Chapter 427： Oversight

Fast to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Ying Bao and A Niang put on light clothes and took a group of palace maids and maids to watch the lanterns.

Wei Xiuxiu, who was holding her daughter in her arms, walked among the crowd with everyone.

She and her daughter Wenzhu were well fed and well clothed at the Jiang family. Their health quickly recovered and they looked much younger.

“Aniang, you look good!” Wenzhu put his arm around Wei Xiuxiu’s neck and pointed to the lanterns by the roadside with one hand.

Wei Xiuxiu smiled and nodded: "Whichever one you like, my mother will buy you one."

The county boss and Anren are very accommodating. During the Chinese New Year, they even gave her an extra red envelope, totaling ten taels, which they said was New Year's money for Wenzhu.

Wei Xiuxiu plans to buy a rabbit lantern for her daughter to make her happy.

Wenzhu retracted his hand and whispered: "If you don't want to buy it, let's save the money and provide for my mother-in-law in the future."

Wei Xiuxiu kissed her daughter's face and said, "It's still early for Aniang to take care of herself in old age. The lanterns are not expensive. If Azhu likes one, buy one and you can light it up at night."

Wenzhu nodded and looked carefully to both sides.

There are various colored lanterns hanging under the eaves of the shops on both sides, emitting a warm light, including glazed palace lanterns, lotus lanterns, revolving lanterns, white elephant lanterns and crab lanterns.

There are also toad lanterns, official puppet lanterns, carp lanterns, crane lanterns, peacock lanterns, mandarin duck lanterns, cow lanterns, and sheep lanterns, which can be described as diverse.

In front of merchants’ shops, a long string of crab lanterns and square-hole money lanterns are hung, which means that wealth will come from all directions and the world will be prosperous.

Yingbao and Aniang walked and looked around, and finally stopped in front of their shop.

This three-bedroom shop with two floors above and below cost her more than two thousand taels of silver to buy. Now it is run by her second cousin, who temporarily sells four-season potted plants.

When the price of potted plants dropped in spring and summer, I asked my second cousin to set aside a room to sell specialties from Qinchuan County.

Or it would be good to open a rouge powder shop, and then the second uncle Yanru can take care of it.

Yanru can make rouge powder, which means she is very experienced in this area and it should not be difficult to make it.

With his own backing, I understand that those old rouge powder shops would not dare to make small moves in private.

“Third Aunt, Yingbao, you go upstairs, I’m ready.”

Jiang Quan stood at the door and said with a smile: "Some people from the tour will come over later, so we can sit upstairs to watch."

 Ying Bao nodded and took A Niang and the maids up to the second floor.

The second floor is quite spacious, with tables and chairs placed near the window for easy sitting and viewing.

The second cousin also asked the servant to make almond tea, and lit many lamps to illuminate the upstairs.

There are also more than a dozen lanterns hanging under the eaves of the corridor downstairs, as well as a dozen pieces of colorful silk. On the colorful silk, there are yellow paper strips with riddles written on them for people who come to watch the lanterns to guess. Those who guess the correct answer can receive corresponding prizes.

Ying Bao gave a very generous reward. She said to the palace maids and maids beside her: "You also have to guess, and the one who guesses correctly will receive the prize."

Among these prizes, the lowest prize is three colored candy balls, followed by five colored candy balls, then ten candies, a silk flower, a lantern, etc. The best first prize is a pair of silver bead flowers. Worth five taels of silver.

These rewards are all written on a large piece of red paper and posted at the door of the store to attract customers.

The maids and palace maids couldn’t help but cheered when the county master asked them to play. After a few blessings, they ran downstairs and laughed and watched the lantern riddles.

Mudan and Meixiang did not go down, but stayed quietly beside the county lord.

Xinghua and Pearl Amber can recognize a lot of characters under the supervision of Yingbao, and can barely understand the riddles on the lantern riddles. However, there are only two literate people in the palace, and the rest can just watch the fun.

But whether they are illiterate or not, this group of flowery girls standing under the lanterns at the door of the store is a beautiful scenery, which quickly attracts many young people to gather around.

Jiang Quan asked a few servants to watch over him and not allow anyone to take advantage of his maid.

Wei Xiuxiu also held her daughter to guess lantern riddles, and she got several of them right, but they were all candies.

Wenzhu happily took off the yellow note that Aniang had guessed and handed it to the servant responsible for distributing the reward. This servant is an official slave named Xiong Shan. He is about thirty years old and is a healthy servant assigned to Jiang Jie by the imperial court.

"Uncle Xiong, my mother-in-law has guessed correctly again. The answer is Lixia, do you think it is correct?" Wenzhu smiled at Xiong Shan with his eyes bent.

Xiong Shan took over and checked the answer.

Yu became king (beating a solar term), the answer is indeed the beginning of summer.

“Yes, I’ll give you a prize right now.” Xiong Shan counted out five candies and gave them to Wenzhu.

Wenzhu was so happy that she stuffed all the candies into her little bag.

“Auntie, my bag can no longer hold it.” Wenzhu said while nestling in Wei Xiuxiu’s arms.

Wei Xiuxiu hugged her daughter and smiled and said, "Then let's stop guessing and go buy lanterns."

"OK."

Xiong Shan raised his eyes to look at the mother and daughter, and suddenly said: "I happen to have a rabbit lantern here, give it to you."

As he spoke, he took out a small colored rabbit lantern from behind his back, which was just right for a child as big as Wenzhu to carry.

Wenzhu cheered and took it happily: "It looks good, thank you Uncle Xiong."

Wei Xiuxiu felt a little sorry and asked: "How much does the lantern cost?"

Xiong Shan: "I gave it to Wenzhu for free."

“How is this so funny?”

"It's not worth it for children to play with. You even made clothes for me." Xiong Shan raised his eyes and looked at Wei Xiuxiu: "Xiuxiu, it's not easy for you to take care of your children. If you have any difficulties in the future, just tell me. If you can help, I will definitely help you.”

Wei Xiuxiu blushed and nodded slightly.

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the street, and the sound of gongs and drums was heard.

A group of shirtless men were holding dragon lanterns and waving them incessantly. From a distance, the lantern dragons seemed to be alive, swimming with teeth and claws.

Behind the swimming dragon held by more than a dozen people, dozens more people held various koi lanterns, dancing and singing as they walked: "The jade mirror of the first month shines on the emperor's stage, heroic songs and drums rush to celebrate, the carp and golden dragon come down to earth, It will prolong your life for thousands of years."

The dragon dance team was followed by many dancers and musicians, and there were also people dressed up as various characters, such as Zhong Kui, Xiang Liu, the God of Wealth, the Goddess, etc., dancing as they walked.

These processions would walk twice around the Duanmen on the other side of the imperial city, performing for the emperor and his concubines on the Xuande Tower.

Ying Bao waited for the dragon dance team to pass by before he and Aniang came downstairs.

When she passed by Xiong Shan, she glanced at him.

This man has a serious face and a strong body, which matches Wei Xiuxiu.

Alas, I have neglected the life-long affairs of the servants and maids at home.

Especially the four maids assigned to him by the emperor and Jiang Jie's two servants are quite old.

Just like Mei Xiang, she must be nineteen this year, Lan Xiang is also eighteen or nineteen, and she should have gotten married long ago.

But what kind of family should you find for them that can match them?

.

But Yingbao couldn't just let them go, because they were sent by the emperor, and maybe they were the emperor's spies.

How about going back and asking Mei Xiang if they want to get married.

If they have that intention, you can help them find a son-in-law.