Chapter 371 Qin Jin (Part 2)

"Is there any need to ask this?" said the Second Lady. "Princess Fucheng must have been afraid that the Emperor would issue an imperial decree, which would make it difficult to settle Yang's daughter in the future, so she urged the Emperor to issue an imperial decree in the name of the Empress Dowager. It just so happened that the Emperor was worried about being laughed at by the world for issuing an imperial decree to give a concubine, so he went with the flow and asked the eunuchs of Cining Palace to help convey the decree."

After hearing this, Eleventh Lady and the Lady Dowager looked towards Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi nodded slightly: "Since ancient times, the emperor has only issued an edict to grant marriages, not concubines. The emperor originally planned to give the order orally, but Princess Fucheng was afraid that something might happen later and she was anxious to finalize the matter. The empress dowager was afraid that our two families would not keep their promises, so she wanted to restrict the two families with an edict. So Marquis Jianning and Shi Zheng drafted the eunuch in Cining Palace, and the eunuch in Cining Palace passed the order, and the matter was finalized on the spot."

"I was wondering why the imperial decree was issued in the evening, and the content was so inappropriate, as if it was a seal for the ladies of the imperial court." The lady said, "So that's what happened." Then she asked him with concern, "Why did you come back at this time?"

"After that, the emperor stayed in Cining Palace to take care of his illness, and we also served beside him. After the empress came, Princess Fucheng stayed with the empress in Cining Palace, and we followed the emperor to Qianqing Palace. The emperor treated us to a midnight snack. Since the palace had been locked, we stayed in the duty room for the night. The next morning, the emperor asked the eunuch to summon Shi Zheng and me to Qianqing Palace to talk. We waited until the emperor came to the morning court and talked for a while before returning."

The lady's expression became serious: "What did the emperor say before?"

"He didn't say anything." Xu Lingyi said implicitly, "The emperor only said that he had taken care of the empress dowager for many years. Even if he couldn't be posthumously named 'Ren' after a hundred years, he should at least be named 'Xiao'!"

This is probably the reason why the Emperor has always respected the Empress Dowager and been tolerant of Marquis Jianning and Earl Changshou!

Eleventh Lady was thinking about it.

No matter what happened back then, in the eyes of the world, the Queen Mother had a great favor towards the Emperor. If it had not been for the Queen Mother's mediation, the late Emperor would not have made the Emperor the Crown Prince. Now, the Queen Mother is getting old and ill. Just like the 99th step of a hundred steps has been taken, the Emperor certainly does not want to lose the big picture for the small, and let the Queen Mother have an accident at the last moment and bear the name of "unfilial".

The lady's expression relaxed after hearing this: "Since you are unwilling to issue an imperial decree and have used an imperial decree instead, and you have said such words, I am relieved!"

The emperor's meaning is very clear. As long as the queen mother is alive, some things need to be taken care of. On the contrary, if the queen mother is gone...

It seems that according to the current situation, as long as the Queen Mother is alive, Yang will have to show respect to her.

But there is a saying that goes, "bend and flatten, hold firmly". The Queen Mother has been ill for more than half a year, and even Princess Fucheng's words in Fengxian Hall only made her "frightened". Who dares to assert that the Queen Mother will not "be happy and happy" and delay for another three to five years!

Eleventh Lady was complaining in her heart. She simply asked the Lady Dowager directly: "Mother, what do you think is the proper way to carry out the ceremony of taking a concubine?"

"What should we do?" The lady smiled faintly, "Since it is a concubine, we should follow the ceremony of taking a concubine. What is there to discuss!" Her tone was full of disdain, "The rules for marrying Aunt Qiao are the same as those for marrying Yang's daughter." Then she said, "The fourth son has just returned from the palace. You should go back and have dinner first! I don't need to serve you here. In the afternoon, we will discuss and decide on the banquet for March 3rd."

Xu Lingyi stood up after hearing this: "Then let's go back first!"

The lady nodded and said lovingly, "Go back quickly!"

Eleventh Lady followed Xu Lingyi and said goodbye to the title of Madam and returned to the house.

Xu Lingyi leaned on the kang and said, "Make me a bowl of mixed noodles. I ate a bowl of millet porridge at the beginning of the morning." It was already early afternoon, and he was probably so hungry that he just wanted to eat something soupy. After saying that, he added, "It's the mixed noodles you made for my birthday last time."

The noodles were made by Shiyi Niang herself. She added a little oil when kneading the noodles, and used beef bones, chicken bones, and duck bones to make a soup, adding winter bamboo shoots, mushrooms, bean sprouts, carrots and other sauces. It was very ordinary. But the soup was refreshing and the noodles were crispy.

"Then, Lord, please rest for a while!" Eleventh Lady casually put the red-bottomed Danfeng Chaoyang silk quilt on Xu Lingyi's body and said, "I'll call you when the noodles are ready!"

Xu Lingyi nodded.

Eleventh Lady went to the small kitchen, made a bowl of mixed noodles herself and brought it to the inner room.

Xu Lingyi was sleeping soundly with his head tilted. He looked peaceful, without the stern look he had when awake. He seemed several years younger.

Eleventh Lady hesitated for a moment, and Xu Lingyi had already opened his eyes and sat up with a somewhat sleepy look.

“I smell the aroma!”

Eleventh Lady smiled and placed the red lacquered crabapple tray on the table in front of him: "My Lord, eat something before going to sleep!"

Xu Lingyi picked up the chopsticks: "You should eat something too!"

Eleventh Lady doesn't like eating noodles, so she said tactfully: "I'm not hungry yet, I'll eat later."

Xu Lingyi didn't force himself, and just like last time, he ate three bowls before putting down his chopsticks.

Eleventh Lady helped him wash and rest, then went to the west room and told Amber to check the account books of that year and asked the maids to prepare the meal.

After the meal, Amber brought the account book to Lin: "…The bed, quilt, candles and utensils cost a total of three hundred taels of silver. The four tables of banquets cost two hundred taels of silver."

Eleventh Lady was a little surprised.

Unexpectedly, Na Qiao Lian Fang only spent 500 taels of silver in total, of which the expenses for the banquet accounted for two-fifths.

Amber has been following Shiyi Niang for these days and has become more proactive in doing things. She no longer follows orders as usual. She thought that the Marquis went to the Dowager's place with Shiyi Niang as soon as he entered the house, most likely to discuss marrying the daughter of the Yang family. When Shiyi Niang came back, she checked the account books when she took Qiao Lian's room. Most likely, it was related to marrying the daughter of the Yang family, so she also checked the account books of Concubine Na Wen.

"…When Madam Wen came to the palace, she spent a total of five hundred taels of silver on her bed, tents, quilts, candles and utensils. She also invited four tables of banquets, which cost one hundred and sixty taels of silver." She added, "I asked Madam Song again. Madam Song said that when Madam Wen first entered the palace, our eldest aunt gave her a red gold headband inlaid with South pearls, a pair of red gold hairpins inlaid with bluestone, and a pair of red gold twisted silk bracelets, which were worth more than three hundred taels of silver in total. When Madam Qiao entered the palace, our eldest aunt only gave her a pair of jadeite flowers, which were worth more than thirty taels of silver.

When Eleventh Lady heard this, she understood everything.

She asked Amber to invite Manager Bai in, and then she sat down at her desk and wrote a list of guests that she wanted to invite on March 3rd.

After laughing, Manager Bai also came.

"...The auspicious date is set for March 12." Eleventh Lady said straight to the point, "This day is here in the blink of an eye. Some things need to be prepared early."

Manager Bai bowed slightly and said seriously, "Please give your orders, Madam."

"The new house can be set up in the former residence of the Second Young Master. Take advantage of the good sunshine these two days and find someone to paint it. As for the ceremony and rules, follow the one when Aunt Qiao enters the house." Eleventh Lady said, her eyes fell on Amber, "When the time comes, you can copy a copy of the account book of that year and give it to Chief Steward Bai, and Chief Steward Bai can also send someone to arrange it according to the instructions."

But Manager Bai's eyes narrowed slightly.

He was an old man in the mansion. How could he not remember how much money Madam Wen spent to get married and how much money Qiao Lianfang spent to get married?

Amber just felt happy.

Yang was favored by the Queen Mother, and no one knew what kind of temper she had. If the Marquis kept giving Yang respect, I was afraid that Shiyi Niang would lose power.

She smiled and said "yes", and went downstairs with Manager Bai to record the account books.

Eleventh Lady stood up and prepared to go to the lady's place.

Qiao Lianfang asked for a meeting.

She wore a willow green silk jacket and a white embroidered skirt. Her hair was neatly combed into a bun and a silver lotus hairpin was inserted in her hair. She looked fresh, elegant and generous.

Eleventh Lady was a little surprised.

It seemed like this was the first time she saw Qiao Lianfang dressed so simply.

Qiao Lianfang bowed respectfully to Eleventh Lady.

Eleventh Lady asked the maid to bring a brocade stool for her to sit on.

She smiled and thanked him, half-sitting on the brocade stool, glancing at the paper in Eleventh Lady's hand and saying, "Madam, are you still busy with the March 3rd banquet? Then aren't you very busy these days?"

Does that mean she has to deal with both San Er San's banquet and Yang's marriage?

"It's not bad!" said Eleventh Lady, "There are old rules to follow. Just follow them!"

Qiao Lianfang laughed and said, "Madam is a smart person. She understands everything at a glance, so she can get twice the result with half the effort. Unlike me, I am clumsy and can't do anything well."

"Aunt Qiao is too modest." Seeing her as if she was going to chat with her, Eleventh Lady couldn't help but secretly wonder what she was here for.

"I'm not being modest." Qiao Lianfang said with a smile, "Every March 3rd, there are so many wives of officials and ministers visiting us. Not only do we have to greet them, but we also have to arrange for opera performances, banquet dishes, tea... It's scary just thinking about it. But Madam has taken care of everything so easily."

She could actually talk about March 3rd in such a casual tone!

Eleventh Lady felt something was wrong.

But before she could open her mouth to speak, Qiao Lianfang's expression darkened and she lowered her head slightly: "Now that I think about it, it's really fate's trick." Her voice was a little low, "Everyone who was at the Spring Banquet that year has gone their separate ways!"

What's the point of saying this now?

Is there anything that can be changed?

It will only make people feel sad that things have changed and the world is unpredictable!

Shiyi Niang felt that she and Qiao Lianfang could not possibly have any common language. She picked up the teacup and sipped the tea: "What does Aunt Qiao want to talk to me about?"

"Nothing, nothing." Qiao Lianfang raised her head and smiled bitterly. "I saw that Madam Wen was wholeheartedly helping the eldest lady prepare her wedding dowry, and Madam Qin was making summer clothes for the fifth young master, and she also had to take time to make some snacks for the second young master. I was the only one who was free, so I wanted to come and see if Madam had any help. I didn't expect that you would talk about the things that happened in the past." She said, and sighed deeply. "Madam, you and I are destined to be together. I will tell you something from the bottom of my heart! Although Madam was I must have heard about it in the imperial court. After your sister passed away, the Queen Mother wanted to marry the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Jianning to the Marquis. But the Marquis had promised your sister that he would choose a woman from the Luo family as his successor, so he refused the Queen Mother. Because of this, the Queen Mother has been unhappy. Unexpectedly, the Queen Mother finally married a woman from the Yang family. Since ancient times, the imperial decree only granted marriages, not concubines. You'd better be careful. It is said that the late emperor also gave concubines to his ministers, and some concubines were promoted to the first wife after the death of the first wife, and even received imperial decrees. "