Chapter 13 Traces, Flower hairpin is gone

He Ruiyuan is the main house in the inner courtyard of the Duke of Wei, which is located on the central axis. It was originally the place where the eldest princess lived. Since the death of the old prince, the eldest princess has moved to the Yuanying Hall behind. What lives here is naturally the Duke of Wei and the wife Huang.

It is still a hanging flower door carved by green columns. Inside, there are spacious white stone paths. The courtyard is located in all directions, and there are no strange flowers and grass planted. There are only four tall and strong green banyan trees, occupying the four corners of the yard. On both sides are corridors. On both sides, there is a row of five bright green brick houses. The lintel of the main hall hangs a large plaque. The four words "Mountain Scenery" in the dragon flying phoenix dance, but it was the ink treasure of Emperor Gaozu, the founding monarch of the Dalong Dynasty, which was given by Su Ting, the head of the family, when he was the Duke of Wei.

The hall behind the main hall is connected to the back/court, and a flower hall on the left is the place where the Duke's wife Huang used to receive the steward servant. At this time, she was sitting on a Xiangfei's couch, slightly frowning, as if she was looking intently at the account book in her hand.

On the side of Jindunzi, Mother Yang sat on the edge half of her body. Seeing that Huang was speechless for a long time, she turned her eyelids slightly and looked at her expression, and smiled: "In March, she made summer clothes for the third-class servants in the house. She bought 50 thin silk, only 37, and there were still 13 in the library of the needle room, but At this time, he wanted to make the table cover used for the Taifu's birthday banquet, but Luo everyone reported to buy it again. The old slave went to check the warehouse in person and saw that there were only two at the bottom of the box, and eleven of them actually disappeared, but they were clearly still written on the account. Luo's only said that there was a waste when making summer costume, and he deliberately reported the wrong number for a moment, but so After all, how can it be possible to make a set of summers?

Huang's eyebrows tightened a little: "What M Mother means..."

"Today, the old slave carefully inspected the inventory. Not only fine silk, but also silk and silk yarn have a lot of losses. Luo everyone only pushed up the loss. She only took care of the needle and thread room for a year. It should be noted that at that time, the stewender of the Yao Wu family had never had such an amazing loss."

"So, it turned out that everyone's black heart stained these clothes!" Huang sat up and patted the account book on the bed: "I just thought she was a sensible person. After Yao Wu's family went, she gave her the sewing room. Unexpectedly, she was greedy. She was Mother Song's in-laws. She used to be a little decent, but she didn't expect to do such sneaky ugly things."

Mama Yang quickly advised: "The Duke's wife is angry, but Luo's bite to death is a loss, and the old slave can't hold her evidence."

"If this matter is made public, it will also hurt Mother Song's face, and even the old lady will be ashamed of her face. But if she ignores it, won't she condone such unruly slaves again? Maybe how arrogant she will be in the future." Huang was very embarrassed and discussed with Mother Yang: "What good ideas do you have?"

"It is impossible not to pay attention to it, but it is not appropriate to make a big deal if there is no evidence, but in any case, what is on this account is not in the library. As the stew of the needle room, Luo everyone can't escape the responsibility of improper management. Madam can do this and blame her for making up for the deficit without her. It's a face, and it's a warning to others. Mother Yang did her duty and said a compromise.

Huang thought about it carefully and nodded: "That's it. Mother, don't say it first. Let me speak in front of the old lady first, so as to teach Mother Song to be prepared."

"It's just the candidate for the needle room manager..." Mother Yang asked again.

"I just look at your eldest daughter-in-law. She is not only cheerful and neat, but also a careful person, and can be the stew of the sewing room." Huang laughed.

"She is still young, how can she be such an important task?" Mother Yang refused.

"Is she afraid that her daughter-in-law will suffer? Although she is a little younger, her work in the flower and grass house has also been well organized in the past two years. Which of the stewards everywhere doesn't praise her. Several begged in front of me and wants this capable person to help her. Why should she be modest? Huang made up his mind and didn't let M Mother Yang refuse: "That's it. Mourna will talk to her first and let her share my worries after dealing with everyone."

The words had been said to this extent, and Mother Yang had no choice but to respond. Just as she was about to leave, she heard Bai Lu say that Mother Song had arrived.

"Quickly, please." Huang hurriedly ordered Bai Lu: "Make a pot of West Lake Longjing, which was rewarded by the former lady, and let the two M Mothers taste it."

M Mother Yang hurriedly thanked the grace, but refused that she still had something to do. She said goodbye and met Mother Song in the hall. The two just nodded slightly, not cold, and even more polite, so they passed by.

Although they were all close maids around the eldest princess, their nature was a little conflicting. Mother Song was not used to Mother Yang's incompetent hypocriticalness. Mother Yang also hated Mother Song's arrogance and domineering. Therefore, although they had known each other for decades, they were only nodded.

Mama Song walked forward with her head held high. It was not until outside the flower hall that she put on an attentive smile on her face - restraining her domineering in front of her master was the principle that she had always followed. She was always like this to the second wife, Li, who was born in a dilapidated family, let alone Huang, who was second only to the eldest princess in the backyard.

When she heard that Huang was going to entertain her for tea, Mother Song quickly refused with a smile: "It was originally a blessing for the old slave to enjoy tea, but this time she came because the princess invited her to Yuanying Hall and did not dare to delay."

Hearing that the eldest princess was invited, Huang quickly stood up. Naturally, she would not leave Mother Song to taste tea, nor did she let Bailu follow her. She only walked all the way outside Heruiyuan, and did not ask why. Instead, she talked about Luo everyone: "That day, M mother recommended her to manage the sewing room, and I didn't pay much attention to it. I just thought she was also the old man in the house. Naturally, there will be no mistakes. It's really embarrassing to have done such a thing.

Speaking of this, he slightly frowned his green eyebrows and tilted his eyes to the corners of his eyes. Seeing the rare embarrasment of Mother Song, who was always lonely, he smiled softly: "If it hadn't been for Mother Yang's carefulness, I would have been kept in the dark, but everyone's righteously said it was a loss... M Mother thought about it, don't say that I didn't believe it. Even those servants who have never worked in the sewing room do not believe that there will be more than ten fine losses when doing Xiashang once. If I find this first, I have to knock it in privately, and at most let everyone find the deficit. In the future, I can't do it again. It's also regarded as M mother's feelings, but I didn't notice it first."

Hearing this, Mother Song couldn't laugh anymore. First, she scolded her in-laws and whispered, "She should have been punished severely for doing such ugly things, but in the end, she was also an old man who had been poor in the house for half her life. She begged to save some face for her."

Huang sighed: "This is natural... What I mean, not to mention punishment, just let her make up for this deficit on the grounds of Luo's poor management. She can't keep the needleroom. Let's rest for a while, wait for the people below to forget this matter, and then find some light errand for her to lead. Mourning thinks it's okay. When?"

Mama Song claimed to thank him: "It's all your kindness. Madam, don't worry, the old slave will warn everyone to return the benefits of these days of embezzling and think about it behind closed doors."

"M Mother has always been reasonable, and I don't have any worries." Huang squeezed her lips and smiled, "Only Mother Yang knows this matter, and she has to complain in front of the old lady first, so that the old lady won't hear about it elsewhere, and I'm afraid she will be blamed for hiding it from her old man."

"Thank you for reminding me that the old slave saved it." Mother Song bent down to thank her, glanced around again, and hurriedly came to Huang's ear: "Today, in the Fufeng Hall, Sanniang said that Wu Niang had killed her biological mother and was a natural nemesis. The princess was very annoyed when she learned of it. She had asked someone to invite San Niang and Er Niang, and asked the old slave to invite his wife. It seems that she wanted to Punish the two little women.

Sure enough, it's because of this!

Huang sighed helplessly: "Sanniang has a strong temperament, and she has always stumped with Wu Niang. She is older and should have let her sister, so I punished her again and again. Unexpectedly, she not only did she change repeatedly, but she is even so aggressive. If I am too strict, I'm afraid that she will think I am in a dilemma, and even People also think that I treat my concubine's daughter harshly, and the prince spoils Aunt Cui. He treats Sanniang more than Ba Niang, and even I can't be too strict with her.

"That's not the reason... But the princess has always spoiled Wu Niang. When she heard that she was wronged, she was naturally angry."

"Wuniang is also pitiful. My sister suffered a long time and went there early. She can't even remember her biological mother's appearance. Today, she is met by such bad words. It's rare for her to be sensible and refute her with reason. Instead, she doesn't mess with Sanniang as usual. Not to mention Mrs., I also feel sorry for her." Huang raised her hand and stroked her forehead: "Since the old lady opened her mouth, I'm afraid that she will severely punish San Niang this time. Even if she holds a grudge against me, there is nothing she can do."

Mother Song turned her eyes and had a question in her heart, but she just smiled and said, "How can Sanniang not know your difficulties? She has always respected you very much. Even if she is wronged, how can she blame your wife?"

"I hope so." Huang smiled bitterly. Seeing that he had arrived at the fake stonehenge, he stopped talking and entered Yuanying Hall silently with Mother Song.

Between Yuanying Hall and Ruiyuan, there are still several courtyards, shaded by locust flowers, facing a courtyard to the west of the acacia shade. The courtyard is small, with an arch moon stone door, and the door is covered with gravel paths, winding between more than ten magnolia trees. There are clumps of green and slender orchids on both sides of the path, and wax-colored pis are drawn from among them. Bathed in the brilliant glow, Tingting Shushu, as if she wanted to speak and was still shy.

This is Zhi Lanxuan, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Wei, Su Yichen, who lives.

Unlike most buildings in the house, Zhilanxuan is a raised two-story sandalwood building, and Yichen's bedroom is located in the middle of the building. At this time, not only the blue screen windows are tightly closed, but there is no gap between the two carved doors.

The boxes and cages in the room are all open, but all the small cases are randomly piled up with colorful clothes and jade ornaments, or pen, ink, paper and inkstone. Outside the embroidered screen of Wumei fishing, only a jade-colored single dress leaned on the beauty's couch weakly, with clouds between her eyebrows, and a pair of amber-like eyes are full of helplessness.

Yichen and the son of Duke Wei are twins, and the facial features of the brother and sister are very similar, but for the woman, the well-defined cheeks and sharp lips are not soft enough, making her look slightly serious.

Looking at the trembling maid who knelt on the ground, Yichen rubbed her eyebrows angrily.

Only Yuzhi, who was a close waiter, was still standing aside. Seeing that the master seemed to be tired, she fell down and whispered, "After asking for a whole day, I couldn't find the orchid hairpin. Mo Ru still reported to the Duke's wife, find a powerful sister and interrogate them."

Although the volume was not high, it was heard clearly by the maids, especially the maid who was responsible for taking care of the pin ring, couldn't help shivering and didn't have time to think about it. She quickly bowed her head and pleaded: "Lady, don't ask Madam. If so, I will be the first to be kicked out."

Yuzhi sneered: "You also know that it is the first crime. The orchid hairpin is a gift given by the lady to the aunt. Several times, she told you to take it carefully, but it was like a wing and disappeared out of thin air. The important thing is that the hairpin is still engraved with the aunt's name. If it flows out of the house and falls into the hands of others. Li... Even if you peel off your skin, it's still light."

This not only made Lahui's face pale, but also the blood on Ye Chen's face disappeared.

"The maidservant was really wronged. It was clear that she put the hairpin alone. In the jasper box, the old lady cherished her heart and did not use it often. The maidservant did not find out when she lost it... Even if the maidservant had great courage, she did not dare to guard and steal it." Lahui panicked, walked a few steps with tears in her knees, and kowtowed again: "Madam, I'm waiting beside you when I'm young. After so many years of love... How can I be such an ungrateful person, how can I steal your hairpin?"

Seeing that Lahui cried with pear blossoms and rain, it was very pitiful. Yichen also sighed, "Why don't I know what kind of person you are, but those who can get in and out of this room must be greedy among you."

So the maids kowtowed, all claiming that they had been wronged.

"Madam, Sister Yuzhi searched all over the cages of slaves and maidservants. Where did she see the stolen goods?"

"Madam, I will never dare to have such a rude thought."

"Madam..."

The messy sound of crying and complaining in the room made Yichen more upset and kept rubbing his eyebrows.

"I don't know when the hairpin was stolen. If someone gets it, it will definitely be transferred to the private collection. How can I find it as soon as I search it?" Yuzhi gave a fierce look at the maids: "If you can't find them, you will definitely go back to the Duke's wife and sell all of you to people."

Someone is not convinced: "Isn't you in charge of what's going on in this yard? If we don't get away with such things, can you do it alone?"

Yuzhi's authority was challenged. For a moment, she was furious. As soon as she rolled up her sleeves, she rushed to the maid who returned her mouth and wanted to tear her mouth: "What a sharp tooth. I have to see if you have a flower on your tongue?"

"Okay!" Seeing that the noise was really bad, Yichen slapped the case and got up: "I saw my mother busy with my grandmother's birthday banquet recently, and I don't want to bother her about this, but I can't just give up like this. The orchid hairpin will not fly out by itself with wings. It must be that there is a thief in my yard. You two pay attention to each other, if It's good to find out that everything is going well. If I still don't see my grandmother after her birthday... I have no choice but to beg my mother to make the decision!"

Seeing that the maids stopped crying, Ichen slowed down a little: "You guys have to close your mouths. If you spread it out and reach my mother's ears, I can't save you."

The maids were temporarily relieved and looked at each other again with doubts and measurement. Only Yuzhi was very unwilling. After the maids retreated, she still said beside Yichen: "The lady is soft-hearted. That's the gift given to you by your wife. How can you easily forgive them?"

"The servants in this courtyard were painstakingly selected by their mother. Now that such an ugly thing has happened, it will also hurt my mother's face. Besides, if you kick them out, it will inevitablylei innocent people. Although they are servants, they have grown up with me after all, and they have been in love for so many years..." Yichen sighed and Knowingly, he went to rub his eyebrows again: "I just hope that the thief can wake up after this beating and quietly return the hairpin, and save a lot of waste."

Yuzhi was not so optimistic. She had the intention to persuade her a few more words, but saw that Yi Chen had closed her eyes lazily, so she had to swallow the words back and pack up those boxes and cages with heavy thoughts.

The steward, Bai Shi, sued for a three-month leave because her daughter-in-law was about to give birth. The big and small affairs in Zhilanxuan had to be taken care of first, but the disappearance of the jade hairpin was in her hand. The old lady was soft-hearted and intended to hide the matter for the time being, but if the hairpin could not be found again... When it came out in the future, the Duke Won't your wife blame her as a steward? What's worse is that the hairpin is still engraved with the daughter's daughter. If it falls into the hands of a different person outside...

Yuzhi couldn't help shivering, turned around and took a look at Yi Chen, who was taking a nap with her eyebrows slightly. She secretly made up her mind to discuss with her own mother in private and find a better way first.

So he retreated gently, ordered several lingering maids to wait on Haochen and found the big kitchen by himself.

Yuzhi is a son of the family. Gong Liu works in the porter. Gong Liu's family is a job in the big kitchen. At this time, when he was the busiest time, as soon as he saw his daughter, he pulled out. The mother and daughter stood behind the banyan tree on the side of the yard and talked. Hearing Yuzhiyu talk about what happened in Zhilanyuan, Gong Liu's family was also a little panicked for a moment and thought about it for a while before saying, "Since the eldest lady doesn't want to make a sound for the time being, if you tell the Duke's wife that she is also suspected of betraying the master, she will be afraid that the eldest wife will not be treated in the future, but if you ignore it, in case something big trouble, you can't run away. A mismanaged responsibility, alas, this matter is really tricky.

Yuzhi almost cried, and she couldn't help gritting her teeth again: "I don't know which cheap hoof it is..."

"At the beginning, I begged Mother Song to arrange you with the lady, or we will send her a message first. If something is revealed in the future, M Mother Song can also say a few words to you." Gong Liu's family quickly comforted their daughter: "There are only a few people in the yard, and there are fewer people who can enter the master's room. If Mother Song is willing to intervene, she may be able to force the thief to appear. This is the best. In case she still can't find a hairpin, Mother Song has a way to save you. Don't worry too much, just serve the master well."

Just in case, Gong Liu's family finally took care of everything and decided to let their daughter hold back first, let herself make some money and money, stay for two days, and then go to ask Mother Song in person.