vstars Chapter 882 Preparing for the Birthday Banquet
Chapter 882 Preparing for the Birthday Banquet
Happy times are always fleeting, and in the blink of an eye it is October, the golden autumn, with clear skies and the fragrance of osmanthus.
October 17th, Jing Chunxi's 13th birthday is approaching. Everyone in the mansion has already made preparations for the excitement of this day, and the atmosphere is busy and joyful everywhere.
Although Madam Jing and Zhuang had earlier promised with a smile that they would personally arrange it, they were unable to secure the right to host the birthday party this time - the Princess of Jing's words were so considerate and reasonable that they could not refuse.
That day, she specially invited the old lady to her house. She took Old Lady Jing's hand and said with a smile, "How could I not know that you love Xi'er so much? You taught her so well. We all remember your kindness.
But think about it, her younger brothers and sisters are still so young, they naturally cannot go out. The Crown Prince's wife is busy taking care of these three little ancestors all day long, so how can she have time to go far away?
It would be better to do it in our own house, which would be cheaper, more comprehensive, and the children would be cheaper to take care of."
Seeing that the old lady still looked hesitant, Princess Jing came closer and spoke in a softer, more practical voice:
"Besides, if the people from my three mansions were to rush to your General's Mansion at the same time, wouldn't it burst your door? It would only cause more trouble and you would suffer. Look at me here."
She raised her hand and waved, her smile tinged with just the right amount of boasting. "The rockery is tiered, the pavilions are exquisite, and the lakeside scenery is beautiful. I've had people prepare hundreds of new and exquisite glass lanterns. When the time comes, we'll hang them on the waterside veranda. The lights will reflect the water, and the water will reflect the sky. It will be bright and clear, like a dream. That's what we call a fairyland! The children will have fun too."
Madam Jing was moved by what she heard, but she still smiled and pursed her lips, refusing to give in immediately. Seeing this, Princess Jing finally used her trump card and said in a low voice, as if speaking from the heart:
"Mother-in-law, I won't hide it from you—the princes and princesses in the palace have already sent word in advance that they must come to congratulate Xi.
"If we were to come to your house, the welcoming ceremony, the guards, and the complicated rules would be inconvenient. Here, everything is ready, and the place is spacious. Isn't that the best of both worlds? It also preserves the dignity of the royal family."
After hearing this, Madam Jing finally laughed out loud, nodding her head repeatedly in agreement. "Alright, alright, I'll listen to you, my dear! I was only thinking about getting close to you, but didn't consider the overall situation."
So starting from the tenth day of October, the area connected by the three mansions of Prince Jing, Prince Hong and Earl Rong'en became completely bustling.
The old princess and Madam Jing sat in the flower hall every day, one writing down the lists and the other checking them in a book. From time to time, they would call the housekeeper and the nanny to give instructions, even the smallest detail, such as the arrangement of a bonsai or a palace lantern.
Maids and servants were running around, carrying tables and chairs, hanging curtains and laying out mats, pruning branches and sweeping paths, wiping windows and railings. There were lights everywhere and decorations everywhere, and everyone had a smile on their face.
An exquisite lamp stand had already been erected by the lake. Servants, carrying long ladders, carefully hung up the crystal-clear glass lamps, one after another, each one dazzling in the autumn sun. If they were lit at night, they would surely reflect the shimmering light on the water, like stars falling to earth.
Princess Hong and Jing Qiurong were also busy.
Although the two are sisters-in-law, they had no previous contact and had only lived together for a short time. However, they became friends because of their husbands and children. They have similar personalities and get along like real sisters.
On this day, they sat side by side in the small hall of the west wing and drew up a list of guests for the banquet.
Princess Hong was writing. Jing Qiurong rubbed her forehead and smiled, "We have to invite the legitimate daughters of the families who have hosted Xi'er and Ling'er before. Otherwise, they will complain that we are not polite and think we are not worthy of anyone."
"That's right," Princess Hong nodded in agreement, dipped her pen in ink, and fluently added a few names. She added, "I see the menu is missing a seasonal dish. How about adding crab stuffed with orange? It's crab season now."
Jing Qiurong had been staying at the manor for so many years that she was naturally no more skilled than the Princess of Hongjun in handling these matters. She was not short of money anyway, so she was happy to rely on her sister-in-law and act as a hands-off manager. She clapped her hands and said with a smile, "Excellent! It's sour, sweet, refreshing, and elegant, just what the girls like."
The two of them then discussed which dessert to choose—the custard from the time-honored Guixiangzhai or the ice cream from the new Miyunfang? The atmosphere was harmonious, with each other discussing and laughing.
Speaking of drinks, Jing Qiurong hesitated and said, "Yellow wine warms the stomach, but I'm afraid the girls won't like the taste, so it's not suitable. How about some plum wine?"
Princess Hongjun smiled and continued, "I've already had someone dig up several jars of osmanthus honey wine that were buried last year. It's sweet but not intoxicating, and it's perfect for the little sisters to have some fun with."
All such details were carefully considered and decided by the two of them, who would then present the book to the two elders for their review. The old princess would often examine it carefully, occasionally adding or subtracting a few words.
The old lady was very tactful and did not steal the show. She just smiled and nodded, and occasionally interjected with words like "Xier loves almond tofu, this can't be saved."
Inside and outside the palace, everyone was busy, but the atmosphere was full of joy and peace, just waiting for the auspicious day to come and celebrate together.
On the contrary, girls like Jing Chunxi acted as if nothing had happened, and continued to leisurely shuttle between the autumn flower-viewing banquets in various mansions in the capital.
It is said to be a flower-viewing banquet, but in fact, which family does not have some other thoughts?
Either the peonies and peony flowers were in full bloom, or the chrysanthemums and osmanthus were competing for beauty and the whole garden was filled with fragrance, but the smiles and eager gazes of those ladies clearly passed over the flowers and fell on her, the newly promoted and beautiful Princess Anping.
One of them took her hand and praised her fashionable clothes, which made her look more beautiful than flowers; the other praised her elegant and dignified manners, saying that she was truly a lady of great virtue. Their words were full of tentativeness, scrutiny and flattery.
In addition, several ladies brought their young men with them, either because they "happened" to meet her in the garden, or because they "came by" to pick up their mother and take her home. In fact, they just wanted to find an excuse to ask her to chat with their own sons and nephews, hoping that they could form a relationship.
The first or second time, Jing Chunxi didn't feel anything unusual, thinking it was just an ordinary social interaction between girls, and she spoke and laughed in a calm and graceful manner.
But after many times, she gradually got to know the taste - those young men were either deliberately reciting poems and composing essays in front of her to show off their literary talent, or taking the opportunity to demonstrate their riding and archery skills and pitching pots. They all rushed to be the first, fearing that they would fall behind, and the eagerness in their eyes was almost undisguised.
Only then did she realize that she had become the candidate for daughter-in-law or granddaughter-in-law that all the families in the capital were vying for.
Although she remained calm and smiling at first and responded appropriately, she couldn't help but feel secretly happy and excited in her heart.
After all, she was still a little girl. It was the first time she realized how "popular" she was and how much attention she received from the nobles in the capital. She couldn't help but feel a little reserved and proud. The corners of her eyes and eyebrows were quietly tinged with some bright colors, and she attended the banquets more diligently.