The subtle fragrance of cotton needles

Chapter 124 Usually very gentle

"Mother, look at that Xia Pinxiang, she looks like a vixen. Why did you give my headgear to her?" The speaker was the Sixth Princess, Mo Yuanyue, who had been raised by the empress dowager and had followed her uncle to inspect the salt industry in Jiangnan last year.

The Queen patted her hands, her face full of tenderness: "Don't worry, since Mother gave it to her, there must be a reason. Of course, she got something better to give to our Yue'er."

Then the queen waved to Bichi to bring up the things, which were a pair of red agate earrings and a purple-gold headpiece, which were both expensive and generous.

"Mother loves me the most. I rushed back to the palace on New Year's Eve. It's rude of me not to welcome you, but Xia Pinxiang didn't even come to see me. It's really rude."

Mo Yuanyue has been spoiled since she was a child. No one in or outside the palace dares to offend her. If it weren't for Concubine Su's long-lasting favor and her children's hard-working children, she would probably have been able to act arrogantly.

"Well, she is the concubine given to your brother by your father after all, so her status is naturally more noble than that of ordinary concubines. These two days are the beginning of the year, and she is considered half the mistress of Prince Yuan's mansion, so naturally she has a lot of things to do. Today is the fourth day of the New Year, and she will have to return home in a few days. The legitimate daughter is waiting for her to laugh at her! If she doesn't come in a few days, it won't be too late to look for her later."

The queen has only one daughter, so naturally she dotes on her. Besides, Mo Yuyang is the eldest son. In terms of legitimacy and seniority, he should be her crown prince. It is impossible for her own sister to be bullied by a concubine.

Mo Yuanyue was very disdainful and raised her left eyebrow: "If she doesn't come on her own initiative, don't blame me for finding a few more beauties to serve my brother."

"Yu'er really hits the nail on the head with one strike. A few days ago, Xia Pinxiang came to complain to me because there were too many concubines and maids in Prince Yuan's mansion. Which man doesn't have three wives and four concubines? Moreover, Yang'er is busy with all kinds of affairs, so what's wrong with having a few more women to serve him? She actually dared to be jealous! It turns out that your father is good at judging people and casually gave her the position of a concubine."

"According to me, Xia Pinxiang might be using her beauty to please others. Otherwise, how could the emperor be so fond of such a woman? And she is a concubine's daughter!"

Mo Yuanyue herself is the legitimate daughter of the Empress Dowager, and usually acts arrogantly towards the princesses and princes of other palaces. If Mo Yuanli herself was not older, had a strong personality, and had a mother who was always in favor with her, she would probably have caused trouble for her.

The queen was very happy with her only princess. After not seeing her for a year, she naturally didn't want to talk about others when she met her: "Okay, let's not talk about others. You will be a marriageable girl this year. Your mother has found some young men from noble families for you. You can choose one."

"Mother, I don't want to get married. I am the only legitimate princess in the imperial palace. Which young man is worthy of me?" Mo Yuanyue shook the queen's arm coquettishly, and was very reluctant to get married.

"Silly child, when a girl grows up, she will definitely get married. Besides, you are a princess of a country. If you don't arrange your marriage soon, what if another country comes to ask for the princess' hand in marriage? You are the only eligible person in the royal family and clan. Do you have to marry into a foreign country?"

Mo Yuanyue still looked disdainful: "What are you afraid of? Even if there are no daughters of the royal family, there are so many daughters of ministers. Can't we just let the emperor make one of them a princess for marriage? It is a blessing for them to become a princess of a country and marry to a borderland for marriage."

"That being said, if your father wants to maintain balance in the court, he will not easily allow the daughter of any minister to marry. Besides, you should arrange the marriage first. There is no need to rush into the marriage. It just gives you an excuse to shut up those ministers."

The queen knew it very well, but she was just afraid of the worst.

Mo Yuanyue agreed reluctantly, and the Queen also asked Bichi to get the portrait.

"Today is the fourth day of the New Year, and the Shangshu Mansion is relatively quiet. I'm afraid it will be busy early tomorrow morning. The seventh day is the day when the concubine returns home." Li took Xiao Yun'er from Xia Yanxiang's arms and said something.

Xia Yanxiang pretended not to hear: "By the way, didn't my sister-in-law's father say he was coming to Beijing? How come there is no news at all?"

"My father-in-law was originally going to come, but because the Li family had a few new children and grandchildren, he was asked to stay to help with the family tree and perform sacrifices. He was really delayed, so he didn't come. He also specially wrote a letter and asked my wife's cousin who was going to Beijing for business to deliver it."

"The seventh day of the Lunar New Year is coming in a few days. Brothers, aren't you going back to Jiangnan?" It might be too late if he didn't go now. Besides, some scenes were really not suitable for Xia Zhibai to see.

"We have to go back, so we are coming back today to say goodbye. We will leave in the afternoon and arrive around the afternoon of the sixth day."

"Then be careful on your way, and remember to bring more guards." Xia Yanxiang couldn't help but give a few instructions.

Xia Zhibai found it funny: "How can you be so mature at such a young age? When did I, your brother, do something careless? You have to explain it to me."

"Hey, big brother, don't always treat Ayan as a child. She is already engaged," Li Guan couldn't help but make a joke after taking two bites of the candied haws.

He got angry whenever Xia Zhibai was mentioned: "Don't mention that brat to me. He pretends to be a gentleman but secretly does dirty things! My sister Xia Zhibai will never marry such a brat!"

"Who do you say is that brat?" A solemn voice came from the door.

"Madam." Then she heard the maid bowing, and Wuyi hurriedly opened the door. The people who came were actually Tu and Shen.

"Mother, aunt." Xia Yanxiang was the calmest one and bowed first.

"Aunt, mother."

"Mother, aunt."

"Hello, aunts!"

Everyone bowed politely, except Li Guan who was still eating candied haws carelessly.

Shen couldn't hold it in anymore: "Li girl, eat less candy, it will hurt your teeth."

Li Guan swallowed the hawthorn in his mouth before saying, "Thank you for your concern, aunt. It's my eldest brother's treat today, so I have to treat him well this time!"

"This child is really straightforward, just like when he was a child, he is very straightforward."

Shen really liked him, and seeing her good-for-nothing, she said, "Run? Where are you running to? Do you think I don't know you sneaked into the Shangshu Mansion? Wouldn't it be better to arrange a marriage for your mother earlier?"

Tu was startled by Shen's loud voice. It had been a long time since she saw her sister-in-law being so courageous.

"Mother, there are so many people here? Can't you give your son some face? Besides, my younger sister is still unengaged!" Tu Xiao was really scared of his mother. She caught up with him so quickly, so he quickly pushed his sisters out, hoping to hide.

Shen immediately stopped talking and smiled: "Did you scare Qianxiang? Don't be afraid, your aunt is usually very gentle."

Tu Xiao shuddered. He didn't know who had taken sister Yanxiang and Li Guan on horseback to Wenzhou Mountain. The terrain was steep and the woods were dense, and sister Yanxiang was lost. Fortunately, sister Yanxiang, who was only nine years old at the time, was precocious and managed to find the mountain road back by herself.