The Virtuous Wife

Chapter 68

A dreamless night.

The next morning, Jingyi was pulled by Haitang and Nanny He, who were beside her, and shouted: "Miss, get up quickly. Miss, wake up quickly."

Jingyi couldn't stand it anymore, so she sat up reluctantly and said sleepily: "What's the matter? It's so early in the morning, and I can't sleep well!"

Nanny He said: "Miss, you should wash up quickly. Someone from the palace is here, and they are waiting for you to go to the front hall to receive the order."

When Jingyi heard this, her tiredness disappeared immediately. "Who is here to deliver the order?"

"I heard that it was the chief eunuch of the Queen's Palace who came to deliver the order. Miss, you should get up quickly. They are all waiting in the front hall." Haitang urged.

"Oh." Jingyi got off the bed, washed her face in front of the basin rack, and asked Nanny He and Haitang to dress her up before she gave up.

When Jingyi arrived at the front hall, everyone was there. Jingyi looked around and asked softly, "Mother, didn't you say someone came to deliver the imperial edict? Where is the person?"

Gu took her little hand and said, "Let's go. You! How many times have I told you to practice calligraphy less at night, but you just didn't listen. Now you have developed the habit of sleeping in!"

Su Wei smiled and said, "Practicing calligraphy is a good thing, and you don't have to say anything about her anymore. Last time, it was her good handwriting that earned face for our Hou Mansion."

Su Qing also echoed, "Yes, mother, my sister has a good handwriting at a young age. Who in the capital doesn't praise her as the first talent in the capital now!"

Su Ming was about to speak when he saw Gu rolling her eyes at Su Qing and said, "Okay, okay. I just said something about her, look at you. One by one, you are vying to say good things for her, as if I am the bad guy."

Su Qing smiled and said, "What are you talking about, mother? If it weren't for your careful teaching, how could my sister become the first talent?"

Jingyi shook Gu's arm with both hands and said, "Mother, I'm hungry, let's have breakfast."

Su Ming laughed: "Sister, look, the whole family is about to quarrel because of you, but you are thinking about having breakfast! Hahaha." After that, there was a burst of laughter. Not only him, but Su Qing and Su Wei also laughed.

Jingyi saw Jingwei standing quietly on the side. Seeing that her eyes were a little swollen and there was some blue around her eyes, she couldn't help but ask: "What's wrong with sister? Didn't you get enough rest?"

Jingwei was stunned. Obviously, she didn't expect Jingyi to notice her. When she looked up and saw everyone looking at her, she couldn't help but say nervously: "It's okay. Thank you for your concern. Maybe I didn't sleep well last night."

Jingyi nodded and comforted: "Sister, if you don't feel well, go to the doctor in the palace. Don't be afraid of seeing a doctor! If you are seriously ill, you will suffer."

Jingwei trembled. Why did she always feel that Jingyi's words were full of meaning?

Su Qing knew what Jingyi meant. But Su Ming didn't know. He was surprised and said, "Sister, you can also say the idiom 'hide your illness and avoid seeing a doctor'? Tell your second brother, do you know what it means?"

Jingyi glared at him and said, "Humph! Second brother is ignorant and doesn't even know how to hide his illness and avoid seeing a doctor. You have the nerve to ask Yiyi, humph! I won't tell you."

As soon as the voice fell, everyone laughed again.

Su Wei raised his hand and signaled the servants to put the breakfast here.

After a while, the servants came in one after another and put up various breakfasts. Haitang served Jingyi a bowl of white porridge and placed it in front of her.

Jingyi glanced at everyone and asked in confusion: "Father, where are grandfather and the old lady?"

Su Wei smiled and said: "Your grandfather has an appointment with someone and went to Longchang Temple early in the morning. As for the old lady, she should be in the Buddhist temple."

"Oh!" Jingyi pouted and said: "Grandfather is really something. He went to Longchang Temple without taking Yiyi with him!"

Gu poked her forehead with her index finger and said: "Girl, how can you talk like that? It's all your grandfather who spoiled you. You don't act like a girl!"

Jingyi stuck out her tongue and said: "Mother, I heard that the incense in Longchang Temple is very prosperous. When we have time, let's go and burn some incense."

Gu nodded, "Well, let's talk about it after tomorrow's chrysanthemum banquet!"

"Chrysanthemum banquet? Wasn't it just held yesterday? Why is it being held again?" Jingyi said a little confused.

Su Qing said, "You came late and didn't hear it. The one who came to the mansion this morning to deliver the decree was the chief eunuch of the Queen's palace. He said that the chrysanthemums in the palace are in bloom, and the Queen ordered all the wives and young ladies of the fourth-rank officials in the capital to go to the palace to appreciate the chrysanthemums."

Jingyi was quite depressed when she heard this. She really didn't want to go to the palace again. Every time she went there, she was always worried. Going there was like losing half her life. But she couldn't not go. The Queen had issued a decree, so who dared to disobey!

Seeing Jingyi's unhappy expression, Gu knew that she didn't want to enter the palace, so she gently advised: "Okay! Just enjoy the chrysanthemums. The Queen probably doesn't have the energy to embarrass you this time."

Su Wei's face sternly said, "A few months ago, I heard that the Queen intended to let the Second Prince take Yu'er as a concubine, but I didn't expect that Yu'er had already been engaged to the Prince of the Duke of England. So the matter was dropped. I think this chrysanthemum banquet is also intended to select a concubine for the Second Prince."

Jingyi paused with her chopsticks. Although she had only met the Queen twice, she clearly felt her insidiousness! Would she really give up and miss such a good opportunity to win over General Weiyuan? Not necessarily!

Gu finished the porridge in the bowl, wiped her lips with a handkerchief and said, "Yes, but this time it should have nothing to do with our house. Jingyi and Jingwei are both young, and the queen will not choose them." Su Wei nodded, "Fortunately, they are still young, otherwise, this matter will be difficult to handle." After that, Su Wei also finished the porridge, wiped his mouth, and asked, "How was it yesterday? Did the old lady satisfy you?" Gu listened and curled her lips, "She was satisfied with a lot of things, but no girl was willing." "Oh? What do you mean?" Gu said lightly: "The worst of the people who came yesterday was also a fourth-rank official lady. Although she was a little older, how could she look down on your third brother? There was a daughter of a merchant family who was divorced and was somewhat willing, but the old lady seemed to disagree." Su Wei sighed, "Forget it, don't worry about the third brother's affairs, let them toss." Gu nodded, just as she wished. This old lady's standards are too high. It's really hard to serve her. I simply don't care and let them make trouble on their own.

Jingyi glanced at Jingwei and saw that she was eating with a few bites, as if she was a little absent-minded. A strange light flashed in Jingyi's eyes. Jingwei, this time, I will not bother with you because you are being used by others. Next time, if you do something stupid again, don't blame me for being rude to you.

Su Qian also noticed that Jingwei was a little bit abnormal, and asked: "What's wrong with Jingwei? If you feel uncomfortable, you should rest more. I think you should not go to the palace banquet tomorrow."

Jingwei hurriedly said: "I'm fine, fine. I just didn't sleep well last night! Since the Queen has issued an order, I will go." After that, she looked at Gu, "Mother, don't worry, your daughter will have a good rest tonight, and will not lose face for the Hou Mansion at the palace banquet tomorrow."

Gu nodded and instructed Liu Ma behind her: "Send the palace doctor to see her later. And ask the kitchen to stew some supplements for her."

Gu looked at Jingyi and Jingwei again, and slowly said: "Tomorrow's chrysanthemum banquet, you are just going to appreciate the flowers, nothing else is important. Later, I will send someone to pick out clothes for you. It is not appropriate to wear too fancy clothes for tomorrow's palace banquet! Also, when you enter the palace, you must abide by etiquette. Don't talk nonsense and lose your sense of proportion! Do you understand?"

Jingyi and Jingwei stood up and bowed: "My daughter understands. Thank you for your teachings, mother."

Gu nodded with satisfaction and stopped talking.

Su Wei was grateful to his wife for her attitude towards his two daughters. Although he didn't like Bai, Jingwei and Su Qian were his own flesh and blood. If his wife didn't treat them well, he would be sad. But now, his wife was taking good care of Jingwei, and he was very satisfied in his heart, and he respected this lady even more.

After Jingyi finished breakfast and returned to her yard, she heard a very shocking news.

The man caught by Bai Fei died!

This news was even more confusing to Jingyi. Siqin reported that it was suicide? I'm afraid it may not be! If it was suicide, he would have committed suicide when he was caught at the beginning. Why wait until now? More importantly, who could find him and put him to death?

Jingyi smiled faintly. I think the one who is most troubled now should be Bai Fei, right? He thought it was a secret place, but the other party found it effortlessly, and even killed him to silence him. What else can you do?

It seems that the mantis and the cicada have fought each other! It's getting more and more lively.

At this time, there were only Jingyi and Siqin in the room. Jingyi said to Siqin: "You should go to the palace with me tomorrow. I always feel that the queen will take action against my cousin."

"Miss Gu? But isn't Miss Gu already engaged? Is she still thinking of forcibly issuing an order to break up?" Siqin asked puzzled.

Jingyi shook her head, "That's not necessarily true. After all, my cousin is still young now, and the wedding will take two years. If the queen insists on winning over my uncle, I'm afraid she will do everything she can to ruin this marriage."

"Ruin? How to ruin it?" Siqin was a little confused.

"Aren't the harem and the backyard of the mansion the same? It's just some disputes and tricks between women. You see, the queen will definitely find a chance to let my cousin and the second prince be alone, and then." Jingyi stopped talking here. Siqin understood what she meant. It seemed that the queen wanted to make it a done deal! Jingyi sat at the table, tapping the table lightly with her fingers bent. What will the queen plan tomorrow? Is she planning to target her cousin? Jingyi's eyes suddenly turned cold. No matter what the queen planned, she must protect her cousin's reputation and her marriage with the prince of England. Once you enter the palace, it's like a deep sea! She would never allow the queen to destroy her cousin's happiness and bury her life in the cage-like palace. In the afternoon, Gu sent Madam Liu to select clothes, jewelry, and accessories for Jingyi, and asked Madam Hong to teach her the etiquette of the palace for half an hour before she stopped. After they left, Jingyi was too tired to stand up. She pounded her sore legs and her stiff waist with her hands, muttering, "Every time before entering the palace, I have to come and teach. I can recite it, but my mother still insists on doing it. I don't understand why I have to practice these annoying court etiquettes over and over again? I would rather not enter the palace for the rest of my life."

Haitang smiled and said, "Miss, it's not up to us to decide whether to enter the palace or not."

Nanny He also advised, "Yes, Miss, don't say such angry words again in the future. If someone hears it carefully, it will become a handle." After that, she stepped forward and gently pinched her legs, and whispered, "How is it? Are you feeling better?"

Jingyi nodded weakly, then lay back and waved her hand, saying, "You guys go down. I want to have a good sleep and make up for the physical strength that the two maids just tossed me away."

Nanny He and Haitang looked at each other, took off Jingyi's shoes and socks, and got up and left.

Jingyi was really tired this time. She slept very late last night, and today she was too tired to get up. After a while, she really fell asleep.

She didn't know how long she slept. She vaguely felt someone calling her. She waved her hand, turned over, and continued to sleep.

The man laughed softly when he couldn't wake her up. He leaned over to her ear and whispered a few words. Suddenly, Jingyi sat up.

She looked at Qingtian who was sitting in front of her bed, her eyes widened, and asked in disbelief: "Can you say it again?"

Qingtian smiled and said: "Master is back, in the front hall."

Jingyi quickly got off the bed, put on her shoes and socks, and sorted out her clothes. She pulled Qingtian and ran out, saying as she ran: "You didn't lie to me, did Master really find the pearl lotus?"