little wife

Chapter 44

Every year around Laba, Prince Yang Zhan will arrange a winter banquet in the East Palace, inviting several courtiers, relatives and friends of similar ages and close personal relationships to have fun with their families.

Because it was a private banquet, only seven or eight families were invited, and they talked about private matters. As a close minister of the Eastern Palace, Jing Yun was invited almost every year.This year he is newly married to Yaner, if Ning Luo doesn't go, he will definitely attract criticism, not to mention the fact that the Crown Princess encountered a setback when she was negotiating with Yang Yan last time, she must have been unhappy, if she refuses again this time, I'm afraid that from now on There will be a gap between Jing Yun and the prince.

Although Ning Luo didn't want to see Zhao Daiyun's disgusting face again, she had to cheer up and go to the banquet with Jing Yun.

There was a light snowfall a few days ago, and the thin snow covered the eaves of the grass and trees with a layer of white, and the white walls and black tiles were faintly visible, which is a good time to enjoy the winter scenery.

The head of the East Palace surrounded the gazebo by Taixia Lake on three sides with warm tents, and grills were placed around the outside of the tent. A small stove was set up to boil water, and a court lady was sitting next to her playing the piano.

The smell of wine is tangy, the sound of the piano is lingering. Looking sideways, the water in Taixia Lake is half water and half ice. With the change of the sun, it is sometimes sparkling and sometimes shining brightly. The holly by the lake is half green and half hundred, and the red plum is in bud Let it go, it's really a beautiful place on earth.

The crown prince Yang Zhan and the crown princess Chen Shi sat at the top. Yang Zhan was only in his early twenties, and his facial features were very delicate. At first glance, his eyebrows and eyes looked a little like Jing Yun's, but it was only because he was weak all year round. Her face was pale and her lips were blue-gray, which was very different from Jing Yun's handsome and stern; the Crown Princess Chen's eyes were gentle, her words were amiable, and she seemed to be a kind and generous person at first glance, which made Ning Luo feel a little relieved.

The people sat on both sides, Ning Luo and Jing Yun sat on the right, Yang Yan was diagonally opposite them, Zhao Daiyun sat next to Yang Yan in full dress, and to Ning Luo's surprise, Ning Xuan also came, but He was not qualified to sit at the table, but just knelt behind Yang Yan and poured wine for him.

Calculating the time, Yang Yan and Zhao Daiyun should have welcomed Ning Xuan into the mansion just a few days after their wedding, this Zhao Daiyun is really kind.

I haven't seen Ning Xuan for two months, and Ning Luo couldn't help but look at her twice more. I saw that Ning Xuan had a ruddy complexion, a plump figure, and a pair of brows and eyes following Yang Yan affectionately. She seemed to be having a good time. not bad.After finally waiting for Ning Xuan's eyes to look over, the two sisters met each other's eyes, and Ning Xuan's eyes showed a light of surprise, and she smiled shyly at her with her lips pursed.

The banquet was full of acquaintances, and the atmosphere gradually warmed up while the wine was hot.

Zou Zelin was sitting next to Jing Yun, and all the people in the room had beautiful wives and concubines, but he was alone, and he became the center of everyone's jokes.

"I'm a madman from Chu, Feng Ge laughed at Kong Qiu." Zou Zelin didn't think it was a pest at all, but became more wild, "You all marry wives and have children, how can I be at ease alone."

Yang Zhan said with a smile: "It doesn't matter if you talk big now. If you get married that day, I'm afraid that you will be like Yuan Xi, and you will turn into soft fingers."

Jing Yun seemed to have never heard of it, but carefully removed the tendon from the beef, put it into Ning Luo's bowl, and filled her cup with plum tea.Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Ning Luo was unavoidably shy, and secretly glared at him, and said in a low voice, "I'll do it myself."

Zou Zelin laughed loudly: "Lang's concubine love, I really envy others, if one day there will be someone who will accompany me to recite poems and play against each other, drink and play against chess, then let's go around with my fingers."

Chen said softly from above: "I don't know what Mr. Zou likes, I can help you find one."

"Don't dare to bother the princess," Zou Zelin bowed, "It's all fate, just like Yuan Xi, I only knew that he liked women in white clothes before, but his younger siblings never wore white clothes, so it didn't hurt him to the bone."

Ning Luo's chest froze, and the smile on the corner of her mouth froze.

Zhao Daiyun frowned, and said with a smile: "It turns out that the prince likes to wear white clothes. I have seen a woman in white clothes. She really looks like a nine-day fairy. Comparing me with her, it seems like a mere imitation."

Everyone was surprised, and Zou Zelin was even more surprised: "Is there still a woman in this world who can make Princess Rui act like a fool?"

Zhao Daiyun smiled mysteriously, but stopped talking, Zou Zelin was obviously itchy in his heart, and yelled at Yang Yan: "Your Highness, King Rui, you just said something, I am alone, and I need more of you." Take care."

"Aren't you a madman from Chu? It's better to be accompanied by poetry and wine." Yang Yan also teased, and everyone laughed.

Ning Luo didn't smile, and took a peek at Jing Yun, but saw that Jing Yun's expression was normal, but the hands under the table warmed up, and a pair of generous palms held her hand.

"What are you thinking?" Jing Yun asked quietly.

"So...you like women in white clothes..." Ning Luo didn't know what it was like in her heart. Should she be jealous of her previous life?

"There will be no woman in white clothes more beautiful than my Luo'er in this world." Jing Yun's eyes seemed to be stained with the color of wine in the cup, making people intoxicated.

Ning Luo looked at the honey-colored peony-patterned beanie on her body, and subconsciously, almost all the dresses she chose after getting married were not white, and today is no exception, but she never expected that although Jing Yun never said it, she still had it in her heart. I still remember how she looked in white that day.

As if seeing what she was thinking, Jing Yun said softly: "Only I can see Luo'er in white clothes."

Ning Luo couldn't help being angry: "You don't want to see it either."

Jing Yun was a little inexplicable. The arrogant and willful little girl seemed to be back again. He didn't know how to coax him, so he leaned over and whispered in her ear: "Is Luo Er angry with me? This plum wine is very light. Xiangtian, I'll fill it up for you, it's my apology."

Ning Luo suddenly felt funny, what happened to her?You don't have to be happy about such a small thing, but it's really a child's temper.She collected herself, raised her glass and took a sip. The plum wine was sour and sweet, and it tasted really good. She raised her eyes and said with a chuckle, "Let me drink, what if I get drunk?"

"I'll carry you back, and I can also taste the plum wine by the way, it must be better than the one in the glass." Jing Yun felt relieved, and smiled meaningfully.

A touch of blush flew to her cheeks, Ning Luo cast a glance at him and fell silent.

Although Yang Yan was chatting with everyone, he kept glancing at the two opposite people from the corner of his eye. Seeing their affectionate appearance, his chest was getting more and more stuffy, and he couldn't help but raise his glass and drink it all in one gulp. , Ning Xuan hurriedly filled it up for him, seeing that he wanted to drink again, she couldn't help persuading in a low voice: "Your Highness, don't be greedy, be careful."

With a sound of "bang", Yang Yan put his wine glass on the table with a sullen face, and the wine in the glass splashed all over, and everyone looked over.

"Does this king want you to talk too much when drinking? There are no rules." He said coldly without even looking at Ning Xuan.

Ning Xuan's face turned pale, she bit her lip and lowered her head, not daring to make a sound.

"Your Highness is naturally good at drinking, sister Xuan is too worried," Zhao Daiyun smiled sweetly, "Today is a rare get together, it is only when you don't get drunk and you don't come home. Your Highness and I will have a drink with His Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess Concubine."

She pulled Yang Yan calmly, and Yang Yan stood up, his face has returned to normal: "My brother, I wish the emperor's brother and sister-in-law good health and a happy family."

This small disturbance was over, after drinking for three rounds, everyone was full, so Yang Zhan ordered people to vacate the table, let people serve tea, and put melon and fruit snacks on the table to chat, Mrs. Chen whispered a few words to him, and then laughed with the female family members: "Men talk about important family and country affairs, we are bored, why don't we go outside to get some air."

This remark was exactly what the female family members wanted, so they followed Mrs. Chen out of the pavilion.

The servants of various houses were waiting outside the pavilion, and when they saw the masters coming out, they came up to greet them one after another.Today, Clover was serving beside Ning Luo, putting on a cloak for Ning Luo, and stuffing the hand warmer into her hands.

There was a soft hum from the side, and Ning Luo saw that it was Yu An, the head servant of Prince Rui's Mansion, with unconcealable disgust in his eyes, and Ning Luo looked away.

Ning Luo felt bored, she asked herself that she had never done anything to offend others, but for some reason, this father-in-law hated her very much, no matter in the previous life or in this life.

The female relatives gathered around the princess and walked forward while talking and laughing. Zhao Daiyun helped the princess and walked in the front. Her sweet mouth and good at flattering her beard made the princess very happy.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, Ning Xuan slowed down and walked side by side with Ning Luo.

"Ninth sister, are you okay?" She asked in a low voice.

"I'm fine, but you, I'm worried about you." Ning Luo said worriedly.

A happy smile appeared on the corner of Ning Xuan's mouth: "Your Highness treats me very well, and he will come to my room from time to time. As for the princess, I will just avoid it. You don't have to worry."

"He treats you very well?" Ning Luo asked incredulously, just now he scolded her in full view, is this how he treats her well?

"I was the one who didn't think about it just now, and His Highness should be displeased." Ning Xuan reflected on herself.

Ning Luo was speechless, my arsenic, human honey, for the two sisters, this sentence may be the most appropriate.

There is a plum grove in front, the red plums are in bud, there is a special mood in the snow, Chen stopped and said with a smile: "Daiyun, I heard that you are studying in Qionghua Women's College, you are famous, how about Composing a poem for us today can be regarded as adding color to the scenery."

Zhao Daiyun said coquettishly: "Sister-in-law Huang is laughing at me. In terms of talent, sister-in-law Huang is a well-deserved talented woman. Even Mrs. Dingyunhou Shizi, I am far behind."

Mrs. Chen immediately thought of Ning Luo, and waved at her: "Your name is Ning Luo, right? You look really good, no wonder the prince loves you so much."

"Sister-in-law Ning, sister Ning is not only good at composing poems, she is also a student with excellent calligraphy and painting skills in the women's college. Since everyone is so interested today, how about letting sister Ning perform all of them?" Zhao Daiyun said enthusiastically.

Mrs. Chen also became interested: "Mrs. Shizi is so versatile, today I am going to open my eyes."

In the cold winter and the twelfth lunar month, Zhao Daiyun clearly wanted to humiliate Ning Luo by performing outside for so many female relatives, but if she shirked it, it would make the princess feel bad.Ning Xuan's eyes showed worry, and she was about to volunteer to play the piano for Mrs. Chen, but Ning Luo signaled her to be calm, and bowed to Mrs. Chen, saying, "Your Majesty has a call, how dare Ning Luo answer it."

A palace man next to him brought the qin first, and Ning Luo handed the hand stove to Yotsuba beside him, sat down, stroked the strings of the qin, the cold wind blew, and the original heat between the fingers was taken away at once.

She held her breath for a moment, and suddenly her fingertips slid across the strings, and the sound of the silver vase breaking suddenly sounded, playing an ancient song called Gaoshan Liushui.

Towering as if the mountains are tall and the clouds are light, and the ocean is like flowing water.

At the end of the song, Ning Luo carefully drew with four fingers, the sound of tearing silk was like gold and jade, and it stopped abruptly.

Mrs. Chen was fascinated by it, and after thinking about it for a while, she praised: "Well played!"

Yotsuba on the side exclaimed: "Madam, ma'am, your hands are bleeding!"

Surprised, Chen came up to her a few steps, held Ning Luo's hand and saw that, as expected, the nail of the little finger was cut by the string, and blood oozes out.She couldn't help blaming herself: "I was the one who was abrupt, I shouldn't let you play the piano."

Ning Luo said with a smile: "Why did your mother say such a thing? It's because I'm not good at learning, but I let your mother down."

The palace people were still preparing pens, inks, papers and inkstones, so Chen waved his hands: "Okay, it's so cold that your hands are numb today, let's move out, everyone go to my room to warm up. Hey, your little hands are so cold, I will cover it for you, otherwise the prince will probably blame me."

She started giggling as she spoke, and sure enough she held Ning Luo's hand all the way, talking and laughing, Zhao Daiyun followed behind and couldn't put her mouth in any more, her face was so angry that her face froze.

As soon as she arrived at the gate of the Crown Princess' palace, there was the sound of children laughing inside. The Crown Princess' face tightened, and she couldn't care about Ning Luo immediately. She frowned and stepped into the palace gate. Before she could speak, she saw A small figure stumbled over, threw the things in his hands into Chen's arms, and smiled happily: "Mother Concubine, Mother Concubine, look at me!"

(End of this chapter)