Xia Houmei went back after lunch, and Xia Houshu was finally able to escape. She came out of Songya Hall and walked alone to Xiafei Courtyard where Guo Lianbi's mother and son lived.
Last night, due to Zhong Yuqing's timely appearance and persuasion, Guo Lianbi stopped arguing with her, but that did not mean that Xia Houling would not be punished after returning. After all, with Guo Lianbi's temper, in the past, even if there were elders who helped to say good things, Xia Houling would not be spared.
If you suffer a crime, you will even be punished more severely. You may be forced to kneel in the ancestral hall, or you may be forced to copy books, or you may recite the Sutra of Filial Piety. Although it does not hurt your skin, it hurts your heart.
Guo Lianbi is the eldest daughter of the current head of the Guo family in Xunzhou. She has studied and practiced calligraphy with her female teacher since she was a child. When she was older, she also learned housekeeping and accounting from her mother. She is considered to be both talented and beautiful.
The Guo family in Xunzhou has had its children become officials in every dynasty, but their grades are not high, and most of them are outsiders. From the oldest to the youngest, the whole family has no desire to cling to others. They neither seek to curry favor with their superiors, nor are they good at making friends with powerful people.
, and therefore did not know much about the situation of the major families in the capital. Therefore, when the Yue Kingdom Duke and his wife invited an official mediator to propose marriage, the Guo family did not even inquire about Xiahouze's physical condition. They only heard that Xiahouze was very good-looking.
Being an upright man, he married Guo Lianbi.
In the first two years after Guo Lianbi married into the Duke of Yue, he and Xiahou Ze were harmonious and loving, like a couple of gods, but they never had children.
As the ancients said, there are three types of unfilial piety, and the worst is not having an offspring. Guo Lianbi felt very guilty for being childless for two years. At first, she thought it was her own problem. Behind Xia Houze's back, she secretly visited many experts who were good at gynecology, and drank countless fertility drugs.
The medicine was of no use at all.
When Xia Houze found out, he felt distressed and guilty, so he told Guo Lianbi the truth and asked Guo Lianbi not to embarrass him anymore, as drinking medicine indiscriminately would harm his body.
After that, Xiahou Ze ignored the opinions of outsiders and spent a lot of money to invite doctors to come into his house to diagnose and treat him. All kinds of medicinal materials and supplements were delivered to his yard like water.
In the third year, Guo Lianbi finally got pregnant with a child, who is now Xia Houling.
The couple was so happy that they burned incense and prayed almost every day.
Unexpectedly, Xia Houling's constitution also followed that of his father. He was weak when he was born, but he took great care to raise him until he was almost two years old, and the number of visits to the doctor became less frequent.
Seeing that the days were getting brighter, Xiahou Ze was unable to get enough, and he was always worried about his son's health. He was overly worried and couldn't afford to fall ill. He died in regret within a year.
After Xia Houze died of illness, Guo Lianbi seemed to be a different person. She was originally gentle and gentle, but gradually became cold, suspicious and mean. She also lived in Xiafei courtyard all day long and had little contact with people outside.
The meaning of drawing the ground as a prison. As long as the affairs in the Yue Kingdom's palace did not involve their mother and son, she would never take another look or ask more questions.
Most of the female nuns in Xiafei Court were married off from Guo Lianbi's natal family. They are all capable people. They all have a good heart and a good talk, and are smart and capable, no less than those around Zhong Yuqing.
Sometimes Xia Houshu would think that if she hadn't been burdened by Xia Houze and Xia Houling's father and son, with Guo Lianbi's talent and the shrewdness of the people around her, she might not have been able to become the mistress of the Yue Kingdom Palace.
Over the years, the servants in Xiafei Court saw that Guo Lianbi had taken very strict care of Xia Houling, far beyond what a child could bear. They felt intolerable, but they were powerless to persuade. Because every time Guo Lianbi would use Xia Houling to rely on her father, she had no father to rely on.
You can only rely on your own excuses to get back.
For the sake of Xia Houshu's kindness to Xia Houling, they were willing to reveal a few things about the third bedroom in private, and asked Xia Houshu to take more care of Xia Houling, his miserable cousin.
Xia Houshu felt that he would take care of Xia Houling's affairs. In addition to the magical power of his bloodline and the pity that he lost his father when he was young and lost his support, the other reason was the instigation and connivance of other people in Xiafei Academy except Guo Lianbi.
.
The gate of Xiafei Court is closed all year round and is guarded by a concierge named Guo Shun.
Guo Shun was also brought by Guo Lianbi from his natal family in Xunzhou. He only recognized Guo Lianbi and Xia Houling as his masters in the entire Yue Kingdom Palace. Without Guo Lianbi's approval, he would never let anyone into Xiafei Court. Even if they were
Zhong Yuqing, who was in charge of the Central Committee of the Duke of Yue.
However, Zhong Yuqing also knows the rules of Xiafei Academy and never fails to go to the Three Treasures Hall for any reason.
As usual, Xia Houshu failed to enter the gate of Xiafei Court, so he simply waited at the door for the people inside to come out.
After finally waiting until Nanny Feng next to Guo Lianbi came out with a basket, she hurriedly greeted her. But unexpectedly, Nanny Feng, who usually treated her very kindly, was uncharacteristically uncharacteristic this time and didn't even blink when she saw her.
He left immediately, leaving a proud and stiff back to her.
Xia Houshu called her several times, but Grandma Feng remained indifferent.
Aunt Feng was the old man that Guo Lianbi brought from his natal family. It is said that Guo Lianbi had been with her to serve her before he left the cabinet. The relationship between master and servant was very deep, and it would not be too much to say that they were like mother and daughter. Therefore, everyone around Guo Lianbi was very fond of her.
Respect her.
Nanny Feng has been in the Yue Kingdom Palace for many years. She has always been polite to people outside Xiafei Court. She neither has close friendship nor offends her. She speaks and does things in an orderly manner and has no leaks. People in the palace know that she is not a person who can easily
Those who are friends with her will not rush to curry favor with her.
In addition, although Nanny Feng received monthly money from the Duke of Yue, her status was in the hands of Guo Lianbi. According to the tacit understanding between the two families for many years, she was not under the control of the eldest and second families. Even as a member of the Yue Kingdom
Zhong Yuqing, the mistress of the palace, had to ask and inform Guo Lianbi in advance if she wanted to instruct Nanny Feng to do something. Therefore, even though Xia Houshu was the master, there was nothing he could do about Nanny Feng.
Xia Houshu thought that he had not even stepped out of the Qingfeng Pavilion a few times during the past few days due to confinement and recuperation, so he would not have offended Nanny Feng in any way. And Nanny Feng's change in attitude was obvious.
It was strange, but she couldn't figure out for a moment what kind of temper Nanny Feng had.
Xia Houshu was wondering when he turned around and saw Shuxiu, the maid next to Guo Lianbi, walking over in a hurry. He put a finger on his lips to make a silent gesture and pulled her behind the rockery next to him.
Xia Houshu didn't know why, so he allowed Shu Xiu to pull her behind the rockery, and waited quietly for the next step.
Shu Xiu stretched out her neck and looked around mysteriously. Seeing no one else, she looked at Xia Houshu and whispered: "I heard Wenzhu and the others said that the third girl was here, so I hurriedly came out to take a look. Just now, there are many
I hope the third girl won't be surprised if it's abrupt. I'm also afraid that the walls have ears and will cause trouble among the disciples."
Wenzhu was the maid who served meals in Guo Lianbi's house. It happened to be meal time, so he saw her outside the door and quietly told Shu Xiu.
Xia Houshu, who was still confused at first, became cautious due to Shu Xiu's influence. He lowered his voice and asked: "Did something happen in Xiafei Courtyard? Or what happened to Ling'er? Aunt Feng treated me quite well before.
Hou, why don't you look at me today?"
"It's nothing serious." Shu Xiu gave her some reassurance first, and then said, "In the final analysis, it's because the third girl secretly took the sixth young master out of the house yesterday."
"But haven't we already talked about what happened yesterday?" Xia Houshu murmured, "Besides, I didn't do anything to Ling'er, so why does she still hold a grudge against me?"
After saying that, she wanted to hit her on the head. How could she say it was open to the public? It was obvious that Guo Lianbi didn't want to have a direct conflict with her mother, so she just let her go for the sake of her mother. Otherwise, why would she be so helpless?
Came here to inquire?
I'm afraid this matter will always be recorded in Guo Lianbi's ledger, and Xia Houshu will be the target of rejection by everyone in Xiafei Academy in the future.
Shu Xiu looked at her, shook her head and explained: "Mother Feng is the old lady next to my wife. She has always acted properly and thoughtfully, and she has won the trust of my wife. It turns out that when I was in my hometown in Xunzhou, even my old lady looked up to her.
Of course, we don't dare to talk nonsense in front of her, so as not to offend her and then be accused to the madam. But she, like the madam, takes the Sixth Young Master very seriously, and the madam is not happy because of what happened yesterday.
It's so happy that Mother Feng is naturally not happy either."
Xia Houshu didn't know whether to laugh or cry, he just said: "Mother Feng really loves Ling'er very much."
Shu Xiu heard something in Xia Houshu's words, she still sighed and said: "To be fair, although Aunt Feng has a bad eye, she treats people very well, especially the maids and servants like us who came here as dowries. She is very protective.
Hua Mei, who came from Xunzhou with me and my wife, once accidentally put a paper kite into the yard where the eldest son lived. Fearing that he would be discovered, he sneaked in to pick it up. This violated the princess's taboo, and the wife took her body.
Qi said he would send her back to Xunzhou. Poor Huamei's family in Xunzhou only had a father and brother who were addicted to gambling. They originally sold her to the Guo family because they lost all their family property. If she goes back,
Her father and brother, who were greedy for money, didn't know where they were going to sell her. In the end, it was Mother Feng who tried her best to persuade her, and Madam finally agreed to let her stay."
It sounds like Grandma Feng is indeed a cold-hearted person.
Shu Xiu glanced at Xia Houshu and said, "It's true that Grandma Feng was at fault for what happened today, but she was just like the madam in being too worried about the safety of the Sixth Young Master. The third girl is smart and should be able to figure it out.
So I hope that the third girl will not argue with Aunt Feng."
This morning, Shu Xiu was the second person to say that she was smart.
Because she is smart, she can understand some unpleasant things without saying them.
Xia Houshu finally understood that Shu Xiu was not here to reveal any shocking secrets to her, but to maintain the unity among the people in their Xiafei Academy. Even most people in the Xiafei Academy felt that Guo Lianbi's way of disciplining Xia Houling was problematic.
problem, but when encountering outsiders and events that may affect their unity, everyone is still consistent in dealing with the outside world.
It is her blessing that Guo Lianbi has such a loyal servant, and it will also be Xia Houling's blessing in the future.
Xia Houshu waved his hands to show that he didn't care: "As you said, Grandma Feng is the old man next to Third Aunt, and she treats Ling'er as a treasure. How can I blame her? It's too late for me to thank her."
"It's best that Third Miss thinks so." Shu Xiu smiled broadly, then bowed again and continued, "Shu Xiu would also like to thank Third Miss for taking care of Sixth Young Master."
"Isn't it right for a sister to love and protect her younger brother?" Xia Houshu followed her words and asked, "Tell me the truth. After Ling'er went back last night, did the third aunt not punish him?"
"I'm punished." Shu Xiu said honestly, "After the sixth young master came back last night, my wife took him to the small Buddhist hall and scolded him. She also made him kneel in the small Buddhist hall for half an hour, and then asked us to prepare.
I made hot water and ginger soup and served the Sixth Young Master to sleep."
Xia Houshu shook his head after hearing this, thinking that Guo Lianbi was really crazy. She clearly felt sorry for her son and asked someone to prepare hot water and ginger soup in advance, but she had to let Xia Houling kneel down as punishment. Doesn't she feel contradictory? Moreover,
Yesterday, Xia Houling went out with her to play wildly. He was already exhausted. When he got home, he was made to kneel for half an hour. He didn't know if he could stand up and walk properly today.
Shu Xiu seemed to have guessed Xia Houshu's worries and immediately said: "Sixth Young Master is indeed not doing well this morning, but we all have experience in this matter. It will be fine if we take a little rest. Third Miss, don't worry."
Have experience?
Xia Houshu clicked his tongue, feeling infinite distress and sorrow in his heart. But she was sensible enough not to ask any more questions, and said goodbye to Shu Xiu before walking back.
She has no way to get involved in the affairs of Xiafei Court. In this case, she might as well go to Xia Houyi's appointment happily. She would like to see what medicine Xia Houyi sells in his gourd. This chapter has been completed!