The Virtuous Wife

Chapter 44: A New Look

Jingyi put down the book, her eyes dark and bright, "Haitang, you don't really think that Aunt Lan had a miscarriage, do you?"

Haitang was stunned, "Miss, don't scare me! You don't mean that Aunt Lan didn't have a miscarriage at all, do you? But Madam He also saw the blood and water brought out by the maids and the palace doctor." Haitang suddenly stopped talking, covered her mouth with her hands, opened her eyes wide, and looked at Qingyi, "Miss, you don't mean that Aunt Lan was not pregnant at all, right?"

Jingyi chuckled, "Not too stupid!"

"Oh my God! Miss, this, Aunt Lan was diagnosed with pregnancy a month ago. You mean that Aunt Lan planned all this a month ago? But that's not right. After all, she is just a concubine. How can she have the courage to bribe the palace doctor?" Haitang looked puzzled.

"When did I say that it was Aunt Lan who planned all this? It was Liu!"

"Aunt Liu? But that's even more wrong! What benefit did Liu get from planning all this? Instead, it benefited Aunt Lan?"

Nanny He laughed and scolded: "You are so short-sighted! Do you really think Aunt Lan, a noble concubine, will sit safely? She is just a shield for Liu! Not to mention the Third Madam, even the Old Madam will not really love Aunt Lan. The Old Madam is so smart, how could she not see that someone was framing the Third Madam? She will definitely find a way to get the Third Madam out of the family temple again, after all, she is the biological mother of the two young masters! With the main wife, how can she really let a concubine make the decision? You see, it won't be long before Aunt Lan will be in big trouble!"

Jingyi smiled after hearing this. Nanny He is an old woman after all, and she sees things more thoroughly than Haitang!

"Don't worry about them. It's Uncle San's family affairs, and it has nothing to do with us." Jingyi stood up and picked up a grape and put it in her mouth. As soon as she bit it, the moist flesh slid out, and the sweet taste quickly spread in her mouth.

Jingyi spit out the skin and seeds, nodded and said, "Yes, it's quite sweet."

Nanny He smiled and said, "Yes, the Sixth Prince is really thoughtful. He even asked the Second Young Master to bring it back for you. Most of the grapes at this time are sour. After all, the things in the palace are different from ours. I heard that even the Marquis and the Madam didn't have any. They only brought back this bunch."

Jingyi raised her eyebrows. Since Yuan Xi was sending it, why didn't he send more? "Haitang, bring this plate of grapes, let's go to mother's place."

Haitang agreed, picked up the fruit plate and followed Jingyi out of the bedroom.

Gu was sitting at the table looking at the account book in the mansion. When she heard Jingyi was here, she put it down and said with a smile: "Why did you come out today? Don't you need to study your medical books?"

Jingyi bowed and said: "Yiyi came to pay respects to mother, and by the way, please try these grapes!"

"Oh?" Gu glanced at the fruit plate that Haitang put on the table, "The grapes are very sour at this time of year, mother dare not eat them!"

"Mother, this is what the Sixth Prince asked my second brother to bring back, saying it is a tribute. My daughter tasted one, it is very sweet. Mother, try it!" After saying that, she picked one from the hanging and put it in Gu's mouth.

Gu smiled and put it in her mouth, "Well, it's really sweet! It's really a good thing!" Seeing Gu happy, Jingyi said softly, "As long as mother likes it!" Turning her head, she saw the account book on the table, "Mother is looking at the account book again?" Gu sighed and said, "In a few days, it will be the Mid-Autumn Festival. We have to give gifts, hold banquets, and go to the palace! How can we not need money? Look, I'm thinking about what gift to give to your uncle's house? After all, Qing'er can have what he has today, and it's all because of your uncle's good teaching!" Jingyi nodded, "Mother, why don't you let Liu Ma help you with these things?" "I asked her to go to the big warehouse. Let's see if there are any good jade wares! It's not easy for the concubine to stay in the palace. Since she will be the sixth prince's companion tomorrow, we should give her some. I heard that she likes jade wares, so let Liu Ma go and pick them out first." "Yes! After all, the Sixth Prince is fostered under the name of Concubine Shu, so this gift must be given."

Jingyi sat down and accompanied Gu to think of what gifts to give to the emperor, the queen, and several concubines. As the two were talking, Madam Liu came back, followed by two maids, each holding a tray with some small jade items on it.

Madam Liu bowed and said, "Madam, these are small jades that I picked out from the storehouse. There are jade bracelets, jade pendants, jade pendants, and some small jade ornaments. Take a look and see which one you like?"

Gu glanced at the two plates, reached out and took a few to look at them carefully, and finally shook her head, "Although these jades are exquisite, there is nothing missing in the palace. Even if the Concubine Shu is not favored, she still has a position to call, how can she lack these things?"

"Madam, I saw that there are several large jades in the storehouse that are really good, but I am afraid that the servants will damage the jades when moving them, so I didn't let them move them here. You see, why don't you go to the storehouse to take a look yourself?"

Gu nodded and asked Jingyi to accompany her to the big storehouse.

As soon as the group left the yard, they met Jingwei.

Jingwei hurriedly bowed and said, "Greetings to mother. The old lady asked her daughter to come over and ask mother to come over, saying that there is something important to discuss."

Gu took a look at Jingwei and saw that she was wearing a pink skirt today. The collar, cuffs and hem of the skirt were embroidered with golden butterflies. With a butterfly hairpin on her head, it was very beautiful.

"Jingwei, since the old lady is looking for me, why didn't she let the maid pass the message, but sent you instead?"

"Replying to mother, my daughter was serving the old lady with medicine. When I heard that she was looking for you, I volunteered to come." Jingwei replied with a faint smile.

Gu nodded. This girl is getting more and more knowledgeable and likable. It seems that this Hong Madam is not bad. Gu is very satisfied to be able to teach the originally arrogant Jingwei to be like this now.

Compared with Gu's satisfaction, Jingyi looked at Jingwei carefully. Seeing that her words and deeds are all in accordance with etiquette, compared with before, she is completely different! Thinking of the Aunt Peng that Siqin mentioned, Jingyi became even more suspicious!

The group did not go to the warehouse, but all went to the old lady’s Heshou Hall.

After Gu sat down, she asked, "I wonder what the old lady wants to call her daughter-in-law for?"

The old lady sat on a grand master's chair, and her voice was a little hoarse: "Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon. I know you are still angry about what happened two days ago! But after all, we are a family, let it go, don't be angry again, if you hurt your body, it will be a waste."

Gu chuckled and said, "What the old lady said is right, the daughter-in-law was going to the warehouse to choose a gift today, and then I ran into Jingwei saying that you were looking for me, so I came here."

The old lady smiled, "Well, I know you are busy. In fact, it's not a big deal. I just asked. In previous years, we sent some fabrics, cakes, and wine to your uncle, which was too troublesome. You have been upset these two days, and I thought about it. It's better to send them some silver directly this year, so that you don't have to worry about preparing."

Gu smiled on her face, but she was disdainful in her heart, hum! What? How can a relative ask for something on his own? Giving you these things during the festival is in accordance with customs and conventions. Have you ever heard of a family giving money to relatives during the festival? Besides, giving money? I'm afraid the minimum is one thousand taels. If it's less, I can't afford it, and the uncle won't accept it.

Jingyi looked at the old lady with new eyes again. She could even ask for such a request? Let her daughter-in-law give money to her brother from her mother's family? Why? Not to mention that the uncle has never done anything for the Su family, isn't the money he gets from the old lady every year enough? The old lady is really thick-skinned. She can say such words with confidence, and she looks like she is doing it for her mother!

Gu took a sip of tea and said, "Mother, I know you are worried about me, but no matter how much you worry, we can't break the custom! Our custom here is that every Mid-Autumn Festival, we have to prepare an even number of brocade, cakes, and wine for my uncle's family. If we don't send them, won't it be a joke? Do you think our Hou Mansion is in decline and can't even afford to send a few things?" The old lady's face changed. This daughter-in-law has been married for more than ten years and has never disobeyed her like this. In the past, no matter what she asked, she would do it according to her instructions. What happened today? How could she know that after Gu of Zizai Bieyuan knew that someone had changed her medicine and controlled her diet, she was no longer willing to flatter her. Especially when she later learned that Jingyi fell from the rockery and injured her head, she was even more angry with the old lady and Bai! Seeing that she was wholeheartedly filial to her, Gu was still poisoned by her, and she had no thoughts about her in the past! Seeing that the old lady looked unhappy, Gu didn't want to stay any longer, so she stood up and said, "Since mother has no other instructions, I will take my leave first."

The old lady saw Gu taking Jingyi away, and she was angry and anxious! Good! You are so good, Gu! You actually don't take me seriously! Well, you wait, don't think that I can't cure you without Bai and Liu! Humph! If a tiger doesn't show its power, you think I am a sick cat! Gu, I will soon let you know who has the final say in this Hou Mansion?