Emperor Xuanren reigned for more than ten years, and the only big celebrations he had were the Empress Dowager's 60th birthday and his 40th birthday. For ordinary birthdays, officials in the imperial city would just send simple gifts, and then hold a "family banquet" with only members of the royal family and royal relatives participating. The Empress Dowager's banquet was even simpler, and it was a genuine family banquet. With these two setting an example, the people below naturally did not dare to hold a grand banquet.
The situation this year is particularly different, which naturally attracted a lot of attention.
This is a rare occasion. Today's Qi Dynasty is a prosperous country with a strong people, and no one talks about extravagance. Of course, it is hard to say whether Emperor Xuanren would remember some of the things in this birthday gift.
Such excitement has reduced the influence of the incident caused by Pingyang Hou before. If you don't meet the person involved, you will just forget it after talking about it. But if you meet the person involved, it is hard to say whether the old things will be brought up again. If someone really makes up a story, Xiaocao will be affected the most. However, she is now concentrating on Wei Tingyu's illness. She has not participated in any banquets during this period. At this juncture, Han will not let her participate.
During the first two days of the Empress Dowager's 70th birthday, the excitement originating from outside the Imperial City had basically subsided.
Most of the ministers in the imperial city have already sent birthday gifts to the palace. Those who will present birthday gifts on the birthday are naturally the royal family. The time specially reserved is just to give them the opportunity to curry favor. Getting a word of praise from the empress dowager may bring more benefits than directly currying favor with Emperor Xuanren himself.
The 70th birthday is extraordinary. The scope of people who can attend the palace banquet has been expanded a lot. Officials of the fifth rank and above and their families can enter the palace. In fact, the number of people entering the palace will eventually increase. After all, being able to enter the palace to pay birthday greetings to the empress dowager is a great honor in itself. Those who are not qualified will naturally be brought in by qualified ones. It would be strange that there are not many people.
Of course, not everyone is like this. There are some people who don’t care much and it doesn’t matter whether they can enter the palace or not. Not everyone yearns for the magnificent palace walls.
It's like everyone in the first three rooms of the Wen family and the old lady can enter the palace. Even though the old lady's health has improved a lot, she doesn't want to move much. Her husband is dead, and she still has the imperial edict, but it's because of her son. She is not among the people who must enter the palace, so naturally she won't join in the fun.
Another person who had the same idea was Wen Ren Yang. He had always been incompatible with the hustle and bustle, and he couldn't even find a place in the palace to sit down and read.
Although Mrs. Du from the second wife would go out from time to time, she had lived in seclusion for many years and was not willing to agree to visit those "old friends" from the past, so she let Wenren Xi enter the palace with her and let her youngest daughter stay at home with her.
There are more people in the third room, so naturally not all of them can enter the palace, so they need to be selected. Those who are left behind may be unwilling, but they also know it and have it in mind. There are also some people who are more Buddhist and have taken things lightly since childhood, and they don't take it seriously.
However, not everyone thinks this way and knows how to adjust their mental state. For example, Wen Renxiang is almost going crazy wanting to enter the palace, but has no chance. Seeing her family members preparing clothes and jewelry for entering the palace, she wants to snatch those things away and give herself away instead.
Originally, Zhang Junliang's wedding date was before the Empress Dowager's death. However, perhaps because they didn't want such a disgraceful thing like her to enter the palace to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday, they actually postponed the wedding date. You know, at first, Mrs. Zhang refused to change the wedding date.
Zhang Junliang is the great-nephew of the Empress Dowager, so all members of the Zhang family must enter the palace. If Zhang Junliang marries Wen Renxiang but does not bring her into the palace, it would be too deliberate. You know, Wen Renxiang is Zhang Junliang's "lifesaver", and the Zhang family still has some dignity, but Wen Renxiang will only bring shame, so they might as well postpone the wedding.
Before, Han was busy with Xiaocao's affairs. After receiving the request from the Zhang family, she didn't take it seriously. Anyway, the marriage had been settled. It didn't matter if it was delayed. After all, the Wen family didn't deliberately prepare anything for Wen Renxiang's marriage. Even if she married into a wealthy family, the dowry would still be the same. Don't expect Han to add anything else. Even the invitations for the wedding banquet were not prepared, so it didn't matter if it was postponed. - Of course, if Madam Zhang wanted to delay it forever, or even delay the marriage, it would be impossible.
Wen Renxiang didn't know how many handkerchiefs she had torn into pieces, but she could only vent her anger on these things that were not easily damaged. There were not many other things in her room for her to vent her anger on.
However, Wen Ren Xiang is now disliked by even the people around her. Other people in the family don't take her seriously at all. They didn't lock her up in the yard because they saw that she was relatively well-behaved. If she did anything excessive again, it would probably not be as simple as house arrest. Fortunately, Wen Ren Xiang was not that stupid.
Actually, Xiaocao didn't really want to enter the palace, but Han shook her head and said no, because she had registered with the Queen Mother, and it would not be good if she was not there when the Queen Mother asked.
Xiaocao had no choice but to be dressed up from head to toe by Han again. Of course, Wen Renying received the same treatment. Xiaocao really felt it was such a waste. It was not like she had no clothes to wear. These were specially prepared and would basically only be worn this once and there would be no next time.
In fact, it was not just them, but almost everyone who could enter the palace in the entire imperial city was like this, especially the girls. So, during this period of time, all the gold, silver and jewelry stores, silk shops, and rouge and powder shops in the imperial city were doing booming business.
Among the busy people, Concubine Kou is perhaps the one who bears the brunt. Not only is she busy with the business in the restaurant, but many young girls and young women also want to have beautiful makeup and nice manicures. Although it is possible for others to do it, in the end they still trust Concubine Kou more.
Therefore, they all wanted her to design it, do it once, and then let the maids practice it over and over again, striving to achieve perfection before entering the palace.
It wasn't obvious in the past, but when they really came to her, Concubine Kou discovered that there were quite a few people she couldn't refuse.
For example, princesses, county ladies and others from the royal family, and princesses with their sisters from their natal families, obviously these people could not be postponed, so they were so busy that they just wanted to go to bed at night, and naturally even Prince Heng was "ignored" by them.
It was probably better for her to finish taking the medicine and serve the man less at night. However, it was obviously not good for her to recuperate by being so busy. She was still thinking whether she should take advantage of the Empress Dowager's death to find an opportunity to ask the Fourth Miss Wenren to take her pulse. Although she had consulted the imperial physician while taking the medicine, the imperial physician's previous "incompetence" made her not trust him so much.
On the day of the Empress Dowager's birthday, Xiaocao was dressed up beautifully just like Wenrenying. The two sisters have very different styles. The elder sister is quiet yet elegant, while the younger sister is delicate and bright. As a mother, I have highlighted their characteristics very well.
Add to that the girls from the second and third rooms, all of them young and delicate, each of them very pretty, a pleasure to look at. They chatted and laughed together, walked out of the door hand in hand, and got into the carriage.
Wen Renxiang was watching them not far behind, his eyes red with jealousy, but he could only watch helplessly, he could not do anything, and he dared not do anything.
In this June weather, fans are indispensable in hand, and even ice basins are placed on the carriage. However, after the beginning of summer, Xiaocao deliberately prescribed some prescriptions, which at least made life much better for those who suffered from the summer heat in previous years.
There was a long queue outside the palace gate. After all, this palace was no different from other places. It was more rigorous in every aspect and would not tolerate any mistakes.
If you are used to such scenes, you can naturally find things to pass the time. Xiaocao has even prepared a book for himself.
When Zhen Muyao came to the door, Xiaocao was somewhat surprised. According to the status of the Jian family, they should be at the front. "Muyao, did you not get in, or is it not the turn of the Jian family yet?"
"It's not my turn yet, but it will be soon. But I've told my family that I'm coming to the palace with you. I hope you sisters won't dislike me?" Zhen Muyao smiled and waved to the others.
Zhen Muyao was of low status and position, so how could she say such disdainful words to Ren Wenren? She quickly moved aside and let her get on the carriage.
Zhen Muyao was really not polite either. She climbed up generously and sat next to Xiaocao. Seeing the book in Xiaocao's hand, she pulled it over and glanced at the book. "Sister Xuan, do you want to be so hardworking?"
Xiaocao smiled and said nothing.
Then, the carriage basically became Zhen Muyao's home court. Of course, she was not a fool, so she would not embarrass the other girls from the Wen family. She said some witty and interesting things, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
In this way, time passed unknowingly, and it was the Wen family's turn to enter the palace. Xiaocao and Zhen Muyao were closer to the inside, and the other girls went down first. They had to use footstools, but Zhen Muyao jumped down directly. She was really not like a lady at all. She raised her hand in a very formal manner, looked at Xiaocao with a smile, and acted as if she was "willing to serve her".
What can be done about this personality that has not changed even after getting married? As a friend, Xiaocao certainly would not force her to change. She raised her eyebrows and put her hand on her wrist, cooperating quite well. However, when Xiaocao came down and was about to let go, he suddenly tightened his grip and pressed his fingers directly on her pulse.
Zhen Muyao blinked and saw that Xiaocao looked a little strange. "What's wrong? Is there something wrong with my body?"
Xiao Cao patted her and said, "Sure enough, what are you talking about?"
Zhen Muyao looked a little innocent and a little aggrieved, "It was you, Sister Xuan, who changed your expression first. You are a miracle doctor. Your change of expression makes people wonder if there is something wrong."
After hearing her words, the other people from the Wen family also looked over. What Zhen Muyao said did make some sense.
Xiao Cao rolled her eyes at her inconspicuously, "You have to think of the worst. Can't it be a good thing?"
"Good news?" Zhen Muyao was puzzled and didn't react for a moment. What good news could there be
However, Han and others couldn't help but look at Zhen Muyao's belly and smiled unconsciously. The meaning of a new life is naturally a great thing.
Zhen Muyao was stared at by them, and finally reacted belatedly. She placed her hand on her belly in disbelief, "Sister Xuan, are you talking about me? I'm pregnant?"
Xiaocao found it a little funny, "What? You still don't trust me?" Xiaocao was 100% sure that Zhen Muyao was pregnant.
"No, of course I wouldn't distrust Sister Xuan, but my life has just ended." So, it's no wonder that Zhen Muyao was a little skeptical.
"This is not surprising. A few people experience this in the first month, and some people may have similar problems in the first three months. So, I can tell you with certainty that you are going to be a mother."
Zhen Muyao showed a surprised expression, carefully touched her belly, looked down, still a little afraid of suffocation, but then a little worried, "I jumped up and down like this before, will I..."
Xiao Cao laughed, "Are you nervous now? Don't worry, you are in good health, don't be too nervous, but you do need to be more careful in the future."
To be honest, Zhen Muyao had been married for just over two months, and she was not in a hurry to have a child. She had never even thought about it. Now that she was pregnant, it was a bit unexpected for her. However, it was a good thing, a very good thing, so she pulled Xiaocao to ask about the pregnancy.
"Are you sure you want to say this here?" Xiaocao raised her chin and asked her to look around.
The Wen family was now blocking the road. Although no one was urging them, the people behind them couldn't help but look over.
Zhen Muyao felt a little embarrassed at this, and followed Xiaocao into the palace first. She still didn't whisper to Xiaocao along the way. There was nothing she could do as she was both excited and nervous.
Xiao Cao lowered her voice, "Did your mother put a gynecology manual at the bottom of your box? Didn't you read it carefully?"
Zhen Muyao was a little embarrassed. Could she say that she was really impatient to read? She just flipped through a few pages of the gynecological manual. Actually, she did finish reading Jian Shu at home. She didn't feel anything about it, but the maids and nannies were speechless.
"As for the entire pregnancy period, it's basically all written in the book. You can take a look at it when you go back. If you still have any questions, I'll talk to you in detail later."
Zhen Muyao nodded, then took Xiaocao's arm and rubbed her cheek with his head, saying, "Oh, I'm lucky to know Sister Xuan." The most important thing could be solved easily.
The closeness between them made many people look at them sideways. To be honest, Zhen Muyao came from a good family, had a proud personality, and tended to be a second-rate man. It was really surprising that one day she acted like a spoiled child towards a girl who was also her husband.
He went directly to the Empress Dowager's palace and met Madam Zhen outside. Naturally, he told her the good news as soon as possible.
This strict, taciturn and cold lady rarely showed a smile.