The Jinxiu Troupe would stage several new plays during every festival. The one they performed at Prince Jin's Mansion today was the newly-adapted play "Heaven Official's Blessing".
The celestial official in red robe sang: "Auspicious mist and purple clouds rise, and the blessed people on earth celebrate longevity. I am happy to see the world is peaceful, and we share the grace and peace."
The children didn't like watching this kind of babbling play, so the concubine ordered Princess Kangren to take them to the warm room to play.
The Heavenly Official chanted, "Today, in compliance with the Jade Emperor's order, because the benevolent master of the lower world is kind and generous, and has done great deeds, I have specially invited all the gods of fortune to go to the lower world to bestow blessings and honors on the people, to show their gratitude for their good deeds, and to protect them."
The gods responded: "Yes."
The celestial official said, "Please welcome all the star gods."
The gods said, "According to the order, we invite all the star gods."
Actors dressed as the God of Birthday, Cowherd, Weaver Girl, God of Wealth, etc., came on stage to the beat of gongs and drums.
Jiang Changning didn't like watching the play either, but she was a married woman and had to socialize with others. She smiled politely and commented on the actors on the stage politely with her cousin Yan, her cousin, and Gu Chen.
"That fairy's appearance is absolutely beautiful, especially her gait, which is light and graceful. She really has some of the charm of a fairy." Madam Yan Si said while cracking melon seeds.
"The one who plays the fairy is a new female role from the Jinxiu Troupe. Not only is she beautiful in appearance, but her singing voice is also very pleasant to the ear." Madam Yan supports two opera troupes to make money and is very familiar with the actors promoted by these troupes.
"Cousin, I heard that Prince Wende wants to take that little Taohong from Jiqing Kun's class into his mansion as his concubine. Is that true?" asked Madam Yan Si.
"I'm afraid this was spread by Lady Wendebo." Gu Chen sneered, "She is really like a bamboo snake with a sting on its tail. She ruined her stepson's reputation like this, and she's not afraid that his own mother will crawl onto her bedside in the middle of the night."
Madam Yan curled her lips and said, "How many stepmothers would truly love the original wife's son? Besides, if she doesn't ruin the prince, how will her own son make a name for himself?"
"Mrs. Wende gave birth to a child seven months after her marriage. I'm afraid that before her husband died, he had done something dirty with someone else." Gu Chen said with contempt.
"Oh, by the way, the Empress Dowager has arranged a marriage for Prince Wende. Which girl did she choose?" asked Madam Yan.
Gu Chenshi and Yan Si Niangzi's eyes fell on Jiang Changning. Jiang Changning smiled and said, "It's Zhuang Juyue from the Zhuang family's West Mansion."
Madam Yan knew the relationship between Jiang Changning and the Zhuang family, so she couldn't continue the topic. She turned her eyes to the stage and said, "The lyrics are well written."
"Clusters of fragrant flowers welcome the painted pavilion, and green and auspicious grass fills the steps and courtyard. It is indeed a blessed place." The actors sang.
The actors were on the stage, moving around among the flowers and willows.
The birthday star sang: "I have nothing to give you, so I present you with a painting of a hundred years of longevity. I wish you a long life and a house by the sea."
Who doesn't hope to live a long life? The concubine said happily, "Reward."
Qiao had already prepared two large baskets of copper coins for the concubine to reward.
Upon hearing this, the old woman and the daughter-in-law grabbed two handfuls of copper coins and threw them onto the stage.
The interlude music started, and the actors bowed to the imperial concubine, "Thank you, Her Majesty, for the reward."
A group of young actors quickly picked up the copper coins on the stage, and the play continued, "The immortals present to you wishes for good luck and peace every year, and may the rice grow double ears and the grains be abundant."
After listening to the opera for half an hour, at noon, Qiao arranged the banquet and came over to invite everyone to take their seats.
The two sisters-in-law looked at each other from a distance.
Qiao's eyes were gloomy, while Jiang Changning's eyes were smiling.
The group went to the banquet hall. When they passed by Qiao, Jiang Changning said, "Today is my mother's birthday. Sister-in-law, please be quiet."
The Concubine Dowager's birthday banquet was arranged by Mrs. Qiao. Logically, she should be on guard against Jiang Changning's sabotage.
However, Jiang Changning did not do so. Qiao, who was waiting for her to take action, simply arranged for people to sabotage and wanted to put the blame on Jiang Changning.
Jiang Changning never thought that the Qiao family would do this, but he had to keep an eye on the Qiao family.
It was amazing to see that the Qiao family actually sent people to replace the ingredients, trying to pass off inferior goods as superior ones and inferior goods as good ones.
The banquet was organized by the Qiao family. Everyone would naturally think that the person who changed the ingredients and wanted to make the Qiao family make a mistake was Jiang Changning.
Jiang Changning is the Princess of Jin, but the power of managing the Prince of Jin's Mansion is not in her hands. If she causes Qiao to make a mistake, the Concubine Dowager will definitely take away Qiao's power of managing the Mansion and let her take charge.
The plan was good, but unfortunately it didn't work.
At the banquet, both the guests and the hosts were happy.
At 3:30 pm, all the guests were seen off.
"Your Highness, please send my mother back to the courtyard to rest. My concubine and sister-in-law are here." Jiang Changning sent Prince Jin away.
"Don't get too tired." Prince Jin warned and helped the concubine leave.
Jiang Changning turned around and looked at Mrs. Qiao. "Sister-in-law, you are willing to spend a lot of money to harm me. Thank you for giving me the money."
In order to frame someone so that people would believe it, it had to be Jiang Changning's confidant who did it.
Qiao spent nearly one thousand taels of silver to bribe the people around Jiang Changning.
Xiulan's four maids and the two chambermaids Jinya and Xiangdai are all very much valued by Jiang Changning and cannot be bribed.
The other maids were not suitable either, so Qiao set her sights on Liu Ye.
Liu Ye was assigned by the palace, and it was very likely that Jiang Changning arranged her to do this in order to get her to show her loyalty.
After the failure, Liu Ye was able to escape unscathed because he was sent by the palace.
With this mentality, Qiao assumed that if Jiang Changning wanted to do this, he would let Liu Ye do it, so she tried to bribe Liu Ye.
Liu Ye was resistant at first, but money moved her.
One hundred taels, three hundred taels, five hundred taels, seven hundred taels, Liu Ye agreed.
"You knew from the beginning that it was you who asked her to accept the money." Qiao stared at Jiang Changning with fierce eyes.
"Sister-in-law, you're not stupid." Jiang Changning smiled calmly.
Mrs. Qiao was so angry that her chest was heaving. "Mrs. Jiang, you are very proud of having schemed against me, right?"
"No." Jiang Changning shook her head. The household expenses were still in the hands of the Qiao family. What was there for her to be proud of
"Jiang, let's wait and see." Qiao turned away.
"Just wait and see. You make a move and I catch it. I make a move and you have to catch it well too. Don't let it hit your instep." Jiang Changning said loudly.
Qiao stumbled and turned back to glare at Jiang Changning fiercely.
Jiang Changning smiled, her eyes sweeping over the servants who seemed to be cleaning up but were actually eavesdropping on her conversation with Qiao, "Work hard and don't be cunning."
He walked away with Xiulan and others.
Jiang Changning was fighting openly and secretly with the Qiao family in the mansion, and undercurrents were also surging in the court.
On the morning of the fourth day of the first lunar month, the cabinet's deputy minister, Lord Tan, stepped out and said, "Since your majesty ascended the throne, the four seas have been peaceful and tranquil. As the saying goes, in a peaceful and prosperous era, it is time to compile books and biographies. I beg your majesty to grant my request and compile a book, "Wenyuan Yulan", to be passed on to future generations."
The reason why emperors are fond of ostentation and fame is actually closely related to the flattery of their subjects.
The current emperor has been on the throne for six years, and his political achievements are mediocre and he has made no achievements. However, in the words of Lord Tan, the emperor has made great contributions and is a wise and benevolent ruler, almost catching up with the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.
(End of this chapter)