Chapter 64 Winter Solstice Banquet, the Reshuffle Begins
The Winter Solstice is as important as the Chinese New Year, especially in the Wenchang Earl's Mansion. Every year on the Winter Solstice, in addition to offering sacrifices to the God of Winter and worshiping ancestors in the ancestral hall, a Winter Solstice banquet is also held.
As an official of the Ministry of Rites, Wenchangbo was most proficient in banquets and sacrifices.
Because several marriages have been arranged at the Winter Solstice Banquet, this banquet has also become a place for men and women of marriageable age to meet each other.
Xie Yan came to find Xie Yao and said that in previous years, Xie Mingan had asked Aunt Sun to host the Winter Solstice Banquet, while Xie Chengyu hosted it last year and the year before. This year, it might be his turn.
He also said that the Bo's Mansion had spent money like water in the past two days. The incense and offerings in the ancestral hall, the plum blossoms in the back garden, and the pavilions and waterside terraces had all been redecorated.
Xie Yan asked, "Sister, Xie Chengbai is trying to rob me of this job today. Should I talk to father and ask him to do it this year? Father and Aunt Sun have almost everything ready, so there won't be any problems. This is a big deal for the Bo Mansion to show its face."
When Xie Yao heard that the ancestral hall had been redecorated, her eyes flashed and she said, "If you want to show up, go ahead. Maybe after you show up, you can discuss marriage soon."
"That's not necessary. What's the point of discussing marriage? I'm not a fool like Xie Chengbai."
Xie Yan quickly waved his hand.
"I'd better go to the cram school."
Xie Yao shook her head slightly.
There are some things that Xie Yan cannot avoid doing just because he doesn't want to.
For Xie Mingan, the marriage of his legitimate son was a deal he had planned long ago.
The Wenchang Earl's Mansion sent out invitations widely, and those who received the invitations were still waiting and watching.
Let’s see if King Jingbei Xiao will go.
Let’s see if anyone from the Han family, the Minister of War, has come?
Finally, think about it, is there anyone in your family who is of marriageable age or unmarried? Is it necessary to go to the Winter Solstice Banquet to meet them?
Although the Wenchang Earl's Mansion was not of prominent status, it had a very good reputation in the past and was well-mannered. Every year at the Winter Solstice Banquet, it would bring together several good marriages.
Moreover, the capital was indeed full of nobles and marquises in the past, but since the Rebellion of the Five Kings, the emperor killed five princes.
After the last empress dowager's youngest son was demoted from Prince An to Marquis of Anping, the title of earl became rare.
But the Wenchang Earl's family had just been held accountable by the emperor a few days ago.
But the Wenchang Earl's Mansion will be the relative of the Jingbei Prince's Mansion in the future.
But King Jingbei didn't seem to have a good attitude towards his in-laws.
But the eldest son of the second wife of the Wenchang Earl's Mansion also married the sister of the Minister of War.
But I heard that the Xie and Han families have broken up...
All the prominent families in the capital are waiting and watching.
The Xiao family has been silent, as if they really don't recognize this relative.
Unexpectedly, in the evening, when it was dark, Pu Wei came to report: "Second Miss, the Anping Marquis's Mansion has replied, saying that the Anping Marquis's wife will bring her concubine sister, Third Miss Jiang, to the banquet."
Xie Yao sat at the door of the room, wiping her knife in the dim moonlight and lamplight.
Han Sixue sat nearby and said, "Now, tomorrow will be a lively day."
Marquis Anping is the Queen Mother's only son and is only eighteen years old this year.
He was originally Prince An. When five princes rebelled, he was the only one who did not get involved.
However, the emperor still stripped him of his princely title and changed it to Marquis of Anping.
In the final analysis, the emperor's biological mother is Queen Shen, and the empress dowager is only the successor appointed by the late emperor. Marquis Anping and the emperor do not have the same mother.
The wife of Marquis Anping is the granddaughter of Prime Minister Jiang, the famous Princess Anhe.
Xie Yao: "Those who were waiting and watching, seeing the wife of Marquis Anping coming, naturally came as well."
Han Sixue said, "I blame myself for this. The county lady is my close friend. In previous years, she would come to see me during the Winter Solstice Banquet. If it weren't for me, she wouldn't come, and the Bo Mansion wouldn't be able to use this opportunity to redeem its reputation."
"She is looking for her sister's marriage. Even if you are not here, the Bo Mansion will pull in connections from other places, and she will come anyway."
Xie Yao knew that Miss Jiang San, the younger sister of Anping Marquis' wife, had been chosen by the Xie family.
Xie Mingan and Xie Erye both wanted their son to marry her.
The wife of Marquis Anping was also willing to facilitate this marriage.
Xie Yao thought of Pei Jun's words. Xie Ming'an was able to make Xie Zhi's name appear on the list selected by the Queen Mother, proving that her father was hiding an unknown secret.
Her eyes grew darker. “Besides, having more people come doesn’t mean we can restore our reputation. Perhaps, the Bo Mansion will lose even more people.”
The winter solstice banquet in the previous life was very lively, but also extremely cold.
As she was speaking, Old Madam Xie sent a nanny to bring two sets of winter clothes to Xie Yao.
"Second Miss, these two dresses are newly made, and they are made of new materials. The jewelry was also made by someone at the old lady's request. The old lady means that you can wear one of them tomorrow."
Xie Yao took a look. Each piece of clothing was luxurious and gorgeous, and the gold and silver jewelry was also beautiful. However, the clothes were a little small, and the jewelry was not the style she usually wore.
She sneered, said nothing, and accepted it.
There is no reason to not want a good thing. I can give it to my uncle at the pawnshop and get some money.
After a while, Sang Ruo appeared with a familiar tray and said familiar words: "This is from Madam Xie--"
This time, before she finished speaking, she saw several new clothes in front of Xie Yao.
She changed the subject awkwardly: "This is from the uncle to the second young lady."
Xie Yao: "Oh, is this what my mother spent several days making for me?"
Sang Ruo had already rebelled and whispered, "This time it's difficult. Madam took the clothing lists from several major clothing stores in the capital and selected them for the Second Miss piece by piece. They are very expensive. There are also jewelry. There is a hairpin that is Madam's dowry. It is very beautiful."
She opened the tray, and the dress inside was bright and eye-catching, with delicate patterns embroidered with gold and silver threads, and the style was also elegant.
And there is the jade hairpin. It looks ordinary, but the jade is as pure as fat, which ordinary gold and silver cannot compare to.
Xie Yao looked at these familiar things, her breathing trembled, and her eyes became sore.
She is now the Princess of Jingbei, who is about to get married. The old lady sent her some nice clothes because she didn't want to spread the reputation of treating the princess harshly.
But she would never forget that during the winter solstice banquet in her previous life, she and Lu Shenyan got engaged in a hurry, but her grandmother only sent her cloth clothes and hairpins and skirts, saying that she should keep a low profile since she was marrying a common scholar.
However, at the banquet, Xie Zhi was wearing the same gorgeous dress that her mother gave her now!
This was originally given to her by her mother, but she obeyed the old lady and did not let Sang Ruo in. Afterwards, the clothes were taken away by the old lady and let Xie Zhi wear them.
She wore thick cloth, yet she experienced the coldest moment since returning to Beijing...
A lot happened at this winter solstice banquet.
And this time, everything will be reshuffled!
The next morning was the winter solstice, the first snow day.
Wenchang Earl Xie Ming'an, accompanied by his eldest son Xie Yan, as well as the two sons and wives of the second master of the Xie family, were at the gate of the Earl's mansion, greeting guests coming and going.
Xie Yan looked impatient. He was originally attending classes at the cram school, but his father insisted on having him come. He even dressed him up and made him wear a brocade robe that he didn't like, which made him feel very awkward.
"When will it end? Dad, I still have to go to class."
"What classes are you attending? School is closed today. As the eldest son of the Earl's family, you must stay here and behave yourself in this situation."
I heard that the wife of Marquis Anping was coming, so there were indeed quite a few people coming to the banquet today.
Soon, the carriage from the Anping Marquis's Mansion stopped.
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