Murong Sheng held Zhang Cuihua's hand and replied respectfully with a smile, "I've been out inspecting the shops, not eating well, not sleeping well, so it's normal to lose a bit of weight. If I were as afraid of getting fat as Xie Kun, I'd be worried to death!"
These words happened to be overheard by Xie Kun. He waddled over, his belly shaking, a smile on his face. "What's wrong with being fat? I call this being blessed. You're just envious and jealous, aren't you, old lady? Kun'er is right, isn't he!"
Zhang Cuihua smiled at the newcomer and nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, yes, you're right. But I think you've lost a bit of weight since last month. My eldest daughter-in-law made a lot of good food today, you should eat more to nourish yourself!"
Xie Kun bared his teeth and chuckled, raising an eyebrow triumphantly at Murong Sheng. "Only Auntie understands me. I can't resist temptations when it comes to good food!"
Laughter filled the garden. Murong Sheng's wife, Lady Murong Li, whispered in his ear, "Husband, I'll take Yongqing and Shuya to pay respects to the Princess."
Murong Sheng glanced at the garden. There were many people, and they hadn't paid their respects to the Prince and Princess yet. His wife and children couldn't stay here!
"You take Shuya to pay respects to the Princess, and I'll take Yongqing to pay respects to the Prince. Our son and daughter are grown now, it's time for them to show themselves!"
Lady Murong Li nodded, then led her daughter, Murong Shuya, to the Princess's courtyard!
Qingfeng Bamboo Courtyard.
Qiufen smilingly led Madam Murong into the Peony Hall in the inner courtyard.
Madam Murong, Li Meilan, entered the room with Murong Shuya. Seeing Zhao Jiaqi seated on a cushion, she smiled warmly at the mother and daughter.
Bowing, she said, "This commoner and her daughter pay their respects to the Princess. May Your Highness have peace!"
Although they had met a few times, Li Meilan habitually addressed Zhao Jiaqi as Princess. But after speaking, her daughter subtly reminded her, and she realized she had used the wrong title. Just as she was about to correct herself, a voice reached her ears.
"Sister-in-law, please rise quickly. I think it's fine to call me Princess. If you could call me sister-in-law, I'd be even happier!"
As Zhao Jiaqi spoke, Qiufen stepped forward to gently help Li Meilan up and arranged for her and Shuya to sit on chairs below Zhao Jiaqi.
Li Meilan, a woman in her mid-thirties, had well-maintained skin, exuding a hint of charm and allure. Compared to the delicate young buds of today, someone like her was more eye-catching!
"We've known Brother Sheng for many years, and we all came from Yulin Town. We rarely see you, so it's understandable that we're not very familiar. Bring your nephews and nieces to the mansion to play more often in the future, and you won't seem so distant!"
Li Meilan had only heard her husband say that they were approachable. But in her mind, how could those who had been emperor and empress sit as equals with people from the common folk? But seeing them alone today, she believed it!
Her body relaxed considerably, and her face was no longer stiff. She smiled and replied, "To tell you the truth, Your Highness, I often go out to chat with my girlfriends, drink tea, and go shopping. But my lord always says that the children have grown up, and if I show my face too much, it will affect the children's reputation. He will make things difficult for me, so I don't dare to go out casually!"
Zhao Jiaqi heard this and chuckled, "What kind of thinking is this, Brother Sheng? If you don't leave the mansion, how will you know which young master is good, or which young lady is gentle and virtuous? Relationships are built through frequent contact. If you don't see each other for a long time, even the best relationships will fade."
How could Li Meilan not understand? But her husband's words were law in the household, and she didn't dare to refute them. She forced a laugh, "Your Highness speaks wisely!"
Sensing her unspoken difficulty, Zhao Jiaqi didn't press the matter further. Instead, she looked at Murong Shuya, who was sitting beside her. The first time she saw her, she was a rosy-cheeked, exquisite little doll. Now she was a young lady!
"Shuya must be fifteen or sixteen this year, isn't she? She looks seven-tenths like her mother. If we met on the street, I might even mistake her for you!"
Shuya rose, bowed slightly, and performed a proper curtsy. She replied softly, "Replying to Your Highness, this commoner is sixteen this year!"
Zhao Jiaqi looked at the girl, so poised and speaking so softly, and found her very endearing. Thinking of her own daughter's temperament made her head ache!
They say other people's husbands are good, and their own children are good, but why was it the opposite for her!
"Sit down and talk. When you're here, it's like being at home, no need to be reserved!"
Although she sincerely told them not to be nervous, their deeply ingrained beliefs made it impossible for them to break free!
The imperial family was like the clouds in the sky, while commoners, and even the lowest merchants, were like mud underfoot. Although they had money, they didn't have the same prestige as those who pursued official careers.
When the conversation turned to children, Li Meilan boldly put on a thick skin and asked for a favor. For the sake of her child's future good match, she wouldn't mind losing face this once!
"Your Highness, my daughter is exactly sixteen this year. There have been proposals, but they are all from the sons of merchants. My husband and I have bowed and scraped our whole lives, and we only wish to find a match with an official for our child. However, we don't know many officials and don't understand them well. I would like to ask Your Highness to be a matchmaker and introduce us to one or two!"
Faced with this request, Zhao Jiaqi frowned slightly. It wasn't that she didn't want to arrange marriages, but she advocated for free love between men and women. However, this was clearly impossible here and not allowed by the world.
Merchants wanted to marry into official families, but official families aimed for higher connections. Introducing suitable partners was truly difficult, and if she mediated, it would surely succeed. But she didn't want to do that!
After pondering for a moment, she felt she could act as an intermediary, bringing eligible bachelors together. Whether it was for entertainment or poetry and painting, she would let them choose for themselves. If both sides were interested, it would naturally fall into place.
"Sister-in-law, please allow me to consider. Since our Yun Kingdom enacted the law that men marry at twenty and women at eighteen, a sixteen-year-old girl not being betrothed is not considered late. There's no rush. However, I will definitely provide an opportunity for unmarried men and women to get to know each other. How they choose will depend on the children!"
Her words revealed three important points that Li Meilan naturally understood!
First, the children were young and not yet of marriageable age. Second, she intended to hold a selection event for potential spouses. Third, she would let the children make their own decisions, which essentially meant she didn't want to interfere in the marriage affairs of the next generation!
This was equivalent to the Princess simply hosting a banquet, and it was uncertain who would be matched.
Li Meilan subtly glanced at her talented and beautiful daughter beside her, her confidence unshaken. She resolved that she must find an official son-in-law for her daughter!
Suya walked in and noticed that the atmosphere in the hall was not as warm as before. She said, "Madam, many guests have arrived. This servant noticed that it's quite warm outside today, so I arranged for Madam and the young ladies to go to the warmed pavilion to admire flowers and drink tea. Madam Song and Madam Fan have just arrived and are heading towards the warmed pavilion."
Madam Song and Madam Fan were here?