Nowadays, the world has been peaceful for a long time, and the people are living and working in peace and contentment. Especially in a prosperous and wealthy place like the capital, everything is very lively on weekdays, regardless of festivals.
Although the Qushui River Drinking Banquet organized by the eldest princess is not a festival, it is still a grand event. Of course, this grand event belongs to the upper-class officials and nobles. As for the common people below, they can only listen to it in the teahouse and tavern on the second day.
It's just news about those high-ranking families.
Although they are all official, even if they are wearing official clothes, they can be distinguished by the patchwork on their chests.
The high-ranking civil servants looked down upon the meritorious family, and the princes and princes above him looked down upon the low-ranking officials below.
On weekdays, every family and government gathering has its own small circle.
Even if the female relatives of other people want to interact with Mrs. Gaoming above, they can't get in.
The eldest princess's banquet is a invitation to all the family members of Beijing officials above the fifth rank, which means that everyone is treated equally.
As for those below the fifth rank, there will be too many people, and there is a risk that the fish and dragons will mix together, disturbing the distinguished guests.
It is precisely because of this that many people who would not normally be friends with may be able to form good connections at such banquets. If you are lucky enough to have some connections in the marriage of your children, that would be even better.
Therefore, on this day, let alone the other courtyard of the Princess's Mansion, the atmosphere of the entire capital was different from usual.
Although Qiao Weisheng is in the third rank and carries the title of earl, the House of Zhongyong is in decline.
Not only did the heirs fail, but Qiao Weisheng was the only one who supported the court in his lifetime. Qiao Weipeng was just a fifth-rank man with no real power, and the other disciples of the other branches were even less promising.
On weekdays, the people who come and go are all the same people.
Therefore, not to mention Qiao Yurong, even Qiao Yuning, who considered herself very nimble when walking around, was extremely nervous.
In fact, she also hid her thoughts. Now that she was thirteen years old, some people already looked at each other at her age. However, none of the children of those families she walked around with satisfied her.
If she could secure a good marriage at the Qushui River Drinking Banquet, it would be a step to the sky. Does she still need to be afraid of Qiao Yuyan?
The banquet started in the middle of the afternoon. After all, it was summer and it was still hot during the day.
However, the eldest princess specifically checked the weather with the Qintian Supervisor. There was no big sun today. There were white clouds in the sky. The sun only showed up occasionally. By mid-afternoon, it no longer had much power.
Moreover, the most important event in the courtyard is the annual Meandering Water Drinking Banquet, so most of the buildings there are considered for this purpose, especially the verandahs built along the river on both sides of the creek, with wooden tables placed every few steps inside.
Ice basin, walking in it, where is the slightest bit of heat?
The ice that ordinary people don't see in summer is not cherished at all here. When he saw it melting, he poured the ice water into the river and immediately replaced it with a new one.
Even if the ladies and ladies are wearing thicker dresses here, the makeup on their faces will not be smudged by sweat.
Mrs. Yao and her two sisters walked directly into a large waterside pavilion. At this time, many people had arrived, and everyone was chatting and laughing.
At the top is Princess Jiayu, who is talking to Mrs. Changxinghou, with smiles on their faces. The ladies from various families below are talking in twos and threes, and there are also several girls sitting there.
The Qiao family was already in decline, and today it was the Yao family who came here again. The eldest princess above them exchanged casual greetings with each other, as if they had met her.
Fortunately, there were a few people down there that we interacted with on weekdays, and Yao wasn't the kind of person who kept his head down and couldn't get on the stage. He blended in with a few casual words, so he wouldn't be embarrassed.
Qiao Yuning and Qiao Yurong then greeted the eldest princess and the ladies above, and naturally received a lot of praise.
At this time, those who were actually thoughtful were already sizing them up secretly. Naturally, they would not make mistakes at this time. They strictly abide by the rules in every word and deed. After sitting for a while, they walked out of the waterside pavilion hand in hand and walked along the river.
Go from the verandah to the pavilion in front.
The beauty of this courtyard lies in the winding river. On one side are the young and charming young ladies from the aristocratic families, and on the opposite side are the graceful young men from the aristocratic families.
Across a river, the voices and laughter on both sides can be heard clearly.
By this time, boats of all sizes had already been put down in the river. Later in the evening, there would be activities of guessing and lighting up lanterns on the boats.
Both sides could get off the boat, so there weren't too many concerns between men and women at that time. It was an elegant thing for everyone to swim on the same boat.
Even if by chance a man and a woman ride together in the same car, no one will gossip behind their backs.
Of course, who dares to say this nonsense?
This is run by the eldest princess, and all the saints in the palace know it. If they jump out and make a fuss about it, aren't they obviously offending people?
It is precisely for this reason that girls and boys from all families are looking forward to this banquet. Who is not interested in their life-long event? Rather than being assigned by parents and elders to marry blindly, it is better to come out and see it yourself.
Look, if you can find someone you like, wouldn't everyone be happy?
Besides, those who can come to this banquet are at least fifth-grade family members. Even if there is a family difference, it is not too big.
Of course, in previous years, there were also some small-time entrepreneurs who sneaked in through unknown means, mostly with speculative intentions.
The eldest princess has a kind nature, but even if she knew about it, she would just turn a blind eye.
It is said to be a pavilion, but in fact it can be regarded as a huge terrace with a roof. At this time, there are already many young girls inside, but it is hindering the rules they usually learn.
Talk loudly.
The Qiao sisters usually walked around, so naturally they had little sisters they were friends with. When they saw them coming, they stood up to say hello.
Who would have thought that as soon as they entered, they would attract the attention of others. Just when Qiao Yuning was about to speak, she heard an arrogant voice inside, "Whose family does this belong to?"
She heard this and looked over, only to see a woman wearing a bright red embroidered persimmon-cut Ruyi-patterned coat a few seats up, looking at her with a frown.
Qiao Yuning recognized at a glance that this was the eldest daughter of General Shen's family, and she quickly smiled and said, "Sister Shen may not know me. My father is Qiao Weisheng, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites."
Miss Shen narrowed her eyes when she heard this, looked her up and down, but didn't say anything for a long time.
That look didn't look like he was looking at a person, but rather like he was looking at an object. Qiao Yuning was usually quite pretty outside, but even now her face could not help but turn a little red, "Sister Shen looks at me like this,
But...there's something wrong."
"Oh! Not really," Miss Shen looked away with a trace of ridicule at the corner of her mouth, "I just think that Master Qiao's family is so rich that a concubine can afford to wear such high-quality brocade?"