Empress Ma secretly said, "Perhaps she wants to know that it's time to look for a crown princess."
Pingyang couldn't help but cover his mouth and laugh. Her temperament was not as gentle as Queen Ma's, but as bright and bright as a peony, even with a little heroic spirit.
"Erlang will be crowned emperor in two years. It's outrageous that there is no caring person in the East Palace."
"Yes, you also know his temperament. He has had his own opinions since he was a child. We can't get involved in many things. It all depends on his wishes. Now that he has figured it out, we will arrange it for him."
So the mother and daughter discussed the spring banquet in detail.
To hold such a banquet, it was difficult for the palace officials to come forward, so Pingyang took charge of the event.
Firstly, it is much more convenient to meet the girls, and secondly, the selection of the crown princess is a big deal, but we don't want to be too high-profile, so it is best to handle it in the princess palace.
Pingyang had experience in hosting banquets. After discussing with Queen Ma, he personally visited Yong'an Palace.
At that time, Zhao Yue was reviewing and approving memorials. He had been doing this job for two or three years.
The prince supervises the country, and all government affairs are handled by him and the prime ministers of the political affairs hall. His father can be said to have no worries. He spends his days either eating and drinking, playing musical instruments, or composing a few pieces of music. The boy's life is not very good at all.
Sometimes he would be tired, but he didn't know how to pity him. He justly said that he should work hard at his young age before he could grow into a towering tree and protect all the people in the beam to live and work in peace and contentment.
Zhao Yue hates that iron cannot become steel. He has been worrying about his father's future since he was four years old. Even the donkey at the entrance of the village is not as hardworking as him!
Aunt Yu entered the palace to serve tea. Seeing that he didn't stop for a long time, she said, "Your Highness, please rest for a while. Don't hurt your eyes."
Zhao Yue said "Huh", and when she saw a typo on the memorial, she got obsessive-compulsive disorder and couldn't help but circle it with a red pen to correct it.
There are a lot of typos in this memorial, there are actually four!
At this time, I suddenly heard that Eunuch Wei came to report that Princess Pingyang was here.
Zhao Yue made a gesture, and Eunuch Wei led Pingyang to the side hall.
He just finished correcting the typos on the memorial and read it twice to make sure there were no mistakes before putting down the ink pen and heading to the side hall.
The two siblings saluted each other, and after they took their seats, Pingyang said, "I just came from Aniang's side, are Erlang busy now?"
Zhao Yue smiled and said, "I'm just about to take a break."
The maid came into the palace to serve tea, and Pingyang watched his younger brother chatting about family matters.
When it came to the political affairs of the court, she couldn't help but talk about her old father's inaction, "It's not easy for Erlang since he was a child. Don't take advantage of your youth to ruin your health. There are many things that should be taken care of by the political hall, so let them do it. If everything is done How can you bear the burden of doing it yourself?"
Zhao Yue said sternly: "Sister, you are right. My grandfather left a group of mainstays to my father. All of them are reliable. I don't do everything myself, so there is no need to worry."
Pingyang nodded, "That's good. At your age, you should be high-spirited and unscrupulous. How could you ever want to live like an ascetic, working hard on government affairs every day, without any vitality."
Zhao Yue grinned.
Pingyang picked up the tea bowl and took a sip, then returned to the topic, "Just now, my mother-in-law told me that you wanted to hold a spring banquet, right?"
Zhao Yue said "hmm", "As my sister said, I haven't had any vitality at all since I saw the whole day, so I want to take advantage of the good spring weather to relax and unwind."
Pingyang didn't ask him, he just said: "Aniang asked me to go back and draw up a list of banquets. You can also tell me who Erlang wants to invite. Don't omit them."
Zhao Yue replied slyly: "Sister, I think so."
Pingyang secretly guessed: "Does Erlang have someone in his heart?"
Zhao Yue laughed, "I am busy in the palace every day. I have never been out of the palace, and I have never attended any banquets. How can I care about the love of my children?"
Speaking of this, Pingyang said: "You, you have had an idea since you were a child. I am anxious and dare not nag you for fear of annoying you. Now that you are old enough, it is time to put this matter on the agenda."
Zhao Yue said perfunctorily: "It's better to lack than to abuse, just let it happen."
Afterwards, the two siblings chatted for a long time before Pingyang went back home.
Three days later, when the spring banquet invitation was delivered to Prince Qing's Mansion, Cui Wenxi was not there. Last time she asked Fang Ling to arrange for servants to take care of the house in Changlingfang when she was free, so she went over to take a look today.
The three-entry courtyard is at the end of the street in Changlingfang. It is quite clean. It was originally bought by the Duke's Palace from a merchant and given to Cui Wenxi as a dowry. It has always been vacant and has never been occupied.
When the carriage from Prince Qing's Mansion arrived at the gate, the servants were already waiting at the gate.
Fangling opened the carriage curtain and helped Cui Wenxi out of the carriage. The servants saluted respectfully.
The two stone lions at the entrance of the house have been wiped spotless, the red lacquer door has also been repainted, and the high blue brick walls and green tiles contrast with each other, and there is a sense of peace and tranquility left over from the years everywhere.
A group of people walked into the courtyard. There was a row of green bamboos at the door. In the corner, a clump of bananas grew freely, and the green color was very eye-catching.
Cui Wenxi loves those green plants with strong vitality. Seeing them, no matter how depressed they are, will be cured.
Entering the main courtyard, the assorted flower window verandahs on both sides surround the entire courtyard. There is a cobblestone path under the stone steps, and finely tended ornamental orchids are placed on the strange stones on the side.
An old pear tree takes root and grows on the east side of the courtyard. It has thick roots and luxuriant branches. The fruit it bears is particularly sweet. In the past, pears would be picked and eaten when they were ripe.
Fangling seemed to have some words for it, saying: "Pear should not be grown in the courtyard."
Cui Wenxi laughed and joked: "The poor are very particular. If the world puts all the charges of separation on its head, wouldn't it be an unjust death?"
Fang Ling was silent, "It feels unlucky anyway."
Cui Wenxi: "You still said, be careful not to bear pears for you to eat this year."
Fang Ling had to admire her good attitude. Ever since the palace persuaded them to make peace, the couple had been fighting a cold war. She was just like a normal person, eating and drinking when she should, without falling behind.
The master and servant went up the stone steps and strolled on the verandah with assorted flower windows.
The verandah uses the traditional red and green colors, and the green on the square columns has begun to fade over time.
The beams are painted with exquisite patterns in red and blue, and the newly hung red lanterns add a touch of life to the fading verandah.
Fang Ling felt that the verandah was a bit old and said, "It's time for a new coat of paint on the verandah."
Cui Wenxi: "Write it down first, and arrange it after reading it."
The house has five main rooms, three east and west wing rooms, ten back and back rooms, and a row of group rooms, totaling thirty-six rooms, which is enough for Cui Wenxi to send his servants to live.
She carefully inspected every corner of the front yard and back yard.
Some doors and windows are too old, some green plants are unsightly and need to be trimmed, some appliances need to be re-polished and recolored, and two window lattice do not meet her aesthetics, and she requested to change them to another pattern, etc.
Those who are dissatisfied and need rectification are all written down and handed over to the domestic slaves, so that they can deal with them in their free time.
She also has three properties in Beijing. They were vacant before she was not short of money. Now she can rent them and collect some rent.
You must know that every inch of land at the emperor's feet is precious. If a house is rented to a merchant, he can collect a lot of rent a year to subsidize her expenses.
Now she is making plans for leaving Prince Qing's Mansion. After all, she has neither her natal family nor her husband's family to rely on. From now on, she will have to manage her own life. She needs to be careful in order to live comfortably.
After explaining clearly the details that needed to be rectified in the yard, the group returned to Prince Qing's Mansion near noon.
Cui Wenxi didn't have much appetite, so he ordered the kitchen to prepare a bowl of steamed buns.
Fang Ling served her and changed into home clothes.
The housekeeper came over to present the invitation from Pingyang Mansion. After the master and servant came out of the dressing room, Fang Ling stepped forward to take it and handed it to Cui Wenxi.
The housekeeper said: "This spring banquet invitation was sent from Pingyang Mansion this morning. I would like to ask my wife to take a look."
Cui Wenxi sat on the Grand Master's chair and casually opened the invitation, quite surprised, "It's really strange. Princess Pingyang hasn't hosted a banquet for a long time. Did you say anything there?"