"The plucked harp is called a dunbul, and the mouth harp is called a maken."
"On the 16th day of the first lunar month, the God of Grains comes down to inspect the earth. We should smear black on our faces to pray for the grains to be healthy, for a good harvest, and for a safe family."
Under Jiang Changning's guidance, Mrs. Xia enthusiastically talked about some folk customs of the Xibe ethnic group.
Jiang Changning listened with great interest, but Xia Xueer was impatient and kept rubbing her feet on the ground, so much so that the floor tiles were glistening from her rubbing.
At this time, Fang Ju came in, "Madam, the princess is here."
"Let that girl in." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
Xiao Yu'er was wearing a pink embroidered palace dress with two buns on her head. She was pretty and adorable, but she was holding a bird cage in her hands, which gave off a dandy air.
Jiang Changning rubbed her forehead, unable to bear to look at it. She wanted to raise her daughter to be a lady, but now she has become a prostitute.
When Xia Xueer looked at Xiao Yuer like this, her eyes suddenly lit up.
Xiao Yuer handed the bird cage to Fang Ju and bowed, saying, "My daughter greets the Queen Mother. I pay my respects to her."
"Girl, why are you here when you are not in the study?" Jiang Changning asked in a deep voice.
"Sir, you have asked for leave. You don't need to go over there today." Xiao Yuer sat down next to Jiang Changning with a smile and hugged her arm. "I heard that there is a little beauty here, so I came to see her."
"It's better for you to come over and take Miss Xia to the Imperial Garden for some fun." Jiang Changning said.
"Okay, okay, Miss Xia, please come with me." Xiao Yuer skipped to Xia Xueer's side.
"Be more polite and don't scare Miss Xia." Jiang Changning warned.
"Mother, am I still your most beloved little baby?" Xiao Yuer asked coquettishly.
"No." Jiang Changning replied coldly.
"Mother, did you hear that?"
"What?" Jiang Changning raised his eyebrows.
Xiao Yuer covered her chest with both hands, pretending to be in pain, "The sound of a broken heart."
"Naughty, get out quickly." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
Xiao Yuer took Xia Xueer out, and Jiang Changning continued to chat with Mrs. Xia.
To show their favor and respect, the emperor and empress invited the Xia family to have lunch. The guests included the second prince Xiaobai, the third prince Xiaoqian and Xiao Yuer.
Jiang Changning met Xia Jingran, the youngest son of the Xia family. He looked like his mother and was a very handsome boy.
It was the first time in all these years that Jiang Changning saw a boy whose appearance could be compared with the prince.
Of course, no matter how handsome he is, he is still not as good as her man.
Jiang Changning looked at Emperor Xuanzhi and smiled faintly.
Emperor Xuanzhi felt her gaze, looked back and smiled at her.
The emperor and empress were deeply in love, and their three children were accustomed to it.
Xia Lecheng narrowed his eyes slightly. The Empress Dowager had a very good reputation among the people, but some people also said that she was a witch who bewitched the Emperor so much that he kept six harems empty just for her.
After the meal, the emperor and his ministers all left happily. After the Xia family left, Xiao Yuer accompanied Jiang Changning back to Qiyuan Palace, "Mother, when I have a day off, can I go out of the palace to play with Xueer?"
"Have you made friends with her?"
"It's still in the testing stage." Xiao Yuer answered seriously.
"Tests are tests, no pranks, no bullying, no..."
"Oh, mother, I am sincere in making friends with her. I won't do those things. Don't worry."
Jiang Changning reached out and poked her on the forehead, "Raising a child for a hundred years means worrying about him for ninety-nine years. I can never be at ease with you."
Clearly, the four members of the Xia family were summoned to the palace, but someone deliberately only spread the news that Madam Xia brought her second daughter Xia Xueer to pay a visit to the Queen Mother.
The prince has never married and is now old enough to get married. Everyone is speculating that the queen has been summoning noble ladies from various palaces to select a wife for the prince.
Previously, the Queen Mother only met with noble ladies, but this time she even met Madam Xia. Does the palace plan to marry Xia Xueer to the Crown Prince
The rumor was so convincing that even Xiao Yuer, who had gone out to play with Xia Xueer twice, believed it to be true. "Mother, could Xueer be my sister-in-law?"
"Your brother, the crown prince, is not in the capital yet, how can I easily choose someone for him?" Jiang Changning touched the pigtail hanging on her shoulder, "Xue'er is not a candidate."
Jiang Changning never considered marrying Xia Xueer to the prince. It was not because Xia Xueer was not worthy of him, but because the prince would not like her appearance.
Both she and Emperor Xuanzhi were a bit obsessed with looks, and their children inherited this from them.
Xiao Yu'er is easy to deal with, but the Queen Mother is a bit of a headache.
The next day, Jiang Changning was still having breakfast when the Queen Mother sent someone to summon him. Fu Cui couldn't help but ask, "The Queen Mother summoned you, must it be about the Crown Prince's marriage?"
"Of course it's this matter." Jiang Changning put down the soup spoon and pressed the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief. "There have been many rumors recently. How could the Queen Mother not ask about it? The Queen Mother is anxious to have a great-grandson."
"Will the Empress Dowager decide on Miss Xia just like that?" Fu Cui asked worriedly.
"How is that possible?" Shu Fei glanced at her, "The Queen Mother wouldn't be so unreliable."
After Jiang Changning finished his breakfast, he rinsed his mouth, packed up, and then led his men to the Empress Dowager's Ciren Palace.
When the Queen Mother saw Jiang Changning, she gave him a seat and said directly, "I asked you to come here today because of the prince's marriage."
"I have met many noble ladies these days and picked out a few of them." Jiang Changning said as he handed over the list.
The Queen Mother took the list and looked through it. "Didn't you say you chose the girl from the Xia family?"
"Mother, the rumors are not credible. It was His Majesty who summoned the Xia family into the palace that day. I was just following His Majesty's orders and had no intention of choosing Miss Xia." Jiang Changning explained.
"The position of the Crown Princess is very important. You must choose this person carefully. You must not make any mistakes."
Jiang Changning bowed his head and said, "The Crown Prince's marriage is entirely up to His Majesty. I will follow His Majesty's orders."
The Queen Mother snorted, "Do you think I will believe this?"
"Mother, His Majesty is wise and decisive, and his mind is as clear as a mirror. He will not be influenced by others' words." Jiang Changning rarely talked nonsense, and she refused to admit that she was wrongly accused of misleading the emperor.
"Okay, you don't have to say these polite words to me." The Queen Mother interrupted her.
If you don’t want to say it, then don’t say it. Jiang Changning picked up the cup and drank tea.
The empress dowager also instructed Jiang Changning to serve the emperor well and ask Xiao Yuer to come to Furen Palace more often to talk to her.
Jiang Changning agreed with a smile, and helped the empress dowager take health pills before leaving.
Not far from the Furen Palace, I saw Emperor Xuanzhi walking over.
Jiang Changning walked forward and asked with a smile, "Why is your majesty here?"
"I'm tired of reviewing memorials. Let's go out for a walk." Emperor Xuanzhi took her hand and said, "Come with me to the Imperial Study for lunch later."
"Are there a lot of notes?" Jiang Changning asked.
"A lot. You'll have to spend the afternoon with me in the imperial study."
Jiang Changning smiled and said, "It's my honor."
Xia Xueer is not the Crown Princess, Xia Jingran is the Prince Consort.
(End of this chapter)