Chapter 729 Birthday Gift Completely Fulfilled [7k views, please vote!]

Today is a big day for everyone in the Huaiye Lane mansion.

From morning until now, throughout the entire day, there have been no traffic jams at the entrance of the Huaiye Lane residence.

Aside from a large group of relatives and fellow villagers who arrived from Nanlong at noon, Madam Zhen personally went to greet them.

There was hardly any lively scene at the main entrance, let alone a bustling traffic.

It is estimated that most of the neighbors in the surrounding area are unaware of this incident.

On the contrary, from time to time, one or two carriages with excellent privacy would arrive at the back gate of the mansion. After entering the mansion, a few guests would be dropped off, and then Zhen Shuyuan's personal maid, Banxi, would lead the maids to check the invitations and quickly escort the distinguished guests to the main hall... Everything was in good order.

As the only direct descendant of the Ouyang family, the aunt of the youngest prefect in the dynasty, a fourth-rank county lady, and a lady of imperial decree... Madam Zhen's birthday celebration would naturally not be so simple and plain.

Prepared by the noblewoman of the Xie family for a long time, it naturally followed the low-key yet solemn model of a prominent family:

The guests were all carefully selected and had close personal relationships with the guests; the gold-embossed invitations were also sent out in advance with great ceremony.

It emphasizes a low-key and private atmosphere with sophisticated standards.

Zhen Shuyuan had been smiling from ear to ear ever since the first batch of guests arrived in the morning.

Clearly, they were very satisfied with the birthday celebration arranged and hosted by Xie Lingjiang.

At least, the noble ladies from the five surnames and seven clans were quite adept at arranging maids and servants, setting up banquet venues, and preparing welcoming gifts. After all, they had been exposed to these things since childhood, and even without deliberately learning, they could quickly find the right track and handle the tasks well.

Although Xie Lingjiang had consulted her aunt, many of the items used for the birthday celebration were brought over by special ship from Xie Xue'e in Yangzhou.

However, the ability to arrange things so elegantly and properly also demonstrates a thorough ability to manage a household.

Sometimes it has to be admitted that one's temperament and refinement can only be cultivated through family background and tradition. This is how high-quality resources are monopolized and accumulated. Otherwise, if one is an ordinary farm girl, one can only rely on "diligence" to make up for one's shortcomings.

No wonder both the poor and the powerful families of the Great Zhou Dynasty were so eager to pursue women from the five surnames; it truly could instantly elevate their family's reputation and enhance their family's taste.

In folk tradition, women of these five surnames were even more "noble" than princesses, and some even said, "I would rather marry a woman from one of these five surnames than enter the royal family."

Previously, Ouyang Rong didn't quite understand why marrying a princess or a noblewoman would elevate one's social standing. However, after meeting a certain princess and accidentally accepting a bowl of water with floating intestines from her, Ouyang Rong suddenly realized the truth.

The reason is simple: the princesses of the Gan and Zhou dynasties were too fierce, extravagant, arrogant, and domineering, often referred to as having "princess syndrome." Marrying one meant the guest would bully the host, and one couldn't provoke her. Even if she made a mistake, there was no way to discipline her. To put it bluntly, the so-called "imperial son-in-law" was just a royal son-in-law. You can tell from the origin of the name: "imperial son-in-law captain," originally an official in charge of the emperor's carriage and horses. Well, the "弼马温" (Bima Wen, the official in charge of horses) gave a thumbs up. However, even the "弼马温" wasn't interested in the Seventh Fairy. There's also a little-known fact about marrying a princess: according to the Gan and Zhou systems, the husband had to observe three years of mourning after the princess's death, which was equivalent to mourning his parents.

In contrast, women from the five prominent families and seven noble clans have good backgrounds and upbringings, and they don't have the many problems associated with princesses. The five families also help each other, which greatly helps to improve the family's status and the husband's career. Most importantly, the husband's status at home is no lower than that of the wife, and they don't have to observe the three-year mourning period...

Looking at it this way, it's no wonder that women from the five prominent families and seven prestigious clans are more popular than princesses of this dynasty.

Therefore, ever since Zhen Shuyuan met Xie Ling Jiang Qi at Donglin Temple in Dagushan, Longcheng, she found him pleasing to the eye.

Now, my wish has finally come true.

Inside the main hall, Zhen Shuyuan glanced at Xie Xue'e, who sat in the nearby seat and exuded an elegant air.

Aside from the elders like the clan chief Xian Lao from Nanlong, Xie Xue'e was the one whose seat was closest to hers.

The head seat had originally been reserved for the people from the Prince of Xunyang's residence, but Xie Lingjiang persuaded them against it, saying that the young prince and the princess were traveling in ordinary clothes and there was no need to make a big fuss about their identities; everything should proceed as usual...

Zhen and Xie were both women of similar age, so they had more in common.

Although their personalities and temperaments were very different, Xie Xue'e never showed any disdain or contempt in front of Zhen Shuyuan. She was not aloof at all, but rather witty and elegant.

The two women even had a lot to talk about. Xie Xue'e liked to ask Ouyang Rong about his past, which hit Zhen Shuyuan's sweet spot. She recounted a lot of embarrassing stories from Ouyang Rong's childhood, and both beautiful women smiled.

However, Zhen Shuyuan knew in her heart that the reason they could have common ground was probably because this Mrs. Xie was too sophisticated and had outstanding emotional intelligence. She remembered what her nephew had said in a casual conversation: "A person who makes you feel like you are bathed in a spring breeze as soon as you meet them is either someone with similar interests or someone who is much more sophisticated than you. They are at ease and the process of getting along with you is naturally smooth and calm."

Zhen Shuyuan had a clear understanding of all these matters.

At this moment, she responds with laughter and treats Xie Xue'e as if she were her mother-in-law.

Because Xie Lingjiang's mother died early and her father Xie Xun was also gone, Xie Lingjiang had a close and affectionate relationship with her aunt, who naturally took the place of the female elder on Xie Lingjiang's side.

As night fell, outside the hall, apart from the lingering orange twilight on the horizon, only the dark trees hidden by the wall remained.

Zhen Shuyuan's gaze returned from outside to the maids in the main hall. Led by Banxi, they obediently and sensibly entered and dispersed to various parts of the main hall, lighting lamps one by one.

The main hall, which was originally dimly lit, suddenly became bright.

The relatives and guests in their seats subconsciously looked around and burst into laughter.

It's time for the lights to come on in every home again.

Zhen Shuyuan couldn't help but look around. The once brightly lit but desolate mansion was now bustling and full of people, with faces of old and new acquaintances and laughter.

Her mood inexplicably lifted, and she adjusted the crimson shawl around her arm—a gift from Aqing.

As the birthday girl of the day, Zhen Shuyuan wore a royal blue floor-length dress that she liked. At Xie Lingjiang's suggestion, she specially paired it with a red ribbon to tie her waist, which not only accentuated the tall woman's graceful figure but also highlighted her full hourglass-shaped hips and waist.

It can also be paired with a vermilion shawl to soften the rich and heavy royal blue color. A touch of red is needed as an embellishment to soothe the eyes. In addition, red also symbolizes good fortune and is in line with Zhen Shuyuan's status as the birthday girl tonight.

Zhen Shuyuan straightened her clothes and saw Ouyang Rong stride into the main hall.

It not only attracted her full attention, but also drew the gaze of all the guests inside the pavilion.

Zhen Shuyuan stood up, and Ouyang Rong raised his hand in the air, smiling as he said:

"Auntie, please sit down. Look who's here."

He turned to the side and gestured to the back. Zhen Shuyuan and the guests looked over and saw two men dressed as Ouyang Rong following closely behind into the main hall. Behind them was a blue-clad page with a round face, carrying two small gift boxes and looking around curiously.

The two men in front were about the same height. One had a stubble-covered, square face and a muscular build, while the other was exceptionally handsome, slender, and carried a folding fan.

The latter had a faint red plum blossom mark between his eyebrows, and he walked with a brisk pace. However, his beautiful features looked somewhat feminine, and upon closer inspection, he did not have an Adam's apple.

Without Ouyang Rong's introduction, Zhen Shuyuan immediately recognized the person who had come.

"Your Highness, Your Highness..."

She was about to stand up to greet them when she was politely stopped.

“Madam, please don’t stand on ceremony. My sister and I are here on behalf of our father… Father has come to wish you a happy birthday. Today, let’s just have fun. Madam is the birthday girl, so let’s not worry about those formalities.”

Li Dalang raised his palm from a distance and said with a simple smile.

The beautifully dressed man, Li Guo'er, nodded slightly, closed her folding fan, clapped her hands, and glanced at the surrounding mansion with her dark eyes, seemingly quite interested.

After leaving Yinbingzhai, Ouyang Rong went to pick up the Li siblings.

This time, Li Xian and Wei Mei did not come, citing illness as the reason. They also declined the celebration ceremony for the Donglin Buddha tomorrow, which was suggested by Ouyang Rong a few days ago, telling them not to come at all. However, Li Xian and his wife wanted to come to celebrate Zhen Shuyuan's birthday, but Ouyang Rong's words dissuaded them, and instead asked Li Guo'er and Li Dalang to present the gifts on their behalf.

Ouyang Rong said that if the prince and princess also came, Li Congshan and Rong Zhen would definitely bring guards with them, and then they would surround the Huaiye Lane residence three layers deep...

However, the Li couple were not without precautions while staying at the Prince's Mansion. Xie Lingjiang said that Li Guo'er had left them a powerful thunder talisman to protect them.

Where is Sister Xie?

Li Guo'er asked.

Ouyang Rong glanced at the sky: "They should be in the kitchen now."

Li Guo'er seemed to be deep in thought.

The Li siblings went to sit down to the side.

The round-faced maid Caishou handed the gifts she had brought to Banxi.

Zhen Shuyuan looked Ouyang Rong over and sighed:

"Tanlang looks so energetic."

In order to adhere to the principle of bringing the embroiderers home "clean and innocent".

Today, Ouyang Rong wore a brand-new blue scholar's robe, which was chosen for him by the embroiderer A Qing.

He also wore a talisman with a slip of paper containing the four characters "May we never forget each other" attached to it, which he hung at his waist.

He was already tall and slender with a handsome and sunny face. Dressing simply made him look even more clean, refreshing, and energetic.

Ouyang Rong habitually takes long strides, his steps exuding a strong and vigorous spirit, clearly a man full of energy. However, in his own words, he is destined to be a busybody.

Ouyang Rong and Zhen Shuyuan stood together, one in green and one in blue, standing out in front of everyone, complementing each other perfectly.

Sitting in her seat, Zhen Shuyuan grabbed Ouyang Rong's arm as he stood, looking at him with a touch of emotion, as if she couldn't get enough of looking at him.

"How come Tanlang has grown so tall and grown up so much in the blink of an eye, and become so accomplished..."

She murmured to herself, even though there were many people around her, and all eyes were on her, and today was an important day, the beautiful woman's eyes still involuntarily became a little moist.

In this bustling place, I feel a sense of nostalgia.

Zhen Shuyuan knew in her heart that if it weren't for her nephew's success and achievements, how could she, a "village woman," have such great prestige, invite so many people to her birthday celebration, and how could she have been granted the title of a fourth-rank county lady?

She unconsciously tightened her grip on Ouyang Rong's right forearm.

Ouyang Rong's attention was originally focused on the layout of the main hall.

Before he went to pick up the Li siblings, he stopped by the stables and took the Mo family sword box from the carriage, hiding it somewhere near the main hall.

Right now, they're not forgetting to study the terrain, just in case.

There's no way around it; a qualified swordsman should always be prepared to be the sixth-ranking officer.

Noticing Zhen Shuyuan's emotions, Ouyang Rong turned around and gently patted the back of her hand.

"I'm fine."

Zhen Shuyuan turned her head away, wiped the corner of her eye with her thumb, and smiled again.

At this moment, it seemed that the kitchen was ready, after Ouyang Rong nodded.

Inside the main hall, dishes were served one after another, filling the long table in the center of the hall.

As the banquet began, the clansmen and guests who had been waiting outside entered one after another to present celebratory gifts to Zhen Shuyuan and then take their seats.

Zhen Shuyuan sat in the main seat, responding with a smile, while Ouyang Rong stood beside her chair to keep her company.

Some close friends who were not relatives, though unable to attend, sent gifts through intermediaries.

For example, Old Master Qin and the Qin family sent a "longevity" character written by Old Master Qin himself, and Qin Ying also sent an extra gift.

Yan Liulang and Pei Shisan Niang were also among the guests. As Ouyang Rong's trusted subordinates, they were also given the opportunity to attend the birthday celebration.

However, after delivering the gift, Yan Liulang did not leave immediately. He leaned close to Ouyang Rong's ear and whispered a few words.

Ouyang Rong glanced at him, nodded slightly, and Yan Liulang withdrew.

A moment later, Zhen Shuyuan noticed that Ouyang Rong seemed to be deep in thought, so she turned her head and asked:

"What's wrong, Tanlang? Is something the matter?"

Ouyang Rong replied:

"It's nothing. It's just that Huaimin has something to discuss, but it might change, so he sent someone over to let them know."

Zhen Shuyuan asked, "That greedy fellow, is he upset that we didn't invite him?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head: "Whether I invite him or not is not something he cares about, but he will definitely complain if I can't take a vacation with him."

Zhen Shuyuan chuckled and didn't ask any more questions.

Ouyang Rong glanced at the night outside.

Yuan Huaimin sent someone to inform him that they couldn't meet up to go to Xunyang Grottoes tomorrow morning. He had to go ahead of time. It seemed that he had promised Yi Qianqiu that he would go to see the scene depicting the first ray of dawn illuminating the golden head of the Buddha. Since he couldn't go together, Yuan Huaimin told him to go by himself and to be careful... These were just routine concerns between colleagues.

However, Ouyang Rong felt a little strange; this old guy didn't seem to be the type to be polite and long-winded.

As Ouyang Rong pondered, the hall suddenly became quieter.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Banxi seemed to have come up to Zhen Shuyuan and reported something. The latter glanced outside, then turned her head to look at him.

The surrounding guests also turned their gazes toward the moonlit courtyard outside.

"What's wrong, Auntie?"

Ouyang Rong snapped out of his daze and casually asked.

Zhen Shuyuan gestured with her lips, indicating the outside:

"Look, was she invited by Tanlang? If so, please come in. It's a joyous occasion today, and all guests are welcome."

Ouyang Rong turned his head and saw a cold, elegant young woman in palace attire standing in the courtyard under the moonlight, her hands tucked into her sleeves. From a distance, she looked like a fairy banished from the moon palace.

It's Rongzhen.

However, she was wearing a deep purple palace dress today, which was quite unusual. She usually wore light purple, but today it was a deep purple, which gave off a noble and mysterious feeling.

They were about a hundred paces apart, Rongzhen and Ouyang Rong gazing at each other across the distance.

Ouyang Rong pursed his lips and gave the order:

"Banxi, go get the person... never mind, I'll do it."

He walked out of the main hall to personally greet the person. The guests were all curious about who this person was, to have such a grand presence that Ouyang Rong would personally come to greet him.

Li Guo'er, who had been looking down and bored, suddenly perked up, glancing slightly to the side with a half-smile.

Li Dalang, who was standing next to him, picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and put the cup down, muttering to himself:

"Didn't you bring the embroiderer back today? Why did you invite this lady as well?"

Li Guo'er nodded: "I love watching fights the most."

Li Dalang asked in confusion, "What fight?"

Li Guo'er blinked but did not answer.

Ouyang Rong came out into the courtyard and looked at the Lady-in-Waiting, whose sleeves and hair were fluttering in the wind, and said somewhat reservedly:

"Has Lady Rong really arrived?"

Rong Zhen started with a familiar opening line:

"I didn't intend to come, but I happened to be passing by. I need to go back to the city to visit the Censorate. Since we're both in Xunyang Ferry, I thought I'd take a look."

Her expression was cold, and her eyes were fixed on Ouyang Rong.

Ouyang Rong was about to speak.

Rong Zhen glanced at the various gazes directed at her from the main hall and interrupted, asking:

"Is it inconvenient? It's alright, just say so. It's not a big deal. If it's inconvenient, just say so. I have to go now, I'm leaving..."

She made a gesture as if to pull her hand out of her sleeve.

"etc."

Ouyang Rong subconsciously raised his hand and called out to Rong Zhen.

Having said all that, what else could he do?

However, Ouyang Rong soon noticed that Rong Zhen didn't seem to have moved at all; she simply changed the way she held her sleeves and changed her standing posture.

"It's not inconvenient at all." Having said that, Ouyang Rong shook his head and said, "Please come in and have a meal, but please don't bring any gifts; it's too kind of you..."

Before Ouyang Rong could finish speaking, Rong Zhen had already passed by him. The girl in purple palace attire was short, but she held her head high and walked into the main hall.

She followed the same procedure as the other new guests, going straight to Zhen Shuyuan and taking out a wad of red cloth from her sleeve.

Banxi stepped forward, intending to accept the gift.

Rongzhen ignored her, opened the red cloth, and took out a string of beads wrapped inside.

The young lady in palace attire who was currently in the presence of the empress, somewhat lacking in emotional intelligence, handed the Buddhist prayer beads to Zhen Shuyuan.

"These eighteen seeds for protection and safety were made by me. Madam can wear them often, but it's best not to keep them too far away from you."

She said earnestly with her little face, and added:

"When we first met, I accidentally disturbed you, Madam. I am very sorry."

Zhen Shuyuan glanced at her, then at Ouyang Rong behind her.

Ouyang Rong shrugged slightly, his expression somewhat helpless.

Zhen Shuyuan nodded, accepted the eighteen seeds, and politely said:

"Buddhist prayer beads are good; they can increase blessings and bring peace and protection from misfortune. Thank you for your kindness."

Rong Zhen seemed to let out a sigh of relief, looked around, and, having nothing more to say, turned and walked away.

Banxi led Rongzhen to sit down, but it was a separate empty seat, and everyone spontaneously made room for her.

Ouyang Rong also breathed a sigh of relief.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Zhen Shuyuan first placed the Buddhist prayer beads on the table next to her, then paused, picked them up and stuffed them directly into her bosom, as if nothing had happened.

Not far away, Li Dalang overheard his younger sister's regretful sigh:

"How thoughtful! It's a pity Sister Xie isn't here."

Upon seeing this, many of the surrounding guests inquired about the identity of the cold, aloof young woman in palace attire.

Soon, most of the dishes for the dinner were served.

However, the banquet still hadn't started, which puzzled everyone.

Just then, Xie Lingjiang and Ye Weilai returned to the hall together and sat down next to Zhen Shuyuan.

Seeing this, everyone thought the banquet could begin, but unexpectedly, Zhen Shuyuan's gaze fell outside.

Suddenly, Ouyang Rong's figure disappeared and reappeared at the doorway.

He was helping a pretty young woman who walked slowly into the hall.

Ouyang Rong moved very carefully.

Upon closer inspection, the group noticed that the pretty young woman's eyes, which were not covered by ribbons, appeared slightly dazed, and her steps were slow. She was carrying a bowl of longevity noodles in both hands as she approached Zhen Shuyuan.

Many people watched this scene with curiosity.

Rongzhen tilted her head, seemingly staring directly at Zhao Qingxiu.

Li Dalang watched with emotion as Tanlang bravely brought back the woman he loved and resolved everything.

To outsiders, this was a rather strange guest, but most guessed that he must have a close relationship with Ouyang Rong.

Zhao Qingxiu, dressed in plain clothes, came to Zhen Shuyuan's side.

No one knew that from the moment she entered the hall, her heart beat faster with every step she took, and when she heard Zhen Shuyuan's breathing, her heart almost jumped out of her throat.

Zhen Shuyuan's eyes remained fixed on the familiar yet unfamiliar blind and mute girl, and she asked tremblingly:

What happened to your eyes?

Zhao Qingxiu smiled and shook her head optimistically.

After a long silence, Zhen Shuyuan sighed and took the bowl of noodles.

She immediately put down her hand, reached out to touch Zhao Qingxiu's head, and her voice choked with emotion:

"Why is he still so unlucky... But he's a good child, good, good..."

As she spoke, she stared at Zhao Qingxiu, seemingly lost in thought.

"Ah ah."

Zhao Qingxiu had never wanted to speak before, but only meaningless notes came out, and tears welled up in her eyes.

I clearly didn't want to cry.

With many people around, the two women, who hadn't seen each other for many years, couldn't have much conversation and could only go through the motions tacitly.

But silence speaks louder than words.

Moreover, just going through the process made them all choke up to varying degrees.

Especially Zhao Qingxiu, whose thin chest was heaving violently, making one fear that her small body might not be able to withstand it for a moment. Seeing this, Ouyang Rong suddenly had wild thoughts and was somewhat glad that the embroiderer had learned the art of Qi cultivation, which also helped her to strengthen her body and prolong her life, so she was not as thin and weak as she looked.

Xie Lingjiang and Ye Weilai, working in perfect unison, immediately stepped forward to take Ouyang Rong's place and helped Zhao Qingxiu up. The two women led her to the main table next to them and comforted her gently.

Ouyang Rong stopped in his tracks and continued to stay by Zhen Shuyuan's side, watching her eat longevity noodles while also keeping the atmosphere lively at the banquet.

On the field, apart from some relatives and clansmen familiar with the Ouyang Rong family who looked thoughtful, many guests were unaware of Zhao Qingxiu's identity and were somewhat confused.

However, after observing from the sidelines, I could roughly guess what was going on.

Logically speaking, the person serving longevity noodles to an elder should be someone the elder likes and is close to. Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang would both be suitable, but now the task has been given to a beautiful but blind stranger.

Moreover, judging from her seating arrangement, she was sitting with Ouyang Rong, right next to Xie Lingjiang, even further ahead than Ye Weilai, suggesting a more superior status.

However, she is undoubtedly one of Ouyang Rong's women; at least for now, it seems that Madam Zhen has accepted her.

The ensuing banquet was a resounding success, and the women around Ouyang Rong also became cheerful, creating a rare atmosphere of tranquility.

Ouyang Rong ate two large bowls of rice, served by his junior sister and the embroiderer respectively.

The junior sister took the initiative to start a conversation, which livened up the atmosphere. Ouyang Rong, true to form, remained silent like a gentleman and handed the spotlight over to the women.

Zhen Shuyuan seemed to be observing from the side, and seeing that Xie Lingjiang was indeed accepting, she felt a sense of relief in her eyes.

Throughout the entire dinner, Ouyang Rong's attention was entirely focused on the rice in front of him and the women around him; he didn't pay much attention to anything else.

When the banquet ended, he looked around and found that Lady Rong was nowhere to be seen; he didn't know when she had left.

He had originally planned to see them off and inquire about tomorrow's celebration. Although the Prince of Xunyang and his wife were not attending, as the governor of Jiangzhou, he still had to go.

Ouyang Rong shook his head slightly.

Li Dalang and Li Guo'er came over to say goodbye, but they didn't go back to the palace immediately. The residence in Huaiye Lane had prepared a courtyard for them to rest in. They would go back with Xie Lingjiang tomorrow, which would be safer.

As for the clan leaders and villagers from Nanlong, Ouyang Rong had already arranged for them to leave Xunyang City by boat the next morning. He had some special considerations for this, and Yan Liulang would be in charge of this matter. Pei Shisan Niang, on the other hand, went back to make ice, and according to the plan, she would continue to transport some ice blocks to the Prince's Mansion...

Having dealt with these matters, Ouyang Rong relaxed, ready to spend the night with the women.

The dinner party made the guests feel right at home.

The main hall gradually emptied out, leaving only Ouyang Rong and several female relatives.

The music ended, but the people lingered.

But this time, with no outsiders around, we need to catch up properly.

...

——————

(PS: 7k words, still working on it. Next chapter will be updated before midnight tomorrow night! Requesting monthly votes or 2)

(End of this chapter)