When the news that Emperor Longqing was going to select concubines for the princes of the vassal states spread, except for those really stupid and impoverished families who had already fallen on hard times, the real powerful and aristocratic families did not show any interest in choosing one.
Everyone knew that Empress Fang was about to give birth in the next few days. If one was to give a choice to the baby in Empress Fang's belly, then one could certainly fight for it, but for the sons of the princes whose future was uncertain, it was really daunting.
Old Madam Wei also laughed when she heard the news: "It is said that Princess Linjiang is clear-headed, but she was confused at the critical moment. How can this be a time to argue?"
Wei An didn't even move his eyebrows. He was leaning against the south window copying scriptures. He raised his head and glanced at his grandmother after hearing her words. He said softly, "The Linjiang Palace is not peaceful either."
The Peng family is powerful and scheming, and they never put all their eggs in one basket.
In the previous life, the King of Chu eventually became Emperor Chenghua, and the Peng family was able to marry Princess Anhe, which is a good example.
The Peng family has put a lot of eggs in this life. Concubine De and Concubine Yu are both very troublesome. Princess Linjiang is probably also at a disadvantage.
Before they could say two words, Feicui came in with a thick stack of invitations and placed them on Wei An's desk with a smile: "They are all for Miss Seven. The concierge can't collect them all."
Ever since Wei An officially passed the Ming Road and worshipped Ming Yuyou's spirit tablet, although there had been no clear decree from above, her status had obviously changed immediately. Ladies who had never had any contact with her began to send her invitations, and there were always elegant gatherings, poetry gatherings, and flower parties in the capital's circles.
In his previous life, the number of messages Wei An received did not exceed the number of his ten fingers, but in the past few days, it seemed that he had made up for it, with messages coming in like snowflakes.
She felt a bit of a headache watching it.
Old Madam Wei shook her head earnestly, "People always have to look forward. Can you really live a quiet life alone? What would that mean?"
"You should have some close friends." She looked at Wei An and said, "When I was young, I went horseback riding and hunting. I went everywhere. I went to all the flower parties and gatherings that I liked. As a girl, you can only relax in the first few years before you get married. After you get married, you can't do that even if you want to. You are in your prime now. Don't act like an old woman in your seventies or eighties. It's a good thing to make some good friends."
Wei An thought about it and picked out a few posts to reply to.
Old Madam Wei looked through the rest for her again, her eyes fixed on a piece of plain and elegant flowery paper, and she couldn't help but exclaimed, "Why would this family also post invitations?"
Wei An felt something was strange.
Following Mrs. Wei's line of sight, I saw the word "Peng" at a glance and my eyelids twitched violently a few times - it was the Peng family!
The current Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Peng Huaijia!
The Peng family gave birth to the Golden Phoenix, and now they are pregnant with a dragon seed. The Peng family, which was already in a high position, has become even more powerful. However, the Peng family and the Wei family have never had a good relationship, but this time they would actually send an invitation to the Wei family.
Old Madam Wei asked, "The two families have never visited each other before, so why did they suddenly send an invitation?"
It's not that they didn't get to know each other. Wei An remembered that Wei Yangqing had a very good relationship with the Peng family in his fiefdom. She sighed and reminded Old Lady Wei of this relationship again.
Mrs. Wei then remembered and said, "Oh!" She put the note in front of Wei An and said, "In that case, let's go. Otherwise, it will be bad."
Wei An nodded.
She knew what Mrs. Wei meant. Since the invitation was sent out for Wei Yangqing's sake, she had to save her face, otherwise Wei Yangqing would be in trouble.
And the Peng family...
A sneer appeared on the corner of her mouth.
Since she came back, she has never been afraid of anyone.
Cao Wen and Cao An were difficult to deal with and died too.
I thought the King of Chu was an insurmountable mountain, and I still used the force of his opponent to bring him down. If that's the case, what else can be difficult
Besides, no matter how difficult it is, you have to give it a try in order to survive.
On the day of the Double Ninth Festival, the Second and Third Ladies took her and Wei Yupo to attend the meeting at the Peng family.
The Peng family is both a noble family and an upright family, so they have the upper hand and can get along with both sides. Many ladies from noble families, such as the old lady of the Earl of Shoushan, the wife of the Earl of Qinghe, the wife of the Marquis of Jinxiang, and the wife of the Earl of Wenchang, have come to show their support, as well as Mrs. Chen from an upright family. Even the wife of Qian Shiyun has come, and the wife of the new president of the Hanlin Academy, Lord Mei, has come with her daughter.
As soon as the female relatives' sedan chair landed, maids came up to greet them and led them to the hanging flower gate. Then several married aunts of the Peng family helped to welcome the guests and separated the ladies. The ladies went to the flower hall in the east, and the girls, after meeting their elders, were led to the garden in the west.
The garden had mountains, water, pavilions and towers, and was quite large. Wei Yupo looked around quietly, then fixed her gaze on Wei An and hesitantly called out "Seventh Sister".
Wei An turned around and looked at her.
From the time she came back until now, in fact, ever since she learned about her life experience, she always felt that she was living an unclear life. She didn't know what she should have known before, and she treated her enemies as her relatives. Later, when she learned the truth, she took revenge and killed Princess Changning, but she didn't feel very happy in her heart. When she saw Wei Yupo, who died under the horse's hooves in her previous life, she responded after a moment.
Wei Yupo followed her for a few steps, walked side by side with her, and asked her softly: "Do you like the sachet and purse I gave you?"
Wei An didn't remember much about these things. She was so busy recently that she didn't pay attention to these little things. She felt a little sorry, but smiled and nodded: "I like it very much. Your needlework skills are very good."
She still remembered that in her previous life, Princess Changning always used this matter to bully her, saying that her upbringing was not as good as that of a concubine's daughter.
Wei Yupo smiled happily: "In that case, I will make more for Seventh Sister. I can also make pearl buttons..."
As they were talking, they had already crossed the bridge. The girls from the Peng family were chatting and welcoming guests in groups of three or four. When they saw the two of them, a tall girl with a long figure came up to them with a smile and asked, "Are you the girls from the Wei family?"
There were always maids and old women leading the way in front. Whenever a girl arrived, they would be notified along the way to come here, just to make it easier to entertain guests and avoid being impolite and recognizing the wrong person. Miss Peng was also cautious when she asked this.
Wei An also smiled and replied in a friendly manner, "Yes."
This smile made the fourth daughter of the Peng family opposite them stunned.
Wei An was wearing a silver thread shirt with a layer of gauze on the outside and a jade white pleated skirt underneath. A Pisces jade pendant hung around his waist and a gold chain served as a belt around his waist. He looked like a lotus emerging from water and his smile was dazzling.