Little Cardamom

Bai Minmin felt that Ming Tan's habit of turning his elbows out before he even passed the door could not be changed no matter what. The closer the wedding day is, the more unable to hide Ming Tan's indistinct hatred for marriage.

Usually she is reserved outside, but when she talks in private, she often talks about such shameful words as "after getting married", and occasionally she holds her face and sighs, and murmurs: "I haven't been married yet." It's the end of the year!"

Both Bai Minmin and Zhou Jingwan felt blindsided.

Days passed by without any haste, the Duanyang Festival, which Ming Tan originally expected to meet his future husband, had already passed away with excitement, and in a blink of an eye it was July Qixi Festival.

The festival of begging for cleverness on the Qixi Festival has always been valued by daughters. Every year, the Xungui family will build a colorful building in the courtyard of their home for their girls to burn incense and pray piously.

It was also very lively outside, near the Qixi Festival, there was a lot of traffic and horses in Shangjing, and there were many shops on the street, and there were many more strange things than usual.

Ming Tan, who seldom goes out because of preparations for marriage, also stepped out of Jing'an Hou Mansion on this day.

According to the custom of the Daxian Dynasty, the girls' families would often give each other some small things on Qixi Festival. Ming Tan stayed at home preparing for marriage, and had nothing to do most of the time, so he gave Bai Minmin, Zhou Jingwan, Shen Hua, and other weekdays gifts early. The aristocratic ladies in Beijing who I befriended prepared sachets, handkerchiefs and other things embroidered by myself.

In fact, Ming Tan is not very enthusiastic about female reds, it takes a lot of effort to go through the needles, and it hurts the eyes. However, although she is not keen, in order to become a leader among noble ladies in Beijing, she has already practiced needlework to a very good level.

The objects made by her are exquisite in materials and novel in embroidery, even if the embroidery is not as good as some girls who are proficient in this art, it is quite delicate and lovely in the hand, and in the sachet, she also put a small Jewelry, rouge gouache, fine wood carvings and other gadgets.

Bai Minmin received a sachet and a very exquisite Kongming lock, which was brought back by Mingtan's elder brother who took office in Pangshan.

Pangshan is a small place, but it is close to the fortress, there are many merchants, and there are many novelty things. Every once in a while, her elder brother never forgets to bring some good things to Beijing.

Zhou Jingwan received a small round fan in addition to the sachet. The top-quality silk used for the fan is embroidered with budding camellias that suit her very well. It also imitates her handwriting and embroiders two lines of camellia poems that she made herself. The handle is perforated and wrapped with a very transparent Tassel jade pendant.

Zhou Jingwan couldn't put it down, even if she changed the fan.

This time, Ming Tan was too busy to prepare things with such care, and Bai Minmin and Zhou Jingwan were rarely embarrassed. What they prepared was really not enough to look at when they took it out.

Bai Minmin played with the Kong Ming lock in her hand, not knowing what she was thinking about. Listening to Ming Tan thinking about whether her complexion has become more radiant recently, and after she gets married, will her future husband like her appearance——

Bai Minmin suddenly put down the Kongming lock, beckoned to Mingtan mysteriously, and lowered her voice slightly excitedly: "Tonight, Bieyulou is very lively, do you want to go and see the excitement?"

Upon hearing Bieyulou, both Ming Tan and Zhou Jingwan stared in unison.

Ming Tan: "Could it be that you lost your mind and went crazy, what are you going there to do?"

Zhou Jingwan also covered her lips with a fan: "You have always been playful, but don't let the bustle of Yulou be a girl's house to join in, so stop talking about it."

"A Tan, I'm thinking of you. My second brother has some kind of friendship with Miss Shuiying from Bieyulou. You must have heard of Miss Shuiying's name. You just want your future husband to like you. I Looking at your little face, there is no need to bother anymore, if you have to worry about it, it is better to work on other places."

Bieyulou is the first flower building in Beijing. To be number one in Beijing, the power behind it must be extremely powerful, and there must be something special about it.

Although it is a flower building, most of the girls in Bieyulou are courtiers who sell their performances but not their bodies. Not only are they beautiful, but they are also extremely talented. Pay big bucks for it.

Miss Shuiying is one of the best.

I heard that this Shuiying girl was originally from an official family, but she was convicted of ransacking her home and was not enslaved before she was exiled in the Land of Fireworks. She has a beautiful appearance, a slender figure, and is proficient in all kinds of piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. Most importantly, there are countless men who bow down to her pomegranate skirt.

In fact, those who are really greedy for **** in bed will not be obsessed with Bieyulou. There are many gentle villages in Beijing, and there is nowhere to go. The nobles who come to Bieyulou mostly do it for elegant stunts.

However, this Shuiying girl not only attracted romantic and famous people to drink tea, cook tea and pass on poems to get along with each other, but also caused many princes in Beijing to fight for her, and she almost killed her. As attractive as she is, there must be something unique about her.

The idea of ​​a lady going to the Hualou to watch the excitement is really out of bounds, if someone bumps into her, she can't argue with it. And the reason why Bai Minmin made such a bold proposal is because every year on this day, Bieyulou will thank guests behind closed doors in a grand manner.

Although guests are not welcome into the building, everyone will set up another Qiqiao building outside and hold a banquet. The girls in the building will thread needles on the moon, lock spiders and weave webs, burn incense and worship, and do things that ordinary women do on Qiqiao festivals. Let's make another fun show for everyone, of course, there will be freshly arranged songs and dances to add to the fun, dancing under the moon, making poetic gestures.

Every year on Qixi Festival, the crowds who come to look up at the beauties outside the Bieyu Tower are full of people, which is quite spectacular. However, if you want to see the beauties up close, you have to have some connections to book a private room.

"Bie Yulou is going to Qiqiao today. There are so many people going to see the excitement. Let's go and see what's going on. It's not that we actually entered their flower building, but we just took a closer look at the Qiqiao shed outside. Who is that Shuiying girl? It's not an exaggeration to say that He Fengzi is so attractive. And if we sit in the private room, no one will notice through the screen." Bai Minmin said confidently.

"Are you asking me to learn from that Shuiying girl how to seduce your husband?" Ming Tanchi asked.

Bai Minmin: "..."

Understand it a little more straightforwardly.

She tactfully said: "I mean, you can observe why she is attractive, and you can also observe how she gets along with men."

This statement, Ming Tan is a little bit more acceptable.

These girls rarely see foreigners in their families, and it is difficult to say a few words when they see them, let alone get along with them. The high-ranking lady has always only taught how to control the middle class and how to make her husband respect her, but she never knew how to get along with her husband or how to cultivate a relationship with her husband.

Hmm...Ming Tan was actually persuaded.

Besides, it's just to watch the excitement outside.

Ming Tan was persuaded and moved, but Zhou Jingwan was unwilling to go, and she was weak, so Bai Minmin didn't drag her along.

At night on the Qixi Festival, the city of Shangjing is full of lights and crowds. Outside the Bieyu Building on the north bank of the Xianjiang River, the newly built Qiqiao shed is full of odd objects. The girls in the Bieyu Building are holding round fans, talking and laughing, and walking gracefully and gracefully. Fragrant wind.

Ming Tan and Bai Minmin wore veiled hats, got out of the sedan chair quietly away from the crowd, and went straight to the back of the Qiqiao building, followed by the servants into the private room in the building.

"Which one is Miss Shuiying?" Ming Tan asked in a low voice.

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw a graceful beauty covering her face with a fan, walking up the steps slowly, every step she took was reserved and coquettish. That kind of style is particularly conspicuous among the girls.

Come to think of it, this is the rumored girl Shuiying. Just such a delicate and uncommon mood is indeed enough to attract people.

When Shui Ying appeared, many people came out from behind the screen in the private room, stepped forward to warm up with him, and the second cousin of the Bai family who brought Bai Minmin and Ming Tan did the same, he couldn't wait to get up and come out.

The second cousin of the Bai family is indeed acquainted with Shui Ying, and Shui Ying also sells his face, always smiling softly and listening to him.

"...My sister, and my cousin also came here with me today to see your demeanor." The second cousin of the Bai family laughed.

cousin?

The water fills up slightly.

Those who are in their line of business are well aware of the family relationships of the dignitaries in the capital. The second young master of the Bai family has many relatives, including several cousins, but that one is not the only one in the capital... Shui Ying suddenly smiled.

With her smile, the bright moon seemed to turn pale tonight, and the second cousin of the Bai family stared blankly for a moment.

Shui Ying said in a soft voice: "The ladies are young, but they are still innocent and sincere. It is because they are straightforward and lively." She smiled again, "In this case, I must add a glass of fruit wine for the two ladies. Thank you for your kindness."

Bai Minmin and Ming Tan were sitting behind the screen, whispering to each other about the mood of this watery girl, who would have imagined that this watery girl would suddenly be served with a pot of wine and walk around to temporarily separate them with a screen The private room added wine for the two of them!

The two of them didn't even have time to put on the veiled hats they took off, their faces were filled with astonishment, and they thought to themselves: What did my elder brother (second cousin) say to this Shuiying girl?

And when Shui Ying saw Ming Tan's half-faced face, she confirmed her previous guess about her identity—the lord was given a marriage, and these subordinates couldn't even know the future mistress. The portrait was passed on to everyone early on.

Looking at it now, people are three points more beautiful than paintings.

As for the reason for the girl who is going to be married to come to the flower building to watch the excitement, Shui Ying knows it without even guessing.

The big wives of rich families are all self-respecting and dignified, but they also know very well in their hearts that just being dignified is not enough to please their husbands. They are afraid that their own girls will suffer from the loss of the first concubine after they marry. They have been privately asked her to teach the girls in the court all these years. There are also many people.

It's just that they didn't expect that their future mistress was different, and she came to observe quietly by herself.