The subtle fragrance of cotton needles

The palace prepared to hold a banquet for the Dragon Boat Festival and specially invited the noble families in the capital to attend.

In the past two months, Xia Liu has been ignoring Tu and Xia Yanxiang, but it just so happens that Xia Yanxiang doesn't want to see him, nor does she want him to hang around in front of Tu.

Perhaps Tu Song had made things difficult for Xia Liu in the court, so Xia Liu did not take away Tu's housekeeper power. The Second Aunt, who had thought she could benefit from it, was furious when she found out about it.

However, when the Dragon Boat Festival came, the Xia family also received an invitation from the palace. Even if the couple didn't want to meet each other, they had to attend the banquet together.

Xia Yanxiang calculated the days and figured out that Xia Zhibai would arrive in five days at the latest.

Xia Yanxiang didn't want to dress up, because today was the day the emperor was arranging a marriage for Mo Fuyang, and she didn't want to be arranged to be married to Mo Fuyang again.

But even if she didn't want to take the initiative, Mo Yuyang and others would force her to do it, so it would be better to take advantage of the situation and turn the tables.

So Xia Yanxiang dressed up carefully, used the little lip balm she had, drew an orchid petal between her eyebrows, combed her hair into a fallen horse bun, inserted a jade hairpin at an angle, picked out a bamboo-colored waist-length skirt, and tied a lilac-colored purse around her waist.

After she finished packing, she went to Wenti Pavilion first, and Xia Qianxiang happened to arrive there too.

Xia Qianxiang's status in Xia Liu's place was only slightly better than Xia Yanxiang's. Unfortunately, she was a concubine's daughter and did not grow up under the Tu family. Naturally, she was much more cautious in doing things. She did not wear any beautiful clothes today, only a jade-colored waist-length skirt and a white coat.

"Mother." Xia Yanxiang bowed to Tu with a slight smile.

"Third sister." Xia Qianxiang also smiled and saluted Xia Yanxiang.

Tu smiled and nodded. She was a woman in her forties, gentle and intellectual. Although Xia Liu had never liked her very much, she had a shop that brought in money from her dowry, so she was naturally rich. Moreover, the housekeeper power had been in her hands for a long time. In addition to educating Xia Yanxiang and Xia Zhibai, she also managed all the major and minor affairs of the household, so she was naturally well maintained.

"Why haven't the second sister and the fifth sister come yet?" Xia Yanxiang asked indifferently.

Tu didn't pay much attention to it and answered casually: "Maybe he is still cleaning up! Wait a moment."

Xia Yanxiang and the other two waited in Wenti Pavilion for a full quarter of an hour before Xia Pinxiang and Xia Jianxiang finally arrived: "Madam, it's Pinxiang's fault. Pinxiang was afraid of losing face for the Xia family, so she took a little longer to clean up. Please don't blame me, Madam."

Xia Yanxiang and Xia Qianxiang looked at each other.

Xia Pinxiang was not afraid of bringing shame to the Xia family, but was clearly afraid of losing her own face, which would make it difficult for her to attract everyone's attention at the banquet and find a good marriage for herself, right?

After all, Xia Pinxiang is already eighteen years old, and the marriage proposal has been going on for more than a year, but she is always picky, not satisfied with this or that. What's more, she is getting older and older, and if she doesn't hurry up, she won't be able to get married.

No wonder Xia Yanxiang and the others thought this way. Xia Pinxiang wore a purple chest-length skirt, had her hair in a fairy bun, a golden hairpin and a silver hairpin in her hair, and her face was painted with gorgeous makeup.

Mrs. Tu didn't think too much about it, she just said calmly: "Since everyone is here, let's go! An Hui, go and call the master."

"Yes."

When they arrived at the door, Xia Liu, the fourth son Xia Zhiyang, and the seventh son Xia Zhifeng were already there. Seeing the five people from the Tu family coming, Xia Liu did not say anything, but his children bowed to him and the Tu family.

"Since everyone is here, let's go!" Xia Liu didn't say anything, but started to set off.

When they arrived at the palace gate, everyone had to get off the car and walk.

The banquet was held in the Qianqing Palace, and all civil and military officials attended.

When everyone was present, they began to formally salute: "Long live the emperor, long live the emperor, a thousand years live the empress, a thousand years live the empress dowager."

"Stand up." The current emperor Mo Cheng was in his prime, and his voice was loud and clear, so there was no need for the eunuch to repeat it. "Today is the Dragon Boat Festival, my dear ministers, there is no need to be polite."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" After the ceremony, everyone returned to their seats and sat down.

The singing and dancing began soon, but no one was paying full attention to it, as they all had their own ulterior motives.

After a while, Mo Cheng spoke again: "My dear ministers, I am troubled by something. Although it is not a public matter, I would like to hear your opinions."

There were so many people in the audience that it was impossible for them to answer Mo Cheng, so Mo Cheng just started talking: "My eldest son, Prince Yuan, has already passed the age of twenty. He has been working diligently, but he has given up his own family. I am worried and want to find a marriage for him. Let's take advantage of the Dragon Boat Festival today to settle it for him!"

Mo Yuyang was sitting in the audience at this time. When he heard Mo Cheng mention his marriage, he became alert and stood up: "Father, I am still young. I think it is too early to get married. Besides, as the saint said, the world is the greatest. I am willing to help you govern the world first."

"Hey, that's not right! The saints said that when it comes to starting a family and a career, of course you should start with a family and then start a career." Mo Cheng smiled mysteriously, with an unclear look in his eyes.

Mo Yuyang knew that he couldn't escape, so he didn't say anything else. The more he said, the more mistakes he would make. If he kept refusing, it would inevitably arouse Mo Cheng's suspicion.

"Then I will respectfully obey your command. Everything is entirely up to Your Majesty." Mo Yuyang simply stopped refusing and followed Mo Cheng's wishes.

Mo Cheng nodded with satisfaction, and then turned to ask the Queen: "Queen, what do you think, if Prince Yuan wants to marry a queen, which daughter would be best?"

The queen was originally listening to Mo Cheng testing Mo Yuyang's attitude towards marriage, and was caught off guard when she suddenly heard Mo Cheng asking her. She reacted quickly and replied, "Yang'er is a prince, so his marriage is naturally decided by the emperor."

Mo Cheng nodded again and said nothing.

Mo Cheng's attitude was a little hard to understand, and the people in the audience were all nervous. No one said anything, as they all wanted to hear which daughter Mo Cheng had chosen to be Prince Yuan's principal wife.

Mo Yuchen was also listening and exchanged glances with Concubine Su on the other side.

"If she wants to be the principal wife, she must be a girl of distinguished status and clean family background." Seeing that no one said anything, Mo Cheng spoke first, "But she must also be a talented and virtuous person, a legitimate daughter of a formal family background."

Upon hearing this, Xia Yanxiang secretly looked at Xia Pinxiang, and the latter's expression changed in an instant. Xia Yanxiang felt amused, but Xia Pinxiang herself didn't even think about it. How could a dignified Prince Yuan marry a concubine as his principal wife?

Xia Pinxiang didn't know what other people were thinking. She just twisted the handkerchief in her hand with hatred. If it weren't for Xia Yanxiang, if it weren't for her, she would definitely be registered under the name of Tu and raised as a legitimate daughter, and she would not be rejected now because of her identity.

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