Chapter 172 Return Home
After more than two years in the mansion , Mengxi has already mastered the art of writing elegant and graceful large characters. In Zhiqiu's words, the Second Madam's calligraphy can finally be sold for money, without her having to go through the trouble of destroying it.
Oh my god, it seems like she practiced calligraphy just to become a calligraphy seller.
Mengxi finally finished writing the last word, put down her pen, and stretched. In the past two years, she has grown a lot taller. If she was still a slightly immature bud when she first entered the Xiao Mansion, now she is about to bloom. If she was just a potential beauty, now she has become a real beauty.
Her slightly flat body has grown into a slender figure, and her gestures are more charming. Her tender little mouth is inadvertently raised, like a ripe peach, so beautiful that people can't help but want to take a bite. According to Zhiqiu, if the second wife stood on the street and made a call, thousands of people would rush to throw money at her, and they would be willing to spend all their money to see her beauty.
Wow, is there such a description? That would make her head covered with lumps, and I guarantee that even her parents wouldn't recognize her. This reminded Mengxi of the stars in her previous life, who would hold concerts and press conferences at any time, with huge crowds of fans waving their light sticks crazily and shouting "XXX I love you"...
That was a madness.
With her body, if she gets to the 21st century, she will definitely be made into a movie star by Zhang Yimou. If she is accidentally discovered by a big Hollywood director, she will definitely be world-class, just like Zhang Ziyi. But she promises that she will not cause any "donation scandal" like Zhang Ziyi, Mengxi thought arrogantly.
Zhiqiu came in with a pile of books, and said as he placed the books on the incense table:
"Second Madam, this is what my brother asked for when he went to Fuzhou to do some business. He said that he even gave away two Lengxiang Pills for these books."
"The Chronicles of the Great Qi Dynasty! It's a great book, worth two coins. I'll get more tomorrow. This set of books has three volumes, and I've been looking for it for a long time. Let Li Du look for the other two volumes when he has time."
Mengxi said excitedly as she flipped through the book that Zhiqiu brought back.
After hearing what Second Grandma said, Zhiqiu pouted. She finally understood why Second Grandma helped her without hesitation. It must be because she was from a scholarly family with many books at home. In the past two years, all the books in her family's ancestral collection had been emptied out by Second Grandma. Even the books that were used as bricks under the table in her ancestral house were found by Second Grandma. She read them with gusto, and then ordered people to reinstall them and keep them in the south room.
Whenever Zhiqiu saw the room full of books in the south room, she would cry out that she had been deceived. As a result, whenever her brother went out and saw any strange books, his eyes would glow blue, and he would love them more than he did his own father, just like a wolf that had been hungry for several days saw a snow-white little lamb. People would think that her brother did not run a pharmacy but a library.
Seeing Zhiqiu standing there with a pout, Mengxi glanced at her. This girl was becoming more and more unruly. She was the second wife, so why was she being controlled by a maid? She sighed to herself at her miserable life, leaned on the couch and started reading a book.
Zhiqiu saw Second Madam reading a book, so he hurried over to clean up the writing brush and ink on the table. He looked at the words Second Madam had just written and said with regret:
"It's a pity that Second Madam was born a woman. If she were a man, she would definitely be made a marquis and a prime minister."
Hearing this, Mengxi felt ashamed. She didn't like classical Chinese, so she often practiced calligraphy with poems she remembered from her previous life. How could she have such an amazing talent? Her face felt slightly hot, and she coughed and said:
"Zhiqiu, how is the matter in the outer house going?"
"Even if Second Madam didn't tell me, I'm also anxious about this matter. I've been looking for such a long time, but I still can't find a satisfactory place. Young Master Ouyang wants you to live in Baicao Garden, where the scenery is beautiful, elegant and peaceful. He also said that he has set up traps around Baicao Garden, and ordinary people can't enter without a guide, so it's safe for you to go there. But my brother said that it's too remote, not close to Jinyang and Pingyang, and it's inconvenient to find you when he has something to do. He wants to find a secluded place in Pingyang City that's closer to the main store. The two of us have been arguing, and we haven't found a satisfactory place."
"There is nothing these two people don't fight for. There are too many spies from the Xiao family and the prince in Pingyang City. It's best not to be in Pingyang City."
"Well, I will tell my brother right away. Does the Second Madam want to live in Baicao Garden?"
"Hundred Herb Garden..."
As he was speaking, Zhichun pushed the door open and walked in:
"Second Madam, the old lady sent a message for you to go to Shouxi Hall, saying that the Second Master is coming back."
"The Second Master is coming back! Didn't he say he would be back for the old lady's birthday? It's still more than three months away!"
"That's true, Second Madam. For some reason, Second Master suddenly changed his mind. I heard from Xiao Yun that Second Master made a few simple arrangements and set off. The letter was sent after Second Master set off. The old lady received the letter only a few days before Second Master arrived home. She was so happy. She has already told First Madam, Second Madam, to hurry up. If you go too late, First Madam will complain."
"Now that Second Master is back, it will be difficult for us to go out and play."
Hearing that the Second Master was coming back, Mengxi couldn't help but sigh when she thought of that icy face. Suddenly, she remembered something and turned to Zhichun and said:
"By the way, speaking of Xiao Yun, we have been helped over the past year by him. The old lady just sent some fresh lychees over. We can't finish them all. You can pick some and pack them up and have Zhidong deliver them."
Mengxi sat down next to the dressing mirror while speaking, and asked Zhiqiu to help her wash and dress.
…
"Second Madam, we have to hurry. The concubines and Hongyu have been waiting in the upper room for a long time."
Zhiqiu said as she helped the second lady get dressed.
Mengxi was sleeping soundly when she was woken up. However, she was very angry about getting up. After hearing what Zhiqiu said, she said impatiently:
"Didn't they say that the Second Master would arrive at 9:00 p.m.? If he's on his way, he might not arrive until noon. The concubines are crazy. Why are they getting up so early? They don't sleep themselves, and they're disturbing others. They've never been so diligent in paying respects. They like to get up early, so let them wait. We're not in a hurry!"
"My great-grandmother, please stop talking. The aunts are so anxious that they can't sleep. It's almost noon now. You should get up. Don't let the aunts find fault with you. The second master is always on his way. If he comes back early and we don't go to greet him, it will be a big sin."
As Zhiqiu spoke, he helped Second Madam sit in front of the dressing mirror, and carefully tied her hair into a stunning bun. He also picked out a jasper butterfly tassel and inserted it in her hair. After looking at it for a long time, he took out a crystal lotus from the dressing box and wanted to pin it behind Second Madam's head. Mengxi raised her hand to stop him, and said while arranging her bangs on both sides:
“That’s good.”
"Second Madam, you haven't seen the hair of the concubines outside. Don't be outdone by them. Just wear this lotus. This flower is elegant but not gaudy, and the color suits you very well."
As Zhiqiu spoke, he pushed away Second Grandma's hand and put it on her. Mengxi looked at Zhiqiu in the mirror with a serious expression, sighed, and did not try to stop her.
After she finished washing up, Zhichun had already prepared her clothes. Mengxi took the one and looked at it, and couldn't help frowning. Zhichun was really obsessed with the color red. As long as the occasion was a little formal, she would find a bright red wedding dress. Today, she had prepared a newly made bright red plum blossom palace satin wedding dress.
"This auspicious dress looks hot. Go find the goose yellow narcissus flower brocade auspicious dress you wore a few days ago."
"Second Madam, please stop saying that. Today is the day when the Second Master comes back. You and the concubines are going to the second gate to welcome him. You are wearing bright red to remind them that you are the principal wife. Otherwise, when the Second Master comes back, they will have something to rely on and climb over your head."
“Majesty does not depend on what you wear.”
Mengxi said as she handed the bright red wedding dress to Zhichun.
So what if she was the first wife? A marriage without love was just as unhappy! Moreover, they were destined not to be together.
"Second Grandma..."
"Go quickly"
Seeing that Second Grandma was determined, Zhichun looked at Zhiqiu, shook his head and pouted, then went to change Second Grandma's clothes.
Mengxi packed up and helped Zhiqiu to the upper room, where several concubines and Hongyu were waiting. Mengxi took a look and saw that they were all gorgeous, especially Concubine Zhang and Concubine Cui, who had golden hairpins on their heads and jade pendants on their waists. They stood there, their silk clothes fluttering, and they were so charming that the second master would be attracted to them.
Mengxi wondered if they had gotten up in the middle of the night to put on makeup, otherwise how could they have done it so delicately. Zhiqiu had dressed her up very carefully in the morning, and she had put on a few more pieces of jewelry than usual, but compared with Aunt Zhang and Aunt Cui, she still looked too plain.
She retracted her gaze, walked up slowly, and sat down on the chair. Several aunts came over and greeted them one by one. Hongzhu stepped forward and said:
"Second Madam, breakfast is ready. Shall we set it out now?"
Mengxi heard this and saw that it was getting late, so he said to the aunts:
"It's getting late, I think the ladies haven't had their meals yet. Today is the day when the Second Master comes back, so there's no need to be so particular. Let's all eat here, and then go to the Second Gate together after dinner, that will be more convenient."
After hearing this, Hongzhu turned around and signaled the maid to go out and serve the meal.
After hearing what the Second Mistress said, Aunt Cui and Aunt Zhang's eyes flashed with displeasure. They opened their mouths to say something, but when they saw that no one else spoke, they closed .
Mengxi frowned when she saw this. She had good intentions and was afraid that the Second Master might be delayed on the way and these people would be hungry for the whole morning. She didn't expect these two people to give her such a cold face. She sighed secretly. This mansion really doesn't tolerate kindness. The Second Master hasn't even arrived home yet, but they are already acting so arrogantly.
Mengxi had no idea that in the eyes of Concubine Cui and Concubine Zhang, the Second Master should have stayed in the wife's room for the first few days after returning home, which was not what they, the concubines, wanted. But the Second Master and the Second Mistress went to the Chrysanthemum Garden on the first day of their wedding, and took Hongyu in on the fourth day. Since then, they have never set foot in the Second Mistress's room. Therefore, the Second Master will definitely not go to the Second Mistress's room when he returns this time.
Looking at these concubines, not to mention that Hongyu was a concubine, the Second Master had never entered the Yu Garden, not to mention the Eldest Aunt, and the Second Mistress fell out of favor before she even got married.
Excluding the Second Mistress, the First Aunt and Hongyu, the only ones left are Aunt Zhang and Aunt Cui. These two aunts are competing with each other. They have put a lot of effort into their outfits for today. As soon as they received the letter from the Second Master, they began to carefully select clothes and make jewelry. Today, they got up before dawn to dress up, hoping to show off their pretty faces in front of the Second Master.
If the Second Master could stay in their room tonight, it would be a great favor and honor. Not to mention a meal, even not eating for two days would be something he would be happy to have!
All the makeup she put on with great effort was ruined by this meal. This second mistress is so vicious!
