That kind of flower-viewing banquet that invites young men and women, everyone knows it tacitly, and knows that it is called flower-viewing, but it is actually a blind date... Well, it is actually considered flower-viewing, but what you are enjoying may not be the peaches, plums, apricots and pears on the branches. But they are all nephrite flowers in their best years.
Speaking of which, Duke Wuyang was used to hosting such banquets. In his early years, he chose husbands for his daughters. Later, because she was a mess, every family that wanted to propose marriages for their children asked her to help them. A legitimate opportunity to meet face to face.
Therefore, although it was unclear whether the banquet was well-organized or not, the people who received the post did not think much about it: another list of new scholars has been released, and there are many families in Chang'an who have daughters and granddaughters to be married, who are eagerly preparing to choose. A flower-viewing party will be held soon, just in the heart of China!
Some people also thought that Princess Wuyang's only son, Marquis Yichun, had finally improved and was old enough to discuss marriage. At that flower-viewing banquet, Princess Wuyang most likely wanted to pick a daughter-in-law.
Little did he know that the eldest princess was already optimistic about the candidate.
The news of Bu Nao's flower appreciation feast came out, but Queen Meng urgently sent people to the Ningwei Hou Mansion and begged Sheng Weiqiao to bring Sheng Weirao to the palace immediately.
Sheng Weiqiao thought that something had happened to the county lord and the village lord that he had promised before, but when he arrived at Jingshao Palace, he was complained by Empress Meng: "The flower appreciation banquet is about to start, and I don't know how to rush it before the banquet." Sisters came to see him! The banquet was actually a blind date. Before the banquet, the mourning decrees of the county lord and the village lord were sent to the east. By then, our sisters’ faces would be brighter and we would be more popular at the banquet. Are you paying attention?"
"He was thinking that it would only be a few days before Zai Ci enters the palace, so he was afraid of disturbing you." Sheng Weiqiao went to explain, "He was planning to bring his sister to visit him after attending the flower viewing party!"
Empress Meng hates that iron cannot be made into steel: "The eldest princess Wuyang is the most popular noblewoman in Chang'an. When she holds a banquet, almost everyone with a certain status and appearance in Chang'an will come. Among the new scholars who are not married and have decent looks, there are more Or we must catch them all! Such a good opportunity to find a right husband, did I think that if I missed it, I would never see it again? "
"Do I know how many families were choosing a son-in-law at that time?"
"Other families, let's talk quickly. As for the Meng family, their eldest brother, his niece, whom I have met, Shuang Xiao must have asked to go. If Meng Lijiang was not dead, she would definitely have asked to join; the second brother's niece Although her twelfth-generation sister Meng Lili and her niece Shuangyao probably won’t show up that time because something went wrong, she has several sisters of the same age; the third-bedroom’s thirteenth sister Meng Liti and her niece Shuangjiao; the fourth-bedroom’s The eleventh sister Gui Huan... I said that we sisters don’t have any special identities, so how can we stand out among the girls?!"
Sheng Weiqiao said awkwardly: "Why don't they just go over and join in the fun!"
"I went to the banquet with the intention of joining in the fun, but when I turned around my good husbands were picked up by others, so it was time for others to see how fun we were!" Empress Meng lamented, "He used to be silent on such occasions. I have no choice but to be forced by the situation! I have a good opportunity in front of me now, why don’t I know how to cherish it?!”
Sheng Weiqiao couldn't stand it, so she said, "Let me see, won't they be here by then?"
"I told you to bring back a set of jewelry for each of us sisters, but it turned out that I forgot about it because the fifth sister came over and made a scene." Empress Meng then slowed down her tone and said, "Tomorrow is just the right time, he will let someone Bring over some of the latest ones, and we sisters will take a good look at them."
"Wrong, what happened last time... what happened next?" Sheng Weiqiao asked in a low voice.
Queen Meng said nonchalantly: "What's wrong? When he went to Xinshou Palace, it turned out that the fifth sister was crying and complaining in front of her aunt! He rushed to roll up her sleeves and twisted her several times, so she didn't dare to say anything. After he told his aunt the whole story, her aunt was very angry and said that the fifth sister, as his natal sister, didn't even know how to respect him. How could the concubines in the harem not take his queen seriously?"
"So he asked her to kowtow to him and apologize, pour tea and admit her mistake... Aunt Bu Nao also said privately that he had wronged the fifth sister and it was too shameful. He promised her that she would not care about it, and she got over it."
Sheng Weiqiao breathed a sigh of relief and was begging to shut up when Queen Meng said again, "He has already told his aunt to tell the fifth sister and her family to go back to Jiangnan first! At that time, the Meng family and the King of Gaomi were working hard. She is looking for the wrong person to cause trouble. With the temperament of the fifth sister and her son, they will succeed more than they will ruin. Sooner or later, staying in Chang'an will be a disaster! My aunt also feels that if she continues to make troubles eastward, the Wu'an Marquis Mansion will become more and more alienated. If she had taken advantage of the situation in the past two months, He asked Mrs. Wu'an Hou to deny his second aunt the opportunity to come to the palace to pay her respects. His second aunt promised to pack their things for the family and send them back. The trip must be within those few days. That Gao Chengxuan had his leg broken, and if he hurts his muscles for a hundred days, there is a 100% chance that he will not be able to enjoy the flower viewing feast."
"That matter really worries you!" Sheng Weiqiao said gratefully, "He is really afraid that something unpleasant will happen if he meets Fifth Miss and her son at the flower viewing party."
Queen Meng smiled and said: "Princess Wuyang has strong legs and wrists. Generally speaking, the banquets she holds will not cause any trouble. Even if it happens, I will go to her in time and she will definitely be able to handle it."
Until she said that, Queen Meng noticed Sheng Weirao coming with Sheng Weiqiao, raised her eyebrows and said, "My sister, she looks very similar to me. She doesn't look like a cousin, but a bit like a biological sister." .”
As soon as she mentioned the resemblance between Sheng Weirao and Sheng Weiqiao, Sheng Weiqiao consciously remembered the time when Sheng Weirao was mistaken for her Lu Yuan. She felt uncomfortable in her heart. Dong consciously suppressed it and smiled: "Is that true?" She doesn’t have any biological sisters, so she looks like a cousin just like a biological sister.”
"We are all so familiar, it would be a mistake not to call him empress." Empress Meng listened, thought for a while, and said, "He had given himself a name before, called 'Qinglang'. After the month, we are so private." Shut up Dong, you might as well just call him by his name."
Because Sheng Weiqiao was already used to the Queen's warmth, he pondered for a while and said cheerfully: "Okay! He got hairpin last year, and his father also named him 'Junmu', so he said This is the first time I’ve told anyone about it.”
"Junmu?" Queen Meng repeated, a little strange, "That word is not like what we girls use at home."
Doesn't it contain any powdery smell... It doesn't contain any powdery smell at all.
"Both he and his mother thought that the girl's name was too fancy. It was originally called 'Yanmu' according to his grandfather's intention, but his father felt that 'Yanmu' was too girly and not as simple as 'Junmu' ." Sheng Weiqiao said a little helplessly, "That's why he has been in Chang'an for so long and has never introduced his name to anyone. Apart from the fact that he has not particularly sought a good female companion, he feels that that name is really a bit inappropriate. satisfy."
"Your Majesty, that's not for my own good." Empress Meng suppressed her laughter and consoled her, "He was reading and saying that there was a talented woman in the previous dynasty. When she was eight or nine years old, her father pointed out to Jing Wu that 'the pyrene tree was used to remove liquid in the courtyard. "The branches are flying into the clouds," and he was asked to continue, and he replied, "The branches welcome the birds from the north and south, and the leaves are carried by the wind." His father was unhappy, thinking that the meaning was ominous. Later, the talented woman fell into prostitution due to the loss of her father. [Note]…I think about it, if your father is going to choose the word that looks like a man for me, should there be any taboos? After all, whether your father has been in the Han Dynasty or not, he has profound knowledge, so he has his own considerations."
Although Sheng Weiqiao felt that the words given by his biological father were a bit deceptive, he also knew that his parents valued him so much and refused to follow his own rules. There must be a reason, so he just complained a few words and said with a smile: "He likes me more." The word sounds like it can be used by both men and women, but it is much more poetic than his word."
Empress Meng smiled and said, "The name Bu Nao is the same."
But I thought in my heart, he didn’t choose the word by himself, but I didn’t consult my grandfather and parents together, and it wasn’t even decided after a dispute. I envy the way his word sounds nice, why doesn’t he envy my father’s doting on my mother? , there is a great-grandfather here who values me
Empress Bu Nao Meng was wrong about family affection and did not hate attachment, so she let it go after thinking about it and asked Sheng Weirao, "What do you call Miss Sheng Fourth?"
"The fourth sister's maiden name is 'Weiluo'. She is one year younger than him and will only be fifteen next year. She is not as hairy as a hairpin, so she has no word." Sheng Weiqiao originally planned to let Sheng Weirao answer by herself, but seeing that she was too nervous to shut up, Go answered on his behalf, "His sister grew up in Nanfeng County. She doesn't go out much. She sees few people. I won't be surprised by Qinglang's behavior."
Empress Meng's interest in Sheng Weirao was unusual, but she was worried that Sheng Weiqiao had brought her here because she was afraid that Sheng Weiqiao would lose face if she continued to ignore the girl's words.
At that time, he felt a little interested, so he turned to shut up with Sheng Weiqiao.
In this way, the two sisters were left to have lunch in Jingshao Hall. They were not allowed to leave until the sun was almost setting in the evening.
Sheng Weiqiao and Sheng Weirao walked out of the palace gate and watched the carriage leave the imperial city for some time. Sheng Weirao suddenly asked: "Third sister, he heard that the palace people around the Queen are favored by some who are granted the title of female official? It seems that they won't be able to do so tomorrow. Did you see it?"
"Is there anyone who has been granted the title of female official? Queen Bu Nao has not been in the palace for a long time, so she is probably very famous." Sheng Weiqiao didn't think much after hearing this, and said casually, "It should be sealed in the future. If we can enter the palace by then, We met, so I must give you an extra congratulations."
Sheng Weirao was thoughtful for a moment, then suddenly said: "Third sister, do I think he can go into the palace and serve as a female officer for the queen?"
"Why would I have such thoughts?!" Sheng Weiqiao asked in shock, "I thought being a female official would be a good job? To be honest, wouldn't it be better to be a slave and serve people?"
"... He doesn't really want to get married." Sheng Weirao sighed and said, "He used to... I also know about the third sister. In fact, he didn't want to come to Chang'an that time. However, his grandmother came to persuade him in person. Thinking of how he had treated his grandmother so wrong the year before last, she would not care about him now. If he refused again, it would really hurt her heart. When it comes to getting married, does he really... Anyway, there will be no shortage of his share in the family. Can't we just let him live in peace and quiet, well-clothed and well-fed?"
Sheng Weiqiao didn't know how to answer that question, so he asked after a while: "Did you mention that idea to your grandfather?"
"Of course I mentioned it." Sheng Weirao smiled bitterly, "Father Shun helped him mention it to his grandmother... Then my grandmother cried, saying how could a girl not get married?" He comforted him and said that he would find a way to choose a good one for him. After going through so many troubles, he was too embarrassed to talk about it anymore. So just now I saw that the Empress and the third sister seemed to be very nice, so I was thinking about asking her to help him get an errand like a female official, so that he could go into the palace and hide for a while? Of course, he just suddenly thought of saying that, and he may not really ask for it... Don't worry about it, third sister. He knows that the Queen is wrong and our sisters are already very good, and if she tries to push beyond the limit, she is suspected of being greedy. "
Sheng Weiqiao felt sad after hearing this, and after a while he said: "If you don't get here, why don't you have a flower-viewing banquet? Can you please let me watch the banquet? I really don't like it. Let's go back to grandma and try it together."
Sheng Weirao said "hmm", but his face didn't look like he had any hope.
[Note] Apart from being very young, everyone knows Xue Tao’s story, right