Chapter 18 Don't let just any Tom, Dick, or Harry fawn over the lady! ...
Looking at herself in the mirror, Wen Miao paused for two seconds before finally covering her mouth and chuckling softly.
Wanbi said, "Shicui and I were quite surprised when we came in. No matter how much we like the Dragon Boat Festival, we've never seen anyone wear so many ornaments."
One could count more than a dozen items on Wen Miao's body, including things she wore, hairpins, and hanging ornaments, many of which were customs from the South.
The woman on the couch had a smile in her eyes, and her hair swayed wildly at her temples. She was as radiant as a flower, and Shi Cui and Wan Bi's eyes sparkled as they were almost completely captivated by this beautiful lady.
She removed the heavy "blessing" from her hair, feeling both helpless and amused, thinking to herself, "Why is Emperor Qian Yuan dressing me up like a Christmas tree?"
As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Wen Miao paused slightly.
Shi Cui, with her keen observation, asked, "What's wrong with Madam?"
"It's nothing." Wen Miao shook her head. She pondered the words "Christmas tree" in her mind, feeling both strange and familiar. She couldn't help but ask, "Do you know what a Christmas tree is?"
Shi Cui and Wan Bi shook their heads blankly, having never even heard of the term before.
Wen Miao herself didn't know either. She smiled and simply took it as a magical thing she had unexpectedly dreamt about.
On the Dragon Boat Festival, the streets were bustling in the evening. After Wen Miao returned to the mansion and changed into her nightgown, she saw several sachets that the emperor had hung up while she was taking a nap on the table. She picked them up and played with them, but then noticed that there seemed to be something stuffed in the back compartment of the sachets.
Wen Miao, out of curiosity, carefully pulled it out.
Each sachet contained a slip of paper; when unfolded, the sharp, flowing strokes of the pen stood out, bearing the words—
May you enjoy good health and well-being year after year.
May your wife be forever happy and carefree.
May you have good fortune in all four seasons.
...
When Wen Miao flipped to the last page, the content had changed—"Thank you, Madam, for the Dragon Boat Festival gift."
Wen Miao was taken aback. Suddenly, she remembered the item she had hidden in her sleeve when she went out during the day. She hurried over in her embroidered shoes, reached into her sleeve, but found nothing.
Meanwhile, inside the imperial bedchamber.
Emperor Qianyuan, holding a book, leaned back on his couch. The hall was brightly lit by candles and filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. After turning a couple of pages, the emperor reached out and touched the light blue sachet hanging at his waist, which he had taken without being asked.
The embroidery on it wasn't particularly neat or outstanding; it was a plump bamboo leaf that looked rather festive, which seemed incongruous with the emperor's dignity. However, Emperor Qian Yuan liked it very much and carried it with him at all times, as if afraid that others wouldn't see it.
This was embroidered for him by his wife.
It can only be his.
On the wooden table beside Emperor Qianyuan, there was a wooden box with its lid half open. Inside, soft, bright yellow silk was laid out, and on it lay a jade hairpin and a bright red pomegranate flower that had once lingered on the lady's hair.
He put down his book and held the flower, burying it deep in his high nose for a moment.
Its flavor is light and lingering, seemingly blending with the warm fragrance emanating from the lady, lingering for a long time.
...
After the Dragon Boat Festival, it gets light earlier.
At the Duke of Wei's residence, Meng Hanzhou woke up feeling restless and hot, so he took off his shirt, picked up a long spear, and practiced martial arts in the courtyard. It took him more than half an hour to calm down. Afterwards, he washed up and rested, changed into a dark blue casual outfit, and then went to the backyard to pay his respects to his mother and have a meal.
He had only taken a few steps when he ran into Meng Jingqiu.
"Brother, you were amazing in the dragon boat race yesterday! Several young ladies around me blushed when they saw you!"
Meng Jingqiu smiled broadly, clearly proud of her brother.
If yesterday hadn't been mentioned, it would have been fine, but now that it's brought up, Meng Hanzhou couldn't help but think of that fleeting glimpse in the crowded throng, and then of his reckless and offensive behavior in his dream.
Being young, he was hot-tempered. No matter how much he told himself to cherish and be cautious, he still couldn't control himself in his dreams.
How could he be so disrespectful to his wife!
Meng Jingqiu looked on curiously, "Brother, why are your ears so red? Are you that hot?"
Meng Hanzhou hurriedly raised his hand to rub his chest, his voice muffled as he said, "I was practicing martial arts just now, so the heat might not have dissipated yet."
He paused, then, remembering his parents' anxiety about his marriage, he casually asked, "Was the person next to you yesterday from the Xie family?"
"Yes, didn't we greet her yesterday? She is Xie Mengjun. Brother, you are so forgetful. You've already forgotten after just one night."
Meng Hanzhou nodded, not caring about his sister's teasing. He only picked out a few questions about the Xie family, and his smile became even more obvious when his sister said that Xie Mengjun's cousin was beautiful, had a good figure, and lived as a widow.
After the family finished their meal in the hall, Meng Hanzhou went to the military camp for training. The burly Duke of Wei stared at his eldest son's back with a strange expression.
"This kid usually has a sullen face, like I owe him money, so why is he smiling like a wild chrysanthemum today?"
The Duchess of Wei nudged her husband beside her and said irritably, "How dare you speak like that!"
"My brother is acting a bit strange today!"
Meng Jingqiu nodded, "He usually doesn't care at all which girl I play with, but today he kept asking me about it several times."
Upon hearing this, the eyes of the Duke and Duchess of Wei, who had been worried about their eldest son's marriage for a long time, immediately lit up. "Who did Hanzhou ask?"
"It's Xie Mengjun and the Xie family."
There's also that beautiful cousin from the Xie family. But she's an elder, so the brother must have feelings for her, right?
Lady Wei: "I remember the Xie family's little girl is the same age as you, a little younger... Yuan Niang, didn't you dislike her before?"
Meng Jingqiu blushed slightly and whispered, "In the capital, being thin and frail is all the rage. I dieted for a long time because of this. Other young ladies praised me, saying that I was the top noble lady in the capital. Xie Mengjun had a round face and loved to eat snacks, so I originally looked down on her. But after meeting her cousin, I realized that a plump woman could also be so beautiful."
The little girl's mind is simple. Everyone likes pretty people, and Meng Jingqiu is no exception. Although Xie Mengjun's face is soft to pinch and her words are interesting, she only played with Xie Mengjun in order to get closer to her cousin Xie!
She didn't like Xie Mengjun that much! But... if Xie Mengjun became her sister-in-law, wouldn't her sister-in-law's cousin also be her cousin?
Meng Jingqiu blinked thoughtfully.
Hearing her daughter's words, the Duchess of Wei recalled a glimpse she had made at the magnolia banquet in the palace. She hadn't seen clearly through the flower branches, but the woman's figure and fair skin alone were enough to tell that she was extraordinary.
The Duke of Wei ignored everything else and only asked, "Did your brother inquire about the Xie family's young lady? Did he take a fancy to her yesterday and that's why he subtly inquired about it?"
Lady Wei Guogong regained her senses and said, "It's alright if they are young. We can get engaged first. The Xie family has received much imperial favor, and they are a suitable match for the Duke's family... We can invite the Xie family's women to our residence for a visit. Husband, you should also communicate and discuss with Xie Gong in court. After I have seen the women, if they are suitable, I can ask the Emperor for a decree to grant them marriage."
In the years since the imperial examination system was introduced, the structure of officials in the Great Chu court has been restructured, and the aristocratic families in the capital are not as powerful as before, including the Duke's Mansion. However, the Xie family, which had previously declined, is now favored by the emperor. If the Duke's Mansion could form a marriage alliance with the Xie family, it would naturally be a wonderful thing.
The Duke of Wei's mansion had already made its plans. Meng Hanzhou, in the military camp, sneezed violently several times. As for Xie Mengjun, who was being targeted—
"Aunt! Meng Yuanniang's family sent out invitations, inviting us to her residence for tea, flower viewing, and swinging!"
The Great Chu Dynasty had few restrictions on women, and there were many recreational activities for women to participate in throughout the year. In recent years, the most popular activities in the capital were spring outings, summer swings, autumn chrysanthemum appreciation, and winter gathering around the stove.
Wen Miao took the invitation; its delicate calligraphy, printed on gold foil, was exquisite and beautiful, showing how much she valued it.
However, such banquets were commonplace for noble ladies in the capital.
The next day, Wen Miao and Xie Mengjun left home at the end of the 11 PM and took a carriage to the Duke of Wei's mansion.
When they arrived, many women from the capital had already gathered in the garden of the Duke's mansion, all dressed in fine clothes. As soon as Xie Mengjun arrived, she was greeted by girls her age, and her eyes lit up with excitement.
Wen Miao smiled and said, "Just let them play, but be careful not to hurt yourself."
“If I go, my aunt will be all alone.” Although she was young, she had always been willing to take care of her beautiful aunt.
Wen Miao prefers quiet. "It's alright, I'll go sit in the pavilion. I guarantee you'll see me as soon as you look up."
Xie Mengjun: "Auntie, you must call me if anything happens!"
Wen Miao nodded repeatedly, and Xie Mengjun finally left with peace of mind.
The Duke of Wei's Mansion has been built for a century. Its inner courtyard is simple and rustic, with a waterside pavilion built by the pond. The vermilion railings are slightly mottled, but this only makes them more stylish and profound.
Wen Miao strolled slowly across the lakeside corridor and sat down in the pavilion, where a stone table was already laden with fruits and snacks. Upon seeing the distinguished guest take her seat, a maidservant nearby brought over a tea set. Shi Cui and Wan Bi immediately took the set and served their mistress tea and water with utmost care and attentiveness.
Across from the waterside pavilion, several young girls were playing with flowers. Xie Mengjun and Meng Jingqiu sat on the swings on either side of each other, their faces beaming with smiles, seemingly talking about something.
Inside the garden were older, married women who were more demure and elegant than the unmarried young ladies. They simply sat together, admiring the flowers, drinking tea, and chatting about their husbands and children.
Wen Miao was not familiar with the female relatives of the prominent families and officials in the capital, nor was she particularly warm-hearted, so she simply enjoyed a moment of leisure in the pavilion.
In the foyer and study—
The tall and robust Duke of Wei knelt on the ground, cold sweat beading on his temples, and kowtowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
In the Great Chu court, all officials born into aristocratic families deeply feared their emperor. In particular, the Duke of Wei, who was an observer of the palace coup years ago, felt a chill down his spine when facing Emperor Qian Yuan. He began to carefully examine whether he had made any mistakes recently, which led the emperor to set foot inside the Duke's mansion.
While the Duke of Wei waited anxiously, His Majesty called him to get up and said he wanted to play a game of chess with him.
Duke Wei couldn't help but let out a bewildered "Ah."
Everyone in the capital knows he's a terrible chess player. His Majesty's sudden departure from the palace to play chess with him—isn't he just looking for an excuse to get rid of him?
Sweat beaded on the Duke of Wei's forehead, but the Emperor had already sat down. Xu Sheng cleverly set up the chessboard, his face beaming, "Duke, please go first—"
Helpless, he had no choice but to obediently sit down. As expected, he was utterly annihilated by the emperor. The further he sat down, the more trembling he became, and his entire back was soaked in cold sweat.
despair.
When Emperor Qian Yuan placed the piece that symbolized the end of the matter, the Duke of Wei breathed a sigh of relief. He wanted to say something more, but then he saw the emperor stand up and prepare to leave.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."
The emperor paused slightly, a cryptic smile playing on his lips. As he stepped across the threshold, he said slowly and deliberately, "The Duke's son, so impetuous at such a young age."
It was a very ordinary remark, yet it set off alarm bells in the Duke of Wei's heart.
He instinctively wanted to chase after him, but Xu Sheng stopped him with a smile, "Your Excellency, please stop."
Duke Wei wiped the cold sweat from his brow and asked in a low voice, "Could Eunuch Xu give us a clear indication?"
Xu Sheng still smiled, "The Duke is a smart man; the family's atmosphere must not be crooked."
Even if things go astray, don't let just any Tom, Dick, or Harry try to get close to the Empress. Her Majesty can't tolerate any nonsense!
A note from the author:
----------------------
His Majesty today: (sarcastically) The son of a Duke, so young and impetuous!
The Emperor's daily routine: showering his wife with kisses and cuddles – suppressing rivals – more kisses and cuddles with his wife – another inspection tour, suppressing rivals again.
Wen Miao's daily life: Being pestered by the emperor - pestered while eating, pestered while sleeping, pestered while reading.
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