Early the next morning, Meng Shu took Meng Wan out.
The two made an appointment yesterday.
The two sisters didn't visit the rouge, gouache or clothing stores that ordinary women like to go to. They went to a store that sold weapons.
Meng Shu had ordered ten Xiujian arrows from this shop before, and she happened to come to pick them up today.
The Zhou Dynasty did not allow civilians to make weapons privately, but the weapons shops opened by the court could sell some conventional weapons, such as... ordinary bows, arrows, daggers, etc.
Military-standard bows, arrows, spears, etc. are not for sale.
Moreover, you have to register with household stamps to buy weapons.
Meng Shu just customized the arrows for his sleeve arrows, which was nothing out of the ordinary.
In fact, she already had this thing. Coming here to customize arrows was just to hide it from others.
The things her father gave her for self-defense were much better than the ones here.
"Sister, this dagger is good." Meng Wan took a fancy to a dagger.
"Compared to the one you used to defend yourself, it's much worse." Meng Shu didn't like it very much.
It's nothing more than a few gems inlaid, it's flashy.
Meng Wan thought it looked good, so she paid for it.
The servants who followed them out took their waist badges. People in the shop knew that they were ladies from the British government and did not dare to make any mistakes. After registering them in the register according to the rules, the steward respectfully sent them to the door.
"Eldest sister, where should we go next?" Meng Wanyue was still unfinished.
She thought it was so much fun to go out with her big sister.
Weapons shop! This is the first time she has grown up like this.
"Go back home!" Meng Shu smiled.
"It's still early." Meng Wan didn't want to go back.
"Then... let's go to the Jiaofangsi. I've heard people mention it before in Guiyun City. The singing and dancing there are outstanding, no worse than the music department in the palace." Meng Shu thought for a while. , suddenly got an idea.
"Jiao... Jiaofang Secretary, my God, big sister, you are so amazing!" Meng Wan grabbed Meng Shu's hand with some excitement: "Although I also want to go, let's forget it, that place It’s not for us women to go.”
"Why? The Jiaofang Division is affiliated to Taichang Temple and is a music studio under the jurisdiction of the imperial court. Although the singers and dancers are in the music studio, they are not the female prostitutes in the brothels outside. They only perform songs and dances for people to watch, and nothing else. We are Women, you can’t watch women singing and dancing?” Meng Shu was puzzled.
"Having said that, almost only men go to Jiaofangsi. As for us women... the last time we went to Jiaofangsi to watch the singing and dancing was Princess Rui's Princess Xue and her daughter Princess Minhui."
Recalling that incident, Meng Wan was a little excited: "It caused a big sensation at the time. How noble the two of them were. They were talked about for a long time after they went to the Jiaofang Division, and... Princess Minhui told me Yes, the songs and dances in the Jiaofang Division are all performed for men. They are too attractive. Those difficult skills are rare, and they are not as good as Qingyue Pavilion. "
"Qingyue Pavilion!" Meng Shu heard of this place for the first time.
"Yes!" Meng Wan nodded: "Qingyue Pavilion is a music house run by Princess Rui. The singing and dancing inside are excellent. The key is... Qingyue Pavilion only accepts female guests. There are many ladies and ladies who usually come here. We If you go there to watch singing and dancing, you won’t be criticized.”
"Okay, then go to Qingyue Pavilion!"
"Sister, when you get to Qingyue Pavilion later, it will be much cheaper if you tell me my name." Meng Wan said with a smile: "The singing and dancing there are quite expensive, and the tea and snacks are also expensive. Princess Minhui and I are We have been friends since childhood, and she said that as long as I go, she can give me half the price. To tell you the truth...the last few times I went there, I went with the princess without any money. "
"So, our second sister is quite popular, and I am taking advantage of my sister today!" Meng Shu said with a smile.
"It's okay." Meng Wan smiled from ear to ear. She was indeed very popular. Firstly, she was backed by the British government and when she was away from home, the ladies from the aristocratic families always had to give her a little less respect. Secondly... she had been growing up since she was a child. Just be honest, how could you not hand over a handkerchief?
"In addition to Princess Minhui, I also have a good personal relationship with Hua Zhang's second sister Hua Zhen, and there are several others. I will tell my eldest sister one by one later."
Seeing how happy she was, Meng Shu smiled and nodded.
The two sisters went to Qingyue Pavilion to enjoy the singing and dancing, and had lunch outside. In the afternoon, they slowly returned to the Duke's Mansion.
When Mrs. Lu heard that her daughter was back, she quickly invited her to Ting Xuexuan.
She did not ask where Meng Shu had been during the day. Mrs. Lu was always at ease with her daughter.
My daughter has been very well-behaved since she was a child and has done things in a measured manner. It would be bad for her mother to care too much.
"Shu'er, mother wants to tell you something. I hope you will feel comfortable after listening to it." Ms. Lu said with a smile: "That boy from the Ding family got drunk last night and ran to climb a tree, but fell down. I fell down and my leg was broken. I asked the imperial doctor to treat me. I had to stay in bed and rest for a long time. "
"This is really..." The corners of Meng Shu's mouth raised slightly.
"Do you know why that boy made a fuss in front of his mother and didn't agree to this marriage?
"I don't know!" Meng Shu shook her head cooperatively.
"It was his concubine who instigated it. Yang Qiuyue had already sent the nanny next to her to explain this matter early this morning." Mrs. Lu curled her lips as she spoke: "There are too many women in this man's backyard, which is troublesome. For example, the Ding family has many children, and even a powerful person like Yang Qiuyue cannot suppress them. "
Fortunately, her mother-in-law didn't allow the men in the family to have concubines, and her husband was kind to her, so she avoided so many troubles.
Mrs. Lu is self-aware, but she is not as capable as her good sister Yang Qiuyue.
But even so, my life was not as satisfactory as it was.
"A little concubine dares to spread rumors about you. She doesn't know how high the sky is. If you encounter her in the future, don't give her face." Mrs. Lu said with a look of disgust.
"How did she slander her daughter?" Meng Shu asked curiously.
"You said that you and Wei Qingyun broke off the engagement and were still entangled with him. You also said that when you were in Guiyun City, you had private conversations with others and were talking nonsense."
"But don't worry, your Aunt Yang has already punished her severely. Next time, she will be given a bowl of dumb medicine. I also sent someone to tell your Aunt Yang, no matter whether Ding Hongyin is suffering or not I didn’t agree to this marriage because of someone’s instigation. Since there is no such fate, there is no need to mention this matter in the future, so as not to hurt the relationship between me and her. "
Meng Shu nodded after hearing this: "What mother said is absolutely true."
"If you ask me, it was fortunate that it didn't happen. Ding Hongyin was easily provoked by others. It shows that he is not rational and not as smart as his mother said."
Mr. Lu shook his head as he spoke: "Also...he actually went to climb a tree when he was drunk. He is young now and can still withstand the hardship. He just broke his leg. What if he loses his life in a few years?" If he is thrown away, won’t the person who marries him become a widow?”
Fortunately, the marriage was not agreed, otherwise my daughter would have been very upset.
