Chapter 8 I'm in love with Qiao Niang

After lunch, the mother who was responsible for taking care of the eight girls brought them some tea and eight kinds of dried fruits.

If you know it is a selection of concubines, you might think it is a selection of imperial concubines.

Yun Qiao couldn't help but complain in her heart, but fortunately, they only sat there for less than half an hour before the maids from each family came to look for them.

Xiaotao came with Yun'er who was beside Zhou.

"Cousin, let's go back. The old lady of the Zhou family has already gone back, and Madam Zhou's carriage is waiting outside."

Yun Qiao nodded, stood up and followed Yun'er out.

She gathered her sleeves, fearing that the pastries inside would fall out.

He took Zhou's carriage and went directly back to Chen's house.

Seeing that Yun Qiao didn't say anything in the carriage, Zhou also didn't say anything. It was only when they were almost home that Zhou started talking to Yun Qiao.

"I went to Zhenbei Hou today, but he looked very impressive."

Yun Qiao nodded without saying anything more.

"Mother Qiao, you know your health condition well. I've found many doctors for you in northern Shaanxi. You can't have children, so I'm afraid you won't be able to survive in anyone's family. After all, a woman needs to give birth to children to gain a stable foothold."

"But fortunately, you are very beautiful. If you were to become a concubine in the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion, the old lady would say that marrying you as a noble concubine is not just an ordinary concubine. It is much better than marrying into a country peasant's family..."

In the final analysis, it was just to coax her to become a concubine in the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion.

Yun Qiao thought for a moment and then said, "Aunt, although I am not the daughter of a wealthy family, I am a girl from the Yun family in Qingfeng County. I absolutely do not want to be someone's concubine."

"I've made up my mind. I'll tell my uncle when I get home that I'm moving out starting tomorrow. I'm going to be an embroiderer in an embroidery workshop, or at worst, I'll become a nun in a temple."

She looked at the Marquis of Zhenbei.

The family is big and the business is great, but there are also many disputes inside.

She was afraid that if she became a concubine, she would have no freedom and might offend someone there at any time, and end up dying in a dry well.

Zhou originally thought that Yun Qiao was obedient and easy to control, but she didn't expect that after her visit to Zhenbei Hou, she became a little rebellious.

"Your uncle said this matter, do everything I say."

"Yun Qiao, I'm trying to find a place for you out of kindness, but you're still not understanding?"

Yun Qiao said nothing. She knew that no matter what she said, it would be useless in front of Zhou.

She expressed her wish not to be a concubine, but the decision still had to be made by her uncle.

When the conversation ended, the carriage arrived outside the Chen family's door. Zhou got off the carriage first. She wanted to go back and confirm whether Chen Ruhai was at home. If he was at home, she would also talk to Chen Ruhai before Yun Qiao.

Yun Qiao waited until all the Zhou family members left before she took Xiao Tao's hand and handed her the pastries she had brought from the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion.

Xiaotao opened the handkerchief and saw that it was pastries.

"Girl, where did this come from?"

"I brought some for you during the meal. Take it and eat it yourself."

Xiao Tao reacted and said anxiously, "My girl, how could you still be in the mood to bring me some cakes?"

"I forgot to tell you, young lady, that this Lord Zhenbei, whose full name is Chen Jingyan, is the eldest son of the second branch of the Chen family, and the grandson of the old lady."

Yun Qiao paused, feeling puzzled.

Chen Jingyan is the eldest son of the second wife. Why didn't the eldest son of the first wife inherit the title of marquis, but instead gave it to the eldest son of the second wife?

Today in the old lady's courtyard, she looked carefully and seemed to see no one from the second house. She only saw a woman sitting below the old lady.

"There are already two concubines in the backyard of the Zhenbei Marquis, and this one is the one who stayed. There were three a few years ago, but I don't know what happened, they all died inexplicably."

"I don't know how many to choose this time, young lady. Xiao Tao is worried about you. Among these girls, I think you are the most beautiful."

Yun Qiao paused, her brows furrowed. "I've clearly told my uncle that I don't want to be his concubine. Could it be that the Marquis of Zhenbei can come and snatch me away to be his concubine?"

"It's not impossible. When we were in northern Shaanxi, in a small county town, there were many bullies. If it weren't for your uncle's protection, there would be many people who would want to snatch you away..."

Xiaotao muttered softly.

Yun Qiao walked forward and asked the gatekeeper, who said that the master had gone to the Ministry of Rites today and had not returned yet.

Since her uncle was not at home, Yun Qiao went straight back to the courtyard where she lived.

She lived in the same courtyard with her cousin Chen Xiniang, but the courtyard she lived in was inside and a little off. Yun Qiao walked into the inner room and became subconsciously alert.

This residence is a bit remote, so it’s better for him to live with Chen Xiniang, thinking that he would not dare to come again.

Thinking of that wretched cousin, Yun Qiao felt disgusted.

When she was in northern Shaanxi, she was changing clothes in the house one day. She had her period and her clothes were dirty. She didn't have any sanitary napkins or panty liners, so she only used a menstrual belt made of cloth. She was always unsure whether she had stained her clothes. The maid in the lower courtyard reminded her, and she hurried back to the house to change her clothes.

Little did he know that someone had caught him by surprise and was peeping through the window.

From then on, Yun Qiao would check her surroundings very carefully every time she changed clothes or went to bed at night.

in case.

Because she was the only one who had no one to prove that it was her cousin Chen Pingshun who was peeping, Yun Qiao did not say anything more. She was also afraid that if she did, Chen Pingshun would harass her again without restraint.

After going back to the house and making sure everything was alright, Yun Qiao sat down on the chair.

I thought about it over and over again.

If she leaves the Chen family, where should she go?

But could her uncle really let her go out alone? That was definitely not possible.

Yun Qiao was thinking about discussing it with her uncle when he came back in the evening. Although her uncle was busy with official duties and didn't have much time to worry about her affairs, this concerned the rest of her life, so she thought her uncle would pay more attention to it.

Little did I know that Chen Ruhai suddenly became busy these days.

He didn't come back at night, but just sent his attendants to question him.

Zhou wished that Chen Ruhai was not around at this time so that she could take control of Yun Qiao's marriage.

He sent the attendant away and told him that everything was fine at home. He also said kindly that if the master was busy, he didn't have to run back and forth and could just stay at the government office.

Chen Ruhai was concerned about Yunqiao, so he asked if there was anyone who had a good match with Yunqiao today.

Zhou said directly, this is my niece's uncle, how can I, as his aunt, not care about him? She said it again and again to reassure Mr. Chen.

Yun Qiao waited for three days but her uncle didn't come back, and she was extremely anxious.

Instead of waiting for my uncle, I waited for people from the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion.

"According to the old lady's wishes, we will first take Miss Yun to the Marquis's residence. This is the gift money. Madam Chen, don't worry. We are hiring a concubine for the Marquis, so we will naturally not treat Miss Yun unfairly."

"Mother He came in person, which shows that the old lady attaches great importance to it."

"Come in and have a cup of tea."

"It's really unfortunate. Qiao Niang hasn't been feeling well these past few days and is lying in bed. Don't worry, when the day comes, just send someone to pick her up."