Tong Ying looked at the drawings she had made over the years with a look of annoyance. Every year on the Wanshou Festival, he is with the people of Prince Jane's mansion to give gifts, in addition to a few treasures purchased by the palace on his behalf, the main thing is his own paintings. But this year, he opened a mansion and started a family, and he can no longer send it with the palace, and he has no time to paint on an errand in front of the emperor, so what should he do?

In fact, since he participated in the war preparations for the expedition to Galdan, he has not gone to Jiao and Wang on time to ask for advice, and even his painting skills are a little wasted. Later, he took Shuning to the door to meet Shuning, and said that he could lend a few ancient paintings from the marriage for a month or two for the masters to appreciate, and Lin Mucai helped Tongying win their favor again.

Tong Ying resumed her daily practice before she got married, but after receiving the errand of the Luan Yi envoy, she was only able to maintain, and she was able to spare an hour or two to paint every two or three days. Now his painting skills have somewhat regressed, if he rushes to catch up with the Buddha's feet and drive out one or two, not to mention that the emperor can't look at it, even he himself has no face to send it.

Shu Ning saw him with a tangled face and chuckled: "You don't have to worry about this, I was prepared." Then he ordered someone to take a set of four newly made glass inkstones and said, "Look at what is on this?" Tong Ying took a closer look at the picture of the characters on it, why is it so familiar? It seems to be his handiwork.

It turned out that Shuning had already begun to prepare for the Hallomy ceremony as early as February. She heard that Tongying used to give her own paintings in previous years, but a more complicated and good painting would take a month to paint, and this year it was obviously too late, and she also knew Tongying's situation. So she found a stack of thirty or forty pieces of "Plugging Layman's Pleasure" from Tong Ying's old sketches in advance. This is a painting made by Tongying when he drove with the saint to Saiwai over the years, and it is the emperor banqueting the Mongolian princes. Or the children of the Manchurian nobles rode horses, archery, roasted fires, drank, sang and danced, and wrestled. Select the best four paintings and hand them to Manager Yin, and ask him to find a good glass workshop, burn the scene on the painting into a glass inkstone, and then use Huanghuali wood to make a base, wouldn't it show Tongying's painting skills and be simple and decent?

This was originally conceived from the porcelain painting kang screen that Zhenzhen sent to Duanning back then. Shuning admits that this is because she saw the kang screen in the Mei Courtyard when she returned to her parents' house earlier.

Looking at the pastel-colored figures on the inkstone screen, she nodded with satisfaction. The glass workshop that Mr. Yin found is really good. It's just that the fee is a little more expensive, but a few hundred taels of silver, which is already very cost-effective compared to the expenses during the New Year's ceremony. It seems that it can be patronized for a long time in the future.

Tong Ying looked surprised: "Why didn't I expect it?" It doesn't have to be a paper painting, it's good to burn a screen, but you can also boil some water, a pen wash, a pen holder, a paperweight. You can use the flowers, birds, insects, fish, landscapes and characters I drew when I practiced, right? That's right, except for the glass. There are also wood, stone and bamboo carvings......"

"Stop, stop!" Shuning hurriedly stopped him from continuing: "It's a matter of getting a few things like this, it's annoying to make people like this." Tongying touched her head and smiled dryly: "That's right, but you can do this with your home land." And just this set of inkstones is a little thin, so let's burn a few more. Although this year is not a full birthday, it is also a Friday. ”

That's right. Shuning pulled him along and thought about what else he had to add.

A few days ago, she was a guest at King Yong's Mansion, and saw Sifu Jin Yumin ordering people to hold birthday gifts, and there was a list densely packed with them. Yumin also gave her a few words of advice in private. It was then that she learned that she couldn't just give one or two birthday gifts.

In the end, the couple agreed to burn a few more study utensils. All use Tongying's paintings to add some other objects. Shuning wanted to take out a pair of dowry gold and colored porcelain vases, but was stopped by Tong Ying: "I know you will say that this is not a valuable thing, but it is your dowry that makes people know, and I think we are so difficult." At most, let people buy it, but you have a way anyway, don't you? Shuning knew that he was thinking about himself, so he responded.

The charter was set, and Shuning sighed loudly, and it was different if someone discussed it. She had been worried about what gifts she gave for public relations for several nights, how could it be so fast?

Seeing this, Tong Ying carefully rubbed her forehead and whispered, "Tired, right?" Recently, you've been working hard for the affairs of the house. Shuning said angrily: "What are you talking about?!" This is also my family's hard work, it should be, you are not right! Tong Ying hurriedly smiled and said, "Yes, yes, I said it wrong, please punish Mrs." Shu Ning glanced at him: "Don't come to flamboyance." ”

Tong Ying laughed for a while and then asked, "Did anyone who was not at home make trouble for you before?" If anyone is disobedient, teach him. Whether it's from the palace or sent by the internal affairs government, don't be polite to them. Shuning smiled faintly: "Don't worry, I was used to doing these things when I was in my mother's house, and now they are all obedient." ”

She said it lightly, but in fact, it took a lot of effort.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs is on the other side, but it is nothing more than wanting to take advantage of it and wanting to be decent. This kind of family has this kind of family, even if they are as powerful as their mother, the Tong family can't completely suppress the psychology of the servants under the name of the third room who want to be greedy and cheap, and show off. Those people want power and money, but they can't go too far, and they must obey her will, otherwise they will be sent back to the Internal Affairs Office, will they do anything to her?

She placed several male servants in different positions for nearly half a year, so that they gradually gained a certain prestige. Then she took care of a few whimsical guys and sent them back to the Internal Affairs Office, and promoted a few people who were not reused before, and the people under the earth were much more restrained. She also made the two grandmothers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs understand the benefits of obeying the wishes of the housemother, and it would not be a problem for them to mess with the others.

The problem is that some of the old people who came from Prince Jane's mansion relied on the old and sold the old, not to mention, and wanted to get greater benefits through Qiu Yi, who was related to them. These people said that they watched Bei Ziye grow up. But Shuning had already asked Tongying, except for a few old slaves who came over from Fengtian, most of the others were collected by Prince Jian's Mansion in Jingzhong a few years ago, and they hadn't waited for Tongying much at all.

The four maids waiting in the inner courtyard only let them do needlework and clean the rooms outside the main house. At least let their ambitions be defeated.

As for the others, she will leave it to Mr. Yin. Hengzhu, he is also a local sent by the palace, so she just asks him for the result. Both this man and Mr. Luo are capable and reliable. And the only son of the Yin family, who is now working as an errand in the outer study, is a very smart young man who is now pursuing frangipani. She asked Su Xin what she meant, and the girl only said to see the other party's sincerity first, and she would not let go. At the moment, it is too late for Manager Yin to stammer Shuning.

And Grandpa Luo's side. She was actually very interesting under his dead face, and was currently trying to dig in.

Tong Ying saw the smile on the corner of her mouth and asked, "What are you thinking?" Let me laugh too? Shuning pursed her lips and said, "Father-in-law Luo looks cold with a straight face. Actually, he has a good heart and likes children very much. The children of the Zhou Chang family and the little grandson of Steward Chen in the East First Courtyard are only four or five years old, and it is the time to be naughty. The weather was good the other day. They actually climbed up the tree to play, so anxious that Father-in-law Luo jumped under the tree. It was really interesting to see what I saw. ”

Tong Ying saw a smile in the corner of her eyes. My heart moved: "Do you like children too?" Actually, don't worry, we're still young. ”

Shu Ning was stunned for a moment before he realized that he had misunderstood: "There is no such thing as a hurry, and this kind of thing is not in a hurry." Sooner or later. To be honest, she really wasn't in a hurry, after all, this body was only seventeen years old, and she gave birth a little earlier. She also thought about a two-person world for a year or two. But. People in this era who don't get pregnant after a year of marriage are indeed gossiping. Thinking of this, she felt a little depressed.

The birthday ceremony is in full swing, but Tongying is gradually getting busy. For the sake of the things of the Longevity Festival. He goes out early and returns late, not to mention, sometimes he even returns home after the second watch. Shuning saw that he was getting thinner and thinner. The meat that was finally raised began to retract again, and it was very distressing. In addition to changing the way to make him delicious and nutritious food, she also advised Tongying: "If you are busy with errands, you don't have to rush back home." The palace is closer to the yamen, and you can also go there for the night. ”

Beizi Mansion is located in the north of the capital, which is too far away from Luan Yiwei and the Six Divisions, relatively speaking, Prince Jian's Mansion is much closer, and it is also a place that Tongying is familiar with. Although she hopes to see Tongying every day, she doesn't want him to sacrifice his rest time in order to rush home for the night.

Tong Ying also understood this truth, and after thinking about it for a while, he agreed, but he said, "If I don't come back, I will send someone to tell you." Ask someone to bring some change of clothes to the palace. If you have something at home, you must come to me. Shuning smiled and nodded. She didn't worry about what bad things he would do in the palace, he was tired like this, and besides, Shige had been friends with their husband and wife recently, and often told her about the palace, which was also a little ear.

From then until the day of the Halloween Festival, Tongying was able to rush home most of the time to have dinner and rest, and there was nothing wrong with spending the night in Prince Jane's Mansion only after two or three nights when she was really tired.

Before the Wanshou Festival, Shuning has prepared all the birthday gifts, in addition to the set of inkstones, there are also a pair of newly burned landscape paperweights, a flower and bird pen holder, a lotus frog pen wash, and a pair of Fu Lu Shou Samsung's arm rests, all of which are glass floors. In addition, there is a set of tea sets woven with gold and colored porcelain, a hibiscus stone longevity peach ornament, a pair of Xuande jars, a longevity copper furnace, as well as twelve silk jackets and robes purchased by the family when they went to the south of the Yangtze River, as well as a pair of backrest mattresses embroidered by Shuning himself.

Shu Ning sighed as she looked at the more than two thousand taels of silver spent on the ledger. If it weren't for the fact that comprador Huo was not at his house, the treasurer of Zhenbaoxuan refused to discount, maybe it would be less. However, she may now be due to the large number of people in the place where the emperor gives gifts, and many shops have raised their prices.

This time, she learned another lesson, there are many opportunities to give gifts all year round, maybe she should take advantage of the low price to "buy" in the "off-season" to reduce costs. In addition, if it is the birthday of the queen mother or concubine, she can use the fine needlework she made herself, such as embroidered screens and mattresses, which is very good and can reflect her heart. It was decided that as soon as the birthday festival passed, she began to embroider the screen and the Buddha statue!

On the day of the Birthday Festival, you will wear a ceremonial dress to the pilgrimage during the day, and then you will have to go home to change into auspicious clothes and participate in the evening Longevity Feast. Fortunately, she got the reminder of Yumin and Sanfujin, and sent a few small things to Concubine Tong to please her, and she got a grace to enter and exit the palace from the Shenwu Gate, so she was able to take a shortcut back to Beizi Mansion, changed into a big red clothes, combed her hair again, and rushed back to the palace.

Although this year's longevity festival is not the whole ten birthdays, it can be regarded as a small celebration, and this longevity banquet is also quite grand. I don't know how many Shu Ning sat in the banquet in the main hall, and the position could only be regarded as the middle and front. A foot away in front of them is the seat of the princes and princes, and the seats of the three Fujin, Yumin, Yuanning and Wei Wan are all on it. Next are the eldest sons of the Guarjia clan. And these women of the clan such as Beizi Baylor have five or six seats. Below them, there are many lower titles and hundreds of officials' families. She saw a suspicious figure of the eldest aunt Nala from a distance, but unfortunately Zhenzhen and several other sisters-in-law were unable to participate.

There were a few tables in the corner of the side, and she only recognized one as Jingyu on the third elder brother's mansion, one as Mrs. Li on the fourth elder brother's mansion, and on the other table, there was also Ilgen Jue Luo from Prince Jane's mansion, so she knew that this was probably the location of the side Fujin or the side room, but there was no Wanning in it.

The eunuchs reported the list of birthday gifts sent by various governments all the way, and Shuning was a little relieved after listening all the way. Although the gifts given by their husband and wife cannot be compared with those given by the princes, the amount of gifts in the clan is also medium, which is a good match for Tongying's status.

The performances before the opening of the banquet included singing and dancing, as well as a hundred operas, but except for the three elder brothers, the two little emperors and grandsons of the prince recited a few poems to the emperor and begged for a good fortune, no other members of the royal family came out to perform, let alone the female dependents. The performers are all professionals, I don't know if it is the legendary palace maid who specializes in learning dance from the Jiaofang Division, or the folk team found from outside?

I don't know how long it took before the feast officially began. At this time, most of the dishes on the table were cold, except for stews, and only the top tables were warmed by the stove. Shuning ate those half-cold dishes and didn't know what it tasted like. However, the cuttlefish soup and sand plate chicken tasted good, and it was still hot, so she tasted a few more

However, there are many types of dumplings, and the variety is also fresh, and she likes to eat the golden cake rolls, bergamot cakes and pea yellow ones the most, and I don't know how the chefs make them. She decided to try the latter when she got home.

After eating, the men drank fiercely, but the women also toasted each other, but it was more gentle. Shuning's communication is not extensive, but he was forced by others to drink more than a dozen glasses, only to feel a sudden pain in his temples.

When she went home in the evening, she still went out from the main palace gate in front of her because she wanted to follow the crowd. Almost as soon as he got into the carriage, he collapsed there. She knew that Tongying was still busy tonight, and she would definitely not be able to accompany her back home, so she had to reluctantly tell the coachman to come out. After walking a short distance, the car stopped, and she was puzzled, and as soon as the curtain was lifted, Tongying got in, and there was still a cold air on her body.

"Don't you still have to watch people pack up?" She asked.

Tong Ying stuffed a purse and said, "Family secret recipe hangover medicine, remember to take one with hot water before going to bed." I'm going to spend the night in the palace tonight, so you don't have to wait for me. When we're done with this, we'll be able to spare a few days. After that, he hurriedly kissed Shuning, smiled and went down, and Shuning was stunned for a long time before she reacted.

Looking at the purse with medicine in her hand, her heart was sweet, and even her headache became much lighter.

(Thanks to the reminder of Lord Mocuntang, I added this chapter, looking at the arrangement on the outline, why are there so many things...... ）