Red makeup against the world

Chapter 450

Empress Cao signaled slightly, Liuli clapped her hands, and the silk and bamboo troupe came in with musical instruments in their hands. The melodious and melodious music echoed in the hall, and the atmosphere became more casual.

The wives of the various mansions took turns to come forward, to talk with the Empress Dowager Xiao, and let the Empress Dowager look at the younger generation and give some pointers.

Since Emperor Qinglong ascended the throne, Empress Dowager Xiao handed over the power of the harem to Empress Cao.In order to avoid suspicion, they didn't show up on many occasions. Except for the blood relatives so far, very few people went to Yanqing Palace alone to meet.

Therefore, at the annual birthday banquet, it is a time to get together and bond with the old ladies from various prefectures.

They are all acquaintances, and in the past years, they all have stories belonging to their older generation.There were those who helped the Empress Dowager Xiao with all their strength when they were young, and some who showed kindness, but there were also those who were hostile.

Right now, Empress Dowager Xiao is extremely revered, and the past is all over.

Today, I met the familiar faces of the old sisters, chatted about the daily life, and talked about my own words.Goodbye to the juniors who are growing up and full of youthful vigor, making Queen Mother Xiao feel much younger.

This kind of birthday is indeed what she likes, not just for the world to see.

Therefore, Empress Dowager Xiao is full of goodwill towards Empress Cao who has held birthday banquets for the past few years.She once said to Nanny Ding: "This kind of birthday banquet, even if I come by myself, is not as satisfactory as she organizes it."

Even Emperor Qinglong, who never cared about Queen Cao in the past, was extremely satisfied with her.

He was busy with government affairs in the previous dynasty, and Empress Cao could serve his mother well on his behalf, fulfill his filial piety for him, and satisfy her mother.This is also the reason why he has given her enough respect over the years.

Mrs. Dingguo's wife, Mrs. Li, stepped back from Empress Dowager Xiao with a smile, and together with Mrs. Miao, returned to her seat with her own granddaughter.Just now Qinghui handled well in front of the Empress Dowager, and won the praise of the Empress Dowager, which made her laugh from ear to ear.

It was the turn of Duke Zhong's mansion. Mrs. Chen glanced at Wu Jiao, who was sitting next to the civil servants, and motioned slightly, and walked towards Empress Dowager Xiao, followed by Mrs. Lu.

Duke Zhong's mansion has few heirs, and there are no girls among the grandchildren. Compared with other mansions, it seems a little sparsely populated.

After seeing the ceremony, Empress Dowager Xiao sighed: "The men of your Wu family are all good-looking, and it would be even better to add another girl!"

Lu Shi laughed and said, "What the Empress Dowager said is very true, who can say otherwise! But this is not in a hurry."

Mrs. Chen was wearing Yipin Gaoming's big clothes, her already gloomy expression appeared even more dull.Today she applied a fine powder, which covered up her sallow complexion and the dark blue under her eyes a lot.

On such a festive occasion, she seemed a little out of place.A smile was barely on the corner of his mouth, but was broken by the vertical lines between his brows, and his expression looked a little stiff.

Empress Dowager Xiao naturally knows the affairs of the Duke of Zhongguo's mansion well, but it's hard for an upright official to decide on family affairs, let alone her?
Looking at Mrs. Chen, Empress Dowager Xiao said softly: "Your mother-in-law left early, and the government is so big that it depends on you alone to support you these years. Fortunately, now that I have a daughter-in-law, I can help."

Patting Lu Shi's hand, Empress Dowager Xiao said again: "You are a good person, please help mother-in-law, ah?"

Lu Shi smiled slightly, and said: "Gui Ying is still young, she has not experienced anything, and she still has to rely on her mother-in-law to decide many things."

Mrs. Chen also said: "Now I only hope that she will add another granddaughter to me. This whole house needs a super brother, and this demon king is a headache when he makes trouble."

"Haha, brother Chao is four years old, and I'll show it to Ai's family when I have time." Empress Dowager Xiao said.

In a blink of an eye, I remembered that the Zhongguo Duke's family was loyal, and he was the one the emperor had to use.But the heirs in their family are indeed too thin, how can they have only one son?Such a family should spread more and more branches and leaves.

But the Chen family has to have a son Wu Sheng, and in her capacity, it is impossible to persuade the Chen family to give Wu Sheng a concubine.

However, on the day of the emperor's birthday, he appointed a third-rank General Yunhui, and issued a decree, which seemed to be the son of Duke Zhong's mansion.No one has ever mentioned this person to her before?

"Qinglan, you can be regarded as the child I watched growing up. A few days ago, the general Yunhui awarded by the emperor belonged to your family? Why didn't the Ai family hear you mention it?" Queen Mother Xiao asked.

Hearing this, Chen's face froze.

Although she came here today because of this matter, even if Empress Dowager Xiao didn't mention it, she would talk about it in a hurry.But at this moment, it was still a conditioned reflex, and unpleasant emotions came to my heart.

What kind of person is Queen Mother Xiao?Seeing her reaction, I immediately made a good guess.

"Is it Duke Zhong's bastard?" Mrs. Chen nodded slightly.

"how old are you?"

"The old year just reached the crown, nineteen."

"Are you married?"

"Not yet."

"This is your fault. Although he is not your own, he is also the blood of Duke Zhong. The situation in your house is special. It is good to have an extra male who supports the family, even if he is a bastard." The matter is related to Duke Zhong The heir of the mansion, the Empress Dowager Xiao is not so polite when she speaks.

There was a gloomy feeling in Chen's heart, and he didn't answer.For a while, the scene froze.

Fortunately, Mrs. Lu reacted in time, and rounded up the situation: "Dare to teach the empress dowager to know that the mother has been looking after the second brother's marriage. It's just that there has been some high and low, and the mother is thoughtful, so she delays it." come down."

Wu Zhengxiang's status as a concubine is a fact, but with the prestige and status of the Duke of Zhongguo, how can it be so difficult to marry a daughter-in-law?

It is said that when a man is 15 years old at the latest, he will start discussing marriage.Now he is 19 years old, and it sounds like he has not even decided who to look at.No matter how nice the words are, they are just excuses.

Empress Dowager Xiao felt a little unhappy. The Zhongguo Duke's Mansion cannot be delayed in the hands of a short-sighted woman like Chen.

At that time, the reputation of the Chen family for treating concubines harshly and mistreating concubines spread throughout the capital.She didn't understand how a woman who looked so gentle at the beginning turned into what she was later.No matter how difficult it is for a woman, she shouldn't attack innocent children.

She had thought that the concubine had already been tortured to death by the Chen family. In the back house, it was too easy for the mistress to deal with a young son.Which child grows up without disasters?Who can check if he casually reports that he is weak or dies from a sudden illness?

So, that bastard is still alive?Being able to grow up under Chen's hands and being rewarded by the emperor on his own seems to be a capable person, but he can't be delayed by Chen's anymore.

Thinking of this, Mrs. Xiao showed a look of hesitation on her back, and her voice was a little faint: "It turns out that the Zhongguo Duke's standard for selecting a daughter-in-law is higher than that of our royal family?"

This remark is heartbreaking.

Lu's heart trembled, but fortunately she reminded her mother-in-law in time, and she could no longer ignore Wu Zhengxiang's marriage.Otherwise, it will be revealed in two years, and the queen mother will blame it, and no one will be able to afford it.

　Friendship recommendation: "Jinhua Misty Rain", author: Luo Shu
　　Introduction: In order to avenge the murder of his father, the male protagonist pretends to be crazy and foolish, and starts a romantic youth sadomasochism with the female protagonist.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)