Chapter 31：

Zhilan Academy.

The wives talked together about their parents' shortcomings, while the unmarried young ladies drank tea and admired the flowers and chatted about interesting things.

Seeing Pei Lingbi coming, everyone asked for a salute.

Pei Lingbi is a royal princess, who is proud and arrogant. There are still a bunch of people around her, holding her, and changing the way to praise her.

Pei Lingbi also enjoyed the feeling of being held up by others, and after a few greetings with them, he turned Yingying's gaze to Zhou Muyan, who was wearing a light-colored white gauze.

A smile flashed in her eyes, but her mouth was surprised and concerned, "Oh, sister Muyan, you are here too? I heard you say that you have spring ringworm, how is it better now?"

Zhou Muyan's expression was a little subtle, she lowered her eyes and replied, "Thank you for your cousin's concern, it's better."

"That's good, I heard my mother talk about it before, I really worry about you." Pei Lingbi stepped forward and took her hand, staring at her thick powder, but she still could see the lightness. His face with red scars and his heart hurt were not healed, so he rushed out to join in the fun, really can't stop.

A pair of cousins ​​chatted with you. From the outside, they only think that their cousins ​​have a really good relationship, which is enviable.

Pei Lingbi knew about the conflict between Zhou Muyan and Tao Ti. Now, when she sees Zhou Muyan, she pretends to be a gentle consolation, "The princess has always been a bad match, not to say it is to you, it is to me. , She is also that vulgar, rude and arrogant faction."

"Ah, she treats you the same way?" Zhou Muyan exaggeratedly exclaimed.

Pei Lingbi nodded and sighed, "Oh, it's really a poor prince brother. It's really bad luck to marry such a woman."

The voices of the two of them were not light or heavy, but they were just good enough to be heard by the people around them.

All the ladies have also seen Tao Ti of Yongweihou Mansion before. In their impression, she is a woman who "looks pretty good, but restrained and speaks less, and is boring." If she hadn't signed a marriage contract with the prince since she was a child, she would be unworthy of being a prince with such kind of character and talent.

The prince Pei Yanjun is beautiful and unrequited, but he is frail and sickly and has a short lifespan. In the eyes of the noble ladies, Pei Yan is like a bright and gentle moon. Most of them have a kind of admiration for him that "can only be seen from a distance and not be ridiculed."

They might not want to marry him, but even less willing to see mediocre women like Tao Ti marry him.

Such a woman with the prince, it is simply a tarnish to the prince!

Now that I heard the words of Pei Lingbi and Zhou Muyan with my own ears, the ladies couldn't help but step forward and asked, "Is the prince really so rude and arrogant?"

That's what Pei Lingbi was waiting for, and immediately put on a helpless sigh, and began to count the various things that came up and down Tao Ti.

Zhou Muyan was also helping her, wishing to defeat Tao Ti's reputation as badly as possible!

"Hey, a person like the prince who has a good moon and breeze married such a woman. It's really a bright moon shining on the ditch!" The Huang family sighed and turned to look at Song Yuning who was sitting on the side who was silent." Yu Ning, why are you not talking?"

Song Yuning is wearing a pale willow dress today, with a slender waist, like a soft and affectionate willow branch.

Hearing what her companion said, she raised her eyes and glanced at Pei Lingbi and the others, took up the veil to cover her lips, and said in a low voice, "The second princess's words are somewhat true or false, I will not comment on that. Just say that Zhou Muyan. What I said was completely nonsense! What was it like in Tianyi Pavilion that time, we two saw it with our own eyes, Zhou Muyan was completely turning black and white."

Girl Huang frowned and looked at Song Yuning weirdly, and muttered, "Yu Ning, this princess has robbed your sweetheart, why are you still standing by her side..."

Song Yuning's face turned pale, her brows became tighter, and she shook her head.

Miss Huang was only supposed to poke her sad, she closed her mouth angrily and didn't say more.

But Pei Lingbi was making trouble again. It was Xu Wenchan who couldn't hold back anymore and couldn't help refuting—

"The prince is not what you said!"

"She has a good temperament and treats others generously. Everyone in the East Palace respects her. The fifth prince and the sixth princess regard her as relatives. As for the prince, he has nothing to say about the prince. !"

She has a loud voice and a bit of emotional rush. After talking about this call, the bottom of her neck is red, and her chest is still a little bit wheezy.

All the ladies were silent for a while.

When he came back to his senses, the beautiful faces with heavy makeup or light makeup showed a scornful smile.

They usually look down on Xu Wenchan, but now they hear that an unlearned straw bale excuses another mediocre and lonely straw bale, and they just feel amused.

"It's really like gathering people and dividing people into groups." Pei Lingbi evoked a sarcastic smile.

Immediately, the ladies laughed together.

Xu Wenchan's face rose even more red, and there were tears in her round eyes, and her fists were clenched tightly. She really wanted to rush up and punch them in their faces.

At this moment, the housekeeper’s wife walked in quickly and walked straight to the concubine Yu Wang Shizi, and reported, "The concubine, the concubine sent the servants and maids to spread the word, saying that the prince and the concubine’s carriage has entered the lane, and the concubine You greet everyone with you."

When the concubine of the world heard this, she quickly got up and walked out.

The rest of the ladies and ladies naturally did not dare to delay, followed behind and greeted them at the door together.

Pei Lingbi whispered as he walked, "Come here, and make such a big show."

"Who calls the prince the prince?" Zhou Muyan stepped forward and bit her ear, "When Brother Changzhou becomes the prince, sister Bi, as the prince's sister, naturally you will have such a pomp."

Pei Lingbi, who was talking about this, felt comfortable, raised his chin and snorted, "Yes."

Let’s say that the gate of Prince Yu’s Mansion was open, Prince Yu and his concubine stood at the door to greet each other, and the rest of the guests stood side by side.

I saw four pairs of red eunuchs riding horses at the beginning of Fangjian Street. Then there were those holding incense sticks, some holding golden umbrellas with cranks, and some holding "Evasion" signs. After that, there was a golden top. The wagon with canopy and green curtains came slowly.

The crowd hurriedly bowed to salute until the carriage stopped at the gate, and the prince's majestic and gentle voice came, "You don't need to be polite."

At this time, everyone straightened up.

When they saw the hands of the prince and the prince concubine tightly together, a flash of surprise flashed in everyone's eyes.

Suddenly seeing so many strangers, the fearful Tao Ti became a little nervous.

As if feeling her restraint, Pei Yan gently squeezed her fingers, lowered her head slightly, and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "It's okay, there's loneliness."

Hearing this, Tao Ti was inexplicably stable, and nodded at him.

The subtle movements of the two of them fell in the eyes of others, and they were all amazed-isn't it that the princess has been unwilling to marry into the East Palace, and the relationship with the prince is very at odds? But now it seems that the two are in a very good relationship.

Pei Yan took Tao Ti's hand and exchanged a few words with Yu Wang Shizi and Shizi concubine, and then went to the mansion together.

After sitting in the main hall for a while, drinking half a cup of tea, the concubine Shizi got up and led Tao Ti to play with the female family.

Pei Yan looked at Tao Ti and asked with his eyes: Can you handle it by yourself?

Tao Ti nodded at him and smiled back: yes.

She originally thought that she didn't have anyone familiar with her in this mansion, but she saw Xu Wenchan in the crowd just now, and she suddenly felt a sense of dependence in finding a companion.

Of course, she is now a guest at someone's house, and she still has to have a good chat with the concubine Shizi and other wives.

In fact, she didn't need to say much, she just sat in the seat with peace of mind and listened to the praise and praise from the people around her.

Before Tao Ti came, Pei Lingbi was the most valuable female family in this hall, but after Tao Ti came, she, the princess, the princess Pei Lingbi properly.

When greeted at the door at the beginning, the ladies didn't dare to look up, but now in this backyard, the ladies couldn't help but secretly look at Tao Ti who was sitting above them.

Today, Tao Ti is wearing a honey-colored finely shredded witch hazel pattern brocade dress, underneath it is a brown silk thread skirt, revealing a pair of small gold embroidered double lotus shoes, embroidered shoes are also dotted with two pointed toe. An Dongzhu the size of a thumb, this Dongzhu was given by Xu Wenchan. The little fat girl has always treated her friends generously. She gave Tao Ti a lot of Dendrobium beads last cold food festival.

After seeing her clothes, everyone went to see her bun and makeup.

The hair bun is a very common concentric bun, with two pearl silk flowers on the sideburns, and an eight-treasure bead and flying bird hairpin obliquely inserted. The pendant hanging by the ear is also silk-wrapped and inlaid with beads, and on the slender and white neck is a string of brilliant white southern beads. Those southern pearls were round and crystal-clear, worn on her body, elegant and decent without losing dignity, on the contrary, they made her skin crystal clear and white, and the whole person seemed to be coated with a layer of silvery white soft light.

Her makeup is not strong, she has far-reaching eyebrows, her smiling eyes are bright, and her lips are a little bit, but the clear waves between her eyebrows and eyes are so bright that she can’t move her eyes away.

The ladies are surprised: Is this princess still the one they have seen before? How can it be reborn!

The face is still the same, but the essence of the whole body is completely different.

Tao Ti had been chatting politely with the ladies. It was not until noon, when the banquet was about to start, that she found an opportunity to chat with Xu Wenchan.

Seeing that Tao Ti had a good relationship with Xu Wenchan, the concubine Shizi moved Xu Wenchan's position forward to Tao Ti's side, so that they could talk more easily.

"Ati, you look so beautiful today, I looked straight and thought it was a fairy who went down to earth."

Xu Wenchan was whispering, and then secretly glanced at Pei Lingbi and Zhou Muyan who were sitting opposite each other, and smiled secretly, "They both saw you so good-looking, they must be shocked in their hearts. When you didn't come, they said about you. A lot of bad things, but it makes me mad!"

Speak ill? Tao Ti squinted her eyes, without Xu Wenchan's words, she could also guess how they arranged themselves behind their backs.

"Anyway, they said yin and yang weirdly. If you want to know, I'll tell you when I finish eating, so I don't have to say it now. You can't even eat food." Xu Wenchan said.

Tao Ti smiled, "Speaking after dinner, you are not afraid that I will spit it out with anger?"

Xu Wenchan was startled, "Yes, what should I do..."

Tao Ti didn't tease her anymore, "Well, I don't want to hear them say bad things about me. It's okay to add to myself. The mouth grows on them. I can't sew them with needles and threads, right?"

"Then don't talk about the unhappy ones." Xu Wenchan blinked her apricot eyes, feeling that Ati was really forgiving, and swept over the delicious dishes in front of him, and praised, "I have heard that the chefs of the Yuwangfu are exquisite craftsmanship. Now, it looks really good."

She gave Tao Tinu a mouthful and introduced, "Especially this cherry meat, I heard that Prince Yu's Mansion specially invited a famous Suzhou chef to make it for this birthday banquet."

Tao Ti looked over and saw that in the center of the white round porcelain plate, there were neatly arranged, cherry-sized pieces of meat. The small and exquisite pieces of meat were round, bright and red, like agate, topped on top. With a layer of crystal clear sauce, the luster of the meat is more attractive.

A circle of emerald green and shiny pea seedlings is spread around the meat block, which sets off the red and attractive cherry flesh, as if the leaves are supporting the plump cherry fruits, which is exquisite like a painting.

Tao Ti had also eaten cherry meat in her previous life, but she was not able to eat the authentic royal cooking method when she was born late. What she ate was the modern people's improved method based on the old recipe.

Although the taste of the improved version is also good, the thirteenth uncle loves to brag in front of her every time, "Most of this improved version is colored with red yeast rice. The taste is good or not, but it is a bit short. To say the best. Cherry meat, it has to be the same taste I had in Qianlong Palace back then. Put fresh cherries and non-fat pork belly in a purple casserole and simmer slowly for two hours with a slow fire...Tsk, that bite Go down, beautiful, even being a fairy is nothing more than that!"

When she was young, Tao Ti was always crying because of the words of Uncle Thirteen. She ran with tears to question her parents, why didn't she give birth to her earlier? Why did Da Qing die!

Tao's father and Tao's mother looked at her crying and drooling daughter, both distressed and funny.

Dad Tao, "Wife, you coax your daughter, I'll clean up the 13th kid."

Tao Ma, "Husband, Thirteen will also tease Ati... Don't start too heavy, just kick a few kicks~"

Then, Uncle Thirteen was beaten up and barked by his father, begging for mercy and said that he would not dare next time...

Thinking of the funny things at home, Tao Ti couldn't help but chuckle.

Xu Wenchan looked at her curiously, "Ati, what are you laughing at?"

Tao Ti returned to his senses and shook her head, with a little melancholy under her eyes, "It's okay, I just thought of my family."

Xu Wenchan understood, and nodded, "Are you sorry that you didn't see your mother? I started asking my mother. My mother said that your mother was caught in the cold and didn't come today."

Tao Ti was stunned, and looked at Xu Wenchan in surprise, "My mother is infected with the cold?"

"Well, my mother said so. Your father didn't seem to be here today, but your concubine and cousins ​​are here. If you don't feel relieved, you can ask them? But it's just the wind and cold, so it should be fine, you Don't worry."

"Okay, I'll find a chance to ask later." Tao Ti slightly nodded.

Xu Wenchan picked up the chopsticks and happily picked a piece of cherry meat. After only one bite, he immediately opened his eyes and urged Tao Ti to try it.

Tao Ti picked up the chopsticks and stretched out to the plate of excellent cherry meat. The chopsticks were slightly clamped, and the plump and crispy meat was picked up. The skin jelly was like a jelly and trembling.

As soon as it was delivered to the mouth, the alluring scent of pork belly penetrated into the nose, making people secrete water unconsciously. As soon as the cherry meat is eaten, it melts instantly, soft and delicious, fat but not greasy. The sweetness of the cherry is completely braised into the meat, and the rich meat aroma is very refreshing and delicious.

A piece of cherry meat, stir-fried pea sprouts crisply with chopsticks, and a bite of rice, really gives people a sense of happiness.

Tao Ti was chewing the rice with enjoyment, thinking to himself, today I can be regarded as eating the kind of cherry meat that Uncle Thirteen said, which is a small regret when I am a child.

She was eating happily here, and Xu Wenchan was also happily eating. The two snacks were sitting together and eating together non-stop, it was... very eye-catching.

Seeing them finish a bowl of rice and prepare to let the maid serve the second bowl, Zhou Muyan, who was sitting opposite, gently wiped the corners of her mouth with the veil, and asked Pei Lingbi with a smile, "Sister Bi, if I remember correctly, she The number of meals provided by the house for the female family members in the palace should be a lot, right? How come the prince concubine's food looks like she has not eaten enough for 800 years..."

Pei Lingbi raised her eyelids and sneered, "Perhaps the prince's concubine's wife was in a hurry to go out this morning, and she forgot to eat breakfast. You are hungry now."

Tao Ti naturally heard their ridicule, and didn't bother to pay attention to them at all, and continued to eat her own.

She doesn't understand what these people's little heads are thinking all day long, and even if they don't eat such a delicious meal, she still mocks others for eating too much, is she sick?

Seeing Tao Ti didn't even raise his head, Pei Lingbi's expression stiffened.

But Tao Ti is her titular sister-in-law. She didn't dare to make a fuss. She was sullen and had nowhere to vent. Instead, she pointed the finger at Xu Wenchan, "Lady Xu, the princess is slim, eat more. Some are okay. You are good enough, so it’s better to control some appetite..."

Zhou Muyan laughed and said, "Yeah, Xu Wenchan, you still eat it if you are like this, be careful that the size of the summer clothes will be changed again."

Xu Wenchan paused with his chopsticks, his head drooping.

Tao Ti could feel her anger and low self-esteem, and there was a burst of anger in her heart. Are these two women endless?

After pondering for a moment, she struck the chopsticks on the table heavily.

With a "pop", the movement was not particularly loud, but the entire table was shocked.

Pei Lingbi and Zhou Muyan trembled even more, obviously frightened by this.

When he came back to his senses, Pei Lingbi frowned and stared at Tao Ti dissatisfiedly, "Prince Concubine, you are..."

Tao Ti raised her head and stared at her coldly, "You can't eat and sleep, do you want to eat well?"

Pei Lingbi, "..."

Zhou Muyan, "..."

The imperial concubine smiled and said, "Prince concubine, I will ask you to change a pair of chopsticks."

Tao Ti looked at the concubine Shizi with a gentle and polite smile, "I'm working hard."

She smiled again and said to the other women at the table, "Just now, my hand slipped and the chopsticks accidentally dropped, which shocked you all."

Everyone laughed and said, "It's okay, it's okay."

Tao Ti smiled more and more politely, "Today's table noodles are really good. It can be seen that the concubine Shizi has prepared carefully. We can't live up to the arrangement of the concubine Shizi. Please continue to eat."

His words were thoughtful and polite, and he gave the concubine to the concubine a lot of face. All the women on the table said yes, and continued to eat.

Tao Ti slowly turned his face, and when he looked at Pei Lingbi and Zhou Muyan on the opposite side again, he changed to an indifferent expression, and his voice was low and inexplicably sharp, "Today the birthday banquet in Prince Yu’s Mansion is a big happy event. You have to pick something up on this good day and pass it to your Majesty’s ears carefully. You can’t eat it and walk around!"

Pei Lingbi naturally knew the respect that the emperor had for the fourth uncle, she bit her lip unwillingly, and lowered her head.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Muyan also lost her arrogance.

"Woo..." Xu Wenchan looked at Tao Ti with red eyes, her lips trembled, as if she wanted to cry or not.

Tao Ti quietly squeezed her hand under the table, and said in a low voice, "Hey, so many people are watching, take control."

Xu Wenchan sniffed, "Hmm!"

Next, the banquet went smoothly.

After eating the noodles, the concubine Shi Zi led a group of women to Chang Ya Ge to watch the show.

Xu Wenchan took the opportunity to introduce her mother, Mrs. Zhao from Zhenbei Hou, to Tao Ti. She was grateful for Tao Ti’s protection of her daughter. As soon as she saw Tao Ti, she became affectionate and talked a lot with her. Words of thanks.

Hearing Tao Ti worrying about Zhang's body, Zhao immediately said, "Don't worry, I'll go to Yongweihou Mansion tomorrow, visit your mother for you, and send you a letter to the palace. ."

When they arrived at Chang Ya Ge, the troupe came to the stage and sang lively.

Xu Wenchan's mouth was not idle, he tasted the pastry, shook his head and said, "It's a far cry from the egg yolk crisps and Qing Tuan you made, Ati."

He twisted another piece of preserved fruit to eat, and took a bite. He shook his head and said, "You still made the honey kumquats, snow hawthorn, and dried apricots, which are delicious...Ah, Ati, if you are not in the palace, it would be great every day. Go to your house for a meal."

Tao Ti laughed when she heard it.

"Come, whatever you want, one dish one ingot of gold, I'm willing!" Xu Wenchan waved his hand without any money, and smiled, "As long as you have tasted your craftsmanship, you will definitely be willing to pay for it. If you don't believe me, go back and ask. Ask your Royal Highness, you must think so."

Upon hearing this, Tao Ti's mind suddenly flashed a thought—

It’s a long life, anyway, I’m still idle. Do you want to play in the ancient catering industry to make more money and become a richer little widow?

…

The excercises on the stage were still babbling, and after listening to it, Tao Ti was drowsy, so she made an excuse to show her respect and brought her Linglong out of Chang Accord.

As soon as I got outside, the birds whispered and the flowers were scented, and the breeze blew my face, and my spirit immediately recovered.

The master and servant were strolling along the zigzag bridge. The gardens of the Yuwang Mansion were very beautiful, with pavilions, pavilions, rockery, lakes and flowers, lush ancient trees, and scenery step by step.

When they arrived at a rockery pavilion, the two sat down and rested.

Tao Tibai was bored lying on the railing and watching the fish in the water. From the corner of his eye, he accidentally caught a glimpse of a gray-robed old man holding a fishing rod beside the low bridge diagonally opposite.

Let's go fishing, but the old man caught one and put one back.

One fishing, one release; another fishing, another release...

Tao Ti thought: It's so boring.

But it's so boring, I still stare at it for so long, I seem to be even more boring.

When the old man once again caught a plump and fresh carp and was about to unhook it and let it go, Tao Ti could no longer hold it back, and ran towards him with the skirt of his skirt.

Seeing the panting little girl running in front of him, the old man in gray robe frowned, "Are you...?"

Tao Ti took a sigh of relief, staring at the plump carp with scorching eyes, and said with great regret, "This fish is so fresh, why do you put it when you catch it, old man? It is used to make boiled fish fillets, fish ball soup, and fish porridge. , Pickled cabbage fish, chopped pepper fish head, sauerkraut fish fillet, sweet and sour crispy fish...not fragrant?"