Qiao Lan looked at Duan Mingjing, surprised and a little confused, "Did someone from the palace come here? Or did it come from someone in the mansion?"
Duan Mingjing hurried over all the way, and was so anxious that he was tongue-tied. Hearing Qiao Lan's words, it took him a long time to speak, "There's someone at home... there's someone at home! Someone from the palace has sent a message!"
Oh, she thought she was coming to Zhuangzi from the palace.
Speaking of the palace banquet, Qiao Lan had known about it for a long time. In the past, officials of high rank would usually bring their families to the palace to attend the banquet. Unfortunately, Duan Yuexiu's rank was not that good, so he did not have such an opportunity.
When Mrs. Qiao was young, her family's title was almost exhausted. In addition, there were many people in the big family, so it was not her turn to enter the palace.
It can be said that Joe has never been there even once.
When he arrived at Qiao Lan's place, his rank was sufficient, and people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs came to inform him as usual and explained the precautions for the palace banquet. In addition to etiquette, they also prepared New Year's gifts for the palace.
Among the etiquette nuns invited for the granddaughter at home, there was a palace maid who had retired from the palace. Qiao Lan called that nanny to inquire about the rules of entering the palace.
The nanny also spoke very carefully, allowing Qiao Lan to understand clearly.
There were many people attending the palace banquet, so those who could not sit in the room had to stand outside including the ritual of kneeling and worshiping, as well as eating and drinking at the banquet.
A banquet for thousands of people, even if it is hosted by palace maids and eunuchs, will be very cold when it is served. This palace banquet has been held for a long time, and there has been such a rule that the minister and his family are allowed to taste the leftovers after a few bites.
Take the food you ordered home as a mark of honor.
Qiao Lan thought about it in her mind and felt that her rank was neither high nor low, and she was probably the type who stood outside. She was already old, and she had to be exposed to the cold wind and eat cold dishes.
I'm afraid I can't help it.
Even if it was hot soup and rice, her status was not worth mentioning among a bunch of wealthy families. The grandma said a few more words, and some of the older ladies in the family would usually excuse themselves by citing physical discomfort.
At a banquet, these are common things.
Qiao Lan also excused herself because of her age. She only had some gifts prepared and sent to the palace, saying that she was old and frail and had some bad health after coming to the capital, so she did not go.
As for why the palace still cares about her, Qiao Lan thought that the reason must be attributed to herself.
The Duan family was not considered rich, and Qiao Lan's monthly silver was not much. After returning to the capital, he bought servants, prepared a dowry for Duan Sitong, and plowed the farmland in the village, which cost a lot.
If this money is spent like water, there will be times when it is stretched. But this gift to the palace cannot be given lightly, after all, it is a gift to the emperor.
Although the emperor may not necessarily read it, people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs will!
Qiao Lan carefully asked her family to prepare some gifts, which she sent to Zhuangzi for review. Unexpectedly, the people below were careless and mixed the small bottle of wine she had purified in the house and sent it to the palace.
Because this purified wine is rare, Qiao Lan specially picked a good-looking bottle to put it in.
A few days after the gift was sent out, the palace specially sent someone to reward Qiao Lan. By the way, an imperial doctor was sent to Qiao Lan to treat her illness.
Qiao Lan thought it was a routine care from the palace to show concern for her, a widowed old lady. Unexpectedly, the eunuch who came with the imperial doctor directly asked if there was any other wine. Qiao Lan was stunned immediately. How could there be any wine?
.
Her mind reacted quickly, and she immediately thought of the small bottle of alcohol that was missing from her room, and instantly understood what kind of wine the eunuch was asking about!
I could no longer pretend to be sick, and I was questioned about my drinking habits.
Qiao Lan didn't know what she was thinking at the time. She only said that the wine was brewed by Duan Yuexiu. After brewing, he buried it under his house. Occasionally, someone at home dug it out and broke the jar, leaving only this little.
Thinking of the powerful aroma of the wine, she gave it to the Holy One first.
The eunuch returned with regret on his face.
As for why we had to specially prepare some high-altitude wine, we had to mention certain professional courses arranged by the system to separate certain things, so Qiao Lan easily got some wine to replace the alcohol.
A few days later, the news that she had sent wine to the palace spread out. Many posts were sent to the Duan family, all asking about the wine.
well!
Who's to blame?
"Can you tell me who spread the word?" Qiao Lan asked.
Duan Mingjing was no longer anxious now and responded neatly, "It's the Queen."
She and the Empress had never met, so how could the Empress care about her? Qiao Lan sighed in her heart and had no choice but to accept her fate.
"It seems that I won't be able to wait until the mushroom grows and I will return to Beijing." Qiao Lan said.
"Mom, don't worry, this Zhuangzi is guarded by his son! Don't worry!" Duan Mingjing assured!
He has been at Zhuangzi for more than half a year, and he knows every servant in Zhuangzi. No one is more familiar with Zhuangzi than him.
Qiao Lan glanced sideways at Daer, "I won't worry if I leave you alone!"
Duan Mingjing:????
The old lady is going back to her home, and she has a lot of things to pack. In addition to the old lady's gifts, she also needs to pack up some Zhuangzi's new year's goods and take them with her.
After packing for two days and driving for another day, Qiao Lan took Duan Mingjing back to the Queen's Mansion. After putting the things he brought back for a day, Qiao Lan had to take a bath and change clothes to attend the palace banquet.
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The palace banquet is held in the evening. The palace banquet in Beijing is different from that in the previous dynasty. In the previous dynasty, it was held on the night of the first day of the lunar month, while in Beijing it was held on the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.
After this palace banquet, the courtiers who have been working diligently to attend court every day will also have a ten-day holiday, without having to go to court or face the Holy Spirit.
Even though the palace banquet was held at night, Qiao Lan was still woken up early in the morning by the maid in the house.
He grabbed her to dress up and apply oil to her face.
Even breakfast was served sitting in front of the dressing table.
Qiao Lan got up early and felt particularly sleepy after breakfast, so she closed her eyes and let the maid in the house wash and dress her up.
Qiao Lan squinted for half an hour before opening her eyes, looking at herself in the bronze mirror, and was stunned for a moment.
This makeup look was completely different from the pure white makeup of actors she saw in TV dramas. The skin tone of her entire face was evened out, and wrinkles appeared to be reduced.
She has grown a lot of white hair from working outside in the past few years, and it grows on her temples, which is very conspicuous. Qiao Lan has long since accepted her age, including the white hair on her head.
Nowadays, there is no trace of white hair in this black head, and this fair and tender face!
She has lost ten years of age! She looks like she is in her early thirties!
What woman doesn’t want to be young and beautiful?
The lady who was combing her hair and makeup was only invited here this year. Seeing Qiao Lan looking at the mirror for a long time without speaking, she hesitated for a while and said, "Do you think there's anything wrong with this, Madam?"
Qiao Lan: "The craftsmanship is very good! But the craftsmanship is too good and I can't do it well! Let's make this makeup look ugly..."