Three years of Jinghe, three years can change many things, for example, the prince who was as weak as a kitten when he was born gradually showed terrible destructive power as he grew older, for example, the emperor who was recuperating in the Western Palace gradually acknowledged the reality and devoted himself to his own life of pleasure, and for example, the Great Yan Dynasty, which was seriously injured in the late Jianyuan period, after three years of recuperation, defeated the Wala in the early summer of this year and won a great victory. For a while, the whole country was cheering for the emperor's wisdom and decisiveness, and some people even wrote letters to praise Qin Yi for his literary and military achievements, and for reviving the Yan Dynasty, and he was a first-class figure comparable to the founding emperor.

Of course, whether these words are sincere or for flattery is a matter of opinion.

Because of the great victory at the border, the Great Yan Dynasty finally got rid of the frustration of the emperor being captured alive at the end of the Jianyuan period. The front court was jubilant, and the atmosphere in the harem was also very high. In the past three years, Chu Jinyao released many palace maids from the palace one after another, and Qin Yi also vigorously cut down the redundant officials in the court, reused capable officials to implement new policies, the national treasury became more and more abundant, and the burden of the harem became less and less. The front court and the harem showed a high-spirited and enterprising momentum.

The ministers were very excited, and Qin Yi held a celebration banquet in the front court to commend the meritorious soldiers. Chu Jinyao also held a palace banquet in the harem to entertain the wives of the meritorious officials. In addition, all the wives of the imperial edicts above the third rank in the capital were invited.

This time, Chu Jinyao was just having fun. Chu Jinyao didn't want the people below to feel too restrained, so he set the banquet venue next to the Yu Garden. The Yu Garden is right next to the banquet venue. There are tea and water service in the pavilions in the garden, and palace maids shuttle between them from time to time. It can be said that it has been considered very carefully. Before the banquet, the families of the close ministers entered the palace early and came to talk to Chu Jinyao. Duan Yinghua was bumped by the eldest prince when he entered the door. Duan Yinghua cried "Ouch" and hurriedly supported the eldest prince.

"Eldest prince, you have to run slower."

"It's the prince's wife." Chu Jinyao and Chu Jinxian were sitting in the inner room. When they heard the voice, Chu Jinyao didn't move, but Chu Jinxian stood up to greet Duan Yinghua. Chu Jinyao was so angry when she saw the child being carried in: "Qin Hongyan, you bumped into your aunt, why don't you apologize?"

How dare Duan Yinghua let this ancestor apologize? The eldest prince is the only child in the palace, and he is also the eldest son of the queen. If there is no problem, the issue of appointing a crown prince will be discussed in a few years. How dare Duan Yinghua really let Qin Hongyan apologize. Duan Yinghua hurriedly said: "What are you talking about, Queen Mother? It's a blessing that the eldest prince didn't fall. I am so old, it won't be a problem if I bump into someone. The eldest prince, you didn't get bumped, did you?"

Qin Hongyan was born prematurely when he was a child, and his body was very weak at the beginning. Chu Jinyao and Qin Yi felt sorry for him, so it was inevitable that they were a little arrogant. Fortunately, this child's body resembles Qin Yi's. As he grew up, he became healthier and healthier, and his level of noise was also amazing. As long as he was in the palace, Chu Jinyao would never stop making trouble. The palace people all obeyed him, and even the elders on both sides asked for whatever they wanted from him, which made Qin Hongyan more and more confident in making trouble. Seeing that this was still possible, Chu Jinyao could only discipline him more carefully. For example, now, Chu Jinyao looked at him sternly, her mouth full of no room for argument: "What did I teach you before? You offended the elders, and you still don't apologize?"

Qin Hongyan saw his mother's face sank, and he immediately calmed down and bowed to Duan Yinghua and apologized: "I'm sorry, aunt."

Duan Yinghua quickly said: "It's okay, it's okay. The Queen Mother is really strict with the prince. It's not a big deal. Why make things difficult for the eldest prince? Don't scare him."

"Is he scared?" Chu Jinyao glanced at Qin Hongyan unhappily. "Don't underestimate him. He is a shrewd man. He knows clearly who will obey him and who will not. Do you think he would dare to do this in front of his father?"

Chu Jinxian laughed and said, "He is young to begin with, and he will have to go to school with the Grand Tutor. He will have many hard days ahead. If we, his aunts and uncles, don't spoil him, who can we count on in the future? Big prince, run slower in the future. People in the palace are older than you. If you bump into an adult There is nothing on your body. If you bump into something with edges like a vase or a table, you will be the one who gets hurt. Do you understand? "

Qin Hongyan nodded with his mouth pursed: "I know, thank you, auntie."

Qin Hongyan secretly looked at Chu Jinyao's face, and climbed up pitifully to pull the corner of Chu Jinyao's clothes: "Mom, I was wrong, don't be angry."

Qin Hongyan is young, and he has fair skin and good looks. Now he begs for forgiveness pitifully, which immediately melts the hearts of the women around him. Chu Jinyao's scolding just now was meant to teach her, and now seeing him like this, how could she be angry. She tapped Qin Hongyan's forehead gently and said helplessly: "You! We saw clearly what happened just now. Who are you trying to fool by doing this now?"

Qin Hongyan held Chu Jinyao's sleeves and acted coquettishly with his face up. Chu Jinyao had no choice but to pick him up. Children who are spoiled by their parents seem to be born to act coquettishly. Qin Hongyan is obviously a master in this. The women around saw this scene and smiled with envy and joy: "The eldest prince is smart and clever. He is trying to make the queen happy."

Qin Hongyan saw that Chu Jinyao was no longer angry, and his face immediately turned sunny, and his expression became lively. He rolled his eyes and looked at Chu Jinxian: "Aunt, where is Lu Ge'er?"

"What Lu Ge'er? You should call him cousin." Chu Jinyao was helpless, because they called him "Lu Ge'er" "Lu Ge'er" all day long, and after a long time, this mischievous kid actually called him "Lu Ge'er". Zhao Lu was older than him, so how could he call him by a nickname?

Qin Hongyan didn't care about that. Children of similar age were always unwilling to call each other "brother" or "sister", and Qin Hongyan was spoiled since childhood, so he was even more unwilling. Chu Jinyao and Chu Jinxian had a good sisterly relationship, and because of the danger in the western suburbs that year, Qin Yi was also very courteous to Chu Jinxian and the Zhao family. Lu Ge'er and Qin Hongyan were of similar age, so Qin Yi intended to let Lu Ge'er be Qin Hongyan's study companion in the future. This was of course a good thing for both adults, so the two children became closer and closer, almost playing together since childhood.

When Chu Jinxian saw Qin Hongyan asking about her son, she smiled softly and said, "He didn't sleep well yesterday. He was a little tired when he entered the palace, and now he is sleeping in the side hall. You go to the side hall and see, he should be awake."

Qin Hongyan said "ah", jumped off Chu Jinyao's lap, and ran out. The palace maids and eunuchs behind him were startled, and a large group of people quickly caught up. Chu Jinyao kept looking at Qin Hongyan until he ran away and could no longer be seen, then she retracted her gaze.

Duan Yinghua said: "The eldest prince ran very agilely these few steps. He will definitely have a good talent for sports in the future. Our eldest sister is not as strong as the eldest prince."

Duan Yinghua gave birth to her first child the year before last. Although it was a girl, she was also the first child of the Changxing Marquis's Mansion and was very much loved by the elders. Especially Chu Jinyao and Chu Jinxian, who both had no daughters, really loved this sweet and soft little girl. Chu Jinxian comforted her and said: "How can a girl be compared with a boy? And how old is the eldest sister? She is one or two years younger than them. How can they be compared together? After a while, the eldest sister will be able to run around. By then, you won't have time to worry."

Speaking of children, parents of every family have many worries, but even if they are worried, they are happy. Duan Yinghua smiled and said, "Thank you for your good wishes, my aunt. It's a pity that she can't leave home now, so it's hard to bring her into the palace. Otherwise, she could play with these two cousins. The last time I went back, she kept talking about looking for her brother to play with her."

Since the crisis of Chu Jinmiao passed, the relationship between Duan Yinghua and the second young master has improved a lot. Although they are not inseparable, they are considerate and respectful to each other. Duan Yinghua's thoughts are not difficult to guess. Although the eldest daughter is still young, there is no such thing as too many childhood sweethearts. Let her play with her two cousins ​​first. In the future, whether it is the eldest son of the Zhao family or the eldest prince, they will all be first-class sons-in-law. Even if the marriage of the children does not work out, it is a good thing to have two brothers who will surely achieve great success in the future to take care of them. Since

the beginning of spring this year, the health of Mrs. Chu has been getting worse. She no longer looks like the smart and powerful head of the family, but shows the fatigue of an old woman. Old Madam Chu gradually gave up her power and handed over all the affairs of the mansion to Duan Yinghua.

Duan Yinghua was very strong-willed. She was strong in her natal family, and she became even more unwilling to admit defeat after getting married, because the family she married into was a royal family, and now it was one of the most prominent families in the capital. Duan Yinghua was unwilling to be looked down upon, and she worked harder and harder. In recent years, Changxing Hou has taken the second young master with him wherever he went, and the meaning of cultivating and transferring power is very obvious. The second young master is low-key and humble, and he does not have the domineering and ostentatiousness of the queen brother. His low-keyness has attracted praise from many people. Outside, he is polite and well-behaved, and inside the mansion, Duan Yinghua is in charge. Anyone who comes to Changxing Hou’s mansion will praise him.

Zhao had been unhappy these years until her eldest daughter was born. When she saw this delicate little girl, her heart was immediately touched. I don't know if it was to make up for the regrets of the past, Zhao was particularly attentive to her eldest daughter, almost doing everything herself. Many people in the mansion guessed that Zhao was trying to make up for it. Now Chu Jinyao and Zhao had already left each other, and Zhao had taken many detours in her life. Now she could only transfer her guilt to her eldest daughter, as if this would make up for the mistakes of the past. Zhao was devoted to raising her granddaughter and did not interfere in the affairs of the mansion, so Duan Yinghua was able to take charge of the family business.

Chu Jinyao was relieved to see that her family was thriving. When she heard the sounds of Qin Hongyan and Lu Ge'er playing outside the house, she couldn't help but smile. Children have their own blessings, so let them worry about their own affairs.

"Your Majesty, the wife of the Duke of Fuguo has brought all the young ladies to pay their respects to you."

Chu Jinyao came back to her senses and said with a smile, "Please come in quickly."

More and more people came to pay their respects. Chu Jinyao saw that it was almost time, so she took everyone to move to the banquet hall. After the news of Qin Yi's banquet came from the previous dynasty, Chu Jinyao smiled at the eyes of the crowd and said, "Today we celebrate the great victory at the border. This is a great honor for the whole country, so we hold a banquet to celebrate the heroes of this battle. Ladies and young ladies, please don't be restrained. Let's start the banquet."

Chu Jinyao took the lead in raising the wine glass, and the sound of raising glasses came from below. With the echoes and congratulations of the crowd, Chu Jinyao raised his head and drank the wine in the glass. After a glass of wine, the atmosphere became lively. The guests and hosts of the banquet had a great time. After the palace banquet ended, Chu Jinyao took everyone to the stage to watch a play.

On the high platform, Chu Jinyao occupied the best viewing angle. The people who could accompany her were all the celebrities and favored ministers who attracted the attention of thousands of people. Halfway through the performance, a palace maid hurriedly came on stage and whispered something in Chu Jinyao's ear.

Chu Jinyao's eyebrows wrinkled slightly.