As the Hungry Ghost Festival approaches, signs of festive celebrations can be seen everywhere in Xiadu.
Since the eldest lady Lan Caier is still in seclusion, this time during the Ghost Festival, Lan Yingwu took his beloved wife Mrs. Lan and the newly recognized Second Miss Lan to the palace to participate in the Zhongyuan feast.
Xiadu has already entered autumn, this season, sweet osmanthus is fragrant, everywhere in Xiadu is filled with fragrance.
Early in the morning, Lan Lingyue was well-groomed by Mrs. Lan. Even General Lan, who was usually slovenly, shaved his beard clean. Around evening, the family of three boarded a carriage and drove to the palace. go.
When they arrived at the gate of the palace, lanterns had already been hung inside and outside the palace, and the carriages were parked outside the palace wall one by one according to the rank of the officials.
The Xiadu Imperial Palace was built over a thousand years ago, and it is a palace covering an area of hundreds of acres.
Over the years, it has been continuously renovated and repaired, and the atmosphere is full of antique flavor.
"Lingyue, the palace's Hungry Ghost Festival banquet is divided into female guests' banquet and male guest's banquet. You and your mother will attend the female guests' banquet in the harem. This year's female guests' banquet is hosted by the empress dowager. You only need to Just follow your mother." After arriving outside the palace, Lan Yingwu separated from the two.
Mrs. Lan, who was dressed as a lady of the third rank, took Lan Lingyue's hand and got into a chariot.
In the summer palace, the winding paths are deep and deep, and the colored lights of various colors are like long dragons, reflecting the bright lights of the entire harem.
The wives of each family and their female relatives, all dressed up brilliantly, got out of the chariot one by one.
For the noble ladies of Xiadu, the annual Hungry Ghost Festival is not just as simple as a banquet. In addition to wooing relationships, the banquet is also a good occasion to show themselves and their daughters. The queen mother or the head mother of the Hou's mansion fell in love with her, and they got married.
When Mrs. Lan and Lan Lingyue got out of the carriage, they saw a group of well-dressed ladies and officials, walking towards the Empress Dowager's Baifeng Palace.
It has been more than a year since Mrs. Lan left Xiadu, and she was about to say hello to a few ladies whom she had known in the early years. Who would have known that when those noble ladies and ministers' wives saw her and Lan Lingyue, they were like a cat seeing a mouse? , hastily avoided.
Even a few old acquaintances were like this, which made Madam Lan a little embarrassed.
"Mrs. Lan." Just as Mrs. Lan didn't know what to do, another carriage came beside her, and a woman and a girl got off from it.
"Ling Yue, I met you. I mentioned you to my mother earlier." It was Feng Xue and her mother, Mrs. Feng who got out of the car.
Mrs. Feng is in her late forties, and she looks very kind-hearted.
She and Mrs. Lan had no friendship at first, but after her daughter Fengxue and Lan Lingyue became friends, as a mother, she also had a good impression of the Lanfu family.
Not long after, Liu Cheng's mother also came, she brought two ladies from Taishi's mansion, and Liu Cheng followed Liu Taishi to the main hall of the palace for a banquet.
The mothers of the two respected Mrs. Lan very much, but they chatted after a while.
"Just now, I saw that everyone was avoiding me, what happened?" Mrs. Lan was puzzled.
"This... Madam Lan, the other ladies are ignoring you, I'm afraid it's because of this post." Madam Feng and Madam Liu knew something about this matter, and they both took out a post.
The post was sent by the Hong Mansion the day before the Zhongyuan Palace Banquet, and all the wives of officials above rank five in the city received this post, and they were invited to the Hong Mansion to attend the tea banquet.
Mrs. Feng and Mrs. Liu did not attend the banquet because they had a normal relationship with the Hong family, but I heard from the wives who went with them that some unfavorable news about Mrs. Lan was told at the banquet.
To the effect that Mrs. Lan is a cowardly and useless person, even a bastard of unknown origin is made to recognize her ancestors.
The second daughter of the Lan family is a rough village woman who can't seduce a man. A few days ago, she and the young lady of the Hong family openly competed for animal eggs in the animal pet shop.
It's repayable. These days, there are not many unmarried daughters in any family. If you get involved with the second lady of the Lan family, not to mention being spoiled, even your boudoir name will be damaged. How to get married.
Therefore, when other official wives saw Mrs. Lan, they would look shy.
"What a Hong family, it really is narrow-minded, but they just robbed them of a few eggs, and they used this method." Feng Xue who was on the side heard this, and suddenly burned with anger, and complained on Ye Lingyue's behalf.
Needless to say, this matter has something to do with Zhuge Rou's mother and daughter.
"Ling Yue, this kind of thing is not uncommon in Xiadu's circle. Mother doesn't like to be friends with those who listen to rumors casually. Let's go in and have a banquet." Madam Lan didn't take it too seriously. .
Madam Feng and Madam Liu admired her for her openness. The three talked and laughed, and brought their daughters into Baifeng Palace.
Once entering Baifeng Palace, most of the seats are already filled.
Originally, according to the ranking, Mrs. Lan and Ye Lingyue should be sitting in the middle. At this time, their seats have been snatched by several officials' wives, and the mother and daughter can only sit at the bottom.
At the banquet, Ye Lingyue suddenly felt two unkind eyes, and when she looked back, she happened to see Hong Yuying and Nangong Qinglin.
Nangong Qinglin and Hong Yuying exchanged handkerchiefs, and they were sitting at the banquet right now, biting their ears, not knowing what they were talking about, but seeing how they gritted their teeth, they stared fiercely at the same time Ye Lingyue could tell that the two of them must not have said anything good.
But at the palace banquet, Ye Lingyue did not see An Minxia. She thought that her daughter hadn't recovered from being bitten by a poisonous bee on the face, so she didn't dare to attend such public occasions.
"Did you see that, that is the second young lady whom Lan Fu just recognized. Look at her appearance, she doesn't even have any decent jewelry."
"That's right, even Miss Lan refused to come to the banquet, it must be because she doesn't recognize this bastard."
Ye Lingyue heard all kinds of buzzing and creaking voices, and she felt emotional in her heart. Luckily, Lan Caier didn't make it through the retreat. Otherwise, with her fiery temper, the palace banquet would come before it even started. Gong scolded.
Seeing the mother and daughter of the Lan family ignoring other people's comments, the ladies gradually lost interest, and the topic shifted to some favorite topics among women.
For example, whose master or young master has been promoted again, and which family has taken in a concubine. From clothes and jewelry to skin care products, the content of the women's conversation can be said to be varied.
"Mrs. Lan, you look so young, but what kind of beauty cream do you use?" Mrs. Feng who was at the side looked at Mrs. Lan under the dim light.