Wan Qiuyu was wearing a pink gauze dress that trailed on the ground. The color of the dress was like smoke and clouds, transparent and gorgeous. She had a soft emerald gauze wrapped around her arm and a beautiful peony flower inserted in her hair.
Her dark eyebrows are as charming as the distant mountains, and her green hair is thickly dyed with spring smoke.
Even Princess Anyang and the Eighth Princess, who were used to seeing beauties, were stunned for a moment.
"Greetings, princesses," Wan Qiuyu said after bowing. "I heard that the princesses and my third sister are very bored, so His Highness has come to invite you to go to the manor to listen to an opera tomorrow. His Highness has invited a troupe and there will be quite a few guests, so it should be very lively. If the princesses and my third sister want to kill time in this hot summer, you should come and join in the fun."
Anyang was very excited, "Okay."
Life in the palace is boring, and there is not much to do outside the palace to escape the summer heat. The most you can do is talk to your sisters.
Although the opera troupe's singing is not very pleasant to the ear, it is nice to listen to when you are bored.
The Eighth Princess was in a bad mood because her mother was demoted and she was not willing to leave the palace to escape the summer heat. It was her mother who forced her to leave the palace as she did not want to be implicated in palace affairs.
Wan Jinlan couldn't get close to Wan Qiuyu, and he felt a bit disgusted with Xiao Minghuan, so his attitude was not very warm.
Only Princess Anyang was in high spirits. "Third brother, you'd better invite a storyteller. Opera is too noisy and will make you irritable if you listen to it for too long."
Xiao Minghuan agreed with a smile on his face.
The next day, Wan Jinlan took Chuntao to Xiao Minghuan's farm.
The farms outside Beijing are not far away. It only takes the time of an incense stick to get there by horse carriage.
There were quite a few guests today, including Prince Xiao Zheng of Guangling and his wife, Prince Xiao Nianshen of Su, Prince Xiao Xu of Jin, Princess Anyang, the Eighth Princess, the newly promoted Prince Rui, and some sons and daughters of noble families.
Wan Qiuyu's attire today was more elegant and decent than yesterday. She stayed beside Xiao Minghuan to greet guests, as if she were a proper princess of Prince Duan's Mansion.
At this time, the opera troupe was singing on the stage. Wan Jinlan looked around and found that there were many people who didn't like listening to opera like her. Most of the operas were loved by the elders.
But with so many people around, it was much more interesting than just a few people feeding the fish together on ordinary days, and it was also lively to listen to.
Anyang whispered in her ear, "My third brother previously told Mother that many small foreign nations in the southwest have submitted letters and are planning to send envoys to Kyoto to pay tribute."
Wan Jinlan asked doubtfully, "Isn't this normal?"
The small southwestern states were paying tribute, but in reality, they were exchanging small amounts for greater rewards from the Wei. This was like a trade, with the Wei always on the losing side. However, whether or not they were at a disadvantage cannot be determined in this way. The Wei exchanged supplies for the stability of the small southwestern states, a tangible sacrifice for the greater good.
Anyang continued, "It's not so bad if it's just the small southwestern kingdoms. The nomadic peoples of the northern steppes have also sent envoys to the capital. My third brother said that the people of the northern Rong might be interested in marrying a Wei princess."
Wan Jinlan sat up straight. The only princesses in the palace who were of marriageable age and had not yet married were Princess Anyang and the Eighth Princess. Anyang was older than the Eighth Princess.
Beirong is a country formed by the integration of nomadic peoples on the grassland. In the past few years, the tribes had not yet integrated and were independent of each other, so they were not a big threat. However, in recent years, Beirong has been invading the border from time to time and looting border towns, and has become a major threat to the Wei Dynasty.
For example, if small southwestern countries that are not strong and cannot unite as one want to marry the princess, Wei will not agree because they are not worthy. However, if they are powerful enemies, that may not be the case.
Although we don't know whether the marriage is true or not, we should take precautions before it happens.
So today, inviting so many young men from aristocratic families was the Imperial Concubine's idea?
Neither of them wanted to listen to the opera, so they went to a pavilion not far away.
"My mother was worried, so she asked my third brother to invite many noble sons today."
Wan Jinlan gently waved his round fan, "Which one do you like?"
Anyang looked a little embarrassed. "The one in white shirt is sitting in the last row, the one in blue robe is sitting next to the waterside pavilion, and the one in the first row is sitting next to Prince Su."
Wan Jinlan: “…!”
Anyang looked at her expression and said angrily, "Just three people, why make such a fuss?"
Wan Jinlan: All right! As long as you are happy.
The one in the last row wearing a white shirt is the youngest son of the Wuning Marquis family. He has red lips and white teeth, and looks like a pale-faced scholar.
The man standing by the waterside had a resolute face and straight features. He had the military temperament of his elder brother Wan Muxing. He seemed to be a guard at the palace gate and often walked around the palace. She had seen him several times, but she didn't know where he came from.
Beside the third Prince Su was the grandson of the Grand Tutor.
"Whose family does the man in blue shirt come from?" Wan Jinlan observed for a long time. The man in blue shirt was a taciturn person. He was not very friendly to so many noble children present. It was obvious that his family was not a high-ranking one.
The truth may not be pleasant to hear, but the social classes of the noble children in Kyoto are still very clearly divided.
Anyang covered his mouth with a round fan and whispered, "He is from the Ningyuan Earl's Mansion, his name is Chen Congbai, and he is currently serving in the Imperial Guards."
Speaking of the Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion, Wan Jinlan had some impression. Although the Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion was a declining one, the Ningyuan Marquis only had an empty title and no official position in the court. However, the Ningyuan Marquis was very good at business. When she was in the southwest, the Ningyuan Marquis had visited her father at the mansion and sent gifts during the New Year.
Among the three families that Anyang has his eyes on, the Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion is rich, the Taifu's Mansion is noble and elegant, and the Wuning Marquis's Mansion is favored by the emperor. Generally speaking, they are all good choices.
Obviously, Concubine Wan also put a lot of thought into it.
Among them, Zhou Shi'an, the grandson of the Taifu family, looked at Anyang from time to time, with a look of admiration on his face.
Wan Jinlan nudged Ding Anyang with his elbow, shielding his mouth with his round fan. "He's looking at you."
Zhou Shi'an not only looked, but also brought a plate of chilled fruits over.
Although he was a little nervous, he seemed to be forcing himself to remain calm.
"Princess, Miss Wan."
Anyang looked up at him, which made Zhou Shian even more nervous.
Wan Jinlan smiled secretly, "Mr. Zhou, please sit down. There's no need to be so reserved."
The garden is open on all sides, so young men and women can gather together and talk without being accused of being unruly.
Zhou Shian became more reserved, but still sat down.
He glanced at Princess Anyang furtively and said, "I heard that Princess likes to read storybooks. I have the latest storybooks by Mr. Nanyang published by the bookstore."
Zhou Shian took out a book from his arms and placed it on the stone table.
Wan Jinlan sighed in his heart, he was well prepared.
Anyang suddenly asked, "Mr. Zhou works at the Ministry of Rites and has been closely associated with my family. He should be the most respectful of etiquette. How could he give this princess something in private? Isn't this a private exchange?"
Zhou Shi'an's face flushed red, his eyes were filled with panic, and his words were indeed based on his true feelings. "I, I just wanted to give the princess a book. I didn't think too much about it. And I gave it to her openly. How can it be considered a private gift?"
Zhou Shian spoke more fluently and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "If the princess dislikes it, I won't do it again next time."
Princess Anyang picked up the storybook and said with a sweet smile, "I like it very much, so I'll take it."
Zhou Shian was visibly happy.
"If I publish any more storybooks in the future, I will definitely buy them and ask someone to send them to the princess and bring them to the palace."
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