The beauty of the Hou family and the king's plan

"No, how can the Third Miss be a concubine?" Aunt Lan rejected it outright.

Aunt Lan looked at Shen Jing with pity in her eyes: "Aunt, you have no choice but to be a concubine. It is not easy to be a concubine. I am good at business. The life and death of a concubine depends on the mistress's decision."

Bao Zhao knew that Aunt Lan had misunderstood, so he explained: "Aunt, please listen to me. This is not an ordinary family's concubine.

Besides, think about it, who among ordinary people can resist the imperial decree of the Empress?"

"Then what is this?" Aunt Lan seemed to have guessed it, but was not sure, so she pointed above her head.

"Yes, this is the concubine of the royal family." Shen Baozhao said.

In the royal family, except for the queen, all other concubines are concubines.

The precious eldest daughter of the Ning'an Marquis's family, although she is the Concubine Shu, is she not also a concubine.

Without waiting for Aunt Lan to speak, Shen Jing said, "As long as you don't marry Third Young Master Qiao, I'll accept being your concubine."

Aunt Lan wanted to say something, but Shen Jing interrupted her: "Aunt, don't say anything. With the imperial decree granting marriage, which good man would dare to marry me? Being a royal concubine is much better than marrying those filthy people."

"Besides, isn't it because of her elder sister that Wang Shi can stand so straight?

For my brother and aunt, I am willing to do it. "Shen Jing must have hated the eldest lady so much that she didn't even put in the effort to show off.

"Fourth sister, if you can help me, I will be at your disposal from now on." Shen Jing said firmly.

Shen Baozhao nodded, thinking that Shen Jing was ready to burn her bridges.

She didn't expect Shen Jing to repay her, but she just couldn't stand Wang's profit and wanted to make things difficult for her. It would be great to find an ally for herself in this mansion.

Aunt Lan, her mother and her son will all prosper together. If this matter succeeds, at least the Ning'an Marquis' Mansion will have a partner in dealing with Wang.

"Just do as I say. After you're done, Aunt Lan can tell me about the golden hairpin." Shen Baozhao was not so anxious to get any useful information from Aunt Lan.

She knew that in order to receive, one must first give.

Shen Baozhao then told Aunt Lan and her daughter about his plan in detail.

March 3rd is Shangsi Festival.

It is the first grand festival in Kyoto after the beginning of spring. The current emperor attaches great importance to it, not only offering sacrifices to heaven and earth to pray for a good year and a good harvest.

The officials all took a day off and took their wives, concubines and children out for a spring outing.

The streets of Kyoto are all decorated with new styles. Starting from the evening, the busy streets are filled with all kinds of goods.

A three-story building decorated with lanterns was also built, and dancers and singers from the Imperial City's Music Bureau would perform on stage.

This is a blessing bestowed by the Emperor, allowing all people to see top-notch singing and dancing.

The purpose is to share happiness with the people and let the people have a picture of peace and prosperity. It is a way to win the hearts of the people, and the effect is surprisingly good.

Early in the morning, everyone from Ning'an Marquis's Mansion gathered in Rongde Hall.

It was not difficult to see that everyone was in a somewhat excited mood. The old lady also rarely stayed for dinner.

After breakfast, the old lady ordered, "Today is the Shangsi Festival. Every year, the palace celebrates with the people. We, the noble families, are no exception."

"Da Lang and Er Lang, take the women out for a walk after noon today. Be sure to protect everyone and make sure no one bumps into them." The old lady instructed Shen Jie Zhang and Shen Jie Min.

Both of them bowed in agreement.

"The third and fifth girls should go today as well. This is the last Shangsi Festival before the third girl gets married. Next time she goes out, she will be a wife of another family, and whether she can go out depends on other people's moods." The old lady said this with a sigh.

Wang quickly added, "The Wu'an Marquis's Mansion is a very good family, not unreasonable. Even if she gets married, our third daughter can still go out on the Shangsi Festival every year."

After she said this, everyone in the hall fell silent. Wang saw that no one responded and looked embarrassed.

Shen Jing lowered her head, and her expression could not be seen clearly.

Third wife, Mrs. Tang, felt extremely contemptuous in her heart, but she did not show it on her face.

"Mother, I won't go out today. Let Wu Niang go with my brothers and sisters." Third Madam Tang said calmly.

The old lady nodded, Tang never went out to attend banquets or festivals.

In addition to singing and dancing performances, lantern festivals and other programs, the Shangsi Festival also features a variety of talent shows.

The fifth girl was about to reach marriage age, and Tang no longer kept her at home. She always had to show off in front of others before she could be considered to be from a good family.

In previous years' Shangsi Festival, the only one in Ning'an Marquis's Mansion who could compete with all the young ladies from aristocratic families for the first place was Shen Yan. This year, Shen Yan is getting married, and I'm afraid all the young ladies in Kyoto will be happy that they have one less rival.

The old lady had no hope for Shen Baozhao, Shen Jing and Shen Chan.

After coming out of Rongde Hall, Shen Baozhao and Shen Jing looked at each other at the door, nodded, and went back to the yard.

They had agreed to set off at the time of Shen, but before Shen time arrived, the three sisters were waiting at the gate of Chuihua.

Today Shen Jing changed her usual low-key outfit.

She changed into a moon-white skirt embroidered with orchid patterns, and moon-white embroidered shoes with pink butterfly patterns. She had her hair in a bun with only a emerald green hairpin with auspicious patterns inserted in it.

The whole person is very refreshing and elegant. Shen Baozhao looked at him and nodded.

For someone who is tired of the cloud-like hair and golden hairpins in the palace, someone like Shen Jing would be more likable.

Shen Baozhao was 90% sure about today's matter.

Shen Chan was still young, with two buns and a small pearl flower on her head. She wore a yellow embroidered crabapple skirt, which was very proper. Perhaps because she had been restrained for many years, she was less lively and looked dignified.

It was past 3 p.m. when Wang arrived late. After the three sisters greeted Wang, they prepared to set off. The eldest and second young masters had already been waiting at the door on horseback.

Wang took Shen Jing in a carriage, and Shen Baozhao and Shen Chan sat in the same carriage.

Wang looked at Shen Jing's clothes several times today with twinkling eyes, but Shen Jing looked honest and didn't say anything.

It takes half an hour to get from Chang'an Street at Ning'an Marquis Mansion to Sifang Street.

By the time the Marquis's carriage arrived at Sifang Street, the street was already busy with traffic. Although it was not yet dark, lanterns were lit everywhere.

The Marquis's residence had already booked a private room at the Changchun Restaurant on Sifang Street. After the women got off the carriage, they went to the private room on the third floor to rest, tidy up their clothes and put on their makeup.

By the time everyone was ready, it was already dark outside, but the Changchun Restaurant was brightly lit and bustling.

Changchun Restaurant is the largest restaurant in Kyoto, and all the guests are powerful and wealthy. It is said that the owner behind it also has some status.

As soon as you enter the restaurant, you will see a very spacious lobby with a stage built in the lobby. The entire building is in the shape of a concave U, with private rooms on three sides and a total of five floors.

The stage in the lobby usually hosts storytellers, singing troupes, or performances by Western dancers.

Occasionally, it would be cleared for students to discuss sutras. Changchun Restaurant had no activities scheduled today, because if there were noble ladies from aristocratic families who wanted to perform or compete in talent during the Shangsi Festival, they would be needed at any time.

There weren't many people in the stands, but all the private rooms were fully booked.