Mingyu felt that in this new life, all the sighs were caused by the Sima family.
Was Sima Lian praising her or mocking her? Mingyu didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Mingyu whispered. In fact, she wanted to say, at worst you can learn from me and get a divorce if you can't live together anymore... However, if she said this, Sima Lian would cry in public. The words that came to Mingyu's lips were swallowed back.
Sima Lian took out a handkerchief and wiped her face, then let out a long breath. After she spoke out her thoughts, she felt much better. She said hesitantly, "Mingyu, I don't have anyone I can talk to at home, so I talked a little more when I saw you. Please don't mind."
Mingyu shook her head and said with a smile, "I haven't had the chance to congratulate you. I didn't expect you to get married so soon." However, Mingyu changed her mind and realized that Sima Lian was almost sixteen years old this year. It was not too early to get engaged at this age. Many girls of this age in Da Chu were already mothers.
Better to do it later, Mingyu muttered to herself, being a mother at the age of 16, isn't this destroying an underage girl? In modern times, this would be enough to make the front page of social news and trigger a social discussion, nothing more than collective condemnation of what's wrong with today's children.
Sima Lian thought of her marriage and felt that her future was uncertain. She didn't know whether the man she was going to marry was fat or fat. "What is there to congratulate? I don't even know what he looks like, and I heard that his mother doesn't like me." Sima Lian said listlessly.
"What's his name? Where does he live? I'll ask around for you." Mingyu said with a smile. She often went to the store with Madam Xu. There was still a chance to find out about someone. "Besides, the person that Madam has chosen should be good." Mingyu added to comfort Sima Lian.
Sima Lian obviously disagreed with the last sentence. "Isn't it the sister-in-law who was chosen by the Madam..."
Mingyu coaxed vaguely, "It was a momentary mistake. Even a horse can stumble, let alone a human... Let's not talk about these unimportant things. What's the name of the person you're going to marry, and where does he live? I'll help you find out if I have a chance."
Two blushes appeared on Sima Lian's pale cheeks. When she talked about her future husband, she couldn't help feeling shy. She twisted her handkerchief between her fingers and was too bashful to speak.
Mingyu looked at it with a sense of melancholy. These unmarried young ladies were discussing their "future lovers". But she could talk about "my ex-husband". Just thinking about it made her feel very melancholy.
"His surname is Fu, and his name is Fu Leqian." Sima Lian's voice was as soft as a mosquito, and her face was red with shame. Then she said, "He is the second son of Fu Yong, the regular attendant of the Honglu Temple."
Mingyu didn't quite know what rank the Minister of the Honglu Temple was, but she thought that Miao would not let the only daughter of the Marquis's family marry him. He should have a good family background. Moreover, Fu Leqian was the second son, and as the second son's daughter-in-law, she would not have to bear such a heavy responsibility. Miao's consideration was still very thoughtful.
Sima Lian raised her head, took Mingyu's hand, and said with a smile, "My grandfather and uncle have gone to see him. They said that Master Fu is a very good person, and he is already a candidate for the imperial examination. When he passes the imperial examination this autumn, he will be able to serve as an official in the court. But I heard from the maid that his mother doesn't seem to be very satisfied with me..."
Mingyu's lips curved up. Sima Lian was still the same timid girl as before. She was looking forward to it, but she just didn't have the courage and bravery. She was always worried about gains and losses, and was afraid of wolves in front and tigers behind. Patting Sima Lian on the shoulder, Mingyu comforted her: "Don't think too much. You haven't met his mother, how do you know she is not satisfied with you? Those servants gossip all the time, and they can make things seem true. Why do you believe them? Besides, when Master Fu passes the imperial examination and is sent out, you can follow him to take up the post, and you can't see your mother-in-law once a year."
After listening to this, Sima Lian imagined the future days and felt the sunshine shining brightly before her eyes. She smiled shyly with her lips pursed. The smile full of happiness added a lot of color to her pale and haggard face. The little girl instantly became lively and bright.
Mingyu talked to her again. At this time, a well-dressed maid came into the flower hall. She kowtowed to the princess and Miss Deng, who were like the moon surrounded by stars. Then she smiled and said to Miss Gao Er, "Miss Er, the banquet is about to begin. Please follow me to the banquet hall."
The two ladies standing behind the princess carefully helped her up, and the group walked out in a mighty procession. Xu Mingrui hurriedly followed the princess, but was accidentally pushed aside. She was unwilling but helpless. Just now, the princess and Miss Deng didn't even look at her after hearing that her father was just a small official. It was obvious that they looked down on her.
At this meeting, Xu Mingrui remembered her cousin Mingyu whom she had forgotten completely. She turned around and took a look. Mingyu was walking with a girl in white whom she didn't recognize and following behind her. The girl in white was dressed in ordinary clothes and didn't even have a piece of jewelry on her head. Xu Mingrui couldn't help but spit in her heart. Birds of a feather flock together. Someone like Mingyu could only play with those poor girls.
Probably to accommodate the female guests, the banquet hall of Gao's mansion was not far from the flower hall where the female guests had just rested. The customs of Da Chu were not conservative, and male and female guests were only seated separately, with a half-person-high gauze screen in between.
The princess and Miss Deng were the two most distinguished guests at Gao's mansion today, so they naturally sat at the main seats for female guests. Xu Mingrui glanced at the ladies and young ladies surrounding the princess, and went back to find Mingyu in disappointment. The guests in important seats had all been arranged, so how could it be her turn to sit at the same table with the princess? Not to mention sitting at the same table, it was impossible for her to even sit at the table next to the princess.
Mingyu and Sima Lian chose a seat in the corner to make it easier for them to talk. Xu Mingrui came over and sat next to Mingyu. Mingyu looked at the lively main seat and couldn't help but tease Xu Mingrui. She said strangely, "Why did you sit here? Isn't Miss Gao sitting over there? You have such a good relationship with her, why don't you sit next to her?"
Hearing Mingyu's sarcastic words, Xu Mingrui's expression was as if a fly had flown into her mouth. She felt ashamed to spit it out, but felt disgusted to swallow it. After a long while, Xu Mingrui adjusted her expression and said with a smile, "There are many people over there, and it's very stuffy. I'm worried about you being alone here, so I told Miss Gao Er that I'll sit with you."
Mingyu laughed silently. It was the first time she realized that her cousin was extremely vain.
Xu Mingrui felt embarrassed, looked at the girl in white next to Mingyu, and asked, "Who is this lady..."
Sima Lian smiled and said, "My name is Sima Lian."
When she heard the other party introduce her family name as Sima, Xu Mingrui immediately understood, and looked at Mingyu with a meaningful look. Mingyu was too lazy to pay attention to her, and simply introduced Sima Lian: "This is my second uncle's daughter Xu Mingrui, she should be about the same age as you."
Although Sima Lian was a concubine's daughter, the manners taught by Miao Shi still made her look like a lady from a wealthy family. She smiled politely at Xu Mingrui and said, "Hello, Miss Xu."
Xu Mingrui's face did not look very good. She originally thought that the girl Mingyu had just met was a low-class lady, but she did not expect that her status was much higher than hers.
Mingyu smiled in silence. The male guests opposite also began to take their seats one by one. The originally quiet banquet hall immediately became noisy. The unmarried girls on the female guests' side began to glance at the opposite side inadvertently. Except for those middle-aged, fat, bald, and old male guests, most of them were young men, including some handsome young men with imposing manners.
At the entrance of the banquet hall sat several female musicians playing the pipa. The clear and melodious sound of the pipa, as if pearls falling on a jade plate, was drowned out by the noise of the banquet.
Inadvertently, Mingyu saw Prince Qin sitting not far away opposite. He was aloof, independent, sitting quietly and elegantly, as if he was in a world of his own, as if he was listening to the pipa music that was drowned out by the noise of the banquet. His black hair was as soft and shiny as silk, and his cold face was fair and delicate. The hands of Prince Qin, which were as white as mutton-fat jade in Mingyu's memory, were now covered by the wide sleeves of his purple robe.
Mingyu's face turned red. She felt that she was a little childish and a bit of a nymphomaniac.
At this moment, Prince Qin slowly turned his head and met Mingyu's eyes. He seemed a little surprised, but also seemed to enjoy it. His eyes were clear, and he raised his eyebrows slightly. He reached out to pick up the wine glass on the table, raised it to Mingyu from a distance, and drank it.
Mingyu hurriedly turned her head away and touched her face, feeling it was a little hot.
Prince Qin looked at the small wine glass in his hand, thinking of the little girl's reaction, and couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth. Someone next to him immediately noticed it and asked with a half-flattering smile: "Your Highness, is there anything happy?"
Prince Qin glanced at him and said nothing. Fortunately, everyone in the capital knew that the prince had a difficult temper, so they just laughed it off.
Sima Lian noticed Mingyu and asked with concern, "Are you okay? Your face looks very red."
Mingyu shook her head and smiled, "It's okay, it's a bit stuffy in this room, it's too hot."
Sima Lian agreed, "That's right. The weather in the capital is really bad. It's terribly hot in the summer and not warm in the winter." Thinking of the northwest where she had lived for more than ten years, Sima Lian sighed again, "Tianshui is still better. Even if it's a little cold in the winter, it's still not hot in the summer."
Mingyu lowered her head, she didn't hear a word Sima Lian said, she thought she had noticed the nobleman with a cold temperament. This Qin Junwang always reminded her of Sima Xi, she had only met him a few times, but she was deeply impressed. Mingyu felt that she liked this kind of man, a nobleman who was cold and self-respecting, talented, mature and steady. It was like she had found her idol and she was irresistibly attracted to him.