Duchess Huang is very busy these days, the eldest princess's birthday is vigorous, more than ten warehouses in the house, for a while was full of congratulatory gifts, just the gift list handed by the guests, it was filled with more than 20 boxes, check the He Yi, count the storage, register and make a book is enough to make people busy, not to mention that they have to prepare a return gift according to those gift lists.

For this type of people, of course, the gift list should be sorted out and given to the head of the family, or according to the gift list, it is quite or even more generous to return the gift, indicating that they do not appreciate it at all, and everyone will have less contact in the future; Or the return gift is slightly lighter than the congratulatory gift, indicating that although the Weiguo Mansion welcomes you, it is limited to the friendship on the scene, if it is something about promotion and wealth...... Well, you know; Or take it all - congratulations, you have become a family and friend of the Patriotic Mansion, and everyone will be prosperous in the future.

Of course, the chances of this last scenario happening are very rare, so the return gifts prepared by Huang must be complicated.

And the people who often come and go with the Guogong Mansion, although they do not need to prepare a return gift, their gift list must be written and kept, and when the other party has a birthday, or gets married and has children, anyway, when it is a big banquet guest, they will prepare a considerable congratulatory gift to send.

Moreover, Jia Fu had invited a matchmaker to send Jia Wenxiang's Geng post to officially propose marriage, and he was about to be busy with Su Lian's "Six Rites" procedure, and he shared part of Huang's thoughts.

And since the birthday banquet, Mrs. Kong and Mrs. Zhen took turns to hand over invitations and invite Huang to be guests, and she couldn't refuse.

Of course, the Huang family knew that Kong and Zhen were so enthusiastic, what was the matter, but the marriage of the prince of Weiguo, her stepmother was not the master, so she had to wake up and play Tai Chi with the two ladies, not only to maintain a close friendship, but also not to talk too much.

The next day of Qixi Festival, Mrs. Zhen invited Huang to go to the house to enjoy the flowers - the gardenia in her garden is just right, this kind of flower is common in the south, but it is very rare in Jinyang Beijing, Mrs. Zhen said that it was a special trip from Xiangxi to invite a florist, and a lot of thought was spent planting, so that there was a garden scenery of "suspected frost wrapped in leaves, complex snow sealed branches, the sun oblique light and shadow, and the wind and shadow are separated".

Huang went to be a guest, of course, he had to bring a few little ladies, if it was in the past, it would be indispensable to Yichen, but the eldest princess was worried about the orchid hairpin that was gone, and she didn't know when it would cause a storm.

But when the mother and daughter were leaving, Li hurriedly brought the dressed Er Niang and Si Niang to Herui Garden, and begged to let Huang take Er Niang and Si Niang to Zhen's mansion, and pulled Huang to mutter for a while, thinking that he expressed his intention "tactfully": "The two little Langjun of the Zhen family, one is fifteen this year, and the other is thirteen this year, and the age is just right for Erniang and Siniang." After speaking, he stared at Huang with flashing eyes, looking at the meaning that his sister-in-law was a smart person and should understand.

The Huang family couldn't cry or laugh, Mrs. Zhen's eyes were too high, where could she see Erniang and Siniang, besides, the "rare thing" of the sisters marrying into a mansion to become concubines is also unheard of, not to mention that Mrs. Zhen also wants Zhen Siniang to become the daughter-in-law of the Weiguo Mansion, this aristocratic family, the most taboo is so "easy to kiss".

Seeing that he couldn't excuse himself, Huang wanted to go with Ritchie, but Ritch also had self-knowledge, so he laughed and excused himself, but he brazenly left Erniang and Siniang in Heruiyuan.

Yi Jing expressed infinite sympathy for Siniang's golden and jade and purple and red costumes.

The house of Zhenfu is three in and three out, but the scale is much smaller than that of the Weiguo Mansion, most of the courtyards are boxy, connected by the verandah, although there are also green flowers in the courtyard, most of them are along the verandah, the courtyard still maintains the style of the open and bright northern garden, and only the gardens of the east and west roads are arranged elegantly and beautifully according to the southern garden.

A mast flower tree, densely planted along the lotus pond, sat in the red pavilion by the pond, but felt a quiet and floating fragrance lingering, but it was also refreshing, but the beautiful scenery did not have a little heart to appreciate the flowers, she had to cheer up to deal with Zhen Mo's enthusiasm, and had to guard against other ......

At the luncheon, Su Xun, who was originally in the Guozijian, suddenly came to Zhen's mansion, and it turned out to be a warm invitation from Zhen Sanlang's classmate, and he heard that his mother and sister were also guests in Zhen's mansion, so he followed.

Since he came to the door, he should have been polite, so he naturally wanted to come to greet Mrs. Zhen, so it was logical to meet Zhen Mo.

Yijing was very depressed, thinking that she had tried her best to make arrangements, and finally avoided the eldest brother and Zhen Mo's "relationship", but she didn't want to prevent Mrs. Zhen's calculations, after all, Su Xun and Zhen Mo met.

Fortunately, in addition to his sisters and Zhen Mo today, there is also a little lady from the Confucian Mansion and a little lady from the Liao Mansion of Mrs. Zhen's family present.

Yijing believes that Zhen's mother and daughter carefully arranged this flower-viewing banquet, the purpose of which should not be as simple as letting Zhen Mo and the eldest brother hurry for a while, and there will be a trick in the future.

A luncheon, the beautiful scenery was worried, and Siniang, obviously also got the "advice" of Ritchie, and felt that his rich and graceful dress was very abrupt, swept away the cheerfulness of the past, and was as silent as Liuniang, only Erniang, I couldn't wait to show her "gentle and virtuous" in front of Mrs. Zhen - I saw Zhen Jiasanlang earlier, although compared with the eldest brother's demeanor, it seems a little ordinary, but he is also a polite young man, and he has such a noble identity as the princess's brother, Erniang is very satisfied, I have special admiration for my mother's vision.

If she can become the wife of the Zhen family's sister-in-law in the future, it will be seen if those noble girls will despise her for not having a famous biological mother.

Mrs. Zhen was very wary of Erniang's courtesy, but because of Zhen Mo's marriage, she was not good at treating the "guests" of the Guogong Mansion coldly, and she worked very hard.

And Zhen Mo has also been absent-minded since she saw Su Xun.

In short, the atmosphere between the guests of honor was slightly depressed.

After the banquet, Mrs. Zhen asked Zhen Mo to lead the little ladies to wander around in the garden, and she only tasted tea with the Huang family.

Yijing naturally woke up the spirit of the twelve-point earth, preventing Zhen Mo and the eldest brother from "inadvertently" encountering.

But after walking around for a while, the encounter never happened.

Mrs. Zhen is arrogant, of course, she disdains to use that obvious means to take advantage of her daughter's reputation, causing something unclear about the fact that she is not acceptable, and forcibly marrying her daughter to go to the Weiguo Mansion.

"It's too hot, let's go to the tea room under the shade of the trees and rest for a while." Zhen Mo led the people of Yijing to visit most of the garden, and pointed to a row of buildings with carved windows in Huaiyin and said.

The beautiful scenery was far away, but when he saw that the "tea room" was very spacious, and after entering through the door facing west, it was not as spacious as he saw, so he guessed that it was divided into two rooms.

Her guess was very correct, at this time, Su Xun and the Zhen brothers were playing next door, because there was no conversation, the little ladies didn't find that the wall had ears, but the ladies were laughing and talking here, but the gentlemen next door could hear it clearly.

Su Xun raised his eyebrows and glanced at Zhen Sanlang.

Zhen Sanlang smiled softly and apologized in a low voice: "I think it was Siniang who led the guests to gossip in the compartment, but it disturbed us not to be quiet." But he didn't mean to ask Su Xun to move.

As a guest, Su Xun could only say that he didn't mind.

And when Yi Jing heard Zhen Mo propose to learn piano skills, he also guessed that the wall had ears.

It seems that Zhen Mo still cares about the talent comparison that day, and is determined to let the eldest brother see her talent.

But as the host's proposal, the guests are not easy to refuse.

After thinking about it, I suddenly thought about it.

Seeing that Zhen Mo asked the maid to put Yaoqin and Qin Zheng, the pipa was half hugged, and she was ready.

"I heard that Sister Mo plays the pipa well, I wonder if you would like to play with me today?" Yijing said with a smile.

Zhen Mo was slightly stunned.

On the day of the eldest princess's birthday banquet, she was forced to choose Yang Qin out of desperation, but she didn't want to rush with Yu Anhui, and ended up with a "self-inflicted humiliation", not only did she impress the "beloved", but also became the laughing stock of others for no reason, she was very unwilling in her heart, so she discussed her mother, and took this opportunity to let San Lang bring the prince of Weiguo to the tea room, listen to her play a song carefully, so as to win back a game.

Originally, I thought that it would be a solo to make it stand out, but since Yijing proposed an ensemble...... She really can't refuse.

I had to pretend to be honored to say yes.

said that in the next compartment, the chess game between Su Xun and San Lang was stalemate, and suddenly heard a burst of Yaoqin pipa, and both of them temporarily forgot about the fight between the vertical and horizontal.

"This pipa is the most pleasing to my fourth sister." Zhen Saburo didn't seem to have intended to say a word.

But suddenly I heard that the rhythm of the piano changed, and it became more and more agitated, and the sonorous meaning came through the wall.

At first, the pipa was able to keep up, but gradually after that, it was a little reluctant.

Later, it was even a little messy.

Zhen Sanlang's expression became a little embarrassed...... Fourth sister, what's the matter, so decent, why do you play with others? But he can't keep up with that person's rhythm, isn't it revealing his shortcomings?

Over there, Liuniang also seemed to feel that Yi Jing was embarrassed by Zhen Mo, and glanced at her fifth sister in surprise.

Zhen Mo's expression was naturally a little stiff, her pipa was originally good, but Yijing deliberately accelerated the rhythm, Zhen Mo was unprepared, so she could only barely keep up, and the two played this piece together, and there was no tacit understanding between them.

Yijing immediately apologized: "It's all my fault, on a whim, I sped up the pace, Sister Mo, don't be annoyed." ”

Stretch out her hand and don't hit the smiling person, not to mention that this person still has to be pleased, Zhen Mo was depressed, but she had to pretend to be smiling, saying that she was unfamiliar with her skills and couldn't keep up with the rhythm of the beautiful scenery.

Except for Erniang - when she heard that she was going to be playing the piano, she immediately said that she seemed to be suffering from heat stroke, and she closed her eyes to the side, and the rest of the little ladies all stroked a song to help the fun, and Zhen Mo was slightly depressed for a while, and she also resumed her enthusiastic style, laughing constantly, and did not hesitate to praise Liuniang's piano skills.

But suddenly a maid exclaimed: "Lady, why is your shrimp bracelet missing?" ”

This sentence suffocated the laughter in the tea room, and everyone's eyes looked at the maid - it was the maid of the lady of the Confucian Mansion, at this time she was full of panic and pointed to the desk next to her: "Just now the lady wanted to stroke the qin, but she thought that the bracelet was in the way, so she took it off and put it here, why did she miss her eyes and disappear?" ”

This Confucian lady is the niece of the current queen, and her single name is a blue character.

At this time, she also stared at the empty desk, looking inexplicable.

Yijing frowned, glanced at Zhen Mo, and saw that her expression instantly became cold, and she opened her mouth and asked, "Alain, is that bracelet really missing?" ”

Kong Lan immediately panicked: "I obviously took it off when I cleaned my hands, and I left it here casually, and it took a while...... Although this bracelet is not worth anything, it was given by the grandmother of the family. ”

Because the nobles want to stroke the qin, just now the maids of the Zhen Mansion held into Qingling, so as to teach you to clean your hands first, in and out many times, and the little ladies all have to sit down, or gossip with others, or go to stroke the qin and play the kite, the scene was a little messy, and no one paid attention to the whereabouts of the bracelet.

Zhen Mo glanced at the maid coldly: "You guys, who paid attention to that bracelet?" ”

Naturally, no one spoke, and the maids of Zhen's mansion panicked.

Zhen Mo was very annoyed and snorted coldly: "There are only a few people in the tea room, but I don't want to be a thief, if no one admits it, I will have to search your body, so as to give an explanation to the distinguished guests!" ”

The maids of Zhen's mansion all knelt in a row, claiming that in order to prove their innocence, they were willing to be searched.

But the maids in this house are not only from Zhen's house.

And the maids of the Zhen Mansion, of course, nothing was found.

Yijing was full of doubts, she intuitively felt that this bracelet was lost, maybe it was Zhen Mo's arrangement, but she couldn't figure out her intentions.

And after the innocence of the maids of the Zhen Mansion was confirmed, the feelings of the noble ladies present became complicated.

Kong Lan is still in a hurry-

"How can this be born, that shrimp bracelet, but grandmother's dowry."

Zhen Mo looked at the nobles in embarrassment: "I don't want to have such a thing, it's really ...... You are all distinguished guests invited by our government, and you should not be lazy, but if the bracelet cannot be found, this matter will be publicized, and others may not know how to talk about it. ”

Erniang's "summer feeling" has long disappeared, she is bent on flattering Zhen Mo, and immediately said with her head straight: "Why do you need to be embarrassed? Let's start with me, and let you search your body. ”

Yijing frowned again and looked at Erniang, quite a little crying and laughing.

Of course, Zhen Mo would not be so abrupt, and hurriedly waved her hand: "Where do you dare to doubt you, everyone is a famous lady, and you will never do such an ugly thing, I am afraid of those maids......"

"Siniang is trying to search for our maid?" Liuniang, who didn't make a sound for a while, asked coldly at this time.

"My bracelet doesn't have long legs, how could it suddenly disappear, it must be a maid with shallow eyelids......" Kong Lan came forward in time to solve the siege: "I am not afraid of shadows, Ah Mo proposed this, also for everyone's innocence." ”

Siniang and Yi Jingju both tightened their little faces and didn't make a sound.

Of course, they are unwilling to let the maid be searched, this is not a matter of lack of heart, it involves the dignity of the house.

Zhen Mo was obviously very embarrassed.

"Report to the police." Liu Niang suddenly said: "There is such a theft, there are not only maids who are suspicious, even if they are searched, I am afraid that the master will not be able to escape the suspicion of instigation, so it is better to let the official office judge justice." ”

This is said so categorically that it is difficult to turn around for a while.

The beautiful scenery still measured Zhen Mo's expression...... What is the purpose of playing this play?

saw Zhen Mo suddenly: "The bracelet has been found!" ”

These words are even more confusing.

Zhen Mo got up suddenly, walked a few steps to the Baibaoge against the wall, and in the surprised eyes of everyone, he stretched out his hand, turned around, spread his palms, and faced everyone, but asked Kong Lan alone: "Alain, look, this is your bracelet?" ”

Kong Lan was surprised, took the bracelet and looked at it over and over, very wondering: "How can this bracelet be ......?"

And when the beautiful scenery saw this, it was already a sudden realization.

Zhen Mo, it turned out that she was not just preparing a pipa song, but also wanted to use such a farce to show her wisdom.

The beautiful scenery was dark, and he unconsciously looked at the partition door with landscape murals, and guessed whether the eldest brother behind the wall was interested in the turmoil here.

Over there, the chess game between Su Xun and Zhen Sanlang has been completely deadlocked, and both of them are silent, listening to Zhen Mo's decision here.

In this compartment, Zhen Mo coldly looked at the Tsing Yi maid standing behind Liao's Aqing: "I observed just now, only to see this maid approaching Baibaoge, took out something from her sleeve, and quietly put it on. ”

Liao's Aqing looked back in shock and stared at the green-clothed maid: "Xiaohong, is it really you?" ”

The maid in Tsing Yi trembled like chaff, her knees were weak, and she collapsed to the ground: "Slave maid...... The slave is really forced to do it, lady, please ......"

"What a, she dares to steal." Liao's Aqing was so angry that her face was purple, and she was about to slap it, but she still remembered that she couldn't lose her honor in front of outsiders, and her eyes turned red for a while, and she only apologized to Zhen Mo: "I really didn't expect that there would be such unclean hands and feet around me, and it would make a fuss...... This will be handed over to my sister and left to be disposed of. ”

Zhen Mo sat down at this time, her cold expression was swept away, and she only comforted Aqing: "Sister, don't be annoyed, no one wants to do such a scandalous thing, it's better to listen to this maid's explanation clearly and see if it's excusable." ”

Yijing lowered her eyes silently, and really called "good" for Zhen Mo in her heart, not only decisive and wise, but also generous and kind, which is really a model for everyone's ladies.

But it was the Confucian lady who threw things, and it was the Liao Mansion maid who stole the things, and it was a coincidence.

Although Mrs. Zhen's Bai family was born in a noble family, her biological mother Liao was not from a prestigious family, and Mrs. Zhen's father was just a member of the Gaozu tribe back then, and the wife she married was just a businesswoman.

After the founding of Dalong, with the support of the Bai family, the Liao family had their sons and daughters, and gradually got rid of the identity of merchants, but compared with those prominent families, they were naturally considered poor.

Therefore, the Liao family is willing to produce a "thief" maid to fulfill Zhen Mo's "intelligence" and "generosity".

Xiaohong naturally has a miserable life experience, her mother is sick, lingering on the sickbed, so she was sold to people's teeth, and some time ago, she heard that her father was also tired and coughed up blood, and her parents' life became more and more difficult, and she was still shallow when she entered Liao's mansion, and she had no savings, she was very anxious.

In short, it was said that everyone was concerned.

Of course, Zhen Mo wanted to intercede for her, not only gave the maid thirty taels of silver and asked her to use it to treat her parents, but also persuaded Liao's Aqing to forgive the hard-working maid, and begged everyone, but this incident did not happen today.

Erniang and Kong Lan praised Zhen Mo's heart, but Siniang has been absent-minded, and Liuniang no longer pays attention to it when she sees that the turmoil has subsided.

"Amo, you said at first that you were going to search everyone's maids, but you couldn't do it?"

"At first, I thought it was the maid at home who was greedy, but when I saw them ask for a search to prove their innocence, I woke up and blamed them, but the bracelet was indeed missing, not my maid, it must be the maid around you, so I proposed to search the body, and I saw that Xiaohong was full of panic and changed color, when Liuniang mentioned the official, she was even more trembling all over, taking advantage of the unpreparedness, quietly approached the Baibaoge, I expected that she must be a thief, afraid of people and stolen goods, so I put the bracelet there."

"This is also thanks to Amo's keenness, so many of us have so many pairs of eyes, but none of us noticed the strangeness of that little red."

In the end, this farce ended perfectly under Kong's Alan admiration for Zhen Mo.