The Virtuous Wife

Chapter 29: Yuan Xi Visits

After Jingyi had lunch, she dismissed everyone and left Nanny He alone.

After about half an hour, Nanny He came out. When she came out, her face was not very good, as if she had suffered some grievance.

The next morning, Jingyi was practicing calligraphy in the room, and she heard Liu He come in and say, "Miss, I heard that the Sixth Prince is here, and he is now talking to the master in the study."

Jingyi frowned slightly. What was he doing here?

Although Jingyi was thinking in her heart, the pen in her hand did not stop, and she was still practicing calligraphy stroke by stroke. Liu He was a little anxious and said hurriedly: "Miss, don't you want to see what the Sixth Prince looks like?"

Jingyi didn't say anything, but Nanny He beside her scolded lightly: "How dare you! Miss is a lady from a noble family. My Dayuan has been sitting with boys and girls separately since he was seven years old. How can you instigate Miss to go to the outer courtyard to peek at other men?"

Liu He knelt down and said: "Miss, I said something wrong. I didn't mean it. Please forgive me!"

Jingyi glanced at her but didn't say anything.

Nanny He understood and shouted to the outside: "Come here! This s**t actually instigated Miss to do something beyond the limit. Drag her out and let her kneel in the yard. She is not allowed to get up without Miss's order."

The maid outside responded and carried Liu He out.

Liu He is thirteen years old this year. She is still pretty and in love. She thought that she could go to see the Sixth Prince under the guise of a young lady. Maybe he would like her at first sight and she could be freed from s*****y. But she didn't expect that she would lose more than she gained and was punished to kneel. Haitang came back from outside and saw Liu He kneeling in the yard. Someone told her the details. Haitang looked disdainful, spat at Liu He, and went into the house and said, "Miss, you should have sent this kind of servant away long ago. You see, if it weren't for Nanny He, she might have said something to lead you to the outer courtyard."

Liu Xing'er gently fanned Jingyi and echoed, "Yes, Miss. I think Liu He is not an easy person to deal with. Don't let this incident make you hate her and have other thoughts about her."

Jingyi put down her pen and smiled, "You guys! You just love to worry about nothing. She is just a maid, how much trouble can she cause? If you have this time, you should think more about what gifts to prepare for your mother in the future?"

Nanny He smiled and said, "Yes, next month is the lady's birthday. I'm afraid that many ladies and young ladies will come to celebrate the lady's birthday. We haven't held a banquet in our Hou Mansion for a long time."

Jingyi sighed and said, "Yes, since my mother fell ill, the mansion has been deserted. It's a rare opportunity to have a good time and sweep away the gloom. It's good. I just don't know if Third Uncle will let my mother's banquet be held smoothly." He Mama and others looked at each other, but dared not speak. After all, it's the masters' business. No matter how capable the servants are, what can they do to the masters? He Mama sighed and turned her head away, as if she was wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. Seeing this, Jingyi was about to persuade He Mama, but she saw Liu Ju coming in to report: "Miss, the master and the lady invite you to the flower hall." "Do you know what's the matter?" It was He Mama who asked. Liu Ju lowered her head, "I heard from the nanny who came to pass the message that it seems that the Sixth Prince has come and is drinking tea in the flower hall. Oh, it is said that the Second Young Master is going to enter the palace to be the Sixth Prince's companion." Jingyi seemed to understand after hearing it. She already knew Yuanxi's situation. Yuanxi's biological mother was executed by the emperor, and was later adopted by Concubine Shu. Concubine Shu had no children, but her family had gradually declined ten years ago. In addition, Concubine Shu was old and unpopular, and she was too weak. Now, she was just an empty title of Concubine Shu.

She asked someone to change her clothes and tidy up before going to the flower hall.

When she arrived at the flower hall, she saw that the whole family had come, and Su Cheng's family was also there! It made the originally spacious flower hall seem crowded.

Jingyi came forward to greet him, and Yuanxi helped her up and said with a smile: "Miss Su, please don't be polite." Yuanxi smiled at Jingyi, turned to Su Wei and said: "Sir Su, I have heard that you teach your children well, and now it seems that it is true." Su Wei said a few humble words, turned to Su Ming and said: "Ming'er, as the sixth prince's companion in the future, you must learn more from the sixth prince and stop playing around." Su Ming nodded respectfully. Yuanxi saw that Su Ming did not look unhappy, and felt relieved. After all, he was an unpopular prince, and he was afraid that he would have no future if he followed him. This time, if it were not for the fact that several brothers were vying to have Su Ming as their companion, and used this to win over Su Wei, resulting in a fight, the emperor would not have thought that he still had a son. The emperor simply pushed Su Ming to him. In this way, it can avoid hurting the harmony of other brothers and pull Su Ming out of the battle for the crown prince. After all, who would be optimistic about an unpopular prince? Don't let the Su family get involved in this muddy water, Su Wei will still be his lone minister. This is also a warning from the emperor to everyone! Don't think about winning over Su Wei, otherwise, it will only backfire.

Yuan Xi ordered people to present all the gifts, and he ordered people to bring a small box to Jingyi.

"Miss Su, I have heard many times that Miss Su loves calligraphy, so I found an inkstone to give to Miss Su. Please don't dislike it."

Jingyi heard the words, raised her eyebrows slightly, and smiled: "Thank you for the kindness of the Sixth Prince. In this case, Jingyi will respectfully obey your order."

Yuan Xi smiled and nodded lightly, chatted with Su Wei and others for a few more words, and then got up to say goodbye.

After Yuanxi left, Jingwei and Su Cheng's daughter Jingmei approached Jingyi. The seven-year-old Jingmei asked, "Sister, open it and see what kind of inkstone it is?"

Gu and Liu were also a little curious. What kind of inkstone would the Sixth Prince give?

Seeing that everyone was curious, Jingyi couldn't refuse, so she opened the box and saw a rose purple inkstone lying quietly inside. The shape of the inkstone was not big, the workmanship was exquisite and delicate, and the purple color made it suitable for women. The square inkstone is not luxurious, but rather a bit simple. Only this color is bright and looks dazzling. But with a few carved orchids on the inkstone field, it doesn't look tacky, but rather quiet and elegant.

Jingmei was surprised and said, "Purple inkstone? This is the first time I've seen it. Sister, what kind of inkstone is this? So beautiful!"

This is the first time Jingyi has seen such a beautifully crafted Chengni inkstone, and she was also a little surprised. In fact, she had seen in ancient books before that the most famous Chinese inkstone is the Duan inkstone. Unfortunately, in this imaginary era, she has never seen it. Perhaps, it has not been invented yet.

When Jingyi heard Jingmei asking her, she chuckled and said, "This is a clay inkstone. It is made of filtered fine mud, mixed with yellow dan, and then kneaded vigorously, then put into a mold, carved with a bamboo knife, and put into a kiln after drying, and finally wrapped with black wax. Its characteristics are hard and wear-resistant texture, easy to produce ink, and no ink consumption, which can be comparable to stone inkstones. The colors of clay inkstones are mainly eel yellow, crab shell green and rose purple. It is not uncommon to have purple ones."

The speaker is unintentional, but the listener is attentive. Su Wei, Gu and Jingyi's brother are proud and relieved that Jingyi can understand so much.

When Su Cheng and his wife heard it, their faces sank. Is this showing off how much she knows? Is her family education good? On the other hand, their daughter knows nothing. They are both seven years old, but the difference is so obvious!

Mrs. Liu said sourly, "Yiyi still knows more! Unlike our Jingmei, who spends all day learning knitting and other things." Mrs. Gu's face froze. Was she accusing her daughter of only being good at writing and not knowing needlework?