When Mrs. Han heard Queen Mother Pang's direct question, she no longer cared about her face. For the first time, she did not cover up: "I'm not as lucky as you, sister. The Queen and Princess Jin can be as filial as they want. The Emperor and The King of Jin is also a filial son and is always available. I am old and weak. After this illness, I only hope that thanks to my sister, I can have a safe and smooth future. I don't think about anything else."
This is what Mrs. Han really wants to say. She is getting older, and her children and grandchildren are not close to each other anyway. She used to think about Han Yan and Han Xian. Now it seems that she doesn't want to worry about anyone and lives her own life.
Empress Dowager Pang said: "This is not right. The title of Tai'an Bo is certainly due to Han Shuo's contribution to the dragon, but if you hadn't married him, there would not have been the honor of the third generation of Xijue. Without you, she would not be Mrs. Chengbo." This location?"
Although Mrs. Han no longer wants to pay attention to Princess Yongning, she does not want to lose her title. After all, if the Earl of Tai'an is really lost, she will become an unreasonable person even if she is reasonable.
So, when she was about to explain, she saw Queen Mother Pang smiling and saying, "What a beautiful girl, what is your name?"
Ruiniang, who was secretly listening to the conversation between Empress Dowager Pang and Mrs. Han, might as well be pointed at by Empress Dowager Pang. She quickly stood up and knelt down: "My maid, Meng Yaorui, the daughter of Fuzhou Counselor Meng Jue, please be kind to the Empress Dowager."
Ruiniang usually felt that she was a very calm person and had seen big scenes, but under the Queen Mother's lingering power, she only felt that her vagina was trembling and her voice could not help but tremble.
"Raise your head and let me take a look." Queen Mother Pang's voice sounded unclear.
Ruiniang did not dare to delay and slowly raised her eyes to look at the Queen Mother. She saw a look of surprise in Queen Mother Pang's eyes.
Empress Dowager Pang waved her forward. Ruiniang did not dare to hesitate and stepped forward quickly. She only thought that she was good-looking, but only in the Xuanfu or among her relatives. But considering the experience of the Empress Dowager, I am afraid that countless people have read her, so my experience is nothing.
Who knew that Queen Mother Pang actually held her hand and looked her up and down first, and saw that this girl was not only graceful when she saluted, but when she got closer, she was so beautiful and refined, with profound elegance, and as elegant as a fairy. She was really a She is a rare beauty.
"Last time, King Jing's niece, the daughter of General Jianwei, was really pretty and pretty, with two dimples. She was really sweet. I originally thought that girl was unmatched, but I didn't know I saw your granddaughter today, why did you bring such a good girl into the palace to show me." Queen Mother Pang was full of praise.
Ruiniang, who was on the sidelines, thought to herself that Prince Jing's Palace was more powerful than Prince Zhou's Palace. Although Prince Zhou's Palace had a good relationship with the emperor, Prince Jing's family was Zongzheng, and it was also a hereditary palace. General Jianwei is still a first-grade official, and he has a good background. Fortunately, his cousin is the eldest daughter of the uncle's house, and has a closer relationship with the Pang family, so he has a greater chance of winning.
But Mrs. Han laughed and said: "If it weren't for my birthday this year, she wouldn't have come to Beijing. Originally, she was in Xuan Mansion with her parents. It was only because of your invitation that she was so lucky."
Queen Mother Pang said: "You are a good girl. She is just visiting relatives and friends. At such an age, you can take such good care of your grandmother. The Ai family should reward you well."
Ruiniang said hurriedly: "I am just doing my duty and cannot be rewarded by the Queen Mother."
But Empress Dowager Pang wanted a reward, and who could stop her? A female official came out quickly. She was not the maids in blue or green cloth shirts who had stood outside the palace before. She was wearing a scarlet short coat with white clothes underneath. The rippled skirt has bright silk flowers on the temples, and her eyes are still so cunning and clever.
This was actually Le Lingzi whom we had met once before in that dim inn.
Ruiniang thought that no wonder she didn't see her last time when she went to Prince Jin's Mansion. It turned out that she had already joined the Queen Mother as a female official. Le Lingzi was obviously surprised for a moment when she saw Ruiniang here.
But both of them knew that this was not the place for gossip.
Empress Dowager Pang ordered: "Take two pieces of blue palace satin with gold and ice plum patterns, and beige with peony and wisteria patterns, which are suitable for their young people. Pick some white pearls, amber, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and tortoise shells for her to play on weekdays. jewelry."
Le Lingzi took the order and left, and soon came with a group of palace attendants carrying trays. Ruiniang wanted to kneel down to thank her again, but Queen Mother Pang stopped her.
"No need to thank Aijia, you deserve this. Yes, how about you try my tea?" Queen Mother Pang was quite enthusiastic.
Ruiniang nodded with a smile, picked up the tea cup, smelled it, took a small sip, and said slowly: "In response to the Queen Mother, could it be that this is the lost Gu Zhu Zi Bamboo Shoot?"
Queen Mother Pang's eyes lit up: "How did you guess it?"
Ruiniang said: "I happened to read the "Book of Tea" record once when I was at home. Lu Yu said that this tea is named after 'purple ones are on the top and bamboo shoots are on the bottom'. It looks like an orchid, is green in color, bright in soup, and has buds and leaves in bloom. , hence this speculation.”
"She is really a clever girl." Empress Dowager Pang praised.
Ruiniang knew these superiors very well and was willing to be friendly and kind to strangers like them. They were insignificant people anyway. Rewarding myself is also a disguised form of support for Mrs. Han, so that Princess Yongning and her uncle will not take Mrs. Han seriously.
Moreover, with her family background, she does not have as big ambitions as her mother, so she does not show off or talk too much, but when Queen Mother Pang talks about it, it is obvious that she understands it, and even if she does not understand, she will not pretend to understand.
This gave Queen Mother Pang a very good impression of her, because there were too many women in front of her on weekdays, all of whom were seeking fame, fortune or salary. The topic they talked about was nothing more than the family's shortcomings in the east and west, and this girl was as light and beautiful as a lotus emerging from the mud but unstained.
Mrs. Han said to her that her sister has always been a very talented person. It seems that she did the right thing in bringing Ruiniang here. If she is lucky enough to arrange a marriage for her, she will be favored by the Queen Mother in the future and no one in her husband's family will dare to bully her. As for her cousin, she was separated and had no one to help her.
After all, no matter men or women, they must first ensure their own rights, so that they can be in an invincible position.
Although Empress Dowager Pang liked the excitement, there were only rules for meeting in the palace. Seeing that Empress Dowager Pang was tired, Mrs. Han also resigned at the right time. Empress Dowager Pang asked the female officer to escort them out of the palace, and then Ruiniang started talking to Le Lingzi.
Le Lingzi looked at her with envy: "The Queen Mother rarely praises others. I have praised you, Miss Meng, several times today."
"I think you are the most powerful one. When we met last year, you had just arrived in Beijing. This year, you are already a female official beside the Queen Mother. I was afraid that I had recognized the wrong person, but I didn't expect that it was really you." Ruiniang saw She mentioned herself first, and then she mentioned old things.
Le Lingzi said: "My father is an official in the Prince of Jin's palace. The Prince of Jin is filial and specially sent us to the palace to serve the Queen Mother. Now, I am better than before. My parents have also changed because of my situation, so I am not that great. It’s just better than before.”
Ruiniang smiled and said, "I won't say too much. I want everything to be safe and smooth in the palace."
Le Lingzi held her hand and said, "I accept your kind words."
The friendship between the two is limited to this.
After returning, Princess Yongning learned that Ruiniang had been rewarded by the Queen Mother, and was shocked. She even thought about letting Guo Miaoyi marry her son, which would displease the Queen Mother?
It's okay to offend the emperor, after all, the emperor is a man, but to offend the Queen Mother...
Queen Mother Pang is the most vindictive.
No, she had to deliver Ruiniang's letter quickly. The letter that was originally planned to be delivered in the spring had to be delivered over ice. No one is around Mrs. Han, so Mrs. Han naturally only thinks about her son and daughter. Is it only a matter of time before the relationship is slowly restored?
She wanted to be beautiful, but her health suddenly failed. During these days, it was Mrs. Han's birthday party, and she worked hard for Han Yan. Later, she was still waiting for Mrs. Han, and she herself Rather, he fell ill.
She was the only serious mistress in Tai'an's house. Han Xian was not married yet, so it was Mrs. Han who asked Han Yan and Ruiniang to jointly manage the house.
Ruiniang naturally declined: "Old lady, I don't understand anything. If you ask me to take care of the house, you will be blind."
Mrs. Han said, "You are all approaching your prime of life. Whether it is your cousin or you, you both need to learn how to manage the house. Besides, you won't be able to take care of it for a few days, so just do it."
In fact, Princess Yongning has everything in place. With the help of the maid and housekeeper, Han Yan and Ruiniang can just follow the rules. It's just that letting the two of them manage the house this time has allowed them to spend a lot more time together.
It happened to be Han Yan's birthday, Ruiniang smiled and said: "What gift does my cousin want?"
Han Yan smiled and said: "I don't like liveliness. It was too lively in the past years. This year I just want to be quiet and talk together. If you really want to give a gift, you can dance a "Long Sleeve Dance" for me. I’m satisfied.”
Although Princess Yongning treated Ruiniang indifferently, Han Yan really had nothing to say to her, so Ruiniang thought for a moment and agreed.
This long-sleeved dance was originally a court dance of the Chu State, also called the bending dance. Ruiniang's ancestral home was in Xiangyang Prefecture, Huguang, which was the original hometown of the Chu State. That's why her mother asked everyone to teach her. Both men and women in the Daqi aristocracy have the custom of being good at dancing. Although men and women are now strictly guarded, women are still encouraged to "dance etiquette, follow poetry, and practice both etiquette and music." Therefore, although she never said outside that she could dance, these were all I have learned it before and learned it very well.
Han Yan had a good temper, and it was said that she had a lot of friends in the past, but considering that Ruiniang didn't know her well and was afraid of embarrassing her, she just invited Han Xian to come over.
Speaking of which, Ruiniang found it funny. She came all the way to get married to Han Xian, but she didn't think it was a big deal if the marriage didn't happen. On the contrary, Han Xian evaded her eyes and squirmed when he saw her.
"Cousin." Ruiniang called with a smile.
Han Xian nodded slightly, his eyes apologetic and a little uncomfortable: "Today is my sister's birthday, and we will accompany you. She will enter the palace at the beginning of the new year, so it will be difficult to see you again."
Ruiniang said leisurely: "It's not just her, I will also return to my hometown after the new year. This time in Beijing, I have to take care of my cousin. I only hope that tonight will become the most unforgettable day for my cousin."
Han Yan dressed up very nicely today and came out with Qin in her arms. The three of them came to the Tingyin Pavilion of Tai'an Bofu. It was spacious enough. After sending the servants away, Ruiniang looked at her with a smile: "My cousin is so beautiful today. "
As soon as she finished speaking, Han Xian didn't know what he thought of, "Sister, what do you want to play?"
""Chaoge"."
Han Xian's face darkened.
As Han Yan played the piano and Han Xian played the sheng, Ruiniang stood on tiptoes and bent her waist. The bells on her wrists added a bit of mystery. Originally, the bracelet was supposed to be worn on the ankle, but after all, Han Xian was a foreigner, so Ruiniang had to make some changes.
She raised her hands and feet, frowned and smiled, with a slender waist and fluttering clothes, as if she were a fairy descending into the mortal world.
Especially after throwing out the long sleeves, and then turning around, it is like what is said in the Luo Shen Fu, it is as graceful as a startled giant, just like a wandering giant. Han Yan was playing the piano, but she couldn't help but stop and watch. The more she watched, the more she felt that her happiness was too short-lived, and she seemed to have made some kind of decision.
Ruiniang was also sweating, as if this could dissipate her longing for her parents and family.
After finishing the dance, Ruiniang was about to rest, but she saw two young men standing at the door. The one in front was looking at her with stern eyes and admiration. She didn't know how long they had been looking at her. Ruiniang was stunned for a moment and turned to Han Yan. Walk everywhere.
Han Xian quickly stood up and saluted, blocking the sight of the two young men and said, "Sixth Prince, Cao Bandu."
The Sixth Prince smiled and said: "I happened to have something to ask you today. The princess said you were here, but I didn't expect you to be singing and dancing here."
Han Xian smiled and said, "It's my sister's birthday, so we are having fun."
"Second brother is not allowed to leave the palace, so he asked me to give a gift to Miss Han." Only then did the sixth prince realize that he had really guessed wrong last time. The dancing girl clearly looked like a goddess in the sky, but she was not him. Future second sister-in-law.
Han Yan pulled Ruiniang forward to say hello: "My daughter has thanked several princes." She also knew very well that although the imperial edict had not yet been issued, the second prince had probably been chosen. She had long heard that the second prince was a considerate and considerate person, and now it was indeed the case.
Ruiniang was also really happy for Han Yan. It was difficult for a child of this royal family to be so considerate to her cousin by the second prince.
Seeing the Sixth Prince looking at Ruiniang, Han Xian quickly introduced her, fearing that these royal disciples would misunderstand Ruiniang as a dancing girl and say something blasphemous: "This is my cousin, the daughter of Fuzhou General Meng Jue."
"Greetings to the Sixth Prince." Ruiniang asked again.
The Sixth Prince raised his hand: "No need to be polite, just get up."
Han Yan was a little uneasy. She was the one who asked her cousin to dance. She had already taken absolute measures. She chose a quiet place and the servants moved away. She just didn't stop Huang Guizhou these days.
It would be bad for my cousin's reputation to spread. Therefore, when Ruiniang looked at her, Han Yan smiled and said: "The gift has been received, so my cousin and I will leave first, and my brother will talk to the Sixth Prince."
Han Yan would probably be her sister-in-law in the future, so when she spoke, the Sixth Prince was quite respectful and said proactively: "We came here rashly, so we have to bother you more."
Han Yan didn't dare, but Ruiniang followed her cousin out and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing her like this, Han Yan said: "This sixth prince is straightforward and upright, handsome in appearance, and also thoughtful and thoughtful. Don't worry, I will drag you away, and he will definitely not tell anyone."
Ruiniang said: "I think the sixth prince is smart and courageous, but he has a deep mind, which is not what he seems on the surface."
Just from what she heard from the sixth prince behind the rockery that day, she knew that he was by no means the straightforward young man she had seen. Instead, he had a lot of trouble in his chest.
A person who can regard feelings as the icing on the cake, not be affected by feelings, and only fight for his own future, is definitely a ruthless person in Ruiniang's opinion. Just like her, she would never be able to spend her life with someone she didn't like. This was what Ruiniang discovered after her marriage to Han Xian failed.
But the same kind of man is also terrible, just like the late emperor who killed his wife and children for the throne.
Whoever marries such a man will be in bad luck!
