Chapter 80 Mid-Autumn Festival
The day before Shen Yuan's birthday was August 15, the Mid-Autumn Festival. In previous years, the Shen family would be scattered all over the country on this family reunion day, but this year, because of Shen Yuan's coming-of-age ceremony, half of the family was finally together.
Old Madam Shen was also very happy. The Shen family was not large. She only gave birth to two sons in her lifetime. After the children grew up, neither of them was around. During the previous Mid-Autumn Festival, she was only her eldest daughter-in-law and eldest granddaughter by her side.
This year, it was finally a little more lively. The Imperial College also had a holiday during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Shen Su also arrived home on the evening of the 14th.
On the fifteenth day, Shen Yuan received a box of mooncakes from the princess's mansion, along with a handwritten note from the princess, saying that she would definitely attend Shen Yuan's coming-of-age ceremony.
Shen Yuan collected the reply and asked someone to bring him a homemade Jinling-style mooncake as a return gift. He also kept the mooncake sent by the princess for the whole family to eat together in the evening when they admired the moon.
"What a nice day today. Look at the moon, it's so bright. It would be great if the eldest couple and Yu'er were here too, then our family would be reunited." When people get older, they don't think about anything else but being together as a family. However, the children are grown up and have their own futures, so it is not easy to have a reunion.
"We are looking at the same moon as my uncle, aunt and brother, so it can be considered a reunion. Grandma, have a mooncake." Shen Yuan took out a mooncake and handed it to his grandmother, hoping that she would not be sad.
Shen Xu also reached out and took a mooncake, and said to Shen Yuan with a smile: "Oh, what you said is right, we really look like talented women."
"Why do I feel like you are making fun of me?"
"Why don't you know the good in people's hearts? I am just flattering you. This mooncake is delicious. Is it made at home? It tastes different from before."
Shen Xi glanced at Shen Yuan with a smile, "This is the mooncake sent by the Princess's Mansion, how can it not taste good?"
He Ying smiled faintly without saying anything. Shen Yun felt a little weird in his heart. Perhaps Shen Su and Old Madam Shen were the only ones who were confused here.
"Why did the Princess's Mansion send mooncakes? Do they have any relationship with our family?"
"How come not? Are you stupid? Isn't the princess's son the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple, our father's subordinate? Dad, you see, your son doesn't care about your affairs at all." Shen Yuan said halfway and did not forget to "put some eye drops" on Shen Su.
"Oh, that's none of your business."
Okay, the eye drops failed this time.
Old Madam Shen had no idea what was going on, and when she heard that the princess had sent something, she quickly asked if there had been any return gifts, for fear that the young man did not know the etiquette and offended the princess.
After all, everyone in Dazhao knew that although Princess Kangle was not the emperor's biological sister, but only a cousin, she was still much better than the emperor's half-sisters.
Today, all members of the Xie family were called to the palace to attend the royal family banquet.
In previous years, the princess didn't like to come to the palace to attend the Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet, but this year it was quite interesting. Just the awkward conversation between the Queen and Consort Xian was enough to make Princess Kang Le reminisce for half a year.
These two have been fighting for half their lives, but unexpectedly they ended up becoming relatives. Now when they meet each other they are no longer like chickens with black eyes, and they can even greet each other awkwardly.
Xie Yuan and his son Xie Hui also sat with the emperor and several princes. In fact, the eldest prince and the third prince had a good relationship when they were young, but after growing up, they developed a competitive relationship. In addition, people around them kept saying that the two of them must compete, so gradually the two stopped interacting with each other.
Now, after the arranged marriage, all parties have calmed down and their relationship is showing signs of thawing.
The emperor was very pleased when he saw this, and he said, as long as we put the mind to it, we can achieve harmony!
"In due time, look at the eldest, second and third sons, they are all going to get married soon, it's time for you to make plans too! Boyuan, you are the father, you have to take this matter to heart."
"Father, I think it would be better if you arrange a marriage for me with a fixed date. You have excellent taste." The eldest prince thought to himself that the three brothers were all frightened by the marriage arranged by your father, so how could they escape with a fixed date? They should also experience the same feeling as them!
"Yes, father, what the eldest brother said makes sense. You see, we have never heard of Youqi getting close to any girl. It would be better if you could pick one for him."
"This..." The emperor was indeed tempted, but he had also promised Kang Le a long time ago that he would let Youqi decide on his own marriage and not interfere.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I would like to make the decision on this matter myself."
"How about this, if you find a girl you like in the future, tell your uncle and he will arrange a marriage for you."
Upon hearing this, the eldest prince and the third prince looked at each other and said: See, father is really partial. Why didn't he think of asking for their opinions on their marriage?
After returning home, Princess Kangle heard about this and couldn't help complaining to the emperor.
"You have so many sons to worry about, and yet you're worrying about a wedding that's about to start. You're just too idle."
Then he instructed his son, "If you have a lover, you can't just ask the emperor to arrange a marriage for you. You are treating her like a nobody. She doesn't have to marry you. If you have a lover, you have to fight for her and make her like you. If she doesn't like you, you can't force her to do that."
"My son knows."
Xie Yuan interrupted and said, "Xi'er, don't worry. Youqi is our son. Are you still worried that he won't pursue the girl?"
Thinking back to the past, he and the princess were so sweet, their son must be no different!
…
After the moon viewing, Shen Yun called his daughter to his yard. After Shen Yuan grew up, she rarely came to her father's yard. When she entered the house, she found that many of the furnishings here were still the same as before. Many of them were very old and had not been replaced.
Even my mother's dressing table was still in its original place...
Shen Yun walked to his wife's dressing table, took out a box from the drawer and handed it to his daughter.
"This hairpin was worn by your mother when she came of age. I was there when your mother came of age. When I think back, it seems like it was just yesterday, but in the blink of an eye, you have grown up so much."
Shen Yuan opened the box and found a white jade hairpin inside. The jade was very translucent and even after so many years, it still had a luster. A lifelike hibiscus flower was carved on the hairpin head.
"Dad, please give me the hairpin." Shen Yuan took out the hairpin and handed it to his father.
"Okay, this hairpin was given to your mother by your grandmother. After you were born, your mother said that she would keep this hairpin for you. It's beautiful. After you were born, your mother said that it's a good thing that you look like her and not me. Fortunately, you look like your mother, otherwise you wouldn't be so beautiful."
Shen Yuan tried hard to hold back his tears, "I obviously look like both mom and dad. Dad, you are also very handsome, otherwise my mom would not like you."
"Okay, you're right. Go back, tomorrow is your big day, and have a good rest tonight."