Summer is just around the corner, and a very large pond will appear on the outskirts of Beijing, filled with blooming lotus flowers. This place has always been a scenic spot, and when the flowers bloom, the fragrant aroma of the lotus flowers often attracts a large number of people.
The lotus, which rises from the mud unsullied and remains pure and unpretentious, has attracted a large number of literati and scholars in the past.
Scholars would compose poems and paint in the pavilions by the lotus pond, and many young girls in the capital also liked to go there to see the flowers. Not far away, there were also famous temples with a constant stream of people coming and going to offer incense.
He Cen had longed to go after hearing about it from her elders, but unfortunately, she didn't have any friends of similar age to go with her. Now that the opportunity had come, she was naturally eager to go as well. The girls quickly discussed it and made a pact to go admire the lotus flowers together at that time.
Compared to previous dynasties, the boundaries between men and women in the Qing Dynasty were not as clear-cut. Previously, Han Chinese women were more restricted from leaving their homes.
Manchu girls, even from a young age, are required to learn horseback riding and archery.
Even after entering the Central Plains, Manchu girls still tended to be bold and lively.
Children as young as three or five, while not yet at the age to learn those things, are not restricted by their elders from going out. As for Jingrou, she used to have fewer visitors because of her illness.
Several girls sat cross-legged together, chatting happily. Every now and then, Jingrou's cousins would invite her to come and play. In no time, she had made many friends.
At Jingrou's birthday banquet, children and adults sat separately. If the elders were worried, each little girl would be accompanied by a maid or nanny. In addition, the servants of Prince An's mansion also took meticulous care of her.
Such attention to detail moved the ladies attending the banquet, who couldn't help but remark that this banquet was truly held for Prince An's granddaughter...
When news first broke that Prince An's mansion was going to hold a grand banquet to celebrate his granddaughter's third birthday, many people speculated that Prince An's mansion wanted to build connections with outsiders!
Prince An held a high position and wielded great power, and people came and went in droves wanting to visit him or curry favor with him. However, Prince An had never previously signaled his intention to win over others.
However, Prince An has been keeping a low profile for several years, so he shouldn't suddenly appear and do something like this. In addition, because they didn't want to offend Prince An, they all attended one after another. But when they got there, they found out that he was really just holding a birthday party for his granddaughter!
Many of those invited were not powerful or wealthy, and some even had husbands who did not wield much influence in the court. However, they had lively and lovely girls in their families who were about the same age as Prince An's granddaughter, Jingrou.
What's the point of going to all that trouble to build relationships with these people? So the purpose of the banquet is obvious!
The children were overjoyed. Every time they attended a banquet, they were inevitably nagged and disciplined. But now they could sit alone at the table, play and joke with familiar people, and no one would discipline them as long as they didn't go too far. Besides, didn't they see the hosts playing with them too?
Children generally don't want adults to discipline them.
This type of banquet quickly won the children's favor, and even little girls who didn't lack friends were willing to befriend Jingrou!
In a short period of time, Jingrou had already accepted the invitations of several girls, promising them that she would visit their homes and try their snacks!
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After her third birthday, Jingrou started to grow taller. It wasn't very noticeable at first, especially since Hesheli and the others spent every day with Jingrou, making it difficult to discern with the naked eye.
Her birthday is in April, and by May or June, she'll need to make a new batch of clothes to prepare for the height of summer. That's when it becomes apparent that her old clothes are actually a little too short!
After measuring her height, Jingrou was overjoyed all day. Whenever she saw her cousin or uncle, she couldn't help but show off to them that she had grown taller!
In less than a day, she had harassed all of her uncles and cousins!
Although my cousins looked at it for a long time and even compared it for a long time, they still couldn't see it, but the clothes were too short, which was solid evidence!
Baltu scratched his head, comparing left and right, looking at his little cousin, and smiled sheepishly, "Zhuzhu doesn't seem to have..." Before he could finish speaking, his older cousin next to him stepped on his foot hard, and the rest of his words were stuck in his stomach.
Jingrou's eldest cousin, Qi Jia, is the eldest son of her maternal uncle, Desu. He is thirteen years old this year. He spends less time at home and is currently studying at the academy.
Compared to his other cousins who spend every day with Jingrou, he is the one who can best see the changes in his little cousin's figure.
"Zhuzhu has indeed grown taller. Before long, she'll be a young lady! When Zhuzhu grows a little older, your cousin will personally take you horseback riding..." He smiled gently and picked up Jingrou. Hmm... she still has some weight to her. His little cousin is quite substantial!
He knew that his impetuous younger brothers couldn't tell that Jingrou had grown taller, partly because they spent a lot of time together.
On the other hand, they are naturally at the age where they are growing taller. Jingrou's growth rate cannot keep up with theirs, so it is naturally not noticeable, and she even appears shorter when compared to others!
The little girl was in high spirits, how could she let these silly guys dampen her enthusiasm?
Jingrou was immediately drawn to the allure of horseback riding, sweetly calling him "cousin," making the other cousins behind her green with envy. Why hadn't they thought of such a perk?
They also wanted to take their cousin horseback riding and archery with them!
Going horseback riding and archery with this group of sweaty guys is nothing compared to spending time with my sweet cousin.
Hearing such a coquettish remark truly makes one feel relaxed and comfortable all over!
My cousin is so cunning! He kept quiet all the time but made such a promise, seizing the initiative in one fell swoop!
However, the two cousins had already made this promise very happily, and even if they were envious in their hearts, there was nothing they could do about it!
But who says you can only go horseback riding and archery alone? It's more fun with more people!
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