Golden millet just opened (upper)

  "Miss, please come this way." A servant from the Zhuang Shizi's mansion led several maids to greet them at the gate. After all, they were all noble ladies from the Eight Banners, and if there was no mistake, they would become noblewomen in the future, and it was possible for any of them to become a concubine or empress. As the host of the gathering, they had to be polite and courteous, even if it was the currently powerful Zhuang Shizi's mansion.

  "Thank you, Auntie." Accompanied by Gu Auntie and Su Wen, they followed the leading maid to the back garden of the Zhuang Qinwang Mansion. This Zhuang Qinwang Mansion was a mansion that had been passed down for many years, with a grand and majestic layout, and after being renovated by several owners, it not only had the elegance and luxury of a royal residence but also the elegant and refreshing charm of a secluded retreat. Tall willows leaned over the lake, old elms surrounded the pines, and occasionally there were swings, stone tables, and chessboards, as well as flower halls and pavilions... It was truly a reflection of the owner's grand vision.

  The Prince of Zhuang didn't need to be mentioned, he had talent, skill and a broad mind. What was rare was the Princess of Zhuang, Guo Lü Luo Shi, who later rose to prominence. When she married the Prince of Zhuang, there was already a favored concubine, Li Shi, by his side. Moreover, she came from the Guo Lü Luo family, which was not in favor with the current emperor, and the Prince of Zhuang also had prejudices against the Guo Lü Luo family due to the struggle for the throne... Under these unfavorable factors, she managed to turn things around and win the love and respect of the Prince of Zhuang, giving birth to three sons and three daughters. Unfortunately, in the end, only two daughters survived, among whom the eldest daughter was taken into the palace by the empress dowager to be raised.

  The beloved chrysanthemum of Princess Zhuang's mother-in-law is renowned, and it's said that she especially loves Bai Juyi's poem "Ode to Chrysanthemum": One night, new frost settles lightly on the tiles, banana leaves newly torn, lotus flowers leaning. Only the eastern fence chrysanthemum can withstand the cold, its golden petals just beginning to open, refreshing and clear at dawn.

  It can be seen that his character is open-minded and tenacious.

  In September, autumn arrives, and a hundred flowers wither and fall. Only chrysanthemums shine with majesty, blooming above the frost.

  The party venue was set in the flower hall on the west side of the garden, next to the lake. The open door faced a green lawn, and inside and outside the hall, throughout the garden, all kinds of chrysanthemums were arranged everywhere. There were those that resembled lotus flowers, peonies that rivaled the queen of flowers, curled ones, stacked balls, pom-poms, beads, flat petals, tube-shaped ones, and even deformed ones with dragon claws and hairy thorns. It was truly a dazzling sight to behold.

  "It's really beautiful."

  The voice was so familiar that Yunzhu lightly turned her head, and a surprised smile appeared on her face: "He Lan, how did you arrive in the capital without even notifying me?"

  He Lan is the Chahar General Balinmum, succeeding Li Rongbao, the father of Yun Zhu. She is the eldest daughter of Butan, one year older than Yun Zhu. The two had interactions in Chahar and got along well. This time she returned to Beijing, probably also to prepare for next year's selection of imperial consorts.

  "It's not long since I arrived in the capital, and my family hasn't even settled down yet. I didn't expect to receive a wedding invitation so soon. I thought you would definitely come, so I didn't rush to tell you, wanting to give you a surprise..." He Lan said softly, with a faint smile on her bright face, looking more elegant than before. Her eyes rolled around Yunzhu's face, half-jokingly and half-seriously saying: "Tell me, how do you take care of your skin? It's so smooth that it looks like water could be squeezed out of it!"

  The Fu Zha in front of me, Yun Zhu... He Lan is simply beyond description. Beautiful? That's too superficial, it's hard to depict her elegant and refined demeanor. In the past, she was also gentle as jade, warm and lovely, but I always thought that was due to her upbringing in a noble family, being poised and calm. Now it seems that maybe it was because her facial features hadn't fully developed and her figure hadn't fully matured, so her temperament and appearance couldn't perfectly blend together, like there was a layer of gauze covering her, making it hard to see clearly. But now the gauze is gone, and her unique beauty has been revealed... In the future, there's still even more room for growth.

  If you also count her family background, the marriage in the future will definitely not be bad. Helan felt a pang of jealousy. Next year's selection, the two princes in the palace will choose their wives...

  "Look who's talking, even flowers have to lower their heads when standing next to you."

  Yunzhu and she could be said to have grown up together in Chahar, although their personalities were not very compatible, they had never been short of enjoying horseback riding together. However, after two years of not seeing each other, the feeling was somewhat strange. The person in front of her seemed to be a different friend from before, one who could no longer laugh and talk freely without restraint. This was an inexplicable feeling, but Yunzhu's intuition had always been keen, so she secretly became alert, while still smiling lightly on the surface.

  "Alright, tease me!" Helan made a gesture to pinch her face. Yunzhu dodged nimbly and laughed: "Do you want me to lie to deceive you? That's too difficult!"

  He Lan felt a bit smug, thinking that Yunzhu's words weren't bad either. Her own facial features were much better than Yunzhu's - her eyebrows were long and slender, her eyes shone like cold stars, her lips were as red as cherry blossoms, and although her face wasn't the soft and delicate melon seed or goose egg shape, it was more three-dimensional. When combined together, she looked like a radiant rose with thorns, shining brightly and exuding the elegance of a Manchu lady. Thinking about it, she felt that making a scene at this gathering of noblewomen wouldn't be very becoming, so she glared at Yunzhu with a hint of annoyance and said, "Alright, you're right, I'll let you off this time."

  Yunzhu smiled and changed the subject, chatting with her about Chahar and Beijing.

  "Cloud pearl." A woman in her emerald youth wearing a bean green cheongsam stood beside a cluster of chrysanthemums and shouted: "Come over quickly."

  "Who is that?" Helan saw that the woman was already dressed in a small two-braided hairstyle, curiously asking, why being so intimate with Yunzhu.

  Yunzhu didn't follow her, but quickly walked to the front of the woman and introduced: "This is my cousin, Junya, the legitimate wife of Duoluo Beile Hongtun." In the rich and powerful Fuca family, there were few people who were equal in status to her. Li Rongbao was the eldest son of Mishi Han, and she was the daughter born to Li Rongbao when he was nearly forty years old, so most of those in the clan who were around her age were actually younger than her by one generation.

  "Ah, so that's the eldest daughter-in-law of King Yi Qin?! Herlan's smile deepened as he warmly said: "Nice to meet you, I'm Balinmu. Herlan, I grew up with Yunzhu in Chahar."

  Yu Ya glanced at Yunzhu, who was smiling but not speaking, and said: "It's rare to meet here. Let's go, the activity over there is about to start." She had a gentle and warm personality, but she was also clever and could tell at a glance that although the two of them knew each other, their personalities didn't quite match.

  "Sorry, I've made an appointment with someone..." Helan said apologetically to Yunzhu.

  "You go ahead, I'll just chat with my cousin for a bit."

  "We'll talk again when we have time." Helan waved his hand and walked towards the two women in their prime. One of them had a medium build, wearing an autumn-colored cheongsam, with a one-character hairstyle, wearing a gold butterfly hairpin and two orange pom-poms, with eastern pearls dangling from her ears, and a peach blossom complexion, exuding a delicate and noble aura, but with a hint of melancholy at the tips of her eyebrows and the bottom of her eyes. The other had a slightly taller build, with a small double-bun hairstyle, wearing a gemstone flower hairpin, dressed in a deep purple ru-yi style cheongsam, with three-fen wide light purple embroidered edges on the collar, sleeves, and hem, her delicate features brought out by the luxurious attire and exquisite makeup, but her demeanor gave people a feeling of being somewhat nervous and fearful, which didn't match her outfit.

  Yu Ya frowned slightly, "The one wearing the autumn-colored flag uniform is San A Ge's Fu Jin Dong E Shi, and the one next to her is Hong Xi's Fu Jin Guo Luo Luo Shi, who is a clanswoman of Zhuang Qin Wang's Fu Jin."

  Yunzhu understood. It is now the fourth year of Yongzheng, and at this time, San A'ge Hongshi was expelled from the palace last year to be adopted by Yunxi, and this February he was again demoted from the imperial clan and handed over to his cousin's husband, Yunxiao, for upbringing... No wonder Dang E's wife would have a gloomy expression, with such an incompetent husband and a father-in-law who strongly hated her, how could she not be worried?! It is even more understandable that Hongxi's fu jin (wife) would appear here, as her husband, Yunxun, who was stripped of his imperial title and imprisoned in Baoding, died last month from "abdominal disease", with rumors that he was poisoned by the current emperor... She would be worried about her family being implicated and coming to seek help from Zhuang Qinwang's fu jin (wife) is normal. However, how did Helan end up walking together with these two?

  "This friend of yours has a mind that's not small, but I'm afraid she's taken the wrong path," said Yu Ya. "In the future, don't get too close to her." The people of the Fu Cha family have always been united and protective of each other. This younger sister is intelligent and has a gentle and quiet temperament, being protected by her family... just hope she doesn't get used by others.

  "I see." Yunzhu smiled and slightly waved her hand, feeling warm in her heart. Indeed, the peaceful era was still better, although there were also intrigues and struggles, but among loved ones and friends, they could care for each other and protect one another without worrying about being betrayed or separated forever.

  As for Helen, as long as it doesn't affect her personally, she will always consider her a friend.