Mengbao sat alone in her seat, and she didn't take the initiative to talk to others when others didn't come to talk to her.

On the one hand, it was because Zhao's mother had told her to see less and talk less, and on the other hand, she had inquired about Shen Nanzhu's official position and status in the past two days.

Shen Nanzhuzheng's official rank is neither high nor low in the capital, but because it is parachuted here, it will inevitably attract some people's dissatisfaction.

Some of them were people who were originally determined to win this vacancy, and some of them were people who were dissatisfied with his high position simply because he was young age.

Today, the queen invited many female dependents of official eunuchs to come, including many of these female dependents present.

Even Shen Nanzhu couldn't be completely sure who was dissatisfied with him, and Mengbao naturally couldn't distinguish the families of these people.

If she rashly talks to people now, it will inevitably make people feel that she is surrendering her identity and showing favor to others.

But with Shen Nanzhu's official position and status, there is no need to whisper to people like this.

And because he is serving in Dali Temple, he also needs to distance himself from these dignitaries and nobles in the capital, and he can't get too close, otherwise it will inevitably make people feel that there is a suspicion of favoritism and fraud when he handles the case in the future.

Even he rarely participates in socializing, trying to avoid contact with those powerful and dignitaries, Mengbao, as her wife, naturally can't get too close to other female dependents.

What's more, yesterday, Mr. Liu specially sent someone to tell her not to disgrace his good apprentice at the banquet with a trembling and cautious look, saying that his apprentice would lose face. Then he, who is a master, has no face, and he will not even be able to raise his head in front of Emperor Dezhao in the future.

Although Mengbao felt that this old gentleman had always been unserious, he specially sent someone over to give such a few words to advise, thinking that he really took it to heart, so she naturally had to pay attention to it.

But what she didn't know was that the reason why Liu Bufan sent someone over to say these words was actually Shen Nanzhu who asked him to do it, in order to let her completely relax and not restrain herself too much because of the noble status of the people in the palace.

Of course, Shen Nanzhu asked Liu Bufan to say that the original words were naturally not like this. In the end, what came to Mengbao's ears was Liu Bufan's own "polished" sentence.

Because he felt that his apprentice was really protecting his daughter-in-law, he couldn't stand it. But because he did have some reasons in the matter of Sangzi's deed of sale, he was embarrassed to refuse, so he had to agree to it, and let people pass on a few words that he thought had similar meanings.

Because of these reasons. Mengbao really entered the palace this time as a walker. Enjoy the flowers and drink tea with the nobles. Show your face in front of everyone and show that you are there, and that's enough.

As for the rest. She hadn't really thought about it.

But she didn't think about it herself, but she couldn't stand others from thinking that she did.

For example, the queen, such as the girl in gorgeous clothes who has been staring at her, and some other female relatives who like to worship and flatter, and some women who want to provoke trouble.

"Eleventh sister, that lady is really good-looking, just sitting there drinking tea makes people feel that she is looking forward to it, as if she is the only one in the whole hall. If anyone stood beside her, wouldn't it be red flowers and green leaves, and they would immediately be divided into high and low, making people compare. ”

The twelfth princess, Qi Moxiang, said to the girl in Chinese clothes with a smile.

The girl in Chinese costume is the eleventh princess Qi Mohan, the daughter of the current queen, who is the same age as Qi Moxiang, sixteen years old, only one month older than Qi Moxiang.

Because Qi Mohan is the queen's young. Female, so the queen has always been very fond of her, since she was a child, she has been carefully taught to dress up, her appearance and knowledge are excellent, and she is very outstanding among the princesses.

Now that Qi Mohan has also reached the age suitable for marriage, the queen has been looking for a candidate for her to marry early, but for some reason she has not been suitable, and it has been delayed until today.

Because Qi Mohan did not have a marriage match, according to the principle of the order of the eldest and youngest, Qi Moxiang naturally delayed, so she and Qi Mohan have always been a little disagreeable, although she is respectful to this sister on the surface, but in the bottom of her heart she is a little unhappy.

She and Qi Mohan are only a month apart, they are both sixteen years old this year, and her mother, Concubine De, has already been a good colt for her, but because this sister is not married, she forcibly suppressed her marriage.

She has always been indignant in her heart, could it be that Qi Mohan will not marry for a day, so she will also follow her for a day? What a reason!

The Sheng'an royal family is not without the fact that the younger brother married before the elder brother, and the younger sister married earlier than the elder sister, even the ordinary eunuchs and ordinary people also have such precedents, why did she have to follow what order when she came here?

To put it bluntly, it's not that the queen is afraid that she, who is a younger sister, will marry before Qi Mohan, and at that time, except for the pair of unreliable dragon and phoenix fetuses in the entire palace, there will be only one such person as Qi Mohan who has not married, and it is a little too ugly to say.

Yes, because of this reason, it is too domineering to constantly hint at suppressing her mother and let her mother keep her and not let her get married!

There is such a thing between the two, and it is strange that the relationship between the two can be good.

Qi Mohan listened to Qi Moxiang's gloating words, always had a gentle and tranquil smile on his face, and said softly: "Women focus on good conduct and dignified morality, and it is good to have a good face, but how can they blindly rely on beauty to show others. ”

Qi Moxiang pouted secretly: Are you parallel and upright, virtuous and dignified? Then don't be in cahoots with your mother, for the sake of your own selfish desires, stop me from letting me get married!

Thinking so in her heart, she asked with a smile on her lips: "That lady is just sitting there drinking tea, how can my sister see that she is blindly relying on beauty to show others?" My sister has always been not as good as my sister's, so I didn't see this. ”

Is it possible to know at a glance that the other party is not behaving properly and is not dignified in virtue? opened his mouth and said that the other party was showing his beauty, and to put it bluntly, he didn't notice the appearance of the other party as soon as he came up, so he was jealous.

Laugh at. Obviously, my eyes are very red, but I still have to make a look that I don't look down on others, and I am not too tired!

Qi Mohan choked on her coldly, the smile on the corner of his lips stiffened slightly, he looked in the direction of Mengbao and smiled again: "A person with good conduct and dignified virtue will naturally be loved, this lady is so deserted around her, I want to come ......"

Before she finished speaking, she saw that Duchess Rongguo took the initiative to change places with someone and sat next to the young woman, and talked with her with a smile on her face.

This scene seemed to slap her in the face hard, blocking back the unfinished words she didn't finish later, and she couldn't hold it in her heart. I almost didn't catch my breath.

The woman who never bowed her head in front of her mother. How did you go and talk to that woman so self-defeatingly? Why is that......

Qi Moxiang on the side almost couldn't help laughing, covered his mouth with a handkerchief, and suppressed the smile on his lips for a long time.

Although Qi Mohan didn't say it directly just now, the meaning between her words was obviously to say that the young lady would be ignored because of her bad conduct.

And the Duchess of Rongguo is now condescending to talk to her in person. Can she still say that Duchess Rongguo has no vision. Is it a different way to treat a person of bad character?

This Duchess of Rongguo didn't even dare to provoke the queen mother. Dare to say bad things about her, let her father know that even if she Qi Mohan is a princess born from the queen, her father will not give half of face!

One stood behind the two of them. The girl who was brightly dressed but had a very ordinary appearance couldn't help but interject anymore: "Today is obviously choosing a horse for Princess Rong'an, but she, a woman who has already married, is dressed so outstandingly, this alone can be seen that she is misbehaving!" Duchess Rongguo was blinded for a while by seeing her beauty, and when she knew......"

"Aru!"

Qi Mohan, the eleventh princess named Rong'an, snorted lightly and interrupted Zhou Ru, the daughter of Cheng Anbo.

Qi Moxiang's veil couldn't help but cover his mouth again, and he really admired this Zhou Ru in his heart.

In order to highlight the excellence of her eleventh sister, the queen mother was really desperate, and she actually found the worst one among her companions to accompany her on such a day.

This Zhou Ru is mediocre in appearance, and is almost useless except for saying some nice things according to the meaning of the queen and Qi Mohan.

However, she obviously slapped the horse's fart on the horse's leg just now, which not only made Qi Mohan happy, but also made her have to say something with a straight face.

Although everyone knows in their hearts that today's chrysanthemum banquet is mainly to choose a horse for Qi Mohan, she has not yet left the cabinet after all, and it is really inconsistent with her identity to announce this kind of words so directly.

Moreover, how can the Duchess of Rongguo simply treat others differently because they are beautiful and good-looking, such words undoubtedly belittle the Duchess of Rongguo and make her a superficial person who only knows how to look at people's appearances.

Although Qi Mohan wanted to say that the young lady had an empty appearance and served people, he did not mean to insult the Duchess of Rongguo at the same time.

Zhou Ru has been with Qi Mohan for too long, she is used to everything being dominated by her, and she has forgotten that some people can't be offended even if they are Qi Mohan.

Mengbao was talking to the Duchess of Rongguo at this time, and she didn't know anything about the qiē happening on the other side.

If she knew this, she would definitely feel extremely wronged.

When Shen Nanzhu first entered Beijing, in order not to let people find out that she didn't actually come with her, she kept claiming that her wife was sick and inconvenient to see people, and refused all banquets.

Later, although he found Mengbao, he didn't want her to go out to do those unnecessary entertainment, so he secretly pushed down those posts inviting her and never mentioned it to her.

This was the first time Mengbao had attended the gathering of these female dependents, and although she had made preparations in advance, after all, she was in a hurry, and she only had time to inquire about some basic matters.

Something like "choosing a horse", which everyone knows in their hearts, but keeps it a secret, she naturally doesn't know about it.

And even if she knew, it was useless, because the clothes she was wearing today were really very ordinary, and there was no way to be low-key anymore.

This is a moon-white dress, in addition to the good material, neither the style nor the color is outstanding, this is still the ready-to-wear that she specially asked people to go out to buy for today's banquet!

Because Shen Nanzhu is not only used to wearing good clothes by himself, but also used to wearing the best clothes for her, when he was in Bei'an City before, he said that all her future clothes would be made from Yunnifang, and now he has entered Beijing. How could he have wronged her.

Therefore, the ordinary clothes in the dream treasure chest cage that had been passed on the way to Bei'an had all been ordered by him to be lost or distributed to his subordinates early in the morning, and now they were all cut in the head office of Yunnifang in the capital, and any one of them was worth a lot of money, making her already beautiful appearance more and more bright and moving.

It stands to reason that it is appropriate to enter the palace even if she wears such clothes as Mengbao, but she was afraid that she would be too prominent and attract some unnecessary attention, so she specially found this dress that was neither ** but also very ordinary.

Unexpectedly, even so, it still made people remember her, and it was not a good impression.

"I haven't seen Azhu's child come to our house to play with Chengfeng recently, is he very busy in Dali Temple?"

Duchess Rongguo asked casually.

Meng Bao replied with a smile: "I don't want to ask much about officialdom, so I don't know if he's busy or not." ”

The answer was very official. There was also a deliberate distancing in his tone.

Mrs. Wei nodded. The smile on his face did not decrease but increased: "My family is stubborn, surrounded by some fox friends and dog friends, it is rare to have such a good child as Azhu, remember to tell him on my behalf when you go back." When I have time, I often come and go. Don't get caught up in the wind. Friends of their time. Don't have any suspicions. ”

Ill will?

Mengbao chuckled in his heart.

"How can it be, the outer son is upright and sits upright. How can you have any disagreement with the second son? If there is really a suspicion, then it must be that the second son and his grandson have a suspicion, and the lady must persuade the second son. ”

The implication is that if there is a problem, your son has a problem, not that I have a problem.

That's a real short-term protection!

Mrs. Wei couldn't help but laugh, causing several people around to look over.

"It's all my fault, I'm saying the wrong thing."

She hurriedly said.

Did she say the wrong thing?

The people who looked at it were all surprised.

This is the Duchess of Rongguo, and she has always been the only one who says anything, and even if there is a mistake, it is someone else's fault.

The queen also noticed the movement here, and asked with a smile, "What are you talking about so happy?" ”

Although Mengbao and Mrs. Wei didn't want to talk much to the queen, she took the initiative to ask, and they didn't want to answer.

Fortunately, although she asked "you", she actually only looked at Duchess Rongguo, obviously not taking Mengbao in her eyes, so naturally she didn't need Mengbao to answer.

Mrs. Wei said with a smile: "The concubine heard that Mrs. Shen Shizi has a shop on Suzaku Street, and there are some rare beasts in the shop, and the parrot hanging at the door is even more interesting, so she asked her if she could sell the parrot to me." But after asking, I found out that it was the treasure of the town store in their shop, and it couldn't be sold. ”

How could such a thing make her say that she was wrong? The lies are too fake, but no one can say anything, after all, even the queen can't ask what she doesn't want to say, let alone the other palace concubines and ladies sitting below.

Opening her eyes and talking nonsense like this obviously does not give the queen face, the queen's face is a little ugly, but she always maintains that gentle smile, and then puts her eyes on Mengbao on the side.

"I've heard of your shop, but I didn't expect that parrot to be so expensive. But in any case, it's just a bird, since Mrs. Wei has opened her mouth, why don't you give it to her? What do you like, and later, the palace will ask someone to find some for you from the treasury and send them to your house, and you will be able to buy the parrot. ”

These words were gentle and considerate, as if she was helping the Duchess of Rongguo, but in fact, she just wanted to force Mengbao to submit as the queen.

In this way, because the Duchess Rongguo made up a few nonsense words casually, she had to give away her beloved parrot, and she would definitely feel unhappy in her heart, and she would have a grudge against the Duchess Rongguo in the future.

Second, if it is really according to what Duchess Rongguo just said, she herself asked for a parrot and didn't come, but as a queen, she came, it was a kind of suppression of status.

The queen has always been dissatisfied with the Duchess Rongguo being too wanton in front of her, so even if everyone knows that Mrs. Wei just made up a lie casually, they will feel that this time it was the queen who suppressed her, which is a good thing for the queen.

Mengbao felt very speechless that she was inexplicably involved, she didn't give face to the Duchess of Rongguo, she shouldn't just not give face to the queen, no matter what, she had to fall down.

"What is Mrs. Shen Shizi still hesitating about? The queen mother has said that she will send someone to send the reward to your house later, are you still dissatisfied? ”

A crisp voice came. Everyone followed the prestige and saw Zhou Ru standing behind Princess Rong'an.

Xu has never been seen by so many famous women at the same time, Zhou Ru was a little nervous, and in order to hide this nervousness, he subconsciously straightened his back, but his movements were very stiff and a little funny.

Mengbao sneered in his heart, and wanted to ask which ear of yours heard that this was a reward?

Although the queen said that she would take some things she liked from the treasury and let them be sent to her later, it meant that it was used to buy the parrot in front of the cute pet pavilion, and it was a payment rather than a reward.

When the things are delivered to the small courtyard or the door of the cute pet pavilion with great fanfare, everyone will know that she doesn't even give the queen face. But a parrot even asked the queen to send her something in exchange.

Even if this was originally something you bought me and sold willingly. But her reputation for arrogance and recklessness must still spread.

It is impossible for the queen not to know this, so she is waiting for her to voluntarily give up those so-called "rewards" and take the initiative to give the parrot for free.

This is really a businessless business, and she takes advantage of all the cheapness!

Mengbao has nothing to gain from being on the side of the Duchess of Rongguo. It's even better to be on the Queen's side. There is a feeling that they are not human inside and out.

She understood why before entering the palace, Mother Zhao repeatedly told her to see less and talk less. She just said a few words to the Duchess of Rongguo, and she caused such a mess, which is really unlucky!

But bad luck is bad luck. Even if the queen opened her mouth, she would not give the parrot out like this.

Not to mention that the parrot is a mulberry, it is up to the mulberry to decide.

Even if she really has to hand it over, she will never do it for nothing.

She opened a shop, for the purpose of making money, if today just because of the queen's words she gave away the things in her shop for nothing, if everyone in the future wants to find a way to take the queen or someone else's way, to rely on power to take advantage of her, then she will not lose a lot!

"Mother's ......"

"That's wrong."

Meng Bao was about to speak when she was interrupted by Duchess Rongguo, and she said to the queen with a smile: "That parrot had been asked for by His Majesty before, but Mrs. Shen Shizi didn't give it to him. When the concubine heard the meaning of Mr. Liu's words, she thought that the silver given by His Majesty was not enough, so she wanted to pay more silver taels to buy it. Who knew that it was the treasure of the town store in Mrs. Shen Shizi's store, and it was not sold. That's why the concubine said that the concubine was wrong, and mistakenly regarded other people's beloved things as ordinary objects and wanted to measure them in terms of money and power. ”

Everyone present seemed to hear the queen's face being slapped in two big mouths, loud and painful.

Think the silver given by His Majesty is not enough? It's better to say directly, Your Majesty also wants to be like the queen like this, and she will ask for other people's parrots for nothing without paying anything.

Moreover, the queen is the wife of Emperor Dezhao, but even Emperor Dezhao once begged for this parrot but couldn't do it, and wanted to use such a trick to force people to hand over the parrot. But people don't even give the emperor face, how can they give her face as a queen.

There is also the sentence "Mistaking other people's beloved things as ordinary objects and wanting to measure them by money and power", which sounds like an explanation of why she apologized just now, but in fact it is not Chi. Bare. Naked accusation that the queen oppresses people with money and power!

This face is really loud, and I don't have any face for the queen.

Everyone's eyes couldn't help but focus on Mengbao's body again, what is there about this young woman besides her appearance? actually let the high-ranking Duchess Rongguo even ignore the queen's face and defend her like this?

Mengbao was a little surprised how Mrs. Wei dared to casually make up the words that the emperor had also asked for that parrot, but when she talked about Mr. Liu later, she was not so strange.

Not to mention that Mr. Liu is not serious, and he has been friends with Emperor Dezhao for many years, so it is not unusual to say anything.

And she knew from Shen Nanzhu that Emperor Dezhao and Mr. Liu were both apprentices of Old Duke Wei, so it was naturally not unusual for Mrs. Wei to dare to say such things.

Mengbao also faintly sensed her protection, and even somewhat understood that she was establishing her prestige for herself.

As Shen Nanzhu's wife, because Shen Nanzhu is not popular, she will naturally not be too popular.

It's not terrible to be unpopular, it's terrible to be unpopular and make people feel bullied, and you can handle it at will.

Just as the queen repeatedly emphasized that she should attend, but she only sent an inconspicuous little chamberlain to greet her, but after seeing her, she deliberately ignored and alienated her.

Although on the surface it catered to and flattered Emperor Dezhao's will, in fact, she told her not to think that she could do whatever she wanted with the emperor's momentary appreciation. (To be continued......)