Xianggui

Chapter 572 Gao Dezhu’s Marriage
The comb was carved by Sun Yumu himself. He said a few days ago that there were several cuts on his hand with the carving knife.

Xunxiang put the hand holding the letter and comb on her chest, and she no longer felt lonely and deserted.

Besides being sweet, it’s still sweet.

Several servants also became happy when they saw their master's expression.

Not long after, the two women beside Mrs. Sun of the Zhenhai Hou Mansion came, each carrying two food boxes.

A woman smiled and said, "The eldest lady said that only the princess and the fourth master are left in the princess mansion, so she asked the old slave to bring some dishes."

Xunxiang smiled and said, "Thank you, Mrs. Sun."

Yuhuan gave the two women purses containing silver coins.

Not long after, Xunfu also sent four dishes.

A woman laughed and said, "My ancestors didn't see the princess and got into a temper and refused to eat."

Xun Xiang smiled and said, "On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, I will go and kowtow to his old man."

Xun Yibo rushed back at the end of Youshi.

As soon as they entered the yard, they saw their sister, dressed in bright red, holding a lantern and chasing Feifei and Heiwa. Feifei was wearing armor and Heiwa was wearing a red scarf, looking very happy.

Xun Yibo laughed. With my sister here, this home is not deserted.

He forced his mother's tearful face down.

Xunxiang asked, "Is mom okay?"

"Well, it's okay. I told her that my sister and I would go to spend the New Year with her. Mom is very happy."

Xunxiang smiled and said nothing. Dongyang will never become so transparent and reasonable no matter how she changes. She must be scolding herself for not caring about her mother but only caring about her relatives...

The brother and sister took a few servants to have New Year's Eve dinner in the side room of the main house of Ziyuan.

They ate on the Kang table.

There were a few tables on the floor. The big table was occupied by two nuns and a few girls, and Aunt Song was also invited over. Feifei and Heiwa eat the small ones.

There were also several tables set up in the front yard for the officials, guards and servants on duty to eat.

After the New Year's dinner, fireworks were set off in the purple courtyard for more than a quarter of an hour, and then Xun Yibo went to the outer courtyard to watch the New Year.

Xunxiang led the girls to play drums and pass flowers around for a while.

Before going to bed, Xunxiang still broke out a thin layer of sweat, and the room was fragrant, which made Feifei and the little fairy satisfied.

At the beginning of the next day, Xun Yibo came to Ziyuan again. After breakfast, the brother and sister went to the palace to pay New Year's greetings.

The two agreed that Xunxiang would stay in the palace for a few days, Xunyibo would live in Xunfu for a few days, and on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Xunxiang would leave the palace and go to Xunfu.

He didn't take Feifei and Heiwa with him, so he asked Jin'er to take them to Ding's house to play.

As in previous years, the clan's wives and a few noble ladies lined up to pay New Year's greetings to the Queen.

It’s just that this year there are missing Concubine Li, Concubine Xia, Princess Dongyang, Princess Xiyang, Princess Qi, Gao Shanzhu, and Shen Ying.

These people all have special seats.

There are so many seats missing in the main hall, which is unaccustomed.

Queen Ye was afraid that Xunxiang would not be fun, so she looked at the young ladies sitting in the distance talking and laughing.

She had always disliked the Sixth Princess. Prince Qing's granddaughter, Princess Mingming, was ill and did not come, so she had to call Princess Mingde, the eldest daughter of Prince Duan, to come and talk to Xunxiang.

Gao Shanzhu and Shen Ying are gone, so Mingming and Mingde will play with Xiangxiang more from now on. Queen Ye just took a closer look at Gao Dezhu today, and her eyes lit up.

He smiled and said, "Time flies so fast. Mingde has grown into a big girl. She is dignified and gentle, very good."

Gao Dezhu was praised by the Queen for the first time in his life, and his face turned red with excitement. Princess Duan, who was sitting on the side, also laughed, and her rigid face gained a little sparkle.

Mrs. Zhang came in to pay New Year's greetings to the Queen. Xun Xiang couldn't sit still, so she stood up and stood aside. Gao Dezhu, who was holding her arm, also stood up.

After Mrs. Zhang kowtowed and stood up, Xunxiang walked over and hugged her arm.

The queen smiled and talked a few words about family matters with Mrs. Zhang, and Concubine Cai Shu and Concubine Qin also joined in the fun.

At this time, Mrs. Zhang seemed to be one of the most honorable ladies, making others envious.

Concubine Qin said, "I heard that General Ding's engagement was canceled? Ouch, that's true. What they said at the beginning was so beautiful. As soon as they heard that General Ding was 'killed' in battle, they canceled the engagement in a hurry."

Mrs. Zhang didn't dare to say much on this occasion and only said "Alas" a few times.

Queen Ye said, "First of all, I was thinking that if the girl married into the Ding family as promised, she would be rewarded. Who knew she had such short-sighted parents?"

She heard Xun Xiang say that it was her parents' fault that they did not blame the girl for withdrawing from the marriage.

Princess Lao Rong said, "General Ding is young and promising, has a handsome appearance, and is highly valued by the emperor. It's the girl from that family who is unlucky."

After Zhang stepped back, Gao Dezhu whispered, "How could Miss Yang do that? People cannot stand without faith. Losing is a good thing."

Xunxiang nodded, "Yes."

After the New Year greetings, the princes and grandsons whose biological mothers had died were arranged to rest in several small palaces until they had a family banquet with the emperor and empress in the afternoon.

Xunxiang played with Gao Dezhu all morning, and she should have been left to play in Kunning Palace, but Xunxiang did not.

Regardless of whether King Duan wants to seize the throne or not, Xunxiang will keep his distance from her.

Gao Dezhu was very disappointed in her heart, but without showing it on her face, she helped Princess Duan leave.

During lunch, Queen Ye said, "I think Xiang Xiang has good moral character, is steady and dignified, and behaves appropriately. She is much better than the Sixth Princess. I hope Xiang Xiang will play with her more in the future."

Xunxiang smiled and said, "Sister Mingde is two months older than the Sixth Emperor's Aunt, and the Sixth Emperor's Aunt already has a consort."

Empress Ye suddenly said, "No, Mingde is almost fifteen years old and hasn't gotten engaged yet. Prince Duan is confused, Princess Duan is honest, and neither of them said anything about finding a decent son-in-law for the child. Wait until I ask Ask, if they like any descendant, I will marry them."

Xunxiang secretly thought, give him one as soon as possible, as long as he is not his eldest brother.

In a side hall of Minghe Palace, the happy-looking Princess Duan and Gao Dezhu were talking quietly.

"I see that Xiangxiang is having a great time with you, so I will ask the Queen to marry my daughter to Ding Lichun this afternoon. Alas, my daughter is of noble birth, beautiful and talented, but for the sake of your father, I have to force you to marry like that. The reckless man.”

Gao Dezhu subconsciously looked around the empty room and whispered, "Mother and concubine, please wait a moment. Xiangxiang and her daughter are in love with each other. If you bring it up and they reject it, you will be passive. This matter cannot be rushed..."

Princess Duan didn't believe it. Her daughter was marrying Ding Lichun. Would they still be unwilling?
But she was used to listening to the prince and eldest daughter unconditionally, and nodded in agreement, "Okay, just wait."

Hearing the voice of the girl outside calling "Your Highness the Princess" and knowing that Princess Nanyang was here, Princess Duan's eyes became dull again.

At noon, a royal family banquet was held in Dasi Palace.

Qiu Wangzhi's family was also invited.

Xun Xiang saw Qiu Wangzhi's father, Duke Wei, for the first time. He looked nothing like Qiu Wangzhi. He was thin and short, and his skin was as white as rice paper.

Hearing that the Duke of Wei was suffering from poverty as soon as he recovered from his illness, Mrs. Qiu had already asked the emperor to give the title of Duke Wei to Qiu Wangzhi.

The emperor did not agree, saying that Qiu Wangzhi was still young and would wait until he reached the age of twenty-eight before accepting the title. The twenty-eight-year-old Duke Wei was also in trouble.