Tian Minyan and Hui'an discussed the matter of Fengxiang Jewelry (later changed to Lao Fengxiang) branch. After the prototype began to take shape, the two started chatting.
"The year is coming soon. After the palace banquet, my father and I will return to Qingping, and we will have to rely on you to manage the branch." Tian Minyan said with a smile.
Hui'an sighed: "It will be great if you and your family can move to Kyoto at some point. When Wen Wenwen comes too, we can meet often for tea in the future."
"Wen Wenwen should have given birth to a child and then come to Kyoto with her husband to study Chinese culture." Tian Minyan said with a smile.
Wen Wen's husband is a civil servant and did not become an official. Instead, he chose to continue studying to pass the Chunwei exam. I heard that he had secured a place in the Imperial College and would come to study in the near future. Wen Wen was pregnant and said that he would not give birth to a child in the future.
Come here, anyway, the Xu family also has a small yard in Kyoto.
"Hey, I feel comfortable being a girl. I'm afraid I won't be able to go to Qingzhou." Hui'an let out a long sigh.
Looking at her look, Tian Minyan knew that she was worried about her marriage, so she smiled and said, "You have to go through this. As long as the future county husband treats you well, it will be worth it."
She knew that Hui'an had just arranged a marriage, and the wedding date would be in May next year, which was a good day in early summer, and the person she was betrothed to was the Yao'er of a noble family in the Qing Dynasty, a real scholarly family, with the surname Sun.
The head of Hui'an County has a noble status, a rather aloof temperament, and is the only daughter in the family. She rarely engages in intrigues. Although she has several sisters-in-law to teach her, she is really reluctant to marry into a family where she has to work hard to take care of the family affairs.
The Sun family has a simple population, with only two sons. The eldest son, Sun Haizhong, has been married for a long time. He is serving as the sixth-rank governor of the imperial court and has sons. His sister-in-law is a virtuous and dignified person, and his parents-in-law are also kind. So is the younger son, Sun Haiyang.
He is a new scholar and is currently a fifth-rank scholar in the Hanlin Academy. He is a gentle and elegant scholar. The most important thing is that the Sun family has a family rule that a man can only take a concubine when he is thirty years old and has no children.
Therefore, the marriage chosen by the Wuning Marquis Mansion for the Lord of Hui'an County is the best one.
Hui'an County Lord's face turned red, he punched her in anger and said, "You are the only one who talks too much."
Tian Minyan chuckled and winked in a naughty way.
"I'm telling you, when I get married, you must come to me and give me a wedding gift." The head of Hui'an County said with a smile.
"I will definitely come." Tian Minyan responded with a smile.
After parting ways with Hui'an, Tian Minyan left and returned to Prince Xian's Mansion. Before she even entered the courtyard, she saw Aunt Tang beside Qi Shiqi leading several maids carrying trays towards her courtyard.
Tian Minyan stopped, and Nanny Tang had already come to her. She gave her a blessing, her round face smiled like a flower, and said: "Girl, the prince has asked his slaves to bring the dress and jewelry for the palace banquet."
Tian Minyan was a little surprised. She looked at the maids at the back, who were carrying trays in a hurry. The tops were covered with red silk, and she couldn't see what was under the trays.
"Thank you, Grandma Tang." Tian Minyan smiled and returned the gift.
"Girl, please go into the room and try on the dress to see if it fits. I can let you modify it." Nanny Tang said again.
Tian Minyan agreed, turned around and entered the house.
The palace banquet was held on the evening of the second day. After noon, Tian Minyan was served by several girls to bathe and change clothes. After more than a year of nourishment by the light, her hair is now black and smooth, and it looks much better than when she first came here.
.
"The girl's hair is really well maintained." Lan'er helped her twist her hair and praised it.
Tian Minyan smiled, glanced at Lan'er's black hair in the bronze mirror, and said, "It can't compare to Sister Lan'er."
"The girl is teasing my slave again." Lan'er said angrily, and took a dry cloth to wring out the half-dried hair. Repeated this several times, she picked up the ivory comb and combed it smooth, and said: "The girl is still young, today
How about I give my son a heart-shaped bun? It just goes with today’s clothes.”
"It's up to you." Tian Minyan followed her gaze and glanced at the gorgeous clothes hanging on the rack.
After more than an hour of combing her hair and bun, smoothing her face, makeup, and clothes, it was not until Qi Shiqi sent someone to remind her that Tian Minyan was able to put everything in order and follow the girl out.
Qi Shiqi was standing next to the carriage at the second door and was instructing Butler Song to do something. When he heard the sound, he turned around and his eyes suddenly lit up.
I saw Tian Minyan standing at the door, wearing a sunset haze purple damask Ruyi cloud pattern shirt on the upper body, a cloud-colored satin woven with colorful flowers and flying butterflies on the floor, and a pair of embroidered shoes with only the toe exposed, with inlaid inlays.
The thumb-sized pearls are very dazzling. She wears a simple peach heart bun with a large jade-inlaid ruby hairpin stuck in the center of the bun. A peach-pattern enamel-inlaid diamond hairpin hangs on her ears, and the temples are slanted.
There are several small and colorful emerald flowers inserted in the head. The green hair hangs down smoothly, and a pair of emerald drop earrings are looming in the blue hair.
She held her hands in front of her chest, and the corners of her mouth were slightly raised. The pink face with light makeup was more delicate and smooth, and her small mouth was pink, which was more attractive and natural than the big rouge, and her eyes were dark.
It is like a morning star, clear and pure, bright and bright, showing intelligence and intelligence.
Who says she is not a beauty? Just a pair of eyes make people unable to take their eyes away.
Qi Shiqi walked over, blinked, and said, "Sure enough, people rely on their clothes."
Tian Minyan's smile curled up slightly and she glared at him fiercely, "What? She is also very beautiful, okay?"
"Your Majesty is also very handsome today." Tian Minyan couldn't say anything in front of the servant, so she just replied with a slight smile.
But she also told the truth. He wore a purple robe embroidered with four-clawed dragons, an orange belt inlaid with rubies around his waist, a sachet and a mutton-fat jade pendant, and a pair of black moire-patterned pedals.
Wearing satin boots and a purple gold crown on his head, he looks handsome, elegant and noble.
"Get in the car, it's going to be late." Qi Shiqi smiled evilly.
Palace banquets have always been divided into male and female seats, and the envoy from Brunei came to visit, so naturally it was the same. It was just separated by a bamboo curtain, and the situation on both sides could be vaguely seen.
Tian Minyan's position was arranged at the last table, and she was not surprised. When she followed the palace people to her seat, she noticed that many eyes were on her, along with some comments.
"Look, that's where the cotton is grown."
"Isn't she just a village girl?"
"Looking at how she's dressed, she looks passable. After all, she lives in Prince Xian's Mansion."
"Hmph, the crow wants to become a phoenix. I have to stay away so that I don't get the earthy smell."
Tian Minyan lowered her eyes slightly, knelt on the ground, straightened her waist and remained motionless, as if she couldn't hear anything. Suddenly she felt a concerned look on her face. She looked around based on her feeling and saw that it was the Lord of Hui'an County. She couldn't help but smile.
, nodded.
Hui'an was positioned closer to the front, so she couldn't get over even if she wanted to, so she had to cast a worried look at her. Seeing Tian Minyan's calm and composed look, she felt a little relieved. This girl was smart.
Tian Minyan looked away and saw the woman next to Hui'an looking at her with complicated eyes. She was stunned for a moment. She was her love rival, Yao Yuying.
She seems to like plain-colored clothes, and I don’t know if plain-colored clothes make her look more elegant and unconventional, but she still wears a moon-white long brocade dress, with blooming plum blossoms embroidered with pink silk thread.
, all the way to Yingying's waist that cannot be grasped, covered with a light purple gauze dress, which is both elegant and luxurious.
Tian Minyan suddenly thought, isn't she cold? Although there is floor heating in this palace, such clothes are also very thin. It really makes herself look like a delicate beauty like Daiyu.
Tian Minyan withdrew her gaze from that stunning face. Although the beauty was beautiful, it was not the kind she liked. She was too delicate, like a glass doll. She didn't like it. It was too artificial and fake.
Yao Yuying bit her lip lightly, seeing Tian Minyan from a distance, the scene she just saw appeared in her mind.
She followed her mother to attend the palace banquet. At the palace gate, she saw the carriage of Prince Xian's palace. Prince Xian stood talking to Tian Minyan, and she didn't know what he was explaining. The soft and natural expression on his face was something she had never seen before.
Prince Xian, who has been here, has never spoken to her with such an expression.
Yao Yuying looked sadly to that side through the curtain, wanting to see that person, but she couldn't even see him, and she couldn't help but feel a little lost.
"Yuying, this is the palace, you can't lose your temper." Mrs. Yao frowned and scolded.
"Yes, mother." Yao Yuying immediately sat upright and straightened her waist. She is the most beautiful woman and a talented woman, and she cannot lose to anyone.
"The Emperor has arrived, the Queen has arrived."
At this moment, a high-pitched voice sang.
Swish, swish, swish, the sound of clothes rubbing against each other was heard, and everyone at the table stood up and knelt down again, shouting in unison: "Long live the emperor, long live the emperor, and the queen is a thousand years old."
"My lords are safe," the emperor said in a loud voice, "Today coincides with the envoy from Brunei coming to our southern country for a visit. I would like to take this opportunity to give him a palace banquet and enjoy it with all the officials."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."
"Leqi." The eunuch's voice sang again.
Seeing everyone sitting down one after another, Tian Minyan also sat down and frowned, with a calm expression. In an instant, the sound of strings and bamboos was heard, and a group of palace maids wearing pink palace clothes and buns were carrying trays with jade pots.
He shuttled between the banquets and poured drinks for guests.
When it was Tian Minyan's turn, a faint scent of osmanthus spread to the tip of her nose. It was slightly sweet. She thought that it must be a wine made from osmanthus. Just smelling it made people feel intoxicated.
Tian Minyan was alone, and no one was talking to her. She was content with herself, but she didn't know that every move she made was caught in her eyes.
Suddenly, there was a movement in the men's seat. Tian Minyan listened attentively and heard a rough voice saying: "Your Majesty, last year Brunei made a bet with Your Majesty. Now that one year has come, I wonder if the southern country can grow it."
Cotton? If not, our country, Brunei, is willing to sign a trade treaty with the Southern Kingdom, and the cotton will be sold to the country for one tael of silver per pound."
As soon as these words came out, the whole mat was extremely quiet. One tael of silver and one pound, why don't you go and grab it?
After hearing this, Tian Minyan moved her little finger and raised the corners of her lips slightly. One tael of silver was really a sky-high price, and even Brunei could talk.
"Your Majesty, it's just cotton. Why go all the way to Brunei to buy it? Envoy from Brunei, even a child in our southern country can grow this cotton. Our southern country has a vast land and abundant resources. If Brunei lacks cotton next year, our southern country will
I am willing to sell in bulk, and the price is not one tael, just nine hundred and ninety-nine yuan per catty." A male voice sounded in the quiet hall, Tian Minyan smiled slightly, the speaker was really interesting, but it was a pity that the envoy could not be seen.
What kind of expression is it? It must be very beautiful.
She was right. The envoy was indeed shocked and a little embarrassed, but he said: "Oh? Cotton is also grown in the South?" No, why didn't any news come out?
"Envoy from Brunei, we have so many talents in the south, why can't we grow cotton?" The person who spoke was Liang Hanting, the minister of Sinong Temple. His hands were arched, he looked at the emperor and said: "Your Majesty, I have no intention of offending Brunei.
Envoy, at the beginning of this year, Sinong Temple put down cotton seeds for trial planting, and cotton was grown at each test site. I sincerely request your majesty to approve the submission of cotton from our southern country to the envoy from Brunei. How is it different from the cotton from Brunei?
If there are any shortcomings, it is best to ask the envoy to give some pointers."
The emperor smiled, but there was no reason why he shouldn't have done it, so he immediately said: "What Ai Qing said makes sense, it's accurate."
Immediately afterwards, two young eunuchs came out with a tray in both hands and came directly to the envoy. Master Liang took the red silk and said, "Envoy, let's take a look, is this cotton?"
Do you still need to look at the snow-white soft flower balls? You don’t even need to verify them. The envoy’s face was a little stiff and he hadn’t spoken yet. Liang Siqing said again: “Envoy, this is woven from cotton by our Southern Country Qianwei Workshop.
I wonder how cotton cloth is different from Brunei cloth?"
The envoy's expression finally changed. He held up the cotton cloth with both hands and was shocked. Cotton was woven into cloth with a soft texture. This was a technology that Brunei did not have and had never expected.
When Tian Minyan heard it over there, she was also stunned. She never thought that Qi Shiqi would launch their Qianweifang in this way. This was really a good opportunity.
What she didn't know was that although there was cotton in Brunei, it was only used to make quilts, press oil, and make cotton clothes, but no one knew how to make it into cloth. All the silk cloth in Brunei was still sold in the south.
After the expression of the Brunei envoy changed a few times, he said with a stiff face: "The Great Southern Kingdom is indeed the largest country in the four states. It is full of talents and rich in knowledge. I, Brunei, admire it deeply, and its weaving technology is even more impressive.
Far out of reach.”
The emperor laughed and said: "The envoy is humble."
"Brother Imperial, please remember that this cotton was a bet. Now that Brunei has lost, should we implement the bet?" Qi Shiqi said indifferently at this time.
The expression of the envoy from Brunei changed slightly. Although he was unwilling to do so, he still wanted to follow through on the bet and cede the territory in return. The Prince of Brunei remained silent, so he stood up and said: "Your Majesty, Mr. Liang just said this.
Even a child can grow cotton, but I wonder who is so capable? I would like to ask you something."
It's so shameful that there is no news about cotton being grown in the South. Now it's not only embarrassing, but the land has to be cut off.
"The prince's words are serious. It is said that all the ministers who grow cotton came forward to see him." The emperor laughed happily.
