Zhao Xiu listened to it and only felt surprised. How can a granddaughter-in-law who has not passed through the door run to her future grandmother-in-law to laugh with her on the New Year? Moreover, during the Lantern Festival, the Queen Mother will hold a family banquet in the palace, and the emperor and princes will definitely accompany her, and the princes and princes of various mansions will also appear, and they are all the sons, grandsons, nephews, and nephews of the Queen Mother. On such an occasion, even the princess of Fenyang, who has passed the door, is not good to sit with the men, let alone her and Li Shanwen, the two yellow flower girls who have not yet passed the door?

Maybe the Queen Mother is just lonely and wants to meet the little girls, but no one has this reason. Even if you are royal, you have to pay attention to etiquette, right?

Zhao Xiu said to the Zhang family: "This is impossible, I am not famous with the girl of the Li family, how can I go to the royal family banquet?" When we meet the rest of the royal family at the table, how are we going to deal with ourselves? ”

Zhang's actually felt that it was inappropriate to do this, but the Queen Mother was in a good mood today, and I don't know if it was because Concubine Duan was pregnant, and she wanted to add grandchildren. She casually mentioned it, and the orders of the people could only obey. After the Zhang family left the palace, they also consulted with the old lady of the Li family, and they all felt that the queen mother was a person who knew etiquette, and if the girls were really going to be summoned into the palace to participate in the royal family banquet on the day of the Lantern Festival, there would be proper arrangements and no one would say that it was against etiquette. On that day, whether it is the Zhao family or the Li family, it is difficult to find an excuse not to let their granddaughter enter the palace, otherwise it will not sweep the queen mother's happiness? The two girls are going to marry into the royal family in the future, and they can't offend the most noble elders of the in-laws before they pass the door.

Zhao Xiu was speechless when he heard this. Is she going to go? But it's nothing, she can still meet by the way, who are some people in the royal family. Since the princess of Fenyang also went. Then the other palaces may also go. She has been taught by Mama Gong and Mama Zuo for nearly a year, and she just took this opportunity to recognize people first.

Zhang smiled and said, "Where can this be?" Although it is a family banquet, there are also differences between men and women, and men and women must sit separately, with a large screen in the middle, and even set up a banquet in different halls. You won't have the chance to meet other princes, princes, and princes. Not to mention that you haven't passed the door yet, even if it's a female relative like the princess of Fenyang who has married into the clan. There is no reason to show his face in front of a bunch of people like the eldest uncle and the younger uncle. ”

Zhao Xiu was right to think about it, so he was a little depressed: "Then doesn't the Queen Mother still have to sit separately from her son and grandchildren?" What kind of family feast is such a family feast? The royal rules are big, but they are not as close as our ordinary people. "Think about Gao Zhen grew up in such an environment. When they get married, in front of outsiders, the rules must be maintained, but in private. life. It's better not to pay too much attention to the etiquette between husband and wife. What rules, etiquette, manners, you can pay attention to it once in a while, you have to put that shelf 24 hours a day, this day is inevitably too restrained, she can't stand it.

However, Zhao Xiu still felt that it was a very bad thing to attend the royal family banquet before getting married. She could imagine what the outside world would say. The Queen Mother may just be on a whim, and the public will also be ashamed of His Holiness. But she and Li Shanwen may become the center of public discussion. That's annoying.

How could the Queen Mother have such thoughts?

Zhao Xiu couldn't help but go to Mama Gong and Mama Zuo for advice.

The two grandmothers took a vacation during the New Year, so they didn't have to give her any more lessons, and they didn't resume normal classes until after the New Year. But it is not easy for them to go back to the palace at the moment, so Zhao Xiu still left them to live in the Jiannan Hou Mansion, and still took care of food, clothing, housing and transportation. The new clothes and jewelry for the New Year were delivered to their residences early.

The two grandmothers lived very comfortably in the Jiannanhou Mansion, and they got along more and more harmoniously with the ancestors and grandchildren of the Zhao family. Even Mama Gong agreed with Mama Zuo's idea. If you can really follow Zhao Xiu into the Guangping Palace and become the palace to worship Mama, it will be much more comfortable than working hard in the palace. In the future, when they are old, they only need to ask for the grace of the princess, and they can also get a sum of money, a few acres of land, and a few houses, and return to their hometowns to retire with peace of mind. It's not like being in the palace, being old and incompetent, or the master who serves dies, you can only be sent to a certain temple to wait for death, and life is not as good as the little girl who has just entered the palace.

The Queen Mother is not young.

Mama Gong and Mama Zuo only went out to visit friends two days ago, and visited a few old sisters who left the palace in the early years.

It's boring in winter, they are all cultured and tasteful women, what fun can it be to chat with a few little girls who are not very literate and have long been familiar? In the first month, it is not easy to move the needle and thread, and the writing and chess players will be cold, so the old sisters can only talk about tea around the fireplace. Don't you rejoice to see a third person join?

Zhao Xiu saluted the two of them upright, and after sitting down, he first exchanged a few words of greeting and asked them how they were doing recently? Did you eat to your heart's content? Not enough charcoal fire? Is the futon warm? Are the girls waiting carefully? Is there anything else you need......

Mama Zuo smiled and said on behalf of herself and Mama Gong: "Thank you eldest girl for thinking about it, our old sisters are living very well in the house, they don't have to worry about food and clothing, they have enough charcoal fire, and the people below are waiting very well, so the eldest girl doesn't have to worry." The big girl suddenly came here today, could it be that there is something to find us? ”

Zhao Xiu said the Queen Mother's words and expressed his worries. Sure enough, Mama Gong immediately frowned and made a judgment: "This is not in line with etiquette, the Queen Mother will never act like this." ”

Mama Zuo also felt unlikely, but she asked Zhao Xiu again: "Is there something happening in the palace?" The Queen Mother is about a whim, right? Presumably, there will be a will come down in two days, and the eldest girl and the Li family girl will not be called to the family banquet. Since it is a family banquet, how can you call the new daughter-in-law who has not passed the door? If it's a great feast, please go and pay it back. ”

Mama Gong said in a deep voice: "The Queen Mother will most likely let you enter the palace on the day of the Lantern Festival or the day before to talk to her, and maybe accompany you to lunch." But you will not be needed for the family feast in the evening. ”

Zhao Xiu listened to it and settled in his heart. However, for the Queen Mother, she gave her a decent concubine. and the fact that the queen was supposed to attend the New Year's court but was grounded again, she didn't plan to tell the two grandmothers. After all, these two were still people in the palace, and when she told them about it, how could she explain the source? It's always bad to bring trouble to the Cao family.

After another two days, Cining Palace really made a will, just as the palace mother said, the queen mother summoned Zhao Xiu and Li Shanwen. Not at the time of the Lantern Festival family feast, but in the afternoon of that day. She wanted to bask in the sun and have a cup of tea with a few little girls. Chat, and when it gets dark, we'll send the little girls home. This trip was invited, not only Zhao Xiu and Li Shanwen, but also the princess of Fenyang. and two other little girls who have not yet come out of the cabinet. They are all fourteen or fifteen years old, and they were born in a family of officials and nobles above the middle level outside Beijing, and they have not decided on their relatives.

There is speculation that there are still several children in the clan in the capital who have reached the age of marriage and have not yet decided to marry. These two little girls are probably going to be rationed to them.

Zhang also soon found out that one of the girls was rumored to be promised to the eldest son of a county king. And she is also the niece of the princess of the county, kissing and kissing. It was a marriage set by the county prince's mansion, and he reported to the palace, wanting to ask the emperor or the queen mother for marriage and begging for dignity.

For this reason, Zhang specially instructed his granddaughter Zhao Xiu: "These two girls, although you have never known each other and have never dealt with them, but they will be concubines in the future. It is in the palace, and the Queen Mother is there, if you are wronged, the Queen Mother will make decisions for you. ”

Zhao Xiu promised to prepare costume jewelry for the tea party on the day of the Lantern Festival. Suddenly, one day the Guangping palace sent Yanyu over and sent her a set of pearl heads, one of which was a small pearl phoenix, with a slightly light pink pearl, which was fresh and pink and rare, very precious, Zhao Xiu liked it at a glance.

Liu Lu smiled on the side: "Girl, the prince is really hearted, it just so happens that the girl is going to wear it to the palace this time, it is the light crimson new clothes, isn't it just right for this pearl phoenix?" The girl wore that new set of clothes, she only needed to wear this pearl phoenix, and then with earrings, and there was no need for embellishments next to her, she was already like a fairy. How did Shizi guess that the girl needed such a piece of jewelry? Could it be that the legendary heart has a little understanding? ”

Zhao Xiu couldn't help but throw the handkerchief on her face when she heard it: "Nonsense! It's just a coincidence. However, there was also some small joy in my heart. The aesthetics and taste of the future husband are in line with her, and they will get along well when they live together in the future.

On the day of the Lantern Festival, she dressed up and entered the palace with the little pearl phoenix on her head. When she arrived in front of Cining Palace, she happened to meet Li Shanwen, who she hadn't seen for a long time.

Li Shanwen has grown a lot taller, and she looks like a big girl, and she is no longer as childish as before. Her chin is a little pointed, and she is a little thin, but her complexion is fine, her manners and etiquette are already very decent, she looks a little more dignified than Zhao Xiu, she met and smiled without showing her teeth, but her eyes shone with sincere joy: "Sister Zhao, I haven't seen you for a long time!" ”

Zhao Xiu took her hand, and she was very happy in her heart. Of course, at the same time, she was also a little vigilant, busy straightening her waist a little straighter, reducing her pace a little, and constantly reminding herself to be a lady, not too casual......

Entering Cining Palace, the princess of Fenyang was already waiting here. She was about to live well after marriage, but she was fatter than before marriage, and her face was white and red, as tender as a peach. Whether it is the clothes on the body or the jewelry on the head, they are luxurious and delicate, and they are elegant, and they are obviously very favored by their husbands. When she saw Zhao Xiu and Li Shanwen coming, she happily took their hands: "I haven't seen you for a long time, you have all changed a lot, and you are more like big girls." The Queen Mother must be very happy to see you like this. ”

Li Shanwen blushed and lowered his head shyly, but he was relieved in his heart. Although she is going to marry the eldest son of the emperor, it is very likely that she will be a mother in the future, and the grandmothers teach her etiquette norms, which are a little stricter than others. Now that she has heard the approval of the royal wife's cousin-in-law, she has settled down a little. As long as the Queen Mother can be satisfied, it will be easier for her to gain a foothold in the royal family in the future.

Zhao Xiu asked the princess of Fenyang: "Haven't the others arrived yet?" The other party replied, "I haven't arrived yet, I'm afraid I'll have to wait a little later." But she looked at the self-striking bell behind the palace, and couldn't help frowning: "If you don't come again, I'm afraid it'll be too late." According to the usual time, after another quarter of an hour, the Queen Mother will take a nap. ”

As he spoke, the other two coquetters arrived. It turned out that they met in front of the palace gate, so they came together, and they talked all the way on the way, and walked more slowly. The princess of Fenyang introduced the four daughters to meet each other, and they heard the high-fives coming from the inner hall, and the palace people came in with water basins, hand towels, mirrors and other things.

It was the Queen Mother who woke up.

The Queen Mother freshened up, and it took another quarter of an hour. During this period, Zhao Xiu and the others have been waiting in the outer hall, silently and silently, not daring to make a sound. Two quarters of an hour later, the Queen Mother slowly walked out of the back of the palace in her regular clothes, and when she saw them, she smiled first: "Did you wait for a long time?" The mourning family is an old woman, and her movements are always slower. ”

Zhao Xiu and the others saluted together, saying that they didn't dare, and bowed again.

The Queen Mother waved her hand and said with a smile: "The weather is not very good today, there is still sunshine in the morning, and after the afternoon, it fell and there was light snow." I was going to take you up for a walk in the garden, but now I'd better forget it. You pampered, don't blow the wind. It's warm in the Xinuan Pavilion, and we go there to eat tea and talk. ”

A group of people moved to the Xinuan Pavilion, and it was really warm, and the plum blossom cake was burning in the brass smoker, which smelled very good. The Queen Mother ordered someone to serve fragrant tea snacks and chat with the daughters about family life, but to ask how your grandmother is doing, whether her mother is well, or whether her family is used to living in Beijing after going to Beijing, etc.

After the end of the greetings, the Queen Mother went straight to the point: "Do you know why I specially summoned you into the palace to speak?" The elders of your family think that the will of the mourning family is very unruly, right? (To be continued......)