Su He touched the box of incense pills and listened to the intimate laughter of several people. She looked at Yu Jiao and couldn't help but secretly guess what her background was. To be able to mingle with these young ladies from aristocratic families, she must be from the same family as the others, all of whom were high-ranking and prominent in Beijing.

Because they met in Qingzhou, Yu Jiao did not treat her with contempt like others, but looked at her as an equal and with respect. Therefore, Su He never thought that Yu Jiao was a lady from a wealthy family.

At this moment, she felt like she had accidentally walked into a grand banquet. The guests in the hall were either rich or noble, and she was the only one who seemed out of place.

There was a small stove on the table boiling tea, and the tea was making gurgling sounds.

"You don't need to be restrained. They are all easy to get along with." Liu Yaoyu saw Su He's nervousness. She was the one who invited her, so she should take better care of her. She picked up the teapot and filled Su He's cup with tea.

Su He smiled slightly and nodded in thanks, then picked up the teacup and took a sip, suppressing the slight shyness in her heart.

After Yu Jiao sat down next to Shen Wan, Shen Wan whispered to her, "I have found some clues about what you asked me to find out. The two maids are still alive, but they were sold to a brothel."

Chen Guan went to Yang's house on the second day after the coming-of-age banquet, but was turned away. Yang Jiyan claimed to be ill and refused to see her. She found out the whereabouts of the two maids from Mrs. Yang.

Yu Jiao's eyes flickered. As long as she was still alive, she was happy. She asked softly, "Did you find out where she was sold?"

Chen Guan shook her head and said, "I have arranged for someone to check with the matchmaker who handled the case, but there has been no news yet."

Yu Jiao nodded, "Thank you for your trouble."

Shen Wan smiled and said, "I just mentioned it casually in front of Aunt Yang. I didn't do anything. You don't have to be so polite to me all the time."

Cui Qiong and Song Jingrong were still looking at the incense pills in the box, sniffing the scent of the four kinds of incense pills one by one, and did not notice what they were whispering.

Liu Yaoyu stood up and pushed open the lattice door on the side facing the water, holding up the curtain. The cold air rushed in, but because of the charcoal stove, people didn't feel cold.

The view from this waterside pavilion is excellent. Due to its high terrain, you can take in the orderly scenery of the entire garden. To the east of the Xixin Pond is the Tianxin Terrace, in front of which stands a three-peak Taihu stone, which looks like the three characters of Fu, Lu and Shou. To the west is the Xianghai Huaxi, with protruding rocks and exotic flowers alternating between them, including the red-faced Gongpin Plum, the gorgeous Mo Plum, the Longyou Plum with twisted branches and agile like a swimming dragon, and the dead old plum tree with twisted branches and sparse shadows.

Further away is the octagonal three-story Nianqu Tower, which is the iconic building of the plum garden here. Yu Jiao looked at the towering green-tiled tower top and inexplicably felt a sense of familiarity.

Seeing that Yu Jiao was very interested in the Nianqu Tower, Song Jingrong explained to her in a gentle voice, "The word Nianqu in this tower is taken from the line 'Alas, my mother's heart, gave birth to me with great pains' from the Book of Songs, Xiaoya..."

Yu Jiao subconsciously continued, "Is there also the line 'My heart is broken, my mother has toiled' from the Book of Songs?"

Song Jingrong was stunned for a moment, then smiled and nodded, "Yes, there is such a sentence. It is said that Nian Qu Pagoda is meant to commemorate mothers."

Yu Jiao tightened her hands holding the heater slightly, her expression changed slightly, and she looked at the scenery in the garden seriously, her eyes fell on the Nian Qu Tower.

Her fingers holding the heater tightened more and more, and no one knew the sudden storm in Yu Jiao's heart.

There was also a plum garden in Jiangnan in later generations. She had visited there with her senior brother Fu Chuan. The layout of the garden was extremely similar to this one. She could not remember whether there was a Xixin Pool and Tianxin Terrace in the plum garden beside Taihu Lake in later generations, but she clearly remembered the Nianqu Tower.

Yu Jiao closed her eyes. She still remembered the time when she entered the Nian Qu Tower. Her senior brother Fu Chuan also told her that the name of the Nian Qu Tower was taken from the Book of Songs.

Why would Taiyan have such a similar plum garden, and why both have Nianqu Tower? Yu Jiao couldn't tell what she felt at the moment, and she didn't dare to make too many associations. After all, Taiyan was a dynasty that was not recorded in history, and there were many ancient books and allusions here that were also recorded in later generations.

Perhaps the plum garden that she and her senior brother Fu Chuan went to was passed down from ancient times. Just like the ancient temples like Lingyin Temple, it is not surprising that Taiyan also has such a plum garden.

Although she gave herself a relatively reasonable explanation, Yu Jiao's mood was difficult to calm down for a long time. The palms holding the hand warmer were sweaty. She looked at Nian Quta in a trance, so much so that she didn't even hear Cui Qiong and the others talking about burning incense and playing the piano.

Song Jingrong is good at playing the seven-stringed zither. The maids set up the zither and Song Jingrong played a song first. Liu Yaoyu intended to let Su He play the pipa at the end to amaze the ears of everyone present.

Song Jingrong's guqin music was indeed very moving. Yu Jiao gradually calmed down amidst the pouring sounds of the guqin.

Chen Guan was good at playing the zither, and her skills were equally good as Song Jingrong's. She played a piece of flowing water, and the deep and distant sound of the zither harmonized with the sound of the trickling spring, which made people feel calm and peaceful.

Liu Yaoyu and Cui Qiong were not as accomplished as Song Jingrong and Shen Wan in playing the zither, but they both played a tune. Yu Jiao sat by the railing, leaning against the beauty backrest. The air she breathed in was the mist from the burning apricot altar in the pavilion, the melodious and clear sound of the zither filled her ears, and the light mist of the Xixin Spring and the pleasing cinnabar plum blossoms filled her eyes. This was her leisurely and elegant life.