Chapter 7: The Sorrow of Yizhuyuan
When Xiaoping heard what Aunt Feng said, she felt a little regretful when she thought of Aunt Feng's background. Aunt Feng was originally the illegitimate daughter of a county magistrate in Chong'an County, Wuxi.
Although Aunt Feng's father was only an eighth-rank official in the local area, living in the prosperous Jiangnan region, her life was relatively comfortable.
However, in order to get close to the Yin family in Jiangnan and continue to rise in status, Aunt Feng's father listened to the instigation of Aunt Feng's stepmother and found the most distant relative, Feng Ruoxi, the first wife of Yin Xu's younger brother Yin Feng.
After much persuasion, after knocking down the door of Yin's house, after begging everyone and spending some money, they finally managed to get Aunt Feng into Yin Xu's room and make her his concubine.
Of course Aunt Feng refused, because she had been accustomed to seeing her biological mother being treated harshly by her stepmother since she was a child. Aunt Feng would rather marry into a poor family as a wife than marry into a wealthy family as a concubine.
But the arm is powerless. The Dasheng Dynasty had strict etiquette and morals. Families with a little savings would raise their daughters in the boudoir, not allowing them to go out of the main door or the second door. They could only stay in the boudoir and embroider all day long. When they were three or four years old, they would have their feet bound.
In the inner house, especially around the girls' boudoirs, there are almost no servants to be seen. The heavy work is done by the strong old women.
Therefore, girls in the Great Sheng Dynasty had to rely on their fathers when they were at home, and on husbands they had never met when they got married.
It was even worse for Aunt Feng. Because she was born out of wedlock, her stepmother would not allow Aunt Feng the opportunity to go out of the house to attend banquets at other homes or to burn incense and worship Buddha. Instead, she would take her own legitimate daughter with her.
Therefore, Aunt Feng had never left the Feng Mansion until she was 13 years old. As soon as she left the Feng Mansion at the age of 13, she was knocked unconscious. She was wearing a pink wedding dress and was carried into the Yin Mansion through the side door in a sedan chair. She became Yin Xu's concubine.
Because of the permission of both parents and her clean family background, Aunt Feng was also considered a good concubine, so Yin Xu's wife Zhang did not dare to extend her hand too far. He just emphasized the rules every day to remind Aunt Feng not to forget her identity.
Compared to Aunt Li, who was born in the Jiaofangsi and was just a lowly concubine carried in from the back door or corner door of Yin's mansion, she was controlled and manipulated everywhere by the main wife, Zhang. In the Yin Mansion, Aunt Feng was living a good life.
Xiaoping is a personal maid who grew up with Aunt Feng. She has watched Aunt Feng change from her original cold and aloof self to her current calculating and vying for favor every day.
Xiao Ping also comforted her uncomfortably: "Aunt, you just need to know how to compete for favor. In the past, I saw you being cold and indifferent, and I was so worried.
Although the third and fifth girls are born out of wedlock, as long as the aunt is willing, if the third and fifth girls marry into a good family in the future and their husbands are capable, and they are granted an imperial decree, the aunt will be able to hold her head up high in the Yin family. A hundred years later, they will be able to be buried in the Yin family's ancestral tomb, and their tablets will be placed in the Yin family's ancestral hall in broad daylight. ”
Aunt Feng let go of her strength, sat on the couch again and said, "Xiao Ping, do you know what I regret the most?"
Xiao Ping shook her head and said, "I don't know."
Aunt Feng sighed and said, "The thing I regret most is that I didn't accept my fate. I cried and wailed on our wedding night, which annoyed the master. Since then, the master and I have seldom slept together.
No matter how I try to save it later, it's useless. Zhang looks kind on the surface, but actually she is not a good person at heart? My two daughters were destined to be concubines under her arrangement, so I should have earned some money..."
As they were talking, an old nanny in her 40s ran in. She was dressed exactly like Nanny Zhou and Nanny Liu in Zhang's room.
They all wore a dark red double-breasted waistcoat with a black border and small peonies embroidered on it. She wore a black undershirt under the double-breasted waistcoat, and a black horse-faced skirt underneath. The black and white hair is fixed with a silver hairpin.
This dress style was also requested by the housekeeper's wife, Zhang. Older maids wore black or dark red clothes, and the maids were divided into three grades. The first-grade maids wore green clothes, and their names began with the word "Xiao". They usually served the master closely.
Second-class maids wear pink clothes, like the ones that start with a character. They are usually about the same age as the girls in the boudoir and the young men in the front yard. They grew up together and are both maids and playmates.
The third-class maids wear gray or black clothes, and their names begin with the word "Qing". They are generally maids who do menial work.
Although Zhang was vicious, the housekeeper had her own way. The maids and old women could be promoted or demoted in rank.
Once a maidservant does not serve her master well, or pretends to obey her but actually disobeys her, those who commit serious offenses will be sold out directly, while those who commit minor offenses will be demoted. Therefore, the maids and servants in Yin's mansion have always been conscientious and hardworking.
The old maid ran to Aunt Feng's side, wiped the raindrops from her head and said, "Aunt, I have heard some news."
Aunt Feng was delighted and quickly walked up to Madam Zheng and said, "Madam Zheng, how is it?"
Madam Zheng took a deep breath and said, "I just asked the maid in Yimei Courtyard and learned that Madam Li gave birth to a daughter. The maid in Yimei Courtyard was just moving some baby supplies. I guess Madam wants to raise the newborn Sixth Girl herself."
After hearing what Nanny Zheng said, Aunt Feng thought to herself that she was right. So she said with a bad face: "Madame Zheng, Xiaoping, you two should go down and rest first! I want to be quiet for a while, so just let Liu Ruhong accompany me."
Madam Zheng and Xiao Ping bowed and said, "Yes, Aunt."
Then she retreated, and Xiaoping walked to the door and said to Ruhong outside: "Go in and serve her! Auntie is in a bad mood, so serve her well."
Ruhong said, "Yes, aunt." Then she walked in.
——————————
Yizhu Courtyard is where Aunt Wang lives. Aunt Wang was originally Yin Xu's maid, two years older than Yin Xu. She served Yin Xu for several years. Under the old lady's arrangement, she was promoted to a concubine and gave birth to the eldest son Yin Jingren.
In the end, Zhang resorted to some trickery and had Yin Jingren adopted by someone else. Because Yin Xu didn't like Aunt Wang very much, he didn't set foot in Yizhu Courtyard for a year or so. The servants were not very obedient and were indifferent to Aunt Wang.
After Zhang became the housekeeper, she disliked Aunt Wang, who almost took away her son's status as the eldest son. She turned a blind eye and allowed the servants to humiliate Aunt Wang.
If you look closely at Yizuyuan now, you will find it is in a dilapidated state. Aunt Wang lives a life worse than that of a first-class maid and is often bedridden.
At this time, Aunt Wang was lying on the bed, unable to fall asleep. She was coughing violently, which woke up her personal maid Xiaozhu.
Because Aunt Wang was not in good health, Xiaozhu did not sleep on the small bed next to her, but slept on the same bed with Aunt Wang.
When Xiaozhu heard Aunt Wang coughing badly, she immediately stood up, helped Aunt Wang sit up, patted her on the back and said, "Aunt, are you feeling better?"
Aunt Wang coughed and said, "I heard that Li is about to give birth. I really hope she can give birth to a son to dampen Zhang's arrogance.
Zhang is a person with a beastly heart. She pretends to be a steady and stable housewife and a good mother on the outside, but in fact, she is just a cruel and vicious person in the inner house of Yin's mansion.
If it weren't for Zhang, how could my son have been adopted by someone else and separated from then on, one in Jiangnan and the other in Shangjing.
Xiaozhu, do you know? I thought that after I gave birth to a son, I would be able to rest easy for the rest of my life. But look at me, my current situation and my life are not even as good as those of Zhang's first-class maid. "As he spoke, he began to cry.
Xiaozhu quickly picked up a handkerchief and wiped Wang's tears. Then she hugged Wang and said, "Aunt, don't worry. God sees all the bad things Zhang has done! One day he will be punished."
Wang got up from Xiaozhu's arms, wiped her tears and said: "Xiaozhu, you are right. Even if I am sick, I will live on. I am waiting to see Zhang's retribution. Isn't Zhang the one who loves her children the most? I want to let..."
Wang was about to speak when Xiaozhu blocked her mouth. Xiaozhu whispered, "Aunt, be careful with your words. Walls have ears. You may complain a few times, but Zhang loves her children the most. If Zhang hears what you say next, you will definitely suffer.
There are some things that you should keep in your heart and just take action. ”
Wang suddenly realized and said, "Yes, Xiaozhu, you are right. I shouldn't have said that. Fortunately, Xiaozhu is by my side, otherwise who knows what might have happened!"
Xiao Zhu said: "Okay, Auntie, let's go to sleep! We still have to pay our respects to the Madam tomorrow morning!"
Wang coughed softly a few times, and with Xiaozhu's help, she lay down. Xiaozhu covered Wang with a thin blanket, lay down beside her, and fell asleep.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
