"Yanling has met the second sister." Zhang Yanling quickly stepped forward and saluted.
Empress Dowager Zhang hurriedly stretched out her hand to hold her, and said with a smile: "My family, you don't have to be like this. Let my sister take a look. Oh, I have lost weight and my beard has grown. Your daughters-in-law don't know how to help you take care of it."
His face was the color of frost and dust.”
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "Second sister, Yanling just came back from Nanjing. She just arrived in the capital this morning. How can she not be satisfied with the dust on her face? No wonder Wanyi Ruqing and the others are tired. They are all resting at home."
Empress Dowager Zhang said with a smile: "Hey, everyone knows how to protect their wives. Sister said a few words and immediately explained for them. It's not like the Ai family is blaming them. Look at you, little monkey."
Zhang Yanling also laughed, looking at the radiant look of Queen Mother Zhang, her face seemed to be shining, and her eyes were filled with happiness. Looking at the clothes Queen Mother Zhang was wearing, she realized that Queen Mother Zhang was wearing a long green dress.
.This is the color and style worn by girls and young women. When Queen Mother Zhang wears it, she does look young. But it is somewhat inconsistent with her status as Queen Mother.
"Sister seems to be in a good mood. How are you doing during this time?" Zhang Yanling asked with a smile.
Empress Dowager Zhang took Zhang Yanling and sat down at the table. While pouring tea for Zhang Yanling, she said with a smile: "What's so good? In this palace, just stare at these palace pavilions every day and kill time."
Zhang Yanling said: "That's right, leisure is comfortable, but it kills one's temper. Sister can find something to do. For example, learn to play the piano, learn to paint, read some books, plant flowers and grass, etc. If not,
I asked Ruqing to come into the palace to teach you the art of orpiment, and it would also be good to learn medical skills."
Empress Dowager Zhang smiled and said: "That's all, isn't that more energy-consuming? The Ai family is old and can't learn these things. Growing vegetables is pretty much the same. But the emperor said last time that I grow vegetables in the palace, and others don't.
They thought that he lacked service and it would be unpleasant to spread the news. The Ai family thought that was the case, so they stopped planting any more seeds."
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "How can anyone say that? The emperor is also very lenient. If the second sister feels depressed, I will often bring my daughter-in-law into the palace to see you."
Empress Dowager Zhang waved her hands and said: "Farewell, you are now the Duke of the country and have great responsibilities. There are so many big things to do. How can you waste your time on these things? As long as you and your brother are well in the Ai family, the more you do, the more you will do.
The older you get, the more comfortable your life will be. The Ai family is also used to it in this palace. It is indeed a bit depressing to feel depressed, but it is also... but it is also content with itself. "
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "It's my brother who didn't take good care of my second sister. It's been six years since my brother-in-law passed away. In these six years, I was busy with some of my own things and didn't take enough care of my sister. I'm really sorry. If my brother-in-law was here,
How could I let my second sister feel so depressed..."
Empress Dowager Zhang's face changed, and she waved her hands and said: "It's too late to mention the late Emperor. It makes me sad to mention him. He has been dead for several years, so there is no need to mention it."
Zhang Yanling was a little puzzled. In the past, when she met Empress Dowager Zhang, Empress Dowager Zhang would take the initiative to recall the previous time. Today, she actually didn't let her mention it. In the past, she told her not to mention it, but today she took the initiative to say so.
"That's right, let's not mention this matter. By the way, when I came in just now, the female official stopped me and refused to let me in. What's going on? Are there new rules in the palace?" Zhang Yanling said.
Empress Dowager Zhang hurriedly smiled and said: "Oh, it's not a rule. It's just... to prevent other people from coming in."
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "Any idler who dares to enter the Queen Mother's palace is seeking death."
Empress Dowager Zhang said: "Brother, you really have a lot to do. Wouldn't it be better to be stricter in the palace? Who knows if there are any remnants of Liu Jin's servant still in the palace?"
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "This is true. It should be stricter."
Zhang Yanling looked at the Queen Mother Zhang with a smile, and the Queen Mother Zhang said: "Why are you laughing? You don't drink tea yet? This is Mingqian tea. I got it newly."
Zhang Yanling said: "Second sister, you didn't pay much attention to Mingqian tea and Minghou tea before. You don't even like drinking tea. Why are you so particular now? Mingqian tea is worth a lot of money."
Empress Dowager Zhang feigned anger and said, "You can drink it or not. If you don't, I'll pour it out."
Zhang Yanling hurriedly smiled and raised his glass and said: "Drink, I'll just drink it. Wouldn't it be a pity if I poured it down."
Zhang Yanling took a sip, and it was really fragrant and tasted very good. She nodded a few words of praise. Empress Dowager Zhang smiled and said: "It tastes good, right? I just discovered that there are so many things to pay attention to in tea. No wonder you men have to drink good tea. It turns out
What a pleasure.”
Zhang Yanling laughed and saw a jade pendant tied around Queen Mother Zhang's waist. She was very surprised. So she laughed and said, "Second Sister, that jade pendant looks good."
Queen Mother Zhang was stunned, and quickly stuffed the jade pendant into her waist and said: "It's just an ordinary jade pendant."
Zhang Yanling said: "The jade pendant is worn by men. Why does the second sister wear a jade pendant? Give it to me as a reward."
Empress Dowager Zhang hurriedly said: "No."
Zhang Yanling said: "Why? My second sister won't refuse anything I want. It's just a jade pendant."
Empress Dowager Zhang frowned and said: "This is just an ordinary jade pendant, and it's not valuable. If you want to reward it, give it a good one. Let's go back to the inner treasury to look for it and reward you with a good one. This one won't work. This is what the Ai family likes."
Zhang Yanling smiled bitterly and said: "When did the second sister become so stingy?"
Empress Dowager Zhang reached out and hit Zhang Yanling on the forehead, and said angrily: "Bastard little monkey, when did my sister become stingy to you? How do you know your sister is treating you?"
Zhang Yanling apologized and said with a smile: "It's just a joke. The second sister treats me better than anyone else in the world. Yanling understands very well."
Queen Mother Zhang smiled and said: "You still have a conscience."
Zhang Yanling stood up and walked to the inner room. Empress Dowager Zhang hurriedly followed behind and said: "Why are you walking around? I was resting just now, and the bed was not made yet, so you came here and made a mess. What's there to see?"
Zhang Yanling stared at a folding fan on the desk with a long tassel on it. Empress Dowager Zhang saw Zhang Yanling staring at the folding fan and was about to step forward to put it away when Zhang Yanling grabbed it first.
"This fan is good. When did the second sister use a men's folding fan? This is not my brother-in-law's. It looks very elegant." Zhang Yanling looked at the fan over and over.
"Give it to me." Queen Mother Zhang shouted.
"Please reward me. The words on this fan are well written. Empathy, eh, good words. I don't know which famous artist wrote it." Zhang Yanling looked at the fan over and over.
Queen Mother Zhang's face turned red and she reached out to grab it. Zhang Yanling retracted her hand and Queen Mother Zhang grabbed the edge of the fan. There was a sharp sound and the paper fan was torn into two pieces.
"Ouch! It's ruined! I'm sorry." Zhang Yanling said in shock.
Empress Dowager Zhang's face was red, her chest was heaving and she looked at Zhang Yanling and said: "Brother, you are too naughty. You are not young anymore. Why are you still so naughty? This fan... this fan... was ruined by you."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "I'm sorry. This is not a good fan. Later I will give the second sister an ivory fan. It is much better than this. You can buy a lot of such fans on the street for one tael of silver."
."
Queen Mother Zhang said coldly: "Who cares? Why don't you give me the fan?"
Zhang Yanling threw the broken fan on the case with a playful smile and said with a smile: "Second sister, there is no need to be angry about this. I broke your precious cloisonné vase before, and you didn't say anything. It's just a fan."
Empress Dowager Zhang frowned and said: "I'm not angry. I'm a little tired. My little brother, you go back first. In a few days, you will bring your wife and children to the palace, and we will have a family dinner."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Second sister, will you drive me away?"
Empress Dowager Zhang frowned and said: "You little monkey, what are you talking about? My head hurts a little. You go back first and come back tomorrow. Will my sister drive you away because of a fan?"
Zhang Yanling looked at Queen Mother Zhang, her eyes full of concern. She said softly: "Second sister, you are the best person to me, and you are my relative. Yanling's feelings for you are absolutely not false. An elder sister is like a mother.
In my heart, you are like a mother. You are more important than anyone else. If Yan Ling offends you, just beat and scold you, but don’t let it develop. If you have any concerns, you can tell Yan Ling,
Trillium is always on your side."
Empress Dowager Zhang laughed and stepped forward and said: "Brother, with your words, my sister feels at ease. How can we have any grudges in our family? How can I not know that you respect your sister and treat me well? I am the same."
If anyone dares to treat you badly, sister, I will protect you at all costs. Don’t think twice."
Zhang Yanling nodded and smiled: "That's good. Since the second sister is unwell, Yanling will leave first. I'm also a little tired, so I'll go home and have a good sleep."
Empress Dowager Zhang smiled and nodded, stretched out her hand to pull off the jade pendant from her waist and handed it to Zhang Yanling: "If you like it, just take it. It's just a jade pendant."
Zhang Yanling laughed, waved her hand and said: "A gentleman does not take away people's love. Besides, this jade pendant is so ordinary, I really don't like it. I'm leaving."
Empress Dowager Zhang took back the jade pendant and said angrily: "Little monkey, don't take it if you don't want it, and you still want to talk ugly. Go ahead."
Zhang Yanling bowed and walked out the door. Empress Dowager Zhang stood thoughtfully and watched Zhang Yanling go to the door. Suddenly Zhang Yanling stopped and turned around, smiling at Empress Dowager Zhang.
"Sister, I have something to ask you."
"What?" Queen Mother Zhang asked, tilting her head.
"The parrot on the porch is ugly and likes to scream strangely. It almost scared me just now. Second sister had better kill it to avoid... lest it scare others." Zhang Yanling said softly.
Queen Mother Zhang was stunned. Zhang Yanling had already turned around the screen and walked out quickly.