Golden ears just opened (China)

  The gathering activities of the ancient ladies were actually quite interesting. Yunzhu participated for the first time and saw that many ladies brought out osmanthus cakes they made at home, placed them on the table, and served them with osmanthus tea to taste. Upon closer inspection, some were crystal clear and showed beautiful osmanthus petals wrapped inside, while others sprinkled shredded osmanthus sugar on soft pastries, and some even shaped their pastries into osmanthus flowers...

  Some sat together, unsure whether they were guessing riddles or matching words. Those who lost taught others to pin a big chrysanthemum on their head. The unlucky ones had their heads full of them in no time, and looked at their friends with a gloomy face, laughing helplessly.

  "Wow, what a beautiful embroidery!" A shout came. Yunzhu looked over and saw that a noblewoman in the Jade Light Pavilion had displayed a three-foot square embroidery, which was embroidered with autumn chrysanthemums. Yunzhu's eyesight was extremely good, even though she was more than ten steps away, she could still clearly see the direction of the needle and thread on the embroidery, and she couldn't help but secretly praise the noblewoman's embroidery skills as being exquisite. The cluster of chrysanthemum flowers had different postures, vivid and lifelike, with a rich and luxurious beauty like a hundred flowers competing to bloom.

  Jade smiled lightly and said, "She's lucky to have embroidered chrysanthemums into a pattern."

  Yunzhu lightly pressed her lips to suppress the smile on her mouth, "Who is she?" Looking at her age, she's about the same as Junya, sixteen or seventeen years old, but still dressed like a young girl.

  The daughter of Vice Minister of Works Ma Wei-yao, Ma Zhen-yuan, last year's Lüpai Xiū girl.

  No wonder Yu Ya's words had a familiar meaning, it turned out that they were both from the same generation of Xiū girls. Ma Jia was also one of the eight great surnames of Manchu, and Ma Wei Yao seemed to be the nephew of Rong Tai Fei, so Ma Zhen Yuan could also be considered as coming from a prestigious family, why did she leave her card but didn't get engaged?

  Yunzhu has an excellent memory, and after crossing over, she constantly recalls the various historical materials related to the Qing Dynasty that she read in her previous life, as well as the Qing穿文 materials, and organizes them into files in her mind. As she grows up, in order to prepare for the selection of imperial concubines, she supplements and verifies many things with Guwalgiya and the nanny, and the only difference is that she makes a direct connection between people and data.

  "She's quite pretty." She can be compared to Helan, only her facial features are softer. It's interesting that the selection of the imperial concubine didn't specify marriage, this kind of situation usually means the girl is reserved for the prince as his legitimate wife...

  Unfortunately, among the princes of Emperor Yongzheng, neither the empress nor the concubines were surnamed Ma Jia.

  It seems that Ma Zhenyuan has some thoughts, but unfortunately, it's not enough to look at. Yunzhu glanced at her still pretty face and turned away. Chrysanthemum is not a noble flower, but it was embroidered with luxury and grandeur, the intention was wrong from the start. Not to mention that Princess Zhuang won't like such embroidery, even in the palace... probably no one will appreciate it either?

  These people's character still need Yunzhu to observe and pay attention, Junya doesn't plan to say more. Taking her to see a few more noble ladies who were painting with their brushes and ink, all of them were depicting the autumn chrysanthemum, they were exquisite but not particularly stunning.

  After turning a corner, Yunzhu faintly heard several noblewomen speaking in hushed tones:

  "But it seems that Fugui had already prepared for the flower riddle." someone hummed lightly.

  Another person covered her mouth and laughed: "I don't know how many months have passed, who can't embroider in such a long time, and become so proud of it."

  "Maybe I'll get someone to help me with the embroidery..."

  Isn't that Ma Zhenyuan? Although Ma Zhenyuan's embroidery skills are good, among these noble ladies, she can't be considered particularly talented, but just caught some attention and brought about these rumors... Indeed, where there are people, there is a world of its own.

  There were also some noble ladies who had set up their painting tools and were quietly depicting the scenery in the garden. Some allowed people to comment, while others did not like being watched by others. The maids and servants standing beside them glared at anyone approaching with tiger-like eyes... How interesting.

  "Sixteen Aunt is over there, go and pay your respects." Juan Ya smiled and glanced at her.

  Yunzhu's face turned slightly red, and she nodded.

  Since receiving the invitation from Hua Ke, Guer Jia had already inquired about some details of the activities of the Eight Banners' noblewomen. Yunzhu had also decided on her own project. Her painting, embroidery and cooking were all good, but the first two took time, and she didn't want to waste the finished products on this occasion, thinking it was too showy. As for cooking, it's more enjoyable to cook for family and friends, not for others. Anyway, her calligraphy could be shown to people, so writing a poem about chrysanthemum would be fine at that time. Although she didn't have much talent in poetry, wasn't there the existing "Dream of Red Mansions" that could be used without wasting resources?

  Someone who has been through the end of the world doesn't think it's a crime to plagiarize poetry.

  The Empress Dowager saw the two of them approaching and her eyes lit up when she saw Yunzhu, carefully sizing him up.

  "Sixteenth Aunt." Ju Ya bowed to Zhuang's consort, Princess Fu.

  "It's rare for you to come to my place, don't be so polite. Who is this?" The Princess of the Zhuang family looked at the woman in her thirties, whose slightly square face shape gave off a bit of an English air, but her light eyebrows and smiling eyes, as well as her full red lips, brought out a sense of elegance and feminine charm that toned down that bit of English air. She was wearing a blue cloud-patterned cheongsam, with two small buns on the side of her head, and a green jade hairpin on her head, perfectly matching today's theme of golden flowers.

  "She is my cousin, the legitimate daughter of Uncle Li Rongbao."

  Yunzhu cleverly paid respects to Zhuang Sheng Wang Fujin, "Yunzhu greets Fujin."

  Li Rongbao was recalled to the capital due to health reasons and took up a relatively idle position, but he is still highly regarded by people today. Moreover, with Ma Qi in power and his sons showing great promise... the Fuca family should not be underestimated. Furthermore, the Empress Dowager intends to select a wife for the Fourth and Fifth Princes from among next year's candidates, and it seems likely that the Fuca family will be chosen. Since Ma Qi has no sons and his only daughter is already married into the imperial family, and the Emperor does not particularly appreciate Ma Wu's character... the selection may fall on Li Rongbao's daughter.

  "I often hear the twelfth sister mention you, hurry up and get up." Princess Zhuang's hand grasped hers, feeling a soft and delicate touch, with a faint scent of jasmine flowers that was refreshing to her heart. She was even more surprised in her heart, as she too came from a large family and had been married into the royal family for nearly twenty years, so what precious fragrances hadn't she smelled? What kind of Eight Banners noblewoman hadn't she seen? Just now when she saw Fuca Yunzhu, she felt that her appearance was elegant and refined, with a gentle disposition like an orchid, calm as a lake. She already thought she stood out, but unexpectedly, when she took her hand, her skin was even smoother than a baby's, and upon closer inspection, there wasn't even a hint of makeup on her face, and her body naturally had a fragrance... someone like this wouldn't be chosen, who else could be?!

  She didn't know how to learn, and her mind was racing as she pulled Yunzhu to a deserted square table with blank paper and pen ink on it. "Twelfth sister said you write well, today you must leave me a copy, so I can show off in front of her later."

  The woman who was writing poetry next to them noticed their arrival and caught the attention of Princess Zhuang, who was greatly displeased. She put down her pen and followed the other noblewomen as they gathered around Yunzhu.

  However, I have only copied a few Buddhist scriptures for my elder sister, and it's not worth boasting about. My elder sister, Fucha, was the eldest daughter of Ma Qi and married Yinzhen, the 12th son of Kangxi, as his primary wife. Since none of her biological children survived, she didn't get along with the concubine-born sons and daughters in the mansion or her younger brothers and sisters from her natal family. As a result, she poured all her maternal love into her cousin Yunzhu, who was around the same age as her own daughter would have been. Her care and guidance for Yunzhu sometimes even surpassed that of Guwalgiya, mainly because Guwalgiya had to manage household affairs and take care of many sons, despite loving her daughter dearly but having limited time to spend with her. Yunzhu was also extremely close to and fond of her elder sister, often writing letters to her while in Chahar and frequently visiting her mansion after returning to the capital. Her painting and embroidery skills were also greatly influenced by her guidance. Since most of Yinzhen's children didn't survive, Fucha gradually developed a habit of eating vegetarian food and reciting Buddhist scriptures. In light of this, Yunzhu couldn't help but copy some Buddhist scriptures as a filial gesture to her elder sister. Therefore, these words were spoken with sincerity.

  However, the grand invitation of Princess Zhuang's consort was also hard to decline. She picked up her brush with a flourish and dipped it in ink, "I'll compose a poem first, to add some fun for my sisters."

  It turned out to be the niece of Zhen Guo Gong Fu Jin! The noble ladies understood, no wonder Fu Jin gave her such a high status. However, even if her brother-in-law was the emperor's younger brother, he still wasn't favored by the emperor and was demoted to Zhen Guo Gong, how could he compare to Zhuang Qin Wang?... Various envious, jealous, and resentful gazes swept across Yunzhu's small face with its flawless skin that didn't wear any makeup.

  Carefully looking at the hanging poems of various families, the first one is Zhuang Qīn Wáng Fú Jìn's (wife of Prince Zhuang) version of Bai Juyi's "Ode to Chrysanthemum": Autumn surrounds the house like Tao's family, surrounding the fence edge as the sun sets. It's not that I particularly love chrysanthemums among flowers, but when this flower blooms, there are no more flowers.

  The second one is prominently Guō Gūn Wáng Fú Jìn (wife of Prince Guo) Niǔ Hù Lù Shì's version of Yuan Zhen's "Chrysanthemum":

  Rumors say that the Consort of Guang Wang is cold and arrogant, but I don't know if it's true. Following Yunya to stroll through half of the backyard of the Prince's mansion, I haven't seen anyone with a matching temperament and appearance. Could she have come and gone already? (The truth is...) With her background from the Guo Yu Gong Fu, such words are indeed suitable, but they're too overbearing. Not to mention that her father, Alinga, was on the wrong side during the struggle for the throne and offended the current emperor, even if he hadn't, this kind of temperament would likely not be favored by her husband either.

  It's just that the Guo County King's Mansion, which is about to be established, has only one legitimate Fu Jin, and now there is no sign of it. Compared with the historical records of his ruthless treatment of Yunxiang's Fu Jin, Guo Luoluo, the difference is too big... Could it be that Guo County King has a kind-hearted woman accompanying him outside? Guo County King is very capable, but he also likes to travel and spends more than half of the year on famous mountains and rivers... Yunzhu thought deeply, and someone outside said that it's okay, haha.