On the way back, Princess Zhenyang kept looking at Yao Niang and laughing secretly. Yao Niang felt embarrassed by her laughter and couldn't help but said, "Princess, please stop laughing. If someone hears you like this, they will think something is wrong with me."
"Oh, isn't this a great thing? You will become my sister-in-law." Princess Zhenyang was still very happy.
Compared to having an outsider as the third sister-in-law, it would be better to have Yao Niang. At least her relationship with Yao Niang has always been good. Another outsider may not be as good as her.
Yao Niang turned her head away: "Princess, if you keep talking nonsense, I will ignore you."
Princess Zhenyang was afraid that she was really angry, so she immediately promised: "Okay, okay, I promise not to tell anyone, okay?"
Seeing this, Zhuang Lingyi felt that she was finally going to be free. Fame, wealth and status were nothing. Even if Prince Wangsun married a fairy, he would get tired of her in a few days.
Now that Yao Niang's position and fame are already secured, of course she has even less interaction with Zhuang Lingyi, and she doesn't care what she thinks. She just feels sorry for her. It's a rare opportunity for her to enter the palace, and she has lived in the palace for so many years, but she has gained nothing.
Of course, everyone has their own aspirations, and she is not forcing herself, but if she can get a title of a county lady or a county lady, she will have an identity when she leaves the palace in the future. A woman does not necessarily have to rely on a man to get a title, and it is not impossible to achieve it through her own efforts.
However, Yao Niang is too lazy to care about other people's affairs.
Since the marriage was promised, she could no longer live in the palace. Concubine Hong prepared a carriage for her to go home. After being arranged to marry, she was already a member of the royal family and could not wait and see. When she returned home, the palace maids and maids would take her to the Luo family.
Hong Shuyi was also among them. Concubine Hong Guifei specifically said to her, "You are more familiar with Yao Niang. If she feels uncomfortable, just tell me."
"Yes." Hong Shuyi found it boring.
The second prince married Xu Qingrong, the third prince married Luo Yaoniang, she didn't get any of them. Even when the fourth prince had a lame leg, the emperor felt sorry for her and wanted to choose a marriage for him with a higher-class family to make up for it. In short, it was never her turn.
When she went to Yao Niang's place, Yao Niang had changed into her own cape and pinned two kingfisher hairpins on her hair, looking elegant and noble. When the two met again, Hong Shuyi smiled and congratulated her: "That's great, your matter has been settled. I am relieved. It's not in vain that I have been worried every day."
She said this as if all his problems depended on her, and she even hinted that she and Gao Xuance had an affair.
Yao Niang therefore showed an innocent look: "Sister Hong, why do you always say weird things? It was the same last time. You really think too much."
Hong Shuyi was helpless when she saw that Yao Niang was not willing to take the bait. This Luo Yao Niang was really too smart.
Such a personality may not be likable in the future. Others are deceived by her gentle face and really think that she is a virtuous daughter. In fact, her personality is too tough. Such a woman is very unlikable.
But it was useless to think so much, as she, a female official, could only stand outside the sedan chair, while Yao Niang was sitting in the warm sedan chair.
The Luo family had already received the news that Yao Niang was returning, and almost sent out the whole family to welcome her. Even Old Madam Dou came, which surprised Yao Niang very much, because in her previous life, she had never enjoyed such a grand ceremony when returning to her parents' home.
Yu and others saw a luxurious sedan chair at the door. The sedan chair was decorated with phoenix feathers and covered with a purple round canopy. The four pillars were covered with tents. This was the sedan chair of Concubine Hong, which was specially lent to Yao Niang.
After getting off the sedan chair, two female officials came forward to open the curtain, and a maid waited beside it. At this time, Yao Niang came out of the sedan chair. She walked over slowly and paid her respects to the elders in the family. This time, even Old Lady Dou avoided them.
Instead, they knelt on the ground and said, "We, the concubines, pay our respects to Princess Chen."
Yao Niang said quickly, "You are all my elders, how can you accept such a big gift?" Moreover, she has not really gotten married yet, so she quickly helped up Old Lady Dou, her mother and others, and did not dare to act too arrogantly.
Seeing that her daughter was young but well-mannered, Yu was very proud. You know, when people are proud, even the most honest people can't control themselves, but those who can control themselves are definitely not ordinary people.
Her family gave two purses to each of the people in the palace who sent her back. Hong Shuyi had already met many people from the Luo family on this occasion. The Luo family was actually very different from hers.
Almost all the ladies in the Luo family were imperially ordained, whether it was Old Madam Dou or several of the Luo ladies. There were also the younger generation of Luo family's young wives. Seeing that her sister-in-law, Mrs. Fan, loved her very much, these were what Hong Shuyi lacked.
Their family had always been dependent on others. In order to please Mrs. Hong, her mother often had to go over to talk and read other people's faces. Even she was the same. There was no prospect of marriage, and the matter was dragged on year after year.
"Two maids, and Sister Hong and Sister Mo, I'm home now. You should go back soon and have some rest. I'm really sorry to trouble you today." Yao Niang turned around and thanked them.
They didn't even dare to do that and returned to the palace together.
After closing the door, Yao Niang immediately took Yu's hand and said, "Mom, did you miss me?"
Just now, Yu saw her daughter talking slowly and dignifiedly to the people in the palace. She had no idea that as soon as they left, she would cling to her side. But it was this kind of intimacy that made Yu very happy.
"If someone saw you, they would say you were disrespectful. Now that you are a princess, you should learn to be quieter."
Although Yu said this, she still held her daughter's hand. Her two daughters-in-law, Fan and Zhu, of course understood what she meant.
A family dinner was held at Wenhua Hall. Old Madam Dou sat at the head of the table, with Lady Yao by her side. Then the others sat down in turn. The younger ones, Mrs. Fan, Mrs. Zhu, and Mrs. Jiang, all picked up their chopsticks and served soup. This time they were willing to serve.
Yao Niang asked, "I just heard that the third sister returned home, why is she not here?"
"Oh, she is moving today, and Duke Fuguo also invited your third sister and brother-in-law to come over, so she didn't come today. We'll pick her up in a few days." Yu knew very well that Luo Jingrou could not stand this stimulation, so she moved out on the grounds that Yao Niang was coming back and there was not enough space in her home.
This put Yu at ease, and Yao Niang also understood what he meant.
Luo Jingrou looks calm on the outside, but she is a very strong-willed person on the inside. She wants to be the best in everything she does. Whether someone is good to her is never her criterion for treating others, but whether the person can surpass her is her criterion for taking action against others.
Just like her, no matter how good she is to Luo Jingrou, if she threatens her or might surpass her, she will retaliate against her.
After the banquet, the women sat here and talked. Little Jiang was not as outstanding as before. Yao Niang saw that Fan and Zhu were both fine, but little Jiang seemed to have lost her luster.
So after leaving the table, she asked Yu: "What happened to Sister-in-law Fa Er?"
Speaking of this, Mrs. Yu was almost angry to death: "It's all your careless cousin's fault. A few years after she married into the Lin family, your cousin's husband passed away. Your grandmother also passed away a few years ago. There was no one left in the Yu family. I thought she was alone, so I asked your father to take her back and thought about finding a marriage for her in the future."
"How could I know, how could I know that she and your second brother Fa had something going on? I was so angry that I sent her to a nunnery with your father right away. You said she did this to become a concubine? We in the Yu family cannot have such a girl. But your second brother Fa is not a good person either. We sent the girl away, but he chased her out and now she is pregnant. I am too ashamed to see your second sister-in-law Fa..." Yu was depressed whenever she mentioned it.
So in the previous life, was it because of this incident that Little Jiang came to make trouble and fight, and even Yu Shi lost all her prestige because of Little Jiang? But in this life, probably because she was named Princess Chen, Little Jiang didn't dare to compete with Yu Shi for anything.
Yao Niang frowned and reprimanded: "My cousin is really something. If she wants to get married, no one will stop her, but why does she have to do such a shameless thing in front of her relatives?"
"How can a poor man's wife compare to a rich man's concubine? She felt it was an insult to her when she was married to a centurion who held an official position. I also wanted her to marry well, but the fact is that it is impossible for her to marry into a noble family. Even the thirty-six-load dowry was paid by me. What's more, the Yu family has no one, so what's wrong with marrying into the Lin family, which is a well-matched family? But she thinks it's not good." Yu was very helpless.
Yao Niang sighed, "The first marriage brings you back home, the second marriage brings you freedom. It's fine for cousin Yu to seek support, but is it that easy to be a concubine? Besides, we are in a difficult situation, how can we get along with the second wife in the future?"
Yu shook her head: "Forget it, I can't control it anymore. If the child is not born, I will send your cousin to the countryside to raise her and buy her a few acres of land. She can make her own decisions in the future and don't have to get involved with your second brother. How could you have known that your second aunt agreed to bring someone in as a second wife?"
"Is it for future generations?" Yao Niang asked.
Yu nodded: "Your second brother Fa has only one daughter, Hui Jie'er, so it's not enough to take several concubines. Although your cousin Yu is a widow, she has a clean family background and is also the daughter of an official. Your second aunt thinks it's no big deal to have her as a second concubine."
This matter is no longer under Yu's control, but of course all the hatred is definitely on himself.
Little Jiang would not blame her husband and mother-in-law, but would blame herself for doing it on purpose.
Yao Niang curled her lips and said, "This Second Brother Fa is really something. He is still messing around even though the people have been sent to the nunnery. Isn't he deliberately trying to cause discord among our families?"
Although Yu Yan is not a decent person, Luo Jingfa is also a lustful and lecherous thief.
Yu waved her hands and said, "I can't do anything about it. I really can't do anything about it. If I do, and something happens to the baby in your cousin's belly, then the second wife will blame me. And as for your cousin, just let her be."
"Well, let's not talk about this, mother. I don't have to go to the palace when I come back this time. I will stay at home with you every day in the future." Yao Niang said with a smile.
Yu poked her forehead and said, "Don't say that. You will be married in a few years. By the way, have you met Prince Chen in the palace? What is he like? I wanted your father to tell me yesterday, but he didn't come back because of official business, so I had no one to ask."
Speaking of the Third Prince, Yao Niang said, "I don't know exactly what the Third Prince is like. I've only seen him a few times."
This was the truth. Although the Third Prince was of good character and appearance, she had no idea what he was like. Moreover, she didn't know if he would die young. She didn't want her mother to be too happy and end up being irreparable.
This was also the reason why she was a little worried. Although she still had a good impression of the Third Prince, such an energetic young man did not seem to have any serious illness. She didn't know what was going on.
I think about it, I just took a big gamble, and although I look good now, I may not be able to achieve the same thing in the future.
Sometimes she wanted to remind the Third Prince, but unfortunately he was very polite and the two of them hardly met since the interpretation of the divination sticks.
She felt like a gambler, probably betting that the third prince would survive.
"Yes, there are strict rules in the palace. Does Concubine Hong like you?" Yu asked anxiously.
In a family, it is enough for your husband to be nice to you for your face. If your mother-in-law doesn't like you, then it is very serious.
Yao Niang smiled and nodded: "I have a good relationship with Concubine Hong and Princess Zhenyang. Last time, I embroidered a picture of Guanyin for the queen, and the queen hung it in her bedroom."
Outsiders only see your talent, while your family members only care about your efforts. Yu said, "When you are at home, don't do needlework all day long. Take a good rest."
"Okay." Yao Niang was very moved.
It was a rare opportunity to rest at home, and Yao Niang slept soundly during the day. A servant wanted to wake her up, but Yu Shi, who was just coming in, stopped her and said, "The young girl is sleeping soundly, don't disturb her."
Yinrong had already married by then, and Baiying and Baizhi had become maids.
Bai Ying whispered, "When I came back yesterday, Fifth Miss fell asleep. She was sleeping very soundly, and we didn't dare to call her."
"Well, don't keep the charcoal fire burning, and bring a basin of water nearby. Alas, this child has no idea how much suffering she has endured in the palace." Yu felt sorry for her daughter. Of course, she knew that her daughter was going to become a real princess, but unfortunately, to become a princess she had to endure a lot.
Bai Ying and the others were very happy. They were the servants of the Fifth Lady. When the Fifth Lady married Prince Chen in the future, they would be her dowry maids and could go to the Prince's Palace together.
Hearing the whispering voices, Yao Niang opened her eyes in a daze and found that she was in her own room. She turned over and got up, saw Yu, and called out "Mom" in a tender voice.
Yu was originally whispering instructions to Bai Ying, but when she heard what Yao Niang was saying, she hurried over and said distressedly, "You must be hungry. I asked someone to make chicken soup this evening, and stewed silver noodles with chicken soup, with a few side dishes. Bring them to the bed and put a kang table on the bed, and you can use it on the bed."
"Mom, isn't this too undisciplined?" Yao Niang wondered why her mother couldn't help but give her food every time she locked her up for a few days. It seemed that her mother was spoiling her too much.
Yu shook her head: "That's nothing. It's so cold, just stay in the room."
"Okay." Yao Niang responded with a smile.
Being at home is great. I can do whatever I want and sleep in without worrying about anything. The table is filled with my favorite noodles and side dishes, and my mother is always by my side.
After a while, Shi Yu also came over with a hand warmer. Yao Niang quickly lifted the quilt and let her in. Shi Yu readily followed her advice.
"It's snowing today, so let's not go anywhere. I've been thinking about resting in the palace every day, and now we can finally rest." Yao Niang smiled lightly.
Yao Niang, with Shi Yu lying on her left and Yu Shi’s hand on her right, couldn’t help but say, “I went to watch Cuju on ice a few days ago, but it was too intense and Princess Zhenyang couldn’t stand it anymore, so I accompanied her to watch the flowers. Then I put on my ice skates again, but I didn’t dare to move too much, because the others were skating so fast that they were almost flying.”
"Sister, do you think we can play Cuju on ice?" Shi Yu was curious.
"Of course, we can also play tricks on the ice. The women just enjoy the flowers on the ice, but in fact, they are not as beautiful as the flowers in our garden." Yao Niang smiled.
Seeing that the two sisters were chatting, Yu did not bother them and found an excuse to leave.
As soon as the adults left, Shi Yu lifted the quilt and looked at Yao Niang's chest. He was shocked and said, "Sister, why is your thing so big?"
Yao Niang blushed: "What are you talking about, you little bitch?"
I don’t know if it’s because my period started this year, so my chest is bulging and I can’t wear the small clothes I used to wear. Thinking of this, she looked at Shi Yu again and asked in surprise: “Aren’t you wearing any small clothes?”
Shi Yu quickly said, "Of course I wore it."
"Is yours too peaceful? I'll ask your mother to make you some papaya soup." Yao Niang felt that hers was too big and her sister's was too peaceful.
Everyone has their own troubles. This is why she doesn't want to ride a horse the same way as before, otherwise she will be shaky when she runs, and people won't know what to do.
Shi Yu was a little shy at first, but after hearing what Yao Niang said, he asked again, "Can drinking this really make me bigger?"
"It must be effective. I saw Concubine Hong drink it." Yao Niang said with a smile.
The two sisters felt a little embarrassed after they finished talking, but that's what young girls say, these are all private matters that they wouldn't normally mention to others.
Yao Niang talked about her roommate Zhuang Lingyi: "I really don't know why she is so aloof. If I say she is really aloof, then she shouldn't have entered the palace. She is always on guard against me, and I have no grudge against her."
"This kind of person has never experienced the warmth and coldness of human nature. She will know it in the future. Yes, sister, the lady Hong who sent you back yesterday, is she the Hong Shuyi?"
"It was her. Tang Huijun was instigated by her back then."
"She looks like a beauty. Why hasn't she gotten married yet with the blessing of the Queen?" The Miss Hong looked to be in her twenties.
Yao Niang shook her head: "How would I know what she is thinking?"
Hong Shuyi lived in the enclosure. She entered as a female official, not a study companion like Yao Niang and the others. She was the daughter of an official, but now she had become a maid. What should she do?
Just at this moment, a petite maid came in. When Hong Shuyi saw that it was her, she couldn't help laughing.
"It's you, Xing'er."
Xing'er was just a little maid in the laundry department at that time. After being rescued by Concubine Hong, she was later selected to serve in Kunning Palace. She was in her prime, very charming, and usually favored Gao Xuance.
"It's me, Lady Hong, and thank you for giving me the charcoal." Xing'er was very grateful.
In fact, who in the whole palace had not been taken care of by Lady Hong? However, she never showed off and was very considerate. When Xing'er and the others heard that the second prince and the third prince did not choose her as their princess consort, they couldn't help but feel aggrieved for her.
But Xing Er felt that although Lady Hong was a good lady, she was still not qualified to be worthy of the Third Prince's status, and this would not be of any help to the Third Prince.
Hong Shuyi waved her hands and said, "Don't thank me, it's just a small favor. I'm a little tired today. I accompanied Miss Luo home yesterday, so I need to take a rest."
"Miss Luo? She's going to become a princess, right?" Xing'er said.
Hong Shuyi said thankfully, "Yes, I heard that it was the Third Prince who asked for it. The Imperial Concubine originally wanted her to marry Miss Zhuang, the daughter of the Duke Xian, but the Third Prince refused to listen, so... Well, I won't tell you what happened afterwards. But this also shows that the Third Prince is interested in her, and now the lovers are finally together."
She knew that Xing'er hoped for the best for the Third Prince and had a mother-in-law mentality. She might not really be able to marry the Third Prince and was sent by Concubine Hong to warm the Third Prince's bed, but she always supported the Third Prince and was almost tempted by his beauty.
Xing Er couldn't help but say, "Ms. Zhuang is the daughter of the Duke of Xian, and Miss Luo is just the daughter of a minister. This..."
"Forget it, forget it. We shouldn't talk about these idle words. It would be bad if someone heard them." Hong Shuyi said kindly.
Xing Er nodded and couldn't help but say, "Maybe it's because Miss Luo has Princess Zhen Yang to support her."
She was just a little girl at that time. She heard Miss Tang say that Miss Luo had harmed her. She thought that as long as Miss Luo was with Princess Zhenyang, she would squeeze everyone out. What a mean person she was.
With such a dark-minded person around the Third Prince, who knows what will happen in the future.
But she is just a little girl now and there is nothing she can do.
But when Xing'er went back to the bedroom to serve, she happened to meet Gao Xuance coming to pay his respects. He came to Kunning Palace very frequently, so Xing'er didn't dare to look at him for too long.
Gao Xuance stepped in and saluted neatly: "Greetings to my mother."
Concubine Hong put down her teacup and said, "Get up quickly. Why are you here today? You didn't go to your father's place."
"My son has something to do at the Jinyang Palace today, and he plans to visit the Luo family on the way."
After the engagement, I have to visit them once or twice to maintain the relationship. No matter what, the Luo family should be on my side now.
Concubine Hong smiled and teased him, "You, you refused to see anyone when you were in the palace, but now you are going to the Luo family. Are you going just like this?" She found it strange that her son was wearing casual clothes.
"If we put on display the ceremonial ceremony, wouldn't it be known to everyone? Today we are mainly here to pay a visit to the elders of their family. It's like an ordinary family getting married, and the son-in-law has to go and recognize his relatives." Gao Xuance had met Luo Zhizheng yesterday, and the old man was quite amiable to him.
Then there is Yao Niang's mother, Madam Yu. Although he and Yao Niang had a strange relationship in their previous life and he didn't even have time to prepare his trousseau, Madam Yu secretly gave him some silver and told them to go to Anzhou and take good care of themselves. She was a nice person.
Yao Niang slept all morning. Jinghao came back in the afternoon. She and Shi Yu took Jinghao to the garden to make a snowman. After making the snowman, they came back and prepared to pay their respects to Yu Shi, but they saw a lot of people standing there.
She looked through the window and saw Gao Xuance. He was wearing a dark green and gold gown today and looked like the grandson of a wealthy royal family. He was talking and laughing to Yu. Yao Niang dared to bet that she had never seen her mother laugh so brightly.
After thinking for a while, she went inside and heard Gao Xuance saying to Yu: "I'm so sorry, when I first saw you I thought you were Miss Luo's sister."
"No, no." Yu tidied her hair and said, "You are so sweet, kid."
"I always tell the truth and never lie. I have come to visit you today specially. I wonder if Minister Luo is here?" Gao Xuance asked respectfully.
The prince was so humble, which made Yu like him even more.
Yao Niang came over just in time. Yu saw that her daughter's hair was loose and she was wearing ordinary clothes, so she knew at a glance that she had come back from playing outside. But today Gao Xuance came in disguise and brought two servants with him. Yu wanted to ask Yao Niang to go back to her room quickly.
Gao Xuance was stunned. Today at home, Yao Niang was wearing a close-fitting Hu dress, with a slim figure and a rosy face, making her look extremely pretty and lively.
"Mother Yao, go back to your room quickly."
Yao Niang turned around and saw that it was Luo Zhizheng who came over. She didn't dare to stay any longer, and Gao Xuance withdrew his gaze and stood quickly up to perform the evening salute.
Luo Zhizheng snorted in his heart, this mother and daughter are both fools, being fooled by an outsider.
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