It was the first time for Nangong Cheng to participate in such a formal social event, and it was inevitable to be a little nervous, but Nangong Yue already knew these things well based on the experience of her previous life, so she immediately suggested with a smile: "Big sister, I remember that you are very good at embroidery , and I just learned how to make incense. Why don't you embroider a sachet with your own hands, put the tranquilizing incense I made in it, and give it to the girl of the Jiang family, what do you think?"
Nangong Cheng's eyes lit up immediately, and he grabbed Nangong Yue's hands with a little excitement, and said in surprise: "Sister Yue, you have a good idea! Whether it's sachets or incense, we made them by ourselves, which happened to represent us. Your kindness, without losing your generosity!" As she spoke, she couldn't help looking at Nangong Yue with a subtle look, feeling a little astringent in her heart. Her third younger sister seems to have opened up recently, and she is getting more and more outstanding. But soon she reprimanded herself in her heart again: Grandma was right, she and the third younger sister represented the Nangong family, both were prosperous, and she should be happy for the third younger sister.
Nangong Yue looked at Nangong Cheng with a smile that was not a smile, and she could see what the other party was thinking. She is a beautiful and intelligent elder sister, but she is too narrow-minded. Perhaps this is why she went further and further sideways in her previous life, and finally brought disaster to the family and herself...
Nangong Yue's eyebrows flickered slightly, but she said nonchalantly: "It's a pity that I'm clumsy, and I can only make some incense according to the book. The delicate work of embroidery will disturb my eldest sister..."
At this time, Nangong Cheng had recovered, and said with a smile: "Good idea! Sister Yue, let's do it together. It's just that the ones for the second and third girls of the Jiang family are different from the ones for the eldest daughter of the Jiang family. , How about we make a few more bead flowers by ourselves?"
"It's still big sister, you are considerate!"
After deciding on the gift to give, Nangong Cheng was relieved, and the two discussed about the shape, color of the sachet, and the material of the beads, etc., and unconsciously they talked about embroidery.
"Our sisters still owe a little to their embroiderers, but Aunt Ping's embroiderers are extraordinary, maybe we..." Nangong Cheng seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly choked in the middle of speaking.
Nangong Yue couldn't help asking curiously: "Big sister, what's wrong?"
Nangong Cheng frowned, hesitated for a long time, and then said tentatively: "Sister Yue, do you think Biao Aunt Ping is a little strange recently?"
Could it be that Nangong Yue noticed something? Nangong Yue found it interesting in her heart, but on the surface she pretended to be puzzled and asked: "Big sister, what's wrong with Biaogu Ping?"
Nangong Cheng's complexion was a little weird, and he hesitated to say: "A few days ago, I went to Rong'an Hall to pay my respects to my grandmother, and stopped by to talk to Aunt Ping to relieve my boredom. I happened to see Aunt Ping embroidering a purse..." After a pause, she Then he said, "It's normal for a girl to embroider a purse and practice female red when she has nothing to do, but...but when I was paying my respects in Rong'an Hall this morning, I saw the purse hanging on Fourth Uncle and Cousin Ping a few days ago. The one embroidered is very similar..." As she spoke, she was too embarrassed to continue, her pretty face flushed red.
When Nangong Yue heard the words, she couldn't help thinking of the pair of fine Hetian jade white jade bracelets on Su Qingping's wrists. Could it be that the bracelet and purse are the tokens of love between Su Qingping and the fourth uncle
Nangong Yue twitched the corner of her mouth ironically, and said to Nangong Cheng nonchalantly: "Big sister, Aunt Pingbiao is a boudoir of everyone, so how can she get along with..." She acted as if she couldn't bear to speak, and quickly brought the topic away, "Perhaps the purse is similar by chance."
Nangong Cheng opened his mouth, but stopped talking. If it wasn't for Pingbiao aunt's surname Su, she would have already reported this matter to her grandmother, but Pingbiao aunt's surname is Su, if this matter is not handled properly, grandma will think that she has underestimated the Su family and will only annoy her.
Maybe it's just a coincidence
**◆**
On the day of the flower festival, the mansion prepared a carriage for the two girls, and sent them to En Guogong's mansion on time together with a few personal maids.
As soon as they got off the carriage at Duke Enguo's mansion, two pretty maids in Tsing Yi came to show them the way and led them to the flower hall.
There is a mahogany square table in the hall, on which a variety of fruits are served on white porcelain plates of the same style, and various bonsai and vases are placed on the flower table in the corner, and the bright octagonal glass lamps illuminate the hall even brighter .
Mrs. En Guogong and Mrs. En Guogong's son were both there. The former was over sixty years old, wearing a bean green floral beige woven with crane patterns and a forehead handkerchief inlaid with rubies. Sitting in a mahogany armchair. Sitting next to her was Mrs. Shizi. She seemed to be in her thirties, wearing a rose red bib, with a smile on her lips, she looked very kind. There are four maidservants in blue gowns serving beside her.
"I've seen my wife, Mrs. Shizi!" Nangong Cheng and Nangong Yue greeted them together.
The two wives kept them talking for a while, then ordered the servant girl to take them to the garden.
The garden of the Duke of Enguo's mansion is indeed extraordinary, with waterside pavilions, rockery piled up with Taihu Lake stones, caves, pools, all kinds of flowers... it is dizzying to see.
At this time, the garden was still a little deserted, and the girls from other prefectures had obviously not come, and there were only three girls with somewhat similar looks sitting in the water pavilion.
Before coming here, Mrs. Zhao had already introduced the Enguo Duke's Mansion to the two of them carefully. There are now three girls in the mansion: the eldest daughter Jiang Yixi is thirteen years old, and the other two concubine daughters Jiang Yiyun and Jiang Yiyou are eleven years old respectively. And ten years old, the three sisters are elegant, bright, and cute, each with its own merits.
As soon as they saw Nangong Yue and Nangong Cheng coming, the three Jiang girls immediately got up and greeted them, naturally led by Jiang Yixi.
Looking at Miss Jiang... Nangong Yue felt a little embarrassed. Miss Jiang was the eldest daughter of Enguo's mansion, who would not envy her, but who knew that Miss Jiang was ordered by the emperor to marry Beidi in her previous life, At that time, how many people sympathized with her, and how many people gloated at her misfortune, but they didn't expect that this Miss Jiang would finally become a country after Beidi became a country, with one person under one person and over ten thousand people! Although the Enguo government fell, she was the only one standing. Don't fall down, you have your own sky...
"You are the two girls from Nangong Mansion, right?" Jiang Yixi saluted gracefully, and introduced herself, "My name is Jiang Yixi, and this is my second sister, Jiang Yiyun, and third sister, Jiang Yiyou."
Nangong Yue and Nangong Cheng also hurriedly introduced themselves, and then gave them the gifts they had prepared.
What was given to Jiang Yixi was a round and small embroidered pouch, which is the favorite style of ladies in the boudoir nowadays. Not only is the style small, but it is also convenient and beautiful to wear, and it also has a unique sense of femininity. Nangong Cheng heard that the daughter-in-law of Duke Enguo's mansion preferred peonies, so she specially embroidered a delicate red peony on the small embroidered pouch, and outlined it with gold thread on the side. It looked even more delicate and beautiful, obviously it was a flower. thoughtful.
They were given to Jiang Yiyun and Jiang Yiyou respectively as a pair of handmade bead flowers. The beads were made of glazed beads. A master was specially invited to carve patterns and colors on each bead body. Every process was done extremely finely, so the appearance looks Extraordinarily exquisite and compact.
The three girls from the Duke's Mansion of Enguo liked it very much after seeing it, and even their polite smiles became more natural.
Jiang Yixi smiled with surprise on his face: "You two Nangong girls, the gift is very unique, thank you very much."
"As long as you like it."
After that, the five girls had one more topic about sachets and pearl flowers, and their chats became more lively.
Afterwards, girls from other prefectures also arrived one after another. Each girl was clearly well-dressed, all of them dressed in red and green, with exquisite makeup and luxurious accessories.
Seeing that Nangong Cheng and Nangong Yue came early, a girl in yellow shirt said with a smile: "The two girls from Nangong Mansion came so early, it seems that we are late." The girl's surname is Zhang, Huaihua A girl from the General's Mansion, her boudoir name is Yuqi.
Although Duke Enguo's mansion didn't invite many people for this flower show, all of them were the daughters of ministers of third rank and above, and few ministers of third rank who have no real power like Nangong Mansion think highly of them, so they are not afraid. Speaking casually.
Nangong Cheng was taken aback, she didn't expect to be attacked this time, she recovered after a moment of stupefaction, and said with a nonchalant smile: "Where, it's just that Nangong Mansion and Duke En Guo's Mansion are relatively close by foot."
The girl in the yellow shirt, Zhang Yuqi, choked instantly. In the past, the Nangong family was one of the most shining families, so the location of the mansion in the capital is very good. All the nobles and famous families lived nearby. The Nangong mansion is only one street away from the Duke Enguo's mansion. People are much closer, so it is understandable that Nangong Cheng and Nangong Yue came earlier than them.
Her face was a bit unhappy, and she was about to make trouble again, but she saw a very decent little servant girl walking towards Jiang Yixi, waiting for her blessing, and said: "Miss, Princess Mingyue is here!"
One sentence is like a stone stirring up thousands of waves. The Princess of Mingyue, Qu Jiayue, is the daughter of the emperor's cousin, Pingyanghou, and the younger sister of Concubine Liu. Not only is she distinguished, but she is also deeply loved by the emperor. A person who is willing to communicate and curry favor.
And Nangong Cheng was also a little complicated, and couldn't help but think of the meeting with Princess Mingyue at Bailong Temple not long ago... It was definitely not a pleasant one. But her upbringing allowed her to hide all the uneasiness and apprehension, and keep her expressions.
Soon, a girl as beautiful as a peony blooming slowly walked towards the garden under the guidance of the maid. I saw her wearing a skirt of plum blossoms and a hundred waters that dragged the floor, covered with a butterfly gauze embroidered with dark flowers and gold silk. Embellished with ruby and pearl drop earrings and a ruby strand bracelet on the wrist. Coupled with her bright face, the whole person looks luxurious and generous, with skin as white as jade, elegant and noble.
Nangong Cheng looked at the other party carefully. Although at first glance, the other party seemed to be completely different from the boy that day, but as long as he looked closely, he would find that the two were indeed the same person. Regardless of men's or women's clothing, this princess is extremely eye-catching. Such a beauty, with such a prominent family background, can indeed be called the number one beauty in the royal capital.