Author: Willow leaves in winter

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, hundreds of officials and nobles come to pay New Year's greetings to the Emperor and attend a grand banquet. And the female family members who have official duties will also go to the palace to congratulate and pay New Year's greetings to the Queen Mother and Queen.

The queen has been missing for a long time, and the master of the harem has always been vacant. Besides the queen mother, the foreign concubine asked to worship the concubine who took care of the harem, so she could not be the queen mother.

The eldest princess of Zhaoyang, Mingyue, naturally asked to enter the palace for the banquet.

"Thank you, Queen Mother." The Queen Mother said perfunctorily, and Princess Zhaoyang also answered perfunctorily.

No matter how clear Princess Zhaoyang was about Bu Nao, the Queen Mother would just say it casually.

Xu Ke saw that her son was in a bad mood, so the Queen Mother wanted to liven up the atmosphere and had a lively conversation: "The Ai family heard that there is a bandit girl who looks very similar to Zhaoyang?"

As soon as those words came out, Emperor Xingyuan looked over, Princess Zhaoyang looked over, and even Concubine Shu looked over.

The Queen Mother was puzzled: "What?"

"Two months ago, Heyuan hosted a banquet for benevolent people from Beijing who donated money to the disaster area in Dingbei. My son went there and met Miss Kou."

"Oh, the Ai family has heard that the Kou girl donated fifty thousand taels." The Queen Mother said calmly.

Princess Zhaoyang saw this, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

My mother cares about people's money so much.

"Emperor, does Miss Kou really look like Zhaoyang?" The Queen Mother's interest was obviously there, not donating money.

Emperor Xingyuan glanced at Princess Zhaoyang and nodded with a smile: "Fu looks a bit like Zhaoyang."

In fact, it's more like him, but otherwise it would be too strange for him to say that.

"Ming Yuewai ordered the woman to come to the palace to congratulate her, and asked her parents to bring her to show the Ai family."

The eldest princess Zhaoyang couldn't help but said: "Do those who enter the palace in Mingyue have low grades and bad fate? Isn't it appropriate for a little girl like her to enter the palace?"

It may seem nice to go to the palace to pay homage, but the married women get up in the middle of the night to dress up and go out after playing the drums. They will suffer a lot after all the trouble.

However, foreign married women who enter the palace have a destiny and have the opportunity to socialize. This kind of situation is very good for them. But Miss Kou is just a little girl, and her mother has entered the palace in an ordinary environment.

What are the benefits?

It's just a matter of suffering. If you cause any displeasure, it will be a disaster.

The Queen Mother glanced at her daughter: "The Ai family thinks it's appropriate. Are there many people who know how to gossip?"

"My daughter doesn't agree with that." Princess Zhaoyang lowered her eyes patiently.

Emperor Xingyuan saw that the atmosphere between his mother and his sister was not good, so he went to smooth things over: "It's really not a big deal. Since my mother wants to see Miss Kou, Mingyue will send someone to Shaoqing's Mansion early in the morning to say no."

The eldest princess Zhaoyang gave her brother a sideways look, not wanting to say anything else.

Concubine Shu smiled and said, "I'm sure Miss Kou has heard about it. I heard that Miss Kou moved out from her maternal grandfather's house and opened a bookstore. The business of the bookstore is very good. People praise Miss Kou for being a business genius."

When the Queen Mother heard this, a look of disgust flashed in her eyes, and she said calmly: "Then the Ai family are even more curious."

Concubine Shu curved her lips.

Princess Zhaoyang's eyes turned cold.

The emperor's sister-in-law has outstanding abilities and is not inferior to men, but she has a low-brow and submissive temperament. The queen mother does not like the emperor's sister-in-law, and she also dislikes capable girls. Concubine Shu's words sounded like she was praising Miss Kou, but in fact she was digging for Miss Kou.

pit.

When did Miss Kou offend Concubine Shu?

Could it be that because Prince Guchangbo was punished and could not do anything to her, he took his anger out on Miss Kou?

Princess Zhaoyang thought about it and decided that Mingyue would protect Miss Kou well.

Over at Shaoqing's Mansion, it was very dark, so the old lady got up.

In the entire Shaoqing's Mansion, only the old lady and Duan Shaoqing were eligible to enter the palace to pay their respects.

Fortunately, the old lady felt much less tired now that she was older. Although she spent much of the night fussing about dressing up, she didn't feel too uncomfortable or a little confused.

That confusion was completely awakened when I received the previous report.

Someone from the palace sent a message, asking the old lady to bring Miss Kou into the palace together.

"Quickly go to Wanqingju to deliver a message to my cousin!" the old lady hurriedly ordered.

That incident was too sudden. It would be a big deal if it delayed the time of entering the palace.

Xin You was awakened by the urgent call.

"Girl, wake up quickly."

Xin You opened her eyes and immediately started walking: "What's wrong?"

Xiaolian was also confused: "Tell me if you can go to the palace with the old lady to congratulate me."

The sleepiness disappeared from Xin You's eyes, and she turned over on the bed: "Take a set of imperial red skirts and coats, a gold hairpin inlaid with rubies, and there is no need to prepare other jewelry..."

While I was cleaning up, someone came from the Ruyi Hall to urge me, fearing that I would be delayed in leaving the house.

Xin You dressed up well, tied in a red cloak with flowers, and went to Ruyi Hall.

The old lady had just finished packing, and when she saw Xin You coming in, she looked at Dongdong carefully and breathed a sigh of relief: "It's pretty good. Why don't you even wear an earring?"

"If I wear it too much, I'm afraid it won't fit properly."

The old lady didn't even think about it. A young girl who has not yet left the palace does not need to have a head full of pearls. A gold hairpin is enough.

"Come on. When you get to the palace, don't look at things you shouldn't see, and don't say things you shouldn't say..."

The door of Shaoqing's Mansion opened, and firecrackers crackled, bringing the joy of the New Year.

Xin You got on the sedan chair with the old lady, sounded the gong to clear the way, and headed to the palace.

When we arrived at the imperial city, it was not dark, but the palace city was decorated with lights and colorful carriages and horses everywhere, making it no different from the red moon.

All civil and military officials congratulated him in the front hall, while his wife went to the harem.

Along the way, Xin You received countless surprised looks.

Others were shocked. Among the married ladies who were all wearing court clothes, the girl in ordinary clothes really stood out.

The ladies exchanged glances frequently, discussing in low voices why a little girl had slipped into the group of royal ladies.

Then what about the Kou girl who donated 50,000 taels of silver?

After knowing the girl's identity, the ladies' expressions became more complicated.

Although the old saying goes that money can make all the difference, but that’s not the case for the royal family, right?

Jie Donglai followed the ritual and paid New Year greetings to the Queen Mother and Concubine Shu. When the banquet started, the ladies took off their coughs for a while and had a good discussion under the cover of singing, dancing and music.

"Is Mrs. Duan, the Young Minister of Taipu Temple, here?" The Queen Mother walked at the head, her eyes scanning eastward.

The ladies holding chopsticks paused and their whispers stopped.

The palace attendant went to the side and said, "Reporting to the Queen Mother, Mrs. Duan's banquet is at the entrance of the main hall."

Those of the fifth rank in Beijing are eligible to enter the palace to pay their respects on the New Year's Day. If Duan Shaoqing is not a fourth-rank official, the old lady will be a fourth-rank official. It is good that she has not gone outside the main hall.

"Please ask Madam Duan to bring her granddaughter here," the Queen Mother said.

Following the report from the palace, the old lady took Xinyou step by step from the palace gate to the innermost part of the hall, and bowed down excitedly: "I have met the Queen Mother, and I wish the Queen Mother all the best."

In previous years, during the first day of greetings, the Queen Mother would also talk to some ladies, but she was so quick to walk outside the main hall, not to mention the Zhiwanghui, but it would be nice to see the Queen Mother's face clearly.

Will I benefit from my granddaughter next year?

"Old madam, there is no need to be polite." The Queen Mother said that the old madam was not interested, and her eyes fell on Xin You, "Then, how about Miss Kou? Raise your head and let the Ai family take a look."
Chapter completed!