Chapter 7 Peace

On the 14th day of the first lunar month, guests arrived at Feihong Garden one after another. The main banquet of Feihong is on the 15th day of the first lunar month, but there is a welcoming banquet tonight to warm up the atmosphere, so that everyone can get to know each other and prepare for tomorrow's grand event.

This time, Princess Taiping invited many celebrities and spent a fortune, hoping that the Feihong Banquet would surpass the palace banquet. From today on, Feihong Garden will be bustling with people. Talented men and women can go to guess lantern riddles and poetry competitions. The nobles who are impatient with these literary activities can go archery and hunting. Those who are not good at literature or martial arts can also go to double-six, tanqi, and pot throwing. In short, there is always a place to have fun.

The only exception is Ming Huashang, who doesn't want to go out or socialize.

Ming Huashang checked into her own guest room at noon. Zhaocai and Ruyi were arranging the soft things, and Ming Huashang sat on the couch and watched them busy. If Zhaocai hadn't reminded her, Ming Huashang would have even fallen asleep on the couch.

Zhaocai just heard the door of the next room ring, thinking that the lady of Pingnan Marquis Mansion went out. She looked at her own wife again, drowsy and yawning, feeling very disappointed: "Madam, many famous men are coming today, it's a great opportunity to choose a son-in-law. How can you sleep with such a good opportunity?"

"Yes." Ruyi also advised, "My wife, even if you don't want to get married, you should make more connections for the Duke's Mansion."

Ming Huashang knew she had to go out, so she stood up reluctantly: "I know, it's already 3 p.m. and I haven't eaten yet."

Zhaocai wanted to shake his wife's head vigorously and throw the thoughts of eating and sleeping out of her mind: "My wife, Princess Taiping has a big family and a big business, there must be food at the banquet. You can eat at the banquet first."

Seeing that Ming Huashang was still dressed the same way she had been when she left in the morning, Ruyi hurriedly said, "Madam, the first meeting is the most important. How can you go out wearing this? Zhaocai, where are the clothes you brought from the Duke's Mansion? Take them out quickly and help Madam change."

"No need." Ming Huashang stopped the overly excited maids, stretched out her hand to look at her skirt, and said, "Who in the capital knows Ming Huashang? Everyone only knows that Ming Huazhang has a sister who is a twin of a dragon and a phoenix. This piece of cloth with dark dragon and phoenix patterns is the fabric given by my grandmother. It is festive and solemn. It is the same set of clothes as the second brother's, which is just right for today's occasion. Don't bother, I think this one is good enough."

What Ming Huashang said made sense, but Zhaocai was unwilling to be outdone and he re-tied Ming Huashang's hair into a Yuanbao bun and carefully matched it with a gold and silver hairpin.

Ming Huashang was different from Ming Huazhang in that she looked cold and noble. She had smooth and soft cheeks, big round eyes, plump and radiant red lips, and a smile on her face before she spoke. She was as delicate and beautiful as the Guanyin girl in the painting. When she had her hair done in a bun, her superior forehead lines were clearly visible, and her cheeks were round and pleasing to the eye.

Zhaocai carefully adjusted the position of the hairpin and was finally satisfied: "Okay. My wife is so beautiful, she will definitely be able to surprise everyone at the banquet and find a good husband."

Ming Huashang smiled perfunctorily.

It gets dark early in winter. When Ming Huashang finally went out, it was already dark outside. Ming Huashang wrapped herself in a cloak and walked towards the welcoming banquet with a lantern. When she arrived, the banquet hall was already crowded with people drinking and chatting.

Princess Taiping was born as the most noble princess, accustomed to luxury and pleasure, and loved to play. Her banquet was not held in the palace, but in a semi-open style, with the flower hall connected to the corridor and pavilion, and the snow and forest not far away, which was both elegant and wild.

The maid Yu Guan holding a golden plate walked through the corridor. Men and women in gorgeous clothes gathered in groups and talked. Poets and painters created impromptu works. Lanterns floated in the jade hall on the snow-capped mountains, and the precious hair buns were decorated with clusters of flowers and ringing bells. The atmosphere of a prosperous era was overwhelming.

After Ming Huashang came in, she easily found Ming Huazhang. It was because even in a banquet full of talented people, Ming Huazhang's demeanor and appearance were too outstanding. He stood beside the snow-covered pine forest and did not need any decoration. The brocade clothes and mink furs in the hall instantly became his foil.

It is difficult to describe temperament, but when a group of people stand together, even if they are dressed in gorgeous and elaborate clothes, they are still not as eye-catching as him who simply wears a jade hairpin to tie his hair.

Ming Huazhang was tall, and he felt someone approaching, so he turned around and saw Ming Huashang. Xie Jichuan followed Ming Huazhang's line of sight and smiled, "Oh, the second sister is here."

The men on both sides saw Ming Huashang and Ming Huazhang wearing the same clothes and asked, "What is this..."

Ming Huazhang was somewhat surprised that Ming Huashang had come. He motioned for Ming Huashang to stand beside him and introduced her to the others, "This is my twin sister, Er Niang."

Ming Huashang crossed her arms and saluted: "Hello, gentlemen."

The gentlemen had no impression of the Second Lady of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, but they understood when they mentioned Ming Huazhang's twin sister. They understood and glanced at Ming Huachang, very surprised: "The Second Lady is really mysterious, why haven't we seen her before?"

In front of Ming Huazhang, they couldn't comment on Ming Huachang's appearance, but it was clear that Ming Huachang's appearance was far beyond their imagination. The twins of Zhenguogong Mansion were very famous in the capital. In the past, they only saw the dragon but not the phoenix. They thought Ming Huachang was not good-looking and was embarrassed to go out. They didn't expect that she was obviously very beautiful.

Ming Huashang was too embarrassed to say that she was too lazy to go out, so she tried to find a decent excuse: "I am a quiet person and rarely go out. I am sorry to make you laugh."

Who would have the heart to blame such a sweet and lovely girl? The young men immediately said that Wen Jing was good. One of them wanted to test whether Ming Huashang was engaged, and joked: "Jingzhan, you are really stingy. You have such a lovely sister but you hide her at home and don't let us know."

Ming Huazhang's eyebrows did not move at all. Despite the hustle and bustle all around him, his eyes were cold and dark. His thin double eyelids were like distant mountains outlined in ink, curved inwards and outwards, with the tails of his eyes flat and slightly raised. When he did not speak, the chilly feeling of being above him came over his face.

He has fair skin, and wearing red clothes makes him look even more cold and elegant. Ming Huazhang didn't care about the jokes of the people around him. He lowered his eyes and said to Ming Huashang, "You just came, and you haven't paid your respects to the master yet? I will accompany you to see Her Royal Highness Princess Taiping."

Ming Huashang and Ming Huazhang were not very familiar with each other, but she felt that Ming Huazhang was a little unhappy and wanted to take her away. Ming Huashang smiled at Xie Jichuan and the other young men and responded crisply: "Okay, thank you, second brother."

The brother and sister turned and left. They were wearing the same color, one high and one low, one with a simple cut and one with a gorgeous skirt. They looked a perfect match walking side by side. The other men watched from behind and sighed, "It's great to have a twin brother or sister. No matter where you go, you can tell others that you are from the same place as soon as you see them. You are naturally closer than others."

"But then again, I thought Ming Huazhang's sister was also a cold beauty, but I didn't expect her to be the exact opposite, with a very sweet appearance and personality."

"Yes, even though they are twins, they don't look alike at all."

Xie Jichuan withdrew his gaze from the crowd, smiled faintly, and said, "It seems that the Saishi event over there is very lively. Why don't we go and take a look?"

The young men agreed, and a group of people walked towards the lamp stand in high spirits. In the opposite direction of Xie Jichuan and others, Ming Huazhang took Ming Huashang to the corridor and asked, "Why did you come out?"

Ming Huashang said, "We finally got to the mountain. We can't stay in the house all the time. We should come out and greet our host."

Ming Huazhang said, "I will take you to see Princess Taiping first, and then I will send you to the warm pavilion. There are mostly unmarried women there, and you girls will have more to say."

In fact, Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang are the same age, but he always regards himself as the elder and always calls them "you little girls". Ming Huashang nodded and said obediently: "Okay."

Princess Taiping was resting in the back hall. With her status, she didn't need to socialize with anyone. She could just call over whoever she wanted to see. Ming Huazhang arrived soon. He glanced at the closed doors and windows and said to the maid calmly, "I'm Ming Huazhang from the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. I'm here with my sister to meet Princess Taiping. Please tell her."

After a while, the maid came back and led the way, saying, "The princess is inside. My dear, please come in."

Ming Huashang followed her brother into the hall. As soon as she entered the hall, she was almost knocked unconscious by the warm incense.

Sneeze. She wrinkled her nose quietly to suppress the itch. When Ming Huashang was paying her respects, she glanced through the hall and unexpectedly found that in addition to Princess Taiping, there were two young men.

Ming Huazhang pretended not to notice anything, and calmly bowed: "I pay my respects to Princess Taiping, the Prince of Linzi, and the Prince of Baling."

Ming Huashang was secretly surprised. These were the crown prince's sons, the Prince of Linzi and the Prince of Baling? She didn't dare to show it on her face, and quickly followed her brother to pay her respects: "Your Highness, the Princess, the Prince of Linzi, and the Prince of Baling."

As Princess Taiping reached middle age, she looked even more graceful and elegant. Her hair was tied high with bright red peony silk flowers, her skin was fair and smooth, and she looked well-fed and well-groomed.

She glanced at the young man and girl wearing the same clothes in the hall, paused, and asked, "I heard that a pair of twins, a dragon and a phoenix, were born in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. Could it be you?"

Ming Huazhang's eyelashes drooped, his shoulders straightened, and he said neither servilely nor arrogantly, "It is you and my sister."

The birth of a dragon and a phoenix is ​​a good omen. At this moment, a pair of beautiful boys and girls wearing scarlet clothes stood in front of them, which was extremely festive. Princess Taiping gradually smiled and said, "Brother, I see them often, but this is the first time I see them. Come closer so that I can take a good look."

Ming Huashang instinctively looked at Ming Huazhang, who nodded slightly to her. Ming Huashang then walked up the steps with trepidation. She was extremely nervous, but when she saw people, she still smiled brightly: "I greet Her Highness the Princess and wish Her Highness a happy and healthy Lantern Festival."

Ming Huashang had a sweet look. When she smiled with her eyes bent, her eyes almost melted people's hearts. Princess Taiping held Ming Huashang's hand, looked left and right, and the more she looked, the more she admired them: "A pair of children is great. They look pleasing no matter how they are dressed. The Duke of Zhenguo is really blessed to have such a pair of children."

Seeing this, Prince Linzi said, "How can the Duke of Zhenguo compare to my aunt in terms of fortune? My aunt is of noble status, has both sons and daughters, and a harmonious family. She is the most blessed person in the world."

Ming Huashang thought, is this the start of the competition? She smiled until her face almost froze, and replied, "Yes, I met the princess today, and I realized that there is such a noble, beautiful, talented, and perfect person in the world."

Princess Taiping was used to hearing flattery, but no one could get enough of it. She smiled even more and said, "You guys are just good at making me happy. I only heard before that today the dragon and phoenix twins have finally been seen. I haven't prepared anything, but this pair of gold-inlaid jade armbands have been consecrated at the Yongning Temple. I'll give them to you today as a gift."

Ming Huashang was taken aback and quickly declined: "This is too expensive. I am ashamed to accept it."

But Princess Taiping had already taken off the armband from her creamy wrist and put it on Ming Huashang's wrist: "I reward whoever I like, so what's the problem with suitability? It fits you perfectly, just keep it."

Princess Taiping looked smiling and spoke kindly, but that was the kindness of a most favored princess, so how could anyone refuse it? Ming Huashang could only accept it and bowed upright: "Thank you, Princess, for the gift."

After Ming Huashang stood up, Princess Taiping was about to ask a question when a maid in blue half-sleeves came quickly from outside the palace, approached Princess Taiping and said, "Your Highness, Prince Ding and Prince Wei are here."

Ming Huashang saw with her own eyes that the smile in Princess Taiping's eyes froze for a moment, and then she smiled again like a spring breeze and said, "Sanlang, Silang, you two should go out first. I will talk to you another day."

The Prince of Linzi and the Prince of Baling who were sitting nearby stood up and said, "Aunt, I am leaving now."

Ming Huashang didn't even understand this hint, so she also stepped back to the stage and went out with Ming Huazhang. They fell behind the two princes and happened to run into a group of people when they went out.

The leading man was very imposing and impressive. The men beside him were not as aggressive, but their appearance and demeanor were very outstanding. The three groups of people rushed to the door. The King of Linzi and the King of Baling looked obviously depressed and raised their hands to salute: "Greetings to the King of Wei and the King of Ding."

Ming Huashang and Ming Huazhang followed suit. Ming Huazhang's posture was calm and his voice was as clear as jade, just like when he paid his respects to Princess Taiping just now. He looked much more generous than the two men of Linzi. Ming Huashang took advantage of being blocked by his brother and quietly looked at the people in front.

It turned out that these were the Empress's nephew, Prince of Wei Wu Chengsi, and Princess Taiping's consort, Prince of Ding Wu Youji.

The King of Wei is the leader of the Wu family and the person with the highest voice in the court to establish the crown prince. He has also been planning to depose the crown prince and persuade the empress to make himself the crown prince instead. Now that the King of Wei and the crown prince's son have run into each other, the scene cannot be described in one word.