Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 329 The Queen Recalls the Past [Thank you all for your support! Goodbye! ]

Spring is here, spring is here

The tent in front of the Linshui Palace is transparent on three sides.

Colorful silk ribbons are tied around the Linshui Palace.

The ribbons unfurled and fluttered in the breeze, complementing the pots of spring flowers that were brought in for decoration.

Whether it was the palace guards, eunuchs and female officials standing by, or the ministers and their wives, they all wore flowers in their hair.

At the top, the emperor and empress sitting on the stage looked out and saw beautiful scenery with a faint fragrance in the air.

The emperor smiled and waved to the eunuch beside him. The eunuch quickly flicked his whisk, walked over, bowed and listened attentively.

"Is this Jin Mingchi dressed up by you, the eunuchs today?"

Hearing the emperor's question, the eunuch bowed and said:
"Your Majesty, yes! We have also asked the masters of Wensi Academy for advice."

"Haha, you guys are so thoughtful!"

"Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty. This is my duty."

"Ok!"

At this time, Zhao Fang whispered, "Father, where is the man with the best handwriting you mentioned?"

The emperor looked at the eunuch beside him, and the eunuch hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, there it is!"

As he said this, he pointed at Sheng Hong who was standing near the door of the tent.

On March 1st, Jinming Lake was opened.
Originally it meant sharing happiness with the people.

Therefore, today the Emperor, Empress, Prince Zhao Fang, and Princess Zhao Yue are all wearing casual clothes.

As for the ministers and their wives who had accompanied the emperor's procession into the garden earlier, they naturally could not dress too fancy.

The ministers and their wives who accompanied the emperor had all been in Bianjing for a long time.
Knowing that today's clothes can't be too fancy, I put a lot of effort into the details to show my style.

For example, the buttons on the front of humble clothes are woven with gold threads, gems and jade;

For example, the hair bun looks like it has small flowers and butterflies on it, but in fact, it is a jade ornament carefully carved by a master craftsman.
Of course, the most low-key one is the Queen.
Because the inconspicuous string of beads that the Queen was wearing in front of her body and that Princess Yue'er was curiously playing with in her arms was worth about 20,000 strings of cash!

Just now, Wang Ruofu had the leisure to look at the jewelry of a certain duke's female relative, and secretly smacked her lips with Mama Liu.

However, when Sheng Hong was summoned to the emperor by the eunuch, she was so nervous that she didn't know what to do.

It was Mother Liu who noticed the look from Madam Sun, the Marquis of Yongyi, and reminded Wang Ruofu to stand up.

at this time,

Sheng Hong was standing in the middle, having just heard the emperor's praise for his "work attitude".

After listening to this, Sheng Hong bowed to the emperor and empress at the top and said excitedly:

"Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty! I am truly ashamed of your words!"

The emperor, who was sitting at the top, was about to speak when Prince Zhao Fang suddenly stood up from the emperor's arms and whispered a few words to the emperor.

While listening to Zhao Fang's words, the emperor looked at Sheng Hong in a very good mood.

Sheng Hong stood in the middle with his head bowed. He didn't hear the emperor's reply and felt a little helpless.

The emperor waved to the eunuch on the side and gave a few instructions, and the eunuch walked to the back.

The emperor smiled slightly and said:
"Master Sheng, please stand up and don't be nervous! I have read your memorials several times! Your handwriting is very good! I happen to have a few brushes that were sent as tribute from Xuancheng."

As the emperor spoke, a eunuch walked towards Sheng Hong holding a tray with several long wooden boxes on it.

Sheng Hong bowed deeply and took the tray from the eunuch. He said with a trembling voice and a hint of tears:
"Your Majesty, I, Sheng Hong, thank you for your grace and reward!"

Seeing Sheng Hong's grateful expression, the emperor nodded slightly and said, "Okay! Go!"

"Sir, obey the order!"

Looking at Sheng Hong who took a few steps back and then walked towards his seat, the emperor said to Zhao Fang beside him: "Fang'er, this reward is good, isn't it?"

Zhao Fang smiled and nodded, giving the emperor a thumbs up.

When the emperor was talking to Sheng Hong just now, Wang Ruofu stood respectfully behind the table.

After hearing Sheng Hong's words of thanks, the emperor didn't say a word for a long time. Wang Ruofu held her breath nervously and clenched the handkerchief in her hand.

When the emperor's laughter was heard, Wang Ruofu let out a long sigh.

Sheng Hong walked to the table and sat down. He listened to the eunuch calling other officials to talk with the emperor. Only then did he relax a little.

Sheng Hong picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip.

Looking at the reward on the table with full of emotion, I couldn't help but recall the days when I practiced calligraphy for so many years since I was old enough to understand:

When Sheng Hong was a child, he lived with his biological mother, Chun Xiaoniang. He was often framed and punished innocently by his father's favorite concubine.

At that time, his stepmother, the only daughter of the Xu family, the once-powerful Yongyi Marquis Mansion, had a proud and fierce personality.

At that time, he had almost become an enemy of his father, who was a top scholar in the imperial examination. He was often neglected and squeezed out in the mistress's courtyard. In despair, he devoted his attention to his eldest son Zhen and ignored the mundane affairs of the family.

Perhaps it was retribution that his father, the top scholar in the imperial examination, had no children as his favorite concubine!

But every time Sheng Hong thought of the way his favorite concubine looked at him and the bamboo stick in her hand that whipped him, he would shudder.

Because he still remembers that his father, who was a top scholar in the imperial examination at that time, would teach him how to write with a warm smile on his face during the rare times when he was in a good mood.

So, in the cold winter, kneeling on the cold ground of the cold ancestral hall,

Sheng Hong's only pleasure is to copy the handwriting of his father, who was a top scholar in the imperial examination, in the ancestral hall.
Sometimes I used my own fingers which were frozen like radishes.
Sometimes the fire sticks used in the ancestral hall to stir paper money are used.

When he was writing, it seemed as if that warm father was right beside him.

Sheng Hong's own concubine's family was powerless, so the concubine could only kneel at the gate of the concubine's courtyard all night long to plead for herself.

Of course it's no use begging for mercy.

It was thanks to the housekeeper who lived with his stepmother that she secretly sent him some cakes, warm water and clothes, which allowed him to survive.

Afterwards, my father, my mother and many other people died.

He was raised by his stepmother, and after using a brush, he fell in love with calligraphy even more.

His love for calligraphy enabled him to write beautiful characters that few others could match, which greatly helped his career!
Looking at these imperially bestowed Xuancheng pens, Sheng Hong thought of his third son Changfeng. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly. Oh, and there is also Molan!

Thinking of this, Sheng Hong smiled slightly.

Wang Ruofu blinked her big eyes, grinning with her teeth showing, her eyes full of pride and joy.

She stroked the pen and said:

"Sir! This pen must be given to Changbai!"

Sheng Hong was stunned. Thinking about studying hard and behaving like his father-in-law's eldest son, he nodded with some shame and said with a smile, "Madam is right."

Wang Ruofu continued to touch the smooth pencil case made of precious wood, looked at Sheng Hong and said:
"Sir, my nephew, You Ge'er, is currently studying, so I want to leave him one of these pens!"

"And my dear sister, Brother Jin from the Kang family, can give it to me, too!"

"Also, the one in Hualan's belly must be a boy, so we have to keep one too!"

Listening to Wang Ruofu's words, Sheng Hong's face became more and more ugly.

Sheng Hong clenched his teeth, closed his eyes and took a deep breath:
This is the Emperor's presence, no loud noises are allowed!
Tired of heart!

I should give this thing to my mother when I get home and let her share it.

Wang Ruofu, who was standing by, glanced at Sheng Hong and said, "Sir, what's wrong? You're not feeling well!"

Sheng Hong adjusted his facial muscles: fake smile.

Wang Ruofu continued to look at the brushes on the tray happily.

Just as they were about to continue talking, a young eunuch came up to the two and said softly:

"Master Sheng, Madam, I am Qingyun, an eunuch from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and I am here to pick up this tray."

Sheng Hong immediately put on a genuine smile: "Eunuch, please!"

Qingyun smiled, bowed, and took the things away.

When the couple talked,
Inside the big tent, officials would stand up from time to time, walk to the middle and say a few words to the emperor, but few of them received rewards like Sheng Hong.

After a while, a eunuch walked into the tent and said a few words to the chief eunuch.

The eunuch came to the emperor and whispered, "Your Majesty, everything is ready!"

The emperor smiled and said, "Then let's begin!"

The eunuch quickly responded.

After saying this, the emperor turned to the officials and their families in the big tent and said:

"My dear ministers, there is no need to restrain yourself. Let us enjoy the performance of our men together!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Everyone in the tent quickly stood up and responded.

Wang Ruofu also came to Jinming Lake last year, but she was in a very bad location near the north side of the lake.

I didn't expect that this year I would be sitting in the royal tent in front of the Linshui Palace.

Wang Ruofu looked at the people in the tent, and they all dispersed to the position near the pool so that they could watch the performance in the pool.

Sheng Hong also put away the smile he had while listening to the holy teachings, glared at Wang Ruofu beside him, then stood up and walked over to talk to several colleagues and superiors.

Wang Ruofu also stood up and prepared to walk towards the pool.

But after standing up, she didn't know where to go.

During the years that Wang Ruofu has been in Bianjing, she has also participated in many gatherings such as the Xiangyi Yaji and the Double Ninth Festival flower viewing.

Although looking around, there are a few ladies I know.

However, the more familiar ladies such as Madam Wu and Madam Bai were not in the tent.

Madam Liu beside her gently tugged at her clothes and said softly, "Hey, madam, look inside the tent."

It was close to the emperor and empress, so she didn't dare to look at it for too long. Wang Ruofu looked inside as she was told, and then her eyes lit up!
She saw her mother-in-law, Mrs. Sun, waving at her.

When Wang Ruofu was about to wave her hand to decline, she saw the Queen Mother sitting there smiling at her.

Not only that, Princess Yue'er in front of the Queen was looking at her confusedly, and the prince beside the Emperor was also looking at her.

Not knowing whether to cry or laugh, Wang Ruofu could only grin and walked into the big tent with Mother Liu.

Although Wang Ruofu could shout out loudly, "My father deserves to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple,"
But she grew up in her uncle's house in the countryside, and was already quite old when she came to Bian Jing.

Not long after staying in Bian Jing, Wang Ruofu reached the age to discuss marriage. She had never been to the palace, let alone met the emperor and empress.

When she got close to the Emperor and Empress, she didn't know what to say. She could only bow and say:
"Greetings to His Majesty the Emperor, and to Her Majesty the Queen! Greetings to His Royal Highness the Prince and Princess."

The emperor smiled and said, "Are you the youngest daughter of the Wang family?"

Wang Ruofu was very nervous and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Your Majesty, yes!"

Hearing this, Zhao Fang nodded, with a solemn look in his eyes.

The emperor nodded: "Okay! Fang'er, Madam Wang is also the mother of the second madam of the Xu family."

When Zhao Fang looked at Wang Ruofu, there was not only solemnity but also a hint of warmth in his eyes.

The queen glanced up and down at Wang Ruofu and said with a smile, "Madam Wang, please take a seat!"

After the queen finished speaking, the female official beside her brought an embroidered cushion and placed it next to Sun.

"Thank you, empress!"

Wang Ruofu said this and sat down.

After sitting down, the emperor smiled and glanced at the boats performing in the Jinming Lake in the distance, then turned back and said to Wang Ruofu:

"Madam Wang, how is your mother now?"

Wang Ruofu: "Your Majesty, OK!"

The emperor put away his smile and said, "Well, when you go back, bring some things for the elderly to your mother."

The eunuch beside him bowed hurriedly to indicate that he had received it.

Wang Ruofu also stopped smiling: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The queen on the side waited for the two to finish speaking, then said softly:

"Madam, is your mother-in-law in good health?"

"My mother is in good health! After coming to Bianjing, she often climbed mountains and worshipped Buddha!"

The queen nodded and said with a smile: "When I reach your mother-in-law's age, I wonder if my health will be as good as hers!"

Wang Ruofu hurriedly said, "Madam! You must have it!"

Madam Sun also nodded in affirmation.

The Queen smiled and said, "Then I will borrow your good words, Madam!"

Wang Ruofu: “I dare not, I dare not!”

The Queen looked at Wang Ruofu, then at Sun, and continued with some reminiscence in her eyes:
"When I was still in my boudoir, I attended polo matches, incense burning parties, flower-viewing gatherings, and so on in Beijing, and I met your old lady many times."

"Now that I think about it, your old lady was really graceful and elegant!"

"He is agile and free on the polo field, his skills are superb, and his heroic demeanor is enviable!"

"Although I was still young at the time, I still remember the amazement and admiration I felt when I saw your old lady perform the Feng Sui Liu Xing move at the polo field!"

When Sun married into the Xu family, the old lady had already married. She had never seen the old lady's heroic appearance. Listening to the queen's words, her eyes were full of longing.

Wang Ruofu, who was listening on the side, agreed and nodded repeatedly.

Although Wang Ruofu had never seen the heroic figure of her mother-in-law when she was young, she had seen her mother-in-law riding a horse when she first entered the Sheng family. Her heroic figure riding the horse was so free and easy and beautiful.

Listening to the words of the ladies, the little princess in the queen's arms looked around with some curiosity in her eyes.

The Queen put away her reminiscing look and asked:

"Madam, does your old lady still play polo nowadays?"

Wang Ruofu smiled and replied, "My queen, when the weather is warm, my mother will go to the farm outside the city for a stroll and ride a horse to play a few rounds!"

The Queen sighed and nodded:

"Oh? That's rare for an old lady of her age!"

"The good health of this old man is the greatest blessing for his children!"

"That's what I said!"

Wang Ruofu and Sun replied.

At this time, the Queen narrowed her eyes and waved towards a place not far away.

Sun and Wang Ruofu looked over.

Then a young girl dressed in gorgeous clothes walked up to the queen.

Sun recognized this little girl. She was the niece of the Queen and the legitimate daughter of the Cao family, the Marquis of Tuoxi. When An Mei got married, this girl came to help press the bed.

Seeing Wang Ruofu's puzzled look, Sun explained a few words in a low voice.

Seeing the little girl from Cao's family, Marquis Tuoxi, bowing to the two of them, Sun and Wang Ruofu hurriedly stood up and nodded.

The queen waved her hands in fake anger and said, "Why are you two still standing up? Sit down now!"

After saying this, the Queen looked at her niece lovingly and asked, "Where did you go to play just now?"

The little girl squatted down, greeted Princess Yue'er, smiled slightly, and said:
"Return to Aunt Queen, she's over there! She played with the little brother who went to Huyan's house with her that day!"

"Just now I saw him skipping stones on the water, and he was really good at it!"

The queen was stunned. Going to Huyan's house? Then she looked at Madam Sun in confusion.

Madam Sun shook her head and said, "Madam, my two grandsons are in Quyuan Street."

Hearing this, the queen looked at her niece again and said, "Do you know where that little brother comes from?"

The little girl pointed towards the big tent and said, "That's him. He seems to be from the Lu family, Duke of Lian!"

The queen glanced at Lu Zezong, who was following her grandfather, and exchanged glances with Madam Sun.

"Madam, that's your Xiaowu's sworn brother, right?"

Madam Sun nodded.

After the queen asked, she looked at Lu Zezong and her niece not far away.

At this time,

The crowd watching the performance in the big tent near the pool suddenly exclaimed.

This attracted the attention of the Queen, Madam Sun and others.

It turned out to be a navy soldier performing the "water swing" in the pond. He had swung to a very high point on the swing and was now somersaulting down.

I never finished reading Changbai's book.
Because he was pulled outside the Xu family's tent by Gu Tingye and Qi Heng, who had just finished watching the horses, to watch the water army performance in the pond.

Watching the pawns swinging on the big ship,

The boys around Xu Zaijing also shouted: "Wow! How can it be so high!"

Xu Zaijing said:
"My second brother-in-law said that this technique is very useful when jumping off a boat during a naval battle!"

"Of course, it won't be so fancy!"

Everyone nodded.

The naval soldier somersaulted into the water, creating white waves and attracting cheers from the crowd watching by the pool.

After these performances,
Just like last year, the big dragon boat was pulled out of the Aowu by the small dragon boat.

The large dragon boat, which was decorated very beautifully, sailed to the front of the Linshui Palace, and the emperor boarded the dragon boat with everyone in the big tent.

The big dragon boat came to a stop in the middle of Jinming Lake.
Wang Ruofu watched the water battle performance of the dragon boat and the tiger boat with great attention.

She saw the small dragon boat and the tiger-head boat sailing towards the five-room palace in the pond.

Unlike previous years, the boats were not prepared for the race immediately, but instead all had flags with different surnames written on them outside the five halls.

Looking around, you can see flags with the words "Shuichan Qiao", "Yongchang Liang", "Ningyuan Gu", as well as single-character flags such as Pei, Qi, Lu, etc.

Wang Ruofu approached Madam Sun with some doubts, asked a few questions softly, and nodded after getting the answer.

At this time, in front of the Five-Room Hall, all the small dragon boats and tiger-head boats were ready.

The Jinmingchi Championship, which is most popular among the audience, is about to begin.

shore,

Several young men around Xu Zaijing, whose families had spent a lot of money to charter a boat to win the bid, looked at each other.
After all, this is the first prize of the first day!
The prize should be the work of a master craftsman from the Wensi Academy.
An Mei, the fourth daughter of the Xu family, got this kind of peony jade carving.

Like the first incense stick in a temple,
In everyone's mind, the effect is different from the second time or the prize on the second day.

By the Jinming Pond,

In front of the Duke of Qi's tent,
Ting Yi and Chai Zhengzheng stood there, with two legitimate daughters of the Dou family beside them.

Following behind was the pretty girl behind Mrs. Wu.
Chai Zhengzheng glanced at the girl out of the corner of his eye.
Just now in the tent, Madam Wu introduced Madam Dou to her.

This Miss Wan is the illegitimate daughter of the illegitimate sister of the cousin's mother's mother-in-law's wife of Madam Wu's eldest illegitimate son.

Zheng Zheng shook his dizzy head, looked at the hopeful look in Miss Wan's eyes, and said to Ting Yi in doubt in a low voice that only the two of them could hear:

"What is Miss Chun Ge looking at?"

Tingyi glanced at Miss Wan, and when he saw Wan Chunge looking at him, Tingyi smiled.

Then Ting Yi and Chai Zhengzheng whispered, "Liang Han?"

Zheng Zheng turned his head to look at Ting Yi, with a look of surprise and curiosity on his face: Huh?
(End of this chapter)