Mu Huagui

Chapter 173 Family
Chen Jiaoer sat outside as a guest for more than half a month, the princess called her over and said, "My lord and I probably have an idea, thinking that you have seen a lot outside in the past half month, if there is any lady you like, you might as well tell me." listen."

The two came up with a list, and the princess was going to invite the lady they thought was suitable to be a guest at the palace.The concubine checks in person, and then discusses with the prince, planning to decide on a candidate before the year, and start making arrangements after the year.

After the list was finalized, the palace started to get busy again. Fortunately, this kind of banquet was often held in the palace before, so it didn't take much effort to prepare for it.

Aunt Zeng could get a list that was not kept secret, but she almost exploded her lungs if she didn't look at it.After recruiting his son to discuss it, Zhou Mingtang watched it silently, and slowly clenched his fists.

Zhou Mingtang has always regarded himself very highly, but he has never been taken seriously. The prince only has eyes for the elder brother. He is the eldest son, the pride of everyone, and a celebrity around the emperor.

Because he married a woman with no family power, and even forced him to marry a Qingliu daughter, no matter how hard he tried, the prince would never let him stand out, he must always be inferior to his elder brother, no matter what aspect.

Knowing that his aunt is helpless, he can only fight for it by himself.She comforted her aunt and said, "This matter has not been decided yet, and there is a chance to reverse it. I will go and talk to my father."

His classmates and friends are teasing him these days about discussing relatives. Of course, there are also those who find opportunities to introduce his sisters. Among them, the Ning family is the most mentioned one.The son-in-law was dismissed, but Yonglong is the emperor's aunt after all.Whether it's the father or the eldest brother, if there is any skill, isn't it just that he has flattered the emperor.

If Princess Yonglong can match the bridge, he believes that with his real talent and learning, he will definitely be able to win the eyes of the emperor.At that time, it doesn't matter if he is a bastard, he can still call the wind and the rain.

There is also the younger sister of the empress in the Duke of Zhen's mansion, who is also discussing marriage, and I heard that she also wants to get close to the concubine.It's a pity that that woman is so hateful that she deliberately expressed that she has no intention of marrying the Duke of Zhen.Of course Zhou Mingtang would not think that this was the order of the prince, but wishful thinking that a woman was jealous, jealous that his bastard married a wife who was more noble than her.

As for why he knew so clearly, he was full of hope for getting married, so naturally he inquired very clearly.If the prince doesn't help him, the eldest brother suppresses him. If there is a good Yue family, give him a chance, he will definitely stand out and let those who look down on him see that he is the best son of his father.

Licorice slipped in mysteriously, hesitating to speak, Chen Jiaoer let Hongmei, who was beating her back, go down, and said with a smile, "I see that you have something to say, let's say it."

"Hee hee, it's still young lady who understands slaves. Jasmine said just now that the second young master went to Aunt Zeng's room and looked unhappy after reading the list."

"Well, I see. Let Jasmine see for herself. If there is a suitable one, I will give her a favor after the New Year's Eve." What Jasmine did was that she didn't want to leave the palace and wanted to marry a better family in the palace.

What did Zhou Mingtang want to do, first he let Chen Qilu in quietly.Now I want to find a young lady from a wealthy family to be my regular wife. After all, fame and wealth are the two things that get me into trouble.

Zhou Mingyuan listened to his wife's words at night, shook his head and sighed, "My father and mother have never cared much about the three of them since I was a child, so I think I feel a little resentful in my heart."

Talking to tell his wife not to wait for him, she took the initiative to have dinner with the prince.After entering the study, the prince smiled and said, "Tell me, I won't say anything until now. Could it be that I have taken a fancy to someone's girl outside, and I want to help you plan for my father."

Ever since the lord resigned from the official position of Minister of the Household Department and stayed at home to entertain his grandchildren, he let go of his heavy burdens and became more and more out of shape.Often play some harmless jokes on his son.

"Father..." Zhou Mingyuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and after explaining the reason for coming, he said, "...My son thinks that if he really doesn't understand, then he can do whatever he wants."

The prince sternly said, "You're talking nonsense. Because of his crooked thoughts, the entire palace will bear the possibility of being suspected by the emperor. For him, this risk cannot be taken."

Zhou Mingyuan was a little moved. When he thought of marrying Chen Jiao'er, his father had hesitated and lingered, but he never denied his idea.The head of the Lu family would not be suspected by the emperor, but for his own sake, his father was willing to take risks.

"Okay, there's no need to mention this matter again. The order of the parents and the words of the matchmaker can be messed up by this brat." The prince waved his hand, making it clear that there is no need to continue the discussion.

On the contrary, he laid out the chessboard with great interest, "I got a pair of white jade chessboards the day before yesterday, why don't we have a hand-to-hand discussion."

"I don't know when Brother Shun will be able to play chess like this with me." Halfway through the chess game, the prince sighed with emotion. Because he was afraid that Brother Shun would stuff it in his mouth, he dared not take out the chess piece as a toy.

Zhou Mingyuan raised his eyelids helplessly, "Father, you're just a bad chess player, don't even think about bullying Brother Shun. You should think about how to deal with me first. Look, I'm going to be a general..."

"Brat, I..."

Plate after plate continued until it was dark, and the calves of the long follower standing behind Zhou Mingtang trembled a little.But seeing the young master standing still and his stubborn face, he sighed in his heart, the prince is too partial.Isn't it just to play chess with the Shizi, so the second young master stood here and waited for two hours in the wind and snow.

They are both the prince's sons. People who don't know think that the second young master picked them up. The difference is too big.It was so easy to hear the door of the study "squeak" open, Zhou Mingyuan came out, saw Zhou Mingtang a little surprised and said, "Second brother is here, why no one reported it, why are you waiting in the yard instead of going to the house?" Warm and warm in there."

"Thank you for your concern." Zhou Mingtang had an expression of refusal to be thousands of miles away, Zhou Mingyuan frowned, he was not a master who would put a hot face on a cold butt.Seeing this, he nodded and left without asking what he was talking about.

After a while, the steward who entered the room came out and apologized, "My lord said that I'm tired today, please come back another day."

"Yes." Zhou Mingtang didn't know whether he was frozen or angry, and he squeezed out a word with a distorted expression.

On the day of the banquet, wives from dozens of families brought their daughters to the palace as guests.Most of them are dealing with the palace for the first time, looking at their curiosity and expectations for the future.Chen Jiao'er seemed to see the expressions on the faces of the sisters of the Chen family a few years ago. Things were different, and many people and things had disappeared with the passage of time.

"Everyone is the head of the family. There were many things before, and I was the only one who was free. Thinking that some rare flowers bloomed in the greenhouse this year, I must find more people to appreciate them. Since you ladies are here, Just have a good and brisk day, don't hold yourself back." Wang Hao lowered her figure and said affectionately.

Many wives secretly breathed a sigh of relief. They only knew that Princess Dong was a noble person since she was a child, and she had never been soft on Prince Dong.Unexpectedly, there is no airs at all, and when he speaks, it makes people feel like spring breeze.

Whether it is the Imperial Academy or the Imperial College, they are all students with serious career backgrounds, and most of their wives are also from a scholarly family.The clothes are all ordinary, but there are several people who talk very funny, making the princess laugh out loud several times.

Chen Jiao'er carefully observed the princess's outfit today. The peacock blue tunic flower dress was paired with a red fox fur cloak. For jewelry, she only picked two or three low-key emerald hairpins and put them in the bun, which looked noble but not too exaggerated.

Fortunately, after thinking about it for myself, I picked out a winter coat with phoenix tail embroidered on a moon-white dark pattern, and a white fox fur cloak over it.The bun is also very simple, just insert a tourmaline multi-color step rock.

Although they feel that they are very low-key, in the eyes of most people, they are still extremely luxurious. Several young ladies touched the silk flowers on their hair, very envious.

Everyone understands that today's banquet is a drunkard's intention.But who is the protagonist and who is the foil depends on their own performance.The concubine beckoned a lady wearing a water-red auspicious embroidered embroidery to come over, "Whose lady is this, she is so handsome."

Chen Jiao'er smiled and said, "She is the daughter of the master of the Hanlin Academy, who can compose poems when she is seven years old. She is a rare talent."

"Hey, isn't that the champion's daughter? She really has a family background." The princess praised, took off a ruby ​​and gold bracelet along her wrist, and rewarded her as a meeting gift.

Miss Wen is also the most satisfactory candidate in Chen Jiaoer's heart. She is dignified, beautiful and talented. She shares the same hobbies with Zhou Mingtang who likes to read, and it will be easy to get along with each other in the future.

What's more, the younger siblings in Ms. Wen's family are very elder sister-like, tolerant and generous, and they don't seem to be narrow-minded and calculating.

After asking a few girls and ladies, the princesses all gave expensive meeting gifts, which made these wives unable to figure it out.Whether the princess is not satisfied with everyone, or everyone is satisfied.

The chrysanthemums blooming in the greenhouse are amazing. They were supposed to bloom in autumn, but they bloomed in the greenhouse until winter.This is really a must in the palace, and because the princess loves chrysanthemums, the servants will do whatever they like.

The ladies gathered around and talked, nothing more than poems related to chrysanthemums. Some wrote poems for the princess to appreciate on the spot, and some drew pictures for the princess to inscribe. It was very lively for a while.

"Miss, miss." Ying Xia suddenly rushed over and shouted.

"Why are you in such a panic, is it Brother Shun..." Chen Jiao'er and the princess asked almost at the same time.In front of so many guests, if it wasn't for Brother Shun, he wouldn't have lost his sense of proportion.

"No, no." Ying Xia knelt down and replied, "It's Zhu Sheng, he came back with Wan Qian and Mama Zhang."

"What." The two said happily at the same time.

"Okay, okay, great." The princess sat down, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, and said a few good words.It made everyone present a little confused.

"It's a family member who was separated from us outside the city a few days ago." Chen Jiaoer also had tears in the corners of her eyes, and she thought she was bound to die. To be able to come back alive is simply... great.

Hearing the word family, Licorice raised her head, glanced at Chen Jiao'er in amazement, then lowered her head again.

(End of this chapter)