concubine leisurely

Chapter 75

The top hair is combed high, the bun is tight, the emerald jade drop earrings are warm and lovely, and there are two long strands of hair protruding from the temples, which are unique and charming, making people feel that if there is a wind, they will dance with the wind; In case of incense, it can float with the fragrance.

The facial features are exquisite and impeccable, the complexion is jade, the figure is slender, the off-white silver-patterned palace satin gown, and the twelve light orange long skirts are elegant and quiet, as beautiful as a dream.

Meng Youran's side concubine is so outstanding, she is no worse than her own direct concubine.Meng Tairan was quite disappointed and a little bit dissatisfied.

At this time, in the side hall of the Meng family, two sisters, You Ran and Xin Ran, sat in the main seat, and three direct daughters of the Meng family in Tai'an sat in the guest seat: Meng Tairan, Meng Taoran, and Meng Moran.

Meng Tairan is the eldest daughter of the direct branch of the Meng family in Tai'an, and she has promised to marry the prince of Jiangling County. She will be the princess of the county in the future. After that, I saw the two unmarried daughters of Menglai's family. They were leisurely, beautiful, and delicate, and both of them were neither humble nor overbearing.

Can't help but feel a little stuffy.

Leisurely and happily smiling as the hosts, they treated the guests thoughtfully; at the same time, they also took a clear look at the three visiting sisters with cold eyes.

Meng Tairan is the eldest sister, the most dignified, with red makeup and satin bezel full of embroidered folded flowers, jade-colored pleated skirt, jade-colored pearl hairpins on the flying fairy bun, red hibiscus flowers echoing the clothes, very rich and elegant , quite suitable for her status as the eldest daughter of the Meng family and the princess of the future county.

Meng Taoran was born small and delicate. He wore a Japanese bun and combed all the hair on the top of his head on one side of his head. energetic and cute.

Meng Moran is the youngest, but has the most serious complexion. He is obviously withdrawn, and he also wears different clothes. A branch of magnolia towers up from the simple cut lotus pink side skirt, looking aloof.

The eldest is dignified, the second is innocent, and the third is noble. The three sisters are interesting.There is a dark joy in leisurely heart.

When we met for the first time, everyone just said some polite words of the wife, so you came and went with me for a long time, Meng Taoran finally had a lively temperament, and couldn't help showing off, "My eldest sister is so lucky, she will be the princess of the county in the future."

Meng Tairan blushed, and spat, "You know!" But he couldn't stop his complacency.What an honor it is to marry into the royal family.

Meng Moran showed a disgusted expression, what's there to show off, it's so shallow and boring!

Both You Ran and Xin Ran agreed, "It really is a good fortune." Xin Ran became even more competitive, hmph, what's wrong with your direct branch, must it be better than our side branch?Daddy often said, "Heaven is healthy, and a gentleman strives for self-improvement." Everyone should work hard and strive to make progress. Our side branch is no worse than the direct branch today!
"If you want to say you are blessed, all the daughters of the Meng family are blessed. Like my fifth sister, she will be Mrs. Pingbeihou in the future. A few days ago, the Pingbeihou's mansion came to give the betrothal gift. There are countless gold and jade jewelry, fur clothes, scented tea, and fruits. , Reunion cakes, mutton wine, dry goods from the north and the south, piled up the whole yard, and there are many imperial gift items, which are glamorous. Afterwards, my wife took two or three days to count them before finishing the order, and I still have a headache to this day. "Xin Ran smiled.

Meng Tairan's expression froze slightly.She also received a betrothal gift. The royal family's betrothal gift has fixed specifications and cannot be added or subtracted by others. It is just a deposit, wedding cakes, ornaments, sacrifices, etc. It is indeed incomparable with the Pingbeihoufu.

Meng Taoran blushed slightly with excitement, "Yes, yes, even though I have just returned to the capital, I have heard about it. It is said that the Pingbei Marquis Mansion is rich and rich, and it really deserves its reputation. You said, the Pingbei Marquis Mansion sent so much money. Dowry gift, do you value Sister Youran very much?"

"That's natural." Xin Ran said with a smile.Sisters born of the same father, whether they are good or bad on weekdays, are real sisters in front of outsiders.

At this time, Youran adopts the most effort-saving coping method: pretend to be shy, keep her head down and don't speak.Everything is left out.

Meng Moran rolled his eyes contemptuously. He just talked about status, but now he talks about property, and the more he talks about it, the more vulgar it is!
In the side hall, the five girls of the guest and the host were talking, and in the main room were the two middle-aged ladies of the guest and the host: Mrs. Zhong, and Mrs. Meng, the wife of Meng He, the governor of Jiangsu.

The current head of the Meng family in Tai'an is Meng He from the direct branch of the direct branch, and the governor of Jiangsu. This time he returned to Beijing at the end of his term, and it was rumored that he would soon enter the cabinet to pay homage to the prime minister.

This branch of Meng Lai spent five times with his concubine, and they are no longer close. It's just that Meng He has been released for many years. As soon as he returns to Beijing, he is about to contact his colleagues of the same year and draw in all the forces that can be drawn. This Meng Lai Naturally, he would not let go of the servant of the Ministry of Rites of the same family. He "met" with Meng Lai in the Ministry of Rites within a few days after returning to Beijing. After that, they will naturally meet frequently. After all, they are all from the Meng family, of the same ancestor.

This time, it was Meng He's wife who was invited to bring her three daughters as guests.After seeing each other and exchanging greetings, Mrs. Meng laughed and said, "I haven't seen my younger siblings for a long time, so I just wanted to talk about myself." Mrs. Zhong also laughed, "Exactly. I was just looking for my sister-in-law to talk." Then she said to several girls, "We Talking, nothing will hold you back. Go and play and talk by yourself, fifth girl and sixth girl are good to accompany you." Youran and Liu listened happily, and naturally obeyed, and accompanied the three sisters Meng Tairan, Meng Taoran and Meng Moran. I went to the side hall to wait for tea.

Mrs. Meng watched her daughters go out, turned her head and smiled at Mrs. Zhong, "I haven't congratulated my younger brothers and sisters yet. The betrothal gift was given by Ping Beihou's mansion the day before yesterday. It's very grand."

Zhong laughed and said, "It's a custom in the capital that as much as the dowry gift from the in-law's family, the mother's family has to accompany it. The dowry is twice as much as the dowry gift. Once the dowry gift was delivered, it didn't scare me to death: such a generous gift For the dowry, you have to pay double the dowry, so you can't empty out your family? You really can't afford to marry a girl!"

What Mrs. Zhong said was so funny that Mrs. Meng couldn't help laughing, "Listen to what you said! Your family can't afford to accompany the girl?"

"That's right." Zhong also laughed.

The two chatted and laughed for a while.Mrs. Meng felt sour in her heart.My family is a direct lineage, how honorable; in my hometown in Tai'an, side branches like Meng Lai can only rely on the direct lineage to live, and some are not close to the direct lineage, and their lives are not much different from ordinary people.Who would have thought that in such an inconspicuous side branch, Meng Lai, the Tanhualang, married the prostitute of the Hou family, and now he is living a splendid life, not inferior to the prostitute.

Meng Lai himself is a servant of the Ministry of Rites and a third-rank civil servant. He might be able to enter the cabinet someday, and at least he will be a minister; two sons, one of whom was born in Chuanlu, are now serving as lecturers in the Imperial Academy, lecturing scriptures for the prince. He is highly regarded; one is a palace guard, smart and flexible, and is appreciated by his superiors, and has a bright future just like his brother; all of his daughters are also married very well, either marrying into the Hou's mansion, or marrying into the Shangshu's mansion.Alas, time is also fate, and Meng Lai is destined to become famous.

The wife of Meng Lai in front of me, although she has a naive temperament, is from a wealthy family, and she is very familiar with socializing and entertaining.

Mrs. Meng chuckled and said, "I've been away from the capital for the past few years, and I've been so stupid. When I come back, I feel that everything is eye-opening. A person like Ping Beihou, who can be a second-rank official at a young age, and he can open his own house without restraint." No, how many people in Beijing want to marry their daughters to him, but he just chose our Meng family daughter. The Meng family daughter will come out of the cabinet later, so he is willing to wait. He is really an infatuated man. Ah Lai agreed to let the fifth niece get married on her birthday when she spoke in person? Our daughter of the Meng family is really precious."

Zhong Shi was originally dissatisfied with this marriage, but it was just dissatisfied. If she was asked to use some tricks to destroy it, she would not do it.Now that the marriage has been decided, it is impossible to change the marriage date set by Ge Shoufu and his wife, and the marriage date set by the Holy Majesty himself. Since this is the case, the Zhong family has simply become generous, and doesn't care much about it, it's useless to care about it.

Mrs. Zhong laughed and said, "Who says it's not? Ordinarily, only the daughters of the Meng family can leave the court after their birthdays, and the daughters of the concubines don't care. It's just that the master of my family will stay until he is willing to marry his daughter. It seems that the son-in-law is in a hurry. I can't see it anymore." Meng Lai was so stubborn that people couldn't do anything about him. When he mentioned that he wanted to marry Youran, he gritted his teeth. Still turned eighteen.

"It's really reserved and precious to be married like this." Mrs. Meng was quite envious.Sui people take it on the shelf of marrying their daughter.

"Yes, who said no." Zhong smiled all over his face.Ever since Youran's marriage was settled, everyone has said that even the concubine daughters of the Meng family are so reserved, wouldn't the concubine daughters be more precious?The ladies from all walks of life who came to the mansion to inquire about the news recently, but they dialed one after another, and many of them looked very satisfied with Xinran.

"Why are you in a hurry? There are many noble girls in the capital who only get married in their [-]th or [-]th years. Xiner is not too old, so don't worry." Madam Tai's words gave Zhong Shi reassurance.

Looking at the situation, you can really grab a handful to pick and choose!Zhong smiled and Mimi thought about Xinran's future.

"If you say that I'm a big girl, it makes people have nothing to say. She has been sensible since she was a child. When she grows up, she will be promised to the King of Jiangling County. She will have a good future. Just worry about the two younger ones." Mrs. Meng said leisurely.

"Isn't that right, my family is also the one that takes the most trouble." Zhong fully agreed.It is the old girl who is the most worrying.

"Prince Ming, have you heard of it?" Mrs. Meng smiled.

Zhong nodded, "I heard, the youngest son of the late emperor."

"Prince Ming, the concubine just died last year." Mrs. Meng said slowly, "Now I am choosing a concubine."

Zhong's heart skipped a beat, princess?He didn't show it on his face, he just smiled and said, "The two little girls in sister-in-law's family are both outstanding, whoever they are is also worthy of being a prince and concubine."

Mrs. Meng burst out laughing, "How could it be possible? My family has already married a girl into the royal family, and there can be no more."

"So that's how it is." Zhong suddenly realized.

Mrs. Meng looked at Mrs. Zhong, and said gently, "If your young daughter is interested, I can go and talk about it."

Zhong laughed and said, "This is not a matter that I can decide on my own. After I have asked my master, I will not bother my sister-in-law." The Prince's Mansion is not an ordinary family.If you want to be clear, you should discuss it with your husband.

Mrs. Meng smiled and said, "That's natural."

After a happy gathering, Mrs. Meng and her daughter were sent off attentively. In the evening, Mrs. Zhong took Meng Lai to discuss, "The Prince's Mansion is extremely rich!"

Meng Lai closed his eyes and rested for a moment, opened his eyes and asked coldly, "Are you willing to let Xiner be your stepmother? Then the former princess of Prince Ming left behind a son and a daughter." It's crazy for a good girl to be a stepmother. no.

The vassal king is only rich and powerful, and has no real power. He cannot even leave the vassal land without an order from the court.

"Having a son and a daughter? Why didn't I remember it? Then I don't want it, I don't want it." Zhong quickly waved his hands.Xiner is still a child herself, raising a child for her ex-wife?forget it.This is not acceptable.

Meng Lai was relieved and heaved a sigh of relief.

But I heard Zhong complain, "Master doesn't care about Xin'er." How could the concubine's marriage be settled early.

Meng Lai sighed, "How can my own daughter not care?" Which child doesn't care, whether it is a son or a daughter, everyone is caring, and the daughter is especially worried.Needless to say, Yue Ran, the eldest daughter, has been doted on since she was a child; Yan Ran, let her pick and choose for the past few years, and finally chose a husband's family that she is satisfied with; An Ran, who does not want to marry a scholar She was willing to marry a hero galloping on the battlefield, and finally picked Li Ze, but she was afraid that Li Ze would be a concubine, and her mother-in-law would embarrass her when she married safely, so she tried her best to tell Xining Hou that after the engagement, the young couple must go together.

Leisurely, needless to say.Only Xingran was left.

"I was going to tell you about Xiner." Meng Lai said slowly.

(End of this chapter)