bookcurios Chapter 232 Conflict Begonia
Chapter 232 Conflict Begonia
Zhao Fangyu blinked lightly and moved Shu Jie'er upwards: "Sister, you can't say these things in front of the children. What if someone around them is dishonest and learns what I said..."
Zhao Fangjin pursed her lips and smiled, then skipped the topic. After all, Zhao Fangyu would not forget her if something good happened.
"Sis, you are pregnant now, so you must not ignore Sister Shu. Those people are careless with their words. If they say something that hurts Sister Shu's feelings and creates a rift between you and your daughter, they will not be able to bear the consequences."
Zhao Fangyu looked around and saw only a few familiar maids brought from the Zhao family, so she looked away. Zhao Fangjin knew her good intentions and understood after a little thought.
"The Song family has few members, so they must be hoping that my sister will give birth to more boys to inherit the family business. We must prepare our sister Shu's dowry early, and we can't let them do something that favors boys over girls."
Zhao Fangjin nodded again. She and Zhao Fangyu both came from a wealthy family like the Zhao family, so they naturally knew that daughters should be pampered. The happiest days in life are when a girl is still unmarried, playing with her sisters and having no worries.
After getting married, you have to worry about everything, from small things like needles and sewing to big things like household chores and socializing.
Mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, husband, household chores, banquets, secrets, and the huge dowry that Zhao Fangjin brought need to be taken care of.
There is no time to rest throughout the year.
Zhao Fangyu carefully touched Zhao Fangjin's belly, but didn't feel anything.
"It's still early in the month, I can't tell now."
Zhao Fangyu looked at Zhao Fangjin's belly with some awe. She was afraid of pain, very afraid.
"Sister is so awesome."
In ancient times, childbirth was not like it is today where there is no pain relief. It was a real journey through the gates of hell.
Zhao Fangyu suddenly remembered something. Logically, she shouldn't ask about this, but she was really worried about Zhao Fangjin: "Sister is in poor health now, so be careful. Should we hand over the household expenses to your old lady? And should we add more staff to this courtyard?"
The main courtyard was fully staffed, and the new addition at this time was a concubine that the old lady had arranged for Song Bai.
Zhao Fangyu's words were just a reminder to Zhao Fangjin. The old lady of the Song family had never gotten along well with Zhao Fangjin before, so she might have a concubine at this time.
It was common for men in ancient times to have three wives and four concubines, but the bad thing was that the old lady and Zhao Fangjin were not on the same page, and there might even be a gap between them. It would be bad if the old lady planted a thorn in Song Bai's side at this time.
Zhao Fangyu was thinking that she should give Zhao Fangjin a heads-up first, so that the old lady wouldn't get there first. Even if she really had to arrange a concubine for Song Bai, it would be better for her to buy one herself than to ask the old lady to arrange one.
Zhao Fangyu pinched Zhao Fangjin's fingers and put the small velvet flower hairpin he had prepared on Shu Jie'er again, making Shu Jie'er giggle.
Zhao Fangjin held Zhao Fangyu's hand and pursed his lips: "Don't worry, I know my limits."
After giving instructions to Zhao Fangjin, Zhao Fangyu took Shu Jie'er for a stroll in the garden. The maidservant beside Shu Jie'er followed obediently behind them, not daring to say a word.
Shu Jie'er ran over and picked a fresh begonia for Zhao Fangyu.
"Auntie! It smells nice!"
Before Zhao Fangyu could reply, he saw a rouge-colored figure walking over quickly and grabbing Shu Jie'er's hand: "You picked my begonias?"
Seeing that Song Runcheng was unhappy, Shu Jieer timidly retracted her hand, raised her head and glanced at Song Runcheng cautiously, saying, "I'm sorry, auntie, I did it on purpose. I didn't know that you liked this flower so much."
Zhao Fangyu calmly called the maid who had followed Shu Jie'er and asked her if there was any special meaning behind the begonia that Shu Jie'er picked.
The maid bent over and said carefully, "This begonia was planted by the old master of the Song family for the young lady many years ago, but the family members often cut it and put it in the vase."
This refers to Song Runcheng's inexplicable anger. Others can cut flowers and put them in a vase without any problem, but Shu Jie'er is the only grandchild of the Song family, so how can she not even pick two flowers?
It's just that she doesn't like Shu Jie'er and doesn't want Shu Jie'er to break her things.
Zhao Fangyu glanced coldly at Song Runcheng's back. Song Runcheng seemed to have noticed something and looked back, and saw Zhao Fangyu sitting in the pavilion with the wind screen lowered to rest.
For a moment, his face changed from red to white.
"I've met the princess."
After waiting for a few moments, Zhao Fangyu finally nodded as if to show some mercy.
"I remember that Aunt Fangruo is with you now. Is she okay?"
When Song Runcheng heard Fang Ruo, the skin on his back couldn't help but tighten up a bit, and he replied softly, "Aunt Fang Ruo is fine. She often mentions the princess and encourages me."
Zhao Fangyu knew it was a lie as soon as she heard it. She and Fangruo had different social statuses now, and Fangruo would never mention her deeds as a maid in the palace to outsiders.
Song Runcheng was standing below, unable to hear Zhao Fangyu's answer, and felt uneasy.
"Is she here today? I haven't seen her for a long time. I want to catch up with her."
It's a question, but it's actually an order.
Fang Ruo came very quickly. In front of Song Runcheng, Zhao Fangyu put the flowers that Shu Jieer picked on her small bag, with a gentle smile on his face: "Shu Jieer likes crabapples?"
Shu Jieer nodded heavily: "Auntie, it looks good on you!"
It’s easy to guess what’s in Shu Jie’er’s little head. What she thinks is that the most beautiful flowers should be paired with the most beautiful aunt.
Zhao Fangyu touched Shu Jie'er's hand and found that she felt a little cold from being in the wind, so he carried her to the pavilion and sat her down.
"Sister Shu likes begonias. Can I build a begonia yard for you?"
The palace is large, so I can choose a yard to plant crabapples there, and then I can invite Sister Shu to stay with me from time to time.
The Song family does not have servants who gossip, but it does have masters who are short-sighted.
"Begonia yard? Plant lots of begonias?"
Zhao Fangyu held Shu Jie'er's hand and said, "Yes, let's plant a lot of crabapples, so that when the time comes, there will be crabapples to see whenever Shu Jie'er goes there."
Shu Jie'er didn't understand that Zhao Fangyu was slapping Song Runcheng in the face, so she clapped her hands and giggled, "Okay! I want the Begonia yard!"
Shu Jie'er thought about it, turned around and saw Song Runcheng standing outside, at a loss and with a wronged look on her face. She climbed down from Zhao Fangyu, ran to the maid, took out a pair of flowery hairpins that Zhao Fangyu had given her today, one in each hand, and ran to Song Runcheng with a smile: "Give them to aunt! I shouldn't have picked aunt's flowers, Shushu is wrong."
She pointed her little finger upwards: "But Huahua can't go back to the tree, so Shushu will compensate Auntie for the other flowers."
As she spoke, she shook her little hands up and down, and the pearls tied with gold thread on the flower-like hairpin trembled, looking beautiful in the sunlight.
"This one looks good! Shushu likes it too! So Shushu will give it to Auntie!"
Shu Jie'er felt that since she had picked someone else's flowers and was not taking them back, she should compensate them. Today, she liked the moving flower hairpin given by her aunt the most, so she had to compensate her aunt with this.
Zhao Fangyu was watching from above, looked at Fang Ruo, and smiled without saying anything.