Chapter 84 A Banquet in Hongmen

The momentum of Princess Ancheng's Mansion is far better than that of Xining Hou Mansion. When the carriage stopped outside the main gate of the princess's mansion, the two of them got off the carriage in turn. They tidied up their dresses and were about to walk up the steps. The graceful Princess Ancheng greeted her from the house, followed by Zhen De and the four maids of honor. An Cheng quickly walked down the steps. Qiaoyu and Ning Er squatted and saluted at the same time, and all the population spoke respectfully.

An Cheng smiled and picked up Ning Er in one hand and Qiao Yu in the other. Zi looked up and down carefully at Qiao Yu and said excitedly, "I have long heard that the third royal brother has got a beautiful concubine, and today it really lives up to its reputation." Although it is understated, the word "concubine" is very harsh.

Qiaoyu thought that it was indeed a banquet in Hongmen, and her face did not show displeasure. He just took out the reservedness of receiving his family when he was at home and replied faintly, "The princess praised it! Outsiders saw that the prince was very kind to Qiaoyu, so they said some exaggerated words just to please the prince.

An Cheng's smile froze on his face for a moment, and then regained the princess's momentum. I thought to myself that this woman is not only beautiful, but also has a deep plan. No wonder the third emperor snolded Tingjuan and spoiled her alone. An Cheng turned his head to look at Ning'er with a smile and joked, "Sister, which wind blew you here today? Are you willing to leave your son-in-law?

Ning'er blushed and replied, "The royal sister is making fun of me! Ning'er's newlywed Yan'er is in love with her son-in-law, which is also human. The royal sister is an experienced person, and naturally she can understand it. After saying that, Ning'er looked at An Cheng with innocent eyes.

An Cheng smiled awkwardly and said with a lost look, "Come with me!"

Before Ning Er and Qiao Yu could say anything more, An Cheng took the lead to walk up the steps alone. Ning Er took Qiao Yu, and the two looked at each other in silence, quietly followed An Cheng, walked up the steps and entered the front hall.

The decoration of the front hall was extremely luxurious. Qiaoyu glanced at it with the afterglow, and then began to be disgusted. I thought to myself that the house is for living, not to show or prove anything. If it is too luxurious, it will make people feel strongly depressed.

The three guests sat down, and Qiao Yu calmly talked about what she saw and heard on the road, which was nothing more than a boring topic from the sky and earth, from the heat to late autumn. An Cheng is polite and asks for warmth. Ning Er has never participated in the topic, but just accompanies her with a blank face. When Qiaoyu was very poor, Zhen De came in respectfully and reported that the dinner was ready.

An Cheng stood up, and Qiao Yu and Ning Er also got up together. Zhen De led the way. A number of maids and eunuchs surrounded the three noble women and quietly walked to the dining room.

The decoration of the dining room is very unique. The legs of the round table are very special. It is a huge and complete tree root. Six shorter tree roots are placed around the table as matching stools. They are all good yellow pears, coated with light oil and unique wooden patterns, shining with a faint soft light.

Qiaoyu waited for the two princesses to sit down before she sat down. I thought to myself that although this meal would taste like chewing wax, it was worth the trip because of such a unique table and chair. Thinking of this, the smile hung up the corners of his mouth unconsciously.

An Cheng looked into his eyes and asked with a smile, "Qiao Yu, did you think of something good and you are so happy? Why don't you say it and make me happy!"

Qiaoyu answered without thinking, "The princess laughed. Qiaoyu was just thinking that Qiaoyu was so blessed by so many people. Even the two princesses far away in Xining are so in love with Qiaoyu. Qiaoyu is really a blessing from her previous life. Qiaoyu is panicked!"

"When I first saw you, I only felt that you were charming. After listening to your words, I knew that you were so virtuous and virtuous. I will see you today. An Cheng turned around with a smile and called the maid behind him, "Ningxiang!"

A young girl in a pale pink palace costume bowed and replied respectfully, "I'm there. What can the princess do for you?"

"Go quickly and get the red gold five phoenix sunrise hanging pearls rewarded by the mother concubine."

"Yes!"

Ning Er reached out from under the table and gently pinched Qiao Yu's hand. Qiao Yu immediately understood and pinched Ning's hand back. An Cheng looked at Qiaoyu proudly.

After a while, the maid came back with a big red brocade box half a foot square in her hands. An Cheng smiled and put down the ivory chopsticks and stood up. Qiaoyu and Ning Er also got up together.

An Cheng walked over, carefully opened the brocade box, pointed to a golden phoenix lying in the box, with golden light, and said proudly, "This pearl hairpin was rewarded by my mother on my birthday last year. Now give it to Qiaoyu!"

Hearing this, Qiao Yu made it clear that his grade could not wear Feng. An Cheng's move was just to humiliate and warn himself. Qiaoyu smiled faintly, unexpectedly took the brocade box and said gratefully to An Cheng, "Qiaoyu, thank you for the princess's reward!" He turned around and handed it over to Fuhai behind him. An Cheng, who smiled and looked surprised, continued, "The princess's love for Qiaoyu, Qiaoyu did not dare to refuse. Qiaoyu was greedy for the prince and hoped to accompany the prince all the time, so she politely refused the title of the side princess rewarded by the emperor. You can't wear this phoenix in this life. An Cheng's face regained a proud look. Qiaoyu just didn't see it and continued, "Qiaoyu took the phoenix headpiece back and offered it to show Qiaoyu's gratitude to the princess."

Ning'er suppressed her smile and asked pitifully, "Sister, how can you favor one over the other? You only gave Qiaoyu gifts, but there are gifts for Ning'er?"

"This!" An Cheng said hesitantly, "This mother has only been rewarded with one, and I don't have it here anymore."

Qiaoyu asked An Cheng calmly, "Princess, can Qiaoyu borrow flowers to offer Buddha and transfer this card to Princess Xianning?"

An Cheng was speechless when asked for a while, and he was frozen there and didn't know what to do. Qiaoyu smiled and took the brocade box from Fuhai's hand, handed it to Ning Er with both hands, and her eyes were full of gratitude. Ning'er solemnly took the brocade box and gave it to the maid of honor behind her. First, she saluted An Chengshen and said with a smile, "Thank you, royal sister! When Ning'er got married, her mother also rewarded Fengpin, which was bigger than this, and it was very heavy to wear on her head. It's not as light as the royal sister's. After saying that, he turned his head to Qiaoyu and said, "Sister-in-law, Ning'er is not ungry!"

Qiaoyu said with a smile, "As long as the princess likes it."

The three of them sat down again and continued the banquet. Qiaoyu and Ning talked a few words from time to time. An Cheng had been silent and said nothing more.

"Sister-in-law, why didn't you see Lily this time?"

"Lily went back to Zhenjiang's hometown to get married."

"Oh! That's it! Why didn't the third brother choose another maid for you?!"

"I came out in a hurry this time, and I haven't had time to choose."

"Why is this difficult!" An Cheng's eyes lit up and added the topic at the right time, "Ningxiang!"

Just now, the maid of honor who took the phoenix pin heard the call and knelt down respectfully at the table and answered, "Princess, I'm here."

An Cheng pointed to Ningxiang and said, "Qiaoyu, this is Ningxiang. He is the most careful and considerate person here. How about rewarding her to you and serving your living and diet?

Just as Ning Er was about to get up to stop, Qiaoyu took the lead in standing up, saluted respectfully, and rushed to reply, "Qiaoyu, thank you for the princess!"

"Hmm! OK!" An Cheng looked at Qiaoyu with satisfaction. I thought proudly that this is a good thing that kills two birds with one stone. First of all, I broke the thoughts of the son-in-law. Second, put an eyeliner next to the third brother, and it may work at any time.

Ning'er stood up and said respectfully, "It's late. The royal sister must be tired, so Ning'er said goodbye."

Qiaoyu also said, "Qiaoyu has been bothering the princess for a long time. Thank you for the princess's welcome and so many gifts. Qiaoyu said goodbye."

"It's good! I said hello to the third emperor's brother. In a few days, when the royal brother has leisure, I will visit him again. Slow down, I won't send it to you."

"Yes!"

Qiaoyu and Ning'er came out together. Ning'er was about to say something. At a glance, she saw the fragrance behind her and quickly closed her mouth. The two exchanged eyes silently.

Qiao Yu said lightly, "Ning'er, don't worry! Take care!"

"Okay, sister-in-law!"

Ning'er went down the steps and got into her own carriage and went back to the house. Qiaoyu walked out of the house, followed by Fuhai and Ningxiang. Boarding his own carriage, he saw that Ningxiang was still standing outside the car, picked up the curtain, and said with a smile, "Ningxiang, come up too!" Ning Xiang hesitated for a moment and sat in.

Qiaoyu smelled a strange smell and asked curiously, "Ningxiang, have you used incense?"

Ning Xiang nodded, took out a sachet from her waist, and handed it to Qiao Yu with both hands. "Little Lord, I use musk."

"Mucin?" Qiaoyu took the sachet curiously, approached her nose and asked, thinking that this was not the fragrance, but the smell of a man. He pretended to be calm and gave it back to Ningxiang and asked curiously, "This fragrance is very special. Few girls use it. There must be a special reason for you to use this fragrance?"

Ning Xiang blushed, put away the sachet again, and replied shyly, "This fragrance is given by others."

"Oh!" Qiaoyu already understood and asked casually, "How old are you? Where are you from?"

"Go back to the little master, the maidservant is fifteen years old, and my home is in Dunhuang."

"Dunhuang?!" Qiaoyu asked excitedly, "Is it okay there?"

"Dunhuang is very good. The water is good, the sunshine is good, and the land is good, so it is rich in products. There are cotton, corn, watermelon, melon and grapes. There are also many medicinal herbs, such as Gouqi, licorice and Rob hemp. And Dunhuang Jade. The ancestors built the Great Wall of Jiayuguan nearby. There are also murals in Mogao Grottoes, Crescent Spring, and Mingsha Mountain. It's all very good!"

"Ah! So much! Great!" Qiaoyu thought that in a few days, she could go to Dunhuang with Brother Sui.