The Concubine in the Palace_The Feast of Masks【Complete】(189)

Qiao Xiuli is not a talkative person, but she knows when to advance and when to retreat, and never interrupts casually. Occasionally, she says something, which is quite pleasing, and people don't feel it's too much, nor do they feel it's annoying.

Most of the time, she holds a cup of tea and drinks it quietly, with a peaceful smile.

Xiaobao and Yueyue sit on the kang and play the nine-linked ring. He teaches Yueyue how to solve it, and Yueyue is thinking hard. His eyes slide to Qiao Xiuli's face intentionally or unintentionally.

Qiao Xiuli is Xiao Qiao, the concubine of the descendants of the previous life, and later the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo.

Everyone says that Xiao Qiao is lucky, and because of Qiao, Qiao didn't sit on the position of the Duke of Zhenguo's wife, and died when she was still the wife of the prince. But Xiao Qiao came later and was more blessed than her sister.

If it weren't for Qiao's last words, she would never have been able to sit on the position of the Duke of Zhenguo's wife with her background. But she not only sat on it, but also raised a pair of Qiao's children. She has the final say in the mansion, and the style of the lady in charge is no less than that of others.

Although there are many gossips about Xiao Qiao, most people would think it is sarcastic because Xiao Qiao has a good reputation.

First of all, Xiao Qiao is filial. Before the death of the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo, she served her bed for a whole year without taking off her clothes and sent her away. Secondly, Xiao Qiao treated her sister's two children well. In order to avoid suspicion that she was not good to her sister's children, she was nearly 30 years old before she got pregnant. This child was forced by the Duke of Zhenguo.

Before, Xiao Qiao also got pregnant, but she didn't tell anyone and secretly aborted it.

The Xiao Qiao that Xiaobao saw at that time was rich and noble, and she was a guest of honor in every family. How could people at that time think that Xiao Qiao at that time was just an orphan girl living under someone else's roof, who could only sit on a small stool, without even a proper seat, and dared not talk to her casually.

No, she is not an orphan, but has a capable brother. The brother is a dignified Jinshi, and is the fourth-rank Jingzhao prefect.

Xiaobao looked at Qiao Xiuli with a cold look, and the other party seemed to notice it. When she looked up and saw that it was a little boy, and the young master of the Jin Palace, she immediately gave a quiet smile.

Xiaobao turned his head to look at Yueyue, who was still concentrating on solving the nine-linked rings, which was extremely difficult for her age. Yueyue has always been very serious, since she was a child. In fact, Xiaobao didn't know about the family affairs of the Duke of Zhenguo at the beginning, and only knew it after marrying Sun Yueer.

But it was just the fur, because Yueyue's mother died too early, and she was raised by Xiaoqiao since she was a child. Later, she may have gradually noticed some tricks, but because the other party's means were too good, she couldn't tell it even if she knew she was at a disadvantage.

In fact, Xiaobao should be grateful to Xiaoqiao. If it weren't for her, Yueyue would not have married him, the sickly prince who was bedridden and lived one day less. But he didn't thank her at all. Seriously speaking, the person Xiaobao hated the most in his previous life was Xiaoqiao.

Especially when he knew that he was destined to die early and she was destined to be a widow for the rest of her life.

"You are so stupid. Let me teach you."

Xiaobao took the nine-linked ring from Yueyue's hand and untied it in two or three strokes. Then he put it back on again, and then showed it to Yueyue step by step.

Yueyue watched very seriously.

Seeing the two little kids huddled together, Qiao couldn't help but laugh and said, "Xiaobao really looks like a brother. It's not in vain to call him brother."

Yao Niang's eyebrows and eyes were full of smiles: "He is a little man, and he is the best at coaxing people. Usually, he coaxes Yan Ge'er Zhuzhu to call him Xiaobao brother. Now he finally coaxes Yueyue sister, and he didn't use all his tricks."

So it is still the mother who understands her son.

Qiao Xiuli sat for a while and then said goodbye.

Rumeng sent her out, and she refused Rumeng's escort when she reached the gate of the courtyard.

In fact, Rumeng only sent her to the gate of the courtyard at most, but she refused, which more or less gave people the illusion that she was very knowledgeable and considerate.

It's a pity for the Sixth Miss, her status is too low, otherwise she would have found a good family in Beijing. Now she is already 18 years old, but she still hasn't been able to get married.

Ru Meng had such a feeling for some reason. After thinking about it, she laughed a little. Why did she think about it? She turned back to the courtyard.

Qiao Xiuli turned around and looked at Lanruo Pavilion. From a distance, the building hidden among the lush ancient trees and flowers was so exquisite and beautiful, high above.

She couldn't help but clench her hand in her sleeve, but she pinched a hard object. She couldn't help but think of the side concubine of King Jin who took off the bracelet from her wrist and gave it to her.

She lowered her head and pursed her lips tightly, without looking at it any more, and left quietly.

Chapter 147

Ruhua came in with a bowl of medicine, "Madam, it's time to take the medicine."

When it comes to medicine, few of them smell good. When Yao Niang was recuperating after her confinement, she drank three bowls of medicine every morning, noon and night. She almost vomited. She had a headache when she smelled the medicine. In the last few days, she was coaxed by King Jin to drink the medicine before she could finish it. So she is particularly sensitive to the smell of medicine and can't help frowning when she smells it.

Qiao seemed to see that Yao Niang didn't like the smell of the medicine. She smiled shyly and asked Ruhua to take it away first and give it to her after it cools down.

Ruhua was speechless.

Yao Niang also knew that medicine has its own properties. She hurriedly said, "It's better to drink medicine while it's hot. I was also afraid of taking medicine a while ago. I just don't like the smell of medicine. By the way, what's wrong with you? Where do you feel uncomfortable?"

Mrs. Qiao drank the medicine in small sips, then hurriedly took the teacup filled with white water in Ruhua's hand and drank two sips before wiping the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief and saying: "I am also afraid of taking this medicine now. It's not that I am afraid of it." The reason for the discomfort is that I have an old cough, which will occur when winter comes. Later, I learned a lesson and take medicine in advance every year before the onset of winter, so that it is less likely to occur. "

"But it's serious. Have you seen a doctor?" Yao Niang thought of Dr. Liu Liang. In her eyes, Dr. Liu Liang's medical skills were superb and he could cure many stubborn and strange diseases.

"I've searched a lot, but I can't find the root cause. Once the cold weather brings wind, I'll cough for a long time. It's not serious, but it's still a little annoying," said Qiao. Just as she was talking, she coughed twice and smiled helplessly at Yao Niang: "You see, that's why I won't go out as soon as the weather gets cold."

Speaking of the cold weather, Yao Niang smiled, "The weather in the capital is not as cold as in Jinzhou. If we were in Jinzhou at this time, it would probably be snowing heavily by now."

"Jinzhou? I haven't been there yet. Tell me what it's like there..."

The two chatted for a long time, and when lunch was served, Yao Niang and Xiao Bao naturally ate here.

After eating, Yao Niang left. When they were leaving, Xiaobao and Yueyue were reluctant to leave. It was because Yao Niang promised to come back in a few days that Yueyue burst into laughter and let go of Xiaobao's chubby hand.

Mrs. Qiao gave Yao Niang some calligraphy and paintings and some books, and kept a good collection of pens and inkstones with her. Yao Niang was so pleasantly surprised that she made up her mind to study hard when she went back and practice her own calligraphy.

Earlier, in order to save pen and ink, Su Xiucai never let Yao Niang use rice paper to practice calligraphy. Yao Niang always wrote on the table with water. This is why she always says that she only knows a few words, because her words cannot be seen by others.

Qiao Xiuli returned to the guest house.

This small courtyard is located at the northernmost corner of the entire town. Although it is far away from the main entrance, it still occupies a quiet place.

This is the place where Sun Meng specially ordered someone to arrange it, knowing that Qiao Anhe needed to concentrate on preparing for the spring of the following year. There was a small courtyard where two brothers and a sister lived. There was an old woman doing chores in the courtyard, as well as a boy and a girl, which were enough for the two of them.

In fact, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion treats Qiao An and his brother and sister quite well, which is also the usual practice of these hairpin families. The emperor has several poor relatives, not to mention these big families, usually have relatives and friends who come to seek refuge. This is how it is arranged.

Qiao Anhe and Qiao Xiuli were able to live here all because of Qiao's face.

Seriously speaking, Qiao An and his brother and sister are not close by blood to the Qiao family. They have been in the fifth server for a long time, so they can only be considered relatives at best. However, Qiao's father was a far-sighted man. As he became rich, he did not forget to take care of his people.

Not only the ancestral hall was rebuilt, but also a clan school was built for the young members of the clan to study. A monthly subsidy of silver rice is provided, and there are also rewards for those with outstanding performance. Qiao Anhe is the most outstanding child of the Qiao family in the past ten years. He was successfully selected as a scholar and a candidate for the imperial examination. After that, he passed the imperial examination once, but failed.

It happened that Qiao An and his brother and sister's widowed mother passed away, so Qiao An and his siblings studied hard at home while observing their filial piety. This time, he was not only very sure that he would be able to win Chun Wei, but he was also 60 or 70% sure.

But I also said it was just a matter of certainty. If Jinshi was so good, no one would be gray-haired and still fall short in the exam. The imperial examination is not a rigid and standardized article, but should be adapted to local conditions. The preferences and taboos of the chief examiner and deputy examiner, etc., all need to be taken into consideration.

Qiao's father wrote a special letter to his son-in-law and asked Qiao Anhe to come to Beijing in advance for this reason. Sun Meng's identity is different from ordinary people. He can help to find out a lot of available information in advance, and he can even help with some information. As for Qiao Xiuli, she shouldn't have been brought to Beijing this time, but she just followed him in the name of taking care of her brother. In fact, Qiao Xiuli helped a lot along the way. After all, men are careless.

When Qiao Xiuli came back, Qiao Anhe was reading a book.

Seeing that his sister was back, he raised his head and glanced at her: "Are you at Mrs. Zi's place again?"

Qiao Xiuli nodded with a smile on her face: "Madam, I have guests today. They are the concubine of His Highness Prince Jin and the young master of the palace. The concubine is a very kind person and she even gave me a bracelet." As she said that, , she showed the jasper bracelet on her wrist to Qiao Anhe for a look.

Looking at his sister's smiling face, Qiao Anhe sighed slightly in his heart.