Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 340 Xiangyun's Wedding is Complete

In the small bedroom, all the palace maids had been sent away, leaving only Daiyu and Hongchang.

Princess Hongchang told Daiyu all the news outside, and planned to find out the emperor's true intentions from her.

Daiyu just shook her head to show that she didn't know the truth. Then she changed the subject and said with a smile, "It's a good day for Miss Yun, but I happened to be sick. Did you go to see the fun the other day?"

"Why didn't you go? My mother took me to see her off, and we sat in the chief seats at the young Lord Shi's place.

"I heard that the Prince of Nan'an went to the Wei family in person, but the Xining Wang family, who was supposed to come to the Shi family, didn't show up. The smile on the face of the young Marquis Shi's wife froze."

Hongchang took the opportunity to change the subject and told Daiyu with a smile the interesting stories that happened at Xiangyun's wedding.

Daiyu hurriedly stopped her, and with a smile, she called for Tanchun to come over: "She is also worried about it! Let her come and listen."

This means that I don’t want to talk about big things happening outside anymore.

Hongchang smiled and said yes, without showing any expression.

Tanchun came hurriedly over, put her arm around Hongchang's shoulders, and urged him on.

Hongchang vividly described Xiangyun's situation at the time: "...she had already put on her makeup, but Madam Shihou was still lecturing her with a stern face. What kind of filial piety and gratitude is that?

"My mother got impatient and asked immediately: How come Marquis Shi didn't even come back to see his niece off during the New Year just to avoid going back to the capital to report on his work? How can you expect your niece's husband to be filial to you if you don't give the Wei family face like this?!"

Daiyu and Tanchun looked at each other.

They had all seen Princess Kejin tell stories before, but they didn't expect she could be so good at bullying people!

"The whole room fell silent immediately. Madam Shihou's face was as ugly as it could be. But since it was my mother who spoke, I couldn't spoil her words, so I kept silent." Hongchang smiled.

Tanchun couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that Sister Yun didn't say anything to change the situation?"

"She did speak, and changed the subject." Hongchang couldn't help laughing and covered his mouth with a handkerchief. "She turned around and asked her maid Cuilu:

"Where are the two pieces of kesi silk that Sister Lin gave me? Keep an eye on them! One is light purple and the other is dark purple. They were given to me to bring as a gift to my mother-in-law!

"Hurry up and make two skirts tomorrow, one for me and one for my mother-in-law. We'll wear them when we go to the palace to pay New Year's greetings in the first month of the year! The Empress Dowager will be happy to see me, and I'll be filial, and my mother-in-law will also have face!"

Tanchun laughed out loud: "Mrs. Shihou didn't turn hostile?"

Hongchang smiled and shook his head.

Daiyu sneered, "I guess the two rolls of brocade silk were withheld by Madam Shihou? Yun girl doesn't know how to ask for them back, and she is asking Yun girl to hit her!"

Hongchang nodded, and said with a smile, "I heard that the Shi family has been very stingy in recent years, and the two daughters-in-law are guarding against their mother-in-law like they are guarding against thieves.

"It seems that this time, Xiangyun's private money and the dowry that was not included in the dowry list were also deducted by her aunt."

"Tomorrow I will go to pay New Year's greetings to Mrs. Shihou! I will make her spit out all the things she has withheld from Xiangyun!" Tanchun was immediately angry.

Daiyu smiled and threw her handkerchief at her, saying, "After what Yun girl did, even if her aunt had great courage, she would not dare to do anything reckless about these things.

"What matters now is what her mother left for her. The dowry list must be kept in the government office. I'll have someone take your letter and make two copies, one for Madam Shihou and one for the Wei family.

"With Madam Wei in charge, Xiangyun only needs to sit and cry, and this thing will go into the Wei family without losing a penny!"

Hongchang clapped his hands and laughed: "Sister Zhaoqing is really good at this! This move is to cut off the fire from under the cauldron. We must let Madam Shihou know how powerful her in-laws are!"

Daiyu waved her hands and said with a smile: "This year is different from the past. There are so many winds and rains blowing sideways. We sisters are in the back house. We just listen to the adults and have a good New Year. But we must not go out and cause trouble!"

Have a good New Year and don't go out and cause trouble...

After hearing this, Hongchang undoubtedly connected it with the emperor's will that she had inquired about earlier.

So, this is what Your Majesty meant?

Hongchang smiled sincerely, clasped his hands and said, "Amitabha, during the New Year, we have plenty of food and drink in the mansion, which is a very comfortable time for me and my mother.

"Going out? That's impossible! I have to stay at home until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month!"

"Aren't you afraid of being accused of raising pigs?" Daiyu teased, and the three of them burst into laughter.

Seeing Daiyu's tired face, Hongchang stood up and said goodbye: "Since His Majesty has ordered everyone to stay at home, I guess Sister Xiangyun will not be able to return home.

"I'll go back and write her a note to comfort her and let her know about the dowry list."

Tanchun smiled and accompanied her out, bowed to the empress dowager, and left the palace.

Daiyu felt her body weaken, and was helped by Xiaohong to lie back down. However, she was still in a state of confusion, and could not help but hold her hand, and asked in a low voice: "Didn't His Majesty come to the Yanjia Palace today?"

"Today is the Little New Year. After putting down the pen and seal, His Majesty will lead the royal family and important ministers to worship the gods and the kitchen god. I guess it will be lunchtime if they come."

Xiao Hong knew that she was uneasy, and seeing that there was no one outside, she said softly, "His Majesty has granted the title of Protector of the Nation to Master Zhitong, who is in charge of the Dali Temple, and also given him a demon-subduing pestle, and those below the fifth rank must be executed first and then reported to the emperor.

"That old immortal is a very clear-headed person. I heard that he has sent people to the south. Who knows, the old marquis's case may be opened for investigation.

"Besides, the New Year is coming soon. Not only the Empress Dowager, but also the old lady of the Jia Mansion is waiting for you to pay them New Year's greetings in high spirits.

"Why don't you recover from your illness quickly? Are you really going to spend your first year in the palace lying down like this?"

Before he finished speaking, Cheng Qian suddenly knocked on the door: "Is the princess awake? The queen sent someone to visit her!"

Who? The Queen?

Daiyu was confused for a moment, and told Xiaohong to open the door and greet the guest: "Aunt Cheng? Please come in!"

The door opened, and Cheng Qian walked in with Su Hong, the palace maid who was beside Queen Wan.

"My surname is Su, and I'm here to pay my respects to Princess Zhaoqing." Su Hong was very polite.

Daiyu hurriedly sat up straighter and bowed with a smile, "Hello, Aunt Su."

Su Hong's eyes swept over Daiyu's bed curtains, and when she saw the dark leopard skin mattress, her eyebrows twitched slightly, and she said with a smile:

"I heard that the princess was not feeling well, and the queen wanted to come and see her in person. But she was too busy this year and couldn't spare the time, so she asked this old servant to come and see her. Is the princess feeling better?"

Daiyu nodded and smiled, "Thank you for your concern, Queen. I have had this disease since childhood, and it just recurred when it got cold. It's no big deal."

"It's a busy year at the end of the year, and Auntie is the Queen's right-hand man, so she shouldn't have made this trip.

"I would like you to reply to the Queen on my behalf: Your Majesty has always been kind and loving, and I admire you. Now is the New Year, so please take care of yourself."

It's just polite talk, not a single word of sincerity is spoken.

Cheng Qian nodded quietly with satisfaction.

Life in the palace is the best!