The moon is suspended in mid-sky.

  The young ladies were singing a play, without drums or erhu, their voices clear and not at all noisy. The maids and servant girls downstairs were chatting and laughing, their conversation clearly audible. However, the ladies on the second floor, including Madame Feng, were completely absorbed in the story of Zhao Xue and Guan Shi, and didn't notice anything else.

  For Wei San and others, the wonder is Gu's exquisite little song. For the women here, what they envy more is Zhao Xue Shi's deep affection and "returning to the right path after getting lost". Many of the ladies present have experienced the pain of their husbands taking new concubines. Among the young girls waiting in the boudoir, who would hope that their future husband would take a concubine?

  However, Mozi found that among them, three people did not have an envious look.

  One was Wei San's wife, who had no concubines in her household and was the most proud. One was Wei Shi Qiong Yu, who always smiled, she resembled Wei San, loved me, Nong Ci. One was Zhang Shi, she herself struggled from being a concubine, so she felt somewhat unfulfilled.

  "Are Zhao Xiansheng and Guan Shi really real people in this story?" The one who spoke was surprisingly the usually quiet and taciturn Qiuliu Niang.

  As for Qiu Liu Niang, she is not a bad person, but her personality is weak and timid. She likes to read poetry and has some talent in this area.

  "Mò zǐ bù zhī. Gù shì liú chuán yǐ jiǔ, nán fēn zhēn jiǎ." Mò zǐ qióu dé zhēn qiè, wèi shì yīn qiū liù niáng yǔ qì zhōng háo bù zhē gài de mù yàng ér cuì qǐ méi.

  Translation:

  "Mozhi didn't know. The story has been passed down for a long time, and it's hard to distinguish between true and false." Mozhi looked at her sincerely, and Wei Shi frowned due to Qiu Liu Niang's tone, which was full of unreserved admiration.

  Zhang had already spoken many good words about Liu Niang, and Wei was carefully observing.

  "I don't think it sounds like a true story. Even if it were true, I'm afraid the way it's been passed down has some biases." Qiu Qiuniang said, "Since ancient times, great men with a free and easy spirit have always been the subject of beautiful stories for thousands of years. I think the Guan Shi in that story is rather narrow-minded. With someone as talented and handsome as Zhao Xue, what's wrong with taking a concubine? Guan Shi is already old, and having more sisters-in-law would only help her take care of her husband, what's not to like?"

  Jian Qiu saw the seventh girl talking and frequently glancing at Wei Shi, Mo Zi thought to herself, probably she also saw Wei Shi frowning, wanting to step on Liu Niang to get ahead of her.

  "Seventh young lady is still young, although she speaks well, I'm afraid you won't have to wait until you're old. When your husband brings one wife after another into the house, you'll no longer be able to hold your head high." Wei San Fu Ren spoke coldly and was extremely displeased, thinking that she had been subtly mocked by her junior.

  Qiu Qiuniang's face turned red and white by turns. Being too clever for one's own good, she pleased one person but offended another.

  "Shu Niang, Qi Niang is still young and spoke impulsively. As a senior, don't take it to heart with the child." Wei Shi acted as a peacemaker, seemingly pleased with Qi Niang's words.

  "Where is still a child, sixteen or seventeen can be a mother. Wei San's wife could not let her husband take a concubine, she was not an ordinary person, immediately retorted, "I also teach her this way. Don't talk nonsense about things you haven't experienced yourself."

  The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

  "Miss, are you asking me to prepare the Four Treasures of the Study?" Mozi said suddenly.

  Qiu San Niang reacted quickly, and as everyone's eyes fell on her, she stood up, slightly bowing to the elders at the main table, "Please allow San Niang to take matters into her own hands."

  What's going on? She walked slowly to Zi Zi and whispered in her ear. That was just a show, nothing was said.

  Mozi nodded obediently and repeatedly agreed, looking like she had no intention of disobeying. She said, "Miss wants to write down the prescription, Mozi will go prepare it immediately."

  Qiu Sanniang gazed at the back of Mozi, who was walking downstairs, and said with a hint of reproach, "This silly girl, I whispered in her ear, wanting her to quietly take care of it and then write that wonderful little poem to delight Mother and the other ladies. But did she? No, she had to shout so loudly! Why not just let everyone on the other side hear our conversation while we're at it? As for storytelling, she's passable, but a bit rough around the edges, and can still manage to be amusing."

  Led by Mozi, Qiu Sanniang suddenly understood.

  As a result, the atmosphere on the main table immediately relaxed, and the ladies smiled with pursed lips. However, Zhang Shi really couldn't smile, her face twitching twice. Others didn't notice, but Wei Shi happened to glance over just right, but her smile was very deep, as if she hadn't taken it to heart.

  Mozi took out the pen, ink and paper, and several maids who knew how to read people's eyes had already cleared a table for playing the guqin. She immediately prepared the paper and ground the ink for Qiu San Niang.

  Qiu San Niang picked up her pen and started writing. But when she had written halfway through, she stopped and looked up at Mozi.

  "Miss, are you going to dip the ink?" Mozi didn't wait for Qiu San Niang to say anything and took the brush from her hand.

  In just an instant, the exchange of gazes between master and servant was as follows:

  Qiao San Niang hinted: Remind me, I forgot the second half of the poem. You pinch and pinch, what's going on?

  Deep purple hint: it's not that I didn't remind you, now there are superiors examining you, give people the best impression.

  "Miss, here's a pen." Mozi said with a devoted expression.

  Qiu San Niang smiled, but pursed her lips tightly, as if grinding her teeth. However, she was clever after all, and my words were indeed pleasant to hear. After a moment's thought, she completed the second half of the poem with ease. In the end, she even gave Mo Zi a triumphant glance.

  Mozi secretly smiled in her heart: "Jiang Sanniang's personality is suitable for doing business, not for infighting at home. She gets angry and flustered at the slightest thing."

  "Shui Yun, bring it over and let me take a look." Wei Shi called out to Qiu San Niang's nickname, beckoning her with his hand.

  Qiu Liu Niang is fine, but Qiu Qi Niang's face flashed with displeasure.

  Qiu Sanniang took Xiaoling over to show her to Wei Shi.

  "Are you practicing the 'Huang Men Ling Zhang' chapter?" The eyes of Wei's family lit up.

  "Madam is well-read and has a good memory, but I, the third daughter-in-law, am ashamed to have only learned superficially." said Qiu San Niang with a smile.

  "Where is my erudition and strong memory, but among the people I know, there are also those who can write a beautiful letter. You're the first girl to practice calligraphy. Although it's a bit less elegant, I've heard that you've been following your father since childhood, which should suit your temperament." As soon as Wei Shi said this, Zhang Shi and Qiuniang rejoiced at her misfortune.

  "Third Sister is the eldest daughter in her family, and it's inevitable that her father dotes on her a bit more. When she was young, she didn't understand things, but now she doesn't go out anymore, staying at home to take care of her parents and enjoying a quiet life." Third Sister answered honestly and cleverly in just a few words.

  "It should be like this. I think of my late father, who also loved me dearly when I was young and often took me out to broaden my horizons. However, as a daughter, one must stay at home for some time, so as not to have any regrets towards parents after getting married. Now, even if I miss him, I can no longer see him." Wei Shi said, wiping away tears.

  The Wei family women all took out their handkerchiefs and dabbed at the corners of their eyes.

  Zhang also squeezed out real tears, "Sister, don't say that anymore. I just remembered the old man buying us sugar gourds on New Year's Eve, it's still flashing before my eyes."

  Wei's family started it, of course, and she would end it too. Wiping away her tears, she smiled and said, "It's my fault, isn't it? Rarely gathering together, yet coming to your home to cry. It seems I'm getting old too."

  Qiu Qiuniang flattered without restraint, "Madam doesn't look old at all, she looks like my third sister, just like a flower in bloom."

  In Mozi's ears, Qīniáng praised Weizhi highly, but trampled on Zhangshi again.

  "Hey, the third girl standing next to us and our sister are sisters, doesn't that mean Zhang's wife has an extra daughter?" Wei Sanfu had been persuaded by Wei Shi earlier, but her anger was not completely extinguished, this time she spoke with a sweet tongue and a sharp blade.

  Zhang's face turned red and white, but she couldn't glare at Wei Sanfu, so she took it out on Qi Yun instead. "Qiu Yun, when your elders are speaking, just listen quietly."

  Qiu Qiuniang usually tried her best to curry favor with Zhang Shi, thinking that she would be the first person Zhang Shi would consider marrying into the Wang family. However, at the banquet, Zhang Shi kept praising Liu Niang, which made Qiu Qiuniang want to compete with her. As a result, things ended up being awkward and embarrassing.

  Wei Shi no longer had the heart to persuade as before, and only said to Qiu San Niang, "This letter, can you send it to me? You really have a good memory, listening to it once and remembering everything."

  "This is Mrs. Tai's love." replied Qiu San Niang, her words were few and sincere, calm and quiet.

  Wei let her personal maid take the letter and said she was tired.

  Zhang stayed as a guest twice, seeing that she was truly tired, and had no choice but to give up. She also sent someone to inform the people in the building across from them.

  For a time, they were busy collecting, serving, and preparing carriages, running up and down the stairs, in and out of the building.

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  Don't mind me being nagging: recommendation votes, collections, clicks, I beg of you.