First Concubine

Chapter 3 Storm in Water Mansion (3)

“I’ll wait for the old lady to finish drinking the medicine and kowtow to her before leaving.” Shui Linglong showed an innocent smile that a fifteen-year-old girl should have.

Jade said no more. She could obviously invite Shui Linglong to wait in the warm side room, but she just smiled, turned around and entered the house.

It's night time now, the crescent moon is climbing up the branches, the cold wind blowing on the body has a sharp feeling of being cut by ice knives, Shui Linglong tightens the short jacket embroidered with broken plum blossoms, and moves her toes up and down to relieve the pain. Numbness from the cold. When she was fighting in her previous life, she lay down in the snow all night long. The difficulty she faced was not a difficulty at all.

Two quarters of an hour later, the door was pushed open and Mother Wang came out. In the afternoon, the eldest lady said she would come to visit the old lady. She only took it as a polite word. After all, the old lady was suffering from this disease. Apart from the master, there were not many people in the house. I really want to visit her. Just now, the old lady deliberately asked the eldest lady to stand outside for so long, which was probably a test. Mother Wang gave Shui Linglong an approving look and said, "The old lady has finished drinking the medicine. Miss, please put on the cloth and follow the slave in."

Tuberculosis is actually not that contagious, and you will not be infected unless you come into contact with the sputum coughed up by the other person. Shui Linglong smiled and said, "No need, my grandmother hasn't seen me since I've grown so big."

 The smile in Wang’s mother’s eyes became even bigger: “Miss, please.”

Shui Linglong entered the room, with a warm smile on her lips. She slowly walked to the old lady's bed, knelt down, kowtowed three times, and said, "Linglong has met my grandmother, and my grandmother is blessed with good fortune."

On the mahogany carved bed, the floral damask curtains were hung with gold curtains. The old lady leaned on thick pillows of Sixi brocade with her back, and the bright brown quilt covered her waist and abdomen, adding a bit of paleness to her old face. On the right side of the bed, there is a gilt and silver bamboo-jointed copper incense burner, which is smoked with elegant nard scent and covers a lot of the medicinal smell in the room.

The old lady took a casual look and said in a hoarse voice: "Well, she looks quite juicy, cough cough cough..."

As soon as he said a word, his lungs were affected by a violent cough.

Shui Linglong stood up and came to the old lady's side. She put her fingers together, bent her palms, and gently patted the old lady's back with her hollow palm.

Mother Wang hurriedly handed over the spittoon, and the old lady coughed up a mouthful of thick phlegm, and then she felt better. The old lady gasped, her expression no longer so indifferent. She didn't know what she thought of. Her eyes flashed and she said: "Jade, give the eldest lady a piece of the brocade that Mrs. Dingyuan Marquis sent today."

 “Yes!” Jade responded respectfully.

Shui Linglong smiled: "Thank you, grandma."

The old lady patted her on the shoulder and said, "He is a lovely child. Go ahead. You don't need to come here too much, lest I let you get sick again."

When Shui Linglong returned to Lingxiangyuan, the brocade sent by the old lady also arrived.

This is a piece of dark brown floral brocade. There is no choice in the workmanship and quality, but it is not suitable for her age. Looking at the furnishings in the old lady's room, it shows that the old lady has great taste. So, why did the old lady give it to her? What about a piece of material that is simply not suitable?

 Could it be...

Mrs. Dingyuan Hou came to visit this time because of her?

It seems that the old lady is not as indifferent to the things in the house as she imagined. At least she can know the purpose of Madam Dingyuan's trip without leaving the hospital. It is just that she is extremely ill and has no motivation.

Shui Linglong asked Xiang Jade: "Besides tuberculosis, does my grandmother have other diseases?"

Jade shook her head: "No, the master regularly asks the palace doctor to diagnose the old lady's pulse. The imperial doctor said that if the old lady's tuberculosis can be eradicated, she will definitely live to be a hundred years old."

Shui Linglong nodded and ordered Huahong to send Jade out.

Qin Fangyi's marriage to Shui Hangge was a low-level marriage. For many years, she had been as arrogant as a peacock and treated the old lady superficially. Until Shui Hangge's sister entered the palace and became a favorite concubine, the old lady had to be granted the title of first-class consort. Only then did she really suppress Qin Fangyi in terms of identity.

 What if the old lady did not die of tuberculosis two months later? So, Qin Fangyi’s one-word talk is probably over from now on!

Shui Linglong started pacing back and forth in the room, trying to remember the method Xun Feng used to treat tuberculosis patients in her previous life. It was not acupuncture or bitter medicine, but something she once thought was very dirty - penicillium! She still laughed at Xun Feng: "Eating moldy steamed buns can cause diarrhea. Are you sure Penicillium can cure diseases?" Xun Feng took her hand and said with a mysterious face: "If it is cured, we will have **** How about candles?"

 Her first time was given to Xun Feng like that.

Thinking about it now, the reason why she fell in love with Xun Feng, except for the life-saving grace, was that Xun Feng was indeed the most peculiar man she had ever seen. He could do things that she had never heard of. It's not a loss if you lose to him.

Each person’s constitution is different, and not everyone can tolerate Penicillium. If you are allergic to it, you cannot use it. But at any rate, she was half sure. It's just that it's winter now, so it will take some time to make it, but it will definitely not take more than a month.

The next day, Shui Linglong got up early, put on a plain velvet embroidered jacket, combed a double-snail bun, fixed it with a light pink hairdo, and went to Changlexuan after making sure she looked neat.

In the bright hall, Qin Fangyi was sitting on the main seat. She has a fair complexion, thick eyebrows and big eyes, and she has the sternness of a mistress, but she probably didn't sleep well last night, and no amount of makeup can cover the crows under her eyes.

Anyone who loses several thousand taels of silver and sees his husband going to his concubine’s yard will have trouble sleeping and eating. But Qin Fangyi, the nightmare has just begun!

Shui Linglong lowered her eyes to cover up her flash of smile, walked into the hall, and saluted: "Linglong greets my mother."

Qin Fangyi stood up and walked to Shui Linglong, took her hand, and said with a smile: "In a blink of an eye, the eldest daughter has become so big."

 Elder daughter? When I was starving to death in Zhuangzi, did you think of my eldest daughter?

Qin Fangyi said again: "Shiqing, bring me the jewelry box I prepared for the eldest lady."

"Yes." Shi Qing followed his words and took out a dark pear wood brocade box. Inside was a pair of gold steps, one hairpin set with rubies and one sapphire, three silver hairpins, and several white jade flower mother-of-pearls.

 What a generous act! Shui Linglong knows very well what kind of temper Qin Fangyi is. If she gives you a cent, you will definitely spit out a cent. The meaning of this weasel paying New Year greetings to the chicken is too obvious. Shui Linglong took it with both hands: "Thank you, mother."

After receiving the hairpin, Shui Linglong went to Xinuan Pavilion to choose clothing materials according to Qinfang's instructions. As soon as she entered the room, she heard a pleasant laughter like silver bells.

"This rose-red brocade satin matches my skin tone the best. You go and choose something else!" The girl who spoke was wearing a light pink tight-fitting long coat. She had thin eyebrows and big eyes. She was charming and delicate, but her thin lips were slightly mean. , it is the Fourth Miss Shui Lingyue. Her biological mother is Aunt Zhou, a beauty sent from Shuihangge Shangfeng. Aunt Zhou was originally a concubine from an official family. She became a concubine as soon as she entered the palace. The status of the concubine is higher than that of ordinary aunts, and they are both concubines. , Shui Lingyue is different.

“But it was clearly the third sister who took a fancy to this brocade damask first.” Fifth Miss Shui Lingqing replied timidly.

Shui Lingyue glared at her fiercely. Her biological mother was just a foot-washing maid beside the eldest lady. How could someone with such a humble background deserve to **** things from her?

Third Miss Shui Lingyu took fifth sister's hand and said to Shui Lingyue and kindly: "Since fourth sister likes it, take it. I also think that only fourth sister can wear this satin with its grandeur and warmth." Duanli.”

Shui Linglong smiled. The rose-red satin clearly exuded the charm of a brothel, and in Shui Lingyu's words, it became "magnificent" and "dignified".

"That's pretty much it." Shui Lingyue grinned with satisfaction and continued to select fabrics, but Shui Lingyu and Shui Lingqing didn't dare to touch anything she had touched.

“Several sisters are here.” Shui Linglong greeted with a smile.

 Everyone in the house knows that the eldest lady is back.

Shui Lingyu smiled kindly and bowed: "You are the eldest sister, right? Please come in, eldest sister. I am Shui Lingyu, the third sister. I am thirteen this year. Say hello to the eldest sister."

Shui Lingqing also bowed and said shyly: "Sister, I am the fifth sister Shui Lingqing. I am twelve this year."

Shui Linglong gave the two a half salute: "Hello, third sister, hello, fifth sister."

Shui Lingyue took a quick glance and found that except for her eldest daughter Shui Lingxi and her eldest son Shui Minyu, she never greeted anyone of her own generation in the house.

She walked over, regardless of whether Shui Linglong answered or not, and opened the brocade box in Shui Linglong's hand. When she saw the dazzling array of luxurious jewelry, her eyes were instantly filled with anger, "Hey! Is it a gift from my mother? Mother is so kind to you! How can a concubine who was born from a foreign family without even entering the family tree be afraid of losing her fortune and shortening her life with such a good hairpin? "

 She picked up a gold walking rocker and a hairpin inlaid with ruby ​​​​and said, "Let me wear these two."

"This is a gift from my mother. Could it be that she wants me to be killed by a few pieces of jewelry? Are you saying that my mother is not as smart as you? Or that she has evil intentions?" Shui Linglong retorted lightly.

Shui Lingyue felt guilty for a while: "Bitch girl, I don't mean that!"

“If I am a cheap girl, what does it matter to my father who gave birth to me?” Shui Linglong asked back.

Shui Lingyue choked: "You..."

Shui Linglong snatched the golden walking stick and ruby-encrusted hairpin from her hand, "Also, I won't borrow it!"

 “The girl born of a lowly concubine is stingy and can’t get on the stage! She doesn’t want to borrow two hairpins, hum! It’s like she’s rare!”

“Fourth sister, what are you talking about?”

After Shui Lingyue finished cursing, a voice as gentle as nature sounded slowly from the door, and Shui Linglong's blood froze at this moment! She also knows the owner of this voice who turned into ashes! Her Qing'er, her poor Qing'er was burned alive by this femme fatale woman, turning her into a human being and a ghost! Just because Shui Lingxi is beautiful, is it easier for her to gain understanding and trust from others? Her husband and her son were all fascinated by her. When Shui Lingxi cried, even heaven and earth seemed to weep for her. In comparison, she became a vicious woman with heinous crimes and bad conduct!

 Fortunately, God has eyes and allows her to live another life. She always has a chance to reverse the bad luck in her previous life.

Gathering back the overwhelming hatred in her heart, Shui Linglong smiled slightly and said hello: "I heard someone mention it in the village that there is a fairy-like beauty in our house. It's really better to see it than to hear it every time. The second sister is better than The rumored one is even better."

She was robbed of her position as Crown Princess, wasn't she angry? Maybe, as her mother said, she is self-aware? Shui Lingxi carefully studied Shui Linglong's expression to make sure she wasn't unhappy at all, then she smiled gently and said, "Thank you, big sister."

“Second sister!” Shui Lingyue walked up to Shui Lingxi, held Shui Lingxi’s arm, and called softly and angrily.

After Shui Lingxi smiled slightly, she acted as a fair sister: "I just heard you said that you wanted to borrow my eldest sister's jewelry. You must know that without someone's consent, it is not 'borrowing', but 'stealing', as the ancients said , "how many flesh and blood can we have, but how old we are?" I don't know how many lifetimes we have been together as sisters. We are blessed by this. In three or two years, we will each get married, and we will be as close as we are in the boudoir. Extravagant hope, not to mention that the eldest sister has just returned from Zhuangzi, so fourth sister, you must get along well with the eldest sister. "

 Moved by emotion, understood by reason, and spoke eloquently, it can be seen that she is talented, broad-minded, and the direct noble daughter of Shangshu Mansion who does her duty. This is Shui Lingxi, building his own prestige by building on other people's mistakes. Shui Linglong promised, Shui Lingyue hated her in her heart.

As expected, Shui Lingyue glared at Shui Linglong with resentment, as if she wanted to eat her alive! The second sister actually scolded Shui Linglong for being a bitch. She didn't dare not confront the second sister, so she could only throw all the fire on Shui Linglong's head!

Shui Lingyu smiled awkwardly, and she and Shui Lingqing gave a gift to the second young lady, Shui Lingxi, and everyone began to choose fabrics.

Shui Lingxi smiled and said: "Sisters and sisters, choose first, and I will choose the rest."

Shui Linglong glanced at her. In fact, you don’t look down on her at all!

The materials used by Shui Lingxi have always been specially sent by the Prime Minister's Palace, and they are comparable to those worn by princesses. How can these materials that are already out of date catch her eyes?

Fourth Miss Shui Lingyue picked out a rose-red brocade and a goose-yellow Shu brocade, both of which were bright colors.

Miss Shui Lingyu, the third lady, picked two pieces of light green soft tobacco, which were very delicate and elegant.

Fifth Miss Shui Lingqing selected a piece of sapphire blue moiré brocade and a piece of dark red Five Fortunes and Longevity satin.

Shui Linglong gave Shui Lingqing a meaningful look. She originally planned to pick two pieces of plain satin at random. After some thought, she gave up one piece of plain satin and took one piece of lavender moiré brocade.

They handed the cloth to the maid, and then went to the side hall to have dinner with Qin Fangyi. They were supposed to go out in order, but in the house, the distinction between concubines and concubines was more important than anything else, so no one dared to cross the Shuiling River. Shui Lingxi lifted up her gorgeous red skirt, as graceful as a white cloud, and slowly crossed the threshold. The sun shone on her face, outlining her exquisite facial features. This person seemed to have stepped out of a painting. It's as beautiful as a dream. The maids in the corridor lowered their heads one after another, feeling that any more glances would be blasphemy against this immortal.

Shui Linglong smiled and followed closely.

Shui Lingyue glared at Shui Lingyu, who automatically gave in and walked side by side with Shui Lingqing. Shui Lingyue curled her lips in satisfaction, took a big step, and gave Shui Linglong a hard push on the back!

Directly opposite the threshold, there are only three or two steps to the bluestone steps. If you fall, you will not be damaged, but your appearance will be ruined!

Shui Linglong smiled coldly and shook off the purse from her waist. She quickly turned sideways and knelt down to pick it up.

Shui Lingyue was shocked! It was too late to withdraw her hand, so she stumbled and pushed straight towards Shui Lingxi with both hands.

“Ah—” Shui Lingxi screamed and rolled down the steps.

“Ah—” Shui Lingqing and Shui Lingyu also screamed. Shui Lingxi is the key protection target of Shangshu Mansion. If she has three advantages and two shortcomings, the whole Shangshu Mansion will change! They vaguely remembered that Shui Lingxi was accidentally pushed into the water by her third brother when they were young. She was unconscious for three days and three nights. The people from the Prime Minister's Mansion almost demolished the Shangshu Mansion. In order to calm down the anger of the Prime Minister's Mansion, their father took the five-year-old San Shui Lingxi into the water. The younger brother beat him severely. As a result, the third younger brother developed a high fever that night and died early a few days later.

Shui Linglong had also heard about this. If she hadn't dodged away just now and was actually pushed by Shui Lingyue, the outcome would have been that she knocked Shui Lingxi down. It didn't matter whether she fell or not. What was important was Shui Lingxi. If she was injured, Qin Fangyi would never let her off lightly. Killing two birds with one stone is a good idea, but unfortunately, Shui Lingyue miscalculated the wrong person!

However, Shui Lingxi fell down and ate mud in her mouth, she was still quite happy!

A smile flashed in Shui Linglong's eyes. She ran down the steps and held Shui Lingxi in her arms, who was sweating in pain. Then she looked at Shui Lingyue, whose face was pale, and scolded: "Fourth sister! Why are you doing this? younger sister?"

"I...not...I'm not..." Shui Lingyue wanted to say that she didn't push it, but Shui Lingxi must have feelings, and she couldn't quibble. how so? How could that **** escape so coincidentally? If she hadn't avoided it, she could have said it herself. I only patted her lightly on the back. Who would have known that she suddenly rushed out and bumped into the second sister? Others may not know it clearly, but she knows that Shui Lingxi has snatched Shui Linglong's position as crown princess. The eldest lady will definitely think that Shui Linglong is holding a grudge and is waiting for an opportunity to take revenge! But now...

"Lingxi--" When Qin Fangyi heard the news and came over, she saw Shui Lingxi weakly leaning on Shui Linglong's arms. Her right hand was scratched and some blood was bleeding. Her heart suddenly felt like a piece of stubborn stone had been lifted. The stone is heavy and it still hurts! She holds her daughter in the palm of her hand for fear of dropping it, and holds it in her mouth for fear of melting. She is never willing to touch a hair of her daughter. Now, her daughter has fallen into such a miserable state, which really makes her angry!

"Mother." Shui Lingxi's nose felt sore, and her tears fell down. It hurt her to death!

Qin Fangyi took her daughter from Shui Linglong's hands and hugged her into her arms. While touching her face, she asked coldly to the people standing in the corridor: "What on earth is going on? Who pushed the second young lady?" ?”

“It’s the fourth sister.”

 (End of this chapter)