Chapter 81 Entering the Palace

Because of a trip to the Xishan Courtyard in the middle, when Zhen Tingyun returned to Zhen's house, it was late, and even Zhen's father had already returned.

Now that he has returned home, Zhen Tingyun, the daughter, naturally has to go to the main courtyard to greet his parents. She saluted, first brought the two packets of moon cakes she bought from the dim sum shop, and explained: "It's not worth much, it's just a carriage passing through Dongda Street. I saw that the dim sum shop was very lively, so I bought it. There are a lot of people, thinking it should be good, and it’s on the way, so I bought two bags of honoring father and mother.”

Zhen's father knew that he didn't have to take the East Street to go home from the Kyoto Women's School. Although these two bags were worthless, it was his daughter's heart after all. Father Zhen heard it in his heart. He couldn't help but smile and took it in person: "You child, you really have a heart."

Pei Shi was also rarely gentle, beckoned, and called Zhen Tingyun to come to her, holding her and looking at her carefully, but she looked a little distressed: "I look at you, but you are a little thin..."

Zhen Tingyun replied, "Don't worry, mother, it should be a bitter summer for me, I'll be fine when the weather is cooler."

But Mrs. Pei didn't listen, and sighed to herself: "Oh, you should pay attention to your health when you live in school alone. What did I tell you last time? This study still requires a combination of work and rest. Burn yourself out."

Zhen's father also echoed: "What your mother said is that in any case, the most important thing is your body."

Zhen Tingyun stood on the side, bowed his head in response, and didn't say much.

Pei Shiyuan was still thinking of having a good talk with her youngest daughter. After all, there is no need to be too unfamiliar with her mother and daughter. It's just that seeing her perfunctory appearance now, Mrs. Pei is still a little angry, pressing the fire, and reluctantly smiled: "If you don't care about yourself like this, my father and I will not be able to rest assured. It's not good, we will move back next year. Will you stay at home?"

But Zhen Tingyun shook his head, looking very earnest: "Don't worry, mother, I know what I know. My sister will graduate next year, and I can't talk about marriage. If I move back, I will share a yard with my sister, and my family will be There are a lot of other things to do, don’t you tire of your mother?”

Shi Pei frowned in displeasure, and her voice was a little stiff: "Okay, since you like to live in the school, then you can live."

Seeing that the mother and daughter were about to quarrel, Father Zhen quickly called his daughter to come to him, and asked her about her schoolwork these days, how she got along with her classmates in the women's school, and so on.

Compared with Pei's superficial concern, Zhen's father is obviously more concerned. He even knows that his daughter will have a joint entrance examination between the two schools in September, and Wen Sheng encouraged her: "You did very well in the test last time, this time As long as you don't fall in the rankings, you will be stable. Don't be too impatient. Most of the classmates in your school are four or five-year-olds who have to hold a pen and learn to calligraphy. The foundation is naturally more solid than yours. Shortcuts are not something that can be achieved overnight. As long as you are not impatient or discouraged, and study hard, you can always make progress. Even if it is slow and a little progress, you will be able to catch up with them one day. "

Zhen's father's words were good words, but Zhen Tingyun nodded his head when he heard it.

Zhen's father was even more relieved to see her so sensible. He wanted to say a few more words, looked at the sky, thought about it, and asked his daughter with concern: "By the way, you came back from school, but you had dinner. ?"

"It's not used yet." Zhen Tingyun shook her head - she went directly to the Xishan Courtyard after coming out of the women's school. After Yuan Hui came back to speak, she hurried back after giving away the moon cakes. She really had no time. have dinner.

Hearing this, Zhen's father was very distressed for a while, and he quickly ordered the kitchen to cook a bowl of noodles for her, and said to Zhen Tingyun: "There should be chicken soup in the kitchen at this moment, so it would be convenient to ask someone to cook a bowl of chicken soup noodles. You, you still need to eat some, drink some hot soup, so that your stomach will feel comfortable."

Zhen Tingyun could ignore Pei's hypocritical concern, but Zhen's father's concern, she hesitated for a while, and finally nodded in response.

Father Zhen couldn't help but raise his eyes again to look at his daughter standing in front of him.

I saw her standing upright, with black buns, white cheeks, only her face seemed tired.

Father Zhen's heart was a bit sour for some reason: if the eldest daughter came back so late and had not eaten, she would have to eat it first and then come to the main courtyard to ask for an apology, and she would have to pester them to act like a spoiled child. The youngest daughter has an honest and serious temperament. On the way back from the women's school, she has to make a detour to buy moon cakes for her parents. She has been rushing all the way.

It is said that children who cry have milk to eat. Sometimes parents are unavoidable to favor the child who can act like a spoiled child and talk, but it hurts to think about the honest child who is ignored occasionally.

Zhen's father cherished his young daughter's sensibleness in his heart, and would inevitably complain about his wife's carelessness. In the past, there was no need for Zhen's father to worry about such things. But when it came to the youngest daughter, the always thoughtful Mrs. Pei was a little careless - if she really cared, she would have cooked the food in the kitchen in advance, and now her daughter can eat it as soon as she comes back, and it doesn't cost much thing.

It's just that Father Zhen didn't want to argue with his wife about this. He didn't say much. He just asked his daughter to go back to rest first, and said with concern: "You just got off the car, so hurry back and rest. I'll ask someone to make the chicken soup later. Bring it to your house."

Zhen Tingyun nodded and stood up again to salute his parents.

Just as she was about to get up and go out, she paused and turned to look at Zhen's father, with a hesitant expression on her face: "Otherwise, Dad should ask someone to send the noodle soup to my grandmother's courtyard. I haven't been home for a long time, and I have to go. Greetings with grandma, maybe she will rest in grandma's courtyard tonight." Moreover, she also wanted to take the package of moon cakes she made to Mrs. Zhen on the way.

Father Zhen also agreed with this: "Alright."

Watching his daughter leave, Father Zhen caught a glimpse of Pei Shi's face out of the corner of his eyes, and frowned: "What's wrong with you?"

Just now, because of the food in the kitchen, he has endured it, but seeing Pei's face again at this time, it is inevitable that he will show some unhappiness.

Father Zhen's face was cold, and Mrs. Pei was also unhappy, and replied in a low voice, "I'm happy for the family - it's not a good thing that Sister Ting is so filial to her grandmother, grandson and grandson Hele."

"Jun Yuan, let's talk well, okay?" Father Zhen suppressed the fire and reasoned with his wife in a low voice, "In those days, it was you who kept Sister Ting in her hometown, and it was my mother who did her best to raise her. The relationship between grandparents and grandchildren for more than ten years, if sister Ting does not know filial piety, wouldn’t she be an ungrateful person?!”

As soon as he mentioned "that year", Mr. Pei felt that the evil fire in his heart could not be suppressed. Her eyes were also red, she bit her lip with her fine teeth, and choked out: "That is the daughter I gave birth, the flesh that fell from my body, was it the one I wanted to leave her behind? If not... if not for my mother I was so mean and made things difficult back then, how could I leave my own flesh and blood?"

"It's better now, you are all blaming me!" For her daughter's indifference and her husband's displeasure, Mrs. Pei couldn't understand, let alone accept it. She stared at Father Zhen with red eyes, and asked sharply, "Could it be that this is still my fault?!"

Seeing this, Father Zhen hurriedly took her shoulders and comforted her in a low voice, "Alright, alright, I made a blunder, don't be angry."

Hearing this, the tears in Pei's eyes couldn't hold back anymore, rustling down, choking and saying, "It's my fault, I shouldn't always think about those things back then..."

Zhen's father heard the words, his heart softened, and he quickly comforted him warmly.

It was so easy to coax Pei Shi to wipe away her tears. The couple talked on the couch for two nights, but they couldn't help but worry about their second daughter's marriage.

Speaking of which, Pei's heart is very longing for the high family of Yan Wang's mansion, but there are still some literati who are aloof, feeling that this marriage was not something that was rushed by her own family, but that Princess Yan herself took a fancy to her daughter. So, these days, she is also very good at it. She just pretends that there is no such thing. She neither speaks out nor takes the initiative to inquire about the meaning of King Yan's mansion. She just wants to wait at home for the next move of King Yan's mansion.

As a result, after waiting, there was no more movement from Prince Yan's mansion. After a long time, Mrs. Pei was also secretly impatient, and whispered to Zhen's father: "The last time Prince Yan's mansion sent Ruyilai, there was no movement, and I don't know what happened to Princess Yan. want."

Zhen's father is very stable: "This is not something that can be settled in a day or two, let's take a look."

Pei Shi couldn't help but say: "I'm worried that the princess valued Sister Ting on a whim, and wanted to go back and regret it. Wouldn't it delay Sister Ting."

Zhen's father comforted her: "Sister Ting won't get married until next year, so you should think about sister Yi first."

Speaking of Zhen Yiyun, Mrs. Pei sighed again, and felt that she had given birth to these two daughters without worrying about anyone: "You said that Yijie was smart and sensible since she was a child, and she has never been more worried, so why is it that this marriage is not a problem? It's so bad..."

Father Zhen didn't know how to respond to this, patted his wife's shoulder and said vaguely, "Okay, go to sleep."

*********

Empress Dowager Zheng's decree arrived at Zhen's house early the next morning.

As soon as this decree arrived, Mrs. Pei would no longer have to worry about it. She felt that Zhen Tingyun could be too empress to attend the palace banquet, and Princess Yan must have contributed to it-maybe, Princess Yan was thinking about attending the palace banquet directly. Please move the empress dowager to confer marriage.

Even Father Zhen thought so.

Only Zhen Tingyun was a little stunned - didn't the gentleman say that Princess Yan would not move anymore? That being the case, why did the queen mother ask her to attend the palace banquet?

However, there is only one day left until the palace banquet on August 15th, and there is really not much time for Zhen Tingyun to be confused. Although Mrs. Pei is happy, she has not forgotten the business, and hastily grabbed her daughter and asked, "Your daughters. What did you learn in the etiquette class, but did you learn the etiquette of the palace?"

Zhen Tingyun shook his head to indicate that he had not learned the rules of the palace yet.

At this time, Zhen Tingyun really regretted it - Yang Qionghua had told her about the palace banquet before, and he had specially reminded her to make preparations earlier. As a result, she didn't pay attention, and even if she was prepared at this time, she was afraid that it would be too late.

Mr. Pei was quite prepared for this answer, sighed in disappointment, and immediately cheered up, and said to Zhen Tingyun in a hurry: "The time is urgent, so I have to crawl and learn to deal with it first. I remember. Your aunt hired a maid from the palace for your third cousin earlier, but now I have to take you there first and ask that mama to catch up with the rules for you, at least tomorrow's palace banquet can't be missed."

Zhen Tingyun also knew the importance, and nodded his head at this time.

Mr. Pei turned his head and discussed a few words with Zhen's father. Only then did he prepare the carriage and take Zhen Tingyun to Pei's house.

At this time, Mrs. Pei hurried over with her daughter, and the Pei family was also surprised. Fortunately, when Mr. Pei told the matter, everyone could only be happy - it was a rare good thing to be named by the Queen Mother to attend the palace banquet.

Because of the certificate, Mrs. Pei was scolded by her father-in-law and taught by her husband. Even her son euphemistically said something to her, which made her very depressed. Fortunately, she used to be a smart person, so she was relieved at this time, and she didn't leave any grudges. At this time, she heard Pei's intention, so she held Zhen Tingyun's hand with a smile, and praised with a smile: "I just said, Sister Ting is a lucky child."

Pei Shi hurriedly said, "She's a child, and she still has a lot to learn. I'm really in a hurry today, so I came here with the cheeky face. Sister-in-law is fine."

"Family, how can I dislike this." Mrs. Pei just smiled.

Knowing that the time was in a hurry, there was no delay, so asked someone to invite the lady Li who came out of the palace to teach Zhen Tingyun the palace regulations.

Although Zhen Tingyun was a little nervous and worried, he had an idea in his heart. She was also very polite and calm to this Mammy Li. As soon as she met her, she bluntly stated her situation without any concealment: "I grew up in the country since I was a child, and I don't know the rules, but I only studied in a women's school for a few days. Etiquette, I haven't learned the rules of the palace yet. Now the empress dowager's grace has allowed me to attend the palace banquet tomorrow. I also know that I won't learn much in this day. Please tell me carefully, mammy, too.”

As soon as Mammy Li heard this, she knew that she was an open-hearted person - she went straight to the bottom, said her requirements, and asked for additional points. Mammy Li also liked her frankness, thinking that this young girl can attend the palace banquet at a young age, and she will have an indispensable future in the future. ."

After a pause, Mammy Li said again: "Kneeling, sitting, getting up, walking, talking, thanking and so on in this palace are all disciplined, only the girl is going to the palace banquet this time. It's fine as soon as you get over it, but I'm afraid it will be time-consuming and labor-intensive, and it will make the girl tired."

Zhen Tingyun hurriedly said, "Don't worry, mammy, when I was a child in the village, I did work when I was busy with farming. I can bear it." In fact, what she called "doing work" meant helping others Give me some water or something, but her body is indeed much stronger than the average girl.

Madam Li said everything she should have said, and without further delay, she immediately picked up the important thing and taught Zhen Tingyun.

On this day, Zhen Tingyun's lunch and dinner were all at Pei's house, or they were delivered directly to the house, listening to Li Ma's talk about the palace's affairs while eating.

Mammy Li was probably afraid of her nervousness, and she also briefly told her a few anecdotes about the emperor's harem, which was quite interesting.

After practicing like this for half a day, Mrs. Pei saw that her granddaughter was very tired, so she left her to rest at Pei's house and entered the palace together tomorrow - as a first-class official, Mrs. Pei was naturally able to enter the palace to participate in the palace banquet.

*********

Early the next morning, it was not yet dawn.

Mammy Li had already called Zhen Tingyun to get up, holding the cyan thin silk gauze skirt that was driven out yesterday, and came out and put it on for her.

This girl's family loves delicate and bright colors so much, Mammy Li was afraid that Zhen Tingyun would not like this cyan color, so she added another sentence: "The queen mother is amazingly beautiful, her skin is jade-white, and she loved red and purple in the past, especially her complexion. No one in the palace can compete with her. It was only because of the late emperor two years ago that the empress dowager changed into plain clothes. Today, for her birthday, she must change into bright clothes. less things."

Zhen Tingyun felt that he was just going to the scene to accompany him to the end of the table, but he didn't intend to be too high-profile, and smiled and took the cyan gauze skirt.

After washing, he asked someone to comb his hair and put on make-up, and Zhen Tingyun walked to the main courtyard of Pei's house to accompany Mrs. Pei, the grandmother, to have breakfast.

Mrs. Pei was also waiting for her, carefully looking at her newly dressed granddaughter, with a smile on her face: "Sit down, eat first."

Zhen Tingyun sat down as he said.

Although Pei Ge is now a minister, the Pei family's daily living expenses are not too extravagant, and breakfast is just some ordinary porridge and side dishes. Zhen Tingyun thought about entering the palace, and didn't dare to drink too much porridge, so he picked up a few hungry milk-flavored steamed buns and red bean steamed cakes to eat.

Seeing that she was eating deliciously, Mrs. Pei couldn't help showing a smile on her face: "It's still good for your children, and you have a good appetite. I have an appetite when you see what you eat."

Zhen Tingyun was always more patient with the old man, and hurriedly put a piece of tuckahoe cake for Mrs. Pei: "That's good, you should eat more."

Mrs. Pei ate it with a smile.

After saying a few words like this, the sky outside was getting brighter, and it was already a bit fish-mammed.

The car was ready, Zhen Tingyun helped Mrs. Pei to get up, and the two got into the car together.

Pei's carriage is quite spacious. Because Mrs. Pei is old, the carriage is specially covered with thick mattresses, which makes it extremely comfortable to sit on. It's just that Zhen Tingyun didn't dare to relax. He sat beside Madam Pei and asked some questions about the palace banquet. For such a palace banquet, Madam Pei must have gone back and forth a lot, compared to Madam Li. The palace servants who came out of the palace have their own knowledge.

In the end, she was her own granddaughter, and she was born like a daughter. Mrs. Pei didn't know how to hide her secrets, so she picked up the important things and told her, and comforted the tense granddaughter, saying softly, "You are still young, so There are one or two bad, and if you want to come to the Queen Mother, you won't care too much."

While talking, the carriage had already left the gate of Pei's house.

Because it was the 15th Mid-Autumn Festival and the Queen Mother's birthday, it was rare and lively. At this time, there were the hurried footsteps of pedestrians and the sound of people coming and going.

Zhen Tingyun leaned against the window, listening to the hustle and bustle of voices, he somehow relaxed, and his brows stretched slightly.

The carriage soon arrived at the gate of the palace, but there were other women who wanted to enter the palace ahead, and they still had to wait in the back. While waiting, Zhen Tingyun quietly opened a corner of the car curtain and glanced outside.

A few guards in armor stood at the gate of the palace in front, checking the cars entering the palace. And over the shoulders of the guards, you can see the tall and majestic palace gate, as well as the continuous and towering palace walls behind the palace gate, the scattered palaces, and the various colored glazed tiles above the palace.

The first ray of clear light in the morning folded into the palace city from the clouds and fell on the glazed tiles.

Like a stream hitting a rock, the morning light splashes, and every piece of glazed tile seems to be dyed with golden light.

Zhen Tingyun, who came from the countryside, had never seen such a magnificent place before, and he was stunned for a while.