Chapter 83:
Xu knew that Mingtan had already started to receive guests. The next day, Empress Zhang sent someone to the Dingbei Palace to spread the word, saying that the green chrysanthemum was newly cultivated in the palace this year, and it bloomed just right recently, and invited her to the palace to enjoy the flowers together. .
Ming Tan readily agreed.
This green chrysanthemum took a lot of effort to cultivate. After Ming Tan entered the Dingbei Palace, people have been carefully cultivating it, but this matter can't be rushed. This year, the ones grown in the mansion are only light green at the edges.
"After all, the gardeners in the palace are more proficient in this way. In addition to the green clouds and green peonies, these ink lotuses, handsome flags, and jade pot springs are also in full bloom. Especially this phoenix vibrating feathers is really dazzling According to the courtiers and concubines, they are the most suitable for the empress." Ming Tan praised with a smile.
"It seems that the concubine is someone who understands chrysanthemums." Empress Zhang couldn't help but bent her lips, held Ming Tan's hand, patted it, and said in a gentle voice, "I haven't seen you for a long time after I left Yongchun Garden. Ben Gong is watching, You have lost a lot, but take good care of yourself."
"Yes, thank you Empress for your concern."
Empress Zhang said again: "If you like these chrysanthemums, how about picking some good ones of each and sending them to Dingbei Palace?"
"Thank you, Empress, for your kindness," Ming Tan said respectfully, "It's just that the concubine thinks that these chrysanthemums are the most beautiful when they are arranged in clusters of flowers. For no reason, some of them have been moved to the palace, and the others are a little lonely. It is extremely satisfying to get those two handsome flags."
There are only so many flowers in the imperial garden, if she scoops up a few pots of each of them, there may not be many left, how can the emperor use them to reward other concubines?
After becoming Princess Dingbei, she gradually learned about many things in the palace. It turns out that even flowers in the palace have a fixed number, and what rare species you get in any season is a symbol of the status of the concubines in each palace. She still does not take people away. The good is good, after all, the Dingbei Palace does not lack these three or two potted flowers, and if the queen really wants to pick some of each kind for her, she will not ask "how".
Empress Zhang nodded, and the smile deepened on her lips.
This Princess Dingbei is indeed showing a degree of advance and retreat that is hard to see.
"That's fine, King Dingbei is a rare talent for a general, and the handsome flag is a perfect match for him. Come and send those two pots of handsome flags to Dingbei Prince's Mansion."
I don't know what came to mind, Empress Zhang raised her hand and pointed forward again, and ordered: "The two pots of jade pot spring, send them to the Duke Chang's mansion."
Bai Minmin, who had been standing next to the empress for a rare time, hurriedly saluted and said: "Thank you, empress, for your kindness."
The queen also smiled at her gently: "Don't be nervous, just treat it as visiting your own garden."
Bai Minmin said "yes" on her lips, but her palms couldn't help sweating.
In the past few times the queen had called her mother into the palace, but this time she was called into the palace without saying hello, she didn't even have time to prepare her clothes, how could she not be nervous! Fortunately, Ming Tan was here today, so she felt a little more at ease.
Compared with Bai Minmin, Ming Tan is better at dealing with these false rituals, and has entered the palace more times, and now he is even more at ease.
She thought it was quite funny to see Bai Minmin Ansheng being honest for a while, and joked: "It's rare to see my cousin as obedient as she is today. I think it's because I was overwhelmed by the empress's majestic demeanor."
Bai Minmin couldn't help but glared at her, the queen's eyes moved over, and she immediately lowered her head, looking at her nose, nose and heart, like a quail.
The queen bent her lips and smiled slightly: "Minmin is lively, seeing Ben Gong for the first time today, I am nervous, and I will be more diligent in the future, so I won't be too formal."
Zhang Huaiyu had identified the girl from the Duke of Chang's mansion. She was not very satisfied when she first heard that the girl had a wild temper, but after thinking about it carefully, she felt that the emperor's words of reassurance made sense.
Zhang Taishi's granddaughter had been seeing each other for a full year before finally making a decision. She thought she was a decent, decent, dignified and quiet girl, but she turned out to be an unruly girl!
After the accident, she was afraid that the **** from the Bu family would force her to insult the girl's innocence, so she asked someone to investigate carefully, but the girl from the Zhang family was not at all unwilling, and was bewildered by the blandishments of the **** from the Bu family. Yes, after the incident, he begged Grand Master Zhang hard to save his lover, and almost killed Grand Master Zhang from anger.
Although this girl from the Bai family was a bit out of touch, her family background was not bad, and Zhang Huaiyu liked it... She thought about it, but it wasn't impossible.
With a queen like her in the Zhang family, it is inevitable that the relatives' monopoly will fall into the limelight. His father has always only led the rich and idle, and Zhang Huaiyu will inherit the title in the future.
Of course, Zhang Huaiyu didn't have much sharpness to show at first, and he didn't care much about becoming an official, but he was diligent in thinking about idle things.
According to his temperament, if he can marry a girl he likes and live a prosperous and peaceful life, there is nothing to stop her as a sister.
Thinking of this, she took Bai Minmin's hand again, and patted it lightly: "Come on, sit with me, I'm tired from walking."
"Yes, empress."
Bai Minmin and Ming Tan accompanied Queen Zhang to sit in the gazebo in the garden. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Ming Tan asked Queen Zhang to donate useless things and sell them for silver, so as to provide some winter supplies for the people in the bitter cold land. thing.
Empress Zhang thought for a while, then smiled and said: "This is a good idea. The officials in the capital have always liked extravagance, but the country is prosperous and the people are safe. It will only be counterproductive to force everyone to be frugal, but if you just donate some useless old things, I think everyone will be happy."
Bai Minmin also took the initiative to say something: "I feel that this useless old thing should also be determined in terms of quality and type. After all, donating is not about picking up rags, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to sell if it is too shabby..." After finishing speaking, Bai Minmin hurriedly made up for it. Said, "This is just a humble opinion of the courtiers. If you say something wrong, don't take it to heart, empress."
"How can you not take it to heart?" Empress Zhang said with satisfaction, "I think Minmin's words are very reasonable."
Ming Tan also looked at the opportunity like Wang Po selling melons and boasted: "Yes, although my cousin is lively, she is always smart and careful, and can often think of things that others can't think of."
Bai Minmin was a little embarrassed by the praise, but she seemed to be encouraged, and then she took the initiative to say some opinions that came to her mind, and Ming Tan helped to make up for anything that was not thoughtful.
This kind of thing of sitting and collecting fame can be said to be beneficial to Empress Zhang without any harm. She listened carefully and thought it was very feasible. Finally, she picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea, then calmed down slowly.
"Since that's the case, I will hold a tea party in a few days and invite a few imperial wives to tell everyone about it. As for the sale of donated goods, the idea was suggested by the princess, and Minmin also has some ideas. , let the princess be in charge, and Minmin assist from the side, how about it?"
The two looked at each other, and hurriedly Qi Fu took the order.
When talking to a smart person, many things can feel comfortable with each other without having to explain too clearly.
Empress Zhang got such an idea of ??reaping fame, and she didn't feel at ease to monopolize it, but delegated power to Ming Tan for supervision.
It is true that Ming Tan didn't intend to gain fame through this matter, but she sincerely wanted to do it herself, and she was very grateful that the queen could make her wish come true.
Asking Bai Minmin to assist her, the empress obviously had thoughtful considerations. As an unmarried girl, it would be a good thing for her and her future husband's family to gain more fame.
Moreover, doing this kind of thing can clearly see a person's character and ability. No matter how lively the wife of the prince of the Pingguo government is, she can't even have the ability to control the middle class.
The matter was settled, and it was getting late, Ming Tan and Bai Minmin got up to leave.
The palace is not a place to talk, even though Bai Minmin had a lot to say, she still held back her painstakingly and left the palace with Ming Tan peacefully.
It's just that outside the Hongyong Gate, the two of them met Jiagui's sedan chair.
Bai Minmin has no official orders, she is just a lady of the official family, she should salute when she sees the concubines in the palace.
It's just that she was confused for a moment, seeing that the concubines on the sedan chair were wearing palace attire that should be below Shuyi's uniform, but they were riding in the sedan chair...
Before she entered the palace, her mother invited someone to specially teach her that only Shuyi and above are eligible to ride in a sedan chair in the palace, so what is the status of this palace concubine? Up and down, the etiquette is different.
When she was confused, Mrs. Jia stopped the sedan chair, clutched her pregnant belly, condescendingly looked down at the people with the end of her eyes and said, "Who is this, who is not polite when he sees the palace sedan chair?"
Bai Minmin hurriedly wanted to squat down according to the etiquette above Shuyi, but Ming Tan stopped her without a trace, and said with a smile: "Jia Shuyi has been reset, congratulations."
"you!"
This Princess Dingbei will never end! It's not enough to cause her to be degraded, now what pot is not opened and which pot is lifted!
Seeing that the month is getting older now, it is said that her child is guaranteed to be a little prince, and the emperor has also calmed down on her recently, released her confinement, and granted her permission to ride in a sedan chair, but this part has been delayed. complex!
She was still jealous of King Dingbei in her heart, but she didn't dare to make trouble anymore, she just turned to look at Bai Minmin, and asked again: "Who are you? Why are you so rude when you see me, do you understand the rules!"
Ming Tan was about to speak, but he saw a handsome young man in a crimson brocade suit outside the Hongyong Gate waving a folding fan, and said in a dawdly way: "Which palace do I think I am, my noble lady, you really understand that you are one of my own palaces." Very well behaved."
The position of Shuyi is like a moat. If you go up, you can take a sedan chair, and you can call yourself your own palace, and if you go down——
An exception can be made for the sedan chair, but this claim does not make an exception. Mrs. Jia is still stuck in Shuyi's scenery and unable to get out, and she is pregnant, and no one is serious with her on weekdays.
Seeing the person coming, Mrs. Jia held his breath in his chest, unable to get up or down.
Okay, here comes another one I can't afford to mess with.
If you can't provoke her, you can't hide from her!
She bit her lip and said angrily, "Let's go!"