Chapter 232 Afternoon Tea of ​​the Ming Dynasty Lady
In the first month of the year, when Liu Liu and Liu Qi's troops arrived at Bazhou, the backyards of every family in the capital were filled with horror. Even though it was more than 600 years ago that Huang Chao's incident took place, his deterrent effect still existed.

It was not until the imperial court sent a magnificent team consisting of Xianning Earl Qiu Yue, Right Vice-Chief Censor Peng Ze, and Honglu Temple Minister Ou Zanghua to suppress the rebellion that everyone felt relieved.

After all, Xianning Earl's military achievements are verifiable, and he is the top-notch military general in the court.

The Right Deputy Censor-in-Chief is known to be a tough guy and would never desert the battlefield.

The Minister of Honglu Temple is so handsome!

Until the end of February, good news came one after another, and the atmosphere in the capital changed again. The Minister of the Ministry of Rites was very wise, the Right Vice-Censor-in-Chief was very determined, and the Earl of Xianning was both wise and strong.

The three of them cooperated perfectly and beat Liu Liu and Liu Qi, who had once caused chaos in the world, into a state of disgrace and humiliation.

As a result, the capital city returned to its former hustle and bustle and prosperity.

What is Liu Liu and Liu Qi?
However, if the court took it a little more seriously, they would have fallen.

Under such circumstances, the families of the three families became the targets of invitations from the ladies of various families in the capital.

Peng Ze's wife, Wang, was born into a military family in Lanzhou and had a straightforward personality.

The first wife of the Earl of Xianning had passed away many years ago, and his second wife, Madam Zhang, loved reading.

The three met for the first time at a reading group organized by the wives of Duke Chengguo. Liu Qing brought Li Shuyan with them, and if they did anything impolite, someone would remind them.

Empress Ma made the Ming Dynasty women fond of reading. She was highly praised for her love of books and history, diligence in domestic affairs, and studying ancient teachings in her spare time and reporting them to the six palaces.

The concubines in the palace would often read the works of various philosophers or history books to absorb nutrition and educate the servants. The wives and daughters of official families would also organize themselves, the younger ones liked to run poetry clubs, and the older ones liked to organize book exchange meetings.

They would bring treasures from their respective families and share them with their sisters.

This was Liu Qing’s first time attending a book exchange meeting, and she didn’t know what books to bring, so she went into Ou Zanghua’s study to look for one.

"New Notes on the Lost", "Continuation of Xiangshanyelu", "Cheng Mo Tongwenlu of the Four Books in the Hongzhi Period of the Ming Dynasty", "Cheng Wenxuan of the Second and Third Sessions of the Provincial Examination in the Hongzhi Period of the Ming Dynasty", "Rescue of the Wind and Dust", "Wangjiangting", "The Story of the Three Suis Suppressing the Demons", "Collection of the Works of the Earl of Sincerity", "The Story of the Heroic Guest in the Jianghu".
From imperial examination essays to Buddhist and Taoist classics to historical novels, it can be said that everything is available.

Now I don’t know which one to choose.

Just when Liu Qing gritted her teeth and prepared to bring "Selected Works of Cheng Wen from the Second and Third Sessions of the Provincial Examinations in the Hongzhi Period of the Ming Dynasty", Li Shuyan discovered her and stopped her in time.

It was at this moment that Liu Qing realized that those ladies, apart from reading the works of various philosophers, would also read books on medicine, divination, and tree planting, as well as stories about supernatural beings and strange phenomena.

When Liu Qing realized that the things she usually read were also read by other ladies and young ladies, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief, as if everyone was back on the same starting line.

So she took out the "Fireside Notes" which she had edited herself, which contained five stories, namely "Liu Hai Cutting Wood", "The Legend of White Snake", "Lü Dongbin Plays with White Mudan Three Times", "Painted Skin" and "A Chinese Ghost Story".

The weather was great that day, with bright, warm sunshine, and Lady Chengguo organized this reading club in her own garden.

When Liu Qing arrived, many ladies had already arrived. Thanks to Li Shuyan's whispered introduction, she did not call the wrong person.

When she greeted everyone and sat down to rest, a maid immediately served her tea and pastries.

When it comes to food, the flower-growing families are indeed unique on Blue Planet. Take cakes for example. In the Ming Dynasty, they were divided into many types, such as steamed buns, biscuits, pastries, cakes, fermented bread, baked bread, noodles, balls, candies, baits, and koji. Then, the gluttons added grains or plant roots, stems, leaves, fruits, vegetables, and five colors and five flavors to make them rich in taste, with full color, aroma and taste.

For example, there are three cakes in front of Liu Qing. One is called Three-layer Jade Belt Cake, which is made of pure glutinous rice flour and divided into three layers. One layer of flour, one layer of oil, and one layer of sugar, which are sandwiched and steamed. After steaming, they are cut and eaten. Another is steamed Poria cocos cake, which uses 70% white glutinous rice, 30% white glutinous rice, and 20% to 30% lotus seeds, Euryale ferox, Poria cocos, yam and other powders, mixed well and steamed.

To make a Yanguan Thousand Layer Pie, you need to go through many steps, including mixing the dough, kneading the crispy dough, boiling honey, and frying.

Liu Qing covered his face with his left hand and picked up a piece of jade belt cake with his right hand and tasted it. It was sweet but not greasy, rich in layers, and had a moderate taste. It was very delicious.

Not long after, Lady Chengguo, accompanied by her daughter, came to the garden. As the organizer, she introduced all the ladies and welcomed the newcomers into their small circle.

After getting to know each other, the first session began. The ladies took out their books and placed them on a table prepared in advance. If anyone was interested, they could pick up the book and read it directly.

Liu Qing's book was soon discovered by the wife of the Earl of Xianning, who also wanted to come and get to know this young girl.

Lady Xianning looked at Liu Qing and asked with a smile, "Why is the book named "Miscellaneous Notes by the Fireside"?"

"Because when I was editing, it was the coldest time of December. My husband said, when we sit around the fire and brew tea, the years pass slowly, everything is peaceful and quiet. So I gave this collection of essays this name." Liu Qing recalled the warm scene on the boat and smiled gently.

"So that's how it is. I'll exchange this book with Madam Ou!" Lady Xianning said, and asked her maid to bring a copy of "Ping Yao Zhuan".

"Okay!" Liu Qing agreed with a smile.

When Lady Xianning Earl saw Liu Qing's sincere eyes, she knew that this was an innocent child. She thought that her husband was only in his twenties but was already an important official in the court, and that he had cooperated with her husband to quell the rebellion, so she knew that he had a bright future.

So she simply stayed with Liu Qing and discussed the contents of the book with her.

After hearing that "Miscellaneous Notes from the Fireside" were all stories written by Ou Zanghua himself, Lady Xianning liked it even more. She remembered the story of "Painted Skin" left behind by the top scholar when he left Beijing last year, which scared the masters and ladies in Beijing so much that the incense burning in the Baiyun Temple in Beijing increased by nearly 50% compared with the past. Those eighty-year-old Taoist priests were almost exhausted from drawing talismans.

At this point, Lady Xianning showed Liu Qing the amulet she had obtained from Lingming Mingyou Palace: "With this, Mr. Ou can write as many ghost stories as he wants. We are not afraid. By the way, sister, has Mr. Ou written any new stories?"

Liu Qing smiled awkwardly and shook her head. Her husband was so busy, how could he have time to write a storybook?

At this time, Miss Zhu from the Chengguo family took out a stack of gold pieces the size of two fingers and happily gathered the ladies together: "Ladies, it's rare for everyone to get together, why don't we play a game of "Zombie Hunting"! By the way, do Madam Qiu, Madam Peng, and Madam Ou know how to play this? It's a very popular game in the capital recently!"

Without waiting for Liu Qing to answer, Lady Chengguo said with a smile: "You are dancing right in front of the master. This game was created by Ou Keqing."

"Oh?!"

Miss Zhu's eyes lit up, and she immediately handed her ID card to Liu Qing, saying cheerfully, "Then Madam Ou will be the Chief Justice of the Dali Temple for the first round! To be honest, I have been the Chief Justice of the Dali Temple for four consecutive days."

"Is this game popular?" Liu Qing did not refuse. After taking the ID card, he began to shuffle the cards like Ou Zanghua.

"Mrs. Ou doesn't go out on weekdays, so she doesn't know."

Miss Zhu said excitedly, "Now if I don't play Zombie Hunting at a party, I'll feel bored. Not only in our backyard, but also in the front hall, the masters like to play it. My father even smashed a cup because my second brother was too stubborn to play it."

Liu Qing smiled awkwardly. Is it okay to say this?

The wife of Duke Chengguo obviously didn't care about these things, instead she smiled particularly happily.

With Liu Qing, an old hand, around, Miss Zhu had a particularly good time that day. After the other ladies who had never played the game played it once, they also started to like this game of wits and courage. When they left in the evening, they even made appointments with Liu Qing to play together next time.

Even Li Shuyan hadn't expected that his wife, who seemed a little weak, could actually get closer to these noble ladies through games. This was a rare and bizarre story.
(End of this chapter)