Yingbao nodded: "Yes."
Madam Lu smiled and said, "I have heard of him before, but I have never seen him. I didn't expect he would be such a smart child."
"Ma'am, you are so kind." Yingbao said politely.
Madam Yao, who was sitting next to her, snorted coldly and turned her head to talk to another lady.
Mrs. Lu asked, "How old are you this year?"
"Seventeen."
"Are you engaged?"
“No.”
"Oh, such a good child, why hasn't she been engaged yet?" Mrs. Lu smiled even more deeply and said softly, "To be honest, I have a little girl who is already sixteen years old, and she refuses to get married. Oh, it really worries me to death."
Yingbao: "Eighteen is just the right age for marriage. Your little daughter is reluctant to leave home."
"That's right." Mrs. Lu sighed, "I also want to keep her for a few more years, but the men in other families are already engaged, so if I stay any longer, it will delay her."
Yingbao: ...
Why do all mothers have the same idea? Her mother seemed to say the same thing.
Madam Lu took a sip of the tea in front of her and asked in a low voice, "County Lady, is your brother engaged?"
Yingbao blinked: "Soon, I'll make the decision after the Chinese New Year."
His family had already sent his younger brother's engagement letter to the Luo family, and the Luo family had also handed Luo Zhao's engagement letter to the matchmaker, and they were just waiting for the Sitianjian to come on duty so that they could do some calculations.
Mrs. Lu looked regretful, and then said, "My daughter's temperament is similar to that of the county lady. I will ask her to send you a message later, so that you two can get to know each other and become close friends."
"Thank you, ma'am, for your kindness."
The two chatted for a while, and Concubine Chen Hui's mother also came over and greeted Yingbao with a smile: "My daughters are about the same age as Qinchuan County Princess. I'm sure you two can get along well."
Yingbao smiled.
As they were talking, they suddenly heard the eunuch singing:
"Empress Hui has arrived!"
"Her Majesty the Concubine has arrived!"
"Her Majesty the Concubine has arrived!"
"Her Majesty the Virtuous Consort has arrived!"
When everyone heard this, they quickly stood up and knelt down beside the table.
Yingbao knelt behind Madam Chen and Madam Lu and looked up quietly.
Four concubines came in one after another, wearing gorgeous clothes, with jingling rings on their jewelry. The hairpins on their golden crowns swayed gently, and long ribbons trailed behind them like blooming flowers.
Behind them were several concubines and a group of palace maids and eunuchs.
The four concubines sat behind four tables in the main seat, and several imperial concubines sat on both sides.
The palace maids stood behind the four concubines, each holding a long-handled screen fan, and the rest of the palace servants held ceremonial objects in their hands and stood at the back.
Concubine Chen Hui, who was in charge, said, "Everyone, please stand up."
All the ladies then stood up.
Concubine Chen Hui: "Please sit down. Don't be shy."
Everyone take their seats.
After that, Concubine Chen Hui said some encouraging words, and the palace servants served dishes, fruits and wine.
Yingbao discovered that the dishes on her side were more sumptuous than those on A Niang's side, with a few more dishes.
Even the containers used to hold the food are different.
Even so, the ladies were extremely cautious when eating, and would put down their chopsticks after taking only a small bite.
During the banquet, there were performances by geishas from the Jiaofangsi and acrobats performing acrobatics.
A little girl bent her body in half and used her mouth to pick up the silk flowers under the colorful stool.
Yingbao was not in the mood and waited for a long time until the palace banquet was over.
The four concubines left with a group of people, and many imperial edicts followed them to meet their concubines and daughters, so only the women of low rank were left in the hall.
After leaving the hall, Yingbao waited for A Niang and the others to come over, and then left the palace with them.
After walking out of Huitong Gate and getting on the carriage, Yingbao remembered what her master, the emperor, had told her to do, which was to go to the Zichen Palace to see the young talent.
Let’s just forget it.
How can you tell anything just by looking at the appearance
"County Lady, please stay!"
An urgent voice came from behind the car.
Meixiang turned around and saw that it was a eunuch from the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Yingbao stopped the carriage, and saw a teenage eunuch running to the carriage, panting and saying, "County Lady, the emperor wants you to go to the Hall of Supreme Harmony."
"What are we going to do in the Hall of Supreme Harmony?" Yingbao asked.
"I don't know." The young eunuch secretly wiped his forehead with his sleeve. "The emperor said that if you don't go, he will grant you the marriage directly."
Sakura: …
Her master is becoming less and less reliable.
Turning to Chunniang, he said, "Mother, you go home first. Meixiang and I will go and take a look."
"Okay." The emperor wanted to arrange Yingbao's marriage, and Chunniang was actually quite happy.
Now that my daughter has a high status, my husband and I are simply unable to find a suitable husband for her. It is better to give the initiative to her teacher.
It is said that a teacher is a father for life. After all, Zhou Wuchang is Yingbao's senior master, and he will definitely find a good family for her.
Yingbao got off the carriage and walked towards the Hall of Supreme Harmony with Meixiang and Lanxiang.
When we arrived at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, we saw many old ministers heading out of the palace.
Yingbao hesitated for a moment and followed the young eunuch to Liu Garden next to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
In Liu Garden, some young officials were talking in groups of three or four, and they seemed not to notice the woman coming over.
"Yingbao?" A male voice sounded beside him.
Yingbao turned around and saw Wei Zhan and Wen Hengyin standing together, with Zhang Min, Zhou Hao, Jiang Jie, and Jiang Wuhuzi standing next to them.
"Huh? When did you arrive in Beijing?" Yingbao asked.
Wei Zhan chuckled: "Early this morning."
He, Wen Hengyin and Zhang Min rode their horses at full speed and arrived just in time for the New Year's Day palace banquet.
"No wonder." She said, how could this kid not look for Hu Zi and Jiang Wu when he came to Beijing? It turns out he didn't have time.
Wei Zhan scratched his head, stole a glance at Ying Bao, and whispered, "Ying Bao, come here for a moment. I have something to tell you."
"What?" Ying Bao glanced at the others and followed Wei Zhan to the side.
"That's... I heard from Hu Zi that your aunt is going to choose someone for you."
Wei Zhan was a little embarrassed: "I...I want to tell you..."
"What?" Yingbao was curious.
Could it be that this guy wants to recommend himself to me... no, to get married
Wei Zhan gritted his teeth and puffed out his chest: "Well, what do you think of me?"
Yingbao's mouth twitched and she looked him over: "It's okay, just a little darker."
"You..." Wei Zhan said helplessly, "If I cover myself for a few days, I can get rid of it."
"Really?"
"Really, really! I got dark because I was exposed to the sun outside." Wei Zhan patted his chest and said, "Besides, my mother is white, and my father is also white, so there is no reason for me to be dark."
Yingbao resisted the urge to laugh: "Okay, I believe it."
Wei Zhan bared his white teeth and smiled: "Then I will report to His Majesty."
Yingbao nodded.
Since she must choose, then Wei Zhan will be the one.
At least he has a clear mind and can see through things at a glance.
Wei Zhan was so happy that he couldn't stop smiling and ran towards the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
After he received Hu Zi's letter, he did not dare to delay for a moment. He traveled day and night and finally caught up.
Yingbao watched Wei Zhan run away happily, and a warm feeling arose in her heart.
Turning around, I suddenly saw my younger brothers Jiang Jie and Jiang Wu coming towards me.
"Sister, did you choose Wei Zhan?" Jiang Jie asked.
Yingbao nodded.
"Why not choose Wen Hengyin?" Jiang Wu asked.
Yingbao wondered: "Why choose Wen Hengyin?"
Jiang Wu: "I wrote to Wen Hengyin, saying that you were going to choose a son-in-law and asked if he would come over. But when he came, you actually chose Wei Zhan."