be a lord, he would enter the palace unusually frequently.

Because Xiao Lu is really not familiar with everyone in the Ding'an Hou Mansion.

She used to hear people say that her uncle wanted to only indulge in sheng music and fun, and his original official position in the household department was dismissed by Emperor Chu because he lingered in the Qinglou Chu Pavilion all the year round.

Xiao Lu thought that Ding'anhou should be described as obscene, but she didn't expect that Ding'anhou was still handsome and upright in middle age.

"Lu'er, say hello to your uncle." Concubine Chen gently patted Xiao Lu's hand holding her, pointed at Ding'an Hou and said to her. "Brother, it's been almost ten years since you last saw Lu'er."

"Don't, the eldest princess, where can you be the eldest princess's uncle." Hearing this, Ding'an Hou hurriedly waved his hand and said.

Everyone greeted each other, and Ding'an Hou hurriedly led Concubine Chen and Xiao Lu into the calamus courtyard where Mrs. Tai lived.

As soon as they entered the inner room where Mrs. Tai lived, the maids at the door saw that the masters were coming, and quickly opened the door curtain, and there was a strong smell of medicine.

Xiao Lu was caught off guard and burst into tears. Xiao Lu didn't wipe away her tears, but she had to wipe her face with a ginger handkerchief when she saw the old lady for a while.

Mrs. Ding'anhou, who was guarding the old lady's bed, heard the movement from the door, and immediately got up and stood up.

Speaking of which, because Ding'anhou is about seven or eight years older than Concubine Chen, when Mrs. Ding'anhou married in that year, Concubine Chen was not yet in time. Concubine Chen had a weak temperament, and she was suppressed by the stern old lady Ding'an Hou to look a little cowardly.

Mrs. Ding'anhou is also a high-ranking concubine, but her temperament is different from that of Mrs. Ding'anhou, and Concubine Chen was very close to this sister-in-law.

In the early years, Mrs. Ding'an Hou would often enter the palace to visit Concubine Chen in the harem.

"Sister-in-law." Concubine Chen took two quick steps, held Mrs. Ding'anhou's hand, and called her earnestly. "I haven't seen you for years, are you okay?"

"Thank you Concubine Chen, the courtiers have lived a good life over the years, they only need to offer incense and worship the Buddha every day, they don't need to worry about other things, and their hearts are peaceful." Mrs. Ding'an Hou said with a smile.

But Concubine Chen looked at it, Mrs. Ding'anhou's sideburns were already covered with white hair, and wrinkles were crawling on the corners of her eyes and mouth, and she inevitably looked much older than those high-ranking ladies of the same age in the imperial capital.

Concubine Chen knew that the relationship between Ding'anhou and his wife was not harmonious, and Mrs. Ding'anhou simply ignored her husband, who was looking for flowers and willows all day long, and had no intention of doing the right thing, and devoted herself to taking care of and taking care of her two sons, only hoping that the two sons could grow up and become talents in peace. The two children did not live up to her expectations, their homework was serious and their character was good, but it was a pity that the two children were unexpectedly infected with the epidemic, and in less than a month, the two children passed away one after another.

"Niangniang is in the harem, it's not easy to come out, come and meet your mother-in-law." Mrs. Ding'an Hou didn't want to mention the past, so she directly pulled Concubine Chen to the old lady's bedside.

Concubine Chen had only seen her mother a few days ago, and then looked at her mother, who was now lying on the bed with a weak breath and a withered description, she couldn't help but feel sad, let out a sad cry from her mouth, and immediately collapsed and knelt at the head of the bed.

"Mother." Concubine Chen's tears were raining down, how could she think that the old lady of Ding'an, who was ruddy and full of temperament when she came to the palace to discuss Xiao Lu's marriage with her the last time, had just not seen her for a few days, and it had become the current situation. "Brother, sister-in-law, hasn't my mother's health always been good? Why did he suddenly become seriously ill like this, what did the doctors say? If my mother is still saved, I will immediately go back to the palace and ask the queen mother to give her the best medicinal materials to save my mother. ”

Hearing Concubine Chen's question, Ding'anhou and his wife glanced at each other, and Ding'anhou opened his mouth very embarrassed.

"Maybe it's because my mother has been thinking hard about Brother Hong's marriage during this time. Since my mother was hit by Brother Hong'er, I have invited some famous doctors in the imperial capital one by one. Most of the doctors' statements are unanimous, saying that the mother is already over the age and is not confused, and because of the many events in the house over the years, she should have to take care of the house's internal affairs even more at an age when she should be taking care of her days. The foundation of the body has long been boiled down, and Brother Hong'er's confrontation has become the trigger. ”

Mrs. Ding'an Hou stepped forward, helped Concubine Chen up, and let her sit on the embroidered stool next to the bed to calm her emotions.

Xiao Lu stood behind everyone, bowed her head and pretended to wipe her tears, looking at the old lady of Ding'an, who was lying on the bed with a lot of breath and little breath, she had long since lost her arrogance as an elder in Yuxiu Palace a few days ago. Xiao Lu held a handkerchief in his hand to block half of his face, and the corners of his mouth rose faintly.

"Mother has been working hard for months, not all to give Brother Hong the opportunity to seek the master." Concubine Chen was so sad for her mother that she didn't care about Xiao Lu, who was still standing on the side, and only said in her mouth. "How could Brother Hong be so unappreciative and want to welcome a female singer who was sent to the Qinglou as a concubine. In order to support the Ding'an Hou Mansion, regardless of Lu'er's opposition, I took Lu'er's life to Baoding Anhou Mansion's honor. Did Brother Hong repay us like this? ”

After listening to Concubine Chen's words, Mrs. Ding'an Hou subconsciously looked at Xiao Lu, who had been very quiet since she came in.

Xiao Lu had red eyes, and was wiping her tears with a handkerchief, as if she felt her gaze, Xiao Lu followed and looked over, her eyes were full of tears, and she looked very pitiful.

"The smell in the house is foul, so let's invite the eldest princess to sit in the courtyard outside for a while." Mrs. Ding'an Hou looked at Xiao Lu with pity in her heart and took the initiative to say. "It's okay to let Concubine Chen accompany her mother-in-law well."

From Ding'an, Hou welcomed Concubine Chen and the eldest princess into the Calamus Courtyard, and happened to be looked at by Yun Mian, who was on the next duty.

In the past few days, because of the sudden critical illness of the old lady, there is really some chaos in the calamus courtyard, and everyone says that the old lady is approaching, but I am afraid that there will be no more days to live. The sons of the family who had been serving in the calamus courtyard were looking for a way out, so that they could find a better place to go after the old lady passed away.

Yunmian was a disaster victim who fled from the north, the north was far away from the imperial capital, and dozens of members of her family died on the way to escape the famine, and the moment she stepped into the gate of the imperial capital, she was alone.

In order to make a living, she could only sell herself and was sent to the Ding'an Hou Mansion by her teeth.

Until five years ago, because the old lady's courtyard killed several middle-class maids, Yun Mian, who was still working in the kitchen, was selected to serve in the old lady's iris courtyard because of her neat hands and feet and good appearance.

It was only then that she met Deng Hong.

Two years ago, Yun Mian was forced to be a concubine by the chief steward of the palace because of her outstanding appearance, although she knew that the chief steward had some personal hobbies, and every year one or two scarred maid corpses would be brought out from the chief steward's house. But Yunmian had no support in the Ding'an Hou Mansion, so she could only hide in a secluded place and cry, and was inadvertently bumped into by Deng Hong, who was drunk and returned late, Deng Hong saved her and refused to be the chief steward for her.

Because of gratitude, Yunmian often does some needlework and sends it to Deng Hong. After going back and forth, there was some friendship between her and Deng Hong, and she committed herself to Deng Hong.

Deng Hong accepted her and said that he would welcome her into his yard. Ke Yunmian has been serving in the calamus courtyard for all these years, and knows that the old lady is not very satisfied with Deng Hong, so he took the initiative to stay in the old lady's courtyard to pay attention to the news of the old lady for Deng Hong.

A few days ago, the old lady frequently entered the palace, and it was rumored in the house that the old lady entered the palace to seek the lord for the prince.

A few days later, Deng Hong came to look for Yunmian and handed her a small porcelain vase. Tell her to wait a few days for the old lady to fall ill, and then let her drip the contents of the small porcelain vase into the old lady's medicine in small quantities and many times.

Sure enough, on the second day, Deng Hong brought a charming and bewitching Qinglou woman back to the house, and the old lady was so angry that she fainted. Ding'an Hou angrily asked for the family law to beat Deng Hong severely, and asked people to take the Qinglou woman and hand it over to an acquaintance, and Yazi instructed her to sell it as far away as possible. After that, Yunmian acted according to Deng Hong's instructions, but after two or three days, the old lady's condition suddenly worsened, and the doctors said that the old lady was cured.

Yun Mian saw that the house ushered in a distinguished guest, and listened to the maid next to him say that the people who came were Concubine Chen and the eldest princess.

Yun Mian quietly handed over the errand in his hand and went towards Deng Hong's courtyard.

The little maid in Deng Hong's yard was familiar with Yunmian, and when he saw her coming from the side door, he opened the door and let her in without asking much.

Because the culprit of the old lady's anger is Deng Hong, in the past few days, Ding'an Hou has kicked out all the people in Deng Hong's courtyard, leaving only a small servant to serve in the courtyard.

"Lord Shizi." Yun Mian carefully pushed open Deng Hong's door.

"Yunmian is here?" A male voice came from the bed. "Come near."

Yunmian stepped forward quickly, like Feng Lunyin, and saw Deng Hong lying on the bed, wearing a thin undershirt, and his waist and hips were faintly red.

"Master Hou is so ruthless, how did he hurt the prince so badly?" With tears in his eyes, Yun Mian knelt at the head of Deng Hong's bed and said sadly. "When I came, I saw that there was only a small servant left in the courtyard to serve the prince, so when will the prince's injury be healed?"

"Good Yunmian, I'm fine. But some flesh and skin injuries, I can stand it. Deng Hong propped up his arms and said with a smile. The more serious my injuries were, the better, so that others would not wonder the real cause of my grandmother's death. ”