Zhong Niangzi Wanfu

Chapter 55 The government held a banquet
一
Zhong Lan and Shen Feng settled down in the royal capital.

Shen Feng served as a living housekeeper, walked in the imperial study, and was often in contact with the emperor's daily routine. However, he was very cautious in his actions, doing more and speaking less. He kept silent on Beizhao's secrets. The "Living Notes" recorded in the "Living Notes" were written neatly and penetratingly, and the emperor was satisfied. .

In October, the Duke of Qi held a chrysanthemum appreciation party, inviting ladies from all over the capital, and also gave Zhong Lan a gift.

With Shen Yan's official rank and Zhong Yan's identity, Zhong Yan is not qualified, but Shen Yan often accompanies the emperor in the imperial study, records the emperor's daily life, and belongs to the emperor's close ministers; and the Pan family and the Duke's wife Liu have always been good friends, and strongly recommend Zhong Yan. Ye, only then did Mrs. Liu invite her to the list.

On October [-]th, the Palace Chrysanthemum Appreciation Conference held a banquet. Zhong Yan had light makeup, wearing a golden gown embroidered with moon and white cloud patterns, a moon gauze cloak on the outside, black hair tied up high, wearing a light yellow osmanthus flower hairpin, with tassels hanging slightly Behind his ear, holding the lucky rabbit and flying to the moon fan, he got off the carriage in front of the Duke's mansion, handed over the greeting card and entered the door.

Pan saw Zhong Lan at a glance: "Ms. Zhong, come here."

Zhong Lan stepped forward and said the Wanfu ceremony: "Ms. Pan, please put on your makeup."

"This is your first time at such a banquet. Let me introduce it to you." Pan said softly and brought Zhong Lan to the main hall.

Sitting high in the main hall was a gorgeous lady. She was wearing a brocade satin robe, her dark hair was pulled into a Shuzhuang bun, her head was full of pearls and greenery, and she looked extremely noble.

"This is the Duke's wife," Pan introduced.

Zhong Lan carefully stepped forward and saluted: "I pay my respects to the Duke's wife. The Duke's wife will make peace."

With a smile on her face, Mrs. Liu saw that Zhong Lan was humble and polite, and gave her a hand: "Ms. Zhong is polite. You must have a great time at this banquet."

"Thank you, Madam." Zhong Lan stood up.

"The first person in a blue shirt on the lower left is Mrs. Yao, the Marquis of Lin'an, and sitting next to her is the third girl from the Lou family of the Marquis of Lin'an. The first person on the lower right is Mrs. Rong, the Marquis of Jian'an, and sitting next to her is the eldest daughter of their family. Grandma Qu." Pan reminded in a low voice.

Zhong Lan stepped forward and bowed politely one by one, and all the ladies also returned the bow.

Pan then took Zhong Lan and sat down: "This room is full of well-known ladies and ladies. Look at the people sitting on the corridor in the courtyard outside the door. They are the official family members with a slightly lower rank."

Zhong Lanzai memorized it carefully and thanked Pan repeatedly: "Thank you, Mrs. Pan."

"You don't have to thank me." Pan smiled back.

"I heard that Young Master Zhang from Mrs. Pan's family is engaged? Has he decided to start a business?" Mrs. Yao, the Marquis of Lin'an, mentioned it coldly, with a bit of contempt in her tone.

Pan smiled and said, "Yes."

"The Zhang family is a noble family, and the Pan family is also a general with a hundred years of history. The young master raised by the two noble families actually married the daughter of a small businessman. Don't you want to make people laugh if you tell me?" Yao joked, but there was a smile in the corner of his eye. Ironically, Miss Lou San next to her also looked displeased.

Mrs. Pan lowered his head and smiled freely: "That girl is none other than the shopkeeper of Yongan Wenshi Company."

Yao's face changed slightly, then quickly calmed down: "It's unheard of for a female to be in charge of a business, Si Chen, the hen, but I heard that the Wen family girl is a powerful one. I would like to advise Madam Pan, marry a wife." Think twice, don't let the Zhang family fall into the hands of that woman."

Miss Lou San also sneered: "I heard that the Wen girl's parents died one after another three years ago, and even her brother, who was the county captain at the time, is missing. Maybe she was killed."

Zhong Lan was furious and was about to speak, but was stopped by Pan.

Mrs. Pan calmly took a sip of tea and smiled: "I have met that girl before. She is humble and polite. Not only does Brother Zhu like it, but his father and I also like her. She is about the same age as Miss Lou San, but she is She has a tenacious personality and independently supported the Wen family and made the Wen family business what it is today. She is worthy of being the wife of my Zhang family."

Seeing that the faces of Mrs. Yao and her daughter were getting worse and worse, Ms. Pan nodded with a smile: "Although my Zhang family is not lucky enough to be married to the Marquis of Lin'an, I am the elder of Miss Lou. I would like to advise Miss Lou to stay positive in the future." Let’s do some talking, so as not to find a good husband in the future.”

After saying this, Mrs. Yao and Ms. Lou's expressions changed.

Zhong Lan also admired Pan more and more.

"Ahem." Mrs. Liu, the Duke of Qi's wife, coughed lightly, "The most important thing is that Brother Zhu likes the daughter-in-law the Zhang family wants to marry. Although I have never met the daughter of the Wen family, I have heard a lot about her. She is a good girl. . After we got married, Sister Pan also brought her here to show me."

Seeing that Ms. Liu didn't want to talk any more, everyone hurriedly agreed and changed the topic.

two

The table was about to open, and Zhong Lan was not sitting with Pan. Mrs. Pan pulled Zhong Lan over and whispered, "Mrs. Zhong, go eat at the banquet later. Don't listen to those women's harsh words. If you feel bored, go shopping." Visit the garden.”

"Thank you, Mrs. Pan." Zhong Lan said goodbye to Mrs. Pan.

Those who were invited were all ladies and noblewomen from the royal capital, and Zhong Lan knew only one Pan. She sat at the back of the table and just listened, ate with her head down, and said nothing to avoid getting into trouble.

"Who is that lady?" The woman in yellow, who was standing slightly forward, whispered to the woman in purple next to her.

"That woman is the wife of Mr. Shen Shen, who is now the living room master. Her surname seems to be Zhong." The woman in purple glanced at Zhong Lao and replied in a low voice.

"Ms. Zhong? I seem to have heard that she is not from a high family background, and her family is just a reasonably wealthy family in Danzhou?"

Zhong Lan had no choice but to put down his chopsticks and raised his eyes to look at the two of them.

The two women didn't expect Zhong Yan to be able to face themselves calmly, so they quickly turned their faces away.

Zhong Lan was a stranger. After entering the banquet, she heard many people asking about her life experience. Although they were whispers, she could still hear them.

Zhong Lan felt bored and thought he was about half full after eating, so he stood up and left the table.

Seeing Zhong Lan leave the table, Chang Huan followed him curiously: "Why is the girl out?"

"It's too stuffy on the table. Come out and get some air." Zhong Lan took Chang Huan and chose a secluded place to go there.

"Zhong Lan? How did you get to the Duke's table?" A disdainful voice came from behind Zhong Lan.Zhong Lan only felt that the voice was familiar, but his memory was blurred, so he turned around and looked.

I saw a woman wearing a pretty pink dress, with exquisite makeup, her hair pulled up in an obvious woman's bun.

"Are you Miss You Si?" Zhong Lan thought of the person in front of him.

"Let me ask you? How did you get here? I'm afraid you stole some lady's post to freeload, right?" Yuwei's eyes widened.

After so many years of not seeing each other, Yuwei has not changed at all.

Zhong Lan pursed her lips and lowered her head and smiled: "Of course he is in the favor of my family, and he accepted the invitation from the Duke's Palace to attend the banquet openly and honestly. If Miss You Si doesn't believe it, you can ask the Duke's wife."

Youwei sneered: "You and your wife stepped on my second brother's body and made rapid progress with my You family's foundation in Qinlin. Now that you have prospered, aren't you afraid that my second brother will come to you in the middle of the night to pursue your soul and claim your life?"

Zhong Lan found it funny when he heard it and refused to admit defeat: "If you want to pursue the soul and take your life, you will also take the life of your eldest brother. It was he who framed all the dirty things in your family on You Hanyong and saved your You family. Half a life. Now instead of looking for the perpetrators, you are looking for trouble for those of us who are enforcing the law. How can this make sense?"

Youwei gritted her teeth and was speechless, her eyes red with anxiety.

Seeing the displeasure on his master's face, the girl beside Youwei said unconvinced: "You are so bold, how dare you treat the Duke's family unreasonably."

"The Duke's family?" Zhong Lan concentrated slightly and looked at You Wei up and down, "I wonder if they are the family of the Duke?"

Just as Youwei was about to stop her, the girl quickly said, "This is our Duke's wife, Miss You."

Miss?

Zhong Lan was slightly startled, remembering how arrogant and domineering Youwei was back then, yet she committed herself to being a concubine, and remained silent for a moment.

Yuwei was ashamed and angry, glared at the girl, turned and left.

"Then Miss Yousi didn't marry anyone who was not a prince, so how come she is now a concubine to the duke who is over seventy years old?" Chang Huan gently fanned Zhong Lan and asked in confusion.

Zhong Lan murmured, with a bit of regret in his voice: "I guess it's because the You family has lost power and is eager to find a backer."

"Didn't the You family have a marriage relationship with the imperial court? Doesn't this count as a source of support?"

Zhong Lan shook his head: "The You family can decide who is more reliable, a distant relative or one's own in-laws."

three

The banquet is about to end, and all the ladies are about to get in the car and go back to their homes.

Mrs. Pan was dragged by Mrs. Liu to the inner courtyard to pick out materials, and Zhonglan was about to go back by herself.

As soon as he left the gate of the palace, a burning smell suddenly hit Zhong Lan's nose.

Then several women around him exclaimed: "Fire! It's on fire!"

Zhong Yan turned his head suspiciously, only to see that the corner of his dress was on fire.

"Girl, take it off quickly!" Chang Huan quickly went to untie Zhong Lan's belt.

Zhong Lan saw Youwei's sinister smile behind the crowd, stopped Chang Huan's hand, turned around and ran towards Youwei.

When Zhong Lan ran over, You Wei didn't expect it and hurriedly ran to hide, but Zhong Lan grabbed her wrist: "Miss You, it's such a good trick to make me take off my clothes and make a fool of myself in public. I will retreat after my success." Are you going to set fire to it and leave before you finish it?"

Youwei quickly went to wipe the soot from her hands, but Zhong Lan clamped her down again.

Zhong Lan clamped down on Youwei with one hand, and with the other hand he picked up the teapot in the hands of the tea maid in the courtyard and put out the fire.

After learning the news, Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Pan hurriedly came out to check. They were both mistresses who were accustomed to fighting in the mansion. They immediately brought them into the cabinet and ordered others to send the other wives away properly.

Seeing that the duke and his wife had already spoken, even those who wanted to watch the fun could only leave in despair.

Entering the main hall, Mrs. Liu first ordered someone to take Zhong Lan down to change her clothes again.

After Zhonglan changed, Yuwei had disappeared, feeling strange.

Seeing Zhong Lan's doubts, Mrs. Liu took a sip of tea and smiled: "It's just an ignorant young lady in the family. The Duke's mansion failed to take care of its servants, so Madam Zhong was wronged."

"I don't dare." Zhong Yan nodded slightly, and didn't ask any more questions.

In order to express her apology, Mrs. Liu specially stayed with Zhong Lan for dinner.

When Zhong Yan went out, there were already stars in the sky, and Shen Yan was waiting outside the door.

"Sister Pan said that Mrs. Zhong and her husband have a deep love, and it seems true." Mrs. Liu joked.

"The Duke's wife is in good condition." Shen Feng stepped forward and saluted.

"Take your wife back." Mrs. Liu smiled back, "Master Shen is really lucky to have Mrs. Zhong."

"Thank you, Mrs. Guo, Madam, you have praised me so much." Shen Yan and Zhong Yan bowed and said goodbye to Mrs. Liu.

(End of this chapter)