Chapter 2439 Guests
Manbao got out, got on his horse, and ran to the back to find Zhao Liulang and the others. "What snacks would you like? We'll go back and prepare them. They'll be ready for you when you change your clothes and come over later."
Zhao Liulang and the others, who had no intention of going back to change clothes, were stunned and asked, "What clothes do we want to change?"
Manbao looked at them with disdain and said, "The invitations for you have been delivered to your homes, and you plan to come here yourself, without bringing your wives?"
Two said, "We don't have wives."
Manbao: "Bring your mother!"
Everyone was silent and could only nod in agreement, so after leaving the imperial city, they went back to their homes, planning to visit with their families.
Manbao and his companions arrived at the street first. Mingda and Changyu got off the car, bringing only two guards and four palace maids with them. Then they took the carriage hired by Manbao and went to Zhou's house in a low-key manner.
The Zhou family's main door was open, and the side doors on both sides were also open, but guests all entered through the main door.
Manbao and the others sneaked to the east door and slipped in from there.
Entering through the east door and walking around a courtyard is where Mr. Zhuang lives and their large study. Further down is the backyard, where Madam Liu and her family live.
Manbao asked Baishan and others to entertain the guests, while she took Mingda and Changyu to play with Zheng.
As expected, Zheng was in the backyard, taking inventory of the items on the list with her servants. Seeing them coming, she immediately stepped forward with a smile, bowed to Mingda Changyu, and then whispered, "I've had the greenhouse set up. There's no one in the back garden right now, so go take a look. Tell me if you need anything, and I'll prepare it for you."
Manbao happily agreed and took Mingda and the others to see it.
A lot of things had been moved out of the greenhouse, leaving only some of the more blooming flowers in beautiful pots.
Ever since she knew that the princesses were coming to the banquet secretly, Zheng started to prepare.
The windows on both sides of the greenhouse were opened, and even the thatched roof that was used to keep out the cold had been removed, so sunlight was pouring in through the gaps in the roof.
The southeast windows were wide open, letting in a large amount of sunlight, casting sunlight on the wooden benches on both sides.
Mingda and Changyu were both seeing such a rustic house for the first time. They happily picked up their skirts and ran inside. "This isn't a house at all. It's more like a pavilion."
Mingda counted the windows and said happily, "She has eight windows on this side. Isn't it almost like a pavilion? How can it be used as a greenhouse in winter?"
Manbao said, "In the winter, the windows are not only closed, but the gaps are blocked with thatch. There's a fire place in this house. Look, that's the chimney. When the fire is lit, the house becomes warm, but the smoke comes out through there."
Mingda: "It's similar to the greenhouse in the palace, except that one side of the greenhouse is made of glass, which allows sunlight to pass through and keeps the room warm."
Manbao was shocked. "That's too much money."
Chang Yu asked curiously, "What kind of beautiful flowers do you have at home?"
"Is this the greenhouse? There are just a few pots of peonies and orchids. Aside from the hassle and the firewood, everything else is fine."
Aunt Zheng likes flowers and plants just like her, but she likes to dig them while Aunt Zheng likes to plant them.
This greenhouse was built by herself when she was bored. She designed the house herself and deliberately opened a few more windows. She thought that if the greenhouse could not be built in the end, she could open the windows and remove the wooden wall on the other side, and it would become a corridor. From here, she could see the lake and the plum blossoms on the opposite bank, which was quite wild and interesting.
Zheng always has his own unique insights into beauty.
Mingda obviously understood Zheng's definition of beauty and thought this place was excellent. Most importantly, its location was wonderful. It was in a corner of the back garden, with the lake not far in front and the plum forest on the opposite bank. A little further out from the plum forest was the open pavilion they were familiar with.
Most of the guests who come to the Zhou family hang out in that area.
They are basically difficult to be discovered here because of the lake and Merlin between them.
There is only one small path leading out of here, and Manbao has set up a sign in front of the path prohibiting outsiders from entering.
Apart from this, the only way to get here is by boat on the lake.
But Manbao towed all the boats away, so Mingda and the others are absolutely safe here.
The guards standing outside the window listened to Zhou Man's proud boasting and were speechless for a long time. What on earth was there to brag about?
Mingda and Changyu were both very happy. They felt that as long as they could leave the palace, even if it was just to sit quietly and look at the flowers, plants and trees, it would be a happy thing.
So Mingda readily nudged Manbao and said, "Go and entertain the guests. Many people are here just for you."
Manbao hesitated for a moment and then said, "Then you wait, we'll let my niece come to accompany you."
Chang Yu's eyes lit up, "Let your second niece come."
Manbao was amused, but nodded, "Okay, I'll let Lijun and Liru come."
Zhou Lijun is not very busy because she has many aunts and all the necessary preparations have been prepared in advance. Today her main task is to keep an eye on the kitchen to make sure nothing goes wrong. The Zhou family has so many daughters-in-law, so basically each one of them only needs to take care of one task.
As long as a person is responsible for the task at hand, there will be no problem at all.
As for the front yard, Manbao and the others were naturally in charge.
Bai Dalang and Zhou Dalang were also helping out in the front. Manbao brought Zhou Lizhong's nephews to the front as well and called Zhou Dalang, "Fifth brother, you can also help greet the guests."
So no matter how many guests came in, each person would bring their family and instantly send them to their seats at the back. After that, they would be greeted a few times before coming up again. So there was a constant stream of guests, and every guest was greeted personally by the host.
It simply made them feel the greatest respect.
Lord Wei also came with his wife and youngest son. Manbao asked Bai Erlang to entertain them personally. Why was it Bai Erlang?
Because, "You are brothers-in-law, you can talk more later. Oh, and you can also quietly take him to the greenhouse for a walk, quietly, to avoid Lord Wei."
If Lord Wei knew that the princesses came here after leaving the palace, he would definitely scold the emperor.
Bai Erlang nodded repeatedly, and then Bai Erlang took Wei Yu away. Manbao invited Mrs. Wei to the backyard, and Bai Shan held back his laughter and invited Wei Zhi to join the table.
Wei Zhi looked at Bai Shan and said with a smile, "I heard that you went to the Ministry of Personnel today to select an external official position?"
Bai Shan's smile faded a little, and he said bitterly, "It's been less than two hours and it has already reached the ears of the adults?"
Wei Zhi laughed and said, "It's not a secret. News like this spreads the fastest in the imperial city."
Wei Zhi took in his expression and advised with a smile, "Young man, although the sky is vast, your wings must have enough down and spread wide enough to fly high. Otherwise, it's easy to fall. You still need to polish your wings, hahahaha..."
Bai Shan smiled bitterly and replied "yes" humbly.
(End of this chapter)
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