Chapter 9: The anger of single people because it was just a small family dinner,
Since it was just a small family dinner and no ministers were present, there were no separate seats for men and women, but everyone sat together.
Of course, the only women who could sit at the same table with men were concubines of the imperial family, and the only ladies in the harem who were allowed to sit were the imperial concubines and the four concubines. They were at the top, sitting behind Kangxi and the empress dowager.
There were three rows on either side of Kangxi and the Empress Dowager from the inside to the outside. The front row on both sides started with the oldest elders in the royal family and continued alternating downwards. By the time they reached the group of princes including Yinzhen, they were already some distance away from where Kangxi was.
At this time, Qi Buchen was sitting at the same table with Yinzhen. On their upper seats were the eldest prince Yinzhi and his wife, and below them was the seventh prince Yinyou who was sitting alone.
In the middle, Nuo opera was already being performed.
Seeing that some people elsewhere had already stood up and started toasting, Qi Buchen turned sideways and leaned closer to Yinzhen, and asked in a low voice: "Would you like to drink later?"
Yinzhen thought that Fu Jin must have been drinking too much milk recently, otherwise why would she have a milky scent on her body? However, the smells in the hall were quite mixed, and this milky scent made him feel a little more comfortable.
But while feeling comfortable, Yinzhen was also a little worried.
I've been drinking milk every night recently, so could I have a milky scent on my body?
No, I have to bathe more often in the future, otherwise if my third brother smells it, he will laugh at me every day!
As for not drinking milk in the future? Well, that would make Fu Jin sad. After all, she's doing it for my health.
Yinzhen would never admit that he had become somewhat fond of the faint milky and tea aroma of milk.
Seeing that he didn't answer, Qi Buchen raised his voice slightly: "Master?"
"Hmm?" Yinzhen came back to his senses and remembered what his wife had just asked him. He replied, "I want to toast to the Emperor and the elders of the royal family." After a pause, he added, "And the Crown Prince and my eldest brother."
In fact, the third prince Yinzhi should also toast, but Yinzhen really didn't want to. He planned to pretend to be drunk after toasting his eldest brother.
Qi Buchen was a little worried after hearing this: "So much?" At such a young age, drinking is fine, but why do you have to fight to pass the level? Aren't you afraid of getting the child drunk!
There was no way to stop Yinzhen from drinking, so Qi Buchen could only pick up a few more dishes for him: "Eat something first, drinking on an empty stomach is not good for your stomach."
Yinzhen had already gotten used to Fu Jin's behavior of revolving around him, and in his heart he actually enjoyed this kind of care: "Okay." As he said that, he also picked up a few of Qi Buchen's favorite dishes with his chopsticks, "You should eat some too. You have to offer it to the Empress Dowager and the other mothers later."
This behavior was also influenced by Qi Buchen picking food for him every time he ate.
Qi Buchen was excited that his efforts had paid off. Just as he was about to start eating, he heard someone say in a sour voice, "Oh, I didn't expect Fourth Brother to still be so kind to women."
The tone sounded unpleasant. Qi Buchen looked up and found that it was the third prince Yinzhi, whom he had met once at the wedding.
He stood up and saluted, saying, "Greetings, Third Brother."
Yinzhi didn't look at her, but just nodded. He was deeply influenced by Confucian culture and attached great importance to the strict separation between men and women. He usually behaved very politely.
Although Yinzhen didn't like this brother, he could only greet him politely: "Third brother."
Yinzhi held a cup in his hand, and behind him a young eunuch held a wine pot: "Fourth brother, please drink a few cups with me. It's really boring for me to be alone."
Yinzhi had noticed Yinzhen and Qi Buchen a long time ago, and found them annoying.
Why are they so close to each other in public? And whispering to each other, don't they know that women should be chaste? And they're even serving food to each other? Are there any royal etiquette or decorum? Shameful!
As a younger brother, Yinzhen had no right to refuse his brother's request.
Qi Buchen was frustrated. Seeing Yinzhi's attitude, he seemed to be staying here. Although the separation between men and women was not so serious that they could not meet, it was absolutely impossible for his sister-in-law and his brother-in-law to sit at the same table. But where else could they go? The seats were limited.
Just when he was in such a dilemma, he heard a gentle voice coming from his superior: "Fourth sister-in-law, it's time to toast the ladies. Do you want to join us?"
She is the eldest wife.
But it wasn't their turn to toast so soon, as there were many royal wives in front of them. They were just helping her out.
Feeling grateful, Qi Buchen looked at the woman he had just met. She looked to be in her twenties, and her appearance was not actually gentle, but she had a maternal glow all over her body, which made him feel a little more approachable.
In fact, she is already a mother of three children and is currently pregnant with her fourth. She is only nineteen years old this year.
Qi Buchen knew something about the history of this great wife, so he felt a little sad, but he smiled and agreed, "That's perfect. I was just worried that something might go wrong. Thank you, sister-in-law, for thinking of taking me with you."
She turned around and saluted Yinzhen, saying, "Master, I'll go with my eldest sister-in-law first." She then bowed to Yinzhi and said, "Third brother, please forgive me."
Yinzhen nodded and said, "Go ahead." He bowed to the first wife and said, "Thank you for troubling me, sister-in-law."
The first wife smiled at him and said, "Don't bother me." She lowered her head and said to the eldest prince Yinzhen, who had been sitting there drinking alone and not saying a word, "Master, I'm leaving now."
Yinzhen then spoke: "Be careful, you are still pregnant."
The eldest wife seemed very satisfied with this concern and her smile became more genuine.
Qi Buchen stepped forward to support her and said, "Sister-in-law, be careful." Then the two of them, each with a waiter, walked to the front.
Yinzhen watched the people walk away, then turned around to look at Yinzhi who had already sat down to eat, and he couldn't help feeling depressed.
He raised his glass sullenly: "Cheers to Third Brother."
Yinzhi disliked him even more, and the two of them started drinking.
Considering that the first wife was pregnant, and also to give more time to the people who were toasting in front, Qi Buchen walked very slowly.
She was a little worried about Yinzhen. The Third Prince was also ill and didn't eat properly. He immediately started drinking with others. Yinzhen hadn't eaten a single bite. He must be uncomfortable after drinking too much. Well, I have to send someone back to prepare more hangover medicine.
"But are you worried about your fourth brother?" The eldest wife suddenly spoke.
Qi Buchen was taken aback by the question, but it was nothing, so he answered frankly: "Our grandfather doesn't drink alcohol on weekdays. I'm afraid he will feel uncomfortable if he drinks too much suddenly."
"My fourth brother's wife and I have a good relationship." The first wife smiled. "You don't have to worry. My third brother isn't a good drinker either, otherwise he would have gone to our grandfather long ago."
"Then why is he...?" Qi Buchen was puzzled. He doesn't like drinking but still looks for others to drink with. Is he crazy?
The eldest wife chuckled, then said something completely unrelated: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince brought his concubine with him today. Although I am pregnant, I can still serve our master. You are also considerate to our fourth brother."
Then I won’t say anything more.
Qi Buchen was very confused after hearing these incoherent words. He looked at the eldest wife in confusion, but she did not give him any explanation.
Although their steps were slow, they would eventually arrive. By now the Queen Mother had already seen them, so Qi Buchen didn't dare to ask.
The two went up to greet each other, but were helped up halfway through: "Hurry up, your wife is still pregnant, so don't move too much."
The eldest wife smiled and said, "It's my duty to greet you. I'm not that weak. Today is such a good day. I, your granddaughter-in-law, would also like to offer you a glass of wine so that this baby can share in your blessings."
Although not a biological child, the Queen Mother was also happy at this time: "Look, her mouth is getting sweeter and sweeter. Quickly bring her a cup of honey water so that my great-grandson can also have a sweet mouth."
This is kindness. Pregnant women are not allowed to drink alcohol, even if it is just fruit wine with little alcohol content.
Qi Buchen also got a cup of honey water, and the two of them said auspicious words and toasted.
The Queen Mother said cheerfully, "Don't just look at me. All your wives are blessed. You should all get some of their blessings."
Qi Buchen and his wife agreed with a smile, said goodbye to the Queen Mother, and went to pay their respects to the other ladies.
Several people were sitting together. Considering that the eldest wife was pregnant and it was not a special day, they toasted together.
After toasting, Concubine Nianhulu smiled and said to Concubine Hui, "You are the most fortunate. Not only do you have a caring daughter-in-law, but you also have several great-grandchildren. Poor me, I still have to worry about that evil boy, the Tenth Prince, for several years. I really want to find him a wife as soon as possible so that I don't have to worry about him anymore."
Although Concubine Hui was somewhat dissatisfied with her daughter-in-law giving birth to three daughters in a row, she smiled politely and said, "Why rush? I'm only two years ahead of you. Didn't Sister De's daughter-in-law already marry? Sister Rong should be able to drink daughter-in-law tea after the selection next year. You and Sister Yi, it's only a few years away."
Qi Buchen suddenly felt a flash of inspiration in his mind. Could it be that what the eldest wife had just said was...
Did the Third Prince raise the FFF group in anger because he saw everyone else in pairs and he was single? He couldn't afford to offend the Crown Prince and the eldest prince, so he could only bully his younger brother, Yinzhen?
Emmmm, I think I can understand the anger of single people, right?
But he's not the only single guy here, right? Aren't they all the same, from the Fifth Prince down?
Qi Buchen labeled Yinzhi as stingy and jealous.
The ladies chatted for a while and then let the two juniors go back.
Returning to her seat, Qi Buchen discovered that Yinzhi had already left. After thanking the first wife again, she sat down next to Yinzhen and asked, "Third brother is gone?"
"Yeah." Yinzhen didn't explain. Yinzhi was scared away by Yinzhi's words.
"How much did you drink?" Qi Buchen looked at Yinzhen worriedly, "Are you feeling uncomfortable?"
Yinzhen felt warm in his heart: "It's okay, I didn't drink much." He asked her again, "How much did you drink?"
Qi Buchen laughed and said, "I got the honey water from my sister-in-law."
Yinzhen nodded suddenly and said, "I'll send more gifts to thank you, sister-in-law."
Qi Buchen took the opportunity to discuss with him what to send to the prince's family - the concubine that the prince brought today was very pregnant. Qi Buchen was worried that she had gone into labor at the banquet. He didn't know what she was doing out at such an advanced stage of pregnancy.
As he was speaking, he heard a commotion in front.
The author has something to say:
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Yinzhi: Burn all the loving dogs in the world to death!
Qi Buchen: You’re sick!
Yinzhen: I have a wife who cares about me, so I won’t argue with you.
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