On the first and second days of the lunar calendar, Jiang Changning did not go back to her mother's home, but because of her relationship with Prince Jin, she and Princess Jiashan became like mother and daughter. That day, the couple took Xiao Ming to the Xinjian County Mansion.
When I entered the Duke's mansion, I saw the imperial physician coming out with a medical box.
"Who in the mansion is feeling unwell?" asked Prince Jin.
The young Duke smiled and said, "My father feels a little unwell."
On New Year's Eve, the Duke of Xinjian was still in high spirits. How come he felt unwell just one day later
When he saw Princess Jiashan, Jiang Changning asked with concern, "Why is the Duke of the County sick?"
Princess Jiashan complained bluntly, "Yushilou launched a new brew, and he drank too much and ate the cold crystal braised pork. He got diarrhea and couldn't get out of bed. He deserved it."
The corner of Jiang Changning's mouth twitched slightly. They are really very young.
The Grand Princess Jiashan liked Xiao Ming very much, and she showed it by giving him a big red envelope. Jiang Changning only saw the exact denomination of the money when he returned home: it was six thousand six hundred and sixty-six taels.
Four sixes, really a lucky number!
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Prince Qing's Mansion held a banquet. Although Jiang Changning hated the Palace, they had not really fallen out with each other, so he still had to go to the banquet with Prince Jin.
As soon as she entered the hall, Princess Yiya greeted Jiang Changning as if nothing had happened, and Zheng Mingzhu also called her sweetly, "Aunt."
Looking at Zheng Mingzhu with her thin arms, thin legs and slender waist, Jiang Changning frowned slightly. With Zheng Mingzhu looking like a chicken, could she be rescued from the lake
Zheng Mingzhu tried hard to establish a relationship with Jiang Changning, but married women and unmarried girls have different circles and talk about different topics.
Before Jiang Changning could chase them away, someone said, "County Lady, the girls are dancing the Flower God over there."
Go play with the girls now, and don't get in the way of them gossiping about other people's private lives.
"Those are things little girls like to play. I haven't played them for a long time." Zheng Mingzhu smiled at Jiang Changning, "I want to accompany Aunt Jiang."
"Good boy, Prince Qing's mansion is hosting a banquet today, so we can't trouble you to stay here to entertain the guests. It's New Year's Day, go out and have fun, have some fun, don't stay here." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
After hearing this, Zheng Mingzhu didn't want to stay and said, "Aunt Jiang, your voice is so nice. Can I go to Prince Jin's Mansion to chat with you in the future?"
"You girl, you are making fun of me as if I were a nightingale." Jiang Changning said with a stern face.
"No, Aunt Jiang, I. I." Zheng Mingzhu was born into a noble family and people always tried to please her. She never tried to please anyone and she didn't know how to please anyone.
"Don't be angry, Princess. She is just a child and can't speak. You should be more magnanimous and don't bother with her. County Princess, go and play with the girls." Wen Bingqing tried to smooth things over.
Zheng Mingzhu left helplessly. This Princess of Jin was really hard to please.
As soon as she walked away, the Dewang Crown Prince's wife asked in a low voice: "Ningning, why do I feel like she is trying to please you?"
"You're wrong. Why should I please her?" Jiang Changning decided to play dumb.
"There are at least two reasons why she should please you." The Princess Consort of Prince De stretched out two fat fingers and said.
Jiang Changning waved his hand. "No matter what the reason is, I don't need her flattery. By the way, why didn't Princess Yu come today?"
It’s better not to say some things explicitly, just leave them vague.
The Dewang Crown Prince's wife was a smart person. Seeing that she didn't want to talk about it, she changed the subject as she wished, "I heard that Princess Wenhe is not feeling well."
"I heard that he can't eat anymore. I guess it will just take a few days." Zeng Zhaofu said in a low voice.
"Birth, aging, sickness and death are inevitable." Jiang Changning sighed.
The atmosphere was stagnant, and everyone's mood was affected. Wen Bingqing hurriedly said, "It's New Year's Day, let's not talk about this, let's listen to the opera, this is a new play."
On the stage, the actors were singing: "My little servant is too willful in his words. Every word you say hurts your father's heart."
"What kind of play is this? Why is it about breaking off an engagement?" Zeng Zhaofu asked.
The wife of the Prince of De replied, "This is a new play. I haven't seen it yet. I don't think it's a tragedy, but a happy one."
Jiang Changning heard the maid ask: Where is the third lady going
The one dressed as a young lady sang: Go to the cold kiln and hide yourself.
He knew what play this was and said with a smile, "This play is adapted from the storybook 'The Cold Cellar'. You must have seen 'The Cold Cellar'."
At this time, she saw Zheng Mingzhu coming over again, and deliberately raised her voice: "This Third Sister Wang has a problem with her brain. She is a daughter of a prime minister, and should be married to a minister who can stabilize the country, but she wants to marry a beggar. It's not a good match."
Although she felt that Zhou Duxin was more than a match for Zheng Mingzhu, Zhou Duxin had no feelings for Zheng Mingzhu, so she had to help Zhou Duxin break off this evil relationship.
Marriage is a union of two families, and it has to be mutually willing. If only one side is enthusiastic, it won't work.
"This Third Sister Wang is a silly woman. She could have married a good family of equal status, but she chose to marry a beggar. She has been staying in the cold kiln for eighteen years while her husband has married another woman outside." Zeng Zhaofu chimed in.
"As the saying goes, a woman's marriage is her second reincarnation, so she must open her eyes and find a good family." Wen Bingqing also said.
Under Jiang Changning's guidance, several people chatted about the issue of marriage. In a nutshell, the marriage must be between people of equal social status, otherwise there will be all kinds of troubles.
Jiang Changning didn't know whether Zheng Mingzhu had listened to these words or not, and of course she didn't intend to wake Zheng Mingzhu up with just a few words.
She said these words just to show her attitude so as to prevent Zheng Mingzhu from bothering her again.
She would not just let go of the fact that Princess Yi Ya wanted to push her into the lake and ask Zheng Mingzhu to save her. One of them, mother and daughter, had to go to the lake, otherwise, she would not be able to quell the anger in her heart.
Jiang Changning had not yet figured out how to get one of the Zheng mother and daughter into the lake. On the fifth day of the New Year, the Prince of Runan held a banquet.
The Queen Mother of Runan hired a group of skilled craftsmen to carve many beautiful ice sculptures in the garden.
Princess Huizhu couldn't resist the girls' request, so she took them to the garden to see the ice sculptures.
"Let's go and take a look." Zeng Zhaofu said excitedly.
"I won't go. I'm pregnant and it will be troublesome if I slip." said the Crown Princess of Prince De.
Jiang Changning also shook his head and said, "It's too cold. I don't want to go out."
"It's not very convenient for me to go out." Wen Bingqing said, pressing her stomach.
"Are you pregnant again?" Zeng Zhaofu asked in a low voice.
Wen Bingqing pursed her lips and smiled, "I had a bad day last month. I'll ask the imperial physician to come and see me after the Lantern Festival."
"Congratulations." Several people laughed.
Since none of them went out, Zeng Zhaofu had no interest in going to see the ice sculptures, so they started chatting about parenting.
Just as they were chatting, a maid rushed in and said to Princess Yiya, "Princess, the county lady fell into the water."
Princess Yiya's expression suddenly changed. "Where is my pearl?"
She followed the maid out, and Zeng Zhaofu took Jiang Changning and followed with those noble ladies who loved to join in the fun.
(End of this chapter)