When Empress Dowager Meng left, Mrs. Xiang followed.
Though the Empress Dowager kindly asked the young ladies to enjoy themselves with the food despite her retirement, the girls stopped eating soon after she was gone.
The Fourteenth Miss Meng was the first to stop, wiping her lips with a napkin. Other ladies quickly followed suit. Soon, the hall servants brought tea for them to wash their mouths.
Chi Zuosi, who accompanied the Empress Dowager to retire, came back and said, "Your Ladyships have finished, too? Her Grace has ordered us to clear the side hall for your entertainment, is it good for you?"
The ladies all nodded. Chi Zuosi turned to Sheng Weiwu and smiled, "Her Grace has asked the Eighth Miss Sheng to join her in the warm pavilion, please come with me!"
Sheng Weiqiao was indeed worried, but she knew that she could not accompany Sheng Weiwu since she was not expected by Empress Dowager Meng, just like Madam Nan
After a while, the Twelfth Miss Meng clenched her hands, her face reddening. She could no longer suppress her anger and shouted, "It's Guicai! Again! Why?"The Thirteenth Miss Meng frowned so hard that veins could be seen on her forehead, her pretty face twisted. She threw her tea bowl aside, clenching her teeth, and said, "Is it enough?! I have drunk too many bowls of tea that my stomach is going to explode, but the five wooden pieces remain in your hand all along. Why can you keep getting Guicai?"Meng Guihuan consoled her, expressionlessly, "Don't be mad, sister. At least, we have touched the five wooden pieces once when it is our turn. Shuangxiao has gone to build a snowman with Yingjiang. She has sent maids here several times to check the hand. Now, she has given up and is determined to build four more snowmen. It seems that they are smarter. They knew that they would have no chance of playing, so they decided to enjoy themselves outside in the snow."
Sheng Weiqiao looked at that person unconsciously. He was a young man in his early twenties, with a golden crown and a jade hair clasp, dressed in purple sable fur. When he raised his hand, a piece of the duck-egg blue sleeves with dark embroidered lotus and chrysanthemum patterns could be seen. The slender and white knuckles were set off by the fur that seemed like jade decoration, shining brightly.He was taller than the average, probably the same as Sheng Shuihe. He stood straight like a bamboo in the snow, or green pine on the rock, which made him have to look down when talking with Chi Zuosi, and she could not see his face clearly.However, it could be told from the way he talked with Chi Zuosi that he was graceful, soothing and calm."Third Miss Sheng? What happened?" When Sheng Weiqiao was trying to guess who he was, Chi Zuosi found them standing there, so she nodded to that man apologetically and turned to them with surprise, "Isn't she
Maybe it was because Sheng Weiqiao was really lucky today, just like her luck in the Guicai. Even though Meng Guiyu noticed her embarrassment, he didn't doubt it but only spoke in a comforting tone, "Please don't misunderstand me, Third Miss Sheng! You were involved in what happened that day accidentally, which eased the situation for my sister more or less. I mention this just to express my gratitude to you, Third Miss Sheng!"After his words, Sheng Weiqiao still looked at him in confusion with vigilance in her eyes like a scared cat. Meng Guiyu was speechless and remembered that he saw the little girl on the Empress Dowager's knees when walking in Warm Pavilion, thinking that no wonder the Empress Dowager would treat the two girls differently. Girls as innocent as them are rare in the palace.After seeing lots of informed and interested girls like Huan Yehe, everyone would be interested in the sisters from Sheng Family.So Meng Guiyu met Shen
Meng Boheng ranked the eighth in Meng Family and the second child in the eldest branch.He had four sisters from the wife and concubines of his father and they all had married. The huge difference between their age and their blood relationship determined that they would not be close to him or intervene in the family business. However, he only had one elder brother, Meng Boqin, who was the Young Lord from the wife of Zheng Guogong. He also had two sisters, Meng Bijun, Fourteenth Miss Meng from the same mother, and Meng Lijiang, Fifteenth Miss Meng from Aunt Jiaoyu. He also had one brother from the concubine Aunt Jiaoyu, who was the youngest child in Meng Family, Tenth Childe, Meng Sian.The past wife of Zheng Guogong, Madam Zhong, died in childbirth for Meng Boqin, and Zheng Guogong had never married others since then until Emperor Xuanjing ascended the throne and Empress Dowager Meng took revenge on Noble Consort Rou. When all the events ended, Empress Dowa
Without entering the palace, Meng Guiyu only had Sheng Weiqiao help him to call Meng Guihuan out. He was still in marten coat, standing in the wind gap on purpose and blocking the cold wind for his sister, and said gently, "Tell Third Miss Sheng that Eldest Aunt doubted that Sheng Family was suspectable in the case of Bishui County. Fortunately, I heard that the imperial doctor was called in Xin Shou Palace and had a chance to visit there. So I voted down against Eldest Aunt's thoughts before Her Grace.""But you know about our aunt. I convinced her this time by coincidence, while she might be persuaded again when Eldest Aunt talks about it again and I'm not with her. There is nothing I can do then!"Meng Guihuan was surprised, "How did Eldest Aunt have the suspect on Sheng Family?! Sheng Family had always stayed in Nanfeng County, and they're only a rich family. They could never do something like the case of Bishui County. What's more, they didn't know Eig
Meng Guiyu's idea wasn't bad. Shortly after being dragged to a corner and hearing about Madam Xiang's scheme, flustered, Sheng Weiqiao changed her face and said, "Why does she suspect us?! It's... It's too..."Meng Guihuan tried to reassure her, "According to Sixth Brother, our Eldest Aunt is tempted by your property. She's hatching a plan to make you my Eighth Brother's concubine!"Meng Guihuan talked out Meng Guiyu's surmise to her, leaving out the part of Empress Dowager Meng's intention of matching Meng Guiyu with Sheng Weiqiao, and then she heaved a sigh, "It's good that Sixth Brother happened to be there and justified your family. But I fear that Eldest Aunt won't give up and will propose it again to Her Grace. As you know, Her Grace isn't as vigorous as she used to be. She can easily be convinced if someone keeps drumming something into her head! Thus, Eldest Brother debated about it and believes it's best to tell you so that you can get prepared for
Sheng Shuihe shepherded Sheng Weiqiao to the study and beckoned the servants to back away. He poured two cups of tea, and Sheng Weiqiao uttered urgently before he settled the teapot, "Brother, Meng Family are likely to have learned about the mastermind behind Bishui County Incident and find the evidence!""Impossible!" Sheng Shuihe denied it without blinking his eyes, "Huan Family worked for the government before Mr. Huan distinguished himself in the imperial court! And after that, Bishui County completely became Huan Family's territory. Everything there is under their control! Mr. Huan was a prestigious man who had served two emperors. He valued the image of his family and didn't allow his offspring to work for the government because they weren't qualified enough. Though Huan Family's members were left to conduct reading and farming only at home, Huan Family's authority in Bishui County was consolidated as well!""Mr. Huan has been missing for merely twelv
Hearing this, Sheng Weiqiao immediately refuted, "Brother, here is Chang'an! Gaomi King and Madam Meng have been here for decades. We just arrived here. If you acted recklessly, they might find some clues and be against us!""Don't worry. Meng Bopeng was seriously injured. He was still being cured in Bishui County. He will arrive in Chang'an when recovering." Sheng Shuihe said with a smile, "People arranged by me stayed in Bishui County, and there were people from Huan Family cooperating with me. There would be no mistakes."He added, "Furthermore, people of Huan Family were not fools. Unless they were sure that there would be no flaws found out, they would stop me for their safety! If they agreed with me on that, they must have much confidence!"Seeing that Sheng Weiqiao seemed to say more, Sheng Shuihe changed the topic with eyes flickering, "By the way, although what the fourth branch of Meng Family told may not be true, he really told us go