Chapter VIII

The croaking of frogs and the chirping of cicadas among the trees by the pond are connected, although the garden is reflected in the lush greenery.

But these made Ye Ying feel a little tired inexplicably.

Accustomed to the plain white of Yunqing Mountain, I have seen enough of this flowery bloom after a few days.

And what gave her even more headache was that Huo Junshan hosted a banquet for his colleagues in the DPRK and China today, and most of these court officials brought their daughters to the house.

Ye Ying sat on the swing in the corner of the courtyard, alone and bored looking at the scroll in her hand.

She combed her simple snake hair bun, and only brought two Hetian jade carved orchid hairpins on the bun, with a moon-white silk yarn shirt with a pine frost green jacket, and a few white magnolias embroidered on the hem, the elegance of this body was completely different from others.

Most of these women are dressed in crimson, red, and powder blue, which are bright and delicate, and the patterns on their bodies are mostly peonies and flowers.

The two girls who looked like Ye Ying whispered when they saw that she was out of place. The taller one covered his face with a fan and whispered:

"Sister Su, look, that seems to be the lady of the Huo family."

"Why are you wearing such a dress, you don't have the grandeur of the General's Mansion at all!"

The shorter ones also stepped forward and echoed beside her

"Who's to say it isn't! I also sat there and pretended to be a high-minded person, believing that I was the daughter of a general, so I was so high-minded and didn't cut down to deal with us? ”

"If you want me to say that she is just a reckless woman from a poor country, she is very rustic, she must know that she can't be compared with us who are the daughters of scholarly families, and she is ashamed of herself, it is better to sit aside and talk less, so as not to laugh and be generous!"

The two of them were talking about Zhenghuan, and Ye Ying sat alone and didn't know if she heard it.

She still sat alone and didn't talk to the two of them more, not even saluting.

But the laughter of the two of them was soon broken by another woman.

She was dressed in a Suzhou embroidered shirt with lotus lotus peach patterns, a filigree golden hairpin on her head, and the eight treasures on her neck complemented the wealth of this body. Although it looks luxurious and expensive, it is not as vulgar as others, and she only cares about wearing the best on her body, plus her pair of apricot eyes are wavy, and her cherry lips are red without painting, which is even more pleasing to the eye.

Holding a silk folding fan in her hand, she stepped forward curiously and asked, "What are you two talking about?" Would you like to tell me about it? ”

When the two saw this woman's words and deeds, they also restrained a little, and the tall man stood up: "Sister Xu is here!" ”

"Today, the General's Mansion has a banquet for colleagues, and I also came to meet this new sister, what's wrong? You are allowed to come, not me? ”

"Sister Xu said this, but it hurts the sisters, sister, look at the Huo family lady, the plain simplicity is too shabby-"

"She's shabby? The gauze shirt on her body is as light as cicada wings, and the white magnolia flowers on the hem of the pine green gown are embroidered with silver thread mixed with silk thread split into six strands, and the stitching method is fine. ”

The so-called Sister Xu tilted her head and looked at Ye Ying curiously, but Ye Ying didn't raise her head and said slightly sarcastically:

"This lady is quite knowledgeable. It's not like the latter two, I think I only know some gold, silver and jade on weekdays, and I feel that there are no more rich things in the world than this. ”

"The lady's temperament is like an orchid, and with such a dress, it can be said that she fills in a noble state, the two sisters are young and ignorant, a few jokes, the lady should not be blamed."

"How can it be, clothes, shabby, rich and rich, they are just things to cover shame and keep warm, why should I care?"

Ye Ying raised her eyes and looked at the three people in front of her, only to see that Sister Xu in the mouth of the two was graceful, dignified and elegant, and everyone's beautiful temperament was not self-evident.

"Huo Niangzi is really good at joking, and she is polite in the Xu family. I took the liberty to come to the house today and disturb the lady Yaxing. ”

"It turns out that the lady is Xu Guanju, although I have not been in Beijing for a long time, I have also heard that the little lady Xu of the Prime Minister's Mansion is only eight buckets, not losing to men, and can be called a female champion, especially superb piano skills. It's a blessing for me to see you today. ”

Ye Ying lived in the Sanqing Pavilion all the year round, and there was no pastime except reading in her spare time, and after settling down in the General's Mansion, she heard about this famous talented woman in Beijing in her spare time.

Xu Guanju's eyes glanced at the book in her hand, and said with a little joy: "The lady is reading the "Book of Shang", which is really different! ”

"Although the Book of Shang is ancient, but what it says is very knowledgeable, I have nothing to do but look at the knots, it turns out that the lady has also read, which is a little surprising. I have only heard that most of the women in the official eunuchs in Beijing are mainly female red needlework, and those who are slightly literate read some pedantic words that teach women's virtues, and even the "Book of Songs" has not been read by everyone, let alone "Shangshu". ”

Ye Ying started talking to her, and just now the two of them also knew that staying here for a long time was boring and left in a huff.

Guan Ju sat down next to Ye Ying, and the two read a volume together, and the two of them looked at each other and smiled at each other's hearts whenever there was a deep meaning.

was only halfway through the reading, but Guan Ju showed a sad look, and Ye Ying was puzzled:

"What? Could it be that Yao Shun's words made the lady worry about the world? ”

"Don't call me, what about me, I don't call you Huo Niangzi, we might as well call her by her name. And avoid such trivial and polite words. ”

Guan Ju stood up and shook the fan in his hand while explaining, "On weekdays, at home, reading these things in the garden like you is to be scolded. How can I not be sorrowful? ”

"It's strange, why do you have to scold you for doing things in your own home? Besides, this "Book of Shang" is the words of the ancients and sages governing the world, and it is not an obscene song that charms the mind, what can not be read? ”

"My master and my grandfather both told me to read more books like "The Legend of the Martyr" and "The Female Historian". Women can't take the top exam, these books will only hurt the mind and labor. Besides, when I reach an old age, I want to go to Shuxian Temple to study. If I don't understand these so-called pedantic words, I'm afraid it will be difficult to become a big tool, and I won't be able to find a good husband in the future, and my grandfather will be angry. ”

"Sookhyonin? What is that place? ”

"Don't you know? The daughters of officials above the fourth rank in the DPRK and China will probably be sent to Shuxian Academy to study for one to two years when they are at our age, and after completing their studies, they will be married by His Majesty and the queen's mother, even if they can't marry a nobleman, it is easier for the female students of Shuxian Academy to find a fast son-in-law. In addition to birth, old age, sickness and death, there are only two major events in a woman's life: getting married and having children, and my grandfather and my father are of course cautious. ”

"It's the first time I've heard of it! Why did my father never mention it to me? But then again, even if you enter Shuxian Temple, is it true that the law of my Daning Dynasty still says that women can't read "Shangshu" and can't learn to govern the country? Why do you still have to set the rules for this woman to enter the Shuxian Temple? Isn't it just that I can't see women in power—"

Ye Ying felt it, but Guan Ju immediately covered her mouth.

Guan Ju looked around cautiously, and saw that there were no warnings from those suspicious people around:

"You can't talk nonsense, Your Majesty is suspicious today, and I secretly heard my father and grandfather talk. The residences of these officials in Beijing, each of them has His Majesty's eyeliner, and they are led by a place called Dianjunfu, and the head of Dianjunfu is Li Xun, the great eunuch of the palm print next to His Majesty, who will send the words of the various mansions reported by these eyeliners to His Majesty. Misfortune comes from the mouth, so it is better to be careful. ”

"Well, you're right, but if you like to read anything in the future, and your family doesn't allow you, you can come to our house and come to me, so that the people in my house and your house will not be able to say anything."

Speaking of this, Guan Ju's originally dignified and elegant calm appearance became brighter.

Yu Li and pear blossoms are intertwined with pink and white, and her lotus lotus color and Ye Ying's moon-white gauze shirt are mixed with the flying petals as if they are about to merge into one.

The two girls chatted more and more engrossedly, from poetry and songs to governing the country and the family, from piano, chess, calligraphy and painting to the secret language of the boudoir, as if they really had endless words.

When the moonlight was getting brighter, all the guests left one after another, but in the Rongxing Pavilion in the back hall, Mrs. Huo Junshan Tao and Huo Yan's bursts of joy continued to reach Ye Ying's ears, but she didn't ask too much.

In the embroidery building, Yilan spread the velvet quilt flat, and Ye Ying saw that there was no one around, so she asked: "What did my father, Mrs. and brother say in Rongxing Pavilion?" It looks like I'm happy. ”

"Really?"

Yilan stopped thinking for a moment and said, "That must be talking about the eldest prince's kiss, the general has made military exploits, and the glory of returning to the dynasty is being favored, and many officials in Beijing want to climb our family's family!" ”

"Say—say kiss?"

Ye Ying was a little surprised, and Yilan continued to explain, "No, it should have been decided a long time ago, but Gongzi has been fighting with the general, and after returning to Beijing, he will be busy picking up the lady into Beijing, so this matter will be put aside for the time being." ”

"Yes, my brother is weak, and he is about to start a family."

Ye Ying's tone was a little stunned, but she asked very anxiously: "Then, do you know which lady you have decided?" ”

"A few days ago, I heard my wife and a few mothers-in-law talk about it, saying that the general fell in love with the daughter of Lord Jingzhao Yin Sun's family."

Yilan suddenly noticed something, and her tone was also hesitant,

"What's wrong with the lady today? Speaking recklessly, the prince's family affairs are naturally decided by the general and his wife. ”

Ye Ying realized that her words were a little abrupt, and hurriedly replied:

"That's my own brother, of course I also care about his family affairs, okay, okay, you go out, I'm tired today, I'm sleepy."

Ye Ying's body was tired but tossing and turning, as the night before she came to Huo's mansion, as Yilan said, Huo Yan's family affairs had nothing to do with her, but she still couldn't help but feel a little lost in her heart.

After getting along for more than a month, Huo Yan's maintenance everywhere, care and thoughtfulness everywhere made it difficult for Ye Ying not to be moved.

But all this is just out of brotherhood and sisterhood.

"I am just a sister to him, and for the sake of the long term, I can only be a sister."

Ye Ying told herself this in her heart over and over again.