The morning breeze was cool, and a thin mist shrouded the house and the courtyard like a veil, which gradually faded under the sunlight. In the courtyard, red silk fluttered on the trees and verandas, and pots of flowers competed with each other in their splendor and bloom.
The male and female servants, dressed in brand new and uniform clothing, moved back and forth between the courtyards, each doing their job in an orderly manner.
All the masters in the house got up early, dressed up, and happily prepared for the busy day ahead.
Madam Tong and Madam Li arrived first. Qin warmly welcomed the two relatives. Soon, the Wen family came.
The Qin family...people came one after another.
At the end of the Chen hour, vehicles were coming and going outside the Xiao Mansion, and guests were flowing in an endless stream, including General Xiao's comrades and subordinates, his sons' colleagues and close friends, and in-laws and old acquaintances, one group after another.
When the auspicious time arrived, General Xiao, dressed in a crimson robe emblazoned with auspicious patterns, sat in the center of the hall and received his four sons and daughters-in-law, who knelt and kowtowed. Next came the grandchildren: six grandsons and two granddaughters. The youngest, Xiao Yuan, knelt with the help of her wet nurse and Xiao Yao, and kowtowed to her grandfather.
Everyone praised the Xiao family's children and grandchildren for their outstanding character and appearance, and their friendly and respectful behavior towards each other. General Xiao had been smiling since he woke up.
He feels very proud and honored to have such outstanding children and grandchildren.
General Xiao's long-serving officers and subordinates also stepped forward to congratulate him, wishing him "blessings as vast as the East Sea and a long life as long as the Southern Mountains." Looking at his former subordinates, who had fought side by side through thick and thin, General Xiao felt a surge of emotion: for those who had passed away, for himself, and for those who still followed him...
The birthday celebration was going on here, when suddenly a voice came from outside the door, "The imperial edict has arrived."
After the incense table was set up, the eunuch who announced the imperial edict was invited out. General Xiao knelt first, and the others knelt behind him in order. Then they heard, "The Emperor, by the Will of Heaven, proclaims that General Xiao Hu has been guarding the frontier for more than ten years, doing his job conscientiously and wholeheartedly. Considering his advanced age, I permit him to return to the capital to spend his remaining years, and bestow upon him the title of Prince's Guardian, and grant him a thousand taels of gold and a hundred pieces of silk..." After the Xiao family expressed their gratitude, the eunuch who announced the imperial edict took out another imperial edict, which was for Xiao Jingkang, appointing him as the Minister of Works.
Most people present understood the implicit meaning of the imperial edict: General Xiao's military power would be meaningless without him leaving the Northern Frontier.
Unless there is another war, he will only be able to live out his days in peace. Xiao Jingkang was actually promoted, and the emperor's balancing act was fully demonstrated in these two imperial edicts.
After sending off the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict, the birthday banquet officially began. Maids came in one after another and served the guests with exquisite dishes. There were sounds of stringed instruments, singing birds and dancing swallows, creating a joyful and festive occasion.
Children who are too young are not suitable for such occasions, so Tong Mingyu plans to send them back to the backyard. Xiao Yuan and Xiao Qi saw that the dishes were served, but they were sent away instead. They were very unhappy. They were not allowed to look at so many delicious foods, let alone eat them, so they returned to the backyard and refused to enter the room.
Xiao Yao did not like this kind of scene and left cleanly. Xiao Jun saw the general who had hugged him that day and wanted to reminisce about the past and strengthen their relationship, but he was cruelly suppressed by his father and had to leave reluctantly.
The three daughters-in-law of the Xiao family were all busy, too busy to even have time for tea. Some of the older ladies were full of praise for them. Qin was also very satisfied. She ordered people to fill the wine glasses for Madam Tong and Madam Li, and personally raised her glass to thank the two in-laws for marrying such outstanding daughters into the Xiao family.
Yuan Yutong's father was also a great general who guarded a region. Due to the long journey, he was not present today. However, the Yuan family had its roots in Kyoto, so representatives of the Yuan family also came to celebrate the birthday today. Qin also toasted the woman with a glass of wine.
Most of the families who can come here to attend the birthday party today have some connection with the Xiao family, but it is not ruled out that there are some people with ulterior motives.
"Mom, I saw him, I saw him." A girl with upturned eyes and a pointed chin pulled a lady next to her who was intimidating and looked a little aggressive. The two looked very similar and it was obvious at a glance that they were mother and daughter.
"Just be quiet. What day is today? You must not do anything rash. If you have any problems, wait until you get home." The lady lowered her voice and instructed her daughter.
"What do you say when I go home? Can you and daddy agree to come and propose marriage for me?" the girl said coquettishly.
The lady wanted to cover her daughter's mouth. It seemed that her daughter was spoiled by her. She was so rude and rude that she didn't know what the situation was.
She dares to say anything. I thought daughters should be spoiled, but after raising her for so long, she has developed such a personality. How can she find a husband in the future?
Even worse, this little ancestor had actually taken a fancy to the Fourth Master of the Xiao Family and even threatened to marry him. Wasn't it said that the Fourth Master had been away from home for two years? How could he show up again today, and even happened to be seen by my daughter? What a sin!
"Go back to your seat and don't cause any trouble. Vanilla, you have to keep an eye on your young lady. If anything happens today, I will skin you alive." The lady was reluctant to scold her precious daughter, so she turned to threaten her daughter's personal maid, Vanilla.
Vanilla shuddered and responded weakly with her head down. She dared not disobey the lady's words, but she could not control the young lady either. It was her fate to leave everything to fate.
"Madam Yu, you and your daughter have such a great relationship. Not only are you affectionate at home, but you are also reluctant to separate when you go out to a party. It really makes us, who don't have daughters, jealous!" joked an official's wife.
Mrs. Yu gave her daughter a final, warning look and returned to her seat. Miss Yu, as her daughter, didn't seem to be paying attention at all. Vanilla looked up at the sun outside, wondering if this would be the last time she'd see it.
This mother and daughter are the wife and daughter of Lord Yu, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Madam Yu and their daughter Yu Xianrong.
Only after everyone had taken their seats did Tong Mingyu and her sisters-in-law finally get a chance to catch their breath.
Tong Mingyu's elder sister Tong Minglan just came back from Anyang a few days ago. The two sisters have very different temperaments. Tong Mingyu is elegant and dignified; Tong Minglan is elegant and beautiful. Perhaps influenced by the generations of scholarly atmosphere of the Wen family, the otherworldly aura on her body is becoming more and more intense. Compared with her sister, Tong Mingyu feels that she is just an ordinary person.
"Have all the matters in Anyang been dealt with?" Tong Mingyu asked.
"Everything has been taken care of. Your brother-in-law and I can finally take a break."
"The clan school in Beijing is preparing to hire several prestigious female teachers. In two years, Ping An will be sent there as well." Tong Minglan has only two sons. He liked Xiao Yao from the bottom of his heart as soon as he saw her. It's a pity that the age gap between his sons and his niece is too big, otherwise he would have taken his niece home no matter what.
Tong Mingyu whispered to her sister about her daughter's injuries, then shook her head with regret.
"I'm afraid that won't work. Ping'an is in such a bad condition that I can only ask a teacher to come home and teach her. I absolutely won't allow her to go out to study."
"This child..." Tong Minglan felt a slight pain in his heart. Why was he still suffering like this?
"Don't worry, I will keep an eye out for a good candidate for Ping An. We will hire the best teacher for her so that she can excel in everything even if she studies at home." Tong Minglan only has this one niece, and her family has convenient conditions. It is easy for them to find any reputable teacher they want. This is a problem that is not easy to solve for other families, but it is not difficult for Yu Wen's family.
"Thank you, elder sister and brother-in-law."
"We are family, so why do we need these empty formalities? Leave this matter to me."
"Sister, you go ahead and look for her. I think we should focus on her health for the next two years. Once she's well or fully recovered, it won't be too late to invite a doctor."
"You can find a good husband if you want to. I also need time to look for him. Ping An is still young.
Three or two years is not too urgent, what do you think?
"That's what I mean."
After saying a few words in a hurry, Tong Mingyu walked away again.
She is destined to be busy today.
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