Banquets in the palace are mostly used to connect the monarch and his ministers emotionally, but for the matrons of high-ranking families, this is also a good time to meet their children.
Shang Shisan was summoned to Changle Palace by Shang Rong, and the Shang family knew that it was Shang Guifei who had taken a fancy to a girl from some unknown family and wanted to hold the red thread for her nephew.
When Shang Shisan's mother saw her son coming back from Changle Palace, she couldn't help but smile and said, "Which girl did your aunt fall in love with?"
"Why are you so depressed? But people don't like you?"
"But this is normal. Your aunt has a sharp eye and can't judge people better. That girl must be an excellent one. Maybe many people will like her."
Shang Shisan raised his head: "Why do you say that, mother? Is there something wrong with your son?"
"Hey, your reaction really made my mother right? This girl really doesn't like you?"
As she said this, Mrs. Shang covered her lips and laughed.
Master Shang saw his wife smiling heartily, turned around and asked what happened. Mrs. Shang replied: "Rong'er showed a girl to the Thirteenth Prime Minister, but he didn't like her."
After saying that, Mrs. Shang chuckled again.
"Oh? Whose girl is this? Your aunt's taste is definitely good."
Seeing the smiles on his father and mother's faces, Shang Shisan couldn't help it, and the tips of his ears turned slightly red.
"She is the legitimate daughter of the second wife of the Song family."
"Song Jianping's daughter?"
Hearing this, Mrs. Shang said: "The second room of the Song Mansion was in a serious commotion back then. Song Jianping has not returned to Beijing for many years, and his wife Liu may not have been seen in public for a long time."
"Although Song Fu and Jian Jian are queens in the emperor's heart, your aunt will not take a fancy to the Song family girl just for this reason."
"The one who can make your aunt specially call you to see her, there is a chance that this girl is very outstanding."
Mrs. Shang's face was full of smiles: "This girl's situation in the house is comparable to that of my mother, but her lack of joy when seeing you shows that she is not a superficial person who only values the family."
"My son has a good appearance, and the little girl didn't take notice of him at first glance, which shows that she has her own plans and is not easily deceived by others."
"Such a girl is usually a prosperous husband who can run a household. If you like her, my son has to hurry up."
"Mother said this too early."
"Yeah?"
Mrs. Shang said: "At that time, young girls and boys were reciting poems and competing in paintings to show off their talents. Mother asked your eleventh brother to go. He has not yet decided to get married. I don't think the Song family girl will like it."
"Mother."
Shang Shisan raised his eyebrows, and the man's handsome appearance instantly showed a bit of sharpness.
Mrs. Shang smiled from ear to ear.
"Young people don't need to be teased. Why are you teasing them?"
Mr. Shang patted his wife's hand and signaled to her that it was up to them to decide the young man's affairs.
The merchant trusted Shang Rong's vision and had a natural liking for Song Xiangji. Mrs. Shang also made up her mind to take advantage of the ladies of the house to look at each other to see if the little girl from the second bedroom of the Song Mansion was really as she had guessed. good.
Halfway through the spring banquet, the emperor and the empress left one after another, and the mistresses of the palaces began to lead their juniors to talk and visit.
There are two waterside pavilions in the imperial garden. The two pavilions are neither far nor close, so they do not disturb each other and can watch the actions of the people opposite.
On it are the writing desks and ink, the piano table, the chessboard, etc. arranged by the palace maid and the eunuch.
In the past, this place was mostly used for girls from aristocratic families who had not yet left the palace to show their talents. If there was a person with outstanding appearance and talents, it was possible that he would win the favor of the emperor and be included in the harem.
But Shen Qianyu had no intention of doing this, and there were no unmarried princes or princesses in the court. These two waterside pavilions had now become a place for officials and officials to see each other.
None of the three girls in the Song family are pushy, especially Song Xiu and Song Nian, who are extremely aloof.
Song Zhao occasionally looked up at the waterside pavilion to see others reciting poems, but Song Xiang and Song Nian stood under the pavilion, silently accompanying Ming Xiang and Yang Pianzhi.
Shang Shisan was standing together with other disciples from aristocratic families. He originally wanted to show off his skills in front of the woman, but Song Xiang was actually not interested in the man present today and did not show up at all.
Not seeing the person he wanted to see, he couldn't help but look dull and uninterested.
"Why did Ming Shiqi come up for a while and then go down? I still want to play chess with him once."
"I just saw him going outside the waterside pavilion with the British father-in-law. I thought he didn't know which house he wanted to visit."
Two aristocratic men in fine clothes held the chess pieces and absentmindedly placed them.
Their marriage had been arranged for them at home, and now they were just joining in the fun. A few people who had no intention of showing themselves walked together and chatted with each other.
"It should be to visit Mrs. Song. The two Ming and Song Dynasties are in-laws. There is no chance that Ming Shiqi will marry a daughter of the Song family."
"Ming Shiqi is engaged to the Song family?"
"I don't know, I've never paid attention to it."
A few people chatted and mentioned it, but Shang Shisan took it to heart.
He raised his eyebrows, held up the fence of the waterside pavilion with one hand, turned over and jumped out.
"Hey, little ancestor, please take it easy."
"Eunuch Tang, would you please go find my mother? I just wanted to pay a visit to the Song family."
"I'll go now, my slave. Don't scare me like this anymore. If I bump into Concubine Shang, I won't be able to spare our family."
"Understood."
Without saying a word, Shang Shisan ran towards the direction of the female members of the Song family.
The Song Dynasty had a prominent position, and Ming Xiang had not rested since entering the palace. He was busy mingling with other mistresses of other palaces before he was welcomed. Even now, she was surrounded by several ladies, who were openly and secretly inquiring about the marriages of several girls in the house.
Yang Pianzhi watched from the side and was secretly satisfied. Just as he was thinking about Qi Su Lun swaying from side to side, he saw Mrs. Qi walking over with a happy face.
As soon as she approached, those people who had been talking warmly before left one after another.
Everyone knows what kind of character she is, and they are afraid that if they get along with her, she will cause a scandal and her family will become notorious.
Ming Xiang didn't know how to get along with Mrs. Qi. Seeing her aunt bringing Ming Shiqi over in the distance, she hurriedly pulled Song Xiang and Song Nian forward to greet her.
Halfway through the journey, Shang Shisan came out of nowhere and stopped in front of everyone.
Song Xiu and Song Nian stood behind Ming Xiang, their eyebrows did not move, they lowered their eyes slightly without raising their heads.
"The Thirteenth Merchant, please give your regards to Mrs. Song."
Mingxiang was a little surprised when he suddenly walked out.
Although today is a day for unengaged girls and boys to see each other, the act of suddenly walking in front of the female relatives without the company of the elders in the family is really a bit abrupt.
Ming Xiang was about to frown when he heard Shang Shisan say: "My mother just had something to do and was delayed on the road. She was afraid of neglecting Mrs. Song, so she asked me to come to see her first."
When Shang Shisan turned around, he saw Mrs. Shang leading two maids from the Shang Mansion, striding towards Mingxiang's place.
Passing by the British princess and Ming Shiqiu, she even sped up her pace, forced herself to catch up, and stood in front of the others in front of Ming Xiang and the two little girls.
