Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World.

Chapter 101 Housewarming Banquet!
The sun is rising.

New Fuzhong Gate.

"Slightly to the left."

Jiang Zhao, dressed in a silk robe, directed several scholars to hang the new plaque.

Jiang Mansion!

The two large vermilion characters on the new plaque are ancient, vigorous, and solemn.

"Is that so?" Su Shi asked, holding up the newly hung plaque, his view somewhat limited.

The plaque is located in the center of the courtyard.

"Yes, yes, yes." Jiang Zhao nodded quickly.

The hanging of the new plaque carries a certain significance.

Several friends came to help out.

Su Shi and Su Zhe climbed the ladder to hang the plaque, while Zhang Heng and Zhang Dun held the ladder to prevent it from slipping. Zeng Bu and Zeng Gong passed wooden mallets, iron chains, and other items as needed.

Jiang Zhao was in charge of command.

"clatter!"

"clatter!"

Su Shi and Su Zhe held wooden mallets, striking the wooden tenons and tightening the iron chains.

In no time, the new plaque was securely hung.

After hanging the new plaque, Su Shi suddenly jumped and landed nimbly.

"Thanks for your hard work!"

Jiang Zhao smiled gently and served several cups of tea at the right time.

The group took tea one after another and looked up at the plaque that had been hung up.

This kind of activity, which is not difficult but has a certain significance, is quite in line with the "refined" requirements of literati.

Especially at sunrise, when the weather is neither too hot nor too cold, gathering with a few close friends for some light exercise is truly delightful.

"Zichuan's calligraphy is indeed reminiscent of a master's work!" Su Shi took a sip of tea, glanced at the calligraphy on the plaque, and couldn't help but praise it.

"Haha." Jiang Zhao smiled gently and waved his hand: "It's nothing more than relying on a sense of pride to force myself to write. If we're really talking about the style of a master, we still have to look to Su Shi and Zhang Zihou."

Jiang Zhao wasn't just being modest when he said that.

This is the truth!

From a calligraphic perspective, his calligraphy reflects the magnanimity and spirit of a person in a high position.

The calligraphy skills alone are not particularly high; it is more the demeanor of the person in a high position that elevates the quality of the calligraphy.

In terms of pure calligraphy skills, he is actually inferior to Su Shi and Zhang Dun.

Su Shi and Zhang Dun exchanged a glance but did not refute it.

The seven sons of Jiayou all possess unique skills.

They are all friends who have known each other for many years, and since it involves their professional expertise, there is no need to be deliberately humble.

"Let's go inside and take a look around."

Jiang Zhao clapped his hands: "It won't be very convenient when the ladies come to visit later."

In this era, women rarely show their faces in public.

Generally speaking, women only have the opportunity to gather together at large-scale events or banquets hosted by high-ranking officials.

For this reason, all the wives and noblewomen of officials cherished the opportunity to gather and have fun.

Within half an hour at most, the wives and noblewomen of officials would gradually arrive at the door.

Around noon, officials had almost an hour to take a nap.

This period is when civil officials visit as guests.

We specifically set aside our lunch break for this gathering; there was no other way.

Compared to the idle military officers and nobles, civil officials were indeed much busier.

Bianjing was the center of all government affairs, and civil officials had to handle government matters at all times except on holidays.

In comparison, military generals and nobles could hold ten large gatherings, while civil officials might not even have time to hold one.

The group nodded in agreement.

Just then, a shout came.

"Zichuan."

The group turned around and looked back at each other.

Gu Tingye waved to greet him with one hand and carried a brocade box in the other as he walked slowly over.

"Zhonghuai!"

Jiang Zhao waved in response.

In less than ten breaths, Gu Tingye had already approached.

"On the occasion of your housewarming, I humbly present this small gift to express my congratulations."

With that, Gu Tingye laughed heartily and presented the brocade box.

"In that case, it would be impolite to refuse."

Jiang Zhao accepted the brocade box with pleasure.

"Let's go for a walk in the garden."

The group walked around for nearly half an hour. As an imperial residence, and a garden of a hundred acres in size, it had everything one could need.

Flying brackets and intricate arches, winding corridors encircling the courtyard.

Carved window lattices and stone screen walls.

The lotus pond is serene and tranquil, with lotus pods peeking out from behind the water, and a faint fragrance of lotus blossoms filling the air.

Whether it's lotus flowers reflecting the sun or withered lotus leaves listening to the rain, both evoke a first-rate artistic conception.

The rockery garden is lush with beautiful trees, vines entwined, crabapple branches drooping, and plum blossoms casting slanting shadows.

Ginkgo, pine, tallow tree, red maple, willow, osmanthus, all are present.

There is also a stream about ten feet long that runs through the area, with clear water and occasional small fish swimming around.

Main hall.

Su Shi couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "This house is really big!"

Who would have thought that a cursory stroll would take half an hour?
exaggerate!

Jiang Zhao smiled faintly.

"No matter how big the house is, you'll only sleep in one bed."

"At first, I was overjoyed to receive the Emperor's gift. However, I gradually got used to it. In the end, whether the house is big or small, it's all for sleeping and resting."

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback.

No matter how big the house is, you'll only sleep in one bed.

There is indeed a reason why it's best not to say what needs to be said.

"I have learned a lot," Su Shi said, bowing with his hands clasped.

Jiying Lane, Sheng Mansion.

Linqi Pavilion.

"Mo'er, why don't you try on a ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress)?"

Lin Qinshuang held a round fan and waved her hand. A maidservant then pulled open a pale pink peony-patterned ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), embroidered with gold petals and adorned with a few peony flowers, over which was a rose-red gauze dress. (Illustration)

Because it's a light pink color and a girl's outfit, if it's paired with a pendant, it won't look glamorous at all; instead, it will look more refreshing.

Sheng Molan shook her head.

This set is usually fine, but this time it's my brother-in-law's housewarming party.

At that time, there will surely be many noble ladies and powerful gentlemen.

With just this one outfit, she might outshine everyone else.

She occasionally wore a light pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), but she knew that light pink was not a good color to highlight the temperament of a lady from a respectable family.

Can't get on the table.

"What about this one?"

Lin Qinshuang waved her fan, and her maid pulled open a moon-white silk jacket, revealing a lotus-root-colored gauze dress underneath. Only a few sparse plum blossoms were embroidered with silver thread at the collar and cuffs, paired with a light blue pearl pendant, making the dress relatively simple and understated.

In the past, whether Lin Qinshuang was busy fighting for favor at home or Sheng Molan was busy outshining Sheng Rulan, they almost never chose simple and plain clothes.

"This one."

Sheng Molan hesitated slightly, then slowly nodded.

"Just this one!"

Wealthy families tend to prefer dignified and reserved women.

Lin Qinshuang waved her fan, and the maidservant hurriedly went up to help her change her clothes.

"Mo'er."

Lin Qinshuang advised, "Once you enter the Jiang family, remember to be observant. If you have the chance to get to know one or two powerful young masters, that would truly be a blessing from heaven."

"I've got it." Sheng Molan nodded repeatedly.

Wei Ruixuan.

"Is Mo Lan going too?"

Sheng Rulan patted the ruqun she had specially chosen, her face full of surprise.

“That’s for sure,” Wang Ruofu muttered. “At these kinds of gatherings, the women either don’t go or they all go. Otherwise, wouldn’t it make you, the eldest sister, seem petty and treat your younger sister differently?”

She also didn't want Mo Lan to attend the housewarming party.

Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about it.

If we're going, we definitely have to go to all of them.

Shou'an Hall.

Sheng Minglan, dressed in a light green ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), calmly held a cup of tea.

"Your brother-in-law's housewarming party will be full of top-tier socialites. Aren't you going to change your clothes?"

Grandma Sheng took a sip of tea and, seeing her granddaughter dressed in ordinary clothes, couldn't help but ask.

"If my granddaughter changes her clothes, even noble ladies from prestigious families would probably look down on me," Sheng Minglan said with a good sense of self-awareness.

Being born out of wedlock presented too many limitations in that era.

Grandma Sheng shook her head and sighed, saying nothing more.

……

(End of this chapter)