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  The Ping'an Princess Mansion arrived soon, and today's guests were all noble guests, so the gate was wide open. The big steward and the princess's personal attendants stood at the door to welcome the guests, showing respect.

  Before they could even get down from the sedan, a clear voice loudly announced, "The Honorable Yang of Jingguo State, Second Young Master Yang, and Princess Hui have arrived! The Princess of Jing'an has arrived! The Second Lady of the Yang Manor has arrived! The Thousand Gold of the Yang Manor has arrived!"

  A string of people signing up with courtesy and rules, men singing first and women later, first noble people and then madam and miss, absolutely making it impossible to say anything wrong, also making the guests look dignified, and the guests inside would know who has arrived.

  The old man got off the sedan chair in the front yard, and Yang Lan changed to a soft sedan chair near the front yard and went to the back yard. The driver will stop the sedan chair at the west corner door of the alley and wait.

  He Hui Chang Gong Zhu stepped down from the soft sedan first, and Yang Lan got off the sedan but didn't rush to catch up. Instead, she waited for her sisters to come forward together and walk behind their mother. She carefully lined up behind her sisters, and in the blink of an eye, the maidservants had changed positions without leaving a trace.

  Yang Lan brought out all the palace-born girls, who handled various matters with ease and had unique skills. As a result, the four senior maidservants, Biyue, Biyun, Biqing, and Bilian, didn't need to be instructed by her; each of them took the initiative to stand behind one of the four sisters, taking on the role of senior maidservant, and pushed their original maidservants aside.

  The three girls just took a glance, but didn't say anything, still with a smile at the corner of their mouths, closely following the footsteps of He Hui Chang Gong Zhu, not falling behind by even one step.

  A slightly older palace maid walked up beside Princess He Hui, wearing a black brocade jacket with rust-red lining and plum-colored underskirt. Her hair was combed neatly without a single strand out of place, secured only by a plain silver hairpin. She had a dignified demeanor and a gentle face that inspired affection, yet despite her simple headdress, she did not appear austere. Instead, her steady and composed aura commanded attention.

  "Granny Qian, how's Auntie's health lately? Has her appetite been good recently?" He Huan asked the granny with a smile.

  Qian Nai smiled slightly and said, "In response to Princess Chang's question, the master's body is fine, just a bit less aware, waking up early, and other than that, there's no problem. She eats one big bowl of rice every day!" She gestured with her hand as she spoke, very casual and intimate, it was clear that she was Princess Ping'an's personal maid who had served her for many years and had a good relationship with her.

  "That's good fortune! We should bask in Auntie's good fortune!" He Hui nodded repeatedly with a smiling face.

  Qian Gu Gu glanced back and swept her eyes over Yang Lan, then whispered to He Hui Chang Gong Zhu: "Is that girl with a bit of heroic spirit on her face the Jing An Jun Zhu?"

  He Hui Chang Gongzhu nodded, "How does it look to you?"

  Qian Aunty nodded, "Although I haven't met him before, but at first glance, he seems to be a straightforward and resolute person, with a strong sense of justice between his eyebrows. However, I'm a bit worried that he might have a quick temper?"

  He Hui immediately pulled Qian's hand, with a knowing expression, "Isn't it?! You're really sharp-eyed! This girl of mine is fine in other ways, but when her temper flares up, she doesn't care about anything, it's too fierce! I know that something that's easily bent will easily break! A few days ago, I invited the best embroiderer from Suzhou to teach her, supposedly one who understands embroidery patterns, and the child is very interested. I think it's a good way to temper her personality!"

  Qian Guagu is an old woman who has survived the struggles in the palace, listening to the tone of voice, she naturally understands that this county master is probably the apple of Chang Gongzhu's eye, otherwise she wouldn't be so serious, and she has a clear understanding in her heart, going back knowing how to respond.

  She just smiled and said, "You're worrying too much. I think this child has bright and clever eyes, and in my heart, I feel that he's not a reckless person. The child is still young! Take it slow, don't rush, the more anxious you are, the easier it is to go wrong!"

  He Hui nodded in agreement and the two of them walked towards the inner courtyard, chatting and laughing along the way.

  The girls behind were very curious, secretly glancing at the scenery in the mansion, whispering to each other which flowers were more beautiful and which had a better fragrance.

  Princess Ping'an is now surrounded by children and grandchildren, and can be considered a person with both good fortune and longevity. At present, she sits in the main hall, wearing a crimson silk jacket with golden edges and a blue cloud-patterned underskirt, on her head only wearing a pair of gold and red gemstone hairpins and a white jade peony flower hairpin.

  Sitting cross-legged on a soft couch with a purple sandalwood carving, the couch is covered with a large red satin embroidered with auspicious patterns, and behind it is a yellow silk embroidered with a hundred butterflies and flowers patterned pillow. On the couch was placed a small brazier table, on which were arranged three or four plates of various fruits.

  The two rows of chairs in the main hall are made of Huanghuali wood, carved with sea peach flowers and have a round back. In front of them is a tea table. A woolen blanket is spread on the floor. Behind the chair on the right side is a four-panel screen made of purple sandalwood, embroidered with auspicious patterns for all seasons. Behind the screen is a warm pavilion.

  Looking around the decorations in the house, a set of lotus-shaped tea utensils with pink glaze, Yang Lan quickly scanned the decorations inside the house. In a green glass bottle with purple flowers, several red plum branches were inserted, and sandalwood was burning in a blue-glazed three-legged elephant nose incense burner. A one-meter-high coral bonsai showed a different kind of red. The decorations in this house are probably no worse than those in the palace.

  He Hui led Yang's daughter into the house, first with a joyful smile: "He Hui pays respects to her aunt, wishing her aunt good fortune and longevity, may her blessings be boundless!"

  "You little monkey finally came to see old granny, come on, let me take a look. You've lost some weight, is it because of the water and soil in the south not suiting you? I vaguely heard that your daughter Jing'an has also arrived, which one should I take a look at?"

  Princess Ping'an's face was kind and gentle, her demeanor elegant and refined. She smiled warmly as she held He Hui's hand, speaking intimately with him.

  He Hui smiled and said: "Isn't that the little one behind? Jing'an, come over and pay your respects to your aunt!"

  Yang Lan took a step forward, her right arm waving gently at several sisters to follow her, and she herself bowed down, her clear and pleasant voice ringing out in the main hall, "Jing An greets Grand Aunt and wishes her longevity, good health and peace!"

  Yang's daughter also followed closely to pay her respects, her movements smooth and elegant, with a joyful smile on her face, "Greetings to Princess Ping'an, wishing the princess a long life like the Southern Mountains, may your smile always be present!"

  "Great, great! Good girl, ah! Look at these girls, how lovely they are! I like them just by looking. Quick, Qian Aunty, give them some reward!" Princess Ping'an smiled and beckoned Yang Lan to come forward and take a closer look.

  The old lady immediately brought out a box made of acid branch wood, inside which were several cummerbunds with gold and jade inlays for the girls to choose from. The quality of the items was the same, but they came in different colors: peony, peach blossom, begonia, plum blossom, orchid, chrysanthemum, etc., six varieties in total. At the same time, she had several girls sit down on high-backed chairs with right hands, and the maids immediately brought out tea trays made of black lacquer wood with auspicious cloud patterns, on which were placed several tea cups with plum blossom powder and frost patterns. With quick and nimble movements, they served tea to the girls.

  Yang Lan stepped forward with a steady pace, her smile lovely and her eyes bright and clear. She leaned in to tease, "Auntie, I've long heard that the fruit wine from your house is the best, today you must let me have two cups! At home, my mother doesn't even let me drink wine!"

  The old master of the Peaceful Family was delighted to have his grandchildren around him, especially the pretty and clever girls. When he saw Yang Lan's clear and intelligent eyes, he was even more fond of her, and hastily pulled her into his arms, smiling warmly as he asked: "Why doesn't your mother let you eat? Is she bullying you? Otherwise, why don't you become a child of our family? We have so many delicious things to eat!"

  He Hui couldn't help but laugh and cry, "Auntie, look at what you're saying! This child is drunk already! Not stable at all, last time she secretly drank her father's pear blossom wine, got drunk and slept for two whole days before sobering up, how could we let her drink again?!"

  "Oh my! You're such a little fellow, how dare you drink the Pear Blossom White? That's strong liquor! Good kids, today Auntie has prepared some fruit wine for you, brewed from our own orchard, it's sweet and fragrant. And there's rose dew to make your mouths sweet!" Princess Ping'an hugged Yang Shan tightly, speaking softly.

  Yang Lan tilted her head back and laughed innocently, "Really? Then I won't be polite! I haven't eaten anything since early morning, my stomach is growling. I want to try the cooking skills of Auntie's family. Okay, I'll go learn from the Empress Dowager!" She shook her head and swayed her body, selling her cuteness. With her fair and delicate skin, a pair of bright and clever eyes, and a rosy glow on her face, she looked extremely beautiful and lovely, winning the hearts of the elderly people.

  "Alright! Eat as much as you want and I'll make sure you're full! Come on, good kid, this is a reward for you, take it and have fun!"

  Princess Ping'an took off a string of Bodhi wood beads from her wrist, which was not very valuable, but it was given to Princess Ping'an by Master Minghui in person after opening the light in his early years. Now, Master Minghui is a well-known figure in the capital city, and he is the only disciple of Miao Zhen. It is said that he is very accurate at reading people's faces, and with his skills, he can easily move among the powerful and wealthy without getting involved in their internal conflicts. He is also a kind-hearted person who often helps the poor and needy around him, and he has a good reputation.