In late August, the Zhen family's chrysanthemum banquet was held as scheduled, and of course the female relatives of famous families in Kyoto were happy to invite - the Zhen family is still the maiden family of the crown princess, and since they received the invitation, they never dared to sweep the face of the Zhen family.

However, since Zhen Mo failed to calculate Dong Yin in Lingshan that year, it can be regarded as letting the Weiguo Mansion save mustard, and the Zhen family's banquets in the Weiguo Mansion over the years are at most sent to decent stewards to serve the gifts, and that incident was in an uproar back then, not to mention the noblewomen who are used to socializing and socializing, even some decent servants in various mansions have also heard of it, and they all know that the Zhen family and the Weiguo Mansion are not compatible.

Therefore, on this day, when the ladies saw the Huang family in full costume in the back garden of the Zhen family, they were somewhat surprised.

The Huang family naturally had a set of sayings in front of the eldest princess: "Originally, the banquet of the Zhen family, let's not go, but Mrs. Zhen personally came to invite her this time, and the daughter-in-law pondered, if she still doesn't give face, it's too unreasonable, Chen'er and Jing'er are the princesses at the moment, and the other is the princess, both belong to the clan, and the Zhen family is the princess's mother's family. ”

The eldest princess knew why the Huang family was going, and she didn't say anything, nor did she stop it, so she bowed her head slightly and said: "How many years have it been old, it's useless to mention it again, so as not to let others talk about our narrow-mindedness, but once Brother Jing's daughter-in-law goes, people may not talk about the things of the year anymore when they see it, Zhen Mo is gone, and there is no need for people to talk about it, I mean, let the six girls accompany you to socialize." ”

Since it just lined the heart of the Huang family - although Cousin-in-law Liao and Sanniang will not appear at the Zhenfu Chrysanthemum Banquet this time, she still has to meet with Mrs. Yin, and she is also worried about the inconvenience of taking Dong Yin.

When Liu Niang heard that she was going to Zhen's house, she refused: "Mother has always known that I am most annoyed by those entertainments, and my sisters don't go, so they are more and more boring." ”

Huang knew that Liu Niang was stubborn, once she disliked someone, she would not be vain, nor would she persuade much, so she took the car to Zhen's mansion alone.

Mrs. Zhen came to greet her in person, took Huang's hand and talked affectionately for a while, and saw Mrs. Jianning Hou, Mrs. Huang San and Jiang Yue being led over by their daughter-in-law, and invited into the flower pavilion for a while.

Jiang Yue didn't see Liuniang, but asked.

"I had a cold last night, and I still have some cough today, so I didn't let her come." In front of Mrs. Zhen, of course the Huang family couldn't say that Liuniang was unwilling to socialize.

But there are also rumors that Concubine Ning of the Third Prince's Mansion and Concubine Bai of the Fourth Prince's Mansion have arrived.

Of course, Mrs. Zhen welcomed out again, Zhen's mansion set up a banquet, although she sent posts with the clan and the royal mansion, but she was not sure whether people would come or not - ordinary nobles, even if they didn't come, they would usually say no in advance, there would always be some excuses such as illness or busyness and couldn't leave, but the clan and the palace received too many invitations, and most of them would not attend, of course, they would not accompany the crime, and the main family did not have any hope, and it was just a ritual to send a post.

Although there are only two side concubines from the prince's mansion, of course Mrs. Zhen will not slack off, and it is always a must-have courtesy to greet her in person.

However, there was a little complaint in my heart, the Three Princes' Mansion was also okay, there was no concubine, and the people from the Four Princes' Mansion didn't come, what did Concubine Qin mean by sending a side concubine to attend, it was perfunctory, and the Qin family didn't care too much about the dignity of the crown princess.

Concubine Bai greeted people with a smile, and when she saw her master, of course, she first said the cliché that Concubine Qin was busy.

Mrs. Zhen didn't look at the Four Princes' Mansion in her eyes, and said with a smile: "I know, now that Concubine Deng is pregnant, Concubine Qin doesn't dare to be careless." ”

Concubine Qin saw that she was a jealous woman's face, and everyone had already laughed in private that she was still a famous lady from the Prime Minister's Mansion, but she didn't know the general situation at all, for fear that others would not know that she was so jealous and unfavored, she was really laughing and generous, and when she heard Mrs. Zhen's sneer, she smiled at the corners of her mouth, waiting to see Concubine Bai's reaction.

Concubine Bai didn't care, she still smiled gently: "It's good that Madam is considerate." Then he looked around at the scenery in the garden, and praised a few words very sincerely, and everyone frequently bowed their heads, saying that although the Bai family was a poor family, it was only after the Chen family that he got an official and a half-job, and the daughter raised was more elegant than the one in the prime minister's house.

He also said that the Huang family, and Mrs. Jianning Hou went out of the Flower Pavilion, enjoying the beautiful scenery all the way, and the familiar Mrs. was noisy, and looked at it coldly, these noble ladies were not only estranged from Mrs. Hou, but were more attentive than before, and their hearts were really depressed.

If it weren't for the prestige of the Weiguo Mansion, how could the queen care about the reputation of the Jianning Houfu, and personally brought Mrs. Hou to the same table at the palace banquet, how could others dare to discuss the rights and wrongs of the Houfu.

The only poor thing is my brother and sister-in-law, who was expelled from the clan by the old pious woman with this handle, and this hatred will be snowed sooner or later!

The smile on his face was not half a minute, and he was talking affectionately with his eldest sister-in-law, and when he turned a flower wall, he saw Mrs. Wei and Mrs. Zhuo coming towards him, followed by Wei Shiniang and Zhuo Yingyu respectively.

They are all good families with the Weiguo Mansion, of course, they are very enthusiastic about the Huang family and Mrs. Hou, and the two Mrs. Wei and Zhuo did not notice the bitterness and resentment under the Huang family's smile, but spared no effort to please Mrs. Hou, for fear that people would not feel enthusiastic.

"Let the younger generations go to the garden to enjoy themselves, don't hold them to listen to our parents." Huang couldn't help it, but still interrupted the fawning of Wei and Mrs. Zhuo.

The four ladies found a pavilion and sat down, and immediately a maid presented refreshments, Huang patiently listened to Mrs. Wei praise Liuniang, and talked about the beautiful scene: "That day, because of an incident, I went to visit the palace of the king of Chu, and saw with my own eyes that the old princess treated the princess like a granddaughter, no wonder the old princess is like this, no matter the talent, the princess can be regarded as the top one of the nobles in Kyoto, and it is also a loss that there is such a talent as the prince of Chu in this world, the two are really the pearl of the jade wall, a match made in heaven." ”

Mrs. Zhuo followed Mrs. Wei's words and flattered: "Whether it is the princess or the sixth mother, Princess Fu is also dignified and luxurious, and her bearing is extraordinary, which shows that the Duchess of the country is well educated and managed, which is really enviable." ”

Huang's heart is becoming more and more depressed - usually she heard this, although she was not happy, but she didn't care, but recently she has been met again and again, but the most praised scenery is separated from her, although Yichen is as always, it is difficult to guarantee that she will not be indifferent to her under the influence of her family in the future, although Liuniang is her own person, but this daughter is too loyal - at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, because Liuniang was praised by the saint, the queen mother rewarded, and she was in the limelight, that is, the servants in the house know that Liuniang earns decency.

Seeing that the Huang family was in a difficult situation, Mama Lan couldn't hold back for a while, so she thought about it, and went to Liuniang to cry and complain about the harsh treatment of the eldest princess and Wei Guogong, so that Madame lost the power to take charge of the middle feed, and provoked Liuniang to go to the eldest princess to fight for Madame, and go to Wei Guogong to seek justice for Madame.

Of course, the words are not so explicit, but the meaning is such a layer.

After hearing this, Liuniang instead sued Mama Lan to the Huang family, saying that Mama Lan was stirring up right and wrong, and persuaded the Huang family to punish Mama Lan.

The Huang family was so angry by the just and righteous daughter that they really punished Mama Lan's moon silver, and Liuniang did not give up, and said loudly: "Grandmother is loving, father is upright, and will never embarrass mother for no reason. There is also the eldest brother to filial piety, the eldest sister-in-law is virtuous, and she will not disrespect her mother, how can she allow Diao Nu to instigate in private, if she is not punished, she is a mother, and she is also suspected of being unfilial and unkind. ”

After all, it was Mama Lan who suffered a few boards, and Huang added another plea: "Mama is my nursing mother, and she also has the grace of nurturing me, so the small punishment and the big precept are, don't make a mess out of control." ”

Liu Niang let go of Mama Lan and said to the Huang family: "If the daughter didn't see that Mama was her mother's nursing mother, she would have been handed over to the third aunt and eldest sister-in-law to deal with, and the mother would have to warn Mama that those words would not be mentioned again in the future." Although the daughter does not know why the grandmother does not let the mother in the palm of the feed, but the grandmother is the elder, her decision mother should also obey, even if the mother does not hold the feed, she is also the duchess of the country, no one dares to snub you, if the servant woman in the family because the mother does not slack off, the daughter will seek justice for the mother. ”

The Huang family also hated Mama Lan for acting without authorization, but she couldn't help complaining that Liuniang was too rigid, full of benevolence, righteousness and filial piety, and didn't know that people's hearts were sinister, so she said that the palace banquet, Wei Mingyu was dead or alive and what did Liuniang do, but the usual taciturn person had many incidents, although she didn't cause trouble, but she was rewarded, but a boudoir woman, in front of the saint, opened her mouth and closed her mouth What "admiration" and "private teaching", which is what a woman from the family should say, but her own biological mother is in a difficult situation in the Guogong Mansion, but Liuniang thinks that it should be!

The golden stamen of the full flower garden is bright and beautiful, and the purple chrysanthemum is enchanting, and at this time, it only adds to the irritability in Huang's eyes.

It was easy to hope that a few noble ladies came to this place, and diverted Wei and Zhuo's second wife's praise of their stepdaughters, and the Huang family felt relieved, and the depression in his chest dispersed a little.

"That's the second young lady of the Zhen Mansion, right?" Mrs. Wei suddenly saw Liao Qing accompanied a few ordinarily dressed ladies passing by the trail in front of her, and asked softly.

"Exactly, this niece who is still Mrs. Zhen's foreign family has a gentle temperament and is quite generous in dealing with people, and Mrs. Zhen treats her closely." A lady who often corresponded with the Zhen family said very meaningfully.

Mrs. Zhen's own son Xingsan, the first two are concubines, Zhen Dalang married I don't know which daughter, Hengzhi never appeared at the banquet, but Liao Qing, because he was originally related to Mrs. Zhen, had the opportunity to follow the hospitality, but everyone also saw that the third young lady of the Zhen family, that is, Mrs. Zhen's daughter-in-law was quite arrogant to Liao Qing, obviously, the two concubines were in a dangerous situation in Zhen's mansion.

As a guest, of course, you can't talk about the rights and wrongs of the host's family, and the ladies understand it, that is, mention it casually.

Huang thought to himself, this is the attitude that a serious mother-in-law should have towards her son-in-law and daughter-in-law, how can she be like her, no matter whether she is close or close, she treats each other fairly, but she is still struggling.

completely ignored that she herself was also a concubine, if Mrs. Zhen was the "truth", she should not complain to Huang's mother, not to mention that Su Xun's brothers and sisters are upright concubines, and their identities are brighter than her stepmother, not to mention that she is only virtuous on the surface, and she wishes that the three brothers and sisters would die without a place to be buried.

As he was talking, a few noble ladies came with the third young lady Wei from afar, and Huang's eyebrows jumped.

She recognized one of them as Mrs. Yin, although Mrs. Yin was only the wife of a fourth-rank official and was not familiar with the ladies of the family, but she had also met at the Beppu banquet by chance, and she didn't talk much.

The Wei family is also from a prestigious family, and is the daughter-in-law carefully selected by Mrs. Zhen for her son-in-law, and she has the same heart with Mrs. Zhen, and knows what the Huang family is going to the banquet for today, so she took a few noble ladies to this side, first introduced her, and then said to Mrs. Hou: "I just saw Mrs. Zou on the edge of the lotus pond." ”

Mrs. Zou is the sister of Mrs. Hou's mother.

After Mrs. Hou heard this, of course, she wanted to talk to her sister.

Huang stayed in the pavilion, and gradually became close to Mrs. Yin, who was not familiar with her, and praised her for the soft fabric, bright color, and novel patterns, so he asked which shop bought it.

"It's fragrant." Mrs. Yin understood and said respectfully.

"Is it the one in Ping'anfang?" Huang seemed to ask casually.

The Liao family is the property of the Liao family, and there are five stores in the inner city of Kyoto alone.

As soon as the silk and satin were mentioned, all the nobles were interested, and they talked about which Shu brocade was beautiful in color and which Yun brocade was complete, and gradually "self-contained", and no one paid attention to the dialogue between Huang and Mrs. Yin.

"That shop was introduced to me by Mrs. Zhen, and I heard that it was run by Mrs. Zhen's foreign family." Mrs. Yin was advised, but she was cautious, and did not explicitly mention the word "Liao": "If the Duchess of the Kingdom looks good, make an appointment with us to go and see it another day?" ”

These words fell into people's ears, and they only thought that Mrs. Yin wanted to entrap the Duchess of the country.

Huang smiled lightly: "Speaking of this shop, I knew about it for a long time, and the Guogong Mansion often buys there. ”

This is to admit the relationship with the Liao family, today the Huang family took the initiative to talk to Mrs. Yin, originally to show their attitude, as for whether the clothes on Mrs. Yin's body are from the Liao family's shop, where is the matter.

Huang added: "But the one in Ping'an Fang is too small, not as spacious as Daxing Street in the outer city, and the flower samples are even more complete." ”

Liao's family is on Daxing Street.

Mrs. Yin still didn't understand something, and her smile became more and more earnest.