The mother-in-law is criticizing her!
Jiang's face was as pale as white.
Asking her whether she had read classics and history was to say that she was a hen that crowed at dawn, reading books that she shouldn't have read, having thoughts that she shouldn't have had, and meddling in men's affairs; talking about the matter of Aunt Wang was to accuse her of questioning Xu Sizhun's decision in front of her aunt, and of embarrassing Xu Sizhun in front of her natal family, which also made her appear rude and uncultured.
She just felt wronged.
"At home, obey your father; after marriage, obey your husband." No matter how prominent a married woman's family is, she and her husband's family will rise and fall together. How could she not understand this truth? But Xu Sizhun...if she hadn't been worried about him, why would she have gone to such trouble? Which woman doesn't want to marry a man who is like a towering tree, protecting her from the wind and rain, and hiding under the tree to be a virtuous wife and filial daughter-in-law.
But how dare she say these words in front of her mother-in-law!
If you say it out loud, it will be another sin.
A wife's husband is her greatest treasure. Everyone in Yanjing said that her mother-in-law was virtuous, gentle and kind, but if her father-in-law hadn't always protected her, would her mother-in-law have such a reputation?
"Mother, this is all my fault." Jiang stood up slowly, feeling dizzy before her eyes. "I didn't think it through." She said, and slowly knelt in front of Shiyi Niang. "I will never dare to do it again. Please calm down, mother."
Cui'er's death and Tao's mother's ending both touched Eleven Niang's heart. There are some things that she can understand and comprehend, but she can't do them. From this point of view, she is not suitable to manage the inner house of Xu's mansion. She hopes that Xu Sizhun will get married soon, and that Jiang is smart and capable, and can help manage the inner house of Xu's mansion after she gets married. By then, she can also be freed from these trivial matters and live a leisurely life.
Of course, she knows that there is a gap between ideal and reality.
Smart and capable people are more competitive; competitive people have their own ideas. She placed her own people in important positions early on. In this way, she can attack or defend. As long as Jiang gave her due respect, she would also give Jiang due respect.
So as soon as Jiang came in, she wanted Jiang to help her with some housework to see Jiang's temperament and ability. Although Xu Lingyi did not agree, she kept observing Jiang carefully.
Helped Xu Sizhun recognize his mistakes, thought about the relationship between the crown prince, Prince Yong, and the Xu family through the annual festival gifts, and controlled Xu Sizhun from acting on impulse... Eleventh Lady felt that Jiang was not only smart, but also quite resourceful in her actions. If she could grasp the right measure, it would not be a bad thing for Xu Sizhun to have her to help him.
Only then did she come up with the idea of warning Jiang.
"Hurry up and get up!" Eleventh Lady said calmly, "If you have anything to say, just talk it out nicely. Kneeling like this is not a solution!"
Judging from the tone of my mother-in-law, I would not easily let it go even if I admitted my mistake.
Jiang's heart was in turmoil, as if fifteen buckets of water were being drawn.
She just felt like there was bitter gall in her mouth.
"My mother is right!" She stood up nervously, not knowing what would be waiting for her next.
"I have always felt that it is good for girls to read some classics and history." Eleventh Lady sipped her tea again, her expression very calm, in sharp contrast to Jiang's nervousness, "so that they will not be completely ignorant of what is happening outside. Even if they want to help their husbands, they will not know where to start. When I first heard your words of advice to Zhun'er, I was very pleased. I think Zhun'er has found a virtuous wife. With a sister-in-law like you, his younger brothers and sisters will follow suit and live in harmony with each other. This is not only a blessing for Zhun'er, but also a blessing for our Xu family."
Jiang looked at Eleventh Lady in astonishment.
She didn't expect her mother-in-law to give her such a high evaluation.
If it were any other time, she would naturally be overjoyed, but in this situation... first she would praise you, then she would criticize you, and I'm afraid what she would say next would not be pleasant to the ear, and this was the main point.
"It's good that you can remind Zhun'er about the Yongwang Mansion." Eleventh Lady looked at Jiang. "Zhun'er is still young. He was panicked when he heard about this. It's inevitable that he can't make up his mind for a while. Your father has won the first place in the imperial examination and served as a court official. He is also a man. He knows more about court affairs than the women in the inner house. The Marquis is not at home. It's human nature and not wrong for you to ask your father to help make a decision. But how come the person who came to persuade you is your aunt?"
Jiang's face changed drastically.
"It seems that there are some things that you haven't figured out yet." Eleventh Lady continued, "Let's talk about today's matter. You asked Zhun'er in front of your aunt why he wanted to give Prince Wang a gourd for raising katydids. I also know what you mean. Zhun'er couldn't give anything else, but he had to give a gourd for raising katydids. If Prince Wang indulges in playing with things, Zhun'er will naturally become a bad friend, which will be very bad for Zhun'er's reputation. Your aunt knows all about the family affairs, so there is no need to hide it from her. A virtuous wife respects her husband, while a foolish wife scolds him. You have also read "Instructions for Women" and "Biography of Heroic Women", so you naturally understand this principle. Why did you do such a thing today?
There are some things you need to think about carefully.”
Eleventh Lady spoke earnestly, holding the teacup, "It's getting late, you should go back and rest early! I was counting on you to help me unload the burden and take care of all the trivial matters at home!"
"Yes!" Jiang answered in a mosquito-like voice and a dazed look, and walked out of the main courtyard in a daze.
"Fourth Young Madam, Fourth Young Madam," Yuan Baozhu's wife saw that she looked a little unhappy and became anxious. She didn't know what the Fourth Madam had said to the Fourth Young Madam when she called her over. "What's wrong with you?"
The urgent voice was mixed with the cold wind and hit Jiang's body, making her sober up a lot.
Yes! How could I be like this?
But things went smoothly one after another, and she gradually became frivolous. In the final analysis, she was impatient and lacked self-cultivation. If she continued to act like this...
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a little scared, and then she realized that her back had been soaked without her knowing when.
* * * * * *
Amber tiptoed in to clean up the teacups. She saw Shiyi Niang sitting on the big kang by the window, staring at the yard outside in a daze.
"Madam, are you going to pay your respects to the lady-in-waiting now? Or should you go later?" She reminded Eleventh Lady in a low voice.
"Oh!" Eleventh Lady turned around, "Let's go now! It's getting dark, and I'm afraid it's going to snow soon. Go early to avoid running into them." She added, "I don't know where the Marquis and Jin Ge'er have gone. The Marquis has gone out, and he bullies me because I don't know what's going on outside, and he doesn't tell me the truth." She said half complaining, half scolding, as she got off the kang.
Amber laughed and took the fox fur cloak over. "My Lord, aren't you afraid of your nagging? The last time you wrote to Jiayuguan, there were more than a dozen letters, all of which were about food, clothing and daily expenses. Outside, you have to make do with everything. My Lord, I'm sure you don't want to lie to your wife, so you just speak vaguely."
Eleventh Lady knew very well what Xu Lingyi's intention was, but she just waited at home, watching the strong wind and heavy snow outside. She felt uneasy thinking that Jiayuguan was even colder than here.
She knew it was useless to say this, as Amber and the others always spoke in unison to speak well of Xu Lingyi, as if they were afraid that she would annoy Xu Lingyi.
"Don't come over tomorrow," Eleventh Lady simply stopped talking and instructed Amber, "You should have guests at home too. Qiuyu is enough for me."
Amber smiled and replied "yes": "Madam, is there anything you want me to bring?"
Although the steward of the outer courtyard is responsible for purchasing, Shiyi Niang is still used to asking Amber to buy some small personal items for her.
"It's New Year's Day and every house is closed. Where are you going to bring things to me?" Eleventh Lady suddenly stopped.
Logically, even if she didn't say anything, the Jiang family would have warned Jiang. Why did they just let Jiang continue to make mistakes like this?
Could this be exactly what the Jiang family would like to see?
The marriage between the Jiang family and the Xu family was tantamount to waving a white flag to the emperor. But after so many years, the Jiang family not only did not gain anything, but the emperor was still the same as before, neither distant nor close to the Jiang family.
I’m afraid the Jiang family can’t wait!
Now it depends on Jiang’s choice!
As uncomfortable as the husband feels being caught between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Jiang will feel being caught between the two families in the future.
Eleventh Lady couldn't help but sigh softly.
* * * * * *
After the Lantern Festival, Shiyi Niang received a letter from Xu Lingyi, saying that he would leave for Beijing in mid-March. She asked how the yard of Jing'er was being cleaned up. There was no greeting for him in the new year.
Eleventh Lady muttered a few words to Xu Lingyi in her heart and wrote a reply to her.
By mid-February, Yingniang arrived in Yanjing.
Xu Sijie was planting cannas with two servants.
Shiyi Niang asked Ying Niang, who had not yet entered the room, "What do you think?"
Yingniang looked at it carefully and said with a smile, "I think planting banana trees is also a good idea."
Xu Sijie looked over after hearing this, washed his hands hastily, and walked over quickly: "Mother! Cousin, you're here!"
Yingniang bowed to Xu Sijie and called him "Fifth cousin" with a smile.
"I saw a camphor tree over there," Xu Sijie said with a smile, "so I thought of planting cannas."
"I think this Taihu stone is only waist-high, so I think it's better to plant banana trees." Ying Niang said with a smile, "If the Taihu stone is as tall as a person, it would be better to plant cannas."
There are two ways to manage a garden in ancient times: one is to arrange the garden in an orderly manner or the other is to arrange the garden in an orderly manner. Xu Sijie used the former, while Yingniang used the latter.
After hearing this, Xu Sijie turned around and looked around, and said, "What my eldest cousin said makes sense. How about planting banana trees instead, and then plant the cannas in my yard?" The last sentence was directed to Shiyi Niang.
Eleventh Lady looked at Yingniang.
Yingniang smiled and said, "Fifth cousin, there is no need to go to such trouble. Planting cannas is also beautiful. It's just that I like banana trees, so I wish everyone would plant banana trees."
Xu Sijie asked curiously, "Why does my cousin like banana trees?"
"The sound of rain hitting banana leaves is so nice!" Ying Niang laughed heartily.
Xu Sijie was stunned, then started laughing.
Eleventh Lady looked at it and started laughing too.
"Okay, go back to your room and rest!" she said to Yingniang, "After washing up, let's go and pay our respects to the Madam."
Yingniang smiled, bowed, and followed the maids to the west wing in the backyard.
The Fifth Madam's personal maid came over.
"Fourth Madam!" She bowed. "Our Madam wants you to come over. She said she has something urgent to discuss with you."
※
Post a draft first!
PS: Make up for the extra update on September 10th.