Chapter 75: Difference between concubine and concubine
"It's just that this is too much. I wear it every day and I'm afraid it won't be the same again for a month."
Zhu Ling chuckled softly when he heard this and said: "What is this? My mother's original dowry alone could fill two large cars with these jewelry and hairpin rings. Many of them she gave away without even wearing them. If you have a style you like, just tell me and I’ll definitely find it for you at her place.”
"That's not necessary." Song You'an quickly declined: "I'm very grateful for what Madam has given me. To be honest, I haven't had time to go to a jewelry store in the past few days since I've been in Kyoto. Now it saves me the trouble."< br>
Zhu Ling nodded: "You deserve this. Besides, the things in the jewelry shops in Kyoto can't compare with my mother's things. Just look at what I wear on weekdays."< br>
Zhu Ling was not exaggerating about this. The wooden box was as small as a pendant and was exquisite and gorgeous. You could tell at a glance that it was a high-quality item.
The two of them were walking out of the yard while talking, and they suddenly almost bumped into each other at the door.
The other party was a woman who looked about thirty years old, and a boy who looked about seventeen or eighteen years old.
The boy was handsome and fair-skinned, but his figure was too thin, making him look extremely weak.
When they saw Zhu Ling, they both stopped and saluted and called: "Second sister, hello."
"Second Miss, Ann."
The original smile on Zhu Ling's face faded slightly, and she looked at the two of them and asked in a calm tone: "Third brother, Aunt Qiu, what are you doing here?"
Aunt Qiu lowered her head slightly when she heard this, and said in a respectful tone: "Let's talk to Madam about something important."
Zhu Ling frowned slightly, looking back and forth between the two of them, and then spoke again: "Mom has been tired all the way, and she has just rested. What important matter does Aunt Qiu and Third Brother have? Why don't we wait until later? Time comes again? ”
Aunt Qiu and Zhu Lin couldn't help but look at each other, but Zhu Ling had already said that, so they couldn't force themselves to go in.
Aunt Qiu nodded, turned around to leave, and caught a glimpse of the wooden box in Song You'an's hand.
With just one glance, she remembered that this wooden box was used as a fashion gift for her wife when she entered the house. She carefully selected the gems on it one by one.
Why did it appear in other people's hands at this time?
She subconsciously raised her eyes to look at Song You'an, and when she saw his face was angry, she couldn't help but ask: "Who is this girl?"
Song You'an nodded gently and responded: "Song You'an, a folk girl, has met Aunt Qiu."
The name is also very interesting. As a concubine, except for the things in her own house, she knows very little about other people and things in the outside world. Even when she knew it, it was only after the limelight had passed, and it took a long time for it to reach her ears. of.
"Miss Song is my friend. It doesn't matter if Aunt Qiu doesn't recognize her." Zhu Ling said as if he suddenly remembered something, and added: "I remember that I ordered two cakes to be sent to Third Brother and Aunt Qiu a few days ago. Did Aunt Qiu eat it?”
cake?
Aunt Qiu was stunned for a moment and realized that it must be that beautiful and delicious little dessert.
She smiled and nodded: "Eat it, it's very delicious."
Zhu Ling raised her eyebrows proudly and looked at Song You'an: "Well, that's what Miss Song made. It can be sold for ten taels of silver a piece in Beijing, but it's still priceless."
Aunt Qiu was stunned, but Zhu Lin reacted faster and said quickly: "Miss Song is so good at her craftsmanship. I have eaten it once and I will remember it until now. The taste will never be forgotten." Song You'an could already see what was in front of her. The two were the concubines and concubines of the Marquis of Fuyang, but she was not sure what their relationship was with Zhu Ling.
There are differences between concubines and concubines in high-ranking families, so Song You'an did not show too much enthusiasm towards them in front of Zhu Ling.
Therefore, she only responded with a smile to Zhu Lin's compliments.
"Then let's go back first and come back later or tomorrow to say hello to Madam." Aunt Qiu said, bowing to Zhu Ling again, and left with Zhu Lin.
When the two of them walked away, before Song Youan could ask Zhu Ling, she started to explain: "Aunt Qiu is my father's only concubine. I heard from my mother that when my grandmother had her birthday, Aunt Qiu was a musician hired from outside. The leader of the group, he played the pipa so well that he took away my father’s soul with just one song.”
"Later she was carried into the house through the back door and became the aunt of our Fuyang Marquis Mansion. She gave birth to two sons for my father in these years, and she was able to establish herself. However, she was quite obedient, and my mother had never been I feel so sorry for her.”
Song You'an nodded understandingly, and then heard Zhu Ling say again: "My third brother failed the imperial examination this year, which made my father very unhappy. He had no talent since he was a child, and he relied on rote learning. With my second brother as a foil, he looks even more useless.”
"Aunt Qiu's visit today must be to disturb mother about his marriage. But for a person with mediocre qualifications like him, even if he comes from my Fuyang Marquis House, no girl may be able to like him."< br>
"The Marquis has a high position. Even if he is a concubine, someone should be willing to betroth his daughter to him, right?" Song You'an asked casually.
Zhu Ling sneered, shook his head and said: "That's not necessarily the case. Common people also have dignity and inferiority. The background of common people from serious families is different. But Aunt Qiu is a musician, so that's another matter."
"I am not outstanding, and my mother is a musician, so serious people would be afraid of marrying a concubine."
The ancients cared most about family background and appearance. Even concubines were looked down upon. Some people would feel inferior for their entire lives because of their status.
Song You'an couldn't understand the nature and couldn't empathize with it, but this feudal system that divided people into three, six or nine grades was the dregs of history to her, and she really couldn't agree with it.
After leaving the Fuyang Marquis' Mansion, she held the small wooden box and went to Su Guogong's Mansion.
"Meet our lady?"
The young man who opened the door saw Song Youan's face was angry, and seeing that she was holding a wooden box in her hand, he subconsciously thought that she was here to woo the eldest lady, and his expression was not friendly.
Song You was not annoyed and just said: "My surname is Song. Miss Li left a message for me. Please take a look."
After saying that, she handed over Li Chuyou's post. The other party took a look at it doubtfully and found that it was really the lady's post.
He glanced at Song You'an again, then slowly opened the door and said, "My lady is busy with something important right now and can't see you right away. Please follow me to the side hall to wait."
Song Youan nodded and followed the young man into the house.
A few gray-faced little heads poked out of the alley not far away, blinking and looking at the vermilion gate of Duke Su's Mansion.
"Brother Bao, why does the girl have to walk around the houses of these officials every time she goes out? What is she doing?" one of the little beggars asked.
Yuan Bao shook his head: "I didn't know that the girl must be some big shot. She stayed in Fuyang Marquis' Mansion for several hours today, and now she has entered Su Guo Gong's Mansion. How can ordinary people go to these places casually?"< br>