76 Chapter 76
◎Two chapters in one◎
Today is the birthday of Huiyin's second son Zhan'er. His family sent birthday gifts early in the morning. Pei Shuo sent a load of longevity peach cakes, two loads of silver silk noodles, two suckling pigs, two sets of brocade clothes and a short and docile mare. Zheng Wuheng sent Cui Yuehuan to send six sets of top-quality study treasures, six pieces of top-quality Sichuan brocade with longevity patterns, two handkerchiefs with gilt turtle back patterns and a pair of socks.
In addition, there was a complete set of gold bracelets, gold necklaces, and gold anklets given by Ji and Zheng Fang and his wife, and there were others as well.
Huiyin did not want to hold a grand ceremony and only planned to invite close relatives to eat at a few tables. The male guests were dining with Li Cheng in the front, while the female guests were chatting in the flower hall where Huiyin was.
"When a child's birthday comes, you want to have fun at home and keep a low profile. I heard that some families don't give their children names until they are seven or eight years old, for fear that if others know about it, it will shorten their lifespan." Huiyin touched Zhan'er's head, feeling a little worried.
Cui Yuehuan said, "That's for people with weak bodies. I see that our Erlang is strong and healthy. Princess, please don't worry."
After her brother's reminder, Cui Yuehuan, who was originally a smart person, has been very talkative recently.
Xin was also joining in the fun. She was still thinking that Cui Yuehuan used to be quite arrogant since she came from a noble family. But now she has changed a lot. It seems that one really has to bow down when under someone else's roof.
But after complaining in her heart, Xin wondered if the gift she gave was not enough. However, she could not be partial to her two nephews, so she had to do so.
Huiyin also smiled as she listened to Cui Yuehuan's words, "I just said that. I don't believe in gods or ghosts. But, I heard that Madam Zhang is here too?"
Madam Zhang is Cui Yuehuan's half-sister, who married the Zhang family of Qinghe. It is said that she also plans to bring her children here.
"Yes, brother-in-law Zhang is now working as a teacher in the county, thanks to the prince, so my sister plans to bring the children over." Cui Yuehuan is not very close to this sister, but even if they are not close, they still talk about each other in public.
Huiyin said, "If you need anything, just tell me."
This was just a polite remark, Cui Yuehuan did not take it seriously, but instead flattered: "Thank you, Princess."
Huiyin thought it was a good thing that Yin Lifang didn't come, otherwise the two of them would look very similar standing together.
Thinking of this, she asked everyone to start the feast and called a few singers. Naturally, there were all kinds of food on land and sea. Cui Yuehuan thought that the princess usually didn't spend money, but when she did, it was such a feast, with rare things from all over the world.
After everyone had eaten their fill, they left one after another, leaving Ji alone to talk.
"Princess, please take care of yourself. I think you look like a willow branch, swaying when the wind blows." Ji felt very distressed.
Huiyin smiled and said, "Mother, I'm not exaggerating as you say. I was just too fat, so I wanted to lose some weight. Now that I've regained my figure, the clothes I wore three years ago are now too loose for me. But don't worry, I'm still drinking the tonic soup, and the prince even gave me a massage at night."
Ji couldn't help but feel happy for her: "My son, I have no other hope but to hope that you, the prince, and the prince are all well. That would be better than eating honey water for me."
"Speaking of which, I have to thank my brother. If he hadn't come to find someone, I wouldn't be so thin." Huiyin used to love eating fried bones. She would easily get acne on her forehead and cheeks, or she would stay up late and sleep too late. Now, she has kept her body smooth and shiny, so tender that you can pinch water out of it. How can she not be proud?
Thinking of Pei Shuo, Ji nodded hurriedly: "Your elder brother has been the closest to me since childhood, and he is also the most capable. But he is too capable in everything, so you should encourage him more."
This is of course referring to someone who came to ask for Pei Shuo to be promoted to the second branch. Last time, it was said that Xin's uncle had come, and that great scholar was very self-righteous and hoped that Li Cheng would recruit him. It was obvious that Li Cheng preferred to use young people rather than these old people. This uncle Xin was not promoted, so Xin got angry and got angry with Pei Shuo, and the couple had a cold war for some time.
Pei Shuo inevitably went out to drink, and someone with ulterior motives found out and wanted to tell him about his second wife, who was of considerable importance.
It was probably Xin who came to Ji for help, and Ji wanted Huiyin to help speak for him.
But Huiyin said, "Mom, my brother is an adult now, not like when he was little, so there are some things I can't say to him."
No matter how high her status as a sister is, she would not care about her brother's bedroom affairs. She could say that she and Li Cheng wanted to be together forever, and Li Cheng also had such an idea, but she never stopped him. She would not even stop her own husband, so how could she possibly take the lead for Xin?
Besides, Ji herself couldn't speak for her own son, so she had to do it for her.
After hearing what Huiyin said, Ji Shi had no choice but to say, "You don't need to talk about other things. I just heard that your brother seems to be planning to marry someone. Do you know anything about it? I'm afraid that after that person enters the mansion, he will not get along with your sister-in-law, and then the family will be in turmoil."
"I really don't know. If you say that my brother is a sensible person, you might as well go and find out about the girl's character. If she is really not a good person, I will tell you. Don't you think he will listen?" In fact, Huiyin sometimes felt very strange. As a mother, except for Madam Xu, no one dared to offend their son. They wanted others to do the evil things.
When Ji heard her daughter say this, she also said, "I'm afraid of alerting others and making them think I want her to come in. That's not good."
"If you can't do this or that, then I can't do anything." Huiyin was unwilling to be the first to speak.
She has a very good relationship with her family, but the better the relationship, the more careful she should be.
Seeing that her daughter did not respond, Ji Shi had no choice but to leave on the pretext of having something to do. As soon as she left, Li Cheng came in, and the two of them talked happily, especially when they talked about their son.
"What did your mother come here for just now?" Li Cheng asked.
Huiyin smiled and said, "What else could it be? It's nothing more than some family gossip. Most likely, it's because I heard that my brother wants to take a concubine."
Li Cheng sat down and said, "I heard that she was the widow of the Yu family in Dongcheng?"
"Do you really recognize him?" Huiyin's eyes widened slightly.
Li Cheng said, "Master Yu was originally a pearl merchant employed by the palace. His wife was Lu Wei's concubine. I heard that after Lu Wei died, she took away the money. Later, she married Master Yu as his wife. All the wealth of both the Yu and Lu families belonged to her. She has no children. If she doesn't find someone to marry, her money will probably fall into the hands of Master Yu's brothers."
If a woman has no son, it is very easy for her to be eaten up and her family become destitute. Huiyin felt this deeply.
This was also the reason why she had to give birth even though she was unwilling. Naturally, she loved her two sons very much.
"So what you said means that she found my brother. Then where is my brother..." Huiyin was puzzled.
Originally, she thought she was a concubine's daughter from some noble family, so Ji found her difficult to deal with.
Li Cheng said, "Your elder brother is not like your younger brother. Heng'er is simple-minded and sincere. He has his parents' support and his wife is related to me. This time he brought 50,000 elite soldiers from Jizhou as his troops. Look at your elder brother. He only has 300 soldiers in total. Although the Pei family has money for him, it is just a drop in the bucket. If he marries Madam Yu as his second wife, at least his wealth will increase. I heard that Madam Yu is also very knowledgeable."
"So that's how it is. My mother is eager for me to help my sister-in-law get rid of the guy from the Yu family, but I always feel that it is not appropriate for me, as his own sister, to interfere in my brother's bedroom affairs." Huiyin said.
Li Cheng waved his hand quickly: "Don't worry about such things. I think your brother is determined. He will definitely respect your sister-in-law, but he will not let go of the opportunity to increase his power."
If you want to lead troops to victory, you need money to buy military equipment. Even Li Cheng himself had troops to follow him to fight because King Wu left him a large inheritance. Zheng Fang and others brought so many elite soldiers and lands, and in an instant, their reputation surpassed Pei Shuo. Pei Shuo certainly had his own considerations.
There were no secrets between the two of them. Li Cheng was happy to know that she had told him all the private matters of her family, and he couldn't help but say, "Now that the two children are grown up, let's have another child."
"Oh no, I have finally lost weight, and you keep thinking about this. Did you do your job well today?" Huiyin murmured softly.
"I have done my job well, but this does not conflict with my missing you. Forget it, if you are not angry, let's soak that thing." Li Cheng was quick to take out the box from the cupboard, opened it, took out a nearly transparent object, put it into the water, and it slowly grew larger.
Not to mention how loving the couple was, Ji had her own thoughts, so she couldn't tell Zheng Fang about this. The couple just talked about the affairs of the mansion, and it was not appropriate to tell him about the eldest son's affairs.
Besides, Zheng Fang didn't think anything was wrong.
Look, he's not coming back today.
"Madam, the lady-in-waiting invited the Xu family to come here today to attend a party and drink. It was very lively and the money was being spent like water." The servant came to report.
Ji said, "I have handed it over to your grandmother now. Just let her take care of it."
Now Ji no longer manages the household, and has handed it over to Cui Yuehuan. Her daughter-in-law is also a good housekeeper, but Madam Xu and Mrs. Xu are her elders, and it is not easy for her to disobey their requests, so they come to her.
But Ji was afraid that her son would be deceived by the widow she had told Xin about, so she wanted her daughter to help her, since she was a princess, but her daughter did not want to get involved. Now her daughter-in-law was eager for her to step forward and help her fight against Madam Xu and her aunt and nephew.
若是她管家，她必定沖在前頭，事實上以前一直這麽做的，但是現在鄭放已經退居二線了，任的也是閑職，鄭無恒開始擔當大任，作為世子夫人，兒媳婦就得自己當家立世了。
紀氏的話很快傳到崔月環那裏，崔月環對榮嬷嬷道：“咱們家這位太夫人真是老當益壯的，東海徐氏這裏沒一個人考上的，還埋怨咱們家不肯出力。”
一代人是一代人，若是鄭放當政，他們找鄭放還算可以，現在卻是王爺姐夫當家，就她哥哥也只勉強是個縣丞。
榮嬷嬷道：“也算不上許多錢，就算了吧，那徐氏也是，一大把年紀了，好生服侍太夫人倒也罷了，總想擺個架子。咱們夫人不理會她，那是看不起她，都不覺得她是對手，她倒好，還真的以為人家怕她了。”
“可不是，我婆婆如今是淮陰王的丈母娘，徐氏還不是看在太夫人的面子上，否則，她什麽都不是。”崔月環很不屑。
榮嬷嬷笑道：“可不是，您也別生氣了，上半晌在王妃那裏奉承，我見王妃為人四平八穩的，人家有煩心事兒也并不放在心上。奶奶您可別為這些氣着了，她老人家年紀大了，也不能日日宴席。”
崔月環一聽也有道理，徐太夫人年紀不小了，還能頓頓鮑魚海參還要請堂會？想到這裏，她反倒是發了善心似的：“我記得王妃送了我一匹蜀錦，你裁幾尺讓針線上的人做兩套衣裳送給太夫人穿。”
榮嬷嬷點頭應是，她想這宅子裏的紀氏和崔氏其實都是好人，畢竟徐氏這樣的身份尴尬，她們也都只是嘴上嫌一嫌，畢竟立場不對。但實際上一應份例都給的不少，徐家過來也招待的極好，很給面子。
因為贏家，不屑于痛打落水狗，也算是給她一份體面。
辛氏也想要體面，她們辛家在冀州也算是大族，在徐州卻什麽都不是。她原本和王妃關系不錯，可是崔月環也似開竅了似的，這些苦悶以前有娘家可以傾訴，但現在她連個說話的人都沒有。
裴朔原本有兩個通房，一個是她的陪嫁，另外一個都是從小伺候裴朔長大的，這兩人打完簾子，站的腰酸背痛的，從她這裏出去後，背後就說上了。
這家裏辛氏是主母，裴朔也不是那種過分縱情聲色犬馬之人，她們倆也沒什麽存在感，也就是在辛氏不方便的時候伺候裴朔。
但人嘛，再老實，背後就不可能完全沒有自己的小心思。
“要我說，咱們大爺要真的擡成二房了，這家裏哪裏還有咱們站的地方啊。”
“這倒也罷了，到時候他們閻王吵架，我們小鬼遭殃。”
……
辛氏的煩惱止不住裴朔的意願，他親自讓辛氏整了一個院子來，餘夫人原本姓董，這董氏的确是個懂事的人，進了門之後，絲毫不擺架子，反而脾氣和軟，對誰都謙讓三分。
連紀氏過來徽音這裏的時候，衣裳很是別致，還道：“這是那董姨娘孝敬我的，你哥哥嫂嫂親自領着她來見了我一次，脾氣極好的一個人。”
“那她對嫂嫂也敬着嗎？”徽音放下茶盞問道。
紀氏一臉尴尬：“她倒是很敬重你嫂嫂，但你哥哥頗為喜歡她，這你嫂嫂肯定也會有怨言。不過，這人為人沒的說，兩個通房暗地裏諷刺她，她都不向你哥哥告狀，若是那等牙尖嘴利的，必定挑唆的家宅不寧。”
徽音笑道：“您看看您，就是容易心軟。”
“那是因為我也能理解她，她以前是呂威的妾侍，後來嫁的那餘大老爺，想找個人停泊下來。你哥哥生的俊俏，人品又正，若能托付終身，有個一兒半女的，心就定了，其實女人的要求很少的。”紀氏倒也不是同情董氏，而是她大筆的財産若是不嫁個人，恐怕就屍骨無存了。
況且，人家還給了那麽一大筆錢給兒子，裴朔聽聞拿着這筆錢疏通上下關系，甚至為自己安置了跟來傷亡的部曲，重新招了兩千私兵。
徽音以前還是女孩兒的時候，不喜歡做妾的人，但有時候又很同情她們，有的是沒的選，有的卻是有的選還得上杆子，那就很難理解了。
但她也管不着別人，哥哥有成算，董氏忍耐和氣，辛氏都拿不出一點錯處來，自己就更不好管了。
紀氏又拿出一個楠木盒子出來：“這是董氏托我孝敬王妃的，不是什麽稀罕物，是一件迦南的珠子，如此可以保佑您平安。”
這沉香中最為珍貴的稱為伽楠香，也因為伽楠香量少而質優，世稱至貴。
徽音搖頭：“您收回去吧，讓她好好過日子罷了。若我收了這手串，她必定以為我支持她，将來和嫂嫂分庭抗禮就不好了。”
紀氏聽了也是這個理兒，一面道：“是我莽撞了。”
徽音心想饒是她娘這樣的女子，已經是極其有同情心了，但是和兒媳婦所站的位置不同，還是無法共情辛氏。只見這董氏敬重辛氏，反而更疼董氏幾分，反正對她而言，這些人都是他兒子的女人們。
“娘，董氏那裏您也別太和她親近了，若嫂嫂看到了反而不好，嫂子是哥的原配，還是固哥兒和娴姐兒的親娘呢。她們相安無事就好，您也別擡舉。”徽音叮囑着。
紀氏頻頻點頭：“我的兒，你還是像在家那般多提點我才是，否則我若做錯什麽就不好了。”
其實為何鄭家的人都聽徽音，也有原因就是在德音頻繁參加那些所謂的詩宴茶宴的時候，徽音就非常關心家人，不懂的經常看書或者請教，再者她本就是個有決斷的人，故而常常出謀劃策。
徽音則道：“也沒這麽嚴重，咱們家裏已經算是好的了，您作為婆婆從不給兒子們送女子，對兒媳婦們也不要求站規矩，體貼幫錢，這就已經超過許多人。過些日子，我準備些花宴，到時候娘也出去和同年紀的人多認識，有了走動的人家就好了。”
女兒如此體貼，紀氏也只感動，倒也不說家中煩心的事兒了。
不過，她看着徽音道：“你哥哥和你弟弟都不少人上杆子，王爺這裏是不是也是許多人？我記得兖州的宋刺史就是如此。”
“是啊，以前我會擔心，現在已經不擔心了。不是我對男人有自信，而是我對自己有自信。”徽音搖搖頭。
母女二人又說了些私房話，紀氏才離開。
如今爹娘都來了，徽音比以前強多了，她和紀氏說完話，又覺得腰疼，進去躺在榻上歇息。
過了幾日，張夫人來了，她由崔氏帶過來叩頭，徽音賞了幾匹彩緞香料和幾盒點心。
“沒想到王妃這般禮遇，妾身實在是惶恐。”張夫人原本不以為自己會見到徽音的，沒想到王妃這般友好。
徽音看了她一眼，模樣和殷麗儀是真的像，只不過行事完全不同。
殷麗儀雖然小門小戶出身，可是運氣好際遇好，父母疼寵，完全是自信活潑也不怕事兒的，可張夫人是庶出，生母早亡，在嫡母手下過活，莊子上長大，因此很拘謹，即便表現的大方，看起來也非常緊繃。
然而，殷麗儀大概一輩子都和她碰不到面了，至于殷麗芳也失蹤了，真假千金的事情，她們也不會随意說出去，畢竟崔家都不承認，李澄何必揭穿。
“說起來都是一家子，何必說兩家話，上次我這弟妹就說你們要過來，我就與她說過的。”徽音笑道。
她們和張夫人的關系并不親近，也就沒有留飯，如此張夫人也都很滿意了，出來王府之後，謝了又謝。
“謝什麽，都是自家姊妹，也是應該的。”崔月環以前是不太喜歡這庶姐，搞的好似自己母親虧待她一樣，分明都是一樣讀書，嫁妝也差不多，找的婆家也沒往歪處找。但在外面嘛，你自個兒都欺負自己的姐妹，別人看你也不是個好貨。
再說了，她現在日子過的好，鄭無恒和她少年夫妻，感情好，婆婆也不錯，唯一難對付的就是徐太夫人婆媳。
她們婆媳親戚一處，自己把姐姐也喊去，如此打打擂臺，誰怕誰啊。
怎麽就只能招待你徐家的親戚，不能招待崔家的親戚了？
自然，張夫人進門之後，崔月環完全按照招待徐家的規模招待的，又是請堂會，又是拿名貴料子做衣裳，又是準備豪宴。
徐太夫人反而氣着了：“若一日倒也罷了，這都三日，又請了什麽說書的雜技的過來。”
“那是中飽私囊呢，我聽說她還要一應比着咱們徐家來，忒臉大了。”徐氏看錢花的如流水似的。
要知道從冀州過來，她們棄了不少箱籠，到手的錢還要打點下人，平日還多添幾個菜，這些耗用可不少啊。尤其是，徐氏近來在為徐太夫人尋好壽材，金絲楠木的可花不少錢。
Madam Xu snorted coldly: "I can see that this family can't tolerate us. But we will become rich soon."
"What does aunt say?" Xu was puzzled.
Madam Xu said, "Your brother told me that he met the widow of the King of Wei, that is, the King of Wei's legitimate son, the King of Yuzhang, and the mother of the King of Yuzhang, Yin Lifang. He said that Yin told him that she and Li Cheng were originally engaged, but were later forcibly taken away by the King of Wei, and now she wants to seek refuge with the prince. You said that this mother and son are rare and valuable, and the prince should be grateful to us. When the Xu family rises in the future, why should we have to look at other people's faces?"