Qiao Yi

乔府

The entire Qiao Mansion is decorated with lanterns and festoons, and the words "Shou" are pasted everywhere in the mansion, which are eye-catching.The maids in the mansion all had joyful faces on their faces, and they took the melon and fruit bowls to the table and placed them on the table, waiting for the guests to come.

This day is Mrs. Qiao's [-]th birthday. The Qiao family held a birthday banquet for Mrs. Qiao and invited countless relatives and friends to attend.

It's just that the second wife Wang and the third wife Gao are responsible for organizing the birthday banquet this time.The right to head the house is still in the hands of Mrs. Qiao. Being able to organize such a large birthday banquet, if it is done well, must be a proof of one's ability, and there is a chance to get the right to head the house in the future.

As the eldest daughter-in-law of the Qiao family, she was not in charge of such a big happy event in the family, so the eldest wife, Xiao Sun, was naturally not reconciled.

"Hui'er, it's all because of your father and mother's incompetence that you are overwhelmed and ignored everywhere in this family." Xiao Sun wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, and she was crying for her son. Injustice, why not complain about injustice for yourself.

Obviously she is the eldest daughter-in-law, but she is not the eldest daughter-in-law who is responsible for such a big family matter.The son is the eldest grandson of the first house, and the second house is always overwhelmed by the second house, and he is not taken seriously.

"Aniang's dowry back then was almost spent when you got married. You spend it on your studies these years, so you don't need money. If it wasn't for the money from Sanfang this time, the banquet could be arranged in turn. Can you get her, Mrs. Gao?" This time, Mrs. Gao was allowed to organize the old lady's birthday banquet, because Mrs. Gao gave the most money, and Mrs. Gao let Mrs. Wang organize it together. This is what Xiao Sun felt the most. The most uneven point.

"It's not that your fourth uncle stole something and lost it. In order to redeem the things, he ruined our Qiao family's little fortune... Why should we be involved? The old lady's heart is partial to your fourth uncle." Uncle and Erfang went there, do you deserve to be implicated innocently? The life of our Qiao family is getting worse day by day, and this is whose fault."

This matter started when the concubine of the second wife married to the palace a few years ago. At that time, there were several important jewelry on the gift list, which were stolen by Qiao Zhengzu for gambling and lost.In order to redeem the things, the Qiao family almost spent all their property before redeeming the set of jewelry.

Over the past year, Qiao's family has looked at the scenery on the surface, and has been invited to various tea parties and flower viewing parties from time to time. Which one does not cost money?

This time, when the old lady was celebrating her birthday, Zhongfu couldn't come up with so much money, so she could only ask the houses below them to contribute.Xiaosun's original dowry was not rich, and she had almost spent all these years in order to provide some flowers for her son.And Sanfang Gao is the daughter of a businessman, and the dowry was the most lucrative back then. At this time, only Gao can afford such a large sum of money, so it is this time that Gao hosted the old lady's birthday banquet. The origin of the matter.

"Now the right to head the house is still in the hands of your grandmother. If the right to head the house falls to the second bedroom in the future, we will have no status in this family." Xiao Sun understands that they still have some status in this family now , because her mother-in-law is still there, and her mother-in-law is her biological aunt, and she still has a little preference for her, and once her mother-in-law passes away, the right to run the house falls into the hands of the second room, and their eldest room is really reduced in this family. As a foil.

"Ma'am, it's not your fault."

Hearing his mother's words, a resentful light flashed in Qiao Minghui's eyes. He still calmed his mother patiently and persuaded him, "Mother, today is a good day, and we should be happy. You worked too hard for this family in the past. , it just so happens that you are resting today, and it’s good to be by Grandma’s side.”

Hearing her son's reminder, Xiao Sun put away her handkerchief, looked at her son and said, "Hui'er, it's Aunt who made you suffer."

I cried for a long time just now, and even the corners of my eyes didn't turn red. It can be seen that this little Sun is just putting on airs and complaining to his son.

"No, my child is not wronged." Qiao Minghui shook his head and said, "It's my mother who was wronged."

books

Gao Shi is in an extremely good mood today. Since waking up early in the morning until now, the smile on his face has never stopped.

Gao asked the two maids around her to dress up her daughter well, putting on the most beautiful dress and the most beautiful jewelry nowadays.Seeing that her daughter had put on her clothes and jewelry, Gao smiled and said, "Turn around and let Auntie take a look and see if our sixth sister is the prettiest."

Qiao Xiuqin turned around in front of her mother, and asked expectantly in her eyes, "Mother, do I look good?"

"Looks good, A Niang's daughter is the prettiest." Gao stretched out his hand to adjust the pearl hairpin on her daughter's hair, and said with a smile: "A Niang's wish now is to dress up Qin'er beautifully. , find a good marriage for Qin'er, and then Aniang will marry off the precious daughter with her own hands."

"Aniang, what are you talking about?" The little girl lowered her head shyly, her face blushing.

"Oh, I'm not allowed to talk about it." Mrs. Gao mentioned several young masters, all of whom she had personally met, and their family background and appearance were all good.

Mrs. Gao will not be as stupid as Mrs. Tian, ​​thinking of sending her daughter to be a concubine, only Mrs. Tian would want to send her daughter to be a concubine.Her Gao family's daughter can only be a legitimate wife, and she even gave her a generous dowry!

Mrs. Gao asked her daughter what she meant, which son she thought she was interested in, and whispered to her daughter that she could let someone take a sneak look at it later.

Several maids in the room were saying that their young lady was pretty, and they would definitely find Mr. Yun Yun in the future.

"Aniang will be very busy here today. You are at your grandmother's side. You have to help your grandmother and a few sisters and sisters entertain the guests. Our family is holding a banquet today, and many guests will come. Be considerate and don't let the guests feel wronged.

"After waiting for so many years, finally until today, Mrs. Gao can hold her head up and hold her chest high. How can this make her unhappy?

"Aniang, I understand. You have said it many times the day before yesterday, and I know how to do it." Qiao Xiuqin said hurriedly.

"Alright, alright, Auntie is going to work."

After Gao explained a few words to her daughter, she led the people out.

On this day, the old lady of Qiao's mansion hosted a birthday banquet, and all the prefectures in the capital that received the invitation sent people to attend. Many people here were looking at the fact that Qiao's family had a princess.It's just that the Qiao family's luck is good, but a mere concubine married His Royal Highness King Ming as his concubine. Why didn't such a good thing happen to them?

Now that the crown prince has not been established, although more people think that His Highness Wang An is the most likely to become the crown prince, who can be sure that His Highness King Ming has no chance at all?Before the candidate for the crown prince is determined, all princes have a chance.

Therefore, more people here are holding a wait-and-see attitude.

Most of the people who will come to Qiao's house today to attend Mrs. Qiao's banquet are those whose official position in the court is similar to that of Qiao Zhengzong, or whose official position is not as good as Qiao Zhengzong's.The major aristocratic families in the capital still don't pay attention to the mere Qiao family. The people of the Qiao family are trying to squeeze their heads into that circle, but they can't get in.

But even so, having so many guests here today is already giving the Qiao family enough face.

"Please come inside, please come inside."

"congratulations."

There was an endless stream of horses and carriages in front of Qiao's mansion, all of them were guests who came to attend the banquet.

The men of the Qiao family received the guests outside, while the female family members received the wives and young ladies who arrived at the back.

Today's Mrs. Qiao is wearing a red new dress, an emerald green jade bead necklace around her neck, a pair of jade pendant earrings of the same color, and two big gold bracelets on her wrists. Accept the blessings and congratulations from everyone.

"May the old lady be as blessed as the East China Sea and live longer than Nanshan."

"Mrs. Du, you are here, please sit down."

Mrs. Xiao Sun accompanied her mother-in-law, and brought her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Zhang, to help entertain the ladies. Mrs. Sun deliberately let her daughter-in-law show her face in front of others.Mrs. Zhang understood her mother-in-law's thoughts and tried her best to express herself.

Seeing that there are so many guests here at this moment, and the Ming Palace has not yet sent someone to celebrate the birthday, Mrs. Qiao felt a little strange in her heart. Could it be that the Ming Palace did not send people here today?The old Sun called the servants around him to ask, "Has Princess Ming sent someone here?" "I haven't heard of it yet, so I'll go and ask."

"Hurry up and ask."

Old Sun's heart was a little worried, if she had such a big birthday event today, if the Ming Palace didn't send someone over, and the grandson married to the Ming Palace didn't come back in person, what would outsiders think of their Qiao family?Where did she put the face of her grandmother?

Even now, Old Sun doesn't think she did anything wrong in that matter.

What's the use of a grandson being a princess, and there is no son in his stomach. If he can send his granddaughter there and give birth to a son for that prince, the status of their Qiao family will be stable. It's a pity that the grandson refuses to live or die. !Old Sun's heart is still calculating.

An ordinary carriage stopped in front of Qiao's mansion. Qiao Yi got out of the carriage and saw the endless stream of guests in front of Qiao's mansion. The corner of her mouth curled into a smile.If it wasn't for the reminder from the people below, he would have almost forgotten that today is his grandmother's birthday.

Since the Qiao family sent him a post, he should come back and have a look, just to see what the Qiao family has become now.But looking at it like this, the more the Qiao family is in the capital, the better it is.

The butler who received the guests outside the door knew their third young master, and would kneel down and salute when he saw someone coming back.Qiao Yibai

He waved his hands and said, "I'm here today to celebrate my grandmother's birthday, so there's no need to make it public. Find someone to lead me to see my grandmother."

"Please come inside, the slave will lead you in, the old lady will be behind." The butler recruited someone to take his place, and led the person inside himself.

Knowing that the backyard was full of female relatives at this time, it would be inconvenient for him to go there alone, so Qiao Yi did not go directly to the backyard, but asked the housekeeper to lead him to a side hall where there were fewer people, and sat there drinking tea, waiting for his grandmother come over.

"Old man..." As soon as she heard that her grandson had returned in person, Mrs. Qiao told everyone, and hurriedly led them over.Qiao Yi reached out to help the old lady, and said with a smile, "Grandma doesn't need to be too polite, it should be the grandson who salutes you." That's what he said, of course he wouldn't really salute the old lady .

With his current status, even if he salutes the old lady, the old lady may not dare to accept it.

"Grandmother, please forgive me. There are too many female relatives in the backyard. It is inconvenient for grandson to go there, so I asked the housekeeper to invite you over." Qiao Yi explained.In fact, it was because he himself didn't want to go to crowded places. Once he showed up, all the ladies and ladies in the capital would recognize him tomorrow.

"Grandmother understands in her heart. Grandmother is very happy to see her grandson come back." Seeing her grandson come back, Mrs. Qiao said,

Only when you hold your heart can you let go.Seeing that the prince didn't arrive, Lao Sun asked, "Why didn't the prince come with you?

"

"Oh, my lord is on an errand, so it's inconvenient to come here, so let me bring you a gift for grandma." Qiao Yi asked someone to bring the gift, and he went to the warehouse to look for it for a long time before he found such a pair that was the most worthless. The celadon amphora came out, and the rest were either gifted by the emperor and could not be given away, or were too valuable to give away.

He is now a member of Prince Ming's Mansion, and he is not stupid, so he took his own valuables and gave them away for nothing. It is already very good to be able to send such a pair of porcelain vases here.This thing will be kept for hundreds of years, and it is also a very valuable antique.

Knowing that the prince didn't follow, Mrs. Qiao was still disappointed.

The grandparent and grandson sat down to talk, and seeing the grandson finally came back, the old Sun asked with concern how the grandson was doing in the palace.Qiao Yi just said "it's okay" lightly, he knew that the old lady didn't really care about his well-being in the palace, maybe she had other purposes.

Sure enough, his own grandmother proposed to send a few people to serve him.

"These few people are maidservants selected by grandma. They are all meticulous in their work. How can outsiders be as caring and trustworthy as their own? You still have to use your own talents to rest assured." Mrs. Qiao said to An old maid standing next to her took a look, and the old maid understood and walked outside.

The old maid went out for a while, and brought in four beautiful girls.

"My servant has seen the concubine." Several people saluted.

The corners of Qiao Yi's mouth twitched, he raised his hands, and said, "Get up." So, did his own grandmother send her own granddaughter to Ming Palace to be Xie Yin's concubine?So he beat up the servant girl who was going to serve him, but in fact, he still sent someone to climb into His Highness King Ming's bed?

What kind of place is this taking their Ming Palace as a place?It really made him laugh!

"These maidservants were all picked by my grandmother. They were trained by their old servants. All of them are neat in their work. Since you went to the palace, grandmother misses you every day and night. I'm afraid You are not doing well in the palace, and everyone around you is waiting for you, so grandma is worried." Mrs. Qiao said that she sent her to serve her grandson for her grandson's sake.

In fact, these girls are all sent by Qiao's family and her natal family. All of them are fifteen or sixteen years old, with big buttocks to give birth. Share the burden and give the prince two more sons.