A maid came in from outside and whispered something into Qiu Ye's ear.

Qiuye nodded, came to her side, and looked at Master Sun who was still eating at the table.

Zhao Yingyue understood and spoke in a long voice, pretending to be an elder: "You can go back."

"What?" Zhao Heming thought for a while and sneered coldly: "Are you afraid that I will snatch the cake? Third uncle is really stingy."

Zhao Yingyue pretended to fight again: "What nonsense are you talking about again!"

Zhao Heming jumped up: "Hit me again. Just wait. When I grow up for another two years, I will definitely be able to beat you."

Zhao Yingyue laughed angrily again: "Okay, I'll wait! You, a guy who only knows how to eat and doesn't study hard and practice martial arts, will still not be able to beat me in ten or twenty years."

Xia He came in with a basin of freshly baked steamed cakes. The previous basin had red dates on it. This basin had candied dates with the date stones removed. After being steamed, they became translucent and looked more delicious.

Zhao Heming rolled his eyes: "Then I'm leaving!" He grabbed all the pots and rushed out of the door.

"Ah~" The accident made Xia He couldn't help shouting, and he turned to look innocently: "Miss, that's all the steamed cakes, why don't I go get some more jujube cakes, which I originally wanted to prepare."

Pastries will be prepared in the house every day to entertain guests and in case she is hungry. She can make them before eating. If she can't finish them on the same day, they will be shared with the servants in the evening.

Xining smiled and waved his hand: "Bring it here."

After Xia He left, Xining asked, "What happened just now?"

Qiuye looked at Dongmei who was still in the room. Before the young lady could tell Dongmei to leave, she said, "Second young lady is out."

Xining scoffed coldly. He was just encouraged by Aunt Xu yesterday, and he was in a hurry to go out today.

Zhao Yingyue frowned: "It seems that I can't be idle anymore."

Xining said calmly: "Don't think too much about it now, maybe I will go out to buy a dowry."

Zhao Yingyue's face darkened: "I hope so."

After taking a nap in the afternoon, Qiuye brought another piece of paper. On it was written what Zhao Yingxue did today and who he met.

Zhao Yingxue went to Moxiangzhai, stayed there for a long time, and met the third prince. The third prince bought plum blossom ink and gave it to her.

"Meihuamo?" Xining raised an eyebrow.

Qiuye hurriedly said: "This is a new product just released by Moxiangzhai. It is in the shape of a plum blossom. It also contains plum blossom fragrance. After grinding it, it reveals a vague fragrance of plum blossom. Each piece costs fifty taels of silver. "

Fifty taels of silver... She began to think thoughtfully.

Zhao Yingxue's monthly silver is five taels. This is not too little. A young lady from an ordinary official family usually earns two taels of monthly silver. But in the Zhou Mansion, where all ministers are ministers, the three concubines only have one tael of monthly silver, which is not even enough. Winter plums, autumn leaves and others.

The owner of the body is different. Although the monthly silver is only five taels, if you fancy something good when you go out, after buying it, the store owner will take the note to the house to get the silver, and Mrs. Zhao will make up for it.

Aunt Xu will also subsidize Zhao Yingxue, but after all, as an aunt, the money in her hands is far less than that of Mrs. Zhao who is the master of the house. A piece of ink at fifty taels is indeed a bit high.

It can be imagined that Zhao Yingxue liked this piece of ink, but was short of money, so he stayed in the shop for a long time. If it weren't for its good looks, the shopkeeper would probably be impatient.

"It happened that" the third prince passed by and saw that she liked it, so he bought it and gave it to her.

You can all imagine that Zhao Yingxue blushed and felt heart-beating and shy after receiving the ink, which must have given the man a sense of accomplishment.

Dongmei on the side looked disdainful: "She just accepted it like this?"

Don't say fifty taels, even five hundred taels, or five thousand taels. It is always inappropriate for a girl who has not left the palace to accept a man's things.

Even ink, unlike clothes and jewelry, is something given by a man.

Xining was indifferent: "You can return the favor."

Dongmei was even more disdainful: "She doesn't have any money. I guess she doesn't know how to draw a picture. She must have embroidered a purse sweat towel and sent it as a gift in return. Yan Hong was right.

"

That's exactly what he planned to do. Giving something he embroidered personally showed his feelings. Even if the third prince didn't mean it, it was still interesting.

The rules of the world are always changing. It seems disgraceful, but if she can really achieve her goal and make her the concubine of the third prince, even if everyone knows about it, the private acceptance will become a good talk among talented people and beautiful ladies.

"As long as you know, keep your mouth shut. I don't want to hear anyone in the house gossiping about it." Xining asked Qiuye to burn the paper and closed his eyes to rest.

"I know, even if she is shameless, I still have to take care of the young lady's reputation." Dongmei stopped after saying this.

Even if a concubine in the house does something to get along with a man, the reputation of other women in the house will be affected. When they go outside, they will be pointed out openly and secretly, and they will laugh at the family's irregularities.

The marriage meeting with the Zhou family was decided before the imperial edict was issued. It was obvious that in order to avoid the marriage, Zhao Yingxue planned to take a desperate risk.

Zhao Yingxue will definitely make another move soon, otherwise it will be too late.

The secret guard soon sent news that the third prince will go out tomorrow. After all, the capital is very lively during the Chinese New Year, and before the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, you can go shopping without any excuse. After the festival, you have to find some excuse to go out, otherwise you will be

Speaking of which, Tiantian only knows how to have fun and act like a dandy.

Other princes can play, but princes who want to compete for the throne must set an example and restrain themselves.

On the second day, Zhao Yingxue did not go out. The mandarin duck beside him went out on the pretext of buying rouge. Naturally, he met the third prince on the way and exchanged several words with him.

Even though the secret guards were far away, they could still read their lips and write down what they said.

As expected, Zhao Yingxue was restless. Yuanyang signaled that the lady was very happy after receiving the ink, and placed the ink in the most conspicuous place on the table, but it was of no use. He was still thinking of returning the gift, and happened to meet the third prince. Tomorrow, Zhao Yingxue will follow Aunt Xu to receive the ink.

Burning incense at Orchid Temple.

Burning incense at Nalan Temple? Xining narrowed his eyes.

Nalan Temple is located in the suburbs of Beijing and is relatively remote. During the Chinese New Year, many people go to the temple to offer incense and pray for blessings. If you want to be pure, there is nothing wrong with going to a place with few people.

It's easy to get things done when there are few people. It's less than three days before the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. After the fifteenth day, the Zhou family will send someone to make an appointment. Although it can be redeemed at that time, if you agree to someone and then break off the engagement, it will have some impact on your reputation.

.

What's more, the person who is going to be the prince's concubine is a woman who was originally engaged. If this news spreads, there will be an uproar. Officials who value face most cannot afford to lose face like this.

Xining opened his eyes: "Has the master gone out?"

Qiuye didn't answer yet. So Xining got out of bed and went to Dingbeiyuan.

When we arrived outside the garden, we learned that General Zhao was in the study, so we went there instead.

There was a guard guarding the door, but when he saw it was her, he shouted and said hello without stopping her.

Xining walked in directly without any status as a guard of honor. After waiting outside the door for a while, he opened the door and went in.

After entering, he saw a man dressed as a guard inside. General Zhao was sitting behind the desk with a sullen face.

"I know, let's go out." General Zhao dismissed the guard. The guard closed the door when he left.
Chapter completed!