"You guys, don't hold back, just go and play if you want, you are still children, but, since you are married, you should know your responsibilities, and you should focus on your children." The Queen Mother finished. He waved everyone away.
Ping An did not leave, and sat there making tea for the Queen Mother.
"Old eight daughter-in-law, it's just right for you to stay and talk to me. I haven't thanked you yet. You saved our Meng family's child."
"The empress dowager speaks seriously, how dare grandson-in-law thank you? As a minister, I should be the savior." Pingan felt that he was getting more and more down-to-earth now, and his flattery was very slippery.
Of course the Empress Dowager liked to hear this, "What are you talking about, child, we are a family now, and you are also the master!"
"Yes, daughter-in-law must remember, she won't lose face to our royal family."
"How could you lose face? Now the common people like you very much. I know you have done a lot of good things."
"Does the Queen Mother know that I have a Zhuangzi in the suburbs? I have a lot of delicious and interesting things in it, all of which are new varieties. If the Queen Mother doesn't dislike it, one day I will send some new things to the Queen Mother. I promise you will like it." Ping'an spoke a little more casually. Now that he has expressed his determination, he is now a family.
"I heard... I heard what you did..."
"Mahjong." Ping An said with a smile.
"Yes, yes, is that fun?"
"It's very fun, and it's the best way to pass the time when you're bored! I'll make a pair for you when I get back, and then teach you how to play."
"Okay, I'm bored in this palace, I can play with the concubines." The queen mother became happy.
"Then what is there to eat in your village?" the queen mother asked.
Ping An told about some of the fruits he had grown that were not available in this era, and even drew them for the Empress Dowager to see.
After coaxing the Queen Mother for an hour, Ping An said that she was going to appreciate the chrysanthemums. She actually went to find Chu Jun. After all, she was from the Eighth Prince's Mansion, so she had to take care of her.
But after searching around, she felt that she might be thinking too much. Mr. Chu didn't need her to take care of her at all. She was sitting in a gazebo by herself, with no one beside her.
"It's quiet here. Concubine Chu likes quietness very much?" Looking at the girl's world-weary face, Ping An felt that this girl was someone with a story.
"See the princess." Chu Jun immediately stood up and saluted.
Ping An asked her to get up and sat down.
"My concubine always likes to be quiet, not lively." Chu Jun replied respectfully.
"Oh, do you do the same at home?"
"almost."
"..."
"Princess, please drink tea." The servant girl poured her a cup of tea.
Ping An picked it up and drank a couple of sips, but didn't say anything, just looked at the pots of chrysanthemums beside him.
When the time was almost up, the Empress Dowager asked everyone to disperse.
Ping An and Chu Jun left together, and when passing through an arch, Chu Jun's body suddenly staggered two steps forward, Ping An grabbed her to prevent her from falling.
Looking aside again, a woman was walking forward as if nothing had happened, as if everything had nothing to do with her.
Ping An pushed Chu Jun away, stepped forward and slapped the woman on the face.
The screams sounded, and the woman's expression was in disbelief, and the servant girl beside her immediately shouted, "You are so bold, you dare to hit our tenth concubine!"
"I'm the eighth concubine! I'm your concubine, what's wrong with beating you?" Ping An took a step forward, scaring the tenth concubine back.