The courtyard rented by the Lu family was in a good location, but the place was small and shared, so Lu Ying could only squeeze into a room with her cousin Lu Tian.

But coincidentally, the family also sent their daughter to the capital to participate in the draft, so the three girls can still talk together on weekdays, and it is not lonely.

When Taohua passed, the girl of that family was in Lu Ying's house, studying the embroidery of flowers on her handkerchief, and when she saw Taohua come in, a trace of surprise and vigilance flashed in her eyes, and she quickly stood up.

Lu Ying looked a little thinner, and there was a hint of something in her eyes that she didn't have before, but she still had two deep dimples when she smiled: "Taohua, this is the sister of the Wu family, and her name is Yuelan." Sister Wu, this is my good friend, Jiang Taohua. ”

Wu Yuelan bent her knees and blessed, then laughed softly: "Then I won't disturb Sister Lu, you can talk, go back first." "She is slightly older than Lu Ying, she looks sixteen or seventeen years old, but she is petite. On a small melon seed face, the complexion is slightly dark, but she has a pair of big eyes like apricots, and her voice is even softer, obviously it is an accent in Shaanxi, but the whole person looks like a Jiangnan woman.

"The ancestral home of the Wu family's sister is also Jinling, and she is still a fellow countryman. However, her father has always been an official in Shaanxi, and she was also born in Shaanxi, so she speaks with an accent over there. Lu Ying didn't need the maid to do anything, and poured tea for Taohua herself, "I thought I wouldn't have a chance to see you again, but I didn't expect you to come so soon." ”

"After receiving your letter, I will come immediately." Momoka looked at her, "You're now—"

Lu Ying smiled slightly: "Me?" It's very good. You see, I'm not very good right now, am I? After I went home, my aunt thought I was tanned, and gave me a medicated bath every day. ”

Lu Tian next to him lowered his head and pursed his lips secretly, obviously a little jealous. But Taohua didn't bother to care about her, just looked Lu Ying up and down.

Lu Ying was actually born white, with a slightly round face like the moon, with a pair of apricot eyes, and she always smiled as if she was holding honey. Now her skin was more delicate than before, and it looked like fresh snow, as if it was about to melt with a sigh of breath, but the old smile in her eyes was gone, so that although the smile was still sweet, in the eyes of those who knew her well, it was like a layer of honey floating on the water, but it was only on the surface, and there was no longer the joy that came from the heart before.

Taohua felt that her eyes were a little sour, but at this time, it was nonsense to say anything, Lu Ying had been driven to a dead end, there was only one choice, rather than saying something to shake her confidence, it was better to ask her what else she needed.

"What you've got with you—is that enough?" Although the Lu family wants to send a woman into the palace, they may not give Lu Ying much money, but when they enter the palace, there are too many places that need to be touched. Although Taohua has never drafted a show, she has watched too much similar TV, and she has never eaten pork and seen pigs run away, so I am afraid that she knows a lot more than Lu Ying in this regard.

Lu Ying was stunned for a moment, and then smiled: "The eldest aunt gave me and the fifth sister fifteen taels of silver each. ”

The draft is said to last for half a month, and fifteen taels in the palace is enough for a fart! Taohua almost scolded, turned to Mint and said, "Take out the purse." ”

Mint hurriedly took out two purses, which looked like they were the same size, and took the water-green one to Lu Tian first: "There are some broken silver and two pairs of silver earrings in it, and the girl will reward them." ”

Lu Tian didn't expect that he would have it, seeing that the purse could hold at least ten taels of silver, he quickly stood up, a little at a loss: "This, how can I-" Although she was a little jealous of Lu Ying, she also knew that Taohua was Lu Ying's friend, and there was no reason to give her silver, a person she didn't know, anyway.

"Miss Lu Wu, take it." Taohua smiled and went over to stuff the purse into her hand, "I don't have much to do, just a little heart." There are big rules in the palace, you and Sister Ying go in together and take care of each other. ”

If it weren't for the two sisters living together, Taohua would not have given Lu Tian silver. However, since she can't escape Lu Tian's eyes, if she is jealous and stumbles on her family in the palace, Lu Ying can't prevent it.

Lu Tian took the silver, only to feel that his hands and feet didn't know where to put them, and only after a while did he snort: "Then I'll go and see the sister of the Wu family, fourth sister, you can talk to the girl of the Jiang family." "Anyway, I know how to give up a place for the two of them to talk privately.

Seeing her leave, Lu Yingcai sighed: "Let you break the ...... again" took another colored purse in Mint's hand, and only then did she pinch it, her face changed slightly, "This-" She clearly felt that there was a folded roll of paper inside, this must be a silver ticket!

Taohua pressed her hand and said in a low voice: "There are five silver tickets in it, all of them are ten taels of one, and there are those eunuchs or aunts who are a little powerful, and I am afraid that the silver of one or two taels will not be put in their eyes." There are also four pairs of silver earrings, in fact, the weight is very light, each pair is only a few dollars in weight, but the appearance is quite exquisite, I just bought it in the silver shop, and it should be appropriate to give it to the palace maid who serves you. You don't have to say anything, since you've made up your mind to follow this path, you have to do your best. Not to mention anything else, I heard that the food in the palace costs silver, not to mention how good it is, at least don't eat cold rice and spoil your stomach, after all, it's still cold. In the future, if you enter the palace, what is a few dozen taels of silver, maybe you will become a favorite concubine, and you will reward me a little at will. ”

Lu Ying snorted and laughed, but her eyes were red: "Actually, when I came, my mother also stuffed me with a few pieces of jewelry, all of which were things she married." It's just that there isn't much money. Because the money was in the hands of her brother-in-law, her mother was left with only a few pieces of jewelry for the dowry.

"Keep your mother's stuff first. Even if you win the election in the future, will there be no expenses in the palace? Besides, there should be no need for expensive jewelry in the draft, and those palace maids and inner eunuchs are not worth it. "What Lu's mother gave her daughter is naturally her best jewelry, and these people who served in the draft are too big to bribe.

Lu Ying nodded. Taohua hesitated for a moment, and then said: "The heart of guarding against people is indispensable. Although Lu Ying had a hard time in her own home, Mrs. Tan was very fond of her, and she spent most of the year taking her over, so Lu Ying's temperament was still a girl's innocence, and she was not prematurely contaminated with some darkness. However, while this is a benefit, it can sometimes be a disadvantage.

"I understand." Lu Ying lowered her eyes, "Fifth sister doesn't need to say it, she also wants to enter the palace." However, she knew that her appearance was not outstanding, and she probably wouldn't be too restless. But the girl from the Wu family on the other side of the door often comes to ask me about needlework these days, but everyone is inquiring about it. I couldn't quite understand it, but I knew she wasn't as ...... as she seemed."

Taohua sighed softly: "I'm relieved that you have this vigilance." There are also rules in the palace, not to mention that there are people watching you, and no one will dare to go too far if they want to come to the draft. In short, you should be careful and follow the rules yourself. ”

Lu Ying nodded, and suddenly laughed: "You are chattering, why are you like my mother......"

Taohua thought to herself that I was put here at the age of my last life, but I am afraid that I am even older than your mother. said on his lips: "It's nonsense again, people don't care about you, I don't know what to do......"

The two talked and laughed, as if they had returned to the time when they were in Wuxi, but they both knew in their hearts that in the future, such a gathering would probably not happen again.

After Taohua went to see Lu Ying, it was March 3 within a few days.

This year's draft began on March 3, and it is said that after the draft girls entered the palace roll call, they all moved into the palace by the Qujiang Pond, saying that they were holding a green banquet, led by the Queen Mother and the Queen, and enjoyed the scenery of the palace.

Qujiang is a good place for the nobles of the Shangsi Festival to visit the spring, and the palace is built in the best place, although ordinary people can not enter, but it does not affect their imagination of the beautiful spring in the palace.

The Jiang family also went out. This is not only playing, but also the custom of eliminating disasters and warding off evil spirits, and even the Yu family went out together.

Eight rivers around Chang'an, there are countless places to go out to play, but the most lively is not over the Qujiang River. While the palace occupies the best position, the rest of the place is just as good.

Xiao Shi followed Yu Shi and Jiang Danhua in the same carriage. Jiang Danhua was very happy, and lifted the curtain to look out at the scenery, but Xiao Shi was a little uneasy. She went out today, one was to serve the Yu family, and more importantly, she wanted to ask for a son for Jiang Meihua.

The Shangsi Festival was the first to really bathe in the water, believing that it could not only get rid of evil spirits, but also cure women's infertility. Of course, there were originally some sacrificial activities here, but now, there have been considerable changes, mainly into a grand event of going out to the spring, there are no people who really go into the water, but on this day to go to the temple to ask for children, it is said that it will be particularly effective.

Yu Shi has been closing his eyes to recuperate, and then he opened his eyes and glanced at Xiao Shi, and said slowly: "You also relax your heart, Sister Mei will definitely be fine." ”

Xiao Shi lowered his head and answered softly, but did not answer. She and the Yu family are actually the same clan as the Queen Mother, but the Queen Mother is a branch of the Queen Mother, they are just side branches, but they are always the same ancestor, and they have not produced five suits. When Jiang Meihua ran for the election, according to the rules, she was the daughter of an official family with more than five grades, and Jiang Xi was a sixth-grade person, so she was not qualified. It was the Queen Mother who proposed that there were slightly fewer show girls of the appropriate age, and the requirements for officials in the capital were relaxed to six grades, so that Jiang Meihua could enter.

Because of this relationship, Xiao Shi has always felt that Jiang Meihua is very stable in the palace and can be taken care of by the Queen Mother and the Queen, but who knows that this miscarriage made her suspicious: In fact, in the eyes of the Queen Mother and the Queen, Jiang Meihua is nothing at all, as long as the Queen does not let her, she will never want to give birth to a child......

Yu Shi opened his eyes slightly and looked at his daughter-in-law, and sighed: "I said to rest assured, you can rest assured." I know, you want to make Mei'er-" She saw Jiang Danhua at a glance, so she had to swallow back the words behind her, and sighed, "I said a long time ago not to worry......

It has been ten years since the emperor ascended the throne, but the queen has never given birth to a son and a half daughter, and no other concubines are allowed to give birth, so that the emperor is nearly thirty years old and has no son. When Jiang Meihua entered the palace, Xiao Xiao's heart moved, thinking that Mr. Jiang Meihua would have a son, and he could be raised under the queen's knees at that time, which not only shared the queen's worries, but also benefited Jiang Meihua.

Who knew that the queen had no children for ten years, and she was still jealous, and she couldn't even tolerate this in Jiang Meihua's belly, but now Jiang Meihua has hurt her body and lost her dignity in front of the queen.

As soon as Yu Shi said this, Xiao Shi suddenly felt that a wave of grievances came up: "Sister Mei has been in the palace for two years, and she has always been respectful in front of the queen. Besides, this is also for the mother's worries, isn't it? The emperor has no children until now, what should I do with this country? Aren't you afraid that outsiders will say-"

"Shut up!" Yu Shi snorted, and even Jiang Danhua was startled, and looked back at her blankly.

Yu's face was pale, and he didn't care that anyone was around, and said in a deep voice: "What did you say?" What do outsiders say? You are so bold, really when you are a relative of your mother? Don't say that we are still far away, even if it is Niangniang's own brothers and sisters, I don't dare to say this, that's the queen! ”

Jiang Meihua is pregnant, and Yu disagrees. When Jiang Meihua first entered the palace, she was ambitious and wanted to use the queen's relationship to compete for favor, but Yu stopped her and told her not to worry. However, after waiting for two years, Jiang Meihua saw that she was already eighteen years old, and the next general election was coming soon, so she became anxious and left her grandmother's words behind.

This time Jiang Meihua had a miscarriage, Yu was not uncomfortable, after all, Jiang Meihua was her very beloved granddaughter, and she also had high hopes. However, she knew the Queen Mother and the Queen better than the Xiao Family, and knew that unless they gave up the idea of letting the Queen give birth to a concubine, they should not want to use the discussion and pressure of the ministers in the court to make the Queen bow her head. Jiang Meihua's disaster this time, to put it cold-bloodedly, was completely caused by herself.

These words, Yu also hinted at Xiao Shi, who knew that this niece not only did not understand, but also resented the queen and the queen mother. With the Jiang family, how can they compete with the descendants, once they find out that the Jiang family has grievances, the result is self-evident, and when the time comes, the distant relationship between them and the queen mother's family is not enough to worry about.

Xiao Shi's eyes were red, and he wanted to rush out of his stomach, but in the end he could only swallow it back, lowered his head and tore the handkerchief in his hand. Yu Shi glared at her fiercely and said, "Don't I feel sorry for Sister Mei?" But what is Sister Mei, what is the Jiang family, it is your turn to complain about the queen, what are you! was known by the Queen Mother and the Queen that the whole family was dead even with Sister Mei! Sister Mei had a miscarriage, aren't you enough! ”

This was said too harshly, Xiao Shi couldn't help but shiver, and Fang Cai's resentment suddenly turned into fear, and muttered, "No, it won't......"

Yu Shi pressed his eyebrows with a headache: "No?" Why not? Could it be that the Queen Mother is afraid of you? ”

Jiang Danhua's eyes widened and he listened, and then said: "But, but my sister is the emperor's concubine, does the emperor just watch my sister have a miscarriage?" ”

Yu Shi turned his head and glared at her: "Shut up!" Don't intervene in these things! ”

Jiang Danhua was used to being favored, although he saw Yu Shi so fierce, he was not very afraid, and only whispered: "Doesn't the queen also want to listen to the emperor?" ”

Yu didn't know how to say it. Although the emperor is the emperor, but now the descendants control the government, the queen and the queen mother control the harem, and the emperor can't even protect his own children. However, although everyone can discuss these words in private, they don't dare to say them in the open, Jiang Danhua is so heartless, how dare Yu let her listen to this?

Xiaoshi understood better than her daughter, and she didn't dare to say anything more when she heard the words, and said in a low voice: "Mother, don't be angry, your daughter-in-law knows." ”

"Not only do you have to know, but when you enter the palace, you have to explain this truth to Sister Mei. Let her take care of her body with peace of mind, and in the future, there will always be a chance to ...... in the future" Yu's last sentence was a little lacking in confidence, Jiang Meihua had already made a mistake once, and I don't know if there will be this opportunity in the future.

Xiao Shi replied in a low voice, thinking of his eldest daughter, and his eyes were slightly red. didn't dare to let Yu Shi see it, so he had to turn his head to look out of the car window, and for a while the carriage was as silent as death.

On the grassland along the Qujiang River, patches of brocade have been branched out. After several generations of the founding of the country, the wind of luxury gradually rose, and the rich and noble families used splendid silk to surround a vacant space for the ladies to drink and feast in. These brocades shine brighter in the sun, more dazzling than flowers, forming a scenery that often stuns people who have just entered the capital.

As soon as they got out of the carriage, Cao and Jiang Yanhua really looked in a daze, and Cao muttered: "This, these are all good silks...... "There are many silkworms in Jiangnan, and she is good at embroidery, so she can naturally see the good and bad." Some of the materials in these brocades are actually precious makeup satin or woven gold satin, which are reluctant to be used as clothes by the moderately rich and noble!

Jing glanced at it nonchalantly, and said with a smile: "I have heard that the capital pays attention to fighting brocade in the Shangsi Festival, and it is really true." ”

Cao Shi said blankly: "Doujin? ”

Jing said with a smile: "It is that each family forms a curtain with precious brocade, and the more precious the brocade, the more it shows the identity of the people in the curtain." "To put it bluntly, it's fighting for wealth. However, there are some fabrics that merchants can't wear according to the rules, so it's not enough to have money alone.

Cao couldn't help but say, "Aren't these brocades wasted?" "Colored fabrics will fade after they are washed in the water, and they are generally washed two or three times at most, and they look unrecognizable. And these brocade curtains are erected on the ground, which is inevitably stained with mud and must be cleaned in water before they can be used again. However, after washing it once, will those rich and noble families still wear such clothes made of brocade? But if it is given to the next person, this is not something that the lowly can wear.

Jing covered his mouth and smiled: "Since it is a doujin, it is naturally useless to fight." ”

Cao's lips moved, and finally swallowed the words back. Taohua looked around, but shook her head: "Waste." "As far as the eye can see, there are all brocade curtains, and on this day, the waste of cloth is not a thousand. The Shangsi Festival is like this, and it can be seen on weekdays that this huge capital, so many official eunuchs and nobles, I don't know how many things have been wasted.

Jing smiled indifferently: "The custom is like this, everyone can't be exempt from vulgarity." She didn't wear clothes that had been in the water when she was in her mother's house, but she was more frugal after she got married, but the clothes made for Jiang Lianhua were still only worn once.

Jing was talking to Cao absentmindedly as he looked around, as if looking for something.

The best places in this area have already been occupied, and the official position of the Jiang family can only find a random place to sit on the periphery. Xiaoshi was about to instruct the servants to lay it, but Jing Shi smiled and said: "Sister-in-law, there is no shade here, I'm afraid that my mother can't stand the sunshine, why don't you look over there?" ”

Xiaoshi didn't want to toss, she just wanted to lay it down and settle down everyone, so that she could have time to go to the nearby Niangniang Temple to incense Jiang Meihua and ask for a child. But Jing's raised Yu's family, if she didn't agree, wouldn't it seem that she was not as filial as Jing's? Although he gritted his teeth secretly, he could only say: "Then you can look for it again and see if there is a more suitable place nearby." ”

After a while, the boys who were looking for it all returned, saying that there was no more suitable open space ahead. Xiao Shi glanced at Jing's family, and while directing everyone to lay it, he said lightly: "It's a pity that it's too late, and I wasted my brother and sister's filial piety." ”

Jing didn't care, walked a few steps forward, and suddenly his eyes lit up, and he beckoned to the two carriages coming behind, and called, "Thrush girl!" ”

The carriages were both very large and magnificent, and beside them a young man accompanied him on horseback, and on the wheels sat a well-dressed maid in addition to the coachman. Jing's greeting, a maid about ten years old in the carriage in front of him suddenly looked over, then turned his head and said a word to the car, and the carriage drove towards Jing's side. Jing hurriedly took two steps forward and said with a smile: "Madame is also coming to Youchun?" ”

The thrush jumped off the wheel and said with a smile: "Mrs. Jiang is also there?" What a coincidence. As he spoke, he glanced at the rest of the Jiang family.

"yes." Jing said with a smile, "We came out late, and we're looking for a place." ”

The thrush looked at the brocades one by one, and couldn't help but show a hint of embarrassment: "I didn't expect to travel so early in the capital, and travel so ......early" They came later than the Jiang family, and I am afraid that they will not be able to find a good place. It was also the whim of the eldest girl, the original lady was afraid that she was unwell and didn't want to come, who knew that this morning, the eldest girl suddenly proposed to come again, this time she was caught off guard, although the people were busy working, it was still late, where to sit now?

"Why, there's no more open space ahead?" The curtain of the car was lifted, revealing the face of a middle-aged woman, "Mrs. Jiang, you are also here to visit Chun?" ”

The woman was in her early forties, and although she was well maintained, she still showed fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyebrows and eyes, revealing her age.

"Exactly." Jing's face was full of spring breeze, "I don't want to meet my wife here." I really didn't expect that there were so many people in the capital, if Madame didn't have a suitable place, why don't you deign to squeeze here? ”

At this moment, everyone in the Jiang family had already noticed these carriages, and Xiao Shi snorted lightly: "It turns out that they are waiting for someone......

Yu Shi raised his eyes and glanced at his niece, and said lightly: "That's the wife of the Fuzhou prefect." You are the eldest daughter-in-law, go and please, don't let your younger siblings speak. ”