Mountains and rivers pray for peace

Chapter 8 Confrontation before the banquet
In the Zilan Pavilion of Ningguo Duke's Mansion, a group of women came in and out, and it was very lively.

Huo Qinglan was trying on the new clothes that had just been delivered to her. This dress was custom-made by Jing Niang, the most outstanding embroiderer in Fengxiu Zhuang in the capital, in order to show off her style at the Qiuju Banquet.

"Second miss is slender, and she looks good in everything she wears. I don't think I can find many of you in this huge capital." The one who spoke was Xiu Niangjing who had just delivered the new clothes. mother.

Jing Niang specializes in the business of official women, so she has also developed a good ability to pick up beautiful words.

After all, who doesn't like to hear a good word?
The Qi family next to him heard the words, pretending to be modest and said: "Where is Jing Niang who said so well, it's all because of your well-made clothes, and your craftsmanship will be indispensable in the future." Chunxiang paid the reward and sent the embroiderer away.

In a blink of an eye, only mother and daughter Qi were left in the house.

Mrs. Qi glanced at Huo Qinglan from top to bottom, covered her mouth and said with a smile: "Our second wife can also go to this autumn chrysanthemum banquet. This time the palace banquet is full of princes and nobles. If you go in this dress, you will definitely be able to go." Make them look straight."

Qi's heart has always been brooding about the fact that the eldest house dominates the second house, and that her husband is not up to date, so she turned her attention to her children, hoping that Huo Qinglan would catch a wealthy son-in-law, and that Huo Chi would make great contributions in becoming an official and earn a son-in-law. Order Madam to give her Dangdang, so that she can feel proud in the circle of noble ladies in the capital.

"Mother, it's fine for me to talk about it in Zilanxuan, and it won't make people laugh if it spreads." Huo Qinglan changed a pearl hairpin on her head, feeling a little helpless.

"As a mother, can't you say some respectful words to your daughter? Your brother has offended others this time. I just hope that you will find a good husband and help me regain some face.

I think the son of Mr. Liu, the Minister of Civil Affairs, is a good one.Last time I met Mrs. Liu for tea, she was also quite satisfied with you.

This Qiu Ju Banquet is a good opportunity to meet each other. If you can win Mr. Liu's favor, you can help your brother in the future. "Ms. Qi was a little dissatisfied with her daughter's words and said angrily.

"Mother, I know what's in my heart, don't worry." Huo Qinglan's eyes darkened, and her tone was a little impatient.

Huo Qinglan looked as usual, but her heart was as cold as ice.

In fact, according to the family background of the second brother of the Huo family, he could not reach a family like Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

The reason why the Qi family dared to pursue this idea was simply because Liu Fanghua, the son of the Minister of Civil Affairs, was so well-known that no one from a slightly well-established family was willing to get married to him.

Liu Fang was an out-and-out lustful person who had taken in a whole house of concubines before he was even a young man.That's all, once he was in a bad mood and actually beat to death a concubine in the house.

This matter was widely circulated in the capital, but all her mother thought was to use her marriage as a stepping stone for her brother, so why did she care about her feelings?
She squeezed her fists and looked at herself in the mirror.Without her parents to make plans for her, and now that her brother is not up to par, she can only earn her future by going to the Qiuju Banquet by herself.

As long as she can be liked by Yuan Shao, she can get rid of this muddy home.

A few days passed in a blink of an eye, and the autumn chrysanthemum banquet in the palace finally arrived after several autumn rains.

The Chrysanthemum Banquet is the most important palace banquet of the year in Daqi. On the fifth day of the ninth lunar month, the emperor invites all his ministers to enjoy the chrysanthemum together to show the emperor's closeness to his ministers.

The Qiuju Banquet allows ministers to bring their families, so every year the Qiuju Banquet will gather young ladies from each family, and there will even be impromptu performances. If you can get praise from the emperor and the queen mother, you will not only get a lot of rewards, but also a good reputation. Far and wide.

Early in the morning, Qiju exploded, and everyone was preparing for the Qiuju Banquet.

Tingyu was busy packing her things, and Lingfeng combed Huo Qi's hair.

Lefeng combed a cloud topknot, and said with a smile: "No matter how you dress up, the girl is outstanding."

This is not a compliment. In Lingfeng's heart, his girl is the most beautiful woman.

The cloud top bun exposed Huo Qi's beautiful forehead, which made her look a little less girlish, and coupled with a pair of phoenix eyes, it made her a little more charming.

"Naturally, our girl is the eldest lady of Duke Ning's mansion, who dares to underestimate her! Girl, this autumn chrysanthemum banquet is really lively. I heard that the prince of Zhenyuan Hou will also go!" Ting Yu said bluntly, narrowly road.

Huo Qi glanced at Ting Yu and knew that she was teasing himself and Yuan Shao.

In fact, it's not Ting Yu's fault. If she heard this in her previous life, she might feel a little shy.

Thinking about it now, it's really ironic. She thought she had got a treasure, but it was actually just the beginning of her nightmare in the previous life.

"It's just that we have studied together in the Imperial College for a few days, so we don't know each other well." Huo Qi said lightly.

After hearing this, Ting Yu stuck out her tongue, feeling a little embarrassed.

Lingfeng took Huo Qi's cloak and put it on her, and said with a smile: "Girl, it's almost time. The carriage is already waiting at the door of the house. It's not good for the master and his wife to wait."

"Let's go." Huo Qi rolled up his sleeves and stood up.

When the three of them arrived at the door of the mansion, they saw two carriages parked at the door. Huo Rushan and his wife and Ning Guogong and his wife were chatting, while Huo Qinglan stood beside them and listened with a smile.

But Huo Chi didn't come, presumably something happened some time ago, and now it's too shameful to go again and make jokes for no reason.

It was Huo Ruhai who discovered Huo Qi's arrival first, stroked his beard and looked up and down at his daughter, quite surprised: "It's rare for Qi Qi to make such a gorgeous attire."

Hearing this, Huo Qinglan looked at Huo Qi and bit her lip.

After all, he is still a child of fourteen or fifteen years old, and he always has some vanity in his heart.

Huo Qi usually likes to wear clothes with blue bamboo patterns, although they are extravagant, they won't look too eye-catching.

Today, she was uncharacteristically, wearing a begonia-colored misty butterfly skirt, with her black hair holding a begonia purple jade hairpin, which brought out the charm in her appearance, making people unable to take their eyes off it.

She couldn't help saying: "Sister's dress today is a bit too gorgeous."

Huo Qi twisted her mouth. She wanted to wear her old clothes today, but Ting Yu conjured up a new set of clothes. She wanted to refuse, but Ting Yu said that the autumn chrysanthemum banquet was mainly for admiring chrysanthemums, and she had a conflict with bamboo. , Leng let her change.It took another hour for her to dress up, but it was not good for Ting Yu's kindness.

Although this dress was not her original intention, she had always been protective of her little ones. She glanced at Huo Qinglan and said, "My sister is no less generous. She will definitely shine."

In fact, this Huo Qinglan didn't take too much effort. She was wearing a flying fairy bun, with a burnt blue lotus flower on her head and a skirt of flowers dragging the floor. She looked extremely rich.

It's just that although Huo Qi is gorgeous, he will not be too extravagant, and the patterns on Huo Qinglan's skirt are all embroidered with gold thread, so I don't know where the second room got so much money to be extravagant.

Huo Qinglan couldn't refute, so she had to shut her mouth and follow Huo Rushan and his wife into the carriage.

The night had fallen quietly, and the Huo family's two carriages were driving on the official road to the palace at a leisurely pace.

In the carriage, Wang looked at her daughter and smiled happily: "We pray that we are dressed like this today, it is a bit more beautiful than usual."

"Mother, you have praised me countless times since you got in the carriage. I think that knowledge and integrity are the foundation for us girls to live and live." Huo Qi was a little helpless, his mother was more lively than her.

Huo Ruhai, who was sitting next to her, listened and stroked his beard and smiled heartily: "I pray that this is well said. She is indeed my daughter, Huo Ruhai. What's the use of just having a flower stand?"

There was talking and laughing in the carriage, and after an hour, the Huo family finally arrived at the gate of the palace, and went to Changle Palace under the guidance of the servants.

In the main hall of the banquet, the male and female relatives are seated on the left and right sides respectively. Daxing folk customs are open, and strangers and men and women will meet each other at the palace banquet, and it will not be out of courtesy.

The banquet has not yet officially started, and the emperor and the concubines and princes in the palace have not yet arrived, so the atmosphere in the main hall can be called relaxed.

At the women's table, there were already a lot of respectable ladies and ladies who were drinking tea and gossiping about their daily affairs.

"Such an important autumn chrysanthemum banquet was chosen to be held in the Changle Palace of Concubine Shu this year. It seems that Concubine Shu is really a favorite." A lady with a face like a silver basin guessed.

"Who says no? Concubine Shu is favored by His Majesty, and even her elder brother Zhenyuanhou is valued by His Majesty. I heard from my family officials that His Majesty only gave you a few night pearls a while ago." Another thin lady answered, with three eyebrows very shrewd.

Although the ostensible purpose of this Autumn Chrysanthemum Banquet is to appreciate chrysanthemums, no one is here simply for such elegant things as admiring chrysanthemums and drinking tea. In the final analysis, it is all for socializing.

The ministers naturally sought out connections everywhere to see if they could help their careers.The wives are looking at the sons and daughters of each family to see if there are suitable in-laws, and to find a good marriage for their children.

A long-faced lady next to her couldn't help interjecting: "Who's young lady is really lucky if she can get married in Zhenyuanhou's mansion. Zhenyuanhou has only one son, and if he marries into it, isn't that the head of the whole house?"

The thin lady covered her mouth with a veil: "Who says it's not! I heard from the gossip that the girl from the Duke of Ning's mansion has already been settled in the Zhenyuanhou's mansion. .”

When it comes to gossip, everyone is excited.

"But Duke Ning's eldest lady, Huo Qi? I heard that she looks pretty good, but she is far less talented than the second young lady of the Huo family." Another lady continued to talk.

The thin lady added: "So what if you don't have talent? She has won the favor of Prince Yuan at a young age. I heard that she was injured while riding a horse before, and Prince Yuan gave her a tonic every three days. It's really a good trick."

As soon as he finished speaking, the little eunuch responsible for announcing at the door of the main hall said in a long voice: "Ning Guogong has arrived——"

(End of this chapter)