The little lady in the palace

Chapter 203 The Wedding Banquet
In Beijing, a house not too far from Prince Yi's Mansion, it was dark when Meng Shiqi entered.

He looked at the big tree in the courtyard and sighed, with a wry smile, lamenting how tiring the days of self-reliance are.Then I wanted to fall down on the couch immediately and go to sleep. I slept for a while, and I didn't even have the strength to wash.

"Master." Xiao Hezi bowed and came out of the room to turn on the light. Meng Shiqi was annoyed when he saw him, so he didn't say anything.

This little Hezi had followed Meng Shiqi since he was a child, and there was nothing wrong with it, but his heart was too soft.He brought an eunuch like him without anyone, but no matter what he said, Xiao Hezi still had contact with his brothers, for fear that he would starve to death outside.

Meng Shiqi felt that his ability was being questioned, Zeng Tieqing said with a pale face, "If you talk to them again, believe it or not, I will kill you?" But Xiao Hezi knelt there trembling, still said in a daze, "Master, you are going to kill me!" Slave, kill me now, anyway, this slave can't watch you suffer outside!"

This person...!
Of course Meng Shiqi didn't have the heart to really beat him to death, and then he could see the "care" of his brothers every day.

It really happened again today, when Meng Shiqi entered the room, he saw that there were several dishes and soups on the table, both meat and vegetables, and several of them were dishes in dry pots, simmering over a low fire all the time.

Meng Shiqi was moved and helpless again, and looked at Xiao Hezi: "Who is it today?"

"Today was arranged by His Royal Highness." Xiao Hezi bowed, "His Royal Highness also asked the food delivery person to bring a message, saying that Miss Luo, don't worry, she is doing well in the main courtyard now, and the princess has been taking care of her. Now, the young master can also get along with her, and the imperial doctor said that her health has improved."

Meng Shiqi nodded and said nothing, he couldn't help thinking that he owed such a big favor to his aunt and concubine, how to repay it in the future.

Then, while he was thinking about it and sitting in front of the desk, he suddenly remembered something: "When I came out today after teaching Mr. Hu to ride a horse, was it you who was sneaking across the street?"

"..." Xiao Hezi choked obviously, then filled him with soup with a smile and didn't speak.

Meng Shiqi stared and slapped the table: "Don't go any more, do you hear me! Let people know that there is an eunuch beside me, will they still dare to use me?!"

Xiao Hezi hurriedly nodded and bowed in response.

Meng Shiqi's worry was very reasonable - there are many rich and noble families in Beijing, but the mansion will use eunuchs, all of whom are closely related to the palace, and they don't even need the clan that is a little farther away.Having an eunuch by your side is equivalent to letting others know, "Young Master, I am not an ordinary person"!

Meng Shiqi was very afraid that he would lose his job because of this, and he was even more afraid that after the rumors spread, he would never find another job and had to go back home.

Now he is very clear in his heart. As Xiangying, if he wants to have a name by his side and a place in the mansion, he may not be able to play in this life, even if his father, queen, mother and concubine acquiesce.He stood up by himself outside, which was the only way.At that time, the worst result would be that the discussion in Jingli would startle the palace, and the palace would kick him out of the clan on charges of unfilial piety, and he would be "reduced to a common man" from then on.

But then, at least Xiangying has a place to live.And as long as he can do that, he already has enough ability to support himself and his family. The status of this clan...

In his view, it is not completely inseparable.

It's just that at that point, the mother and concubine must be very angry. Meng Shiqi admitted in his heart that he was really unfilial on this point.

But how?Even if he really got to that point, he would still try his best to be filial, and the mother concubine also has an elder brother; but if he didn't do this, the mother concubine would force Xiangying to death—even if Xiangying was in the main courtyard, He didn't think that Concubine Mu could really let her go.

He didn't know why he felt that Concubine Mu was so cruel. Thinking about it carefully, maybe it was because he always saw Concubine Mu punishing his servants when he was a child, or maybe it was just because he had heard too many rumors in the mansion about Concubine Mu making things difficult for Xiangying...

Meng Shiqi shuddered abruptly, inexplicably feeling that this feeling was really frightening—that was his mother and concubine, and he was so alienated from her, he emphasized to himself: This is wrong.

But he still couldn't let go, and while restraining such thoughts, he told Xiao Hezi: "Tomorrow, you go back to the mansion and take out 200 taels of the 100 taels of silver that the aunt and concubine sent to the dining room. There are also doctors and female doctors in the mansion."

"Master...?" Xiao Hezi was startled, puzzled.

Meng Shiqi didn't make it too clear: "Tell them that if anything happens that I might want to know, I will send a letter in time. If it is useful, there will be a reward."

He doesn't have much money anymore, but for the time being, he will spend it wisely.

This is something he only learned after he came out on his own.Although I used to borrow money from my brothers a lot in the past, they actually didn't care when they spent the money.Only recently did he really understand what it means to be "money can turn ghosts". You can't spend what you shouldn't spend, but you can't save what you should manage.

At the end of June, when Qiao Liangdi handed over the list of guests He and Qiao wanted to invite for Lan Jing's big wedding, Yu Yin was laughing on the porch watching Xiang Ying take Ming Jing to kick the shuttlecock.

Xiangying's body has gradually recovered recently, and she can kick a hundred and twenty to thirty kicks in one breath. Ming Jing's eyes are bright when she squats beside her and looks at her.

Speaking of this, Yu Yin felt that Ming Jing was really miserable...!
She has been the youngest in the mansion since she was born, and she is always thrown far away by Jing Xiyao and the others when kicking the shuttlecock.After all the relatives and cousins ​​in the courtyard were all married, the girl didn't dare to beat her when kicking her, so she killed Xiangying again!
——Of course, Xiangying didn't dare to win her.Later, it was Yuyin who accidentally saw that Xiangying was playing well, so she told Xiangying in private not to give in to her all the time, and now everyone in the yard gave way to this one, Yuyin was worried that she would spoil Mingjing too much.

Therefore, Ming Jing never won shuttlecock kicking in the next half month...

Seeing the eunuch next to Qiao Liangdi come in, the two girls who were kicking lively stopped.Ming Jing ran to Yu Yin's side and said she wanted to drink sour plum soup, Xiang Ying smiled and persuaded her to rest before drinking.Yuyin casually told them to enter the house to rest, then took the list from the eunuch, opened it and scanned it, and saw that there were not many people, so she said directly: "Okay, that's it, invite all they want to invite." yes."

The eunuch bowed as soon as he answered the words, and then retreated, Yu Yin turned back to the room while thinking about some things, and smiled as he thought about it.

After Lan Jing got married, and after another year, it was almost time to arrange A Zuo Ayou's marriage.

Which family has a girl of the right age, she has no idea for the time being, but recently she wants to laugh when she thinks about it.

She watched them grow up day by day. Even if they moved to the front house later, she would come to say hello and have a meal together at least every other day. Therefore, she always felt that they had grown up. It doesn't feel real.

It wasn't until Meng Junhuai mentioned the marriage that day that she suddenly realized "Oh, you've grown so tall?!" when the brothers came back.

The reaction of the brothers to this incident was also interesting. The first time she told them this, they didn't come to the main courtyard for three days in a row.When she came back later, she blushed when she mentioned the two of them, which made her have the illusion that this matter shouldn't be talked face to face...

Still, it's time to talk.Yuyin also said it clearly, if you have a sweetheart, tell me frankly—look, Lan Jing likes Tan Yu, and her father, queen, mother and concubine have made arrangements for her, so don't hold back if you have concerns.

Of course... If they also like Xiangying, it will be difficult.But... It's impossible for all the boys in Prince Yi's Mansion to like brothel girls...!
So the candidates are selected slowly for them first, and the most worrying thing for Yuyin at the moment is Lan Jing's marriage.

As the friendship between Tan Yu and the eldest son of the emperor really deepened, the eldest son of the emperor would definitely come to the banquet for their marriage.But Meng Junhuai heard that there is an undercurrent in Beijing recently, maybe some foolish people want to do something to the eldest son of the emperor, they can't let this dark ceremony become an opportunity for the people behind it.

"Every dish has to be inspected, especially at the previous banquet, where the eldest son of the emperor and the little grandson of the emperor are present, and they have to be inspected for five rounds before they are allowed to serve. Let Zhao Chengrui go and watch them in person." Yuyin arranged it like this, She felt that this should be safe enough.

——On weekdays, there is only one round of inspections for meals in the mansion, and only three rounds of inspections when there are urgent guests or when the capital is in turmoil.After five rounds, if there is still someone who can take the life of the eldest son of the emperor...

That person must have borrowed heavenly soldiers and generals to poison him.

In July, another festive atmosphere filled the capital.This evening ceremony was even more lively than when He Jing got married, because Tan Yu, the guest of the emperor's eldest son's mansion, was so eye-catching.

Before the evening ceremony began, the two played a game of chess with great interest. As the bride, Lan Jing was still preparing in the boudoir, so she was not there, but the eldest concubine was there.

——So Xi Yao saw Meng Shijin beat Tan Yu in a chess game for the first time, and after being stunned for a moment, she almost cheered: "It's rare!"

"..." Meng Shichen glanced at her, and Tan Yu nodded: "Your Highness is improving very quickly in chess..."

"Come on." Meng Shijin didn't deny the hand, and said very frankly, "If you are absent-minded, you shouldn't be pulling you to play chess. You should have known that you were thinking about the one who will perform the wedding ceremony later."

On the day he got married, didn't he always think about Xi Yao from the moment he opened his eyes?Don't ask him to play chess at that time, even if the eunuch persuaded him to drink saliva, he would not listen.

But Xiyao couldn't help but still had a beautiful face because of his rare victory, and told him that she had to tell her son about it, as well as her father, queen mother, parents, uncles and aunts...

Meng Shiyu thought to himself, why didn't you tell the world?

Then he stopped harassing Tan Yu, and dragged Xi Yao to leave together with a sullen face.Before entering the main hall where the banquet was held, I accidentally saw more than 20 eunuchs sticking together in the side room to inspect the vegetables, and I murmured in my heart, is the sixth uncle a little bit like an underdog after staying in Jinyiwei for a long time?

Without stopping his thoughts, a figure quickly passed by him.The man seemed to have something on his mind, so he didn't notice them, let alone stop to greet them.

Meng Shijin frowned, followed the figure, and saw that he was a eunuch, walking all the way to the second son of Prince Yi's residence.

He had also heard a little about the incidents that this second young master had caused in Beijing recently, and in Meng Shijin's opinion, he really went too far.Right now, Uncle Six is ​​holding back and didn't directly mention this matter, otherwise he would be so unfilial, and his father would have to expel him from the clan right away.

Thinking like this, he couldn't help but stop his gaze on Meng Shiqi's face for a while, but he happened to see a change in Meng Shiqi's expression.

"Are you serious?!" Meng Shiqi looked at Xiao Hezi in astonishment, and Xiao Hezi bowed and said, "It's true, but the specific reason, the servants don't know, and the dining room doesn't know either."

Meng Shiqi sighed anxiously.

For Lan Jing's evening banquet, Liang Guangfeng, who was in charge of the east courtyard, went to the dining room five times in half an hour... It seems that there must be something wrong, but something is wrong.

He thought about it again: "Is it Zhao Chengrui who is staring at the people trying the dishes in the side room?"

"Yes." Xiao Hezi bowed, "It is said that the princess asked Eunuch Zhao to come and watch in person, mainly because... His Royal Highness the eldest son is also here today."

The aunt and concubine were afraid that something would happen to the eldest son of the emperor, so she pointed out the most capable people around her.

What about her side?
Meng Shiqi became more and more uneasy in his heart, looked up, and found the three brothers who were busy toasting the guests, and went there.

"Brother." He patted Meng Shili on the shoulder, "Then what... I'll go back and say hello to my concubine and concubine mother."

"Didn't you go there when you came back?" Meng Shili frowned and looked at him.

So Ah Qi said again: "Let's toast again!"

Ah Li frowned even deeper, and Ah Zuo pulled away and walked over when he heard these words of conversation, pulled him over and said, "Second brother, don't make trouble, this is in full view, mother and concubine will show you a good face, the previous scene is useless." I did. But if she doesn't give you a good face, you say this happy day... How embarrassing is it?"

What A Zuo meant was that you are not allowed to cause trouble for my mother and concubine today!But Ah Qi was stunned, as if he didn't understand, he made a few jokes, turned around and left.

"Second brother..." Ah Zuo stared angrily, and handed the wine to Ah You, "I'll go with you!"

He was afraid that his second elder brother's ulterior motives were not drinking, so he would look for Xiangying when he arrived at the main courtyard - it would be a disaster if he did that, the main courtyard is full of guests now, it is really inappropriate for people to see.

In the east courtyard, Youshi temporarily left the table for an excuse, returned to the room, and paced back and forth in the room anxiously.

She hates herself in her heart, hates herself for being worthless, hates herself for being a wimp!

Xie Yuyin has robbed her of the limelight for so many years, and Xie Yuyin's son has robbed her son of the heir apparent, but even today, she still shrinks back and is still unable to make a move.

She had already taken Liang Guangfeng out five times, but every time, she couldn't help calling him back.She didn't know why she thought that the princess might not be so damned, and there were even a few moments where she felt that she was thinking too much?
But she really hated the concubine, hated that she could do all kinds of bad things and still take advantage of the glory, living so nourishingly in the main courtyard.

Finally, Youshi looked at Liang Guangfeng again: "Go!"

"..." Liang Guangfeng didn't know whether to answer the question this time, and always felt that the side concubine might change her mind.

But this time the side concubine seemed extremely determined, took a step forward, gnashed her teeth and said, "Clean up Luo Shi first! Clean it up! Just follow the previous arrangement and give her enough weight!"

"Yes..." Liang Guangfeng bowed in response, hearing the awe-inspiring hatred in the side concubine's words, wondering if he might not regret it this time?
Youshi took a deep breath, forcing himself not to go back on his word.

She may not be sure whether the princess deserves to die, but Luo Shi definitely deserves to die.If she knew that the princess would not send Luo Shi, she would have cleaned up the people in her East Courtyard long ago, and she would never let that bitch live to this day. It should have given the princess a chance to push her son out of the house.

"Go, come back when you're done, don't wait for the letter outside, so as not to attract people's suspicion." Youshi let out a long breath.

Anyway, as long as the matter is done, the main courtyard will definitely fry the pot immediately, and there will be news immediately.

(End of this chapter)