Chapter 11 The Shi Family's Child is Not Bad

Xianyue walked forward holding two sets of spring clothes.

Shi Jianli said to Qiao Ruoying, "Aunt, I asked the weaver Hua Shimeng to make two sets of clothes for you a few days ago. Do you like them?"

Qiao Ruoying happily stood up to take a look. "Your taste is impeccable. How could a new dress customized by you not look good?"

"Li'er is filial to her aunt."

Shi Jianli saw that she was happy, with a smile on her face, and then she lowered her head to look at the accounts.

After looking at the accounts, Shi Jianli pointed out the questionable accounts to Qiao Ruoying one by one, and then said goodbye and went back.

The masters in the mansion all knew that Hua Simeng was hers. When she was a guest at the Duke's Mansion, she gave new clothes to her aunt. Shi Jianli had to give them to the old lady and the Duke's wife, and she would also ask Lanxing Xianyue to send two sets to them every quarter as a thank you for their shelter and care.

Of course, she also gave two sets to each of the girls, but they were not specially customized.

After all, she earns a lot and can afford it.

…

In Minghua Courtyard, the main courtyard of the East Palace, Mingzhao changed his clothes after court and came to see the Duke's wife.

He poured tea for the Duke's wife, Yuan Yuhe, and said, "Mother, please have some tea."

Yuan Yuhe nodded and looked at her outstanding eldest son with great satisfaction.

After being away for so many years, the eldest son returned safely, his figure becoming taller and more upright, and he also had achievements to his name.

As she watched, Yuan Yuhe thought of his marriage again and sighed.

"Why is mother sighing?" Mingzhao asked with concern.

"I'm thinking about your marriage." Yuan Yuhe no longer had the heart to drink tea and put the tea in her hand on the table. "Last month I went to the Yang family to see the young lady. She had been ill for a year and her health was not getting better, so I asked the imperial physician to come and see her."

"The imperial physician said she might not live long, and the Yang family doesn't have a daughter of marriageable age. So your marriage is off."

"Mrs. Yang said she will come to cancel the engagement next month, so as not to delay your re-engagement."

"Nowadays, most of the noble ladies in the capital, with compatible family backgrounds, close in age, good reputations, good looks, good knowledge and good temperaments, are engaged. Can't I help but sigh?"

Mingzhao paused for a moment, then said soothingly, "Don't worry, mother. I've only just been crowned. Take your time looking for someone, and tell me when you find one you like."

"That's right, there's no need to rush." ​​Yuan Yuhe picked up the tea again. "I just remembered that your aunt wrote to me saying that she hadn't seen you for a long time and that she was coming from Runan to take your cousins ​​to stay for a few days."

"I haven't seen them for a long time. When will my aunt arrive? I'll pick her up when I have time."

"It's been about ten days, and they haven't gotten up yet."

Mingzhao nodded and took the matter to heart.

At this time, Yuan Yuhe's maid came over and bowed, "Madam, Lanxing, Miss Shi's servant, sent two new sets of clothes."

Yuan Yuhe nodded, the smile in the corners of her eyes widening. "Send it to the house. I'll take a look later and pick out some jewelry for her."

"Yes, ma'am."

She also said to Mingzhao, "The Shi family's daughter is quite good. She is quiet and well-behaved, polite and tactful, and is also good at managing accounts and business. Since she came, the second branch's shop has made a considerable profit."

The girl was very sensible and could only be seen on important days. After school she usually stayed in the yard or went out to look after the shops.

Lin'er, on the other hand, often asked me to go out and have fun with her. It was hard for me to refuse, so I had to go along with her.

"The best clothing shops in Beijing are headed by Hua Si Meng, whose new styles are frequently released and become fashionable as soon as they appear."

"She would send your grandmother and me two sets of custom-made clothes every season. She is very filial."

Although they have no shortage of clothes, they are very polite, which makes people feel at ease.

"I heard from Lin'er that she is good at the Six Arts and Eight Arts. She is outstanding in the Eight Arts and is not inferior to men in the Six Arts."

Yuan Yuhe changed the subject and said, "What a pity. He was such a poor kid. His parents died so early."

"Her family background is a bit low. If her family background was good, with such a temperament and ability, she would be the one that every family would compete to marry."

Mingzhao also listened and remembered how she leaned lazily against Hua Shimeng's window yesterday. He thought to himself that no wonder she appeared on the third floor.

He smiled and said, "It's rare to hear you praise someone so highly. My sister also told me a few days ago that she is a good person."

"I've met her a few times, but never looked closely. But that day, when I was practicing archery with my sister in the martial arts field, I saw that she was indeed an excellent archer."

Yuan Yuhe picked up the teacup and took a sip, nodded and said no more. After all, it was not good to talk about girls with her son.

She thought again of the farce in the second room a few days ago and shook her head in her heart.

The concubine of the second wife is confused. She can't find any good man, but she has to snatch him away.

…

As soon as the holiday arrived, Shi Jianli was dragged by Mingyuelin to attend the flower-viewing banquet hosted by Princess Kangning in the morning. Mingyuesi, the fourth daughter of the second wife, was also taken along.

That day, the dress designed by Shi Jianli for Mingyuelin was already finished. She wore it today and wore a peach blossom hairpin with pearl tassels in her hair, which made her look bright and playful.

Shi Jianli was dressed elegantly, in a Xizi-colored double-breasted short shirt and a slightly lighter-colored long skirt embroidered with winding crabapple branches and hanging silk threads. She wore a square-necked bodice with a butterfly pattern, tied with a butterfly-shaped pearl collar, and a crabapple hairpin in her hair.

They left the house through the main gate. Mingyuelin took Mingyuesi's arm and walked in front, while Shijianli followed beside them.

Mingyuelin wanted to hold Shi Jianli's hand, but she was afraid that if she became too close to Shi Jianli, Mingyuesi would have something against Shi Jianli.

It is also not elegant for three people to walk arm in arm.

"Second sister, you look really beautiful today." Mingyue Si looked at her clothes and smiled.

Ming Yuelin squinted her eyes and said, "Isn't it beautiful? I think it's beautiful too. Your outfit today is also nice."

Mingyue Si glanced at Shi Jianli calmly and said, "It was given by Sister Li. The clothes she gave are all beautiful."

The second sister is good friends with this cousin, so I guess the dress the second sister is wearing must have been carefully designed by her.

"Sister Li has good taste."

Shi Jianli listened to their conversation, holding a redwood-handled jade fan with a painting of a crabapple blossom in spring. She looked over and said, "As long as you two sisters like it, I'm glad."

As he was about to leave, he saw a noble lady leading a few maids and a number of servants carrying boxes.

Ming Yuelin was a little surprised. He let go of Ming Yuesi's hand and stepped forward to bow as a junior. He asked with a smile, "Why is Madam Yang here?"

She glanced at the box behind the lady, remembered her mother's visit to the Yang family last month, and had some guesses in her mind.

Shi Jianli also followed suit and said hello.

There was some worry in the lady's eyes, but when she saw Mingyuelin, she cheered up and smiled kindly, "Second Miss, you are so polite."

Then he put away his smile and said, "My daughter is unlucky and weak. She has been bedridden for a long time. I came here today to cancel the engagement. I am afraid that it will delay your brother's marriage."

"Sister Yang, such a good person, how could she suffer such a hardship?" Ming Yuelin sighed politely, "I won't waste your Madam's time. We also need to go to the banquet. If we are late, the princess might blame us."

"Good boy, go ahead."