Chapter 8 Cannon Fodder Bai Yueguang 7 Attending the Banquet

Soon it was Prime Minister Pei’s birthday. The invitation had been delivered to the He family five days ago. The gold-embossed invitation showed that it was a piece of grandeur.

When the three members of the He family arrived at the gate of the Prime Minister's Mansion, Pei Miao was welcoming guests, and his every move was particularly eye-catching.

The servant took the invitation handed over by He's father, asked the He family to wait for a moment, and turned to report to Pei Miao.

Pei Miao looked over when he heard this and said something to the young man in gorgeous clothes in front of him. Liang Zizhuo had a smile on his lips and his meaningful gaze fell on Ali.

"Sir He, I'm sorry for not coming to greet you." Pei Miao walked over quickly and spoke politely.

He's father returned the greeting and said, "I'm here to celebrate the Prime Minister's birthday. Thank you, Master Pei, for welcoming me."

Pei Miao's official rank was much higher than He's father's, but he was not arrogant and was always respectful and humble, truly living up to his good reputation in the capital.

Ali stood quietly behind He's father, and took the opportunity to salute to look up at Pei Miao, and his eyes happened to fall on her.

Pei Miao of Puji Temple did not save her that day, so he could not invite her to the banquet as described in the book. Ali took advantage of the "chance encounter" at Fuguang Pavilion and accepted the invitation at Pei Miao's request.

Ali turned his head and found that He Zhiyan beside him had not said a word since just now. He never liked socializing. He glanced at Pei Miao with an emotionless look, lowered his head, and didn't know what he was thinking.

Alila tugged at his sleeve and asked softly, "Brother, are you feeling unwell?"

She felt that her brother didn't like Pei Miao very much.

He Zhiyan withdrew his thoughts and his expression softened a little: "I'm fine."

After some pleasantries, Pei Miao smiled and said, "I still have to entertain guests at the door. I will ask the servants in the mansion to take the three of you to the table. I will then ask for advice from Master He at the table."

As soon as he finished speaking, a servant came to lead the He family.

The Prime Minister's Mansion had a long gate. Passing by a ten-foot-high jade landscape screen, there were many winding corridors. A yellow-robed maid stepped forward and said, "Is this the daughter of the He family from the Medical Officers' Court?"

Ali nodded.

The maid smiled and bowed, looking gentle and amiable. "The women's and men's seats are located in different places. The women's seats are in the hanging flower hall in the inner courtyard. Please follow me, ladies."

"Okay." Ali agreed and turned around to say goodbye to He's father and He Zhiyan, "Father, brother, Ali will go first."

"Go ahead. We'll be waiting for you in carriage outside the mansion after the banquet." He's father replied.

Looking at Ali's receding back, He Zhiyan seemed to have something to say, but in the end he did not call her.

The women's seats were set up in the backyard. Ali followed the maid through three courtyards, around a garden, and continued walking forward.

Along the way, Ali did not look around, acting cautiously as if he had just arrived here for the first time, until this moment when he showed doubts on his face.

The maidservant explained at the right moment, "The Second Young Master recently told Madam about his chance encounter with Miss He at Fuguang Pavilion. Hearing that Miss He was quite knowledgeable in medicine and had a rare kindness, Madam agreed and only hoped that Miss He would come to the birthday banquet."

"It's not time for the banquet yet. Madam, please come over and have a chat with the young lady. The second young master is busy, so he asked me to bring the young lady in first. The second young master will be here shortly."

Ali smiled faintly, his expression unchanged: "So that's how it is. I'll have to trouble you, sister."

I don't know how long I walked, but I could see the main hall in the backyard from afar. In the hall, a group of ladies and young ladies in gorgeous clothes were talking to the noble lady in the main seat.

I guess this must be Mrs. Pei.

This Madam Pei's name was Zhou Mingqi. She was born into the Zhou family of Runan and was of noble status. Ten years ago, the Prime Minister's original wife, Mrs. Li, passed away due to illness, leaving behind two young children. Prime Minister Pei was heartbroken and remained faithful to his wife for a year. Later, he remarried the daughter of Mrs. Zhou, who is now Madam Pei.

Mrs. Pei is intelligent, clever, and well-versed in human nature. She comes from a prominent family and can be regarded as a model of etiquette for women in the capital.

Although she had no children, her mother's family was prominent. After marriage, she and the prime minister treated each other with respect and lived in harmony. She did not seem to be worried and everyone envied her.

When Ali stepped into the hall, the originally lively atmosphere in the hall seemed to freeze for a moment. Ali felt that all eyes were focused on her in an instant.

He Li clenched his hands under the handkerchief. This was the first time he had walked into such a place. Everyone behaved elegantly and even spoke in soft voices, which was particularly pleasant to the ear.

In the book, He Li was extremely nervous at this time. After Pei Miao rescued her from falling into the water, he came to propose marriage soon. When Prime Minister Pei learned about this, he was furious and imposed family rules.

After hearing this, He Li felt more inferior and guilty, but for Pei Miao, she still went. However, because of her behavior and speech that were out of tune with others, she was laughed at by the ladies and young ladies. She was in a trance and almost fell from the tall building.

This time, she was also rescued by Pei Miao who arrived in time. Since then, He Li has fallen deeply in love with him and can no longer let go. Prime Minister Pei could not persuade Pei Miao, so he had to acquiesce to He Li's marriage into the Pei family.

From the remote countryside to the capital, and then from the capital to the mansions of the powerful, He Li was pushed forward a lot in just one year. No one taught her what to do, and she was left to fall and be broken into pieces.

Ah Li held his trembling hand, walked forward slowly and steadily, and performed a very polite greeting in a clear voice: "Junior Ah Li of the He family greets Madam Pei."

The lady sitting in the main seat paused, looking rather surprised: "It's Miss He."

"Yes, my father and brother and I are here to celebrate Master Pei's birthday. We have come to pay our respects to Madam first."

Ali knelt in the hall neither servilely nor arrogantly, quietly waiting for Madam Pei to speak, performing the full etiquette of a junior.

Madam Pei coughed lightly, and then a maid helped A Li to stand up, brought a crabapple embroidered cushion and placed it under Madam Pei, and helped her sit down.

Although no one knew the identity of the woman in front of them, they began to think about it when they saw that Mrs. Pei treated her politely, and the atmosphere in the hall became lively again.

Ali thanked him and sat down. Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of a young girl sitting in the front seat on the left side of the hall, winking at her.

Ali was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help but look over with a smile. It was Xu Lingjia who came to the banquet. Because they were in the Prime Minister's residence, Xu Lingjia didn't dare to be too presumptuous and could only lip-sync to her.

Ali understood what she meant. She wanted her to wait for him outside after the meeting was over. Ali nodded in response.

Because they were close, Ali saw that Mrs. Pei was no more than twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a rosy and plump complexion, and was very beautiful. However, her expression showed fatigue, and there was a hint of illness between her eyebrows.

Madam Pei noticed her look and seemed stunned for a moment. Nanny Song, her personal attendant, understood and said, "It's time to take the medicine. I will escort Madam to the inner room to take the medicine."

Madam Pei gave an apologetic smile: "I had forgotten about this. Please sit for a moment, I'll be back soon."

Naturally, everyone responded, and some who understood the meaning took the opportunity to leave.

Madam Pei looked around and stood up slowly: "I don't know where that girl Jiaer has gone. She said she would accompany me every time I took medicine, but now she is nowhere to be seen." Although she was complaining, there was no anger in her tone.

Nanny Song also laughed and joked, "The Third Miss is just this kind of person who can't sit still. Doesn't Madam know this?"

The Prime Minister's third daughter was born to the first wife's concubine and was later raised by Madam Pei, who treated her like her own daughter.

Madam Pei, helped by Nanny Song, stood up and passed by A-Li. She suddenly stopped in front of her and said, "I wonder if Miss He would like to accompany me. You are the same age as Jia'er, so you can accompany me to relieve my boredom."

Nanny Song looked at Ali with an unfriendly expression.

A few days ago, the second young master told the adults and the lady about Miss He's medical consultation, saying that it was for the lady's own good, so the lady couldn't refuse on the spot.

But she had served the Madam since she was a child, and later followed the Madam into the Prime Minister's Mansion. She knew that the Second Young Master was a sweet-faced but bitter-hearted man, and that the Madam was not a soft-hearted person either. The two of them had always been at odds with each other, and their relationship was not as loving mother and filial son as rumored by the outside world.

This matter of Miss He could have been dealt with perfunctorily. It would not lower one's status, and there would be no need to upset the adults because of this matter. Why go to so much trouble today?

Nanny Song looked at Madam Pei with concern and a worried look on her face.

Madam's illness is clearly a heart disease, which cannot be cured by medicine. The second young master specially called a yellow-haired girl from nowhere to take Madam's pulse, which is just a poke at Madam's heart.

Ali understood and stood up: "Of course I am willing, as long as Madam doesn't mind that I am clumsy."

Xu Lingjia behind him had a sullen face. She had originally planned to go and talk to Madam Pei and let Ali wait for her outside the hall, but she didn't expect that now everything would be reversed.

The inner room was quiet and peaceful, with wisps of green smoke burning from the Boshan stove on the table. Madam Pei's expression seemed to have relaxed. She leaned slightly on the couch, and a maid brought a bowl of medicine.

"Let it go for now." Madam Pei waved her hand and motioned for Ali to come forward, looking weary. "Didn't my son ask you to feel his pulse?"

The Madam Pei in front of him was very different from the one in Ali's memory. The Madam Pei in the book was arrogant and looked down on He Li, a girl with a vulgar appearance and no sense of propriety and shame. She made He Li very embarrassed at this banquet.

But when Pei Miao proposed to marry her, Mrs. Pei did not obstruct him. After the marriage, she just ignored He Li and seemed to be disdainful of having any contact with her.

Something flashed through Ali's mind, but without thinking too much, he bowed and walked forward. A maid had already brought a pulse pillow and a silk handkerchief. Ali sat down in front of Madam Pei and placed his fingers on her.

Mrs. Pei supported her forehead with her hand and closed her eyes to rest. When she heard the sound, she raised her eyelids and saw that Ali behaved very well and was very graceful. His expression became a little softer. The maid behind him was slowly waving a round fan.

After a moment, Ali withdrew his hand, and said softly with some hesitation in his tone, "Madam is in good health and there is nothing serious."

Mrs. Pei did not open her eyes, as if she did not hear what Ali said. She just moved her fingers, signaling Nanny Song to send the guest away.

Ali had no choice but to get up and leave, and suddenly stopped when he reached the door.

Nanny Song glanced at her, and Ali turned around and said, "Madam, you are fine. Just eat some nourishing food every day. This pregnancy medicine... all medicines are toxic. Even if you are not sick, you can get sick after taking it."

After saying that, Ali turned and left the inner room.

Mrs. Pei then slowly opened her eyes, and her beautiful gaze moved slightly to the bowl of cold medicine on the table.

*

After leaving the inner courtyard, Ali stopped a maid who was sweeping the outer room and asked, "Have you seen Miss Xu from the Fuguo family?"

The maid shook her head in confusion, "I haven't seen them, but I just heard the sister in the front yard say that the banquet is about to start. I saw many ladies going to the hanging flower hall."

Ali nodded thoughtfully: "Thank you."

The maid bowed and left in a hurry.

The breeze blew up the corner of Ali's light purple clothes. She stood there and looked around. This place was not much different from the Prime Minister's Mansion in her memory. The Prime Minister and his wife lived in Jingyong Hall behind the main courtyard, Pei Miao's Lianyunxuan was in the west courtyard, and the Chuihua Hall for banquets was in the southeast corner, next to the Fu Garden they had just passed by.

Ali brushed past the pillars of the corridor. Just now, Ali had roughly understood where Mrs. Pei's malice in the book came from.

The servants, maids and housekeepers encountered along the way were all neatly dressed and acted in an orderly manner. Madam Pei herself was even more graceful and elegant, even more so than the empresses and concubines that Ali had seen. She could be described as a "model of etiquette", worthy of being a family of the Gao family that had produced two imperial tutors and three chancellors.

However, because she attached great importance to etiquette and rules, Mrs. Pei naturally would not take Ali, who was still in the boudoir, hugging a strange man in broad daylight seriously. In addition, Ali made many jokes due to nervousness when they met for the first time, which made her even more unhappy.

As for why he didn't stop Pei Miao from proposing marriage.

Naturally, it was because Madam Pei was happy to see Pei Miao marry a lady of humble origin. This marriage also caused Pei Miao and Prime Minister Pei to quarrel several times, which made Prime Minister Pei extremely disappointed. This was killing two birds with one stone.

After figuring this out, Ali sneered and left Jing Yongyuan.

After passing through the corridor of the main courtyard and heading east, there is a green lake. If you continue walking along the waterside pavilion, you will reach the hanging flower hall. However, Ali stopped and walked, hesitated for a long time, and turned into a small road. It seemed that he was lost.

Ali didn't meet anyone along the way, and his guess became more and more certain.

I don’t know how long I walked, but at the end of the road, I saw a dilapidated yard. The grass and trees on both sides of the road were so thick that they completely covered the yard.

Ali climbed up the stairs and saw a three-story pavilion in front of him. The eaves were like flying corners and the plaque at the top came into view.

Dingcang Pavilion.