As the wife of the big house of the Sima family, Mrs. Zheng would not easily go to a party in the capital, but if she wanted to go out, she would definitely pay attention to everything from her hair to her heels. Even the most critical person would not be able to tell if she saw her. a bad one.
The maid squatted on the ground and pressed the skirt for her, the faint flowers flowing like water lines, low-key and luxurious.
Sima Ling sat next to her, looked at her mother surrounded by several maids, and whispered, "Mother, the third sister came to see me yesterday."
"What else do their family want to do?" Mrs. Zheng stretched out her hand, and the maid put a gold-wire beaded bracelet on her wrist.
"The third sister wants you to take her to today's banquet." Sima Ling frowned, feeling a little embarrassed about the third cousin's request.
"What is the occasion today, can the people in the third room not know about it?" No matter how well-bred a relative of the third room is, Zheng's family will inevitably be dissatisfied, "Today's tea party, the second girl of the Gu family will also be there. What are the people in the third room doing?"
Sima Ling was silent and did not speak.
"The ridiculous things they made caused our Sima family to lose face not once or twice. Now they are still thinking about going to the tea party, what are their family's minds thinking?" Zheng Shi said coldly, "In the future, if there is a second girl from the Gu family, On occasions, all the people in the three rooms must be avoided by me, and even if I don’t mind, their hosts may not welcome them.”
"Where is the third aunt..." Sima Ling thought of the stubborn third aunt, her brows furrowed even tighter. The third room is now doing things more and more out of order, and many times she doesn't want to pay attention to them.
"You don't need to worry about Sanfang," Zheng shi walked in front of Sima Ling, and said in a flat tone, "Sanfang has done something ugly. You are going to get married in the first month of the month, so it's better to stay away from them."
"My daughter understands." Sima Ling knew that her mother would not bring Sima Xiang to more important occasions in Beijing in the future.
She never thought that the throne of the queen would fall to Gu Rujiu. So now, when I think about the affairs of the three-bedroom family and the Gu family, there are some contradictions. When her mother mentioned the marriage in the first month, her face showed a bit of shame.
Originally, the marriage between her and the son of the Shen family had been arranged as early as two years ago, but the elders of the Shen family had not moved into the capital yet, and the son of Shen wanted to settle in Beijing, so the wedding date was set for the first month of next year.
"Guess the family's temper," Zheng Shi seemed to appreciate it and seemed helpless, "Do you remember what happened to the Queen Mother Qianqiu and Taihe's other palace last year?"
"The third cousin was frightened by a wild cat?" Sima Ling asked.
"No," Zheng shi shook his head, "The incident of the black cat running into the girl's carriage may be a coincidence, or it may be man-made, but it is definitely not the work of the Gu family. The Gu family has arrogance in their bones, so how could they use such a method. "
"What I'm going to talk about is that the girl Xiangu lost in the horse race to the second girl of the Gu family," Zheng shi stretched out her white fingers and asked the maids to dye their nails bright red, "The pride of the Gu family is here, he If you don’t let your beauty, you will inevitably be overwhelmed by your strength. This kind of family usually acts benevolent, but if they offend them, they will trample you into the mud, and it will be difficult to turn over again.”
Sanfang people are now living in the capital in an undisturbed way, Sima Yue's errand has been lost, and even the clear name of the old man of Sanfang for the first half of his life has been spent cleanly, and Sanfang has gradually become a marginal figure in the capital.
The Gu family almost clearly told everyone in the capital that the Gu family did not want to see the third room of the Sima family. Originally, everyone still cared about the face of their big room, and they were polite to the third room. However, this politeness was gradually worn away because Sima Yue was drunk and complained about the big room.
Now almost the entire capital knows that Sanfang is a white-eyed wolf who holds grudges but does not remember gratitude, and the big room was tortured by Sanfang.
Sanfang was gossiping behind, and their big room was not good-looking, but what Sanfang did was really ugly, so their big room could only protect themselves first.
"I think the second girl from the Gu family...is a very nice person," Sima Ling was silent for a while, "The third aunt curses the Gu family every day at home, which is really inappropriate."
After hearing this, Mrs Zheng didn't speak, she stretched out her hand to support the silk flower by her daughter's temple: "Okay, it's almost time, it's time to go."
This party was held by the princess of the Pingjun Wang family. Because the prince of the Pingjun Wang family was her sister-in-law, she also brought her daughter Sima Ling with her this time.
In the future, when her daughter marries the grandson of the eldest Princess Deyi, she will also have to deal with these royal family members.
The party was half in the garden of the Pingjun Wangfu. Although the old man of Prince Ping had no real power, he lived a very comfortable life. The garden in the palace of the prince was also built very carefully. The concubine Sima put the banquet in the garden, which was a bit elegant.
As the concubine's maiden family, Zheng's intentionally went to the Pingjun palace ahead of time, and by the way helped the concubine to entertain the servants.
With Zheng's help, Concubine Zheng felt a lot more relaxed, and she still had time to chat with Zheng's.
"Fortunately, sister-in-law, you didn't bring the girl from the Sanfang family today, otherwise I'd be really embarrassed." Mentioning the person from the third family family, Concubine Shizi couldn't help but wrinkle her brows.
"Knowing that it was your banquet, how could I embarrass you," Zheng Shi smiled, took a sip of tea from the cup handed over by his daughter, and glanced at the tables and chairs that had been set up in the garden, "It seems that today's Not many guests."
"It's just that my family is sitting together and getting together, why do so many people come to do it?" Concubine Shizi smiled and didn't say anything.
But Zheng Shi understood, I was afraid that today's banquet, the party was a fake, and it was true that he wanted to show his position to Gu's daughter. Previously, because of the Sima family, Prince Ping entered the palace and recommended a girl from the Sanfang family to His Majesty. This wasn't a big deal at first, but now it's bad because Sanfang has a grudge with the Gu family. If this matter committed by the King of Pingjun reaches the ears of the Gu family, who knows what the Gu family will think
Pingjun Wangfu looks noble, but in fact it is just an idle prince without a fief, how dare he really offend the future queen. Even if the old county king was there, His Majesty would not treat him like that. But the old county king is already old, can he protect his family for a lifetime
When the old county king leaves, will his descendants still have a foothold in the court
Zheng shi understands the twists and turns in this, but he will never say it to make the sister-in-law look dull. What's more, if it weren't for the fact that they had the third room of the Sima family, the sister-in-law's family wouldn't be so embarrassed.
Knowing that this topic could not be continued, Mrs. Zheng changed the subject and talked about the scriptures of children, and even praised Jin Xiang a few times, saying that he is now more and more motivated, and he has already helped His Majesty with his affairs.
"It's His Majesty's generosity and willingness to let him run errands and learn to do things." Hearing her sister-in-law praise her son, the smile on the princess' face deepened, and those worries in her heart also eased a lot.
In fact, when His Majesty asked Xiang'er to do the betrothal gift to the Gu family in his place, Concubine Shizi felt faintly that this was His Majesty's warning to their county king's mansion.
The two aunts and sister-in-law talked for a while, and then the guests came one after another. Then Mrs. Zheng found out that, apart from the royal family members, the guests were people who were married to the royal family. As for other aristocratic families, no one was seen. It seemed that her sister-in-law really didn't plan to invite many people to join in the fun.
After most of the guests arrived, everyone sat together to watch the tricks and chat, until the servants came to report, when Mrs. Ningping Hou and the county head of Changyan arrived, the female relatives present showed a warm smile no matter what they were doing.
Concubine Shizi went to the second gate to greet Gu Rujiu's mother and daughter in person, showing a gesture of closeness. Seeing that Mrs. Yang brought Gu Rujiu over, Concubine Shizi was greatly relieved. Gu's willingness to bring Changyan County Master here, at least to show that he still has some closeness to their Pingjun Palace.
"I have seen Concubine Shizi." Gu Rujiu saw Concubine Shizi coming out, smiled and bowed her knees to Concubine Shizi.
"Good girl, you don't need to be so polite," Concubine Shizi shrewdly turned slightly sideways, avoiding the ceremony as if unintentionally, then stepped forward to hold Gu Rujiu's hand, looked at it with a smile, and then said to Mrs Yang, "It's better. The days are gone, and it's becoming a sign." Gu Rujiu is only a small county magistrate now, and she would be too flattering if she returned the gift. But if you directly received the other party's gift, that's not good, after all, this is the future queen. Therefore, it is most appropriate to pretend to be a coincidence to avoid this ceremony, so as not to make people feel that they are eager to please the future queen, and they will not offend the future queen.
Yang Shi humbled herself a few words, and then praised the son and daughter of Concubine Shizi again. After showing a friendly attitude, Concubine Shizi took Gu Rujiu into the garden.
As soon as Gu Rujiu stepped into the garden, everyone else in the garden stood up to greet him. Although they said hello to Mrs. Yang first, everyone knew that the real honorable person was the girl who was led by the concubine.
The nobles always pay attention to their face, and even if they have the intention to please others, they are not willing to let themselves put on an overly flattering posture.
But that's fine, at least they don't have to be embarrassed to each other. As long as Gu Rujiu didn't enter the palace for a day, he would still be the head of Changyan County. Therefore, at the party, she also acted as a junior, and there was nothing wrong with her demeanor, words and deeds. Even a picky person like Zheng should give a heartfelt praise.
After the dinner was opened at noon, everyone present deliberately observed Gu Rujiu's dining attitude, and nodded in their hearts. The demeanor of the Gu family was really good.
After eating, it is trivial things like gargling, washing your hands, and wiping your hands, but even these things require a lot of attention.
When rinsing your mouth, which angle is better to cover the corners of your mouth; when you wash your hands, whether your hands look good or not, will there be splashes; when you wipe your hands, is the posture of the handkerchief elegant enough; these are the special features of noble families. The place to pay attention is also the place where everyone judges the good manners of a noble lady from an aristocratic family.
Gu Rujiu knew that her words and deeds today were infinitely magnified by the female relatives present, but the more she acted like this, the more natural she behaved, as if she didn't know how many people she was attending this banquet today and attracted attention.
After drying her hands, she put down the handkerchief, Gu Rujiu smiled slightly at the maid who was carrying the tray and took the handkerchief. The maid bowed her head and stepped back.
Princess Kangjun is the highest-ranking female relative in the royal family, except for the eldest Princess Deyi. She came from an aristocratic family and silently nodded after watching Gu Rujiu's movements like flowing water.
Elegant manners, neither hurried nor slow, neither arrogant nor impetuous, really good bearing, good education.
After the banquet, Gu Rujiu followed behind Mrs Yang and said goodbye to the host's house. Concubine Shizi sent the mother and daughter to the second door with a smile on her face again, and then asked her personal maid to help the mother and daughter onto the sedan chair and wait for the sedan chair. Disappearing around the corner, she turned and walked back.
She was extremely grateful for her decision today, because although the future queen didn't say a word or walk a step further from the beginning to the end, her intuition told herself that this little girl would be amazing in the future.
Thinking of the worry-free Sanfang at her mother's house, her face darkened slightly, and she found Zheng's who had not left, "sister-in-law, in the future, keep the people in the third room away from Gu's house, and don't easily offend their family."
Seeing the dignified expression on the younger sister's face, Mrs Zheng put down the teacup and said, "Why did my sister-in-law say this?"
Concubine Shizi smiled: "I'm not afraid of your jokes. I think this girl from the Gu family is very extraordinary."
Zheng Shi heard the words and responded with a smile. Although she felt that Gu's daughter was indeed very good, she was not as powerful as her sister-in-law said. It's been more than ten years since my aunt was married to the Prince's Mansion, and it seems that some plants and trees are fighting.
The sedan chair that Gu Rujiu was sitting on stopped after exiting the gate of the Prince's Palace. She helped Qiuluo's men out of the sedan chair, and then got into the carriage.
The carriage did not stop all the way, and went straight back to Gu's house. When the mother and daughter returned to the backyard, Mrs. Yang took off the hairpin on her body and said to her daughter, "Jiujiu, how do you think today's banquet is different from the past?"
Gu Rujiu thought about it for a while: "Those ladies looked at me with a darker look than before, but they paid more attention to me than before."
"When you become a queen, more people will pay attention to you, and the eyes will be more obscure," Yang took off the bracelet and put it in the box, "and more and more people will respect you and hold you, They will even flatter you in front of you. They will say what you want to hear the most, do what you want to do for you, and spare no effort to please you and flatter you. Their posture will not be as subtle and elegant as these ladies today, because some people In front of power, they have no backbone or even face, as long as you can give them what they want, they are even willing to be your dog."
They raised their daughter so well that they had almost no chance to meet such despicable villains. She was worried that her daughter would be accustomed to the manners of people from aristocratic families, and would be coaxed by those flattering villains to do things they shouldn't do after entering the palace.
Gu Rujiu listened to Yang's teaching quietly.
"In front of life and interests, etiquette is the most useless thing," Yang shi walked up to her daughter and said word by word: "My child, after entering the palace, remember my words, I will only tell you this. once."
Gu Rujiu raised her head and saw a complex light in Yang's eyes.
"Don't trust anyone easily, remember, it's anyone."
Gu Rujiu's heart trembled slightly and grabbed Yang's hand: "Even if it's you... is it the same?"
"No one will remain the same forever. Under the temptation of the monstrous power, no one can guarantee that they will not forget their original intentions," Yang shi stretched out his index finger and tapped Gu Rujiu's forehead, "Look at everything with your heart, don't get angry easily, anger is the most It's easy to lose your mind. Know that what the villain loves to do is to provoke your anger and make you act out of tune."
After saying these words, Yang Shi smiled and reached out and touched the top of her hair: "Wei mother knows that you are a smart child."
Feeling the warmth from the top of her hair, Gu Rujiu pursed the corners of her lips and did not speak.
Since the beginning of winter, the capital city has been colder and colder every day. Because of his special status, Gu Rujiu never participates easily in ordinary occasions. But even so, there are more and more people who praise her for her words and deeds, talent and beauty. Even her riding skills have become outstanding in the mouths of everyone, the reason is that she once raced horses in Taihe Bee Palace and took the first place.
Under the high praise of the ladies, Gu Rujiu, the future queen, is destined to return, and the union with the emperor is a blessing, as if the whole Dafeng will be prosperous and strong as long as they become relatives.
When Gu Rujiu stayed at home to learn various palace techniques, Princess Cheng once posted a message to the Gu family, but was rejected by the Yang family for reasons. However, Yang's refusal did not affect Princess Cheng's enthusiasm. Half a month later, she invited the daughters of the Gu family on the grounds of plum appreciation.
Looking at the invitation in her hand, Mrs. Yang looked at Mrs. Hu, her daughter-in-law: "Princess Cheng's thoughts are clever, but it's a pity that she didn't use it properly." Now I know I'm in a hurry, why did you go earlier
The dignified successor of the princess, it's just that he doesn't treat the child left by his original spouse well. Even if he treats him coldly, others will only think that it is human and won't say much. But she is better. Not only does she not take care of others, but she also allows her children to bully her and treat others slowly. That is the eldest son of the royal palace, not some kind of cat or dog.
Well now, the eldest son who was bullied by them was lucky and became the emperor. What's the use of being afraid at the moment, and what's the use of looking for them to take care of the family? Could it be that she thought that the Gu family would help her say good things
To put it horribly, which mother-in-law can see outsiders who are used to bullying her son-in-law
"She might be thinking about going to the doctor in a hurry," Hu Shi sipped her tea, "it's a pity that although she's a little bit alert, her children don't pay much attention to what she's doing. Unfortunately, she looks down to plan around, it's a useless effort. ."
"Let's go if she invites us?" Gu Rujiu, who was sitting next to him, said in a bad tone, "If I were them, I should just stay there and run out to do what would get in your Majesty's eyes?"
Thinking of Jin Yang, the eldest son of the dignified mansion, who was bullied by his stepmother and younger siblings when he was a child, Gu Rujiu felt unhappy in his heart.
You bully people when you want to, but now that they have become emperors, you feel that you regret it, and you want others to forgive you? With such a big face, he is not afraid of falling to the ground.
Seeing the aunt's bad face, Hu Shi knew that she didn't like Princess Cheng's family, so she said: "Princess Cheng's mother and son are used to being praised in Jinzhou, and they thought the capital was Jinzhou, so they couldn't jump up and down. It's for others to see jokes."
Even if the second sister-in-law said so, Gu Rujiu still felt that she was not so pleasing to Princess Cheng's family.
When Princess Cheng received the reply from the Gu family, she still had some expectations in her heart. When she opened it, her face suddenly sank. In half a month, the Gu family refused two invitations in a row. Even if Princess Cheng wanted to ask the Gu family to do things, she was still a little annoyed.
Seeing that her face was not good-looking, the three children helped Princess Cheng to scold the Gu family.
"Okay," Princess Cheng patted the Gu family's reply on the table, took a few deep breaths and said, "Since the Gu family doesn't have time, then forget it, and have the opportunity to invite them again in the future."
"Isn't it because there is an empress in the family, what kind of arrogance." Jin Shuyi said dissatisfiedly, "What's so great about the empress, who knows whether your majesty married her voluntarily or because of the empress dowager."
"No matter what the reason is, she is the future queen," Princess Cheng said tiredly. "It's almost New Year's Eve, the three of you should not go out recently, and learn the rules at home."
Jin Shuyi snorted and didn't speak. When she was in Jinzhou, who dared to let her dignified county master learn the rules? When you arrive in the capital, you can't do this, and you can't go there. What's the point
"If you didn't bully His Majesty today, you wouldn't have to learn these useless rules." Princess Cheng said with a sullen face, "Since you have offended people, you should honestly pick up the rules."
"If you stopped us in the first place, we wouldn't continue to bully him," Jin Shuyi whispered back, "It's not entirely our fault."
Princess Cheng turned pale with anger, and said solemnly, "If you talk back again, don't go out in the future!" After speaking, she got up and left the house regardless of her children's expressions.
Princess Cheng's family is so worried and afraid. For Jin Yang, who has become an emperor, it is not important at all. He is now discussing the specific specifications and procedures of the welcome ceremony with the people from the Ministry of Rites.
The Ministry of Rites meant that it was okay to follow the previous arrangements for the welcome ceremony, but Jin Yang felt a little dissatisfied after reading the flow chart handed over by the Ministry of Rites.
"Since she is my queen, then I should go to greet her in person. What's the point of having the rest of the royal family greet her on her behalf?"
"Your Majesty, you are the son of God, with a noble status, how can you act like an ordinary man? This is absolutely impossible."
"According to the intentions of the ministers, I am the son of heaven, and I cannot say how precious I am. Since the queen is a phoenix, and someone else picks up her relatives, isn't it not respectful enough for the queen?"
The officials of the Ministry of Rites were a little speechless when they heard this. No matter how noble the queen is, it is because the emperor has the queen. How can the two be compared.
"I think that the queen is the wife of the emperor, and the most honorable woman in the world. Who else is worthy of the queen's honor besides me?" Jin Yang closed the flow chart in his hand and went straight to, "My lords, Go back and think about it, if I personally greet the relatives, how should I arrange the etiquette."
Seeing that His Majesty insisted on welcoming the bride in person according to folk marriage customs, the officials of the Ministry of Rites had to compromise. Anyway, it is not without precedent in history that the King of God greets the Queen in person. In the past, there was an emperor who not only stated in the imperial edict that he would never accept a concubine, but also would ride in a carriage with the queen as long as he was accompanied by the queen.
Therefore, they are used to seeing all kinds of strange behaviors of emperors in history, and the officials of the Ministry of Rites have a strong ability to accept them. Anyway, as long as the emperor himself is willing, and there is no principle error, the people of their Ministry of Rites will not deliberately make it difficult for His Majesty.
The harmonious relationship between the emperor and the queen is a good thing for the court, so why not do it for them.