As the Mid-Autumn Festival's banquet drew near, all of the families that were participating began to get busy. There were quite a few families that were below the fourth rank in the capital and did not have the right to participate that began to use their connections in hopes of sending a daughter in to see the world. Rather than saying that it was to see the world, it would be better to say that it was to seek an opportunity to be seen by "the world." Every banquet in the palace was nothing more than a disguised blind date, and the people that were invited were all the sons of wealthy families. For those of the fourth rank and below that had not been invited, they hoped that they could use this method to have their daughters be chosen by the young masters of the large families. Who knew, they might even be able to become related to the imperial family.
For a while, the capital became very busy.
Feng Jin Yuan had already lost interest in palace banquets. After having fallen from the position of prime minister for so many years, he had calmed down quite a bit. He was just puzzled. Why was it that Miss Lian, who had always been close to Feng Yu Heng, would suddenly get together with Fen Dai?
In regards to this question, Fen Dai gave him an answer during dinner: "What's so strange about this. No matter how good Sister Lian's relationship with Feng Yu Heng is, it can't compare to living next door to us. Seeing each other all day, it's naturally easier to get close. Also, Feng Yu Heng is an imperial daughter. How busy is she? How much time could she have to chat with sister Lian. " She kept calling her sister Lian, sister Lian, but she directly called her own sister by her name. Although Feng Jin Yuan felt that it was inappropriate, how could he be in the mood to correct this at a time like this. He just asked Fen Dai: "What did you talk about?"
The corners of Fen Dai's lips curled up, "Naturally, we talked about girls. Father shouldn't be asking about this, right?"
"No, no, no." Feng Jin Yuan repeatedly waved his hand, "I was just casually asking." He then lowered his head and ate a couple mouthfuls of food. Feeling unreconciled, he asked: "Will she still be coming tomorrow?"
Fen Dai snorted coldly, "She should be coming. She said that she would come over frequently to speak with me. What is it, is father interested in sister Lian? "
Feng Jin Yuan's face turned red, as he did not know how he should respond. Fen Dai did not hold back at all and said what she was thinking: "Speaking of, this cannot be blamed on father. Based on elder sister Lian's appearance, not to mention men, even a girl like me would feel a bit moved. She is truly too beautiful. Compared to her, the Feng manor's eldest young miss no longer dares to call herself the number one beauty in the capital."
When she mentioned Feng Chen Yu once more, Feng Jin Yuan no longer had his previous stubbornness. After all, the situation had changed. Now that he looked back, everything was not as he had imagined.
Fen Dai continued to speak, and the more she spoke, the more it entered Feng Jin Yuan's heart. She said: "Although our manor has the head madam, second madam and concubine mother An, it's not as though father doesn't know. Those two madams used the excuse of going into the palace to take care of Her Highness the Empress and have not returned for many months. She didn't care about the prosperity or decline of the family at all. How could she still be called Madam? Even her father in name should find them a hindrance. An yiniang was now wholeheartedly managing the business. Her embroidery shop was flourishing, but she said to the fu that there wasn't much profit to be made and refused to lend a single copper coin. There's also our family's imperial daughter. She doesn't care about the life or death of the Feng manor. Father, speak from your heart. Over the years, you've doted on this and that. In the end, who was it that benefited the most? Was it not your fourth daughter, me! "
Feng Jin Yuan was also moved by her analysis. He could not help but nod and sigh, saying: "That's right! Husband and wife are birds of the same forest, but when disaster strikes, they fly separately. It's also my fault. Not to mention that I don't have any ability, but I also ended up with a body full of injuries. "
"Father, you must not think like this." Fen Dai's voice became a little louder, as she simply put down her bowl and said seriously: "Injuries are injuries, but you must not always talk about this matter. You must not allow this matter to become a burden. If you believe that you can't continue, what will the people outside think? You are the Feng manor's master, not a eunuch from the palace! "
She brought up eunuchs, and Feng Jin Yuan felt irritated; however, he could not say anything. He still had to put on a smile.
Fen Dai continued: "That's why daughter was thinking. In the past, it was said that a small family could not have a high-ranking concubine, but the Dashun court never said that a commoner's family could not have a concubine. Those two madams are just standing there without doing anything, and we can't do anything about it. Who told them to have someone from the palace to support them, but if father takes an interest in sister Lian, daughter is willing to act as a go-between. Bringing her into the manor as a concubine would be very beneficial. With such a beautiful daughter-in-law entering the manor, who would dare to criticize our Feng manor's backbone? "
These words touched Feng Jin Yuan's heart. A look of joy appeared on his face, as he anxiously said: "You mean to say that you want father to bring that Miss Lian into the manor?"
Fen Dai nodded, "Otherwise, why does father think I spent so much effort to befriend her? I am not an idle person. If I have the time, I will embroider a few sets of clothes for his Highness the fifth prince, alright? "
Feng Jin Yuan slapped his thigh and sighed, saying: "It really is my Fen Dai that is the most considerate. But … "He recalled his injuries and could not help but helplessly say:" But with me like this, how could she be willing … "
"Everything depends on effort." Fen Dai curled the corners of her lips into a smile, "Either way, there will be plenty of time. She will be living next door, and there's no need to worry about her running away. As long as father has this intention, we can slowly come up with a plan. There's no need to fear failure."
While they spoke, a servant entered the room and said to Fen Dai: "The Li Palace sent someone to deliver clothes to fourth young miss. They said that they will be prepared for the banquet." Fen Dai happily nodded and stopped eating, as she followed the servant to take a look at the clothes. Only Feng Jin Yuan was left sitting at the table. He repeatedly thought about what Fen Dai had just said. The more he thought about it, the happier he became. His mind was filled with thoughts of the day when Feng Zhao Lian would enter the Feng manor. However, he never thought that if it was not for Fen Dai having something to say today, she definitely would not have come to the dining room to eat with him. Just like An shi and Xiang Rong, she would have stayed in her own courtyard to eat, keeping a respectful distance from her father.
On this side, the people of the fifth prince's palace had delivered the clothes for the banquet to Fen Dai. On the other side, the Yao family was preparing clothes for the banquet. Of course, this included Lu Yao.
Lu Yao had married Yao Shu. As the top scholar this year, Yao Shu naturally had the right to bring his wife to participate in the banquet. As for the other members of the Yao family, because of their reputation in Huang Zhou and the presence of Yao Xian, they all had the right to participate in the banquet.
Aside from this, the entire Lu Family was busy. Lu Song was the current prime minister, so his wife and daughter were naturally able to enter the palace. This time, not only did he need to bring his wife, the Ge Clan, and his daughter to the first wife, Lu Yan, he also needed to bring the daughter of a concubine, Lü Ping. He had already arranged for people to prepare clothes for his two daughters.
Although Lü Ping was opposed to this, she had no choice but to obey her father's orders; however, Lu Yan could not understand why her father would do this. She also did not dare ask Lu Song. She could only secretly vent her anger to the Ge Clan.
The Ge Clan advised her: "In the end, your father has his own considerations. She is just the daughter of a concubine. No matter how much you support her, can she reach the heavens? What are you getting angry at her for? "
"Mother!" Lu Yan's eyes were wide open, "This is not a matter of whether or not I'm angry. Rather, it's whether or not daughter will be implicated by her. It's not like mother doesn't know that she has that illness. When the time comes, the daughters of the Lu Family will definitely need to sit together. With that stench coming from her body, people can't just go close and smell it. In the end, won't the blame be placed on our Lu Family? What if someone thinks it's me? Will daughter still be able to get married in the future? "
It was not as if the Ge Clan and Lu Song had not thought of this matter. Seeing Lu Yan bring it up again, they could not help but advise: "Your father has already thought of a way. The people from the South have already brought a bottle of perfume. Apparently, the water is fragrant and sweet like honey. Regardless of the smell in the surroundings, as long as the bottle of perfume is opened, it will immediately be covered up. Everywhere will be filled with the fragrance of honey. Your father has already had the clothes that Lü Ping will be wearing soaked in the perfume ahead of time. After soaking in it for three days and three nights, it will definitely be able to cover up her body odor. "
Lü Ping lightly snorted and said with a bit of unwillingness: "I have also heard of the perfume. It's something unique to a small country in the desert, but it's very precious. It's not easy for the people of the Central Plains to obtain even a small bottle. Gu Shu only sends ten bottles to the palace each year. Now, father has actually obtained enough to soak Lü Ping's clothes. How much is that! I have never even seen such a good thing before. Father really is biased. "
The members of the Ge Clan rolled their eyes at her, "What are you in such a rush for? Your good days are still ahead of you. What is there to argue about with a concubine's daughter? Also, not much of the perfume was obtained. The reason that it can soak the clothes is because it's mixed with clear water. Otherwise, did you think that there would be a large basin of perfume for her to soak in? Even the imperial concubines of the palace would be reluctant to use it like this. Alright, don't argue about this matter. Quickly go and try on the new accessories that were sent. If there's anything that doesn't fit, just change them. No matter what is said, you just need to remember that no matter how beautiful Lü Ping is, she's just the daughter of a concubine. Everything that she has done is just to pave the way for you. That's all. "
Lu Yan curled the corners of her lips into a smile, "Mother is extremely correct. She's just the daughter of a concubine. She can't overturn the heavens."
Whether or not Lü Ping could overturn the heavens was something for the Lu Family to argue about. As for that morning in the imperial daughter's manor, Feng Yu Heng had just finished giving Bai Fu Rong an injection. Since she had nothing to do, she climbed to the roof and sat down to enjoy the scenery.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the capital was still very cool. There were a few fruit trees in the yard that had already borne fruit. She sat on the roof and directed a servant below to set up a ladder to pick the fruit. Huang Quan repeatedly brought out new clothes from the room. One by one, he placed them in front of himself, hoping that Feng Yu Heng would like them. Who knew that the young miss would not be satisfied with any of them. There was nothing that she could do. She bitterly laughed and negotiated: "But it's too late to make them now! These are all newly made. This servant thinks that they look good. There's nothing wrong with them. "
Feng Yu Heng shook her head, "They don't look good. They're too gaudy."
"But it's the Mid-Autumn Festival's banquet. Everyone will be wearing extravagant clothes. At young miss' age, you should wear something a little brighter to look good."
Feng Yu Heng continued to shake her head, "The young misses are already wearing gaudy clothes. What should the madams wear? The gaudy clothes should be left for the middle-aged and elderly women. Find something that's a little more elegant for your young miss. As long as it doesn't look like I'm going to visit a grave, it's fine. "
Huang Quan angrily stomped his feet, "Young miss never has a filter when you speak. Why would you mention visiting a grave on such a good day? However, there are still things that are a little more elegant. Young miss, do you remember the last time His Highness the Seventh Prince came back from the East Border and brought back a few bolts of cloth for young miss? Those are very fresh and clean. Although it's a little too late to make them now, we can invite the tailors from the prince's estate. They'll definitely be able to make it in time. "
Feng Yu Heng nodded, "That's right. Seventh Brother's taste is very much to my liking. Then it's settled. Quickly send the cloth to the Imperial Palace Yu and ask the people there to help make it in time."
Huang Quan was driven out of the estate. She was still sitting on the roof, sitting cross-legged and eating fruit. At this time, she saw a living creature run into the courtyard. It was small and furry. It couldn't walk very nimbly, as if it had just been born. Its legs weren't very stable.
A maidservant was surprised: "Ah! Where did this cat come from? It's so cute! "
Feng Yu Heng looked at it for a while and nodded, "It's very cute. Not only is it cute, this cat looks very domineering. It actually has the character 'Wang' on its forehead!"
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