Received shocking news

  I really don't have a good impression of this aunt's wife, and I even feel unspeakable disgust. I really don't want to see her again. It has been more than half a year since we met on New Year's Day last time. I heard that she has started taking over the family business and helping Mrs. Xiang manage the shop. Although Tong Qingwen is not likable, she still has a knack for doing business. After taking over the shop, the number of customers increased by more than double. Mrs. Xiang finally felt at ease and let her take care of the shop's business.

  For women who can do business, I have always admired them. In my previous life, I also read a lot of cross-dressing novels and it seemed that only cross-dressing women had the talent to do business. When they came to ancient times, they were all able to mix well with the wind and water, not only could they let good men fall in love with them, but they could also manage their careers. I thought carefully, I should have also been influenced by the light of cross-dressing women, married a not-so-bad man, and lived a life of luxury. However, my abilities are limited, except for trying to be a good mother, being a virtuous wife, giving birth to a bunch of children, taking charge of passing on the family line as a traditional housewife, in the field of business, I have never been involved in it before, nor am I good at it.

  So Tong Qingwen was able to revive her husband's business at the age of 20, which is truly admirable.

  Because Ruqing is pregnant and has a big belly, anyone with a conscience knows that they cannot overwork the mistress. Therefore, Tong Qingwen personally came to Longxianju to visit and ask about Ruqing's well-being.

  "It's been more than half a year since we last saw each other on New Year's Day. How have you been, Aunt?"

  Tong Qingwen wore a sky-blue jacket with a high collar and a hundred-pleated skirt in lake green color, her hair was combed into a neat and intricate horseback bun, the entire set of jade-made jewelry including earrings shone brightly, just looking at this clean and noble outfit, it's clear that the rumors are true, she indeed made a fortune from business.

  "Thanks to my younger siblings' good fortune, it's okay. Don't be polite, little brother and sister, just sit anywhere." Then he pointed to the kang beside him.

  On the long kang, a beautiful sky blue ice silk soft cushion was laid out. Qing Yun and Tong Qingyun sat on either side, waiting for the maid to serve tea. After the maid had served the tea, Tong Qingyun picked up her teacup and took a slight sip, saying: "This tea is not bad, but unfortunately it's not steeped long enough, the tea leaves are still floating."

  Chen Xiang couldn't help but darken half of his face, and Tong Qingwen turned her head to Ruqing and said, "What kind of tea is this?"

  As she gazed longingly at Shen Xiang, Shen Xiang replied, "Convey this to Young Mistress Bao: this is the eyebrow-shaped tea of Shu."

  Tong Qing's eyebrows rose in displeasure, "What kind of tea doesn't the Wang estate have? Yet you serve me this unremarkable one. Is it because you think my status is too low to deserve good tea?" As she spoke, she clinked the teacup onto the ebony table with a loud "clunk".

  "Is the tea not good, cousin? Emei has many medicinal herbs, and its tea is especially good, unlike any other in the world. This tea has a great flavor, with a white color in the second year and green in the first year, and it's always consistent. This Emei Qing is very famous in Shu, produced from the high mountains of Emei Mountain, with a fresh and mellow taste, sweet aftertaste, and a refreshing aroma that quenches thirst. In autumn, when the air is dry and cool, people often feel dryness and discomfort in their skin, nose, and throat, which is called 'autumn dryness'. At this time, it's best to drink clear tea, with a green color and a fragrant quality, neither cold nor hot. Drinking it in autumn can moisturize the skin, relieve dryness, promote body fluids, moisten the lungs, clear heat, and cool the blood, which is very beneficial for health during the golden autumn season. Although it's already deep autumn, the weather is still dry, so this Emei Qing has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying. You two came with a lot of dry air on you, that's why I had the maid serve clear tea. Whether or not this tea is high-end is secondary; what's most important is that it's best suited for autumn. If you still don't like it, then you'll be hurting the good intentions of the maid below."

  Tong Qingwen's face turned red and then black, she was a merchant's daughter, being able to recognize characters was already quite good, how could she understand those flowery words? It seemed that after hearing her say this, the Emei Qing tea was indeed a good tea, and it also understood the way of nourishing life. Unfortunately, she had eyes but didn't recognize Mount Tai and made a big joke, but she didn't want to admit that she had shallow knowledge, only stubbornly saying: "Hearing Sister Biao say this, this tea is indeed good tea, unfortunately, I'm a rough person, although I'm my parents' only legitimate daughter, I still can't get used to drinking this kind of tea. Can only disappoint Sister Biao's good intentions." She stared at Ruqing, biting the words "legitimate daughter" very heavily.

  Yu Xiang, bring better tea leaves. Oh, take the ones I placed in the purple sandalwood carved cabinet with the Fu Shou pattern, on the left side of the bottom drawer, to entertain the "di" younger madam properly.

  Yu Xia's face was momentarily dazed, but Tong Qingwen, who had been carefully paying attention, quickly picked up a tea set and brought out the tea. It was made with the new 'Double Fish Bringing Good Fortune' Ru kiln ceramic tea bowl, and the pink tea bowl filled with brown tea leaves was respectfully placed on the low table next to Tong Qingwen.

  She smiled faintly as she stroked her belly, explaining: "This tea looks a bit rough, but it's actually very hard to come by. It's called 'Wu Ping Wei', and its origin is from a person named Wu Ping Wei who discovered this tea, hence the name. It's produced in the mountains of Shu, specifically on peaks over a thousand feet high, where the water from the Arrogant Valley washes away the impurities, and then it's brewed with short branches over low heat. Finally, it's handed over to the Short-Shallow Guards, who seal it with special 'dog-eye' stamps before sending it to the capital, where it's carefully stored in a secure location." She smiled warmly at Tong Qingwen, who was savoring the "Wu Ping Wei" tea with great relish, glancing at the maids on either side before smiling again like spring breeze: "This tea is extremely rare, only three or two catties are produced each year, not even the palace has it. If you like it, I can get some more for your aunt to try."

  Tong Qingwen was bewildered by the numerous terms, such as "Wu Ping flavor", "Di Xi mountain", "Ao Man valley", and "Duan Zhi branch". She had never even heard of them before. There were also phrases like "sealed with a cork" and "stored in a human-shaped container". The way Ruo Qing spoke was so detailed and fluent, it seemed that this tea must be truly exceptional. Although she wasn't much of a tea drinker herself, judging from Ruo Qing's tone and the solemnity he showed earlier, this tea should be extremely rare and precious.

  Tong Qingwen took several big sips of tea, feeling more and more that this was indeed good tea. She couldn't stop praising it: "Rich aroma in the mouth, refreshing the heart and spleen, truly a fine tea."

  With a gentle smile, "Since you like it, take some back and let your aunt try it." Then he instructed Chen Xiang to pack some and send them to Bi Zhen's house.

  Tong Qingwen originally wanted to refuse, but seeing Chen Xiang take the order and leave quickly, she had no choice but to give up. After thanking him, she returned to the main topic.

  "Look at Sister-in-law's belly, it looks quite big, should be giving birth soon?"

  She stroked her belly and smiled: "Yes, it's already full moon. The midwife said that the belly has dropped, and it will be in these two days."

  Tong Qing looked thoughtfully at Ruo Yu's belly, "Sister-in-law's belly looks quite sturdy from the back, it doesn't show at all, I suppose it's a high-waisted one."

  "I hope so." As she received the duck congee from her mother, Zhou, she took a spoon and slowly blew on it while eating elegantly.

  Tong Qingwen glanced at the duck congee with a hint of emotion, and saw a maid in a jade-colored dress with golden embroidery handing her a bowl of honey-colored rice porridge. Although she wasn't hungry, she thought that everything in the Wang mansion was precious, so she took it and ate two mouthfuls casually. She found the rice porridge sweet and soft, smooth and slippery, and before she knew it, she had finished the whole bowl.

  Looking at the empty bowl, her face turned slightly red as she put it down, and then she discovered a plate of crispy and fluffy cheese pastry on the table that she hadn't noticed before. She picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, feeling it melt instantly, with a perfect balance of salty and sweet flavors, crunchy and refreshing. She wanted to eat more, but considering her identity, she didn't dare to.

  She could only find fault in Ruyi's large rain-over-the-sky-and-sea-birds-patterned Junyao porcelain bowl, which was twice as big as the one she had used earlier. The bowl contained a fragrant rice congee with scallions and shredded duck meat, emitting a savory aroma that wafted into her nostrils. Her expression changed slightly, and she looked surprised, "What delicacies doesn't the Wang mansion have? Why is Eldest Sister still eating this?"

  As if recalling something, she said lightly, "Mountain delicacies are delicious, but there's always a time when you get tired of them. Not to mention they're easy to get indigestion from. This duck may be cheap, but it can also help lower the fire."

  Tong Qingwen seemed to disagree, and Zhou Mama explained: "The imperial concubine is quite knowledgeable. Our princess has been carefully raised by the old lady since childhood, emphasizing balanced diet. Duck meat is sweet and cool, nourishing the yin of the five internal organs, supplementing clear heart fire, supplementing blood, promoting water circulation, nourishing the stomach, and generating body fluids. The princess ate too much tonic food at noon, and eating some Wugu duck congee would be a way to nurture her health."

  Tong Qingwen was stunned, her expression becoming even more solemn. She saw that Ruo Xian's expression was calm, but the several maids beside her had proud expressions and couldn't help but secretly snort in disdain, dryly laughing a few times. "After all, it's a family of wealth and nobility, who would have thought that even eating duck would have so many rules? Eldest Sister-in-law is truly blessed."

  She put down her bowl and chopsticks, saying calmly: "My younger brother and sister are overpraising me, it's just a habit I've had since childhood." She looked at Tong Qingwen's downturned lips, implying: "Although our Fang family is not wealthy or noble, I'm just a humble daughter. Fortunately, my grandmother took pity on me and raised me as her own, strictly instructing me not to follow the example of those who cry and make a scene, seeking death and making a fuss."

  Tong Qingwen's face stiffened, and her fingers hidden in the five-colored embroidered cloud sleeve clenched silently.

  At this time, another maid brought tea and handed it to Ruo Qing and Tong Qingwen. Ruo Qing took a sip, and Tong Qingwen followed suit, holding the bowl with three fingers and stirring it with her other hand. She took a light sip, feeling the refreshing aroma of the tea, and couldn't help but take another sip. Suddenly, she noticed the maid who had handed her the tea was smiling slightly, and she felt puzzled. She glanced at Ruo Qing, who was covering half of his face with a white silk handkerchief, spitting out tea into a dark brown jade cup held by the maid in front of him. In an instant, she thought of something, her face turned red as blood, and she didn't know whether to advance or retreat, holding the teacup.

  She also wanted to retort a few words, but after all, she had to accumulate some good fortune for herself. So she helped her out of the embarrassing situation, "This throat tea is usually replaced with clear tea. When my grandmother taught me etiquette at first, I also drank it as tea water and was laughed at by my grandmother, saying that I couldn't go on stage." After finishing speaking, Ruoqing secretly scolded again and retorted once more. But what could she do? She had already been as tactful as possible. Who asked her to come and provoke her first?

  Tong Qingwen's face was a mixture of red and green, she felt so humiliated that she couldn't lift her head up straight, but she couldn't openly get angry either. She could only force a smile and say: "I didn't expect that even eating would require so many rules, what's the point of living then?"

  "Yeah, I used to think that learning these stupid rules was meaningless too. But later I found out that people will always bring up their family background and stuff like that, so I had no choice but to follow these stupid rules."

  As if she had been hit by a blunt instrument, Tong Qingwen pursed her lips, suddenly feeling restless and uneasy, her body also felt extremely hot, and involuntarily grasped the light brown embroidered willow leaf pattern on the collar of her shirt.

  "It's only October, why has your sister-in-law started burning dragon incense in her house?"

  He hastily ordered someone to open two more windows and move the stove further away, laughing: "I don't like wearing too many clothes, it feels cumbersome, so I've been burning dragon stoves in Longxianju since last month. If you're not used to it, we can move to the outer flower hall."

  Tong Qingwen hastily waved her hand, "No need, no need. Originally, I just wanted to come and visit you as soon as possible after giving birth. Unfortunately, the shop's business is busy, and I couldn't leave for a while. My aunt also caught a cold recently, so it wasn't until today that I could come. Just now, I was too busy talking to you, sister-in-law, and forgot about the main thing." Then Tong Qingwen had someone bring out a pair of exquisitely crafted jade linglong and handed them to Ruqing, "This is a gift for the unborn nephew, it's not worth much money. It's just that my husband sent it from Pingyang, saying he wanted to give a gift to the nephew when they meet. I hope you won't dislike it, sister-in-law."

  This piece of jade pendant is made from the finest sheep fat jade, suspended on a bangle made of green jade cicada, the small bangle is very delicate and has a hidden buckle that can be adjusted freely. On top of it, there is a small bell that makes a pleasant sound when moved. What's rare is not the sheep fat jade pendant itself, but the green jade cicada on the bangle is as big as a thumb, which is rarely seen.

  "King's mansion and Xiang's family have always been on good terms. My younger brother and sister even sent such precious gifts, it really is a bit too much."

  Tong Qingwen laughed very magnanimously, "It was just your useless younger cousin who saw this jade in Pingyang City and thought it was precious, so he brought it back to me. I thought it was pretty good, so I had someone make it into a toy for children and gave it to my sister-in-law and nephew as a gift. I hope you won't despise it."

  Then Tong Qingwen said, "That piece of jade is really precious, a whole big piece, weighing over a kilogram. I had the jade master specially make a pair of bracelets for my nephew and a hairpin. Sister-in-law, take a look, isn't it beautiful?"

  Only then did he notice that Tong Qingwan had a branch of flowing, radiant, and colorful jade on her head, which was indeed extraordinary. He smiled and said, "It's really beautiful, and the color of this jade is also extremely good. It should be Hetian jade, right?"

  Tong Qingwen replied, "Yes," and then sighed, "This jade didn't cost much money. I heard your younger brother say it was only over 3,000 taels of silver. Who would have thought that adding some work to it would also cost a full 1,000 taels? It's really infuriating! Sister-in-law, you tell me, these jade craftsmen are really black-hearted."

  "Indeed, it's quite heart-wrenching." They exchanged a knowing glance with Zhou Mama in the dark, and everyone burst out laughing. Whether Yuqin was heartless or not had nothing to do with her; all she knew was that although they were saying painful words, their tone seemed to be savoring this heartlessness.

  Tong Qingwen also talked about how much money was spent on making her bangles, and where she bought the jade pendant around her neck. Anyway, let's get to the point.

  "There's something that shouldn't have been told to my sister-in-law, but with the increasingly severe situation outside, I've been tormented for days and couldn't bear it anymore. That's why I came in person to tell her not to be a fool."

  As the situation is now, the Jing Wang Fu is indeed a season of many troubles. Due to Li Xiong's "defeat" relationship, the Wang Fu has become a street rat, and the rumors outside are that the Emperor intends to strip Li Xiong of his royal title and demote him to a commoner, with King Jing's eldest son Guan Qi inheriting the title. The edict for his removal had already been drafted, but it was not issued due to the severe intervention of the Empress Dowager. However, how could people who are slightly informed not find out?

  The sunlight in late autumn is very brief, and it disappears after noon. At this time, the sky and the earth are covered with a layer of gray color, like the color of a crow.

  The fragrance of the incense in the censer was sweet and refreshing, while Tong Qingwen's voice was low and clear, like the muffled sound of a stick hitting clothes. "...News has come from Jiangxi that my cousin has stirred up public outrage, killing people and stealing goods, doing all sorts of evil things, and has already incurred the wrath of heaven and men. He was surrounded by the White Lotus Sect and was stabbed and seriously injured. This matter was originally kept secret, but the news still spread to Beijing..." Tong Qingwen glanced at the worried face, sighed endlessly, "I heard that my cousin was shot through with an arrow, I don't know if he can be saved..."

  Zhou Mama and others took a deep breath, Yuqin stared at the suddenly iron-green complexion, and repeatedly shouted: "Unfounded things, Mrs. Biao is better not to talk nonsense. My family's Wang Ye has auspicious omens, with masters around him like clouds, and it's hard for evil cults to get close to him, just like reaching the blue sky. Not even Old Master Wang and the Empress Dowager have heard of such things, how can you, a mere housewife, know so much detail?"

  Tong Qingwen said discontentedly, "The news of Brother's assassination has already spread throughout the capital. It's just that we were worried about Sister-in-law being pregnant, so the lower-ranking officials have been keeping it a secret. But what I'm saying is true, this is the message from the post station, written by Jiangxi Governor Fang Zhi Li himself, how can it be fake?" She stared at Ru Qing, "Even if Sister-in-law suspects me of exaggerating, Brother's handwritten letter won't be fake, will it?"