Soft and crispy waist

Chapter 128: I gave her a hard time

The Zhenguo Mansion is large and has many servants, but news spreads extremely quickly.

Xia Zheng had just left Fanghuayuan when she became arrogant and everything she said to Zhou Lin was spread out.

Of course, there are people who help.

But no matter what, Xia Zheng undoubtedly became the most favored concubine in Gu Yi's harem, much better than Wei Qingqing before.

Gu Yizi stayed at Xia Zheng's place during the few times he returned home. The fact that the three newlyweds hadn't slept together for more than ten days added fuel to the fire.

The servants were the best at changing their attitudes according to the situation. Their attitude towards Xia Zheng was many times better than before, and even Chunzhi, who was on good terms with Xia Zheng, began to respect and please her.

Of course, it was also because he couldn't please Xia Zheng, so he could only use Chunzhi's mouth to try to flatter Xia Zheng.

Over the past ten days, Xia Zheng seldom went out, always using the excuse of taking care of Ruanruan. She didn't even go to pay her respects. The Yinlin courtyard was guarded by Nanny Liang, which was like an iron wall that no one could get in. Anything could only be delivered to the door and could only be taken in after being checked by Nanny Liang.

Nanny Liang was notoriously stern-faced. Even if the people below her talked their mouths off, not a single word could reach Xia Zheng's ears.

But today, Xia Zheng can no longer avoid it.

The remaining five people yesterday have all entered the house. According to what Tao Yurong sent to convey, there are more people in the backyard now, and their positions must be properly divided.

As Xia Zheng is the only person in the mansion with offspring, even though her current rank is only a concubine, it is actually equivalent to the position of a concubine in the past. Naturally, she has to be present at such matters. After the rank is determined, she has to give a gift to the person of lower rank than herself.

Therefore, Xia Zheng cannot go late and leave early this time.

Early in the morning, she handed Ruanruan to Nanny Liang and went to the main hall in the backyard, Mingyue Hall, with Chunzhi.

Ruanruan kept her awake all night, and she got up very early today. Xia Zheng couldn't help yawning, and her eyes were blurred with mist. She could only see the figures in the courtyard outside Mingyue Hall in the distance.

One of the eyes seemed to be staring at him.

She raised her hand to wipe away the tears in her eyes, then looked inside the door, but didn't feel anyone looking at her.

At such a long distance, with a bamboo forest blocking the view ahead, even if the people inside knew she was coming from this direction, it would be impossible for them to see exactly where she was.

"What's wrong?" Seeing her staring at the half-moon gate, Chunzhi looked around and asked.

Xia Zheng shook her head.

Maybe she didn't sleep well and felt it was wrong.

"Nothing, let's go."

Holding Chunzhi's hand, Xia Zheng walked along the corridor and around the bamboo forest. She was completely uncovered and exposed to everyone. Naturally, countless eyes in the courtyard were focused on her.

Compared to more than ten days ago when Zhou Lin and others went to Fanghuayuan to sue her, it was even more lively, and the whole yard was full of people.

But today, when it comes to arranging a seat, you naturally cannot sit and wait on a first-come, first-served basis like when greeting someone.

Except for Tao Yurong, everyone had to stand outside the yard and wait for everyone to gather. Only after Tao Yurong gave the order could anyone enter the main hall one by one.

Xia Zheng is the person with the highest status in the mansion except Tao Yurong. Even though her birth status is not as good as that of the newcomers, she has to stand in front of everyone according to the seniority ranking in the mansion.

Naturally, I also have to walk past the eight newcomers.

The positions of the eight people are still undecided, so they are ranked according to their age.

The youngest stands at the end.

Although Xia Zheng rarely went out these days, she had also inquired about these eight people.

The youngest one is fifteen years old. She is the granddaughter of the Shaoqing of the Honglu Temple and the only legitimate one among all the newcomers. Naturally, her status is the most noble.

The others, although they were concubines' daughters, were all registered under the names of the mistresses of their respective families, equivalent to legitimate daughters, and their fathers all held important positions, and were on Gu Yi's side.

Of course, there was also an acquaintance among them.

From the Xue family, she is also Xue Wuyang’s younger sister.

The fourth one is sixteen years old. She is not similar to Xue Wuyang. She does not have her delicate and beautiful appearance. Instead, she is as pure and clear as water, like a pure white lily.

When you walk past it, you can smell a faint fragrance.

Xia Zheng had never smelled this fragrance before and couldn't describe what it was, but it made her feel comfortable, as if she had expelled the bad air in her heart.

Looking at her closely, she seemed not to notice and continued to bow her head.

Xia Zheng did not stay for long and continued to move forward. Zhou Lin stood in the first position, and was the only one without Fu Li. He stood straight. Although he did not say anything, the word "defiant" was written all over his body.

Chunzhi looked at Xia Zheng worriedly. Xia Zheng patted her hands and motioned her to go to her seat first before greeting Aunt Huan who was standing opposite the second newlywed, and then stood in the front row.

After everyone was seated, Nanny Niu came out and said, "The Crown Prince's Consort, please invite Aunt Xia in first."

When they heard that Xia Zheng was invited to go in first, the expressions of the newlyweds changed a little, especially Zhou Lin, who almost opened his mouth to say something, but was stopped by someone behind him pulling his sleeve.

Xia Zheng ignored him and walked straight into the house.

Tao Yurong sat at the top, holding two pieces of paper in her hands. One could vaguely see a red seal on the one in her right hand, but the size was not like Tao Yurong's seal.

Seeing her come in, Tao Yurong immediately greeted her, "No need to greet, come and take a look first."

Xia Zheng did not refuse and walked forward. When Tao Yurong handed her two pieces of paper, she saw clearly what was written on them.

It's a list.

Although the handwriting is different, the content is the same.

No, it should be almost the same, with only one difference between Xia Zheng and the other person's ranking.

On the unstamped list, Xia Zheng was listed first with the rank of concubine; on the stamped list, the first was Lin Huihui, the legitimate granddaughter of the youngest Shaoqing of the Honglu Temple, Xia Zheng was listed second with the rank of Surong, and Zhou Lin followed closely behind.

Looking closely at the red seal above, it is indeed not Tao Yurong's seal, but ***'s.

*** returned to the Empress Dowager two days after the Lantern Festival, and Xiao Jingyue followed him. I thought Tao Yurong had broken up with ***, but now it seems that it is not completely the case.

He played a tough trick on her.

The concubine and Su Rong seem to be just one in front and one behind, but the gap between them is huge.

"Logically speaking, since you gave birth to Ruanruan and have been in the palace for a year, you should have been given a concubine. However, when the list was sent to the palace, it happened to be seen by the Queen Mother. She changed it and sent it back with the Queen Mother's seal. With the Queen Mother's seal on it, it's difficult to change it."

*** is a proper mother-in-law. Not to mention changing Xia Zheng's position, even if she doesn't give it to her, Gu Yizi can't refuse such backyard matters.

"My status is low, and I am not fit to be a concubine. Your Highness has saved me this time, and I am grateful."

"I've already told you, don't underestimate yourself. You are different from them after all, but I can't change this. I'm sorry to have wronged you. So, although the concubine is given to Sister Lin, she is young and unfamiliar with the affairs of state. You will still assist in managing her until she is older. I agree to this."

Xia Zheng understood the saying that one should not meddle in matters that are not within one's jurisdiction.

Although a concubine has a lower rank than a side concubine, she also has the right to manage the affairs of the inner court, but Su Rong does not have it.

Even if Tao Yurong spoke up herself, no one would believe in her arrangement because she was now a complete soft persimmon in front of the newcomers.

What's more, Xia Zheng was born in a humble family and had never learned how to manage household affairs. The newcomers were all from aristocratic families, and even concubines' daughters had learned a thing or two. How could they accept being managed by such an illegitimate person like her?

But the Japanese were under pressure, and they couldn't rebel openly, but they had to resort to various methods behind the scenes.

Everything has been arranged long ago.

Even though Xia Zheng saw through her methods and knew the outcome, she had no way to refuse.

"Thank you, Princess."

"I'm glad you understand my painstaking efforts." Tao Yurong put the list in Xia Zheng's hand, smiling very gently, but the smile did not show in her eyes.

When their eyes met, even though Tao Yurong was sitting, she seemed to dominate Xia Zheng who was standing.

Until she let go of her hand, she leaned back and said, "Niu Ma, call them all in."

Crown Prince's Consort (same as a third-rank noble concubine in the harem)

Crown Prince's Concubine (same as a third-rank concubine in the harem)

Crown Prince's concubine (same as a fourth-rank beauty in the harem)

Solemn appearance, solemn chamber, and strict training (same as a fifth-rank noble lady in the harem)

Shen Hua, Shen Yuan, Shen Yi (considered as the sixth-rank concubines in the harem)

Huaizhang, Huaide, Huaiyi (similar to the seventh-rank concubines in the harem)