Chapter 58 Careful Care to Change Marriage

The eldest princess's birthday is on the fifth day of July, but because of her dignity, this birthday banquet even attracted the attention of the Empress Dowager and the saints, which naturally attracted the literary and martial arts of the Manchu Dynasty, and the aristocrats of all sizes. Although the invitation posts of the Duke of Wei were not widely distributed, those automatically sent to the door were already as early as January. Huang's desks have been piled up one after another. Therefore, since the third day of July, two consecutive days of flowing banquets have been held. Naturally, there are cars and sedan chairs and guests in the square.

However, most of the guests who came to the house in the past two days have no contact with the Duke of Wei, and they are not prominent and famous families. Therefore, the eldest princess will not receive them in person. Huang, the Duke's wife, and the second wife, Li, come to socialize, and several little women in the Duke of Wei don't need to appear.

It was only early in the morning, with the excitement of the people in front of the Duke's Mansion, and the back house was also infected by this atmosphere. The servants came and went quickly and looked nervous. Even the courtyard where the little woman lived seemed to be busier than usual.

In the reed garden, Cai Wei, a first-class maid beside Si Niang, looked at Er Niang's chest and proud back disappear outside the arch moon gate. The smile at the corners of her lips immediately collapsed. She stamped her feet and turned back to the room. Seeing that Si Niang gave the jewelry box to Cai Ge carelessly, she bit her lips and came forward to hug her unevenly: "Second Lady I have always cherished the second mother. How could she shorten her jewelry ring? But here, it's thanks to the old lady. It's just that the second lady treats you differently these days. The second mother is unwilling to make an excuse for missing jewelry. Well, I guess it has been borrowed and not paid back.

Siniang crooked on the hidden pillow and looked up at Cai Wei. Seeing the maid's angry appearance, she couldn't help laughing: "Little miser, look at your money fascination. I blushed for you. Although the jewelry my mother gave me is good, it is really too valuable for me. In the little girl's family, this golden jade looks old. ANG, the second sister is fast and often socializes with those noble girls. Of course, she needs makeup more than me. She and I are originally sisters. What's there to care about?

Cai Wei was unwilling to say, "Four Niang, you are broad-hearted, but Er Niang doesn't think so. How can you look like being a sister? Listen to her sarcasm just now... This time, the second lady was banned, and the fourth lady pleaded in front of the old lady, and then you solved it in advance. That's why she made love with you a little. , Er Niang can't do anything, but my wife still treats her like that. What's so jealous and warm-hearted? It's really..."

"I can't stop talking!" Hearing this, Si Niang's face changed color and sat up slightly: "Grandmother didn't mean it. It was nothing more than restraining her mother's nature. As her birthday was approaching, she intended to relieve her mother's ban. I just took a step. What's the credit? It was my grandmother's pity and said good words for me in front of my mother, which made my mother love me a little more. I grew up in front of my grandmother. Naturally, I was not as happy as my second sister who was younger than my mother's knees. But after all, she and the second sister are blood relatives. The second sister is so temperamental, but she has no bad intentions. It's just others. You are by my side. How can you learn from those broken-mouthed people to provoke discord? Do you know what's wrong?

Cai Wei curled her lips aggrievedly and saw that the little master's face was full of solemnity and swept away the past peace, and then she knelt down: "I know what's wrong."

Siniang also knew that she was a little dissatisfied in her heart, and sighed slightly: "The second sister has been too spoiled by her mother since she was a child, so she can be domineering and not like her grandmother. Those servants are also a little careless to the second sister because their mother is not a boudoir. She is more and more unwilling. Because of my grandmother's pity, I haven't suffered any hardship. In this case, it's also smoother than my second sister's life. I used to be more modesty and take care of her. It's okay for others. Only you also have a pair of rich and noble eyes. Just because of your mother's identity, you look down on the second sister and don't treat her as a master?

In these words, not only Cai Wei, but also several big maids in the room changed their colors and knelt down together: "The maidservants dare not."

Cai Wei was so anxious that her eyes were full of tears: "I know my mistakes, but I am not right about the fourth mother, and I have no choice, but I dare not think like that."

Si Niang just eased her expression: "Get up, just remember it in the future. These confused words must not be said again."

The maids just sighed and got up from the ground, but heard the little maid in the corridor report outside the curtain: "Three Niang is here."

Cai Wei quickly wiped the tears on her face and greeted each other with a smile, but Si Niang frowned slightly and guessed San Niang's intention.

Sanniang came to ask about the gift Si Niang had prepared for the eldest princess. When she heard that it was a word, she smiled gently: "Has the fourth sister ever asked what the fifth sister had prepared?"

Siniang didn't care: "What's the use of this?"

"The fourth sister is really confused. In previous years, the gift prepared by the fifth sister was either a word or a painting. If it is a painting this time, it will be fine, but if it is also a calligraphy, how can the fourth sister compare with her?"

On the birthday of the eldest princess, the gifts of the little ladies are naturally not those gold and silver vulgar things. They are all doing their best, or a calligraphy and painting, or embroidery. Among you, the calligraphy and painting of the beautiful scenery is the best. The fourth mother is the second. Although Sanniang is not willing to be famous as a "talented woman", she is also diligent when she is young, she is not talented after all. Knowing that he had fallen behind in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, he found another way and practiced a clever embroidery skill.

This birthday ceremony, Sanniang naturally prepared carefully. She wanted to embroider a rich brocade, but she heard that the eldest sister Yichen had just prepared a six embroidered skirt, so it was difficult to climb over the eldest sister's limelight and prepared a pair of forehead, but she wasted some thoughts on the needle line.

She didn't ask what beautiful scenery had prepared at all - the girl is not good at female red, nothing more than poetry, or calligraphy or painting. If it comes to commen, it is also in line with Si Niang and Liu Niang, which has nothing to do with her.

But Sanniang still didn't want to let Yijing lead alone**, so she came to remind Si Niang. Liu Niang's temperament was cold. During this period of time, she and Yijing were hot again, and she did not dare to go to Liu Niang to make trouble.

But as soon as Sanniang's words came out, Si Niang knew her intention, but she smiled lightly: "Grandma's birthday, our gift is just dedicated. There is no need to win or lose."

Sanniang's bad idea was full of choking. Naturally, she was unwilling. She squinted at the corners of her eyes and was actually charming: "In fact, according to my opinion, the literary talent of the fourth sister is no less than that of the fifth sister, but she has been more popular with her grandmother since she was a child..."

"I don't know what the eighth sister has prepared?" Without waiting for Sanniang to finish speaking, Si Niang changed the topic.

"What else can she prepare? She is just copying scriptures every year, knowing that her grandmother is not a former Buddhist." Sanniang is very contemptuous of Ba Niang.

"I guess the sixth sister must have written a poem. These days, she is either sitting in a daze or reading words. The previous one came to me and sat here for a while. I don't know what triggered her inspiration and left. She didn't even have time to say a greeting. I shouted at her a few times in the back, but I was unconscious. I felt good. Qi, I don't know what good works the sixth sister can write this year. Seeing that Ba Niang was mentioned, she actually attracted San Niang's gossip again. In desperation, Si Niang had to change the topic again.

Sure enough, San Niang did not dare to say anything bad about Huang's direct daughter. She only shook her head and smiled and said, "The sixth sister is the most dedicated to poetry and calligraphy, and she is a little obsessed."

Si Niang said some more about Liu Niang's past "idiot" and gradually took the topic further and further.

Sanniang wanted to talk about the beauty several times, but she couldn't find a needle. She also realized that Si Niang was perfunctory, and the attentiveness on her face gradually faded. She felt bored and wanted to say goodbye, but Cai Wei came to report that Dongyu was coming to send a message.

"Why are you here? Since I went to Luqingyuan, I was busier than in my big brother's yard, and I didn't see you come to visit my Yantingyuan. Sanniang was grateful for Mother Song's kindness. When she waited for Dongyu, she was very intimate. She took her hand and looked at her, and there was a deep meaning in her smile: "But the fifth sister has a difficult heart, which makes you so busy that you can't get rid of it."

This seems to be just a joke.

Siniang just doesn't listen to it.

Dongyu was frightened: "Sanniang, don't misunderstand Wu Niang. Originally, it was a maidservant who went there, and many of them were asked by Wu Niang to specialize in the affairs of the study. San Niang also knew that Wu Niang has a lot of books, and the maidservant had to be familiar with them, so she couldn't get rid of it. The fifth maidservant is extremely important to treat me." Fearing that Sanniang would say that Wu Niang was wrong and cause trouble to herself, Dongyu hurriedly reported the business: "Wuniang was in Zhilanxuan earlier to discuss with Ba Niang and the aunt about the talent banquet of her husband's life. The old lady asked me to run an errand and invited Er Niang and Si Niang to go there."

As soon as the words fell, she saw Sanniang's face sink. Dongyu explained again, "The old lady asked Sister Yuzhi to invite Dalang and Erlang, and asked Sister Lahui to make a special trip to invite Sanniang and Liuniang. Unexpectedly, Sanniang was together with Si Niang. Sister Lahui seemed to have to go for nothing."

When I heard that I was not excluded and ignored, Sanniang turned her anger into joy and looked at Dongyu: "If it's really a good person, I'm really a red-eyed fifth sister, and I have you to wait by my side."

Dongyu quickly blessed himself: "San Niang is flattered. I'm the most stupid. How can I bear such love?" I secretly disdained myself: I was just a maidservant. In the past, I didn't dare to say anything more in front of the Duke's wife, the aunt and the sixth mother, but I had the courage to argue with the fifth mother, which was really funny.

Sanniang didn't know the "sincere" in Dongyu's intestines, and took her hand for a good praise. Si Niang was impatient to hear it, so she said, don't let the sisters wait for a long time, it's better to go to Zhilanxuan quickly.

In Zhilanxuan, Dalang Erlang has arrived, and now there is a heated discussion.

It turned out that since she learned the true face of Zhen Si Niang and thought about it for a long time, she had one or two countermeasures. Thinking that at the birthday banquet of her grandmother in her previous life, the eldest brother offered a kite, and Zhen Siniang showed the "pin" with a pipa and won the admiration of her eldest brother, so this life , we should avoid Zhen Siniang coming here. Before revealing her face, we must not let the eldest brother move first.

Therefore, Yijing went to find Yichen early in the morning and discussed her grandmother's birthday banquet. It was impossible for their brothers and sisters to work together to rehearse a song to celebrate their grandmother's birthday.

In this way, even if Zhen Si Niang is brazen, it is not easy to hold the pipa to join the ensemble of several brothers and sisters in the Duke of Wei. Naturally, she avoids the good words of the talented and beautiful woman. As for the talent prepared by Zhen Si Niang herself... Of course, there is another plan, and she is not taught to be outstanding at the birthday banquet.

As long as the eldest brother is not convinced by Zhen Si Niang's talent, and then reveals her romantic affairs, in this life, the eldest brother's marriage will change, and he will not repeat the tragedy and be involved in the assassination of the prince.

In fact, the matter did not need to be so complicated. Beautiful scenery affirmed that when the grandmother learned that Zhen Si Niang had an affair with the prince, she would not agree to marry the Zhen family. However, if the eldest brother had first fell in love with Zhen Si, she would inevitably feel sad. Beautiful scenery could not bear the eldest brother's regret for such a woman, which would affect the future well-being.

Therefore, it must be cut off from the root.

Originally, she thought of making some conspiracy to make a fool of Zhen Si Niang's appearance at the banquet. On the one hand, this matter is quite difficult. If there is negligence, she is afraid of being self-defeating. On the other hand, it is the banquet in her own house and her grandmother's birthday. If there is a disturbance, it is really a little disappointing. After thinking about it for many days, the beautiful scenery came up with the best of both world. The method.

Hands and bones work together, which can not only show talent and give a surprise to grandma, but also avoid the story of the eldest brother and Zhen Si Niang.

As soon as this proposal was put forward, Yichen greatly agreed.

Among the sisters, Fuqin Shu Wu Niang and Liu Niang are the best. Although beautiful Chen is also slightly familiar with each other, she is not very good at it. She is only good at blue flute, but it is slightly thin when displayed in public. Er Niang is even more sparse in all four skills, and she can do the same. She has taken advantage of the opportunity to escape from the second time. San Niang competed with beautiful scenery everywhere before, and has a lot about the three arts of piano, calligraphy and painting. It is attainable, but it is still a little far away from the beautiful scenery, so she does not want to compare with the beautiful scenery here; Si Niang is best at calligraphy and games, and the musical instruments are only ordinary; Ba Niang's Qinzheng is excellent, but she is timid and shy, and her performance on the spot is always not as good as usual.

Therefore, when you listen to the proposal of the ensemble, they all feel feasible, even if the second mother is not picky - she can fill it up the number and muddle through it twice, so as not to find an excuse to avoid it.

Sanniang only thinks that in this way, the scenery can't be unique, and naturally she will not object.

Si Niang has always been easy-going and has no objection.

Liu Niang only felt that this point was novel and elegant, but she swept away the cold and lonely temperament of the past, and excitedly proposed the song "Qiongtai Banquet" composed by Mr. Wei. The tune is light and festive, suitable for everyone to play.

Su Xing and Su Wei are also very much in favor of them.

After discussion, it was settled. Su Xing and Ba Niang stroked the kite, Yi Jing and Liu Niang stroked the piano, Yi Chen played the flute, Su Yi played the flute, San Niang played the pipa, Si Niang combined with the brocade, and Er Niang hit the bow.

The ladies and gentlemen of the Duke of Wei worked together and rehearsed a multi-person ensemble Qiongtai Banquet in just two days.

In a blink of an eye, on the fifth day of July, when the eldest princess was 55 years old, all the little women got up and dressed up. At the beginning of Chen, they gathered together with Ruiyuan. With the Duke and his wife of Wei and the second master Su Ke couple, they went to Yuanyingtang to celebrate their birthday.

Guests would not come so early, but Yuanying Hall has been surrounded by colorful flags and clusters of flowers. The eldest princess sat on the Luohan bed of Mingtang and firmly kowtowed. Looking at the children and grandchildren full of the hall and their happiness, she felt a lot in her heart.

The only regret is that the person who agreed to be of the same heart is no longer there.

He hasn't turned white, and he has left.

Although her heart is sad, the eldest princess is a heroine who once galloped on the battlefield. Naturally, she will not appear mourn on her face, make her descendants worried, and receive congratulations with a smile on her face. Her descendants wrapped around her knees, and her family and her family ate breakfast beautifully.

When the elders offer gifts, it is the younger generation's turn.

When the scenery took out the forehead, the most surprised person was not the eldest princess, but the Sanniang - she never thought that the scenery was preparing a female red! And like her, it's all a gift!

What a slippery girl must have inquired about the congratulatory gift she had prepared. She was embarrassed. San Niang had a stiff smile on her face, her fists clenched tightly in her red sleeves, and secretly gritted her teeth.

Yijing saw Sanniang's gift earlier, but in fact, she also secretly complained. If she returned it to others, it was Sanniang... The gods learned from each other, she didn't mean it... Yijing handed a smiling face to Sanniang with apologetically, which fell into Sanniang's eyes. Naturally, she became a show of power and almost pinched her palms, and bleed. I resisted the impulse to ridicul.

As soon as Huang saw the beautiful scenery, he had already stared at San Niang and warned her not to be impulsive.

Sanniang lowered her head with difficulty.

When the second mother saw this situation, she was immediately overgrily and hurried forward to "make fun": "Ouch! The third sister and the fifth sister are really familiar, but the fifth sister has always not liked female red, but look at this forehead embroidery, although it is not as complicated as the third sister, it is also good. When will the fifth sister's craftsmanship be so coincidental? Isn't it a fake hand?"

Yi Chen, Yi Jing and Si Niang lamented: The second sister's ability to add fuel to the fire and disapult is really... increasing with age.

Li still didn't realize it, but suddenly felt two cold eyes. He turned his head and saw his husband's handsome face tightly, staring at him indifferently. His good mood suddenly disappeared, and he also raised his willow eyebrows and stared back at Su Ke: What's crazy? I didn't say a word. Did I do something wrong again? What's wrong? I didn't realize that my daughter was useless.

The eldest princess glanced at Er Niang lightly, but did not want to blame her. She only smiled at beautiful scenery and said, "You will be lazy. This phoenix embroidery is too simple. It's not as good as the three girls to be careful."

When Sanniang heard this, she felt a little better. She proudly glanced at the beautiful scenery and said to herself that you were self-defeating this time. How dare you show off with your celebrity?

"Grandma, you know that your granddaughter is clumsy, how can you compare with the skillful hand of the third sister?" Naturally, the scenery doesn't care.

The eldest princess was also worried that Sanniang's eyes were small-minded. If she praised the scenery, she might complain more. This eased a sentence, but she really couldn't put down her love for the beauty scene. Although the pattern is simple, it is very aura, and the color matching is also suitable for her preferences. It can be seen that she wasted her mind. Thinking that her granddaughter, who used not like red, was embroidered with a needle and a thread, her heart was even warmer. Even if she asked Mother Song to change it on her forehead: "The one embroidered by Sanniang is better than the gorgeous pattern. It is very appropriate to wear a dress when entering the palace. Today, it is more appropriate to bring Jinger."

He praised several other granddaughters and had fun with Huang and Mother Song. For a while, the main hall was full of laughter and joy.

It was not until the beginning of Si, when Su Yi, Duke of Wei, and Su Ke, the second master, went to the front yard to treat guests, and Huang and Li were also busy welcoming guests. Only a few little women still accompanied the eldest princess in the Yuanying Hall, waiting for the guests to come to the door.