On the first day of the fourth month, begonia bloomed. This time, the entire city knew that An Wangfei's birthday was on the first day of the fourth month and that she loved begonia.
Ever since Mu Mingtang found out that there was a problem with the incense, he changed all the spices to fruit incense. Every day, he poured out box after box of good quality fruit. Even Xiang Nanchun, who was used to spending money in the palace, felt that it was too wasteful.
Although money was spent like water, Hsieh Hyun-chen's condition clearly improved. According to the young Daoist, the treatment was still far from complete. However, Hsieh Hyun-chen was slowly getting used to the intensity. He slowly walked towards the training area on the east road and started to recover his strength.
When Mu Mingtang heard the word "recover," his expression did not look too good. So, his current strength was just weak?
The relationships in the palace were complicated. However, no matter how muddy the waters were, the news that Hsieh Hyun-chen was practicing martial arts again was a huge bomb. It was impossible for the news not to spread to the palace.
But this time, before the palace had time to do anything, another major event happened. The Northern Tribes Emperor sent an envoy to Ye Chao to negotiate peace. The leader was the Eighth Prince of the Northern Tribes, Yelv Yan. Now, the peace negotiation team had entered Ye Chao and was about to reach the capital.
The entire capital was in an uproar because of this. The Northern Tribes controlled the Sixteen Prefectures of the Serene Cloud and had a strong army. They relied on the resources and geography of the Sixteen Prefectures of the Serene Cloud and had been eyeing Ye Chao. Xi Xia also controlled the Western Regions Ancient Road and Longxi Horse Farm. They had never hidden their ambitions.
In comparison, Ye Chao was weaker. Actually, Ye Chao had inherited the Zhou Dynasty. It had always been a military power that had usurped the throne.
It was a pity that the ruler had started a rebellion and was afraid that others would follow suit. When the throne was in Xie Rui's hands, Xie Rui was extremely wary of military power and demoted all the martial artists. After the Emperor expressed his stance, the subordinates followed suit. The entire country was in an abnormal state of worshipping culture and suppressing military power.
Border problems had always been a top problem for the court. All the civil officials could not do anything about the war reports. Now that the Northern Tribes had taken the initiative to negotiate peace, this was unprecedented and unimaginable.
This was no small matter. From the Chancellor to the common people, everyone was tense. They attached great importance to the peace negotiations. When the Northern Tribes messengers arrived in the capital, the Emperor gave them a grand welcome in the morning court. Two days later, there was even a grand welcome banquet for the Northern Tribes.
This banquet concerned the reputation of the country and the Emperor and Empress placed great importance on it. Those who were invited to the banquet were of high status and were all dressed to the nines, afraid that they would embarrass the Imperial Court in front of the Northern Tribes.
On the day of the welcoming banquet, the palace city was decorated with lanterns and colored banners. It was a grand occasion. The banquet had not yet started, and the women who had arrived early were resting in the reception hall. Everyone gathered together and couldn't help but talk about the recent interesting events.
Now, the first rare occurrence was naturally the Vermillion Bird Street's transformation overnight. The trees on both sides of the street were all replaced.
At first, it was just a madam who brought it up. Then, there were people who agreed. Everyone talked about it one after another. In the end, everyone was talking about An Wang Fei.
"It was An Wangfei's birthday a few days ago, wasn't it a bit too grand? My sisters who married outside the capital all knew that Vermillion Bird Street was filled with begonia flowers overnight. It was like the Hundred Flower Banquet that Empress Wu held in the winter. "
Mu Mingtang didn't hold a birthday banquet, but everyone knew that it was her birthday. They also knew that Mu Mingtang didn't invite them.
It was really an awkward realization.
"Not only that." Another madam continued, "An Wangfei is extremely extravagant. I heard that she dislikes the smell of spices and biscuits as dead, so she only uses fruits to make them. She only uses the good apples to make the house and clothes smell better. Once the smell is faint, she throws them all away. She changes the fruits she uses three times a day, and this doesn't even include the cost of food and clothing. "
Everyone sucked in a breath when they heard this. It wasn't that they couldn't afford apples, but they couldn't afford it every day. Even the Empress Dowager in the palace wouldn't use fresh fruits to make incense.
"Heavens." A young second wife of the marquis fu covered her mouth and exclaimed. She was a second wife after all. Her background wasn't as good as the first wife, and even her education was lacking. She was puzzled and couldn't help but ask: "Wasn't it said last year that An Wangfei wouldn't live past the new year? It's already the fourth month, how is An Wangfei still fine?"
When these words came out, everyone fell silent. That's right, it was said that Hsieh Hyun-chen only had one breath left, but Hsieh Hyun-chen just didn't die.
His breath was really long.
But thinking was thinking, no one said it out loud. After the second wife of the marquis fu finished speaking, she saw that everyone was silent. No one answered her, so she panicked: "I'm young and ignorant, did I say something wrong?"
No one answered. At this time, a eunuch's voice came from outside: "An Wangfei has arrived."
All the womenfolk were shocked. They all pretended that they didn't hear what the second wife of the marquis fu said, and stood up in unison: "Greetings An Wangfei."
Mu Mingtang walked in and saw that the hall was filled with people bowing to her, greetings rising and falling. Mu Mingtang didn't think too much. Nodding, she said: "No need to be so courteous, rise."
After everyone gave their thanks, they gracefully returned to their original seats. Because Mu Mingtang came, the seating arrangement in the parlor changed slightly. But overall, everyone was still distributed as before.
The people didn't change, and the setting didn't change, but after Mu Mingtang came, the atmosphere in the parlor was completely different. Just now, they had been chatting amongst themselves and gossiping about King An's Imperial Residence, but now that Mu Mingtang had entered, no one dared to express their thoughts.
The second wife of the marquis fu who spoke earlier was even more frightened. She didn't dare to breathe too loudly, afraid that she would attract Mu Mingtang's attention.
Mu Mingtang didn't think too much. She was used to these people flattering on the surface but disobeying on the surface. They said one thing to her and another behind her back. People lived their own lives. At least ninety percent of the things in their lives, no one cared about them. Similarly, other people's matters, other people's opinions, ninety nine percent of them were useless.
Bickering with them was giving them face. Mu Mingtang couldn't be bothered to investigate the strange silence in the reception hall when she entered. No matter what this group of people thought, they wouldn't be able to change her fortune. Instead, they would have to give in to her at every turn.
If she couldn't stand it, then she would just endure it.
After Mu Mingtang sat down, she saw an old acquaintance she hadn't seen in a long time, Jiang Mingwei. Mu Mingtang hadn't caused trouble for a long time. Once she saw Jiang Mingwei, she immediately greeted her warmly: "Princess Consort Jin, so you came too? This is really rare. From what I remember, I haven't seen you outside for at least three months. "
She really touched a sore spot. The smile on Jiang Mingwei's face stiffened. She forced herself to maintain her face and said: "I recently caught a cold. I didn't want to spread my illness to other people, so I stayed in the fu to recuperate. I didn't feel that I hadn't seen second sister-in-law for a long time. I didn't want sister-in-law to miss me so much. If sister-in-law wants to see me, you can come to the Jin Wangfu at any time. "
Jiang Mingwei had angered the Emperor on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Even the Empress and Xie Xuanji were affected. In these few months, even Xie Xuanji had to behave himself with his tail between his legs, let alone Jiang Mingwei who had to work under the Empress and Xie Xuanji.
Wasn't it obvious why Jiang Mingwei didn't leave the house? It was also thanks to the Northern Tribes' envoys entering the capital this time that the Emperor held a banquet. All the princes and officials had to attend, so Jiang Mingwei was able to come out. No matter how dissatisfied the Empress was with Jiang Mingwei, Jiang Mingwei was Xie Xuanji's legal wife. There was no reason for a concubine to come out and socialize.
After everyone saw Jiang Mingwei today, they were well aware. For the sake of Jiang Mingwei and Prince Jin's face, they all pretended to be confused. No one was blind enough to ask where Jiang Mingwei had gone a while ago. However, Mu Mingtang stepped on where it hurt the most.
Mu Mingtang didn't have the slightest awareness of poking other people's sore feet. She still warmly and eagerly chatted with Jiang Mingwei: "Is it really convenient for me to go to the Jin Wangfu? I heard that the rules in the Jin Wangfu are very strict. The ones in charge are all the trusted female officials by the Empress' side. If I rashly visit, if there are any rules that are wrong, wouldn't I make the female officials unhappy? "
"Sister-in-law, what are you saying?" Jiang Mingwei's face was heavily powdered today. She looked pale and stiff. When she heard Mu Mingtang's words, the corners of her mouth twitched. Jiang Mingwei should be trying to make a smiling appearance, but it seemed strange that she didn't smile. "Imperial Mother likes Second Sister-in-law the most. She always warns me to learn from Second Sister-in-law. If you come to the Jin Wangfu, Imperial Mother will be very happy when she finds out. How can the female officials by her side be picky about Second Sister-in-law? "
Mu Mingtang had a smile on her face. Her tone was provocative as she said, "So the Empress also said these words to Sister-in-law. It really makes me ashamed. Since Sister-in-law doesn't mind me causing trouble, then it would be impolite for me to refuse. "
Mu Mingtang's words were simply stirring up trouble. She didn't hide her schadenfreude at all. They were all Wangfu. Why was it that only the Jin Wangfu was well-regulated and had the female officials in the palace in charge of dispatching, while the An Wangfu, which was just a wall away, still allowed Mu Mingtang to cause trouble?
Wasn't it because the Empress treated the two differently? Jiang Mingwei and Mu Mingtang were both legal Wangfei, but their status in the fu and the degree of comfort of their days were completely different.
When Mu Mingtang and Jiang Mingwei talked, none of the madams and madams sitting below dared to interrupt. Of these two, one was the legal Wangfei of a legitimate Prince, and the other was the legal Wangfei of the Overlord of the Capital. They couldn't afford to offend one in the future, and they couldn't afford to offend the other now. Don't look at how Jiang Mingwei seemed to have fallen out of favor. A starving camel was still bigger than a horse. Even if Jiang Mingwei really fell out of favor, she couldn't be bullied by an outsider.
As for Mu Mingtang, there was no need to talk about that. An Wangfu's current position was indeed delicate, but Song Wu Lang's example was in front of them. As long as An Wangfu still had a breath, no one in the Capital dared to show any face to Mu Mingtang.
Everyone kept quiet out of fear. Seeing the two Wangfei's blade light and sword shadow, back and forth, the content of their words gradually changed from hidden ridicule to open ridicule. The madams were afraid that these two would cause trouble in the palace. At that time, these two would be fine, but they, the fish in the pond, would all suffer.
A madam hurriedly laughed and said: "Don't say that Jin Wangfei doesn't feel that it's been long, I also feel that I have just seen An Wangfei. Maybe it's because I often hear news about Wangfei. Oh right, this subject hasn't congratulated An Wangfei on her birthday. This subject wishes An Wang Fei a happy birthday, and wishes her good health and longevity. I hope Wangfei doesn't think it's too late. "
With a madam taking the lead, the others also followed. For a moment, the parlor was filled with words of wishing Mu Mingtang a happy birthday.
Mu Mingtang had never refused anyone who came to wish her well. She thanked them all together and was a little surprised: "How do you know my birthday?"
The madam who spoke first smiled awkwardly: "This … … It's hard not to know."
Not only the families of nobles and officials, even the soldiers and peddlers of Tokyo and the common people knew that An Wangfei's birthday was on the first day of the fourth month, and she especially loved begonia.
Now, everyone in the capital knew that An Wangfei lamented that there were no begonia in the capital. In order to please the Wangfei, An Wangfei let begonia bloom on the main street overnight. With such a huge commotion, even the blind and deaf would be able to hear it.
Mu Mingtang muttered: "So you all know. I thought I was just casually celebrating my birthday."
Everyone's smile became more and more awkward. That's right, not only did they know that Mu Mingtang's birthday was on the first day of the fourth month, they also knew that Mu Mingtang didn't invite them at all.
She looked down on them so much that she didn't even want to give them face and invite them on her birthday.
The madams smiled apologetically. Although Mu Mingtang didn't give them face in front of the whole city, the madams and madams still had to be respectful to Mu Mingtang and curry favor with her. There were similar words of blessings in her ears. As Jiang Mingwei listened, her face became uglier and uglier.
Previously, as her substitute, Mu Mingtang's birthday had always been celebrated in the sixth month. Jiang Mingwei only found out that Mu Mingtang's birthday was on the first day of the fourth month when she heard the commotion on the streets.
When Jiang Mingwei found out about what happened outside that day, she couldn't accept it. She was still racking her brains over how to get back Xie Xuanji and how to suppress the vixens. Yet, Hsieh Hyun-chen actually spent so much money to celebrate Mu Mingtang's birthday?
It was just a birthday. Was there a need to go so far?
Jiang Mingwei felt disdain in her heart. So many fancy ceremonies, it was obvious that they were just putting on a show. What was the use of these formalities? If they really wanted to live a down-to-earth life, who would do these things?
Jiang Mingwei thought that she didn't care, but in reality, she was paying attention to what was happening next door the entire day. Mu Mingtang didn't hold a birthday banquet. It looked very shabby, but Hsieh Hyun-chen accompanied her the entire day. He accompanied her to admire flowers, play with her, and she heard that he even accompanied her to brew wine.
Jiang Mingwei tried hard to pretend that she didn't care, but in reality, she was jealous. How could a single sentence from Mu Mingtang make Hsieh Hyun-chen travel thousands of miles to transplant begonias for her? How could someone go to such lengths for Mu Mingtang?
When Mu Mingtang was the adopted daughter of the Jiang family, she didn't even have her own hobbies. She first became the second daughter of the Jiang family, and then became Xie Xuanji's fiancée. She had lived in the capital for more than a year, but no one in the Jiang family asked when Mu Mingtang's birthday was or what she liked. Xie Xuanji didn't care at all. Mu Mingtang's only purpose was to exist as Jiang Mingwei's substitute. She "resembled" Jiang Mingwei in every way, so everyone righteously regarded her as Jiang Mingwei's shadow.
She was born with the sun, but could only live in the shadows forever. A shadow didn't need a name.
The Jiang family and Xie Xuanji naturally neglected Mu Mingtang, and Mu Mingtang never mentioned anything about herself. But now, there was another person who announced to the world that Mu Mingtang's birthday was on the first of April, and that she loved begonias very much.
Hsieh Hyun-chen used the most arrogant way to compensate Mu Mingtang for everything she lacked.
Jiang Mingwei felt as if she had been hit in the head, and she felt a subtle sense of embarrassment. Although she was afraid of Mu Mingtang and hated that Mu Mingtang had replaced her in her previous life, she had always been secretly proud of it deep in her heart. No matter how high Mu Mingtang went, she was only her substitute. Everything about Mu Mingtang depended on her.
But now, Jiang Mingwei realized that Mu Mingtang was no longer her shadow. Mu Mingtang gradually separated from her. Everyone talked about An Wang Fei's extravagance, An Wang Fei's hobbies on her birthday, and Wang An's indulgence of her. There was no longer any trace of Jiang Mingwei.
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