"My son Ping'an caught a cold recently and it's not convenient for him to go out, please forgive him, brother and sister!" After finishing her tea, Qingjiang Junzhu handed over two gifts, explaining, "The things he wanted to give to his aunt, I brought them on his behalf."
Song Yi laughed and thanked him hastily, then asked about Zhuo Ping'an's health.
Qingjiang County Master smiled and said that she had already recovered, and also thanked her for her concern - after this big sister, it was the turn of Shou Chun Bo's couple.
Shouchun Bo Du Ruo was the same father and mother as Qingjiang Jun, with thick eyebrows and long eyes, white skin, a short beard under his chin, wearing ordinary clothes, looking like a silent and taciturn person. On the contrary, his wife Bai Shi, smiled before speaking, with sparkling eyes, although she was the mother of three children, she was still lively and refreshing.
The two of them finished giving their meeting gifts, and now it was Jian Yiyou's turn.
Song Yi Xiao had never seen this eldest son of the family, who was deeply favored by his grandfather - Jian Yi You was two years older than Jian Yu Bai, nineteen this year. The two brothers looked similar in appearance, with five or six points in common, but Jian Yu Bai was more delicate. However, Jian Yi You, dressed in a green shirt and jade crown, was still an uncommonly elegant young nobleman.
Especially a pair of phoenix eyes that are generally no different from those of Jian Yu, black as lacquer dots, deep as the sea, and bright to sharpness.
His attitude towards Jian Yu and Bai was lukewarm.
Neither pretending to be deeply affectionate nor cold as ice, there is a sense of dealing with official business.
After finishing the tea, he took out a gift and said in a calm tone: "I wish you a harmonious marriage, may your love last until old age."
It's all over then.
Jian Xubo obviously didn't have a good impression of his elder brother either, and responded perfunctorily. He casually tossed the gift his brother had given him onto Ji Su's body. If Ji Su hadn't reacted quickly, it would have fallen to the ground for sure.
This calm attitude fell in the eyes of everyone, Jian Yi still seemed to have not seen it, and said nothing; The first one, Jian Li Kuan's face sank, looked at Jin Guo Zhang Gong Zhu and didn't make a sound, only clenched the tea bowl in his hand.
"Sit down!" After serving tea to Jian Yiyou, Jian Xu Bai pulled his wife's arm and whispered to her to follow him to sit down in front of Jian Yiyou.
At this time, the half-big girl sitting at the end took over the lacquer tray handed by the servant and walked in front of them, with her long eyelashes drooping like butterfly wings, softly saying: "Fourth brother, fourth sister-in-law, please have some tea!"
Jian Xubai first handed a cup of tea to his wife, and then picked up another one himself. He introduced: "This is my mother's adopted daughter, surname Nie, name Wu Xiangyun, we all call her Fifth Sister."
"Good, fifth sister!" Song Yi smiled secretly congratulating herself for preparing two sets of gifts. After taking a sip of tea, she signaled Jin Xun to give one set to this "sworn sister". As for her mother-in-law, she really didn't know what to say: if it was just a sworn daughter, why include her in the ranking? And how could she attend the new daughter-in-law's tea ceremony?
Similarly, Pei You Rui, a female Long Gongzi, was nowhere to be seen!
Besides, this Nian Wu Yan's eyebrows and eyes may not be fully developed yet, but the outline can't help but reveal a shadow of the Eldest Princess!
"It's said that the Empress Dowager has kept several concubines in the palace..." As soon as this thought occurred to her, Song Yi hurriedly suppressed it. After all, the Eldest Princess was still her elder and had not been bad to her so far. She shouldn't be thinking such things about her.
It's just a little girl like this, and I don't know what attitude to take towards her - turning back can't help but ask Jian Xu Bai for advice.
After Nie Wu's dance, since Zhuo Ping'an hadn't arrived yet, the children of Shou Chun and her husband came to pay their respects to their aunt.
Shou Chun Bo and his wife now have two sons and two daughters, three legitimate children and one illegitimate child. However, the only ones who are present to pay their respects are their eldest son Dou Anjin and their eldest daughter Dou Anyi. Because the other two children are still in swaddling clothes and have not been feeling well lately, Bo Shi apologized on their behalf and did not bring them along.
Song Yi Xiao drank the tea that was presented to her, gave a gift, and praised them again. The two children retreated back to their parents' side with satisfaction. The Empress Dowager glanced at the sky and said: "Alright, since everyone in our household has met you, why don't you go visit your uncle now? He's alone anyway, and chatting with him for a bit won't delay anything. You can come back to the palace to thank us after paying respects to your uncle!"
The Empress Dowager personally issued a benevolent edict bestowing marriage, and after the wedding, they had to enter the palace to thank her.
Jian Xūbái responded with a sound, but didn't immediately leave. Instead, he politely bid farewell to his siblings and sister-in-law one by one. He even nodded at Niè Wǔyīng, the "adoptive younger sister", but didn't give Jian Líkōng or Jian Yíjù a single glance.
"This father-son, brotherly affection has become so estranged, it's definitely going to be a troublesome matter in the future!" Song Yi smiled coldly as she watched from the side, secretly feeling a headache. "For now, with Mother-in-law around, the status of the Eldest Princess is holding everything down, internally not afraid of Father-in-law taking sides, externally not afraid of people gossiping. But once Mother-in-law... passes away, Father-in-law can use just one word 'filial piety' to make Jian Yu's life difficult!"
She remembered that the eldest princess of Jin State was almost ten years older than Jian Bihe...
But for now, there are many things to attend to, so let's put this worry aside for the time being!
Song Yixiao made a mental note of it and didn't think much more about it, focusing on keeping up with her husband's footsteps.
Although Jian Yu Bai's departure was a blow to Jian Li Kou and Jian Yi You's face, it was clear that his own mood wasn't much better.
While walking on the road, he didn't show any expression, but as soon as he got into the carriage, his face suddenly turned gloomy!
"Third Uncle's health isn't great, Third Aunt passed away early from a difficult childbirth, and there are no children to take care of him. You should be more considerate in the future." The horse carriage had left the Long Princess's estate before his emotions calmed down slightly, and he spoke softly, "Third Uncle has always been fond of me."
Song Yixiao thought back to the first time they met, wasn't it when Jian Li Miao found the silk store and coaxed his nephew? A widowed uncle without children couldn't help but be extra fond of his nephews and nieces. Since Jian Li Miao was biased towards his eldest son, it's no wonder that Jian Yu Bai didn't care about his own father, but instead looked up to this uncle a lot. Before meeting him, he even specially reminded him.
She nodded solemnly: "I've taken note of it!"
Jian's residence was actually closer to the Yan State Duke's mansion than the Jin State Princess's mansion. It was a three-section, three-courtyard siheyuan with a simple and quiet atmosphere. Although he had just come from the spacious mansions of the national duke and princess, he didn't feel cramped here at all - mainly because the place wasn't big, there were fewer people, and it was a desolate and peaceful scene, so how could it be crowded?
"After Ah Q got married, he became a grown-up and should take on the responsibilities of a husband. He must not forget to be considerate of his wife in all matters and live a good life." Jian Li Mian was indeed not in good health, as soon as he entered the courtyard where he lived, he smelled a faint medicinal scent, the room that received his nephew and niece-in-law, although it had clearly been incensed with incense, but that medicinal fragrance still lingered, obviously having been steeped in medicinal fumes for a long time.
However, Song Yixiao had a good impression of him - not just because this uncle was extremely handsome: it wasn't the elegant and refined beauty of Jian Xunbai; nor was it the proud and arrogant demeanor of Ji Zifeng's kind; nor was it the calm and reserved nature of Yuan Xueshan.
He had sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His face was as white as jade, with a straight nose and thin lips. He wore a half-old stone-blue robe with a leather belt, leaning against the embroidered couch. Although his complexion was pale due to illness, he showed no signs of weakness or desolation, but instead exuded an air of elegance.
Different from Lu Guanlun's Duan Fang, his elegant and refined demeanor aside, he also has a kind of romantic and unrestrained charm that is reminiscent of the famous scholars of the previous dynasty, which makes people infatuated.
Most importantly, his eyes were bright and piercing like the stars on a cold night, but when looking at Jian Yu Bai or even Song Yi Xiao for the first time, they were filled with warmth. That kind of genuine affection was something that even seven-year-old Song Yi Xiao had rarely received from her own father, Song Yuan.
At that time, Song Yuan was also a lovely and only daughter, but what he focused on and cared about was his wife Wei Mengying.
"Third Uncle, you speak as if I would bully her." Jian Yu Bai was very relaxed in front of this uncle, having finished his tea and taken the gift. Upon hearing this, he smiled and complained, "It's probably me who gets bullied instead?"
Song Yi smiled awkwardly and pulled the corner of his mouth - Jian Xu Bai's words were indeed not false, but he didn't say them in front of his parents, and even dragged himself to act in the Jin State Long Gong Main House. Now that he was in front of this third uncle, let alone acting, it seemed like he was going to report a crime.
She couldn't help but look thoughtful.
Luckily, Jian Lai had already made up his mind to take his nephew's wife's side: "I think your wife is gentle and refined, how could she possibly bully you? Even if she really did bully you, as a wife, giving in a bit is also the right thing to do!"
"Take good care of your uncle from now on!" Song Yixiao smiled and narrowed her eyes after hearing this, although she knew that Jian Limo couldn't be more affectionate towards his newlywed niece-in-law than his nephew. But at least he had shown this attitude - and the influence he had over Jian Weibai was already apparent from their brief conversation earlier. Song Yixiao decided on the spot to try to curry favor with her uncle by flattering him.
Maybe it's even more effective than flattering the Princess of Jin State or the Empress Dowager.
Anyway, let her be more considerate of this person!
Jian Yu Bai didn't know that his joke would make his wife remember the favor of Empress Xiao for granting their marriage, which was not too late after all. He chatted with Jian Li Mei for a few sentences and then took his leave.
Next is entering the palace - it's very convenient to enter the palace, but since I paid respects to two elders in a row, by the time I arrived at Mingren Palace, it was almost mealtime.
Arriving late also has its advantages. That is, there isn't a single concubine left in the Qingxi Palace. After all, the Empress Dowager didn't leave any dinner, so who would dare to continue lingering in the palace at this hour?
So the couple just needs to give a big bow to the empress dowager and it's done.
The Empress Dowager had been looking forward to her grandson's wedding, so she was naturally delighted to accept their gifts and rewarded them with many things, also inviting them to stay for lunch.
Just as he finished speaking, a palace servant came in to report that Emperor Xian of Jin had arrived.
"It's been several days since I've seen Ah Xū." Emperor Xiǎn Jiā said as soon as he arrived, "I heard that he's going to bring his wife into the palace today to thank the emperor, so I came over to join in on the excitement."
He didn't come alone, he brought the prince along. The father and son looked very alike, which surprised Song Yi. Jian Yu Bai's appearance was actually similar to his uncle's. The three of them gathered together, all with elegant appearances, looking more like three brothers than an uncle, nephew and cousin.
Song Yi Xiao thought of the rumors that Emperor Xian Jia and his son were extremely fond of Jian Yu Bai, wondering if it had anything to do with her appearance. After all, most people like those who resemble themselves.
The emperor and the crown prince were both very generous with their gifts, and after receiving a big gift, they would reward them with a string of good things.
The prince also said: "In the future, if you have free time, you can often come to the East Palace with the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess is extremely fond of you."
Song Yi smiled to herself, thinking that the Crown Prince's consort had not even seen her before, how could she possibly like her? But since the Crown Prince said so, it was to give her face, and she naturally felt extremely grateful.
"You've come at just the right time. I had the small kitchen add some dishes especially for Ah Qiang and his wife." The Empress Dowager was delighted that her grandson was being treated with respect, so she let them chat for a while before saying, "Why don't you stay and join us?"
Xian Jia Emperor and the Crown Prince busied themselves thanking Empress Dowager Song Yi Xiao was still attending such a high-profile banquet for the first time in her life, although the Empress Dowager had prepared a family dinner, which wasn't extremely grand, but thinking that those present included the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Crown Prince, the most noble and respected people, except for the Empress, they were all there, she couldn't help but put on a spirited appearance.
He didn't know what to think, but he couldn't forget to show that he was a good husband who loved his wife: after the dish of golden jade steamed buns came up, he took a glance and said to the Empress Dowager, "Empress Grandmother, I don't like this, give it to our son instead!"
Shan Yi is the name Song Yiliao took before leaving the pavilion.
Song Yi's index finger moved greatly, just as she was about to stretch out her chopsticks: "……………………!!!!!!"