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Concubine Beijing was delighted to hear this, and was very satisfied with Keqing's words and deeds. As a concubine, she had to think about her master wholeheartedly. Just because she could speak for her son did not mean that Keqing had to agree with her, and she even had to protect him with her words and actions.
Her bright eyes looked at Keqing's charming and affectionate face, and her gaze became bright. It must be said that except for Keqing's family background, everything else met the qualities of a princess. Her son had good taste in choosing people.
After a pause, Concubine Beijing said in a clear voice: "Keqing, when Yuanchun becomes pregnant, let Ronger marry you into the mansion."
Concubine Beijing was aware of Keqing's situation. Although she had an unclear relationship with her own son, she was still innocent. Although Keqing came from a poor family, she had a clean family background and could be a good concubine.
Keqing's heart moved when she heard this. Although she was in the palace, she had no status to speak of. To outsiders, she was just a concubine.
At the moment, Concubine Beijing is proposing "marrying" instead of "taking her in". That requires following the normal process, and requires going through the heavenly ceremony and obtaining the engagement letter, having a formal status, and the mistress is not allowed to beat, scold, or sell her at will.
Pursing her lips, Keqing lowered her head and said, "The prince said that he would find a time to "marry" me into his palace in the future."
She still remembered that when she was obsessed with the prince, she suffered that fatal blow. His intention was to elevate her status. She had been waiting for that moment to come. Thinking of this, Keqing's cheeks flushed and her eyes were full of water.
Concubine Beijing chuckled when she heard this. She also said that she was satisfied with Keqing, thinking about her status. She never thought that Shui Rong had already made arrangements. No wonder he did not take the last step. She was really heartbroken.
But then again, facing such a person who made her legs go weak at the mere sight of him, Shui Rong was able to endure it after only a brief taste of him. In this respect, he was many times better than his cheap father.
At this moment, the voice of the maid came from outside, saying, "The prince is back."
Concubine Beijing's eyes lit up slightly as she looked outside the curtain, secretly cursing in her heart that the monkey had the nerve to come back.
Keqing's eyes were as bright as water, and the embroidered shoes on her feet couldn't help but slightly close together. The prince hadn't visited her for some time, and she missed the young prince a little.
Soon, Shui Rong walked in, followed by Yuanchun and his group.
The Dowager Concubine Beijing in the hall looked at the group of beautiful girls with a hint of surprise in her beautiful eyes. She had seen these people before and knew that they were the daughters of the Jia family.
Originally, his son took his daughter-in-law to his mother's house for a simple meal, but he never expected that in the blink of an eye, he brought all his sisters back to the palace. Was he raiding the house?
Shui Rong caught a glimpse of Keqing standing beside him. Her beautiful eyes filled with starlight were so touching that it made his heart move. Well, he would go see Keqing later.
Without thinking too much, Shui Rong greeted first, then moved closer and sat down next to Concubine Beijing, and said, "Mother, I thought the mansion was deserted, so I asked my sisters to stay in the palace for a while, just in time to add some popularity to the mansion."
Everyone calls him brother-in-law, so naturally he is his sister, and there is nothing wrong with calling him a closer name.
Yuanchun looked at the young man's warm face with her starry eyes and felt amused in her heart. The reason why all the sisters were invited to the palace was because of the trouble caused by Yun Yatou and the others, but her husband just had a high-sounding attitude and spoke so eloquently, saying "mother is kind and son is filial".
Concubine Beijing rolled her eyes at Shui Rong in displeasure, but she was very pleased. Her delicate face was smiling as she tilted her eyes to look at Yuanchun and said warmly, "Brother Rong and his wife, please send someone to clean up the room early so that they can have a rest."
Now that everyone is here, we have to make thorough preparations, not to mention that this is Princess Beijing's family.
Baochai, Daiyu, Yingchun and Xichun felt relieved when they saw that Concubine Beijing had a kind attitude. After all, the title of Concubine Beijing was very intimidating, and they were going to someone else's house, so they were naturally a little anxious.
Yuanchun was pleased to see that the Beijing Concubine was kind. After all, these sisters were all from her family. The courtesy shown by the Beijing Concubine also represented her attitude towards her. So Yuanchun smiled and said, "Mother, they have a very close relationship with each other. I am planning to vacate the two courtyards next to Qiu Shuang Zhai and let them live there first. What do you think, mother?"
Concubine Beijing nodded slightly. "Qiu Shuang Zhai" belongs to the East Courtyard. It has just been renovated. Now it can be tidied up casually and a few quilts can be added. It is not troublesome. So Concubine Beijing said to everyone: "Your eldest sister is thoughtful and considerate. It makes people worry-free. In the future, if you need anything in the mansion, let your eldest sister buy it. There is no need to be restrained. Come to my place when you are free. It is also good to relieve boredom."
Shui Rong frowned slightly upon hearing this, and his eyes couldn't help but look at the graceful Baochai. How could he steal the jade and steal the fragrance when they were squeezed together? She wanted to say a few words, but the sisters were not familiar with the palace, and they felt a little safe living together, so she didn't know how to say anything.
Xiangyun was lively to begin with, and at this moment she came closer, saying in a coquettish voice, "It's all right, godmother, as long as you don't mind us being annoying."
Hearing this, Concubine Beijing smiled, stretched out her hand and pulled Xiangyun's chubby little hand, and said with a slightly doting look: "You sisters can be naughty, but you have to take it easy."
A lot of people were gathered around "Qiu Shuang Zhai", and it was convenient to move around, so you can imagine how lively it was.
Xiangyun responded with a smile upon hearing this, patting her slightly rising and falling chest to make a promise.
Below, Daiyu's willow eyes looked at the affectionate "mother and daughter" in the hall, and they seemed to be dotted with stars. It turned out that she was the same as Yun girl!
Chapter 176 Shui Rong: You don’t want our royal family to have few descendants in the future, do you?
It’s time to hold the lamp.
After the courtyard was tidied up, Yuanchun led her people to the East Courtyard. As for Shui Rong, he did not go to join in the fun, but stayed to accompany Concubine Beijing to fulfill his filial piety.
As for the rest, it is inconvenient to tell outsiders.
Concubine Beijing held a teacup in her hand, looked at Shui Rong with a slightly teasing look in her eyes, and said in a clear voice: "What's the matter with the daughter of the Xue family? Tell me about it."
Although Concubine Beijing was 90% sure with her woman's intuition that her son had a close relationship with the daughter of the Xue family, she still wanted to get something from Shui Rong.
Shui Rong raised his eyebrows when he heard this, feeling somewhat surprised. He had never shown his closeness to Baochai in front of others, so why would Concubine Beijing ask about this?
After a pause, Shui Rong felt that he had nothing to hide from Concubine Beijing, so he smiled and replied, "I've seen her twice. She looked pretty and lovely."
There is no need to say much about what comes next. The word "bright and lovely" can reflect the thoughts of a normal man.
Keqing was also in the hall. When she heard what the prince said about the bright and lovely food, she couldn't help but raise her eyebrows and pout her tender red lips. She was thinking about the food in the pot before she finished eating the food in the bowl.
Concubine Beijing was delighted to see that Shui Rong had concealed nothing from her. As a stepmother, she had always been thinking about her stepson, so naturally she would not think that Shui Rong had hidden anything from her. If she thought about it carefully, she loved her daughter-in-law one way or another, but after all, she and Shui Rong were a "family".
With a light laugh, Concubine Beijing said, "But the Xue family's daughter's clothes are all half-new and half-old, which doesn't look festive. Girls' clothes should be exquisite, if not luxurious. The Xue family is an imperial merchant, so they shouldn't be so lonely and inappropriate!"
Previously, Concubine Beijing knew that her son had known her for a long time, so her eyes lingered on the plump Baochai for a moment. She saw that Baochai was dressed in plain clothes and had no ornaments. Someone as plain as this was probably a widow. Now that her son had taken a fancy to her, wouldn't it be unlucky if she still dressed plainly?
Shui Rong had no way to refute what he heard. It was true that Baochai had her reasons for not liking to dress up. Although Baochai was simple, her character was still indifferent and ruthless in her actions. It was normal that she was not liked by others.
But it doesn't matter. It's just a matter of clothing. Shui Rong can train her privately. Baochai is so respectful and understanding that she won't refuse.
So Shui Rong said, "I will remind Sister Bao about this matter, so don't worry, mother."
Hearing this, Concubine Beijing nodded slightly, but didn't say anything. She just looked at Shui Rong calling her "Sister Bao", reached out and touched Shui Rong's forehead, and said unhappily: "The girl from the Xue family is Yuanchun's aunt's cousin, let's see how you explain it to her in the future."
Taking a concubine is one thing, but the other party is Yuanchun's aunt's cousin, and the two have not been married for long. How can I put it? It is unacceptable both morally and logically.
Shui Rong remained silent upon hearing this. To be honest, if it weren't for the marriage granted by Emperor Yongkang, he would have brought Baochai into the mansion long ago if he hadn't felt uncomfortable.
Turning his eyes slightly, Shui Rong looked at Concubine Beijing with a smile, and said softly: "It depends on you, mother. You don't want our palace to have few heirs in the future, do you?"
The Beijing Concubine found it quite funny. She wanted to laugh at the monkey, but she never thought she would be "threatened". She couldn't help but frown and cursed, "Handle your own affairs. I don't care."
Having said that, the issue of the heirs of the palace is indeed a thorn in the heart of Concubine Beijing, but Shui Rong's words made it her own business. Don't forget that he is the master of the Beijing Palace. This monkey doesn't care. Can she count on her? She can't do it alone! Glancing at Keqing who was at peace, Concubine Beijing stood up and said, "I'm a little tired. You can handle your own affairs."
With that, Concubine Beijing left slowly, leaving behind only the remaining soft fragrance.
Shui Rong didn't care about it. He had the upper hand in dealing with Concubine Beijing. A son doesn't love his mother when he grows up, especially when it comes to his stepmother, she must be sensitive in her heart. Now he relies on Concubine Beijing, isn't it to fill the grudge in her heart? Even though she doesn't care about him in her words, she will definitely help him deal with it properly later. Didn't you see the raised corners of Concubine Beijing's lips, which shows that she is happy in her heart.
After Concubine Beijing left, Shui Rong looked at the quiet Keqing, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised. This mother is still very considerate.
They both knew each other well, so there was nothing to be shy about. When Keqing saw Shui Rong looking at her, she raised her bright willow eyes to look him in the face. There seemed to be a hint of resentment in her clear eyes.
I just remembered her now.
Seeing this, Shui Rong said nothing more. He stood up and walked forward. Under the gaze of the beauty, he said softly, "Ke'er, let's go to Tianxiang Tower!"
This simple sentence can express Shuirong's attitude, just like saying "seven days".
Upon hearing this, Keqing's cheeks flushed and her eyelashes trembled slightly. She knew exactly why she returned to Tianxiang Tower at this time. She pursed her lips and responded softly.
Shui Rong chuckled and reached out to hold Keqing's hand, which felt soft and smooth. Even though he had played with it several times, he couldn't let it go. He couldn't help but pinch it gently and led Keqing out.
Keqing felt the warmth in his palm, glared at him with her charming eyes, then blushed, lowered her eyes and followed the boy without saying a word.
In Tianxiang Tower, a plain white gauze dress flew out from the red gauze tent and hung on the maid's screen, accurately covering the pair of expressive and moving eyes.
Shui Rong leaned against the brocade mattress, looking at the beautiful woman in a pink bodice in front of him with a slightly teasing look. He signaled with his eyes without saying a word.
Keqing's cheeks were as red as blood. She used her bare hands to gather up the black hair that had fallen on her shoulders. She pursed her pink lips, lowered her delicate head, and moved slowly, capturing the rock inch by inch.
Shui Rong looked at the erratic tassels on the account and asked, "Ke'er, how is Jing Qing now?"
Shui Rong likes Keqing very much. As the saying goes, love the house and love the dog. He is more concerned about Qin Zhong because both Yuanchun and Keqing have younger brothers with some potential to be "Voldemort", so they are both concerned about their younger brothers.
If you want a beautiful woman to be devoted, you must not please her. This is called hitting the snake at its most vulnerable part.
Keqing heard this and said vaguely, "Jingqing is doing very well in the Imperial College."
Last year, Shui Rong suggested that Qin Zhong study at the Imperial College. At the beginning of this year, Shui Rong had already made arrangements. However, he only knew a little about how Qin Zhong performed after entering the Imperial College. The details still depended on Keqing's attitude.
Now that Keqing had mentioned Qin Zhong, he no longer had to worry, so he continued, "Sister Bao and the others are all in the mansion. When you have free time, don't stay bored in the room. Go and play with them."
It so happened that quite a few people came to the mansion, all of them were talented girls. If they developed some relationships, they might be able to have more girlfriends, which would be better than staying in the house.
Keqing paused after hearing this, raised her sparkling willow eyes to look at the young man, and said angrily: "Your Highness is thinking about Sister Bao, right?"
The prince and the dowager princess didn't avoid her when they talked about her before, so why did they mention sister Bao at this time? Did they treat her as if she didn't exist?
Shui Rong frowned, then smiled silently. What can I say? Girls are usually narrow-minded, how could they turn a blind eye? This was blatant revenge.
But when Shui Rong was not paying attention, a shadow came towards him, which made Shui Rong a little surprised.
Shui Rong couldn't help but smile knowingly, pursed his slightly dry lips, and then said nothing more.
Chapter 177 The Four Sisters of the Jia Family
Prince Beijing's Palace, Fengyi Pavilion.
Shui Rong returned from the Governor's Mansion and walked into the house. The room was filled with jewels and jades gathered in front of the desk, and there was laughter and joy. It was very lively.
Seeing Shui Rong coming back, Yuanchun's eyes lit up slightly. She left her sisters behind and walked forward, saying softly, "The prince is back."
Everyone looked over and smiled knowingly at the eldest sister's joyful lotus steps. Baochai also looked over with her bright almond eyes. She clenched the embroidered handkerchief in her hand, feeling a little confused.
She also wanted to go over, but...
Shui Rong looked at the beautiful woman in front of him, feeling comforted. Who wouldn't want to receive warm greetings from his wife when he returns home? Especially Yuanchun's slightly raised eyebrows, which showed her joy in waiting for his return home.
Shui Rong nodded and said, "Well, I came back after finishing my work. What are you doing together?"
Shui Rong did nothing today. Earlier, Emperor Yongkang had promised to allocate military craftsmen to him to work on the research of firearms. So he went to the Military Equipment Bureau and gathered the allocated military craftsmen together to specialize in the research and development of firearms, thus setting up a full-time department without a regular staff.
As he spoke, Shui Rong looked at the group of golden hairpins, and saw Xichun, who looked like a porcelain doll, standing by with a pen in hand. In front of the desk were rice paper and several plates of pigment and celadon. He asked, "What are you doing?"
Yuanchun covered her mouth and smiled, and replied: "I didn't do anything. It was my fourth sister who was painting, and the "masters" were commenting on it!"
Shui Rong chuckled when he heard this. Although they were all talented people, they could not be considered "masters". It seemed that this was just a joke on Qi Xichun's part.
The four sisters of the Jia family correspond to "music, chess, calligraphy and painting". Yuanchun is an excellent musician, and is not inferior to Du Yuejiao, who is "the best in the capital". Yingchun is an expert in chess, and everyone present is defeated by her. Tanchun is an expert in calligraphy, and Shui Rong is well aware of this. However, he has never seen Xichun's painting level.
Thinking of this, Shui Rong stepped forward and said, "I want to see the painting made by Fourth Sister."
Xichun's slightly chubby face flushed slightly when she heard this, and she said in a rather embarrassed voice, "I just drew it for fun, brother-in-law, please don't laugh at me."
Shui Rong looked at the shy Xichun and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. He remembered that in the original novel, when the Grand View Garden was searched, Xichun gritted her teeth and drove away the innocent maid Ruhua. She was indifferent to other people's tears and sorrow, which was enough to prove that she was cold-hearted and cold-mouthed.
Such a cold-blooded person was now timid, showing the expression that one should have at her age.
But it is not surprising if you think about it carefully. Although Jia Xichun is a lady of the Jia family, she is a girl who lacks love and warmth extremely. She lives in Rongguo Mansion. Unlike Yingchun, Yingchun is Jia Mu's granddaughter. Even if she is a concubine's daughter, she is still a lady of Rongguo Mansion. Although Jia Xichun is a legitimate daughter, she is a lady of Ningguo Mansion and is also a guest in Rongguo Mansion.
Such a child has been able to read people's expressions and mature precociously since childhood. Coupled with the indifference between relatives, Xichun's character is also withdrawn and indifferent.
Xichun is still young, so her temperament has not yet been completely determined. I still remember when Granny Liu visited the Rongguo Mansion for the second time and Lady Jia hosted a banquet for Granny Liu in the Grand View Garden, Granny Liu made a funny move, which made the young Xichun act coquettishly and ask for her belly to be rubbed. It can be seen that she still has a childish nature.