She looked back and saw a woman in blue standing on the corridor.
Her hair was tied up in a bun with a flat silver crown, and her appearance was ordinary and gentle. If she was thrown into the crowd of neighbors, she would be the aunt next door.
But she recognized it was Mama Luo.
This woman in her forties was an old lady in the Marquis's escort department. Mother Luo used to call her Qing Niangzi, which was her nickname in the yamen.
Mother Luo held a red painted square tray in both hands and handed over a folded cloak: "The Marquis asked me to deliver it."
"Thank you." She stretched out her hand, twisted a corner of her cloak, and dragged it over.
The thin green water damask flutters with the wind in the corridor, just like the scenery of lakes and mountains in late summer. It is the finest lake damask.
She took a closer look and saw that the cloak was embroidered with light golden branch patterns all over, with great care. She was happy and gently put it on her body, as if she was embracing the shadows of flowers and the color of the water by the early summer water.
"Sure enough, only Lady Qing is worthy of it. This is a new thing for the Marquis. I asked her to cut a cloak for Lady Qing first."
She smiled slightly, feeling somewhat comforted in her heart. Because she had become a disabled person, she seemed to be more and more suspicious these days. The doctor invited by the Marquis told her - don't think too much.
Did she misunderstand Mr. Hou?
"Mother Luo, have you ever been seriously injured on the battlefield in the past?"
Mother Luo was slightly startled and nodded: "My subordinate was originally a secret agent in the army under Tang Guogong. Later he was transferred to the Yamen in the capital."
"If you are seriously injured, will your temperament change?"
She asked softly, lowering her head and stroking Ayako's cloak, which was as smooth as green jade.
Mother Luo looked at her, hesitated to speak, but told the truth: "Yes. There are many seniors who have failed to recover. They used to have a broad mind and a bright vision, but later their temperament changed and they are no longer as good as ordinary people."
"Yeah. Thank you mom." She smiled.
She can't do this.
Mother Luo looked at her back as she left along the corridor, turned her head and asked in a low voice: "How?"
A tall man flashed out from behind the corridor pillar. He was wearing black lacquer and wearing an autumn-colored flying fish suit that looked like a ball of autumn water. He was covered with a black silk cloak and wore two swords at his waist.
Qin Meng, Qin Baihu, has an upright face with the Chinese character for the country, and he lives up to his name.
He looked at her retreating figure with a strange expression, and said hesitantly: "We...should just come here and ask her, if she becomes a concubine for the Marquis, we all should join in to add makeup to her?"
"yes."
"I thought we were here to execute her. Did you see the look in her eyes?"
Mother Luo couldn't help laughing and complained: "Why do you hide it? It's no wonder she is suspicious."
"If I hide it, what can I do to her? She can kill both of us ten times with one hand!"
Qin Meng couldn't help but become anxious.
But after saying that, he faced Luo's mother and sighed again. He sighed at her current situation.
"You are hiding it because the Marquis just said in the study that he asked her to marry you? She didn't agree?" Luo's mother walked back with him, laughing.
"...Sister Luo, if you spare me, how dare I expect her to agree to this? This is all the Marquis's wish. Choose from three options: top, middle, and bottom. I am the middle-of-the-road choice, neither high nor low."
"Why did you say Qing Niang chose this girl to be his wife?"
"Perhaps the Marquis arranged some big errand for her. Sister Luo, do you think she is really a useless person?"
"...she said it herself. The imperial doctor also said so."
"I don't believe it. What does the imperial doctor know?"
"...Then you go and fight her."
"I can not."
The grass is green and the laughter fades away.
That night, she casually slept in the room of the girl she was dating in the house, just to please the old lady.
When I was playing cards with the old lady in the evening, I heard that she was going to wait on Mrs. Hou. The old lady smiled and said, "This is the manner of a big family." "Liu Ying'er, sleep with your sister and talk."
"
"Old lady, don't worry."
The eldest girl Liu Ying talked privately with her at night and asked her to go home early to discuss with her parents.
"If you are afraid that you are not used to living at home, let me teach you a trick. You can rent a neighbor's house and live alone. You can take care of your parents and be comfortable at the same time. Wouldn't it be convenient?"
She got this idea and felt it was great. When she got up early and left, she felt refreshed.
When saying goodbye, the old lady asked again: "How are your parents? Why don't you come to me? You think you have forgotten me, old woman."
She laughed and explained, then hesitated to go back and tell her parents what to say, so she couldn't help but wander around the Marquis's mansion for a while.
"Xiao Wan——"
When she heard the sound, she glanced out of the corner of her eye and saw Manager Zhou in the mansion. He was waving under the green eaves of the general account room, as if he had something to ask her.
When she thought about it, her neighbor was Manager Zhou.
But the eldest steward was a Buddhist and rude. She had better find his eldest daughter-in-law to rent a house elsewhere.
After that, she pretended not to notice, turned a corner, and slipped into her small tent.
The paper and ink are fragrant, and the abacus beads are broken.
The small accounting room manages the Marquis's private farm, and there are also some other businesses in the private shop.
She was originally in charge.
The old lady most likely thought that since it was Mr. Hou's private room, she would naturally have to talk to Mrs. Hou before letting her go over and wait on her.
As for whether she is the Marquis's maid, the old lady is out of sight.
After all, he is an old feudal lord.
At this time, she expected that the second steward would send someone to take over the small accounting room today. After all, from now on, she would no longer follow the Marquis on errands outside the study.
She is a useless person, so she does not need to leave the house anymore and follow the Marquis to Jinyi Yamen.
"Ms. Cao, all the account books have been cleaned up according to your instructions."
"Well. You guys can rest at home these two days." She paused and said with a smile, "Don't worry, I have already asked the Marquis for your future. I have my own arrangements, so it's not in vain for you to follow me."
"Qing Niangzi..."
She shook her head and asked Master Tong, Mother Zhao and others to disperse and rest.
You can see that this is a small building with four or five rooms and simple ebony wooden tables and chairs.
Lacquered red lattice windows with openwork ice edges.
Her favorite green rose flowers were blooming in the flower beds outside the window. In the late summer and early autumn, the flowers bloomed in full bloom. They leaned on the windowsill and tilted their heads to look at her like a plump beauty. They were delicate and pretty.
She caressed the petals with a smile, but was surprised to realize that she usually liked the flowers to bloom lively, full of green eyes, and everlasting spring.
At this time, I saw the faint shadows of flowers in the sky, the crowd gradually disappeared, and the prosperity disappeared.
It was as if she was empty in her heart.
Just not used to it, she thought.
After standing alone under the window for a while, she turned into the inner room and opened the secret door in the small tent.
The secret room was dark and contained several of her empty boxes.
Her personal belongings have long been brought home.
In front of me is a black lacquered table with a Buddha statue on it.
In front of the Buddha is an old dilapidated sword belonging to an old friend. The short sword has a silver sheath and a copper handle. The spots are dotted like blood stains, and its luster is gone. The sword looks quite old.
There was an incense burner on the table. She went up and burned a stick of incense in front of the Buddha. She bowed three times and said softly:
"I gave up you for Lord Marquis. You must have resented me under Jiuquan. But you see - my retribution has come. Are you happy or not?"
The meaning is dull.
But her grudges with the owner of the dagger, her anger at wielding the sword, and her blood-spattered hatred seemed to disappear in one fell swoop.
In the end, it was she who failed to live up to her deep love.