In the middle of the house was a large black lacquer round table, with several identical black lacquer inlaid mother-of-pearl rose chairs.

  This was what Shen Muqing had specifically instructed.

  If a square table is used, the seats must be determined according to status. But today's situation is too special, and it's really hard to determine who should sit where. For example, Qin Wei's wife, based on her husband's rank, is a superior product and should be seated first, but in recent years, Qin Wei has been idle at home, how can he compare with Hu Xin, the hot minister of the Imperial Cabinet? And then there's Liu Jin's wife. Although her husband was just a small commander of the Five Cities Military Command, she had a sister who became an empress... After thinking about it, she set up a round table in the house.

  Mrs. Li sat on the east side with Mrs. Hu Xian, while others sat around casually. Madame Feng, the wife of Prince Dingyuan, Liang Yuan, also sat in between, smiling brightly at her.

  Behind Mrs. Liangyuan stood a little girl with a round and smooth face, skin as white as snow, about one head taller than Shen Muqing. Judging from her figure, she looked like a young girl in her prime, but judging from her facial features, she was very tender and should be about the same age as Shen Muqing. She slightly hunched over, looking very shy.

  It should be Liang Yaohui, the youngest daughter of the Liang family.

  Shen Mu was deep in thought, and he knelt down to pay his respects to several madams.

  Madam Hu Xìn smiled and said: "Come, let me take a look at this capable girl - she has actually managed the household so neatly." This sentence was directed at Li Shì.

  Mr. Li smiled slightly, without intending to respond. Shen Muqing just smiled and walked over, bent his knees to pay respects to Mrs. Hu Xinfu, and respectfully called out "Old Madam", saying: "This is the old madam's favor!"

  Madam Hu Xing smiled and took Shen Muqing's hand, turning to face Madam Zhao Fu sitting beside her: "I'm also at an age where I've heard a lot, experienced a lot, and seen many people. I dare not say that I've eaten more salt than you all, but it's countless. This year she's only twelve years old, yet she can hold her own, with a bearing that even the Qin country's madam had when she was in her maiden home."

  The title of Qin Guo Furen is the noble title of the Empress, the younger sister of the current Emperor and the wife of Jin Wang. Her maiden name was Lin, and she was a cousin of Hu Xin's wife.

  Now, Li had no choice but to show up and socialize.

  She smiled and looked at Shen Muqing, humbly saying: "She's young and has a lot to learn. She can't compare to the Lady of Qin... The Lady of Qin was personally chosen by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager as her daughter-in-law, she's elegant and refined, with exceptional character, a truly one-in-a-thousand virtuous woman. If our girl can be half as outstanding as the Lady of Qin, I'll thank heaven and earth, amen."

  Shen Mu Qing also chimed in, "At home, there's my wife who teaches our housekeeper, and I just follow the old ways. Where did you get that from? Actually, my wife often mentions your family's young madam in front of me, saying not only is she beautiful, but her character is gentle and obedient to you, and she can take charge of both household and external matters. She told me to learn from the young madam."

  Hu Xin had only one son, who died young and left behind a posthumous grandson. Three years ago, he married the daughter of Liu Yuexue, a scholar from the Hanlin Academy, as his wife. The next year, she gave birth to a son, and the whole family lived in harmony. Shen Muqing's words had struck a chord with Hu Xin's wife, who laughed so hard that her eyes were shining: "Oh my, how did you come up with such clever words? It warms people's hearts just listening to them! I wonder which family will be lucky enough to marry him off!"

  Several ladies burst out laughing.

  Liáng Yòu Huì stared at Shěn Mù Qīng with a pair of big, curious eyes.

  Mr. Li smiled and said: "I only have this one daughter, let's just keep her by my side for a few more years!"

  Mrs. Hu Xinfu disagreed: "A daughter is a mother's embroidered belt, and it's only natural that she can't bear to part with her. But as the saying goes, 'a grown daughter is no longer under her mother's control', dilly-dallying will only lead to disaster, you should be concerned too."

  Shen Muqing didn't expect the conversation to turn to her marriage. To be honest, she felt that she was still young and had never considered this issue. Although she wanted to hear what Mrs. Li would say to these ladies, as a maiden in waiting, it wasn't suitable for her to listen to such talk. She pretended to be shy, lowered her head and said: "Madam, I'll go see if there are any other dishes." After finishing speaking, without raising her head, she was about to leave.

  A burst of playful laughter came from inside the house.

  Mrs. Liu quickly pulled Shen Muqing's hand and smiled: "Don't be annoyed, Miss, it's all because of us elders speaking without reserve."

  Shen Muqing was pulled by Mrs. Liu Jin and stood there with a red face, looking like she didn't know whether to advance or retreat.

  "Alright, alright! Miss Liang is still standing here and can't find her partner!" said Zhao Fu's wife as she stepped forward to intervene.

  Mrs. Liu smiled and pulled Liang Youhui over, saying: "Youhui, you and Shen Niang go quickly - we can also speak freely without restraint." Her tone was very familiar.

  Her words made everyone laugh quietly again.

  Liáng Yòu Huì's face turned red as she glanced at Féng Shì, who nodded. Only then did she curtsy to the other ladies and followed Shěn Mù Qīng out of the pavilion.

  Two people went to An Yuan under the escort of a group of maids and wives.

  All the way, Liang Youhui kept her head slightly lowered, looking at her toes as she walked.

  "Ah, sister, how old are you this year?"

  Liáng Yòu Huì's voice was as thin as a mosquito: "I... I'm thirteen today."

  "Sister is older than me by a few years." Shen Muqing smiled and said, "I was born on the ninth day of the first month, I don't know what date sister's birthday is."

  Liang Youhui listened and smiled shyly: "The tenth day of the first month."

  "Ah, if you were born a day earlier, you would be exactly one year older than me." Shen Muqing was quite surprised.

  Liáng Yòu Huì nodded with a red face.

  The two fell silent again. Fortunately, An Yuan also arrived, and Shen Muqing personally lifted the curtain to invite Liang Youhui in.

  Liáng Yòu Huì refused to go in no matter what: "How can I let my elder sister's servant beat me?"

  Shen Muqing had no choice but to let Zhu Di draw the curtain and led the way into the house.

  "How did you know my milk name?" Shen Muqing invited Liang Youhui to sit down on the large kang by the window in the east wing.

  Plum blossoms busy serving tea to Liang Youhui.

  Liang Youhui gazed at the white porcelain tea cup with a fish pattern in front of her and said softly, "I heard my grandmother and mother talking, I know that my younger sister is called Di Jie... should I call you 'Gū Niáng'..."

  The young lady's words were somewhat puzzling, and Shen Muqing raised an eyebrow: "Miss, what makes you say that?"

  She said with some embarrassment: "I know you are all from the south, I, I am from the north."

  Shen Muqing suddenly understood and laughed: "We are now in Kyoto, we can also be considered as northerners."

  Liang Youhui seemed to have let out a sigh of relief, smiled at Shen Muqing with an extremely gentle and quiet expression, and paired with her tall and plump figure, she looked a bit like the Bodhisattva in the Dunhuang murals.

  Shen Muqing smiled, intending to exchange a few pleasantries with her. Lu Mei stepped forward and asked, "Miss, where should we set the meal?" Shen Muqing looked at Liang Youhui, seeking her opinion: "Anyway, it's just the two of us, let's eat on this kang, it'll be warmer."

  Liang Youhui nodded: "Whatever sister says goes."

  Luo Mei heard this and immediately ordered dinner to be served.

  The rough-handed woman brought over the dishes on the table.

  A dish of venison cooked with ham, mushrooms and winter bamboo shoots; a pan-fried yellow fish with two golden sides; a cauliflower head stewed in meat made from tender heart cabbage; a young chicken steamed with sweet wine and autumn wine; a dish of wild duck breast meat mixed into a ball with superior soup. All were served on small plates with white porcelain and colorful designs, accompanied by two bowls of snow-white glutinous rice.

  Plum blossoms fall on one side, peaceful and serene.

  Shen Mu Qing instructed her: "Add another fish maw dish to the kitchen - since Miss is from the North, this is exactly the time for hot pot."

  Liang Youhui waved her hand repeatedly: "No need, no need. It's fine like this. With so many guests today, let's not bother. And I think the dishes are very exquisite." As she spoke, as if afraid that Shen Muqing wouldn't believe her, she pointed to the venison and said, "This is my favorite dish."

  "Since you like to eat, have some more." Shen Muqing picked up the ebony chopsticks beside him and personally picked up a piece of venison tendon and put it into the mud-gold small dish in front of Liang Youhui.

  Liang Youhui hastily thanked him and picked up a small dish, nibbling on it with relish.

  Her plump hands held a small plate, making her look even more buxom.

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and gave a signal with her eyes to Ying Fen, who was standing beside her. Soon, the shark fin soup was served on the table.

  "Never mind, miss!" Shen Muqing said politely.

  Liang Youhui seemed very uneasy: "How can this be good? How can this be good?"

  Shen Mu Qing smiled silently and attentively served dishes and soup to Liang You Hui.

  At first, Liang Youhui was still a bit reserved, but gradually she relaxed and swept away more than half of the cauliflower head stewed meat.

  Shen Muqing was very surprised.

  Normally, even if someone likes it very much, they will still keep a few copies in this situation...

  She smiled and said, "I've heard that Jixiangfu has a kind of dessert called 'Dian Bu Shu' which is extremely delicious, but I've never had it before..."

  Liáng Yòu Huì's face lit up with joy: "I said, how come this dish is so delicious? It turns out that your family has invited Jí Xiáng Fú to be the chef... Not only do they make excellent wontons, but they also have a type of sauce called 'laohujiang', which is great for dipping mantou and su bing. It's so delicious that it makes you want to swallow your tongue..." As she spoke, she seemed to recall the flavor of laohujiang and lightly swallowed her saliva.

  Shen Muqing smiled and called out to Luo Mei, "Go, tell the kitchen to make a plate of stir-fried noodles, and ask if they have any tiger paste sauce. Then make a few more vegetarian pancakes."

  The plum blossoms fall with a rustling sound and then disappear.

  Liang Youhui's eyes sparkled with a smile as she looked at Shen Muqing: "It was when my grandmother turned sixty that I had it, and I asked Bi Zhu to learn how to make it... Oh, Bi Zhu is the senior maid by my side..."

  Shen Muqing looked at the maid with a golden pendant beside Liang Youhui.

  The maid stood there with her head bowed and eyes downcast, without even twitching an eyebrow.

  "She deliberately let her go learn, but what she made was not as delicious as Jixiangfu's. I don't know why... I thought it must be because of the different ingredients, and specially asked Zi Juan sister who was beside my grandmother to help find..."

  Shen Muqing saw the maid raise an eyebrow slightly.

  "But the result is still different..."

  Shen Muqing smiled and replied, "Since it's a signature dish, there must be some secrets to it. If someone could learn it easily, how could Jixiangfu stand out in Kyoto?"

  (Sisters, weekend update! (*^__^*) Hehe...... Those with votes don't forget to support me!)