be honest, Ye Wen took the hairpin with a smile and bowed slightly. 'Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your kindness. Although it is an old object, it is not out of fashion, but rather possesses a quai...After the morning and evening devotions at Fulu Courtyard had ended, everyone left. Only Old Madam kept Ye Lan Sheng behind.

She asked Ye Jingsheng, "I don't object to you taking a concubine, but Xi Chun is just a slave by birth. She can't hold her head up high and would be embarrassing to bring out in public. What's the difference between her and Liu Why bother taking another maidservant"Ye Jingsheng didn't tell the truth, but only complained to his mother: "You know how Shu Bai is. I've been under her control these years. Besides Liu from before, there hasn't been anyone else serving me." 。Moreover, because she was jealous, her son hadn't dared to enter Lady Liu's room for many years. 。"My son is a person too, he wants fresh air just as much. Why does she always keep pressing down on me like this Where will I ever get better Xichun might be a maidservant, but because she is one, she understands how to be kind even more." 。Besides, she used to be someone close to Si Aitou. If her son manages to get close to her, he could find out a lot about what's going on with Si Aitou. 。"If you think that way, then this old woman won't be anything either. " 。Alas, I thought Chu Lian looked quite good today. Her features bear a resemblance to Si'er in some ways. 。If the red makeup doesn't work, then you better teach Chu Lian well! Relying on Xi Chun to give birth, that child will take another decade or so to grow up. By then, even the cucumbers will be wilted. 。" Mother nodded in agreement, "The night view is magnificent. 。Chu Lian had previously learned to dance with Hong Zhuang. The master even praised her. Later, Shu Bai looked down on her and wouldn't let her learn anymore. 。My son was thinking, "She's just a concubine's daughter, and I'm not the head of the family. Our branch can't rely on me in the future, so I won't interfere too much." 。But now the responsibilities at home are on my shoulders, and many things can't be done like they used to. 。Since Mother favors Chu Lian, her son will immediately go and find a teacher for her. Not only should she pick up dancing again, but she should also not neglect calligraphy, chess, painting, or any other arts. Just in case they might be useful in the future! The old madam gave an "en" sound, didn't say anything else, and waved him away. 。Jun Tao saw that Old Madam's heart was not at ease, and asked softly: "Does Second Master know that Five Miss is being raised, and is Old Madam unhappy" "Hmph, why would I be happy What use is it to raise her anyway, she's just a concubine's daughter. What use can a concubine's daughter have""But the elder sister, now there is only Madam Big left..." 。"When Jun Tao said this, he suddenly remembered something else. "By the way, there's also Second Sister. She was raised by the old mistress herself and has always been close to us. Perhaps the old mistress could support Second Sister so she has someone to rely on in the future." 。"

The old lady let out a long sigh, "I'm 53 years old. After this year, I'll be 54. How many more years can I live What use is it for me to rely on anyone It's Jing Sheng who needs someone to rely on the most." 。I used to think that Xiao's family had connections because of the Xiao clan, and the Old Madam Xiao and the Empress Dowager were distantly related. I thought that marrying such a woman would bring some help to Jing Sheng. 。I didn't expect Hongzhuang to have such an incident. If this child born is a girl, both the mother and daughter would be ruined. 。So I have to find someone reliable for Jing Sheng, someone promising as a junior to help him secure his future. 。"Alas, it's too late for this move. Even if Xichun were to be born immediately, it would still be too late!"

The old matriarch was pounding her chest and lamenting, she even scolded Xiao Shi as well.

Night view Sheng Que had already walked out with his entourage, asking as he walked, "How is Madam doing over there" The attendant Yan Li replied, "What else could she be doing The Second Madam has been fuming the whole time!"He kicked Yan Li angrily, "My concern isn't about that! > >" 。Then Yan Li finally understood that he had misunderstood. He quickly changed his words: "Mrs. Chang is still the same as always, and Sister Wushuang goes out occasionally, but she only buys things on the streets of the outer city and never goes far." 。" The night view sighed with admiration, "Xue Qiao and Wu Shuang are the most understanding. They never cause me trouble or bother me. I only feel that life is truly life when I'm with them. It's a life that can be lived properly." 。I don't know how long this life of running back and forth will last, when I can bring them both home. 。"

Yan Li asked him, “Master, are you going to the outer city today”

Ye Xing Sheng took a look at his own hands wrapped up like a zongzi, shook his head, “Let’s wait a bit longer. Xue Qiao will definitely feel sorry for me seeing me like this, and Wu Shuang would cry again. I can't let the two of them worry" 。"

Enyu-in 。The maidservant, Suixi, knelt on the ground and held a cup of clear tea high. She said respectfully, “Please, Fifth Sister, have some tea.” 。" Ye Chulian sat before the dressing table, shifting her gaze from the copper mirror to take a look at the tea that Suixi was holding. She took it gently, sipped it slowly, then placed it on the table, saying nonchalantly, "You may rise!" "Thank you, Fifth Sister," 。"Sui Xi stood up and took half a step back." 。Ye Chu'lian started staring at herself in the mirror again, looking over and over until she got tired of it. She simply slammed the bronze mirror onto the table with a loud bang. 。Suxixi immediately knelt down again, "Fifth Sister, please calm down, Fifth Sister, please calm down." 。Ye Chu closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again, saying with a hint of helplessness: "Get up. No matter how much you try to pretend, I am not the true eldest daughter of the Ye family." 。No matter how respectfully and obediently you treat me, you can't make me into the kind of person everyone fears. 。A concubine's daughter will always be a concubine's daughter, never able to hold her head high like the fourth elder sister, who is beloved and feared by all. 。This is my life. 。In two years, my family will decide if I marry a wealthy household's son as his main wife or a direct heir as his concubine. I just want to marry an ordinary man, but that's not allowed. 。"

Sui Xi hurriedly advised her: "Sister, please don't think that way. We can't belittle ourselves." 。The elderly gentleman only has two daughters. Now that the third sister is like this, it's uncertain whether her future will be joyful or sorrowful. What if she becomes a tragic figure Then the elderly gentleman can only rely on you. 。By then, you wouldn't have to worry about anything. You could marry whoever you wanted. 。“Can I really just marry whoever I want” Ye Chulian sneered, her face no longer carrying the timid demeanor she had shown in public. “I want to enter the palace and marry the emperor, but who can fulfill my wish When my grandfather was alive, he only cared about his eldest son’s children. After his death, they focused all their attention on my third sister. Who has ever thought of me Look at my face, don’t you think it pales in comparison to my third sister”Sui Xi carefully examined her for a moment before saying, “I have always thought that you are no worse than your third sister, and even surpass her in some ways.” 。The third sister may be alluring, but her allure isn't enduring. The fifth sister is the kind who becomes more beautiful the longer you look at her. 。"Then how do I compare to Fourth Sister" "Fourth Sister used to be..." Suixi was at a loss for words, Fourth Sister was too beautiful, how could she describe it She had it! "Fourth Sister used to be truly beautiful, exceptionally, exceptionally beautiful..." 。"Don't take my words the wrong way, but in the past, your fourth sister wasn't as good as you are now. She was just a little bit lacking." 。Things are different now. Ever since the fourth sister returned from the Duke of Su's residence, she's been wearing a pale face all day long, like a living corpse. Just looking at her makes people feel uneasy. 。You haven't noticed she hasn't been wearing makeup these days, have you She probably knows her face is so pale it's frightening. Putting on makeup would make her look even more like a corpse, even scarier. 。" She was very pleased with this method. "It's just like being dead," she said. "That night, when she performed her seventh-day memorial rites for the dead, I knelt by the fire pit and watched her. No matter how I looked at her, she didn't seem alive at all." 。"Then that's it, I actually have hope"

"Sis definitely has hope, after all now the second master's most reliable daughter is only you."

As the two were talking, a servant's voice came from outside: "Fifth Sister, someone has come from the second master's side with a message." 。 Ye Chulian quickly sat up straight, shedding her previous expression and putting on the timid demeanor she had always displayed. 。Sui Xi went to open the door, and the person who came in was Yan Li. 。Yè Chúlǐn saw that it was Yán Lǐ, and she hurriedly prepared to bow. Yán Lǐ immediately stepped forward to bow to her first, saying, “Fifth Sister is the mistress. If the mistress were to bow to a slave like me, then this slave would be short-lived!” 。< Five elder sister, you just sit down, the second master let someone come over to pass a message to you > 。" Night Chu Lian didn't sit down, she just stood there twisting her handkerchief and asked, "Father wants to do what with me" Strict reason: “The second master has already instructed to find a tutor for the fifth sister, learning calligraphy, painting, poetry, music, dance, everything. Please prepare on the fifth sister’s side, it will begin in a few days." 。"Father, why must I learn these I'm just a lowly illegitimate daughter! These things were always for Eldest Sister to learn. I have no such qualifications..." 。"

Yan Li smiled, “The past is the past, the present is the present. Today, Old Madam also mentioned Fifth Sister to the Second Master, praising her greatly.” 。The old master had arranged all these things for the fifth sister, hoping that she would be able to finish her studies soon. 。" When Yan Li finished, he left. Sui Xi went to see him off. Ye Chu leaned against the wall, alone in the room, her face couldn't hide the joy. >>>。Ye Wen's courtyard still doesn't have a name, but people have gradually gotten used to it and no longer dwell on whether or not to give it one. 。The maid sent over lunch, and she kept Xiang Dong in the room to attend her. As she ate, she asked, “You saw it today too, didn’t you The maids who used to serve me with you have all changed positions now. When you see them again, you have to bow and greet them as your aunts-in-law.” 。"Back then, you begged me to spare her. Now, do you regret it" Xiangdong knelt down and kowtowed to Ye Wenyan, "The servant regrets it, but if life could rewind, the servant would still do the same." 。I and Xichun were assigned to serve the Fourth Sister together. We've been together for many years, and I've done my best to serve her well. As for whether she is good or bad, that is her fate. 。Although she is now an aunt by marriage, I don't think she is fortunate. What she did was not her duty, and she will surely face retribution sooner or later. 。"

She bowed her head again, "If she hadn't hidden the flowers in her room, and had managed to catch the attention of the second master on her own merits, I would have congratulated her sincerely and wished her well." 。But after that incident, I felt that she was being sneaky and secretive as a concubine. I don't know why Second Master suddenly took her in. 。Xiangdong came here, still frowning for a while, then said: "Sister, under the strict guard of the second mistress, Xi Chun was able to enter the room of the second master. Could there be something going on here"pond. The old lady also became angry upon hearing this and glared at Mu Qianqiu even more fiercely. 。She just felt that tonight, Night Wind didn't come, and Grandmother Ji didn't come either. So she...