Yi Xiangxiang didn't sleep well this night, she was always dreaming in a daze; After a while, I dreamed that I had returned to modern times, and I saw my grandmother choosing vegetables in the small courtyard where she used to live in the countryside; After a while, I dreamed that my mother-in-law Lin kept laughing in the courtyard, chattering in her mouth, but Yi Xiangxiang couldn't hear what she said. It wasn't until the people on duty at night in the house knocked on the three watches that Yi Xiangxiang gradually fell asleep.

This time she had another dream, a long, long dream; She dreamed that her parents had taken her back to the city early, she had grown up with them, went to school, worked and got married, and her husband was very considerate and gentle, and they started a small family and brought both parents to live together. She had a total of four children, two girls and two boys, and she lived happily.

The dream was very clear and real, but when the dawn was approaching, Yi Xiangxiang still woke up very abruptly; She didn't open her eyes, but lay on her three-screen rosewood single-panel bib arhat bed, quietly listening to the rustling rain outside the window. She wondered if the rain had been falling for a while, for she could now hear the sound of new raindrops falling into the water. Yi Xiangxiang listened to this voice, her mind was blank, and when she was about to fall asleep again, she heard footsteps coming from the yard, and the sound of clicking and clicking came from far and near.

Not long after, Liu's mother called outside the door. I only heard Le Qi outside getting up and putting on his coat and walking to the door and opening the door, the sound of the wooden door frame creaking was not clear in the rainy night, Le Qi asked with sleepiness: "Mother Liu, what's wrong?" ”

"Is Miss awake?" Liu's mother did not answer Leqi's words.

Le Qi couldn't help but yawn and rubbed her eyes, she only found out at this time that Mother Liu was not just coming alone, she also brought two little girls, only to see the little girls put away the oilcloth umbrella and stand under the porch.

"Miss is still asleep, it's not dawn yet, is something wrong?" Who in the entire Yi Mansion doesn't know that Yi Xiangxiang loves to sleep lazy, not to mention that the current hour is still early, even if the sun is three poles, the young lady may not get up. However, Leqi knew the severity, and Liu's mother came in the rain, presumably something happened.

Mother Liu sighed, wiped the sweat on her forehead with a handkerchief because of the rapid walking, and said, "Eh, there is an accident ahead, I have to wake up the young lady." ”

Liu's mother's words made Le Qi muttered in his heart, even if Yifu was on fire, it wouldn't be his turn to do anything. She was about to open her mouth to ask what was wrong, when Yi Xiangxiang's voice came from the inner room: "Le Qi, let Mother Liu come in and talk." ”

Liu's mother outside heard that Yi Xiangxiang had woken up, and without waiting for the music and chess to ask, she turned around in three steps and two steps and walked into the inner room, only to see her bypassing the Huanghuali relief flower screen, and her figure was covered.

Le Qi paused, turned around and lit all the candles in the inner room. She looked inside through the gap in the screen, and saw Liu's mother whispering a few words to the young lady, and the young lady was shocked when she heard it. Then I didn't know what Miss said, so I saw Mother Liu put on her clothes, and walked out with Miss in her arms after a while.

When Yi Xiangxiang saw Le Qi, she motioned for Liu's mother to stop and said, "You go to the side courtyard and wake up Fluttershy and Xiaoxi, and then take them to your mother's place to wait." After speaking, he let Liu's mother hold her and left Yongle House with the other two little maids.

Le Qi didn't dare to delay, so he hurriedly went around and grabbed an oilcloth umbrella from the bamboo basket, and went to the side courtyard with the umbrella. When she shows up outside the courtyard of the big house with Fluttershy and Joy, she sees all the powerful mothers-in-law standing outside the house, looking at the fierce and vicious; They didn't even have time to be afraid, and the two old women standing at the door saw them and led them to the side hall.

The side hall was brightly lit, and even the azure glazed carved vase on the red sandalwood table in the corner of the wall could clearly see the pattern, and there were moon flowers that the morning lady asked her to cut from the yard. No, it should have been yesterday morning. Le Qi remembered that the flowers were inserted by the lady herself, and the lady joked that it looked discordant, and this vase was still better when it was placed alone, and then the lady said that the vase should be used to arrange flowers...... Le Qi felt that his thoughts were a little distant, so he pulled the god back. She looked up and saw that Madame Lin was sitting on the Huanghuali rose chair on the left side of the main seat, and Miss Yi Xiangxiang was sitting on the other side; In front of them knelt a woman with a disheveled head, sobbing slightly. Probably because of the rain, Le Qi always felt a little cold in the house.

Le Qi walked over and stood beside Yi Xiangxiang, who was surprised when he saw that the kneeling woman turned out to be Miaoqin. In addition to Leqi, Fluttershy, who was standing by the door, recognized Miaoqin through the peony embroidery on the messy hem of her dress, and her mind brightened with a slump of sleep.

"Miaoqin, have I ever treated you poorly?" Yi Xiangxiang's bright eyes looked at the kneeling man, and when the latter saw the young lady's eyes as deep as the ocean, guilt swept over.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm ......sorry, I'm

"Don't cry......" Yi Xiangxiang stopped Miaoqin's kowtow, but the latter did not stop. I saw Yi Xiangxiang grab the magpie Dengmei pattern cup on the table and throw it in front of Miaoqin, and the cup fell apart with a snap: "I told you not to cry!" Can't you hear? ”

Yi Xiangxiang's movements startled everyone present, especially Xiaoxi, the young lady she came into contact with had always been a kind little girl, and this outburst frightened her to scream violently. Le Qi winks at Fluttershy, and Fluttershy quietly pulls Joy out.

Miaoqin stopped kowtowing, but tears still flowed down her beautiful cheeks. Fluttershy, who had sent off Xiaoxi, had returned, and re-brewed tea for Yi Xiangxiang and placed it on the red sandalwood square table, steadily following the traces of the cup that had just been placed, and then standing beside Le Qi.

"Also, being a lady in the Hou Mansion is better than being a maid in the county government's mansion. You've been with me for so many years, but I never knew you had such ambitions. If he enters the Hou Mansion one day, he will have to rely on you to take care of him! "Yi Xiangxiang is not a snarky person, but she is really angry.

I wanted her to take precautions, but I didn't expect this thief to be difficult to prevent, and this "house thief" was actually her own big girl!

"Miss, I'm sorry, the slave didn't mean it, it didn't mean it......" Miaoqin cried.

"Didn't mean to? That's what I told you to fake sick? Did I let you touch the guest house and climb onto Meng Qihan's bed? Yi Xiangxiang mocked.

"Miss, I'm ...... I love him with all my heart, I mean it! Miaoqin said hysterically, pear blossoms with rain are pitiful.

Yi Xiangxiang was about to laugh at Miaoqin, and secretly thought that this maid read herself when she usually read the book? I really love to use it!

"You're really a yarn! You're just uncomfortable being squeezed by your big sister! thinks that she is good at the piano, but she still has to be pressed by her in terms of identity, and she is not convinced! I've never found that your heart is so high, this master is a little embarrassed and so reckless? Then I have to blame you, otherwise how would you repay me? No, you're already "repaying" me, and this reward is really surprising to me! I said do you have a problem with your brain, do you think you are better than your big sister when you climb into Meng Qihan's bed? Nobler than her? I don't know what to do! Yi Xiangxiang stabbed into Miaoqin's heart.

Although Lin felt that his daughter was a little rude to talk like this, fortunately, she was surrounded by people around her, and it was normal for her daughter to be betrayed by the big girl close to her, so she didn't stop Yi Xiangxiang.

"Yes, I'm just not convinced! Why? I can write better than her, play the piano better than her, and I can write better than her! Just because of my identity, I want to be subservient to others? I'm not convinced! Miaoqin wiped away her tears and said stubbornly.

In fact, if it weren't for the different positions, Yi Xiangxiang still admired Miaoqin's idea of challenging feudal thoughts. There is no distinction between people and others, and Miaoqin's stubbornness in not obeying others is also worthy of admiration, but she used the wrong method. And because Miaoqin used the wrong method, betraying her trust and causing trouble to Yifu, this admiration does not exist. Yi Xiangxiang is not a good person, without you stabbing me, I still have to preserve your fearless spirit of sacrifice.

Le Qi and Fluttershy on the side only then knew what was going on, no wonder Liu's mother wanted to go to Yongle House to find Miss in person, after all, she was Miss's personal maid, and even if she was beaten to death with a stick, she had to tell Miss in advance.

In fact, Lin's idea was just to let Liu's mother tell Yi Xiangxiang that such a thing was not for girls to deal with, and she never thought that Yi Xiangxiang would say that she would solve it herself. Lin was also a little distressed when he saw his daughter getting angry, and his anger at Miaoqin rose a little more.

Le Qi still couldn't believe it, but Miaoqin directly admitted what she had done after arguing, which made her heartbroken; She never thought that Miaoqin, who had always been steady and gentle, would do such a thing, and now she would say such a thing.

Le Qi gritted his teeth and pointed at Miaoqin and said, "Why are you ...... Why are you so confused! You are Miss's personal maid, you do such an ugly thing, once the matter spreads, will Miss's reputation be gone? Miss treats you well on weekdays, and never makes you suffer, did you betray Miss because you suffered a little grievance in front of the eldest lady? How can you be so wolf-hearted! ”

Le Qi also shed tears as she spoke, she and Miaoqin are sisters, she really can't believe that Miaoqin can do such a thing; In her mind, Miaoqin is like her own sister, how pure and elegant this person like a sister used to be, never harshly criticized the little maid, and was also conscientious to the young lady, she has always been very relied on in the yard, why is she so confused today!

"I know that Miss is good to us, I just don't want to be subservient to others, to please everyone, and to be clever in words. I just want to, just want to...... I didn't think about it that much, I didn't expect it to affect Miss......" Miaoqin cried.

Le Qi wiped his tears and said ruthlessly: "You didn't think about it so much, or did you only think about yourself?" Do you know that you offended Mrs. Hou, and let the Yi family offend Mrs. Hou, and now it is light to kill you! ”

Miaoqin didn't expect Le Qi to say this, and this sentence of killing made her heart tremble. She also understands that things may be out of control after they are revealed, but she thinks that even if Mrs. Hou really wants to do something to her, the prince and the young lady will protect her, right? Miaoqin looked up and saw Yi Xiangxiang's indifferent face, and her heart suddenly panicked, she trembled and kowtowed violently and said, "The slave is confused!" It's a slave and a slave who is confused......"

Yi Xiangxiang is really smiling at this time, and now she knows how to beg for mercy? She shook her head and said, "Confused? I don't think you're confused! It's not just the grievance that the big sister is playing the piano with you today, right? I don't know when you got your mind on it, but you really planned it all silently, right? Qingfeng Qu deliberately misplaced two notes, which attracted the attention of Meng Qihan, the prince of the world. I wondered how you could play the wrong piece with your piano skills, thinking that you hadn't played this piece in a long time. You pretended to be sick and changed your night duty, and it didn't arouse suspicion; Because you talked to Leqi two days ago and said that you have always had a headache recently, Leqi has always looked at you as the leader, even if you don't say it's uncomfortable, it's not difficult to change. But you're afraid that I'll ask Leqi, and if Leqi can't give a reason, you're afraid that I will suspect the purpose of your shift change, so you pretended to be sick and deceived me again. ”

Yi Xiangxiang took a slow sip of tea and continued: "The last step is this rain, yesterday when Mama Li left, she said that things should be put away, and it will rain at night." Mama Li has bad joints, and it always hurts before the rain, and you know that her judgment has never been missed, so she took action. Mrs. Hou will definitely leave after dawn, whether it is sunny or rainy, because counting the time delayed on the road, if she doesn't leave, she won't have time to catch up with Lord Jiang's birthday banquet. Oh yes, their inevitable departure is what motivates you to act, and this rain is just an east wind for you. Because of the rainy day, Mrs. Hou will inevitably choose to set off early, and she will send someone to wake up the prince as soon as possible. You also know that Shizi is interested in you so he drank wine and climbed into his bed, but you are afraid that he will regret it when he is fully awake, after all, he does not have a wife, if he wants to have a more suitable wife, the probability of taking you away is not so high. You are afraid that he will choose to abandon you after he wakes up safely, so he chose such a good time, so that the next person who went to wake up earlier just saw you lying on the bed, and you didn't even leave time for the prince to react, am I right? ”

Miaoqin had stopped crying and looked at Yi Xiangxiang blankly, she knew that Miss was different from ordinary people's wisdom, but she didn't expect her analysis to be no worse at all. The other people present were also shocked, this was the first time that Yi Xiangxiang had shown her intelligence in front of others, and even the Lin family was slightly shocked.

Fluttershy is surprised, but she's also the happiest of all, as she discovers that Miss is no longer hiding from her and has included her in her ranks.

"Miaoqin, you are really smart, you know that Meng Qihan has not married a wife yet, as long as you have the skill to rob Mr. and his son in the future, then your son is the eldest son of the Hou Mansion. You also know that if you are bumped into, you must alarm a few masters, you think that if you have been with my mother for so long and with me for so long, we will definitely save you. But you disappointed me after all, you didn't know me on the first day, where did you get your confidence? Hum! Why should I save you? Yi Xiangxiang said this cruelly.

Miaoqin threw herself in front of Yi Xiangxiang and grabbed her hand and said, "Miss, I regret it, I really regret it, Miss, please, save me!" Miaoqin really regretted it, when she was pulled off the bed by her mother-in-law, she looked at Mrs. Hou's poison-soaked eyes, she thought of what Le Qi had just said, she really regretted it.

"You are too naïve, there is no regret medicine to take in this world, since you have chosen this path, you must have the courage to bear it." Yi Xiangxiang gently brushed Miaoqin's hand away and said to her.

Lin on the side sighed slightly and said: "You have been by my side since you were a child, I saw that you had a good talent and taught you to read and play the piano seriously, but I didn't want to teach you like this." You didn't look like such a rich person in the past, how did you become like this? ”

Miaoqin was crying, and she didn't know when it became like this; It may be when the eldest lady plays the piano at the birthday banquet, it may be when she watches Mrs. Hou being carefully complimented by the stars holding the moon, or it may be when Meng Qihan is smiling at her young lady by Luoxia Lake.

Yi Xiangxiang knew that Miaoqin might be confused for a while, although she was a maid now, her life was also very good, so she was dissatisfied because of Yi Ruonan's arrogance, and she felt that she shouldn't be just a maid. But sympathy is sympathy, she offended Mrs. Hou regardless of the safety of the Yi family, this matter cannot be easily revealed.

"There's nothing to say, Fluttershy, come here." Yi Xiangxiang beckoned Fluttershy to come closer and said, "Your name will be Qingxuan from today onwards, and you will take Miaoqin's place." ”

"Miss Qingxuan Xie gave her name, and Miss Xie trusted." Qing Xuan knelt down and saluted Yi Xiangxiang.

Yi Xiangxiang waved her hand and said to Miaoqin again: "Miaoqin, I won't have your place here, but you and I will give the opportunity to the person you choose." ”

Yi Xiangxiang suddenly felt that she had the potential to be a bad person, but she smiled cruelly, turned her head and said to Qing Xuan: "Qing Xuan, you go and tell the prince Meng Qihan in person, if he wants this maid, he will take it away tomorrow; If she doesn't, we'll beat her to death. Be sure to do what I said. ”

Qing Xuan said, and when she was about to withdraw, Lin stopped her: "Wait, you just said that it was my original words." ”

"Yes, ma'am." Qing Xuan replied and withdrew.

Walking in the rain, Qing Xuan held an umbrella in one hand and a lantern in the other; Of course, she knew that the Lin family meant not to expose Miss, firstly, it was unreasonable for Miss to appear as a child to deal with this matter in person, and secondly, Miss said that she was too ruthless to beat her to death. However, Qing Xuan knew that Miss was not such a ruthless person, and the reason why she explained that she had to convey her words was so that the prince could accept Miaoqin because of pity. Because if the prince doesn't accept Miaoqin, although the Yi family will not beat people to death, they will also expel people, and I believe that Mrs. Hou will not let Miaoqin go when the time comes. Of course, what is more intuitive is that if the prince doesn't want it, but the Yi family doesn't deal with this girl, then Mrs. Hou will be dissatisfied. So the best arrangement now is to hand over the initiative to the prince Meng Qihan, Yi Fu put his posture as wanting to deal with this girl and was afraid that the prince would ask the teacher to ask for guilt, so he asked Meng Qihan with an inquiring attitude if he wanted to accept this maid, and if he didn't accept it, he would be clean. Miss handed over the initiative to Shizi, which is currently the most appropriate for the Yi family and Miaoqin.

Qing Xuan had to say that Miss's method was really clever, and he was a smart person who could stay in the side hall, and he guessed Miss's intentions after turning a few corners, but Miaoqin, as a party concerned, didn't think about it for a while, and cried and said, "Miss don't want it, Miss don't want it!" I've been serving you for so many years, please save me! Chess, chess, you save me, you save me! You help me plead with Miss! ”

"I won't help you!" Le Qi wiped away his tears again and said ruthlessly: "The Yi family took us in and rebuilt us with kindness!" Even if you are my own sister today, and Miss says that she will kill you, I will be the first to lift a stick. Miaoqin, you used to always say that you should be loyal to Miss, but you are like this...... In short, I won't help you! ”

Miaoqin collapsed on the ground and cried, her voice was hoarse, but there was no one in the whole hall to speak for her.

"Okay, from today onwards, the righteousness of you and my master and servant will be cut in two, and from now on, you will take your own road, and I, Yi Xiangxiang, will never have you as a maid. Someone came, took her to watch over for a while. Yi Xiangxiang didn't want to hear this cry anymore, and with a wave of her big hand, Miaoqin was pulled away by the two mothers-in-law.

Yi Xiangxiang turned to Mrs. Yi Lin and said, "Mother, let's keep it first, if the prince can take her, let her pack up and leave." If the prince can't pass Mrs. Hou's level...... Then, let's kill it. We can't offend the Hou Mansion, the Jiang family, or even Meng Jieyu because of a maid. Since this is the path she chooses herself, no matter what the outcome is, it will be her fate after all. This is the first time that Yi Xiangxiang has been so despised for her life since she came to this world, she has no other way, because she has no choice, in fact, the most direct way to solve the problem is to directly kill Miaoqin, and pull out this thorn in the hearts of the Yi family and Mrs. Hou, otherwise the Jiang family will inevitably be mustard in the future. Only when a person dies can the Jiang family see the sincerity of the Yi family. But despite this, Yi Xiangxiang still tried to fight for Miaoqin by the Jiang family, which is already her greatest mercy at present.

This is naked antiquity, human life is not valuable. Yi Xiangxiang sighed.

"Good boy, don't be sad, it's not your fault. People's hearts are not enough to swallow elephants, Miaoqin also grew up beside me, I thought she was a good one, but I never thought that I would also be blinded by wealth. How could she hold the splendid beauty of the Hou Mansion? She has been in this county for a long time, and she has forgotten that behind the prosperity of Kyoto is all deceit...... "Lin got up and hugged Yi Xiangxiang in his arms and said leisurely.

"Well, I know, it's just that I was surprised." Yi Xiangxiang thought that the bed-climbing incident that often occurred in ancient times might appear around her, but she never thought that the object was actually Miaoqin.

Seeing that Yi Xiangxiang had figured it out, Lin asked, "Then will it be inappropriate for you to bring that maid to your side now?" "Lin is talking about the new big girl Qingxuan, who is more beautiful and moving than Miaoqin.

"Mother, don't worry, I look good at that maid at the moment, when Shizi came to my yard to look for my brother that day, she quietly hid out. Just now I specially called Xiaoxi too, but she was not as stable as the maid, so I chose her. Besides, now that I know, if people have that heart, it's useless to be wary. Yi Xiangxiang said comforting Lin.

Lin gently patted Yi Xiangxiang's back, then nodded and said, "It's good if you have a plan in your heart." ”

The mother and son hugged each other and talked, and when the day gradually brightened, Lin asked Le Qi to carry Yi Xiangxiang back to Yongle Ju to rest. Then she asked Mother Liu to pull off her white hosta and comb her hair again, just now she didn't have time to clean up, just pulled her hair at will, and now she has to clean up to deal with the aftermath. Regardless of Miaoqin's fate, she can't let outsiders know what really happened tonight.

The rain was pouring and falling harder.