When Chu Lian helped Mrs. He out of the side hall of Ninghe Palace, a maid quietly left in the dark.
After Mrs. He returned with the two granddaughters-in-law from the mansion, Mrs. Pan, who just turned her eyes to this side, looked straight at her. Mrs. Pan smiled kindly, got up and walked to Mrs. He, that's all. A junior salute, the old lady wanted to stand up and return the salute, but she stopped her.
"The old matriarch is old, don't be too polite to me, how come Mrs. Uncle didn't come today, but her health is still not clear?"
Mrs. He's expression remained unchanged, as if the incident of losing the cake just now had never happened at all, she said calmly and kindly: "Thank you for Mrs. Pan's concern on behalf of my daughter-in-law. My daughter-in-law is not in good health. She died a few days ago. I handed over a sign to the palace, stating that I cannot attend the banquet today."
Mrs. Pan casually glanced at Mrs. Zou and Chu Lian, and finally her eyes fell on Chu Lian's tender face, her smile became more and more gentle, "Surely the old lady next to you is your new granddaughter-in-law?"
"Exactly. Although Sanlang's daughter-in-law is young, she is very sensible."
Accompanied by Mrs. He's words, Chu Lian blessed Mrs. Pan.
The corner of Mrs. Pan's mouth never fell, "The old lady is really lucky. The granddaughter-in-law is sensible, and she is a lady from the British government. It won't be long before the old lady will be able to hug her great-grandson."
Mrs. Pan suddenly said these words, causing the expressions of the three wives in the Jing'an House to change slightly.
Mentioning that girls in the British government are good at giving birth is actually belittling Chu Lian, and mentioning holding a great-grandson is actually stimulating Zou, who has not yet given birth to his eldest great-grandson, and saying that it will not take long, that is to beat Chu Lian and Mrs. He Jun's face is gone.
Among the high-class ladies in the prosperous capital, who doesn't know that He Sanlang from the Jing'an Bo Mansion left home to join the army in the frontier fortress after three days of marriage, what does it matter if his wife is suddenly pregnant when his husband is not at home
This Mrs. Pan, who couldn't see the slightest mistake on her face, was really a provocative provocateur.
After all, Mrs. He is a person who has experienced the world. After a moment of anger flashed in his eyes, he regained his calm, "Mrs. Pan, you stay in the back house all day, you probably don't know that the old man's unfilial grandson died earlier. Went to the north to join the army."
Mrs. Pan showed shock on her face, and hurriedly apologized: "Old Madam, I really made a sudden slip of the tongue, don't blame me, I didn't expect Saburo He Jiasaburo to be so decisive? Could it be..." She cast a malicious glance Chu Lian, the meaning is self-evident. After talking here for so long, the wives around me have already inquired about it. Although each of them has no expression on their faces, they have actually pricked up their ears to listen to the movements of Mrs. He and Mrs. Pan. Everyone is full of gossip.
Mrs. Pan silently accused He Changdi of leaving home because he was dissatisfied with his new wife. Although she didn't finish her words, the meaning is self-evident, as long as she has some thoughts, she may be able to tell the difference.
Mrs. Zou bowed her head slightly. Although Mrs. Pan was targeting Uncle Jing'an's mansion at this time, Mrs. Zou not only didn't feel angry, she even faintly felt a little pain in her heart!
Mrs. Pan's eyes met Chu Lian who was beside Old Madam He, but she suddenly froze. Chu Lian looked at her with a pair of clear eyes, but there was no anger in her eyes. As if she didn't care what she had to say at all. What she was doing in front of Chu Lian at this time was like pouring a bucket full of ice water on a bamboo basket. Not only did the cold water not stay, but all of it leaked from the gap in the bamboo basket. , making people feel extremely frustrated.
The scheming Mrs. Pan didn't get angry with Chu Lian, but she was angry with herself. She stared at Chu Lian and continued: "The northern frontier army has no military exploits, but they have to stay for five years. It will be a loss for Jin." Mr. Yixiang has such a wonderful age."
Chu Lian felt funny in her heart, what's the matter, why everyone is staring at her, it's the first time she saw Mrs Pan, Pan's family is the tallest, especially for Chu Lian who hasn't married before Impossible to contact, why does Mrs. Pan dislike her
Could it be because his own father, Chu Qi, was going to Pan's residence last time
Thinking of this, Chu Lian's face darkened.
She doesn't ask her father to love her, but don't cheat her either!
"Thank you, Madam Pan, for your concern. My husband is blessed and blessed, so there will be good luck." Chu Lian pushed back indifferently, and she was too lazy to play Tai Chi with this Madam Pan, and she was too lazy to deal with her. It's on, why don't you want her to push back
Chu Lian is not a person who likes to hold grudges, because those who offend her will be avenged on the spot.
Mrs. Pan choked, and the warm smile on her face that had never changed for thousands of years disappeared, and she coldly said to Chu Lian, "I didn't expect Mr. Xiang to see it so openly!"
Chu Lian tilted her head and smiled brightly at Mrs. Pan.
Mrs. Pan's heart was overwhelmed by Chu Lian's two words, she suddenly smiled secretly, "Old Madam, I haven't seen you offering cakes at your house, what's wrong? Are you trying to deceive the Queen Mother?"
Mrs. He glanced at Chu Lian, Chu Lian raised a delicate food box in his hand, and waved it in front of Madam Pan, "Madam You Lao is still thinking about the cakes in our house, I will go now, excuse me .”
As soon as Chu Lian finished speaking, she took the cake and her maid to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager.
Mrs. Pan stared at Chu Lian's back in disbelief for a while, but when she regained her senses, Chu Lian had disappeared into the crowd, and her good mood for the day was wiped out by this short conversation just now. Mrs. Pan was very angry, and before she left, she gave Zou a contemptuous look, and did not forget to stab her.
The wives around saw that the person who presented the cake was not the grandma of Jing'anbo Mansion, and they all had different eyes. For a while, Zou wished to shrink her body and find a crack in the ground to get in.
When Chu Lian returned to Mrs. He's side after offering cakes in a regular manner, Princess Duanjia squeezed over at this time, and secretly asked in her ear if she needed help.
Chu Lian smiled and shook her head, saying she was fine.
Princess Duanjia relaxed and nodded to her before leaving.
After a while, the banquet began, and at the end there was a group cake tasting session. Princess Duanjia was the princess of Wei Wangfu, and the royal family members did not sit with Chu Lian and the others.
The banquet officially began when all the noble ladies and daughters-in-law of the royal family and wives of all ranks were seated.
Princess Duanjia sat in the front seat with Princess Wei, above was the Queen Mother and Empress, and under the Empress was Concubine Wei, and behind the Queen Mother sat several concubines who were nursing in the palace.
Concubine Wei is lined up under the concubines in the palace, sitting at the same table with the princesses of other mansions, Princess Duanjia is at the next table, at her table are all the princesses, and Princess Leyao is sitting diagonally opposite Princess Duanjia.
And Chu Lian sat next to Mrs. He, probably in the top position among the wives. Originally, there was still a place at their table reserved for the wife of the British government, but today the wife did not come, as if to say Because of poor health.
Except for Mrs. Tai, the other wives in the British government are not high enough, so Chu Lian didn't see anyone else in the British government in Ninghe Palace.
Chu Lian turned his head to look at Empress Shen who was speaking upwards, and felt an angry gaze fall on him, as if it was burning, and looked over according to the feeling, and met Princess Le Yao's eyes.
Princess Le Yao's little hands clenched into fists, she has never been so deflated before!
With her noble status, in the past, no one could get her if she wanted to teach her a lesson, even if she killed her, no one could do anything to get her. Now she just wants Brother He, an annoying wife, to suffer a bit, but she turned it over and over again. s failure. It's okay to be in Dingyuanhou's mansion before, after all, it's not in my territory, but now in the palace, it's still the same, how can I not make her angry.
If possible, Princess Le Yao would like to kill Chu Lian right now to relieve her hatred.
Chu Lian glanced at Princess Le Yao, and quickly looked away, as if she hadn't noticed her hateful eyes just now.
At the subsequent banquets, Chu Lian behaved well, everything was done properly and well, neither conspicuous nor out of order. He only hoped that the banquet would end soon, and that he could return to his Songtao Garden soon and take a hot bath. , Sleep soundly all night.
The second half of the banquet is the time to evaluate the group cakes from various prefectures. At that time, the group cakes from each prefecture will be put in the same silver plate and tasted to ten respected wives and royal family members. session leader.
From the conversation with Princess Duanjia before, Chu Lian knew that the selection of group cakes was not as fair as others imagined. Although the "group cakes" he presented were somewhat different, he was not worried that he would be selected as the leader. So I just sat down and ate and watched the show with peace of mind.
Although the banquet in the palace was not delicious, the fruit after the meal was good. They were dragon fruit and mangosteen that were enshrined in the Western Regions. These two fruits are usually not available in Jing'anbo Mansion. I did not expect the Empress Dowager to Take it out to entertain the ladies at the banquet.
When the group cake selection was in full swing, the eunuch guarding the gate of Ninghe Palace suddenly sang: "The emperor is here—"
Ordinarily, the emperor would not come to Ninghe Palace. In previous years, such banquets were also presided over by the queen mother or empress, and the hostesses were also entertained by the female relatives of various prefectures. In the past two years, Emperor Taiping did not take a look at the future, but since he came, everyone was naturally happy, after all, there were not many opportunities to see Tianyan.
Emperor Taiping simply wanted to join in the fun because he was bored in the imperial study, and he had not arranged this way earlier.
Just when I met the group cake review, I was in a good mood and stepped in.
The banquet was even more lively because of the arrival of Emperor Taiping. After a while, the evaluation session ended, and the decree with the results was handed over to a female official in the Empress Dowager's Palace.
Emperor Taiping sat beside the empress dowager, talking to her in a low voice with a smile, while listening to the female official announcing the order of the cakes presented by each government.
Xuan Yizhi's female official's voice was clear, and it immediately spread throughout the halls where the female relatives were entertained.
The wives who were at the same table with Mrs. Pan laughed and congratulated in low voices before the female officer read out the name of the leader. Mrs. Pan was also complimented with a warm smile on her face, feeling very comfortable in her chest.
The female officer's voice sounded, "After everyone's evaluation, the winner this time is the dough cake presented by the Jing'anbo Mansion..."