Chapter 278 Apricot Blossom Forest
Prince Gong's Mansion.
He Yan picked up the invitation sent by the Duke of Ming's Mansion with her orchid finger.
"It's time to go. Ming'er and Wan'er are both thirteen years old. It would be best if they could arrange their marriage within the next two years."
"The Duke of Ming's Mansion is somewhat lucky in marriage."
When He Yan said this, she felt a bitter taste in her throat.
She fell in love with Murong Xun at first sight when she was a teenager, at the spring banquet at the Duke of Ming's Mansion.
At that time, she was just beginning to fall in love. She saw the young and elegant Murong Xun sitting in a bamboo forest with his friends drinking and playing drinking games. Bamboo leaves fell all over his body, making him look like a gentleman or a flower under the bright moon in spring.
Back then, everyone in Chang'an admired Pei Lingyun, but He Yan felt that Pei Lingyun was too flamboyant and she preferred a man with a gentle temperament like Murong Xun.
She secretly looked at Murong Xun several times, thinking that no one would know. But the Duke's wife suddenly whispered to her:
"He doesn't look like your beloved."
He Yan was shocked and angry, her face flushed red and she was speechless for a moment.
Later, Murong Xun was granted a marriage and married Pei Xuan as his concubine. He Yan cried for a long time in her boudoir, crying so hard that she couldn't eat and her eyes were swollen.
A self-deprecating smile appeared on He Yan's lips.
I cried so hard at that time, who would have thought that we would have reached the point where we were disgusted with each other?
Now that her two children are older, she wants Ming'er and Wan'er to meet more people and be more selective, so that they don't get dazzled by just anyone they meet.
Nanny Lin's face was wrinkled with laughter, and the scar on the side of her forehead was wrinkled into a twisted worm:
"Our prince and princess are both talented and beautiful, and they come from good families. When they go to the Duke of Ming's mansion this time, I wonder how many people will ask for marriage proposals."
A trace of worry appeared between He Yan's brows:
"A few years ago, Ming'er was ignorant and got into a fight with the grandchildren of the Duke of Ming's Mansion, breaking their heirloom jade. If they still hold a grudge against this incident, they might even talk bad about our Prince Gong Mansion behind our backs."
Nanny Lin: "Princess, you're worrying too much. Didn't we already apologize for what happened back then? No matter how big a deal it is, it's just the kids making a fuss. Why would they bother with a child?"
"That's best," He Yan put down the invitation and walked out. "I'll go tell Wan'er and Ming'er to prepare well for the banquet."
It was a beautiful spring day, and the magnolia in the front yard of the Duke Ming's Mansion was in full bloom with large purple-red flowers.
The tree was very old and had grown tall. When one looked up from outside the house, one could see a patch of purple clouds on the treetop that was higher than the wall.
The entrance to the Duke of Ming's Mansion was bustling with activity, with guests coming to the apricot blossom banquet in an endless stream.
Hao Ren, Wu Yingniang, Su Zhizhi and Gu Qingning arrived at the gate of Duke Ming's Mansion together and met Yuan Caiwei who arrived at the same time.
"Zhizhi, Qingning!" Yuan Caiwei waved beside the carriage and jumped out without waiting for the maid to help her.
Madam Yan and Madam Yuan, who came with them, had no time to warn them and just felt a headache.
"Caiwei!" Su Zhizhi and Gu Qingning went over and hugged Yuan Caiwei.
No matter where I go, I feel happy as long as I am with good friends.
Hao Ren and Wu Yingniang greeted Old Madam Yan and Madam Yuan.
Hao Ren remembered that he had met the Yan family before because of his eldest brother's marriage. More than ten years had passed, and Old Madam Yan didn't seem to have aged much. Her expression and figure were good, and it was obvious that she was living a long and healthy life.
Wu Yingniang got along very well with Madam Yuan. Madam Yuan knew about the relationship between Wu Yingniang and Yuan Chi, her attitude towards her was very friendly.
The group entered the Duke's Mansion. Hao Ren went with the other male guests, while Wu Yingniang and the others went to the female guests' side.
Old Madam Yan and the old lady of the Duke's Mansion were old acquaintances, and they started greeting each other as soon as they met.
"These three girls are all pretty and good-looking."
The old Duke's wife praised Yuan Caiwei, Su Zhizhi and Gu Qingning.
Madam Yan said, "Your house is really festive and lively, unlike mine which is deserted and lonely."
The old Duke's wife said: "I just like to see these young people and children. They are full of life."
None of the guests here today brought children with them, and the youngest are only eleven or twelve years old.
In the past, Duke Ming and his wife loved children and always asked people to bring their children to their banquets.
Seven years ago, the old Duke thought about the only child of General Xue's family who was lonely at home, and he was very enthusiastic to invite the young master of the Xue family to the banquet, and no one could refuse him.
The young master of the Xue family came to the birthday party, and what happened? He was kidnapped!
This incident caused a huge uproar.
The old Duke and his wife did not dare to hold a banquet for those two years, and whenever they did, they would never invite children.
There is an apricot blossom forest in the Mansion of Duke Ming. Outside the apricot blossom forest is a spacious grassland, and next to the grassland is a pond.
The pool water is river water brought in from underground.
However, the women could not see the pond water on their side. There were only apricot trees and grasslands. The pond water was separated from the men's side.
Based on years of experience, the old Duke and his wife used this method to completely prevent the situation where ladies "accidentally" fell into the water and were then rescued by men.
In the attic beside the lawn, there were prepared tea, snacks, pitching pots for playing, and kites.
While the adults were talking, Su Zhizhi and the other two went to the grass to fly kites.
The east wind rises, and kites fly into the blue sky.
The three of them took turns pulling the kite string:
"Higher, higher."
"Reel in, reel in, the wind is dying down!"
"The wind is coming, let out the line~"
The kite was blown high into the sky by a sudden strong wind, and then suddenly fell down.
The kite fell a little far away, as if it had landed in the apricot blossom forest.
Gu Qingning said embarrassedly, "It's my fault for not hanging up in time."
Su Zhizhi: "It's okay, we just need to pick it up."
They walked into the apricot blossom forest and looked for the fallen kite.
"I saw it! It's over there." Yuan Caiwei pointed not far away.
There is a pavilion called Xinghua Pavilion in the apricot blossom forest, and the kite landed in front of the pavilion.
In the Xinghua Pavilion, Murong Wan was talking with several girls of the same age.
The apricot blossom pastries on the table were very exquisite, but almost no one ate them, and only took a sip or two of the tea.
Everyone in the pavilion was wearing bright clothes, smooth sleeves, and delicate pearl flowers on their heads.
In fact, they are not very close to each other, nor do they really want to be together. They are just imitating adults and putting on a show.
Zhao Mo, the great-granddaughter of Duke Ming, wore an apricot-yellow butterfly dress and had two cute dimples when she smiled:
"Sister Qi, I heard you play the piano well, why don't you play a piece for me?"
Hearing this, Qi Yun said shyly and reservedly, "Okay."
Qi Yun is Qi Fang's younger sister. She is just twelve years old this year and this is her first time visiting the Duke of Ming's Mansion. She knows that her family background is not as good as the girls present here, so she feels a little embarrassed.
The zither, writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone were prepared in advance in the pavilion so that these noble ladies could display their talents at any time.
Qi Yun sat down to play the piano. Her slender fingertips plucked the first string, and the lingering sound of the piano spread from the apricot blossom forest.
After she finished playing a piece, Zhao Mo praised: "Sister Qi plays really well."
The girl sitting opposite Qi Yun had a pretty face and a hint of arrogance in her expression.
After listening to Qi Yun's piano music, the girl just raised the corners of her mouth reluctantly and said:
"If you had relaxed your left hand a little more, the overtones wouldn't be so stiff."
After hearing this, Qi Yun lowered her head in embarrassment, her face flushed:
"Thank you for your guidance, Princess."
Qi Yun knew that the person sitting opposite her was Murong Wan, Princess Hengyang of Prince Gong's Mansion.
Murong Wan was already quite famous in the capital. She was beautiful, of noble status, and her skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting were impeccable.
Many people say that Princess Hengyang is extremely beautiful and talented, and any family that can marry her must have accumulated blessings for several lifetimes.
Murong Wan took a sip of tea, somewhat absent-minded.
She knew that she was quite famous, and she also knew why her mother asked her to come today.
But Murong Wan didn't expect that there would be so many people coming today, and they would be so diverse.
There were so many people that even the daughter of a sixth-rank official like Qi Yun could come, and this kind of family didn't even have a title.
Murong Wan sat at the same table with her and felt that she had given her a great deal of face.
Click.
Something fell from the sky and landed just outside the pavilion.
The girls in the pavilion looked out and saw a kite dropped to the ground.
"Is someone flying a kite?" Zhao Mo leaned over to take a look.
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