December 2 is Bai Muguan's fifteenth birthday.

The old lady of Rongguo, Jiang Shi, felt sorry for her granddaughter who was alone in the capital away from her father and mother, and wanted to take her to the Rongguo Mansion on her birthday, but Bai Muguan politely declined. One Rongguo Mansion is her maternal grandfather's family, and it is not considered a family if it belongs to a relative, although the Jiang family loves her very much, she also knows and feels that more things are better than less things. The second Yu Wenye had already told her that he would organize her birthday.

Bai Muguan was born in December at the end of the year, and the first snow had fallen in the capital two days ago. After the snow, the first sunny day looked at the roof tiles and eaves covered with snow, although the weather was cold, the lords and eunuchs took their families out to enjoy the snow.

A few days ago, Yu Wenye personally invited Shen Fu, the third lady of the Wei State Mansion, Yao Xilin, the daughter of the Weiyuan Marquis Mansion, Lin Yu'er, the palm pearl of the Guozi Jian Lin Sacrifice Wine, and the rest of the concubines of the Shangshu Mansion to the East Palace. The prince invited him to the next post, and these ladies were busy coming to accompany Bai Muguan for his birthday, and the Qingyun Pavilion was very lively.

In the winter season, smokeless silver charcoal burns in the bronze braziers placed all over the East Palace, and there are earth dragons on the ground, and the room is warm and does not feel the slightest chill.

Several famous ladies and nobles dressed up and with different looks and temperaments got together to talk about the fashionable silk fox fur in the capital, talk about the new jewelry in the well-known treasure pavilion, and joke with each other.

Lin Yu'er came to the East Palace today to see Ye Shiying, and now she waited for three teas and didn't see anyone, and she still didn't forget to chatter: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince really loves the Crown Princess, and even helped Zhang Luo on the birthday of the Crown Princess's maternal cousin, which shows his intentions." ”

Without waiting for Bai Muguan to answer, Shen Fu took the lead and opened his mouth with a smile: "I don't think so, ordinary people's cousins and brothers-in-law will not be so caring, Ba Ba posted a post to invite us to come over to accompany Sister Bai for her birthday." I'm afraid that it is His Royal Highness's sister Bai, who intends to be included in the backyard of the East Palace. ”

Hearing this, the girls burst into laughter.

Bai Muguan knew that Shen Fu didn't mean to be jealous of his hot eyes, but just joked casually. Therefore, she didn't say anything to refuse, and bowed her head slightly to show a shy look. Putting aside others for the time being, Yao Xilin vaguely guessed a few points in her heart, it seems that those rumors may not be groundless.

Thinking of this, Yao Xilin, who was dressed in purple and looking forward to Gu Shenfei, said with a clever smile: "On that day, I will be the first to congratulate Sister Bai." ”

"Don't worry, when you leave the cabinet, I will also have a generous gift." Bai Muguan replied quietly.

Don't mention any ideas in each other's hearts, face work must be done enough, and the atmosphere is harmonious.

Because it was a very important birthday, Bai Muguan was dressed up extraordinarily. The jet-black hair is curled into a lily bun suitable for a boudoir girl, and the red gold step of the hairpin and the glazed bead hairpin are all palace products. Wearing a carmine washed embroidered peony spring brocade skirt, covered with a pale pink smoke veil, and a piece of chicken blood plum blossom jade pendant fell around her waist.

This piece of jade has a uniform color and strong luster, like a cluster of blooming plum blossoms, the jade color is bright red, and the jade is transparent. This is a gift sent by Bai Zhanyi to the capital in an urgent manner and handed over to her. It is not only an extremely rare treasure, but also represents her father's love for her.

Since entering Qingyun Pavilion, Bai Mingnuan's gaze has always stayed on Bai Muguan. She also came here with careful makeup, but compared with Bai Muguan, who is as bright as a spring, she is still out of reach.

Pinching Jinpa's lips, Bai Mingnuan's eyes showed a hint of envy and jealousy, and on the surface, he had to pretend to be sisterly: "After talking for a long time, are you hungry cousin?" I'm not good at cooking, so why don't I make you some snacks? ”

"Don't bother Cousin Nuan." Bai Muguan's tone was light, and after speaking, he turned his head and whispered a few words to Xiangyun.

All the girls are thoughtful.

Bai Muguan made his attitude clear, and he didn't treat this cousin well. The girls here are all daughters of the family, and the ones who come and go on weekdays are all from the same family background, and they are all top and outstanding ladies. The daughter of a four-grade official from Fuzhou is really not worth paying much attention to. As long as she stays honest and doesn't say anything, for the sake of Bai Muguan's face, no one will show contempt.

Unexpectedly, Bai Mingnuan pretended to be smart, and he smiled generously with one mouth. What does she think of the East Palace? The small kitchen of the East Palace can be easily set foot by anyone? It's just unbelievable, reckless and ridiculous.

"Yo, Sister Bai, your cousin really cares about you." Yao Xilin did not forget to take the opportunity to be sarcastic.

This yin and yang weird tone is clear and sarcastic, Bai Mingnuan is not a fool, and he secretly says something bad in his heart. Looks like she just said the wrong thing? Otherwise, why are everyone's expressions so subtle and indescribable.

Bai Muguan glanced at Yao Xilin with a smile, and didn't mind poking people's hearts: "Sister Yao, why do you have to make fun of me, the second sister in your family has a soft temperament, and you have a deep sisterhood, presumably she obeys your words and puts you first in everything." ”

Most of the concubines look down on the sisters in their respective families, which is also human nature, but last time in the Wei State Mansion, Yao Xilin's indifference to Yao Weiyang was seen by everyone.

Yao Xilin was choked upset, but she knew the ability to open her eyes and tell nonsense, and nodded unashamedly: "What Sister Bai said is true, our sisters grew up together, she is weaker, and she begs me to make decisions for her in big and small things." After a long time, people who don't know still think that I deliberately used my identity as a sister to suppress her. ”

Sure enough, Yao Xilin's sharp mouth that easily reversed black and white was surprising and admirable.

"So that's the truth." Bai Muguan smiled, "We have heard it clearly today, and in the future, if someone is talking nonsense behind Sister Yao's back, we will have to help her argue a few words." ”

Shen Fu also saw through it and responded with a smile: "Sister Yao, don't worry, we have written it down." ”

"Don't talk about me, today's protagonist is Sister Bai! It's a pity that you have been in Mobei all these years, if you go back to the capital to steal the limelight as soon as possible, I will say something presumptuous and disrespectful, the title of the crown princess in the capital should change hands. Yao Xilin smiled on her face, but she panicked in her heart. Not to mention that Bai Mingnuan was jealous, even she was a little jealous of Bai Muguan's natural beauty and difficult to give up, although she herself was also a fair beauty, and she was the best among the nobles. But when it comes to delicate facial features, she thinks that she is not as good as Bai Muguan.

Of course, what she said just now was not only about her appearance, but also explicitly and secretly referring to Bai Muwan's return to Beijing to snatch Ye Shiying's husband. After speaking, Yao Xilin sighed to herself, I don't know if Bai Muguan, who has been frank and naïve since childhood, can understand her voice? If you don't understand it, it's okay, as long as others can understand it.

"You're exalting me too much." Bai Muguan obviously understood, her eyes flashed, "My cousin is as beautiful as a fairy, and now she has a noble status, and her limelight will be unmatched in the future." ”

"Look, I'm just feeling envious. You are a national beauty, a sinking fish and a goose, where is like me. Saying that, Yao Xilin pretended to sigh, "I'm the one who can't speak, it's obviously a good word, but it's not good to hear it from my mouth." ”

"Sister Yao, don't be humble, you deserve to be the most articulate person!" Shen Fu had the heart to urge her.

Yao Xilin took a piece of pastry from the plate, stuffed it into Shen Fu's mouth, and smiled: "Eat a snack and block your mouth." ”

Who knew that Shen Fu was full of praise after eating: "It's delicious!" Sister Bai, what kind of pastry is this? The meals in the small kitchen of the East Palace are really different, and they are better than the dim sum sold in Fan Xilou outside. ”

Shen Fu said that Fan Xilou is the most famous pastry shop in Beijing, and the dim sum made by his family is delicate and small in appearance, and the taste is unique, and it has gradually established a reputation in the past few years.

Bai Muguan looked at Shen Fu, who was even more greedy than herself, and couldn't help but feel funny, and patiently explained: "The pastry you tasted is called white jade lotus root flour crisp, which melts in the mouth and has a sweet aftertaste, which is rewarded by the queen's mother." ”

"It turned out to be made by the imperial chef of the imperial dining room in the palace, so it's no wonder that it has a unique taste." Shen Fu is still unsatisfied.

"If you like it, let the maid wrap it up and take it home to eat slowly when you leave."

Bai Muguan was cheerful and generous, of course Shen Fu was not polite, and hurriedly responded happily, and happily pestered her and called Sister Bai a few times.

"It's really delicate in the mouth, and the lotus root powder flavor is also very rich." Lin Yu'er next to her also began to taste the pastries, but she ate elegantly and chewed slowly. Her father, Lin Xijiu, and Ye Taifu were in charge of the Guozijian together, and both of them were great Confucian scholars who paid the most attention to etiquette and demeanor and talked about scriptures and Taoism. The well-bred daughters of Ye Lin's two families are all beautiful ladies with toothless smiles and elegant manners.

At this time, Xiangyun brought another plate of shortbread with a round appearance, with a strong aroma.

Seeing everyone looking at each other, Xiangyun smiled and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, try the freshly made crab roe egg yolk shortbread, which is salty, eat it while it's hot to avoid being fishy." ”

Crab roe and egg yolk are made into shortbread, which is naturally the most delicious and fragrant dim sum. One of the girls was just enough, and they praised the excellent taste, and the atmosphere in the hall was much more harmonious than before, Bai Muguan smiled and told Xiangyun to prepare more.

Suddenly, there was a noise outside, and a maid came in to say, "The crown princess has arrived." ”