allonlinenovel Chapter 90 Today, I'll take you to see the lantern festival.
Chapter 90 Today, I'll take you to see the lantern festival.
Lady Changting was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. She and Qin Yizhen were the two extremes. Qin Yizhen was virtuous and generous, while she was a notorious tigress known to everyone in Qin capital.
The Earl of Changting had only one wife in his life. He didn't have any concubines or mistresses, let alone any maids or servants.
Others said that Lady Changting was jealous and not virtuous enough, and that she was intolerant of others, but she remained unchanged and did not care at all what others thought of her.
In her view, life is something you live yourself, and as long as you're happy, that's all that matters.
Qin Yizhen quite liked her, thinking that she was a good talker who could talk about anything, knew all the gossip in Qindu, and was sincere and warm-hearted.
Among Qin Yizhen's few interactions, Lady Changting was one of them.
Upon hearing these words, Qin Yizhen's initial unease vanished, and she felt no longer shy or embarrassed. She smiled and said, "What Lady Changting says is true. If you miss someone, so be it. No one will laugh at you."
Lady Changting added, "It's normal for the princess to be a little shy at such a young age."
As the group was talking, someone came to report that Eunuch De had arrived.
Qin Yizhen quickly had someone invite him in.
"This servant greets the princess and wishes her a happy birthday." When Eunuch De bowed, his back was straight and he was upright and dignified, not like a eunuch, but more like an official walking in the court.
"No need for such formalities, Eunuch De. Why are you the one who made the trip today?"
Eunuch De smiled and said, "Your Highness, we are here today to deliver gifts on behalf of the Empress Dowager and His Majesty, so naturally I have to keep a close eye on things personally."
Today is Qin Yizhen's birthday, and Empress Dowager Cheng and Emperor Jing'an naturally sent gifts. Even Princess Huizhen, although she didn't really want to see Qin Yizhen, still sent a gift.
Qin Yizhen had just seen it; it was a golden gourd, even larger than a real gourd, carved with mountains, ancient pines, cranes, and auspicious clouds, and inlaid with various gemstones, making her dizzy.
Although she, as the recipient of the gift, shouldn't speak out, she really wanted to ask this imperial sister if she was embezzling money.
"Thank you, Empress Dowager, and thank you, Your Majesty." Qin Yizhen said, and then thanked Eunuch De. "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch De. Would you like to stay for a few cups of tea?"
"Thank you, Princess. I am thirsty, so I will have a cup of wine while I wait for everyone to put their things away."
"please."
Qin Yizhen invited Eunuch De inside and had freshly brewed tea and snacks served. After Eunuch De sat down, he clapped his hands, and a palace maid carrying a box came in and took out stacks of exquisite snacks from the box.
Eunuch De said, "The Empress Dowager saw that the princess liked these pastries from the Imperial Kitchen, so she ordered many more to be made today and sent them over as well, so that the princess and the ladies could also enjoy some fresh ones."
"Thank you, Empress Dowager." Everyone quickly expressed their gratitude upon hearing this.
Eunuch De raised his hand, signaling a eunuch to present a booklet to Qin Yizhen: "The Empress Dowager and His Majesty's rewards are all here. Please take a look, Princess."
"Your Majesty and Mother have gone to so much trouble." Qin Yizhen smiled, but also took the booklet and read it carefully.
The palace's rewards were not much different from those of previous years; they were all things for her to eat and use. For example, the fabrics included brocade, silk, and satin, as well as some furs. The quantity was not too large, but they were all extremely exquisite and fine, enough to make clothes for her for all four seasons with plenty to spare.
Food items were quite varied, including seasonal fruits, dried fruits, tea, wine, medicinal herbs and supplements, and spices.
The items used included several decorative pieces, several pieces of jewelry, as well as rouge, face powder, incense-making materials, and so on.
Looking at the list, Qin Yizhen thought in a daze that to be as successful as her must have accumulated good fortune for eight lifetimes.
Born a princess, she was supported by her husband and her family, and she also had her own salary and fief. Sometimes she really didn't know what she should strive to do.
"Your Majesty has gone to great lengths. Everything is useful. Eunuch De thanks Your Majesty on my behalf and said that I will visit her again in a few days. Please take care of your health and don't overwork yourself."
"If the princess has this intention, the Empress Dowager will surely be pleased."
"If there is nothing else, I will not disturb the princess and the ladies any longer. I will take my leave now. The Empress Dowager is waiting for me."
"In that case, please wait a moment, Eunuch. Granny Jin, please see me off."
Eunuch De came and went in a hurry, drank a cup of tea and then took his leave. Granny Jin saw the guest off on behalf of Qin Yizhen and gave Eunuch De and the accompanying eunuchs and maids the hard-earned money she had prepared in advance.
When Granny Jin returned, she saw a group of people gathered around a box looking at the fabrics bestowed by the palace that day.
Lady Changting pointed to a batch of red soft silk and said, "This princess looks beautiful in it, which makes her skin look as white as snow, just like a peony that is slowly blooming. She usually dresses more lightly in the house. I'm sure the Marquis would like it very much when he sees her."
This is truly someone who has no sense of propriety. Granny Jin shook her head, but in her heart, she thought it wouldn't be bad to make a few light and thin clothes. Who knows, the little master that Granny Gui is looking forward to might be here soon.
Qin Yizhen blushed slightly and said repeatedly, "I'll give you a horse so you can make a few outfits."
"No, no, no, the princess should stay. The Marquis has high standards. He won't even look at anyone who isn't as beautiful as the princess. My husband has no sense of taste. He thinks every woman is as beautiful as a sow. He doesn't know anything about these things."
Everyone burst into laughter, and the girls blushed as they listened.
A woman said, "What Lady Changting said isn't entirely true. It should be said that the Marquis has high standards and doesn't even look at princesses. As for your wife, even if a sow were as beautiful as Diao Chan, she would still have taken a liking to you, a sow."
Everyone laughed again.
Lady Changting pretended to be angry: "You, Xu Sanniang, I've always treated you like a sister, and you actually called me a sow."
"Hey, didn't you say that yourself? How can you blame me?"
"Why can't I blame you? Don't you know that there are some things I can say modestly, but others can't say? I said I'm a bit ugly, but you can't just say I'm ugly too, can you?"
Ah, this... this seems to make a lot of sense.
Qin Yi was delighted, watching everyone chatting and laughing, she felt very happy.
She thought she should indeed go out more, visiting this place today and meeting up at a teahouse or restaurant tomorrow; it seemed like a good idea.
Life is short, so we should always try to live it to the fullest.
Just past noon, everyone took their leave. Qin Yizhen presented each of them with a thank-you gift and had Hongying and Granny Jin escort them to the door.
Then she took a shower and took a nap.
After working so hard for so long, she was quite tired and fell asleep soon after lying down.
Before long, he drifted back into a dream.
However, today's dream was different from the usual one.
Springtime is in full bloom, and the light is shimmering.
She slept peacefully among the vibrant flowers of spring, and as the sun began to set and the sky was ablaze with sunset hues, he would return, walking step by step toward her.
Then, he said to her, "I'm taking you to see the lantern festival today..."