On the tenth day of March, urgent news came from the border that the Hu people who were driven back to their hometown by Prince An were causing trouble at the border again. Every spring, the Hu people would cause trouble at the border, and everyone in the Jin Dynasty knew about it.

The Hu people lived outside the Great Wall, where the land was flat and the land was vast, and it was the world of cavalry. In addition, the climate was harsh, so the soldiers of the Jin Dynasty could not penetrate deep into the territory. They could only fight each time, but they could not completely destroy the Hu people.

Therefore, the first battle of the spring was fought. Prince An was ordered to go to war. This time, because Su Yunyan was placed in the Ministry of Justice and could not follow the army, Prince An expressed great regret. In the Xiao Mansion, Su burned a stick of incense in front of the ancestors and expressed great happiness and joy that her son did not have to go to war with the army.

On March 19th, Mr. Mo’s birthday banquet was held.

As the president of the Royal Academy and a great scholar of the time, although he did not have as many students as Su Gong, they were all from aristocratic families. Occasionally, there were a few poor students who were out of place at this banquet and could only stand aside and watch silently.

Xiao Yunrou followed Pei Lingfeng to the Mo Mansion. As soon as the carriage stopped, Pei Lingfeng carefully helped Xiao Yunrou get off the carriage.

Xiao Yunrou was almost seven months pregnant at this time, and her spring clothes were much thinner, so her belly was very obvious. Pei Lingfeng originally didn't want Xiao Yunrou to attend the birthday banquet, fearing that there would be too many people at the birthday banquet and she would get bumped into. But Mr. Mo had a high reputation in Jinchao, Pei Lingfeng was also a student from the Royal Academy, and with the relationship with the Su family, he had no choice but to let Xiao Yunrou come with her bulging belly.

In front of the Mo Mansion, Pei Lingfeng was going to the front yard, so he gave Xiao Yunrou a few words of advice before leaving with the servants of the Mo Mansion. After leaving, Xiao Yunrou couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and said helplessly to Nanny Su beside her:

"I've been nagged to death these days. I didn't know Ling Feng was so talkative before."

Nanny Su, however, was smiling happily. In her eyes, this was the best way for a couple to get along. Pei Lingfeng really held Xiao Yunrou at the top of his heart.

"The relationship between the Crown Prince and his wife is really good."

Xiao Yunrou narrowed her eyes and turned to look at the girl who had just spoken. She was wearing a long skirt with intricate gold and silver threads woven into a lotus pattern. Her face was as white as a goose, her lips were like cherry blossoms, her eyebrows were like distant mountains, and her expression was like autumn water. She was a beauty.

However, Xiao Yunrou had no impression of this person. Just as she was wondering which girl she was from, she saw her mother and the girl bowing to her together.

When she saw this lady, Xiao Yunrou suddenly remembered that she was the wife of Lord Dou who was exiled five years ago.

"Mrs. Dou."

Xiao Yunrou nodded and said hello, then she led Su Mama and the Mo family's mama into the house. Her status at that time was not enough to say anything to a girl, especially since the words just now made her very unhappy.

Xiao Yunrou entered the reception hall, where many people were already sitting. When she saw Pei Wanyue waving at her, she smiled and sat down.

"Sister-in-law is here." Pei Wanyue said and looked behind Xiao Yunrou.

"Where's Xuan'er? Didn't you bring him out?"

Pei Wanyue was not pregnant at the time and had always loved this well-behaved and lovely nephew.

"Xuan'er is making a fuss now, and I don't have the energy to watch him. It would be better to leave him in the mansion and feel more at ease."

Pei Wanyue was a little disappointed, but looking at Xiao Yunrou with a big belly, she could understand.

After a while, Mrs. Dou and Dou Jingshu also came to the reception hall. Pei Wanyue took a look at them and a hint of sarcasm appeared on her face.

"Sister-in-law, you have to be careful of the girl from the Dou family."

Xiao Yunrou looked at Pei Wanyue in confusion, then glanced at Dou Jingshu, not understanding what was going on.

"Anyway, remember what I said, keep a close eye on Big Brother. The Dou family is not a good bunch."

Pei Wanyue reminded Xiao Yunrou because she and Xiao Yunrou were good friends and she didn't want Xiao Yunrou to fall from the status of her sister-in-law.

Xiao Yunrou didn't like Dou Jingshu, but she didn't hate her either. But since Pei Wanyue said so, she was cautious and secretly alert. But as for the Dou family, Xiao Yunrou lowered her eyelids. How come she had no impression of them at all?

"You know a lot about the Dou family? This Miss Dou..."

Pei Wanyue glanced disdainfully at Madam Dou, who was taking her daughter to get close to various families, and snorted:

"It's not a good thing anyway."

Seeing Pei Wanyue kept silent, Xiao Yunrou did not dare to ask any more questions. However, since she had no impression of him, he was probably not an important person. She glanced at the smiling Madam Dou and looked away.

Mrs. Dou's rank was not as high as Xiao Yunrou's, and she sat far away after the banquet started, but Xiao Yunrou felt a hidden gaze observing her the whole time. Although she was unhappy, she pretended not to notice and talked to the ladies sitting next to her.

Mr. Mo was a scholar, so his birthday banquet was inevitably called a talent show. After lunch, the men started drinking and writing poems and couplets, and the women also started to show off their talents under the auspices of Mrs. Mo and the judgement of Mrs. Su.

Usually this is the best time for the ladies of each family to choose daughters-in-law. The ladies who are of marriageable age but have not yet decided on a wife all open their eyes, hoping to pick a daughter-in-law they like at this banquet.

Madam Mo and Madam Su on the high seat also had this idea. Su Qingmo already had an engagement, and this trip to Beijing was not only for attending the birthday banquet of Lord Mo, but also for the purpose of proposing marriage. At this time, Madam Su was looking for Su Qingyun from the second house and her youngest son Su Qingrui. Scholarly families like theirs did not particularly value family background, but there were three points: they must strictly abide by the teachings of a lady-in-waiting, be dignified, and manage the household well.

Xiao Yunrou was married and pregnant, so she would not participate. She slowly sipped the snacks and tea in front of her, watching the young ladies who had not yet married come on stage one by one.

Apart from those daughters of military commanders who came from humble backgrounds and fought their way to fame through military exploits, is there any daughter of any aristocratic family who did not learn music, chess, calligraphy and painting from a young age?

After several daughters of wealthy families came on stage, Dou Jingshu could no longer hold back. She walked to the center of the venue, her slender waist twisting, and every step she took was as beautiful as the ladies in the painting.

Many young ladies gnashed their teeth when they saw her like this, secretly saying that she was a foxy woman. However, the ladies who were truly brought up in a scholarly family had very calm expressions, such as Madam Mo and Madam Su on the stage, who showed no sign of surprise at all, just glanced at her indifferently, and crossed out the name Dou Jingshu in their hearts, and even those illegitimate children or side branches would not have anything to do with her.

"My daughter is willing to demonstrate her painting skills." Dou Jingshu said softly.

Madam Mo looked at her delicate appearance and nodded slightly, and ordered the maid to bring the four treasures of the study. Dou Jingshu stood in front of the table, straightened her expression, and then held the pen tightly, and wrote quickly on the scroll. Her movements were smooth and never stopped. After a while, a lifelike peach blossom painting appeared in front of everyone.

"nice."

Although Madam Mo didn't think much of Dou Jingshu, she still praised her hard-working painting skills. Other ladies also praised her. Although the daughters thought Dou Jingshu was coquettish, they had nothing to say about her paintings.

"Thanks to Madam Mo and Madam Su for the compliments. I am ashamed to accept them."

Dou Jingshu blushed and spoke very embarrassedly. However, everyone thought that this was her fate, but they didn't want to hear her speak again:

"I heard that the wife of the prince of Zhenyuan was the most talented woman in the capital. I wonder if Jingshu has the honor to be taught by the wife of the prince?"

The voice was still soft, but anyone with a little common sense could hear the provocation in it.

Xiao Yunrou was drinking tea, and she didn't expect that the fire would burn her head. She raised her eyebrows slightly and glanced at Pei Wanyue, who looked disgusted, which made Xiao Yunrou curious. What was the relationship between Dou Jingshu and Pei Lingfeng?

However, Xiao Yunrou would not go on stage at this time. She raised her head with a smile on her face and said softly:

"I'm afraid I've disappointed Miss Dou."

"Why? Does the Crown Prince's wife look down on Jingshu?" Dou Jingshu felt a little aggrieved, with tears in her eyes.

If there were men present, there might be some who would show sympathy and care for women, but here there were only women, and they all hated Dou Jingshu's weak attitude.

Xiao Yunrou looked at Dou Jingshu and thought to herself that this gentle and lovely appearance was much better than Shen Tang's in the past. Just look at those wives of the head of the family who were making a lot of noise in the backyard, they were all looking at Dou Jingshu viciously, and she was the only one who didn't know it.

"Why should I teach you?"

Xiao Yunrou spoke indifferently, raised her hand and touched the six-tailed phoenix golden step-shaking on her head, which represented her status as a lady of honor. This action made Dou Jingshu's face stiffen, and made those who understood secretly laugh.

"Although Yun Ya is not known as a talented woman, she has been carefully taught by the elder sister for many years. I believe she can also teach Miss Dou a thing or two."

Xiao Yunya, who had been sitting silently next to Su, felt very unhappy when she saw Dou Jingshu's aggressiveness. Since when did her elder sister have to be put together with such a shameless person?

When Xiao Yunya stepped out, Su looked doting, but Xiao Yunrou looked helpless. Madam Mo and Madam Su on the high seats were delighted. The Xiao family was a century-old family with a rich background. With the education of the Su family, Xiao Yunya was more than qualified to be a clan wife.

Xiao Yunya came of age last year, but she still hasn't been engaged. Many ladies looked at the elegant young lady with sparkling eyes. Although Su secretly said last year that she wanted to stay for two more years, they could also go and test the waters, right? Among them, the eldest lady Su was the most active. Su loved her daughter, and the Su family had a family tradition of not taking concubines, so she was not afraid that Su would not be tempted.

Dou Jingshu took in the expressions of the ladies from various families. There was a momentary gloom on her face. Although it was fleeting, Xiao Yunya caught it and disliked this woman even more.

Xiao Yunya picked up the pen and rudely pushed Dou Jingshu aside, making Dou Jingshu, who was already feeling a little overwhelmed, look unhappy.

Xiao Yunya didn't care what Dou Jingshu thought. She picked up the pen, dipped it in ink, bowed slightly, and wrote freely on the imperial edict. Xiao Yunya was born very generous and bright. Her education since childhood made her temperament more detached. Just look at the faint halo on her body when she stood in the sun, which made people feel that this woman was so gentle and beautiful.

The author has something to say: Happy May Day*(^o^)/*Let’s go