"I am the wife of a third-rank official. Although my status is not as noble as that of a princess, I am also the legitimate wife." Mrs. Chen said bluntly.
Jiang Changning smiled and raised his glass. "This tea was found by the prince for the concubine. The concubine saw that I liked it, so she gave me some. The name of the tea is Crane Ming Fairy Tea. Madam Chen, please have a taste."
It was a simple sentence, but the meaning it expressed was not simple. Mrs. Chen understood it, took a sip of tea, and praised: "It is indeed a priceless good tea. The tea is rich in fragrance, and the tea water is bright light green, which makes people salivate at the sight of it."
After Mrs. Chen left, Jiang Changning asked Liu Ye to tell Mrs. Qiao to clean up the yard and prepare to carry Chen Yi home on the fourth night of the twelfth lunar month.
When she heard the date, Qiao felt that Jiang Changning was making things difficult for her. She went to Rujingyuan angrily to have a fight with Jiang Changning.
When she reached a fork in the road, she suddenly changed her route and went to Liuxuanyuan instead of Rujingyuan.
Not only Jiang Changning would go to the Concubine Dowager to complain, she would too.
"Mother, there is no need to make a big fuss about taking a concubine, but the yard must be cleaned up, and lights and decorations must be hung. It can't be too rude. A sedan chair must be arranged to pick up the person, and a banquet must be arranged. There are so many things to do, and there are only four or five days. How can we handle it? The Princess of Chun'an has never been the head of the family, so she doesn't know how difficult it is to be the head of the family. She is really going too far. Please, mother, make the decision for your daughter-in-law."
In order to express that she had been wronged, Qiao squeezed out a few tears on purpose.
"Go and invite Princess Jin to me." The Concubine Dowager ordered.
After a while, Jiang Changning came. As soon as she entered the room, she saw Qiao sitting next to the concubine pretending to be a young wife. Her eyebrows moved slightly, and she greeted the concubine first.
"I heard from your sister-in-law that you have decided to bring Chen into the family on the fourth day of the twelfth lunar month? Today is the twenty-eighth day of the winter lunar month, and there are only a few days left until the fourth day of the twelfth lunar month. Why are you in such a hurry?" the concubine asked puzzledly.
"Mother, this date was not set by my daughter-in-law, but by the prince. If my sister-in-law thinks it's too rushed and can't do it, then please leave it to my daughter-in-law. I will definitely do it properly."
When Jiang Changning volunteered, Mrs. Qiao immediately became alert and hurriedly said, "Mother, although time is a bit tight, my daughter-in-law will arrange more people and will definitely get things done. She will definitely not delay the prince's important affairs."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, sister-in-law." Jiang Changning had never thought about competing for power with the Qiao family at this time, so he just went with the flow.
Mrs. Qiao's expression froze. It was as if she had not filed a lawsuit.
On the 30th, it was the Concubine Dowager’s 45th birthday.
Although it was not a big event, Yan Cunsheng's family and the Gu family were still invited.
Yan Cunsheng was the half-brother of the Dowager Concubine, and served as the Right Vice Minister in the Ministry of Justice. He had five daughters. The eldest, third and fourth daughters were legitimate and all were married. The second daughter had died of illness. The fifth daughter participated in this year's selection, but was eliminated in the re-selection.
Old Lady Gu was the elder sister of the Concubine Dowager. She had three sons and one daughter. The eldest son was Gu Zhongbang, the second son was Gu Zhongjiao, the third son was Gu Zhongyu, and the daughter was Gu Zhonglin, who lived with her husband in another place.
The eldest son, Gu Zhongbang, has married and has a child. The second son, Gu Zhongjiao's first wife died in childbirth four years ago, leaving behind a daughter. Gu Zhongyu has not yet talked about marriage.
In addition to these two, the concubine's family members in Beijing also have a concubine sister who married into the Jiang family.
However, the two families had little contact, so the Qiao family did not invite Jiang Yan family.
In the early morning, Qiao, who was dressed neatly, went to Zhengze Courtyard to check the layout first, and then went to Liuxuan Courtyard to ask the imperial concubine, "Mother, Zhengze Courtyard has been arranged."
"Let's go over there then." The Toffee stood up and said.
Mrs. Qiao held onto the dowager's arm and asked, "Why hasn't Princess Chun'an come to pay her respects yet?"
"I asked her to wait in the yard for Yu Ge'er to come back from court, and then go to Zhengzeyuan together." said the concubine.
Qiao gritted his teeth, his jaw line tensed.
The Queen Mother had never been so considerate of her, but she allowed Jiang Changning and Prince Jin to appear as a pair.
Why!
Mrs. Qiao was very angry, but she couldn't get angry with the concubine, so she blamed Jiang Changning.
Not long after the concubine arrived at Zhengzeyuan, Prince Jin and Jiang Changning came over.
The Prince of Jin usually liked to wear a dark brocade robe, but today, like Jiang Changning, he wore a crimson brocade robe embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns and a jade belt around his waist.
Standing next to the equally radiant Jiang Changning, they are like a golden boy and a jade girl, both of them are extremely charming.
Qiao's eyes were filled with jealousy, and her knuckles turned white from clutching the handkerchief so hard.
Prince Jin and Jiang Changning greeted the Queen Mother and sat down.
After a few words of idle chat, the King of Jin was about to go outside to greet the guests. He said to Jiang Changning, "Be good and accompany your mother. If there is anything, ask the servants to do it. Don't tire yourself out."
"Got it, Your Highness. Go ahead and entertain the guests with peace of mind." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
Soon, Yan Cunsheng's entire family arrived, with the male guests outside and the female guests inside.
Mrs. Qiao went out to greet them. "My aunt is here, and my two cousins are here too. Please come in quickly."
After entering the hall, Mrs. Qiao immediately called the maid to serve tea and snacks. Her enthusiastic attitude made Old Lady Yan a little flattered.
Jiang Changning smiled, stood up, bent his knees slightly and said, "Hello, aunt."
"Okay, okay." Old Mrs. Yan nodded and smiled.
After chatting for a while, the maid came over to report: "Old Madam Gu has brought the women of the Gu family to the Chuihua Gate."
Mrs. Qiao hurried out to greet them again, and accompanied the women of the Gu family into the hall, chatting and laughing all the way.
Jiang Changning just watched Qiao socializing with the Yan and Gu families in a tactful and skillful manner.
Qiao asked about the banquet and then about the opera troupe.
Going in and out, very busy, Jiang Changning, who was always sitting next to the concubine, seemed too idle.
Old Madam Yan smiled and praised: "My dear Concubine, this brother's daughter-in-law is still so capable. Everything inside and outside the house is managed by her."
The Prince of Jin's second wife has been married for more than two months, but the household affairs are still in the hands of Concubine Dao.
This shows how powerful Concubine Dao was and how incompetent Concubine Ji was.
Old Mrs. Yan made her choice immediately and spoke up to help Mrs. Qiao.
"As the saying goes, the eldest daughter-in-law is tired, and the youngest daughter-in-law is pampered. Brother Yu's daughter-in-law is very delicate, like a jade beauty. The Concubine Dowager must love her more." Old Lady Gu learned from her eldest son who followed Prince Jin that Prince Jin valued Jiang very much.
After all, this is the Prince of Jin's Mansion, and Jiang is the Princess of Jin. The household expenses will definitely fall into Jiang's hands in the end.
"My aunt is right. Everyone has a different destiny. Some people are destined to work hard, while others are destined to enjoy happiness." Jiang Changning brought a cup of tea to Old Lady Gu. "I married into the palace and was loved by my mother. I am destined to enjoy happiness."
She is destined to enjoy a good life, so who is destined to work hard
Looking at the busy Qiao, Gu Chen, Madam Yan Da and Madam Yan Si smiled knowingly.
The Toffee held out a finger, and Haruka nodded, "He's used to being lazy."
Jiang Changning smiled coquettishly and said, "That was also caused by my mother."
Old Mrs. Yan was surprised. She didn't expect the relationship between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to be so close.
If that’s the case, why didn’t the Concubine let Jiang Changning be the housekeeper, but let Qiao be the housekeeper instead
Could it be that Jiang Changning was pregnant? She wanted to take care of the baby so that Qiao could continue to be the housekeeper
Old Madam Yan's eyes fell on Jiang Changning's belly. Just as she was about to speak, Madam Qiao came in and said, "Mother, the actors are all dressed up. You and your aunt and uncle can go over and watch the show."
(End of this chapter)