Jiang Wen once participated in the warm house banquet of Jiannan Hou Mansion, when the banquet of the female guests was placed in the Tingfeng Hall, after the banquet, Zhao Xiu invited a group of girls to play by the Qushui River, this piece of architecture for Jiang Wen, probably nothing new. Therefore, Zhao Xiu changed places today, and changed to the Lanyue Pavilion on the rockery next to Tingfeng Hall, and prepared a tea stove and snacks.

Lanyue Pavilion is on high ground, looking far away, and there is a cool breeze blowing, which is much cooler than on the ground. Zhao Xiu ordered people to hang two rolls of bamboo curtains under the eaves of the pavilion to block the sun's rays, which made it cooler. Jiang Wen went up the rockery, sat down in the pavilion, praised repeatedly, sometimes got up and condescended to the scenery of the entire garden, and sometimes looked at the pedestrian street scene outside the Jiannanhou Mansion, and felt fresh to see everything. Zhao Xiu saw that the girls were sending dim sum and holding a box, and hurriedly called Jiang Wen: "Come to drink tea and taste dim sum?" ”

Zhao Xiu has put a lot of thought into the tea and snacks used to entertain guests today. Tea is the famous product of their own tea garden, and the tea is made with the dew picked from the lotus leaves in the early morning, with a faint fragrance of lotus leaves, and the effect of clearing heat and relieving heat. As for the dim sum, there are a few kinds of fruits in season at the moment, Zhao Xiu asked people to use well water to spill, and then cut them into small pieces to make a fruit salad, mix it with yogurt, it tastes sweet and sour, very delicious, and you don't have to worry about eating ice will make you upset. In addition, there are fresh water chestnuts, which are made into small and crispy water chestnut cakes, and when the fresh lotus seeds are made, they are made into candied lotus seed rice. She also asked someone to find agar, and made a three-color crystal cake with three ingredients: hawthorn, pumpkin and yogurt, which was beautiful and appetizing.

Jiang Wen liked the fruit salad very much, and stared at the crystal cake non-stop. Tut: "What a clever idea, how did you come up with this?" Sister Zhao, your chef is really a good craft. ”

"If my sister likes it, eat more." Zhao Xiu smiled. I didn't plan to show that I mentioned it myself, anyway, she had eaten it in modern times, so she mentioned it to the chef by the way. Although the general method was dictated by her, according to her words, she found all the raw materials and made them into real objects, mainly due to the chef's greater credit.

Jiang Wen still stared at the crystal cake: "My sister said that the red one is made of mountain slag, and the yellow one is a pumpkin." The white one is sour...... Yoghurt? Or if I switch to mung beans, will I be able to make a green crystal cake? What if you use black beans? ”

Zhao Xiu smiled: "It should be possible, right?" I haven't tried it, go back and let the kitchen guy try again. Let's see how many colors you can make. She thought for a moment, "If you mix more water when mixing colors, you might be able to get the shades of color." It's even better. ”

Jiang Wen's eyes lit up when she heard this: "Sister Zhao." You cake ...... How? ”

Zhao Xiu looked at her, thinking that she didn't open a dim sum shop, but it was useless to keep a secret recipe, so she said: "If my sister wants to learn, I'll ask the cook at home to see if she is willing to teach you." In fact, there is nothing difficult about this approach, mainly because the materials are troublesome, but for the house. It's not that hard. ”

Jiang Wen was very happy, and hurriedly thanked: "Thank you, sister." I just think it's delicious and good-looking, and when I learn it, I can also make it for the Queen Mother, grandmother, and mother to taste. ”

After eating snacks, the two went down the rockery hand in hand and walked around the garden. At this time, it is the height of summer, the plum blossoms in the garden are not in season, the magnolia has withered, the orchid has not yet reached the flowering season, but the rose blooms brilliantly, beautiful and fragrant. The two of them played around in the rose bush for a while, broke a few sticks and inserted bottles, and discussed what bottles looked good with them for half an hour, and then picked two more and put them on their heads, and talked about food and skin care products made of roses with great interest. And because one of the roses was so beautiful red, Jiang Wen said casually: "It would be nice if it could be used to dye nails." Zhao Xiu picked a few flowers from Shanruliu, and tried to dye them with a small potted medicine cup into flower juice, but unfortunately the effect was not very satisfactory, but it was a waste of the residual redness of the ground.

Jiang Wen was a little embarrassed, but Zhao Xiu herself had a good time and didn't care. Girls, when they have nothing to do, they also like to discuss all kinds of skin care products, cosmetics and so on, so that they can dress up better. Zhao Xiu has limited knowledge of ancient times. She was young, and before it was time to apply grease and powder, she at most learned some basic skin care techniques from her grandmother Zhang. But Zhang is a widow, and she is not young anymore, so she doesn't use fat powder on weekdays, so Zhao Xiu naturally rarely comes into contact with the current popular cosmetics. She dresses up on weekdays, using the same fur she learned in modern times. However, Jiang Wen is very familiar with the various care methods and cosmetics commonly used by women in the upper class today, and even the treasures made in the palace are also very familiar. Jiang Wen saw that she was interested, and also gave her two sets of internal fat powder sets, which are said to be used by the princesses in the palace, which not only have a good modification effect, but also do not hurt the skin, and have skin care effects, which can often make people's complexion fair, soft and smooth.

This kind of topic that is deeply loved by women has shortened the distance between Zhao Xiu and Jiang Wen. They seem to have suddenly become very good girlfriends. Jiang Wen became more and more relaxed in front of Zhao Xiu, and sometimes she spoke much more straightforwardly, revealing a lot of things about the beauty and dressing of the concubines in the palace. Jiang Wen listened to it, but her eyebrows couldn't help but show a little impatience. She didn't understand, there were more people who knew about this kind of thing, why couldn't she tell her friends?

Seeing this, Zhao Xiu gave Liu Lu a look. Liu Lu left very cleverly and took a turn, and when he came back, he took away the girl of the Jiang family, saying that it was ordered by their girl, and specially set up a seat for the people around Jiang Wen, so that the big guy could have fun together. This kind of thing is naturally pleasing to see, and the girl who followed Jiang Wen was greeted by Liu Lu, who ate and drank a lot and spent a good day. And Jiang Wen, who was no longer detained by anyone, also happily let go of the commotion. It wasn't until the Zhang family sent someone to remind them that it was time for lunch that they left the endgame and moved the battlefield back to Zhao Xiu's yard.

After grooming and changing into clean clothes, the two girls returned to their usual dignified and stable image. But they looked at each other a few times and couldn't help but laugh.

Jiang Wen sighed: "I had a great time today!" When Sister Zhao wrote to invite me, she said that she would definitely make me happy. I was still thinking to myself, maybe how many pairs and how many wine orders I would have to make, but I never thought it would be so interesting. ”

Zhao Xiu smiled: "I originally prepared shuttlecocks, skipping ropes or something." It's a pity that it's too hot to move. When the weather is cooler, I'll invite my sister again, and let's have a good time! ”

Jiang Wen clapped her hands and applauded, and also mentioned a Jianyi: "It is a good name to appreciate laurel and chrysanthemums in autumn, and I also raised a few pots of excellent chrysanthemums, and I will move them together when the time comes." Please enjoy it with my sister. After speaking, he squeezed his eyes, "For such a reason, my mother will definitely agree!" ”

Zhao Xiu laughed.

The two went to Zhang's house for lunch together. The dishes on the table are naturally prepared by Zhao Xiu, although they are home-style tastes, but the ingredients are fresh and the taste is refreshing and delicious. Jiang Wen played for a long time. I was sweating, I was already hungry, and I couldn't help but eat half a bowl of rice. When she put down her chopsticks and found that she had eaten more than 50% of the food she had eaten today, she was shocked.

After eating, the two girls chatted with Zhang's for a while, and when Zhang's was about to take a nap, they went back to Zhao Xiu's house. Played a double land. Zhao Xiu rarely touches these games except for occasionally playing with Zhang's on weekdays. was inevitably a little rusty, so Jiang Wen won several games.

Jiang Wen smiled and said, "You rarely play this on weekdays, right?" I listen to your ancestors and grandchildren, as if you don't even go out to socialize when you read and write, but also do needlework as a housekeeper. I often heard my grandmother and mother say that there were not many unsociable people in the Xiangfu in Beijing, but now I finally understand what it means. ”

Zhao Xiu was a little ashamed when he heard this: "Our family has been away from the capital for many years, and it is no matter what is wrong when we come back." Many of the people who used to know each other are gone. Most of the upstarts in Beijing are unknown to us. My brother is young and has not yet entered the ranks, so he only concentrates on studying at home and preparing for exams. He is not free, how can my grandmother and I go everywhere? So there is less communication. ”

Jiang Wen said: "It's nothing. People who love to socialize in Beijing, they come and go to socialize, but that's it, what's the use? It costs time, effort, and money for no reason. For example, for most of the past six months, those families with daughters have either gone to the palace to pay tribute to the queen mother and queen, or they have a relationship with each other, hoping that someone can help them and build a road to heaven. But in fact, where did the people who can finally get ideas from communication? On the contrary, in the eyes of the nobles, they fell into obscurity. ”

Zhao Xiu understood what she was talking about, so she just smiled: "In the previous dynasty, there were many people who gained power because of women, and others looked at it hotly, and now it seems that there is a good opportunity, and everyone is not exempt from vulgarity." Everyone in the world is like this, you and I think stupid, maybe in the eyes of those people, they will think that we are the real stupid. ”

Jiang Wen shook her head: "What's so good about that seat?" Men fight for power, fame and fortune, and it can be said that they have the ambition to seek the well-being of all people, but what are women fighting for? My aunt has been in the palace for many years and gave birth to two sons, even the first emperor and queen Yuan have to give her three points, and her status in the harem is incomparable. But before becoming the queen mother, she had to be cautious in everything, knocking scriptures and chanting Buddha all day long, and she inevitably became a thorn in the side of others and encountered countless calculations. After becoming the queen mother, although she was comfortable, she could only be trapped in Cining Palace, not as comfortable as my grandmother. Today's queen mother, life is even more aggrieved. is obviously not dignified, generous, gentle and elegant, but he has to hold that paragraph. has given birth to three children, and the ministers outside still want to force her to give the emperor a concubine, and if she doesn't accept it, she will say that she is not virtuous and does not consider the emperor's heirs. Her temper is getting worse and worse, and when she sees a girl with a flat head and a straight face, she will suspect that she is a vixen. The Queen Mother advised her to relax, but she didn't listen or speak, and even irrelevant people were jealous. What's the point of living this day? ”

Zhao Xiu was stunned, looked up at her a few times, and was a little unsure why she suddenly mentioned this kind of thing, so she could only say vaguely: "I haven't seen the queen in Jin, I only heard that she is a kind person, but I didn't expect the truth to be like this." ”

"She's not out of harmony either." Jiang Wen thought for a while, "It's just that now I'm being forced by outsiders, and I'm a little out of breath, and my temperament is a little irritable." ”

She was so frank, and Zhao Xiu was a little bolder: "Who is persuading the emperor to take a concubine?" Didn't the emperor already say it? I want to keep filial piety for the first emperor for three years, so I don't consider the matter of taking a concubine for the time being. ”

Jiang Wen smiled: "For example, the fifth girl of the Fang family you originally invited, what did the family plan before her sister got engaged, do you know?" Could it be that only their family in Beijing has this kind of thought? Naturally, others also have daughters, and other people's daughters are not young. ”

Zhao Xiu suddenly realized, and couldn't help but shake his head: "It's all selfish." In fact, what is the purpose of doing this? There is no shortage of princes in the palace, and the emperor is not in a hurry, why are they in a hurry? also forced the queen to this part. If their daughter can enter the palace, won't they have to live under the queen? If they really offend people, can their daughters get good? ”

Jiang Wen sighed: "Who doesn't know the truth?" It's just that under the lust for profit, I can't take care of so much. Everyone also understands that there has been almost no emperor who has not accepted concubines throughout the ages, and it is extremely rare that he can postpone it for three years. If sooner or later they have to pay, why don't they fight? If you win, you will be rich and decent in the future. With such benefits, what can you do at the risk of offending the queen? It's a big deal to sacrifice a daughter. ”

Zhao Xiu was disgusted when he heard this, and secretly glad that his grandmother and brother had never had such thoughts.

Jiang Wen sighed lightly: "The queen just can't see it, and the eldest son of the emperor has not been able to establish a prince." She was restless and always suspicious. After I returned to Beijing, I went to the palace a few more times, she was still very affectionate to me, but in the past few months, her attitude has become strange, as if she still suspects that the Queen Mother wants me to enter the palace, in order to eradicate my trouble, she also mentioned that she will give me to the prince of Guangping - what a mess! King Quang Binh is my cousin! ”

Her girl came back at this time, and when she heard this, she was so frightened that she hurriedly reminded her: "Girl, be careful!" ”

"Got it, I'm just talking about it casually." Jiang Wen glanced at the girl, "I can't say it at home, I was angry when I entered the palace, the queen mother comforted me while being angry with the queen, I don't know how uncomfortable it is to be caught in the middle." Now that I have a friend I can make with confidence, what's the point of complaining? She casually threw down the dice, scored a point, immediately cheered, quickly walked the piece to the destination, and won again.

Zhao Xiu lost another game, but this time he lost absent-mindedly. She hurriedly put aside the distractions in her mind, cleaned up her mood, and started the game with Jiang Wen again. This time, she slowly grasped a little bit of decision, played a little bit of dim sum, and won two games in a row. It's a pity that at this time, the Jiang family had already sent someone to take Jiang Wen back, and the two had to reluctantly break up.

When Jiang Wen was leaving, she repeatedly advised: "When you meet again, remember to call me." ”

Zhao Xiu agreed, and sent her out of the second gate, and when she turned around and walked towards the west courtyard, she began to think about a question in her heart: The queen was so dizzy that she wanted to match Gao Zhen and Jiang Wen, the aunts and nephews. If she only wants to eradicate a possible competitor, she can mention that Jiang Wenxu is married to someone else, why is it Gao Zhen? What is her attitude towards Gao Zhen now? (To be continued......)