Ji Wan raised her head from a pile of books and paper, a little confused.

"What day is it today?"

"The ninth day of the fifth month." Bai Yun handed over hot tea, "I just celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival a few days ago, did you forget?"

"Yes." Ji Wan slapped her forehead, "calculate the time, it's time for the fourth brother and sister to have a child."

Brother Xing was sitting next to him and playing, but when he looked up, he saw her slapping his forehead, blinking, then crawled over, stretched out his hand and slapped her forehead. After that, he laughed, as if he had done something proud.

Ji Wan was stunned.

Bai Yun and Bai Feng covered their lips and chuckled.

Ji Wan came to her senses, hugged her son in a funny way, reached out and rubbed her pink face, "What's wrong with learning? Now I've learned to bully my mother. It seems that I've been too indulging in you in the past two months and becoming more and more naughty. Let me tell your father and let him put away all your toys and see if you're still playing with it."

Brother Xing could understand now. He heard this and immediately hid the windmill in his arms and said loudly: "No."

Ji Wan laughed again, and kissed him on the face with a baby, "Let's go, mom will take you to the fourth aunt to see your younger brother and sister."

Brother Xing immediately shone his eyes, threw the windmill directly, put his hands on her neck, and rubbed it on her body.

Ji Wan pulled her off her body and put her in a stroller specially asked a craftsman to make, "Be good, don't make trouble, otherwise I won't take you out."

Brother Xing, who was about to protest, immediately closed his mouth and looked at her pitifully.

Ji Wan shook her head helplessly and pushed him out.

The Lüshi broke out at the Si hour, and it was not until the hour of Hai that he heard the baby's crying.

"Born, born."

The midwife happily came out with the child in her arms, "He is a daughter."

The fourth lady's face stiffened a little and soon started laughing again. She was the first child, so she was not in a hurry. Didn't Xiao Lan have a daughter? It's not embarrassing.

When Mrs. Lu learned that she had given birth to a daughter, she was still feeling a little nervous, but seeing her mother-in-law come in with a smile on her face, holding the child with a loving look on her face, her heart finally fell into her throat. As for Lu Silang, she didn't care so much about having a baby. However, for the first time he became a father, he was still at a loss and couldn't even hug the child. Looking at her daughter who was tired and fell asleep, she was a little confused.

The fourth lady glared at him with a funny look, "What are you doing while standing stupidly? Sister, I don't have a name yet."

Lu Silang came back to his senses and scratched his head a little embarrassedly.

His children are ranked by "Er", and his daughter is named Lu Eryin and her nickname is Yin Jieer.

Brother Xing still couldn't change his curiosity about the younger child. When he saw his new sister, he quarreled to ask his mother to carry him out of the cart, and then ran over to hug his fourth uncle's thigh to look at his sister.

The boy's eyes were pure, curiosity and eagerness.

Lu Silang smiled and put his daughter in the cradle prepared in advance, then picked up Brother Xing and placed it on the couch next to him, letting him lie on the cradle and watch.

"My sister is sleeping. Brother Xing can't wake up my sister, do you know?"

Brother Xing nodded obediently.

"Know."

Ji Wan, Dou and Xiao Lan saw Lu's family and came out. The mother was weak and needed a good rest, so it was inconvenient to disturb her.

There was another child in the mansion. The old lady was very happy and sent someone some supplements. The fourth lady saw the good thing like flowing water, and her smile became more real.

She is actually not a man who prefers boys over girls. She is just a husband who is born in a illegitimate family and is not as good as a legitimate family. If her daughter-in-law gives birth to a daughter, she will be afraid that the old lady will not like her, so she will not be able to raise her head among her sister-in-law. Now the old lady's attitude has dispelled her last concern and treated her daughter-in-law more sincerely. She specifically reminded her son to take good care of the Lü.

It is said that a woman will give birth once ten months of pregnancy, and the hardships cannot be understood by men. At this time, as a husband, you have to spend more time with your wife.

Of course, Lu Silang nodded.

Although he had no ambitions, he was a filial son. He would basically listen to what his mother said. Lu was grateful for his hard work to give birth to a daughter and was more concerned about Lu than before.

Mrs. Lu didn't expect that she not only did not fall out of favor after giving birth to a daughter, but also gained her husband's understanding and care. She was flattered and very happy.

The wet nurse carried Sister Yin to Chunhui Pavilion to show the old lady. The old lady squinted her eyes and looked at her newborn granddaughter, smiling with her face full of pleats, "The heaven is full, it's a blessing."

Aunt Zhuang smiled and congratulated, "You are always lucky. In the past two years, I have had four children in the mansion. After two years, I will come here to accompany you every day, and you will be lively around you. At that time, Goro and Liuro should get married. With more children, they will be laughing and laughing, how great it is."

The elderly like children and enjoy themselves every day, and they feel much younger.

The old lady was comfortable listening to this, patted Tang Jingxian who was rubbing her shoulders, and said kindly: "Jingxian, you can sit down too. Just let the servants do these things. When you come to the Duke's Mansion, you will be the master and you don't need to serve anyone."

Because she was living under someone else's roof, Tang Jingxian was very restrained in the Duke's Mansion and was cautious in his actions, fearing to offend others. On the day she entered the mansion, the old lady expressed sympathy to her, so she often ran to Chunhui Pavilion, and she never left her back every day, morning and evening. She brought tea and water to the old lady, pinched her shoulders and backs, and was considerate in everything, which was very favored by the old lady.

Tang Jingxian smiled gently and said in a soft voice: "Jingxian's parents were both helpless and had no support. Fortunately, my aunt and you took in. I have no way to repay my great kindness and virtue. I have to do my best to do my filial piety in front of you. I just hope you don't dislike me for being stupid."

The old lady took her hand and sat down with a smile on her face.

"I know your filial piety, and you don't have to do everything yourself."

Tang Jingxian smiled shyly and gentlely, and looked like a lady from a noble family.

Aunt Zhuang smiled and said, "I heard that the wife is busy with Miss Ninth's marriage. After that, it's time to discuss the marriage for her cousin? Her cousin is beautiful and gentle, well-educated, and I don't know who will be blessed to marry her cousin."

Tang Jingxian froze and lowered her head at the right time, her face flushed and she was overwhelmed.

The old lady looked at her with a smile, "It's fourteen next month, it's time to discuss a kiss. Your aunt has always had a great vision and will definitely choose a good son-in-law for you. Although you are not the daughter of my Lu family, no one dares to let you suffer grievance after getting married from the Lu family."

Tang Jingxian buried his head lower, his face turned redder and his voice was smaller.

"Old lady, you are joking with me again."

Aunt Zhuang covered her lips and chuckled, "What are you shy? When the girl's family grows up, she always wants to get married. This is how your cousins ​​come here. Don't stay in the house on weekdays, go out for a walk and meet some ladies. When you get married, you have to deal with them."

Tang Jingxian held the veil and said in a soft voice, "I first came to Beijing, and I don't know anyone. I also want to learn more from my sisters in the mansion, so as not to understand nothing, and I will make jokes when I go out in the future. But the sisters are either waiting to marry or have a lot of schoolwork, so I dare not disturb me. I went to find my cousin's wife several times, and she was very busy." Speaking of this, she paused, with envy and admiration in her tone, "I heard that my cousin's wife is doing business and has made many novel foods, and the people in the capital like it very much. Recently, she is busy opening branches, and she piles up drawings and books every day, and she is more skillful than the accountant lady when I was at home. My cousin's wife is really capable, no wonder my cousin likes her so much."

Aunt Zhuang raised her eyebrows slightly and glanced at her obscurely.

The old lady never heard the cleverness in her words and said with a smile: "Your cousin's wife is born with skilled hands and smart brains. She can make any strange food. The children in the mansion like it the most. However, she has been busy recently and has promoted transactions with the Hu people. She is also one of the heroes. She opens a branch for the people's livelihood. She is so busy that she is not stuck in the ground every day. How can she have time to meet customers? Don't bother her. If you stay in the mansion, let your aunt take you out for a walk and attend a few poems and tea banquets, and you will be familiar with it."

Tang Jingxian nodded and said yes.

After sitting here for a while, Tang Jingxian and Aunt Zhuang said goodbye and left. After leaving, the two were about to part ways, but Aunt Zhuang called Tang Jingxian.

"Cousin."

She looked at Tang Jingxian with a smile, "Miss Nine is about to leave the house. I have no other strengths. I want to make two embroidery pieces for her to add makeup. I heard that the cousin girl and female worker are very good. Can you help me see it?"

Tang Jingxian was stunned.

There are embroidery girls in the mansion, and there are also many girls who are good at female workers. Why did Aunt Zhuang find her an outsider who had just lived in the mansion for a while? She remembered some rumors she had heard in the past two months that although Aunt Zhuang was the concubine of the Duke of the Kingdom, she was not favored and had no children. She just borrowed the light of the old lady and was able to have a place to live in this mansion. Unlike her master, she was more like a guest living here.

After thinking about it this way, Tang Jingxian understood. Maybe Aunt Zhuang felt that she was in the same condition as her, so she intended to show her goodwill.

She smiled slightly, "Aunt Zhuang praised it. I have been here for so long and have not visited the house. It is a rude thing. If Aunt Zhuang refuses to give up, I will bother you today."

Aunt Zhuang smiled and took her hand, put it in her palm and patted it.

"I live alone and sometimes I am lonely. You are willing to accompany me. I am too happy. How can I be so annoying? Let's go."

"Um."

The two walked together and came to the small building where Aunt Zhuang lived alone.

After entering the yard, Tang Jingxian discovered that the small building where Aunt Zhuang lived was not big, but the layout was very elegant and exquisite. There was also a small corridor where some flowers and plants were planted in the corridor, and the breeze emitted a faint fragrance of flowers, refreshing the heart. When you step into the house, you will be equipped with all the decorations, and the utensils are better than those in her house. How could this be treated by an unpopular concubine?

"Cousin, sit."

Aunt Zhuang asked her to sit down and ordered someone to serve tea again. The tea is Junshan Silver Needle, and the water used to make tea is dew. The tea fragrance lingers and the fragrance is refreshing.

Tang Jingxian's eyes flashed over the set of glass tea cups, the mahogany tables and chairs, and the landscape painting hanging on the wall behind was written by famous scholars of the previous dynasty, with private seals on the lower left corner. Such paintings may not be seen by ordinary people, but Aunt Zhuang just hangs them in the hall in a noble manner.

Taking her expression in full view, Aunt Zhuang said, "Miss Cousin knows painting?"

Tang Jingxian withdrew his gaze and said modestly: "I am not proficient in it, but I just understand it a little. This landscape painting has towering peaks, straight up to the sky, vast sea water, profound artistic conception, and solid writing. It should be written by a famous teacher."

"Miss cousin has a good vision."

Aunt Zhuang smiled and praised, "This is a handwritten painting by Master Cui, a former dynasty. The wife accidentally obtained it. I knew that I loved brush and ink, so I sent it to me."

Tang Jingxian's face looked slightly shocked.

Aunt Zhuang seemed not to see her shock and sighed softly, "To be honest, I am actually in the family. I have no relatives and no reason, so I have been taken in by the old lady, so that I can have a place in this Duke's Mansion. The lady is generous and friendly and treats me like a sister. I am very grateful and vowed to repay her kindness. The lady has two sons and two daughters, the eldest and sixth girls are married, the ninth prince is underage, the third prince is both wife and children, and is in harmony with each other, and I am the first to not tolerate it."

Tang Jingxian was shocked all over, and subconsciously looked up and met Aunt Zhuang's gaze. She had always been gentle, but at this moment there was a bit of sharpness in her eyes, as if she could penetrate everything.

Tang Jingxian was inexplicably panicked and hurriedly lowered his head.

"Why did Aunt Zhuang tell me this?"

Aunt Zhuang did not answer, but drank tea slowly. There was a factor of dying in the air, like a fire buried under an iceberg, which was about to explode in an instant.

Tang Jingxian felt suffocated, and his anxiety and irritability gradually expanded. Just as he was about to get up to say goodbye, Aunt Zhuang finally spoke, "Miss Cousin is very smart, knows to show his virtuousness to win the sympathy and pity of the old lady. He is willing to condescend to serve the old lady every day, and has the favor of the old lady and his status in this mansion."

She glanced at Tang Jingxian's slightly pale face, and her tone became even more careless, "I am both a person who has fallen into the world. Actually, I understand your approach. If you rely on others, you should have the attitude and consciousness to rely on others. Unfortunately, you are not smart enough."

Aunt Zhuang smiled on her face, but her eyes were as cold as ice and snow.

"You always look weak, timid and taciturn. The old lady thought you were lonely and helpless, and you were gentle, sensible and understanding, so you were so fond of you. You could deceive the old lady, but you couldn't deceive me."

"What does Aunt Zhuang mean?"

"I haven't finished speaking yet."

Aunt Zhuang's tone was light, but instantly suppressed Tang Jingxian's sudden burst of momentum.

"I just said, you are indeed smart, but not smart enough. The third young lady and Saburo met her. She invented the warm-house vegetables, artificial ice making and sewing machines. Before she left home, she had to be named the county lord. She got engaged to Saburo at the age of fourteen and entered the palace with her sixteen. When the Northern Di attacked, Saburo followed the army to fight, and she also went to the north. After returning to Beijing, Saburo asked her to have an imperial edict. She had three years of family life and had a son. The couple had a deep affection and deep love. She was filial to her parents-in-law and served the old lady like her. There were several wives in the mansion, and the old lady liked her the most. But you, after only two months in the mansion, thought that you had a face in front of the old lady, and dared to sow discord and make trouble in front of the old lady."

Her eyes suddenly became sharp and she shouted, "Who gives you the confidence?"
To be continued...