Chunying glanced at An Shi carefully. Seeing a smile on the corner of her mouth, but cold in her eyes, she couldn't help but think: According to the ancient rules, it is necessary to perform a concubine ceremony in front of the tablet of the Yuan match, right? Yuan Pei's wife Fan's relatives came, no wonder An's face was so unnatural.

I only heard the second lady Yijun happily continued there: "It's the only daughter of my uncle's family, half a year older than me, I once came to Beijing when I was a child, but unfortunately I haven't come back since then, and her family now lives in Jinan." I heard that it was for the emperor's draft, and I specially went to Beijing to be selected! ”

Chunying was secretly taken aback, thinking to herself that there were also ministers' daughters in the Ming Dynasty participating in the draft? How did she remember that the girls participating in the draft at this time were all ordinary girls? For example, Rouge, after entering the palace in the draft, was transferred to the prince, and then sent to the Hou Mansion, becoming a maid in disguise, and may become the concubine of the third young master in the future. Rouge is the daughter of an ordinary and honest family, and she can probably barely accept such a result, but the Fan family ...... The daughter is qualified to become the wife of the Marquis of Qingguo, how can she endure this kind of thing?

But...... The emperor must not be confused, and treat the noble girl of the high family as if she were a small jasper, right?

At this time, Huo Yi also asked in surprise: "Draft?" I heard that the Fan family is a famous eunuch. This ...... "She felt a little difficult to speak, although the Fan family was close to her, but the queen had taken good care of her in recent years, and she was very grateful. The queen's mother's family background is not obvious, if there is a noble girl from a high family who enters the palace as a concubine, I am afraid that the situation in the main palace will become difficult. After the queen gave birth to two healthy princes one after another, the emperor relented to the suggestions of the ministers about the draft, should he not accept the daughter of the Fan family as a concubine?

Hearing this, An smiled lightly and said: "I heard that there are dozens of eunuchs participating in this year's draft, saying that it is a draft, but in fact...... Everyone knows in their hearts, but I'm afraid that few of our daughters will be selected. You know, the emperor has a deep affection for the queen, isn't he worried that the queen will be wronged? A girl with a higher family background, no matter how good she looks, is useless, I'm afraid that she will be given a marriage to a meritorious general or the son of a meritorious hero, right? I only hope that the niece and daughter of the Fan family can get a good family. ”

Thinking of this, she also felt a little sour in her heart. If the queen didn't have a great-grandfather who was a famous minister, with the family background of her father and ancestors who were only five grades in the two generations, she was not much better than her family, but she could sit in the middle palace and be the mother of the world, and what about her? can only succumb to the Qingguo Marquis Mansion to fill the house, even if he gave birth to the only son-in-law, he is still a dwarf yuan. The Fan daughter, who is about to enter Beijing, if she is as arrogant as her mother and puts up a fight in front of her, she can only knock out her front teeth and swallow blood! The Fan family and the An family. In the eyes of mother-in-law and husband, it is never equal! Even Yijun, the concubine raised by the girl, will call Fan Shiren "uncle" with a snobbish eye! Who's her uncle?!

The sourness in her words overflowed a little, and few of the girls present could hear it, and the eldest and young grandmother Jing Shi glanced at her with some surprise, but how could all this be hidden from the old lady? The old lady stared at her daughter-in-law with some dissatisfaction: "What are you doing saying these things in front of their sisters?" ”

An's face froze, and he hung his head in silence.

Jing Shi smiled and said, "I don't know what my uncle said in the letter?" Is there anyone else with me besides my cousin? My cousin is young and goes out alone, even if there are people from our family to take care of her, the Fan family is too relieved. ”

Chunying thought to herself that when the young lady of the big family went far away, she would definitely not go on the road alone, and the mother-in-law of Yahuan was a coachman...... What is the Fan family worried about?

However, the old lady seemed to be quite satisfied with Jing's words of concern, and replied with a rare and pleasant face: "She didn't come alone, and her uncle followed, but her uncle came to Beijing on business, and after receiving the order from the military headquarters, he was going to the north, and he couldn't take care of his niece and nephew, so he wanted to ask our family to take care of it more." I've already asked Zhang'er to reply to the letter. They are all close relatives, why be polite? His family doesn't have a decent house in Beijing, so he simply let the child live in our house, accompanied by his sisters, isn't it better than her being alone at home? ”

An's face turned pale, and he reluctantly smiled and answered "yes".

Yijun was the most happy, took Huo Yi's hand and said, "Cousin, there is another sister, now we will be even more lively!" Cousin Fan I met when I was a child, and she got along very well! Let me tell you, although I often lose to you in chess, she loses to me every time......" The old lady couldn't help but laugh and said, "It's you who cheat, right?" Monkey, beware of your cousin's chess power, you will be at the bottom! Yijun ran over and grabbed her grandmother's hand and coquettishly said: "The old lady's words are really sad!" But I'm not afraid! Even if I really lose, what about Cousin Huo! If even Cousin Huo loses, then ......" she frowned a little annoyedly, and suddenly smiled and raised her head, "Then I'll pull the third brother here!" I don't believe that there are still people who can fight the third brother's twists and turns! ”

This made everyone present laugh, even Huo Yi and Xijun couldn't help laughing, Chun Ying stood behind and snickered, thinking that the second lady's cheekiness was quite cute, but Miss Fan Jiabiao was miserable.

An didn't have much smile on his face, just tugged at the corners of his mouth, and reprimanded: "Yijun! How many times have I said it, don't always babble at your daughter's house, speak elegantly, and act quietly! What do you think of Jundosven? Come back and sit down! ”

As soon as she finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room was a little awkward. Yijun blushed, although he was not convinced, he still endured and returned to his seat. Jing Shi and Xijun both lowered their heads and did not dare to make a sound, Huo Yi calmly picked up the tea bowl and carefully looked at the blue and white patterns on the bowl.

The old lady is a little angry, she has not done anything in the past few years, but it does not mean that her daughter-in-law can challenge her authority! She straightened her face and said, "Okay, let's stop the gossip, let's get down to business first." Daughter-in-law, since Xiru is going to live in our house when she enters Beijing, you have to clean up the yard and come out, she must have brought a lot of people, but you must also be prepared for the rough mother-in-law and daughter-in-law and the servants who go out, and you can't neglect your relatives. ”

An Shi bit his lip, obediently responded "yes", rolled his eyes, and said: "It's just that there are not many empty courtyards in the house, most of them are a little old, and the draft is close at hand, I'm afraid it's too late to renovate." Besides, it seems too much to renovate a yard to entertain guests. The best and clean courtyard in the house is the Wanxiang Pavilion, but ......" she didn't continue. only looked at Huo Yi with his eyes.

Huo Yi put down the tea bowl and said with a faint smile: "If my aunt is worried about Yi'er, she doesn't have to. Yi'er has only been living in the Evening Fragrance Pavilion for a few months, and she already has another place to live, how can she mind? I have never heard of a person who has stayed with a relative for a few days and is not allowed to live in the same room again. If her aunt finds it inconvenient, Yi'er can also go home for a while. ”

The old lady was about to reject her granddaughter's proposal at once, but immediately thought that since she had the heart to match her little grandson and granddaughter, it would be difficult to leave her granddaughter to live at home, so she made a marriage. It was always necessary to avoid suspicion, so she hesitated.

An Shi's heart was shaken for a moment, and she quickly gave up this tempting proposal, and she still couldn't fully accept this daughter-in-law candidate. So she laughed and said, "Why is this? Since Yi'er doesn't mind, then I'll arrange for Xiru to stay in the evening fragrance house. Seeing that the old lady's face was not very good-looking, she hurriedly added: "In the end, it is for the draft, the holy decree has not been issued for a day, and we don't know the future of the child. This dispelled the old lady's objection.

But in An's heart, there was another thought: she was already one level shorter than the Fan family, if the daughter of the Fan family was really elected to the palace, wouldn't she only have to be angry? Since the other party wants to move in, she has to think about it, and she can't let the Fan family have a chance to climb the high branches!

Everyone laughed for a while, Amber came to report the meal, and then moved to the side hall to eat, after the meal, everyone dispersed, but the old lady ordered someone to leave her daughter-in-law An, and said: "I suddenly remembered something and wanted to ask you." Didn't Zhang Er say that he wanted to take Brother Chang'er back? Why hasn't there been any movement for a few days? Didn't you say anything? ”

An Shi was shocked in his heart, and hurriedly said: "The old lady is aware of it, the Hou Ye said, this matter is not in a hurry, the Liang family has pushed us a lot in the past few years, and made his family anxious for a few days, so as to suppress the prestige of the new daughter-in-law." ”

The old lady nodded slowly: "That's it, it's just that people should still take it back as soon as possible, and the marriage should be discussed slowly." I heard from the person who sent that Brother Chang'er has changed now, Zhuang Shang is bitter, and it is good to ask him to come back early to make up for it, you will send someone tomorrow. Also, it's time for Brother Chang'er's house to be renovated and a place for a new house. It can't be too shabby. In the past, the people who waited for Brother Chang'er, in addition to the two girls who went to the village with them, and the mother-in-law who stayed to see the house, should also add some more, so as not to make the newcomer enter the door and look different! Just follow Jing'er's example, and pick the good ones! You are a mother-in-law, be thoughtful in everything, don't let people see jokes! ”

An's didn't dare to disobey, so he hurriedly suppressed the unwillingness in his heart and responded one by one.

She thought that the matter was over, and was about to quit, but she heard her mother-in-law ask: "I remember that in the past, Brother Chang'er was served by Nanqi, and now she has followed Yi'er, so that's it, but how can I hear people say that she has told her daughter several times at home, and you have called her back?" What are you doing here? That girl is almost twenty years old, and if she doesn't get married, she won't make people laugh at our Li family's meanness! ”

An secretly scolded the Wang family in his heart, and said busily: "That's not the case, the old lady misunderstood, the daughter-in-law originally saw that the Nanqi people were careful and could serve, and wanted to let her always marry Yi'er." Moreover, she is the granddaughter of Mr. Wang, her old son gave birth to a few children, and she lived one, if she marries out indiscriminately, her daughter-in-law is really not at ease, so she wants to find a good marriage for her in the house. But there are really not many little guys who can be worthy of Nanqi, and the daughter-in-law is picking someone, so I don't think it will be delayed for too long. ”

The old lady frowned and said, "The person has already given Yi'er, what kind of idle are you?!" She can marry outside, it is the dignity of our family to appreciate the old king, what are you inserting in it?! ”

An Shi defended in a low voice: "The daughter-in-law is also afraid that the Yi'er girl is thin-skinned, and she is embarrassed to deal with these things, so she is kind enough to ...... for her."

"Yi'er is not easy to deal with these, and there are green sharks!" The old lady was a little impatient, "It's because you are worrying that the Huo family is not good at arranging Nanqi!" What is it to get something back that has already been given to someone?! If you have to be free, you should prepare for Brother Chang'er's marriage! ”

An bit his lip and lowered his head in response, but there was an unwilling light in his eyes.

The conversation that happened in the old lady's house was not leaked, neither Miss Li nor Miss Huo knew anything, but for Chunying and the other maids, it had another impact.

Five days later, the selection of a new group of maids began, although Huo Yi did not participate, the old lady ordered the housekeeper to send six newcomers over early. Huo Yi discussed with Aunt Qing, then handed over the people to Nanqi and Chunying, and ordered the two to arrange their work and accommodation.

Nanqi has always been a little absent-minded lately, his face is blue, and he has no enthusiasm for this work. Chunying looked at it, so she had to take over the work, and for the first time, she took the lead and brought the newcomers.

Looking at the six little girls between eleven and fourteen years old in front of her, Chunying tried to suppress the tension in her heart and squeezed out a kind smile...