"She was originally a girl in Wanchun Building in Beijing. My master went to Beijing to rush for the exam two years ago. He didn't pass the exam, but he didn't return. I was worried in my heart and asked a friend to go to Beijing to find him. Then I knew that he liked her. She bought her first night in Wanchunlou for a lot of money for her pipa skills, and she lingered every night.” Li said this, with unconcealable anger and unwillingness in his words: “I thought he was just playing, after all, a man , All of them are like this. But I don’t want to, until the old man is furious and ordered him to come back, he insisted on redeeming her body and bringing her back to Anyang. The white skin and bright red railing are very glaring.

"However, if Han Yun was born in fireworks, how can he get into the Liu family? Give her the status of concubine." I wondered.

"The old man began to refuse naturally, but..." Li's voice was helpless, unwilling and sad.

I understand, "Because she was pregnant, didn't she?"

Li nodded: "At first, she naturally couldn't enter the door. The master kept her outside. In order to get the master back to heart, I specially selected two good ladies in the city. They brought them in and made partial houses. A housemaid. Oh, the partial house is the first Liu and Shenghe you saw. But the master's heart is still fascinated by the fox, and doesn't care about us."

I nodded.

"Because I didn't have anything to go out, I was thinking whether there could be a side house, but there was no movement here, but news came from there. So, for the sake of the children, the old man agreed to her to enter the door." Li said bitterly.

"In terms of status, even if you are pregnant, you shouldn't be a concubine." I asked.

"Yes, according to the father's intention, it would be good to give a room. But he couldn't bear his repeated requests. They also said that if the room is open, I would rather not enter the door. So, the father has to do it for the sake of the child. I agreed." Li's voice was full of helplessness.

I took her hand: "Sister, the heirs can't be forced to come here. However, she has always been a concubine, and she is not from a good family, so she can't beat her sister."

Li's voice is full of exhaustion: "What if you can't be more? Everyone is watching who is favored and who is following. Not to mention that she is pregnant."

I lowered my head and looked at the jade bracelet on Li’s hand, and said slowly: “In fact, elder sister, no matter whether Han Yun’s children are male or female, you are a regular wife after all. All the children of Liu Gongzi are It's your child. You can ask the father to raise the child for you. This is not difficult, after all, Hanyun is not a high-born, and the father doesn't like it. Then, this child will be your parent."

I paused and said, "As for pets, what does my sister care about so many things when she has children? Moreover, I believe that Young Master Liu is only a momentary freshness. After all, the good family girl must be different from the firework girl. Why not? Put down your body slightly in front of your husband, you are knotting your hair, and you have no problems. If you can get your husband's heart back, it is not impossible."

Li pulled out the embroidered handkerchief from his sleeve, pressed his eyes, and nodded: "I just don't have an idea. It makes sense for you to say this. Let me try."

With sharp eyes, I saw that the veil was the first batch that I embroidered, but said: "Sister wants to understand it, and then I will fight for it myself." He said again: "Sister, this veil, Did you embroider it yourself?"

Li looked at the veil, and a faint blush appeared on his face: "This was given to me by the master before." Then he handed it to me: "The master took the veil back that day. I happened to see it and loved it very much. , The master gave it to me. You see, this embroidery worker is really good!"

I returned the veil to her: "This shows that in Liu Gongzi's mind, sister's weight is not small."

Li nodded: "Yes, after all, we have known each other since childhood, and we are considered childhood sweethearts." She looked at the veil, and then said: "This veil, Han Yun saw later and liked it, so the master went again. I bought it, but it's one for each person. For this, I feel relieved."

I brought a comforting smile: "So sister, you still have a chance of winning." I thought about it and said again: "Liu Gongzi is so elegant, and I want to come to Han Yun because of this because Liu Gongzi loves it. My sister might as well vote for it. , Isn't it better?"

Li smiled bitterly: "Women without talent is virtue. I just know a few words. Even if I want to learn, which talent can only be good for more than ten years. How can I have time now?"

I thought for a while: "I heard Xie Lang mentioned that Gongzi Liu likes poems. Since my sister is literate, it is better to read poems and ask Liu Gongzi for advice. It is also a kind of fun between husband and wife."

Li thought for a while, and there was joy in his eyes: "I know a little about poetry, but I'm not good at it, and I can't export it into poetry. But if I practice more, it should be better. Thank you, Xie Niang."

I glanced at the figures of Xihe and Liu Gongzi under the window not far away, and looked at Li who had hope in his eyes, and smiled: "I will give my sister a poem, and my sister will write it down." Ant new wine,

Red clay small stove.

The sky is like snow in the night,

Can you drink a cup? "

Li repeated it, his face revealed surprise, and his eyes looked at me brightly.

I nodded: "This poem is simple, and my sister can be said to have done it herself."

"Thank you, Xie Niang!" Li Shi held my hand, a little sparkling in his eyes.

That night, both Li and Han Yun sent replacement clothes and some simple jewelry, which were also good materials. Li wanted to come first because of the politeness of the host and the other because of his gratitude to me. And Han Yun, I think, is because Liu Gongzi attaches great importance to Xi He, so he has the intention to please him.

I accepted them all. After all, we really didn't bring any change of clothes. Secondly, it was not a particularly valuable item. If we didn't accept it, we might be rude instead.

The next day they purchased it with Bilian, and Xihe was called by Master Wu. But the day before, he showed a little bit of his edge, and he would pay attention to it today.

When I returned to Liu's mansion near the evening, before entering Feiyu Xuan, I saw a small Qingyi maid standing at the door looking around. Seeing a smile immediately appeared on my face, he quickly stepped forward: "Xie Niang, you are back, my wife has been waiting for you for a long time."

I was a little surprised and asked, "Is there anything Madam looking for me?"

The little maid nodded: "Madam invited some familiar ladies to enjoy the plum blossoms in the garden, let me come to you."

I smiled and said, "Let me change my clothes."

Wearing a fragrant skirt embroidered with magpies on the branches that Mrs. Wu sent the day before, and wearing the rose-colored rabbit-hair cloak that Xi He bought me, I combed my hair again, thinking about it. Think, remove the hairpin ring, and then go to the garden.

In the garden, there are three or four good-looking ladies. Under the piping cloaks of red orangutans and sable fur, skirts and gowns of various colors are woven and embroidered in gold, and gold hairpins and silver hair are shining. I stood under a plum tree and looked at the scenery in front of me, but I seemed to be back in the harem.

Set my mind, with a decent smile, walked towards Li who had already seen me and beckoned.

"This is Niang Xie, who was a guest at my house recently." Li introduced me to several other wives, and explained to me the identities of the wives one by one, all of whom are the regular wives of big households in the city.

I bowed my head as soon as I saw it. When the ladies heard that I was just a woman from the countryside, they lost interest and hardly even glanced at me. But after all, the tutoring is good, and because of Li's face, I haven't ridiculed me.

I heard them talk about which jewelry is more refined and which clothes are more beautiful, so naturally I cannot join the discussion. Until they talked about the draft after the year, each became excited. I listened attentively, but there was a slight ripple in my heart.

Yeah, it's the triennial draft again.

"I think Ms. Li's family may just walk away. After all, Ms. Wu is an official daughter, and she has a high status."

"That's not necessarily true, Miss Li's beauty is the first in Anyang, and the emperor will like it."

"But she is the daughter of a businessman, and the status of a businessman in Daxi is not high, how can it be compared with an official woman. What's more, there are more beautiful people in the country, and she is not the most beautiful."

"For the first time this year, women from merchants are allowed to participate in the election. I will definitely choose a few to show the royal family's importance to merchants." I smiled lightly and said softly.

Li glanced at me and smiled slightly: "Xie Niang is right." She paused and said, "What's more, the daughters of merchants are naturally more generous than those of the officials, so I must have done a lot to come to Master Li."

"No, they have picked all the good things in Anyang City recently." A wife responded.

"I heard that they got two very exquisite skirts at Xuji Silk and Satin Village. It's very rare." The other lady hurriedly said.

"I saw Miss Li, it's really beautiful!" The lady who had been talking to Miss Li before said: "Although the lotus green color is heavier, it just matches the peach blossoms on it. Miss Li is long again. It’s so rich and beautiful to wear."

"Miss Wu’s purple one is more beautiful. The grapes on it seem to be real, making her complexion like white jade." The lady who had been belittling Miss Li before said: "Moreover, Miss Wu wears an amethyst grape hairpin. The Shang is even more graceful."

"It's a pity that I didn't see it." Li said regretfully, "I don't know if there are any more skirts like that."

"Why don't we go to Xu Ji tomorrow?" A lady suggested: "It just so happens that I still want to buy a new year's dress."

Others responded, but I didn't say a word.

"Xie Niang, do you want to go together?" Li asked.

"Ms. Liu, Xu Ji's clothes are so expensive, and Xie Niang went for nothing."

"It doesn't matter if you don't go there, just open your eyes." A lady hid her mouth and smiled.

I smiled at them slightly: "I will not go. If a few ladies buy such clothes, it will be enough for Xie Niang."

"Vil, are you here?" Xihe's voice came from the mouth of the garden. The ladies heard a male voice, and quickly slapped their hands to cover their faces.

"Xie Lang, I am here." I said that I was slightly rude to the ladies: "Ladies, my husband has found him, please let me leave first."

"Oh, Mrs. Zhang is also here. It's rare."

I was about to leave, but saw Gongzi Liu speak loudly to one of the ladies, and walked in with Xihe.

Xihe wore a dark blue concave twill gown that day, and only the silver thread embroidered the Qianye pattern on the collar and cuffs, which I sewed for him a few days ago. Such a simple robe made him look light and slender, his eyebrows were trimmed and his eyes were handsome. He smiled at the money, his eyes dazzled, and his brows were elegant, like a spring breeze.

I heard the low voices of admiration from the ladies, and they looked at me with more envy. After seeing me clearly, he exclaimed again.

I didn't speak, just watched Xi He smile as he walked. He also reported to me and nodded slightly. I knew that he had asked Young Master Liu to arrange it.

"Madam, are you enjoying plum blossoms? Do you have a good work?" Liu Gongzi looked at Li's eyes slightly different from yesterday. Then he said to Xihe: "Although these plants have not been pruned, they are old plums, and they are also rare. I invite you to take a look.

Xihe nodded: "It's really different, the fragrance is even worse."

Li looked at me embarrassedly, and I smiled softly: "Mrs. Cai just happened to have made a song, which is very delicate." Then, thinking of the fight between their wives and concubines, he chanted: "Tao Li Mo Xiang is jealous, Yao Ziyuan It's different. It's still snowy and frosty, unwilling to be very red.