When everyone heard the sound, they turned their heads, and as expected, they saw the banks of the Jinshui River, and the two servants in front of the imperial palace were leading two women, one big and one small, to approach.
The older one seems to be about forty years old, and it should be Mrs. Xu, the wife of Lu.
Although she was wearing a luxurious and splendid dress and her hair was combed meticulously, her slightly dull and rough skin showed a world of difference from the other well-maintained relatives and daughters of the same age present, not to mention her face. The prudence and apprehension that appeared unconsciously.
The other little one is only about ten years old. She was born thin and small, with ordinary appearance, and her complexion was darker than that of ordinary noble girls. However, she had a pair of watery eyes that were eye-catching. If you look carefully, you can even see it. A bit of the shadow of an emperor.
This should be the daughter of Duke Lu and Mrs. Lu.
The little girl originally held her mother's hand and walked up and down, raising her head happily and saying a few words from time to time, but when she turned her head and saw dozens of sights in the Ningyun Pavilion, she closed her smile and became timid. stand up.
The two were introduced into the pavilion by the inner servant, and they saluted the Queen Mother Qi tremblingly.
The Queen Mother Qi sat on the main seat and did not move. She first looked at the mother and daughter lightly, and then showed a smile, raised her hand and said, "Get up, my family, don't be too polite."
The voice fell, and the maid in the room moved the couch to let the two sit down.
Sitting in a room full of noble women who had never seen them before, Madam Xu and her daughter sat next to each other, looking overwhelmed.
After the Queen Mother Qi finished saying that, she ignored the two. The other people invited today are friends with the Qi family on weekdays. When they saw this, they didn't speak, and the atmosphere in the room was a little awkward for a while.
Chu Ning glanced at the appearance of everyone who was not concerned with their own business and who were talking about themselves, and simply turned around with a smile, facing the mother and daughter of the Wei family who were on the side.
"It's getting colder every day now. Madam has just come all the way. There must be a lot of wind blowing. You might as well have a cup of hot tea to warm up."
Xu shi was a little frightened, and hurriedly took it with both hands, thanked him twice, and then took a sip carefully.
Chu Ning turned her gaze to the little girl beside her and asked, "Is this the daughter of Mrs.'s family?"
Xu Shi hurriedly put down the teacup and dragged her daughter between the two: "Don't dare, where is the daughter? This is my ignorant girl named Guo'er, who has just turned ten years old."
Guo'er stood coyly in front of her mother, holding the corner of her skirt and daring not to speak, she just raised her head quietly, and when she saw that there was no mockery in Chu Ning's gentle smile, she grinned and said in a low voice, "I It's called Guo'er, A-Niang said, when I was born, I liked the most sour fruit, so she named me Guo'er."
After hearing her daughter's words, Mrs. Xu's already gloomy face suddenly flushed red: "My child is open-mouthed and doesn't understand the rules, so don't blame Mrs." Such trivial things from the villagers might be laughed at by the nobles.
Chu Ning shook his head with a light smile, and handed a plate of jade dew on the table to Guo'er: "Before the crabs are delivered, let's eat some snacks to cushion them, so as not to hurt the spleen and stomach."
Guo'er looked at the plate of delicate dim sum, her eyes were full of longing, but she still didn't forget to look back at Mrs. Xu. Seeing her helplessly blushing and nodding in agreement, she reached out and took one to eat.
Xu Shi smiled awkwardly at Chu Ning, and hesitantly said, "I don't know what the madam is called?"
She has been in for so long, and although she has never been introduced to the identities of these women, she can guess a few by listening to other people's discussions. Only the one in front of her who took the initiative to talk to her seems to be reluctant to approach.
Chu Ning took the handkerchief and wiped Guo'er's powdered hand, and replied naturally: "In terms of seniority, Guo'er is still my elder. My husband is the current Prince, the nephew of the saint. ."
When Xu Shi heard this, he was startled, and his face showed a bit of panic.
Although she was only a country woman, she had heard a lot of things before coming to Chang'an. She didn't know anything else. The relationship between the crown prince and the emperor was very delicate, but she knew it. No wonder no one else in this room took the initiative to speak to this lady, she turned out to be the Crown Princess!
Guo'er on the side didn't notice her mother's strangeness, and shyly said "thank you" to her with a blushing face.
Chu Ning naturally noticed the change in her attitude, and drank the tea calmly, not saying more in her apologetic and frightened eyes.
After a while, everyone was seated, and the maids filled in with countless cups, plates and pots, and presented the steamed big and fat autumn crabs to everyone's food table. Along with them, there was a set. Eight whole crabs.
Empress Dowager Qi loves to eat crabs, so in the past few years, there will be a large or small chrysanthemum tasting crab feast in the palace almost every year. good work.
Only Xu's mother and daughter looked at the row of hammers, upsets, pliers, shovels, spoons, forks, scrapers, and needles in front of them, blushing and at a loss as to what to do.
Chu Ning sat by the food table beside the two of them, lowered his eyes and did not remind him. He only put the tea cup in his hand back on the table, making a sound that was neither high nor low.
Guo'er heard the sound, turned her head to look, and saw that she slowly picked up the round hammer and tapped lightly along the edge of the crab's back shell.
Her movements were slow and careful, as if she was demonstrating for the two of them.
Guo Er pulled the sleeves of Mrs Xu's sleeves, signaling her to imitate Chu Ning's appearance.
Although Xu's complexion is complicated, he has quietly learned in the end, so that he will not be embarrassed in public.
Due to the death of the late emperor, there has always been a sad and heavy atmosphere in the Taiji Palace. Until now, everyone enjoys chrysanthemums, eats crabs, and listens to the music and singing of Jiaofangsi's tricksters. Only then do they feel that the atmosphere has become more relaxed.
After a while, when Qiu Crab was removed and replaced with freshly made desserts, the maid said, "Your Majesty is down."
For a while, everyone except Queen Qi got up from the couch and saluted the man who strode into the room.
"Everyone get up." Xiao Kezhi waved his hand and sat down on the couch moved by the servants, his face was always calm and arrogant, "I just finished dealing with government affairs, and I heard that my aunt entered the palace, so I came to have a look, and then I left in a while. ."
When Xu Shi heard this, she hurriedly pulled her daughter up and saluted again in a panic.
"It's hard for you to remember to come here." Queen Qi said, and glanced at a clan lady next to her.
The man was very observant and immediately smiled: "Since Your Majesty is here, you might as well sit for a while and drink two glasses of wine. This wine is a treasure that the Queen Mother has kept for many years. If it wasn't for the lady of Lu Guo today, I would not want to take it out and share it with you. We share."
"Forget it, go get a cup." Empress Dowager Qi pointed at Qi Chenxiang and said, "Liu Niang, please pour a cup of wine for His Majesty."
Qi Chenxiang stood up in response, walked to Xiao Kezhi's couch with a wine bottle in hand, reached out and poured wine into the empty glass, her normally calm complexion also turned a faint blush as she got closer.
Chu Ning watched quietly, only to feel that the scene of pouring wine reminded her of the situation when she poured tea not long ago.
It's a pity that Qi Chenxiang is still holding the air of a noble lady, and she pours wine without any leakage under the eyes of the public, but it is the only thing that makes people pay attention to the difference.
She didn't look any more, and silently looked away, but inadvertently faced Xiao Kezhi next to her.
His eyes also quietly fell on her.
The two looked at each other, but then moved away from each other in an instant, as if nothing had happened.
Chu Ning couldn't help but chuckle in his heart, looking at the look in his eyes just now, he clearly remembered her "pour tea" twice.
When the wine was filled, Qi Chenxiang held the cup in both hands and served it respectfully, her expression calm and a little shy with anticipation: "Please, Your Majesty, drink."
However, after Xiao Kezhi reached out and took it, he only put it on his lips and sipped it lightly, then put it back on the case, and turned his head to look in the direction of Chu Ning.
Everyone followed his line of sight.
"This is Guo'er?" His eyes swept across Chu Ning, and finally fell on Wei Guo'er, "Is it still a habit in the palace?"
Xu Shi hurriedly nodded, and pushed her daughter again: "It's my fruit."
Guo'er glanced at her cousin, who was far from her age and status, a little scared, and said the words taught by her mother early in the morning like a gnat: "The nobles in the palace treat Guoer very well. it is good."
Xu Shi was about to breathe a sigh of relief, but saw her daughter suddenly turn her head and smile at Chu Ning, who was on the side, and said in a low voice, "This lady is especially good."
The atmosphere in the room suddenly froze.
The relationship between the prince and Xinjun was awkward, and even the Queen Mother Qi would not take the initiative to mention it on weekdays, but was mentioned by this ignorant little girl.
Chu Ning lowered his eyes and said nothing.
Xiao Kezhi raised his eyebrows, got up from the couch, walked in front of Guo'er, and asked, "What did Guo'er just say?"
Guo'er looked up at him, pointed at Chu Ning timidly, and repeated what she just said.
Xu Shi was terrified, and pulled her daughter to her side, constantly accusing her: "I'm young, I don't understand, and I said something wrong. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness, and I'll take good care of you when I go back."
The faces of the women around were different, Xiao Kezhi could not help frowning, and glanced at Chu Ning.
But she just lowered her head, as if Guoer was not talking about her.
"Auntie, get up, it's okay." He looked at his humble aunt and cousin, his usual cold expression finally loosened, "Guo'er, why do you say that?"
Guo'er's face was shriveled nervously, and after a long pause, she stammered, "She, she listened to Guo'er, gave Guo'er snacks, and taught Guo'er to eat and eat crabs..."
After Xiao Kezhi heard the words, he looked at Chu Ning again. This time, in addition to his surprise, his eyes were a little more clear and meaningful: "You have a relationship with her."
I don't know if this was said to Chu Ning or to Guo'er.
Guo'er was almost in tears by the sight of everyone, Xiao Kezhi patted her on the head, his tone was not kind, but what he said was unquestionable: "You are my cousin, the royal family of Great Liang, and you want to be with me. Whoever is good will be with whomever is good, and you don't have to care about the opinions of others."
These words did not object to her friendship with the Crown Princess of the East Palace.
Having said that, he didn't stay for long, and after bowing his hands to the Queen Mother Qi, he left with Liu Kang and others, leaving everyone in the room looking at each other, and no longer interested in feasting.
Even the Queen Mother Qi rarely looked a little complicated.
She glanced at Chu Ning, who was silent next to her, and she didn't know for a moment whether Xiao Kezhi was too confident and didn't take the people from the East Palace in his eyes at all, or if there was something else hidden.