Xia Jinse didn't care what basket she poked for Xia Ruxue, when she came out of the restaurant, she took Mu Xiang and Aunt Yao to finish shopping again, and brought some osmanthus crisp back from the Xiangxiang Building.

As soon as Xia Yanxiu came back from the palace, he knew about it, and thought that the Zhao family sent someone to do it, so he immediately scolded the mother and daughter: "It's just a mess!" If you want to promote Ruxue's reputation, just build momentum in private, why do you want to get involved in the Xiaoyao Mansion? What else do you want to bet, do you really want to offend the Marquis of Xiaoyao to death? ”

He was so angry that he scolded his beloved second daughter for the first time.

The Xiaoyao Marquis Mansion is a rare few powerful marquis mansions in the court, unlike ordinary imperial relatives. Although the Marquis of Xiaoyao is not as great as his old man, he is also very meritorious and deeply trusted by the emperor.

Recently, the emperor was assassinated, his body did not recover, and some government affairs were handed over to the Nine Princes and the Marquis of Xiaoyao, so it is conceivable that the status of the Marquis of Xiaoyao in the emperor's heart.

Zhao, a woman with no eyesight, actually caused trouble for him!

was scolded inexplicably, the Zhao family shouted that she was wronged, and Xia Ruxue was also very aggrieved: "Father, who said that my mother sent someone to bet with the Wushuang County Lord for me?" ”

But when she heard Hu Yuan, the steward of the outer courtyard, explain it clearly, the whole person was stunned and almost fainted.

Zhao was even more dumbfounded, frightened: "Master, who made this rumor?" Why did our Prime Minister's Mansion offend the Xiaoyao Marquis Mansion and make such a bet with the Wushuang County Lord? I really didn't do it! ”

Xia Yanxiu stared at her: "You dare to say that you didn't send someone out to build momentum for Ruxue?" Didn't you send someone to slander Jinse? ”

Zhao suddenly hesitated: "Master, this ...... I'm not here for the snow......"

Hu Yuandao: "Madam, Second Miss, no one outside is talking about the eldest lady now, they are all saying that the second miss is too arrogant and dissatisfied with the name of the first talented woman of the unequaled county lord, so she deliberately sent someone to provoke and bet." ”

"What can I do about this?"

Zhao finally regretted it: "If Ruxue loses, she will kowtow in public, how can this work." ”

Xia Ruxue finally lost her former elegance and clenched her fists angrily.

Who is going to kowtow to that woman? Don't think that she usually makes a few broken poems, some people praise her as the first talented woman in the capital, she is amazing, who knows if she made those poems?

"But what now? The news of the bet has spread, but who did it? Zhao was distraught.

Xia Yanxiu's face turned pale: "What's the point of investigating who did it now?" If you hadn't sent someone to build momentum, you wouldn't have been taken advantage of. If Xue can't be the princess, don't you recognize the gambling contract? Others will only say that we can't afford to lose and shameless! ”

Zhao gritted his teeth: "Then it seems that Ruxue must be allowed to win!" ”

Xia Yanxiu reprimanded angrily: "What if you win? Did you really let the Wushuang County Lord kowtow to Ruxue? You want to offend the Marquis of Xiaoyao to death! ”

"What can I do about this...... "The Zhao family has no master of the six gods, and there is no way.

Hanging high on her own, Xia Mengyao gloated on the side: "Sister, maybe when you offended the county lord, they deliberately sent someone to do this, just to humiliate you." I said that you are really, what are you calling the county lord? ”

"Meng Yao, Ruxue is your sister, how can you help outsiders talk?" Xia Yanxiu scolded her.

Xia Mengyao doesn't care, who asked Xia Ruxue to snatch the marriage book with her?

If you give her the marriage letter at the beginning and let her marry the second prince, then there will be no trouble. But her father and mother were partial, and her sister also robbed her, so she came to the point where she is now. Hmph, it's really stealing chickens and not eating rice.

Finally afraid of being scolded by her father, Xia Mengyao stopped talking, but secretly laughed on the side.

Xia Ruxue's face was gloomy, and she didn't speak for a long time, Zhao was worried, so she could only say: "Someone must be making trouble, master, I think it's better to send someone to investigate quickly, we must catch the person who spread the rumors, and explain it clearly to the Xiaoyao Marquis Mansion when the time comes." ”

Xia Yanxiu couldn't help it, for the person who did it secretly, he really wanted to find out and clean it up. He even suspected that this matter was ostensibly a battle of will between women, who knew if someone was designing him behind the scenes?

For the sake of the crown prince, someone even dared to assassinate the emperor, who knows if someone will also attack the prime minister's mansion, in fact, to force him to stand in line?

"Now, father, whether we admit it or not, this gambling contract is useless, and I can only become the princess and the only way out."

Xia Ruxue said slowly: "When the time comes, my daughter will naturally avoid the kowtow of the unequaled county lord, not only showing generosity, but also taking the opportunity to explain that the gambling contract is just a misunderstanding, and I think the county lord will also take advantage of the situation, so there should be nothing wrong." ”

"Yes, that's all there is to it." Xia Yanxiu nodded, and finally his face softened a little.

Once, Xia Ruxue still wanted to make friends with the Wushuang County Lord, after all, the Xiaoyao Marquis Mansion and the Xiangfu were also on par. But now the gambling contract has forced her and the county lord to the opposite side, no matter who wins or loses, it is impossible for the two to talk and laugh and call each other sisters.

The position of the eldest princess, she is determined to win!

……

The fifth daughter's day in the fifth month of May, this is the most popular festival for women in the Daqing Dynasty.

Every day, all the women will dress up beautifully, wear red and green, either go out to play, or go to the famous Puji Temple outside the city to make incense and make vows. There are also married women who can go back to their parents' homes or visit relatives and friends, and the streets are very lively.

Although the Daqing Dynasty also pays attention to the defense of men and women, only this day is an exception.

As for the daughters of wealthy families, or the county lords and county lords of those princes and princes, most of them will participate in the garden party held by the queen. On this day, the queen's Fengluan Palace was full of laughter, warblers and swallows, and the solemn palace in the past was also full of vitality.

Xia Jinse got up early in the morning, after all, she promised the eldest prince to enter the palace and go to see the queen's mother, but she was not interested in the garden party, just went through the motions.

As for the Jade Concubine, when the time comes, take the time to show your face and forget it, just come back early.

When Xia Jinse arrived in the hall with Mu Xiang, in addition to the two sisters Xia Ruxue and Xia Mengyao, there was also a girl wearing an apricot yellow skirt, but she didn't know her.

The girl had a round face and almond eyes, a sweet smile, and was talking to Xia Mengyao. As soon as he saw Xia Jinse coming, he blessed her and shouted in a low voice: "Big sister." ”

"You are?" Xia Jinse looked at her.

Zhao said: "This is your fourth sister, the daughter of your third uncle, named Yulan, twelve this year." Yulan has a quiet temperament and usually doesn't go out much, you enter the palace today, Jin Se, since you are the eldest sister, you have to take care of the fourth sister, you know? ”

Xia Jinse only knew that the third uncle Xia Yanpeng's family lived in a house on the opposite street from the Xiangfu, and because they were busy with business, they would not come to the Xiangfu often, and Xia Jinse only saw them twice.

One time was when she came back from the dead and returned to the Xia family, and met Xia Yanpeng and his wife in the mourning hall, and the other time was when she treated the emperor's injuries and delayed the night she went home. As for the fourth sister Xia Yulan, it was the first time she had seen her, but she didn't know what her temperament was.

"But stepmother, I entered the palace today and wanted to see the queen's mother, but I am afraid that it will be inconvenient to take care of the fourth sister." Xia Jinse was a little embarrassed.

"No, no, auntie, I'm fine." Xia Yulan lowered her head and said, as if she was a little afraid of her.

Xia Ruxue smiled slightly, and went over to take her hand: "It's okay, the eldest sister is busy going to see the queen mother, and the third sister and I will accompany you." There are many people in the palace today, and the fourth sister rarely goes out, remember to follow us, but don't get lost. ”

Xia Yulan hurriedly said, "Yes, thank you second sister." ”

Xia Mengyao tilted her head: "Fourth sister, don't you thank me?" ”

"Thank you, third sister." Xia Yulan immediately said again, and hurriedly blessed her body.

"Hahahaha, I'll tease you." Xia Mengyao laughed, also affectionately took Xia Yulan's hand, pouted and said, "Don't worry, we are all sisters, and my second sister and I will take care of you." It's not like some people who only know how to please the queen......"

"Meng Yao, what are you talking about?"

Zhao waited for her to say almost, and then deliberately glared at her: "Today is the garden party held by the queen's mother, and the flower viewing party on the side of the jade concubine, all the daughters and nobles have to participate, are you sensible, do you know?" ”

Soon, several carriages from the Prime Minister's Mansion set off, and after a while they arrived at the palace gate, they saw that the ladies of various families had already arrived, and almost crowded the spacious palace gate.

The wives, who are basically officials, bring their daughters and wait there to line up to enter the palace. There are also few daughters who are still young and only bring girls with them.

As soon as Zhao and the others appeared, they were immediately greeted by noble ladies and greeted them affectionately. Zhao had seen this kind of scene a long time ago, and he coped with it easily, with a slight pride in his tone, but it was still amiable.

"On this year's Daughter's Day, where do Mrs. Xia Xiang and a few young ladies plan to go first?"

A familiar lady asked in a low voice: "It just so happens that this year, the Jade Concubine Niangniang also held a flower viewing party on the same day, and it happened to be the queen's garden party, we are indeed a little embarrassed, I don't know Mrs. Xia Xiang'......"

As soon as these words came out, they immediately attracted the attention of other noble ladies and daughters, and they had the posture of following the Zhao family.

This feeling of everyone's focus, Zhao enjoys it very much, since everyone has the meaning of 'looking at her horse', as Mrs. Zuo Xiang, of course, she also has to make a statement.

"In fact, the two ladies held a garden party and a flower viewing party on the same day, but it was just a coincidence. But the harem is headed by the queen mother, let's go to the queen mother first, and then go to the jade concubine mother, so that both sides are fine, everyone said, right? ”

When everyone heard this, they immediately said: "Yes, what Mrs. Xia Xiang said makes sense." ”

I didn't pay attention to the deep meaning in the eyes of these noble ladies, and the Zhao family was proud, when he suddenly heard someone ask: "Hey, why don't you see the eldest lady, Mrs. Xia Xiang, but the eldest lady didn't come?" ”

As soon as Zhao turned his head, he found that Xia Jinse was gone.