The two siblings chatted for a while longer, and Yulan urged Chengzong: "It's getting late. You've been busy for another day. It's time to go back and rest."

Chengzong said reluctantly: "I really can't let go of my sister!"

Yu Lan smiled and said, "The days are long. When you make a career in the future, are you afraid that you won't have the chance to visit me?"

Chengzong smiled and stood up and walked out. Yulan took him to the door of the small courtyard and warned: "It's right to study hard, but you must also pay attention to your health. There are many people with complicated eyes, so I won't send you to the second level."

The door is open."

Chengzong nodded and said, "Sister, please take care of yourself" before taking the little maid out of Green Jingzhai.

On the fifth day of the second day, Yulan went to Yiningju early in the morning to say hello to the eldest wife. The eldest wife took all her children to Songhe Hall to say hello to the old lady. The second wife, the fifth wife, and all the children from the second room had already arrived.

The eldest lady led the children to say hello. The old lady asked a few questions about the grandchildren's homework. The eldest lady then changed the subject and asked: "The sixth day of April is the birthday of Mrs. Jinghaihou. The Xiao family's post was sent early in the morning."

Come over here, old lady, how do you think we should arrange it?"

During the reign of Emperor Taizong, the political situation was turbulent. After Emperor Taizong secured his throne, he not only found various reasons to clean up the clan, but the Zhongding family was also implicated. Four of the eight major surnames in the founding of the country were exposed, killed or

Demotion, seizing titles, or confiscating families. In the Zhengtong Dynasty, although the emperor was a mediocre ruler, he had a good temperament, and several titles were slowly restored. Of the eight surnames that have continued to this day, only six are truly prosperous. They are: Korean Gong.

The Li family (the second wife’s natal family), the Chang family of the Duke of E, the Feng family of the Duke of Song, the Xiao family of the Marquis of Jinghai, the Lu family of the Marquis of Ji’an (the eldest daughter’s husband’s family), and the Zhou family of the Marquis of Jiangxia.

These six families all contributed to the founding of the country. They followed Emperor Taizu in the southern and northern wars and made great contributions. They all have hereditary and irreplaceable titles. After all, it has only been more than 40 years since the founding of the country, and the princes of these six families still have a great influence in the army.

Over the years, these aristocratic families have often married high-ranking officials and dignitaries, and are closely connected with the upper echelons of the entire Chu State. Even in the palace, there are indispensable concubines sent by these aristocratic families. The eldest wife’s mother-in-law, Changxing Hou, has withered away her talents in the family, although she has a daughter.

She is an empress dowager, but compared with these wealthy families, she is far behind.

The Xiao family of Marquis of Jinghai were originally Taizong's confidants, and the Xiao family was accustomed to playing both sides. Not only were they not affected by the great purge that year, they actually benefited a lot. When Emperor Taizong died violently, the cabinet proposed that the third prince, who was the current emperor, ascended the throne.

Xiao Zongchang, who was the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, was the first to write a letter to support him and took the credit for the initiative. After he ascended the throne, the orthodox emperor reciprocated his favor and promoted Xiao Zongchang repeatedly. Three years later, he was promoted to the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the head of the Great Nine Ministers.

, holds the power of appointing and dismissing personnel. In the past few years, he has planted cronies all over the court, and his disciples are all over the world. Concubine Xiao Huang is favored in the harem again. There is a "vice empress" in the palace, and a minister in the Ministry of official affairs outside.

Haihou, the Xiao family has become extremely prominent.

The old lady thought for a moment and asked, "Are you ready to give Mrs. Hou a gift?"

The eldest lady said, "You are ready. Mother, would you like to see the gift list?"

The old lady shook her head: "Compared with the old practice in previous years, you just have to make arrangements."

The eldest lady took the opportunity to ask: "Will the old lady be going there that day? I can prepare the car in advance!"

The old lady said: "I'm not very happy, so I'll let you three go and take care of it for me. I'll bring all my brothers and sisters with me, just in time to see the world."

The eldest wife, the second wife, and the fifth wife got up in a hurry.

The daughters-in-law sat down again, and the second wife curled her lips and said: "Mrs. Jinghaihou is only fifty-eight years old this year, and she doesn't have a full life span of sixty. Why are they making such a big fuss? The Xiao family is really too flamboyant!

"The second wife's mother-in-law used to be the "chief minister" of the Taizu Dynasty, but now she is suppressed by the Xiao family of Marquis Jinghai. Naturally, her impression of the Xiao family is not much better, not to mention that in the court, the old lady and Xiao Shangshu have never been very good.

She became even more unscrupulous when dealing with people who were considered half-political opponents, big and small.

The eldest lady rarely nodded in agreement: "No. Ever since the fourth prince conferred the title of King Zhao, the Xiao family's eyes have reached to the sky!" The two sisters-in-law didn't look at the messy fight at home. After leaving the gate of the Yang Mansion, they came back again.

Everyone understands the principle of pointing the gun at the outside world in unison.

Yu Lan looked at them with great interest, thinking that the ladies of this era were quite interesting. Even the fifth wife rarely showed an expression of approval.

The old lady waved her hand: "Okay, if you have nothing else to do, go down and don't delay the sisters' homework." Several brothers were sent to study in the outer courtyard first.

Everyone bowed and left. As soon as Yulan returned to Lvjingzhai and Fang entered the courtyard, Qian’s mother led a little girl wearing a pea-green Sichuan brocade armor out to greet Yulan. Mother Qian said: “Your Majesty the Prince of Yanqing County.

Yes, the girl Zhujing who lives next to the second cousin’s young master.”

"Slave Zhujing, please greet the seventh girl." The little girl bowed her hands and bowed. She was charming, gentle and generous, and had a well-founded approach. Her demeanor was not like that of a maid, but more like that of a young lady raised in a small family. Yu

Lan secretly praised that every master must have his servant.

She said: "Sister, there is no need to be polite. Go and sit in the room. Mother Qian will serve tea to the guests." Xiaoyu had already stepped forward to help Zhujing and took her hand into the main room.

The little maid served the tea fruit. Before Yulan could ask, she explained: "The young master asked me to say hello to the girl. In addition to a few boxes of snacks, I also sent some small trinkets." After that, he took out a red paint.

A small box painted with gold came in. Yulan saw that the box was made of fine fir wood with peony patterns carved on it. She knew it was extremely precious at a glance.

Zhu Jing opened the box and saw that the box was surrounded by bright red silk, and inside lay an exquisite handmade ship model.

When Yulan took it out to take a look, he saw that the ship model was only about the size of a palm, and the main body was made of unknown wood. All the small items on the ship, such as cables, decks, guardrails, and even the bow and cannons on both sides of the ship, were all available.

The craftsmanship is exquisite and astonishing. There is also a turquoise the size of a fingernail inlaid in the middle of the bow.

Yu Lan held it in his hands with admiration, and after looking at it for a while, he actually removed a small sail on the boat and put it back on again. It seemed that all parts of this model could be taken down and put back on again. For the craftsmanship of this era,

level, Yulan has a new understanding.

Mother Qian and Xiaoyue Xiaoyu had long been amazed by what they saw.

Yu Lan asked the first sentence: "Are there other girls too?"

Zhu Jing said: "There are snacks! My young master only has this boat, so he only gave it to the girl!"

Yulan put down the ship model and looked at Zhujing strangely. Zhujing said: "The second young master asked me to bring you a message. The young master said: Thanks to my cousin's ingenious idea, the ship has been successfully transported into the capital. Your Majesty, King Zhao

They were all very satisfied. The emperor praised my machine for my quickness, and Min Chun did not dare to be ashamed of it. I cannot thank you enough. Since my cousin can come up with such an idea, I think you must have done some research on this kind of small objects and are very interested in it. Min Chun has nothing to say.

As a token of my gratitude, I borrowed flowers to offer to the Buddha and gave a small object for my cousin to enjoy. Please don’t refuse and must accept it.”

Yulan looked at the ship model and thought for a moment, then asked: "I see, the architectural layout and style of this boat are different from our big Chuduo, could it be an imported product?"

Zhujing's eyes immediately showed a look of shock. There were not many of these things in Chu. Yu Lan could tell after just a few glances that it was not made in China. This kind of eyesight was not to mention the female family members in the house, but also the husband and wife Qing outside.

Ke Ye definitely doesn't have such poisonous eyes. No wonder the second young master has been full of praises for her. Little did she know that Yulan had seen hundreds of more exquisite things than this in her previous life. She had been in Dachu for so long, so she had no idea about the architecture here.

She already had a deep understanding of the style. When she saw this little thing imported from Europe, she could see the clues at a glance.

Zhujing's expression became even more respectful: "This boat was a gift from the Franciscan missionary Morrison to the second young master. It's called a 'model'. The second young master has always loved it like a treasure..."

After hearing this, Yu Lan smiled and said: "This ship model is so precious, I dare not steal my cousin's heart! Sister Zhujing, please take it back." After saying that, she reluctantly put the ship model back into the box.

Zhujing was stunned when she heard the word "ship model". She quickly reacted and said hurriedly: "It's all because of the little maid's mouth. The young master gave the order before the little maid came, please accept it..."

"

"In that case..." Yulan suddenly interrupted her and smiled brightly, "...I'll accept it!" Ye Minchun really has a good eye for this piece of art, and Yulan really likes this piece of art. Because she started from this

There was a trace of the past life on the ship model. For this reason, she could not return the ship model. Otherwise, even if Ye Minchun sent a thousand taels of silver, she would return it without hesitation.

Zhujing held back her words and waited to persuade her to accept the gift. Unexpectedly, the girl just pretended to refuse once and accepted the gift generously. This seventh lady is... really special.

"Quickly, keep it safe, girl. I won't let you if it gets damaged!" He asked Xiaoyu to carefully collect the ship model, and then smiled at Zhujing: "Yulan really likes this model, it makes my sister laugh.

." The words were so sincere that Zhujing couldn't feel any ill feelings in her heart. Instead, she suddenly felt that she was much closer to this seventh girl whom she had never met before.

This girl is really adorable.

Her expression was no longer as nervous as when she first arrived. Yulan asked Ye Minchun how he was. Thinking of the foreign missionary, he couldn't help but be very interested and asked: "Sister, do you know where the Flemish missionary Morrison is?"

Chinese?"

Zhujing, a little girl, didn't know that, so she asked instead: "Isn't he just from Folangji?"

Yulan explained with a smile: "Sister, I don't know. Folangji is to the west of us. It is not one country, but many countries." At that time, the Chu Dynasty did not distinguish between Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and the West, and all Europeans were collectively called Folang.

Robot.

Zhujing seemed to understand, while Qian's mother and the two eldest girls were even more confused. Yulan changed the subject and chatted for a few more words. Zhujing stood up and left: "...I have to go back and report to the young master.

"

Yulan rewarded her with five taels of silver and sent her out of the courtyard: "Go back and help me thank my cousin. I like this ship model very much."

As soon as Fang Yulan came back, she asked Xiaoyu to bring over the ship model and looked at it again and again with admiration. Xiaoyue laughed: "The girls in our family are different. Girls from other families all like flowers."

Son, clothes and jewelry, etc., but our girl likes this Laoshizi model... model..."

Yu Lan smiled and said: "It's a model, stupid girl!"

Xiaoyu also laughed at the side: "Girl is indeed different from others. If you were a man, you would definitely be able to compare with all the young masters in the outer courtyard."

But Qian's mother walked forward with a smile, helped her smooth out the non-existent wrinkles on her clothes, and winked at the little girls in the room, and they immediately filed out.

Mother Qian's face was filled with smiles, "Since when did you become so familiar with your second cousin? You asked him to bring you all the things that are on your mind."

"On the Shangsi Festival, Princess Yanqing and her cousin met with the old lady once, and a few days ago they met again at my grandfather's Songfeng Academy. Why..." Yulan looked up in shock, and saw Xiaoyue Xiaoyu beside her, too.

A thoughtful look on his face.

At heart, she is still a modern person after all, and there is still something missing in her mind. Giving gifts to each other among modern friends is nothing, but in ancient society, the meaning was completely different.

"I have long heard that the second cousin is a talented young master, and the emperor and the prince value him very much. The Yanqing Palace is such a prominent county and prince's palace, and the princess is your aunt... Girl, you can't find this even with a lantern.

What a nice family to come to!" Qian's mother became more and more excited as she talked.

Yulan looked at the ship model in her hand and immediately felt that it had become a hot potato. "Mom, my cousin didn't mean that..."

Xiaoyue also came to her senses at this time: "Girl, if Mr. Cousin didn't have a special regard for you, why didn't she send the models of the fourth girl, the fifth girl, the eighth girl, and the ninth girl, just to you? Mother Qian is right,

This is a good marriage that you can’t find even with a lantern!"

No! Yulan suddenly became two adults taller and taller. Although Ye Minchun was good-looking and Yulan admired him, he was only seventeen years old after all. To let Yulan fall in love with such a half-year-old child, Yulan was

Lan was really embarrassed no matter what he thought.
To be continued...