old enemy
After a long absence, Lin Xu couldn't help but feel a little nervous entering the palace again, even though they were always cautious and careful, and there were many female relatives walking slowly in front and behind them, and the crowd was bustling.
Women and their families were ordered to enter the palace in order of their social standing and rank. However, Lin Xu and Dou Zhen were there as classmates from Zhiqiong Hall, so they were ahead of the other third-rank noblewomen.
After finally passing through two palace gates, Lin Xu and her group handed in their gift lists. Although Zhu Ling was still young, she was quick-witted and worked together with the head maid of the Ceremonial Office and the head of the Ministry of Rites to carefully review the gift lists. Only then could they truly relax and take their seats, waiting for the banquet to begin.
Taking advantage of the break, Lin Xu was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief and take a look around while the palace maids offered her warm towels and fragrant dew for her to wash up.
Such a grand occasion was a rare occasion, so all the ladies from noble families were naturally dressed in their finest attire, exuding both solemnity and ingenuity, each displaying their unique beauty. Among those seated close to them were several renowned ladies from prominent families who enjoyed a high reputation in Mujing.
A slightly older woman, dressed in a ceremonial robe and embroidered shawl, adorned with several gold hairpins, sat between two plump and elegant noblewomen. As the woman washed her hands, the tassels swayed gently, and the jewels she wore shimmered subtly in the palace lamplight. Lin Xu recognized this face; it was the Princess Consort of Gong, whom she had met once in her previous life.
But that meeting, to be honest, wasn't exactly pleasant...
However, the important matters at hand are not the time for reminiscing. Lin Xu lowered his eyes and looked ahead again.
In a corner not far away, several familiar faces were spotted again. A woman with her hair styled in a coiled bun and wearing a light purple brocade robe with a hundred flowers was whispering softly to several other women, her appearance gentle yet elegant.
It was Yang, Gao Youyi's elder sister-in-law, who was a guest of honor when Lin Xu came of age.
Seated to Yang's left and right were Madam Jiang and Madam Song, who had previously visited the Dou family for tea. Beside them was a noblewoman, likely a second or third-rank official. Yang spoke quietly with the women, behaving very politely. Perhaps noticing the gazes drifting from afar, Yang looked up, saw Lin Xu, and smiled gently at her.
At her coming-of-age ceremony last time, Yang was her principal guest and had helped her uphold justice quite a bit. With Gao Youyi as a connection, they were naturally very friendly upon meeting again. Lin Xu nodded and smiled in return.
Meanwhile, Madame Chiang Kai-shek was dressed quite formally today, wearing a shawl embroidered with blue phoenix patterns, a blue gauze jacket with gold embroidery, the patterns were intricate, and she wore a pheasant crown adorned with seven pearls. She also had a soft gold belt around her waist, exuding a dignified and elegant air.
Jiang Heng is currently quite influential in the court. The Jiang family was originally a prominent family in Beiyuan, and now it's rumored that matchmakers are constantly knocking down their door... When Lin Xu last met Madam Jiang, he felt that her every move exuded elegance and refinement, clearly indicating she would disdain a marriage alliance with the ill-mannered Yao family. He wondered if Madam Jiang was aware of the mutual affection between Jiang Heng and Dou Zhen.
Lin Xu glanced at Dou Zhen and saw that she looked slightly worried. She was holding the teacup in her hands with her head down and was also silent, no longer paying attention to her surroundings.
She couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Looking further into the distance, the figures of several long-lost acquaintances suddenly came into her view.
She wore a light pink silk ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a front opening, over which was a sky-blue gauze robe. She was graceful and elegant, simple yet beautiful. Several months had passed, and Yao Su'an seemed to have lost some weight; her waist was slender, and her hair was neatly styled in double buns, adorned only with a simple white jade hairpin. Her fair face was as lightly made up as if she wore no makeup; she sat there quietly, her eyes lowered, as still as a calm, undisturbed pool of water.
Yao Suran remained as beautiful as ever, her beauty radiant like a begonia in early spring. Her crimson brocade dress accentuated her luminous face, and a tiny vermilion plum blossom decoration adorned her brow. She sat beside Yao Su'an; though sisters, one was alluring and the other gentle, each possessing distinct charms, yet both were exceptionally captivating.
However, the envious gazes that once secretly observed them are now mixed with disdain and contempt.
"...What face does the Duke of Xu's mansion have left? The entire Yao family has collapsed; how can they still have the nerve to come here..."
"That Yao San, didn't he go mad at such a young age? He produced such a spendthrift son; Old Master Yao has completely lost face, and Madam Yao, too, doesn't dare show her face at all. Otherwise, why wouldn't she come here to show off on a day like this..."
"...The two sisters are pitiful; I wonder what kind of families they'll be able to marry into in the future..."
A murmur arose around me; everyone was waiting inside the hall, so there was plenty of time for idle chatter.
Yao Suran remained seated, head held high, staring straight ahead. In contrast, Yao Su'an's face turned deathly pale, and she clenched the handkerchief in her hand tightly.
Her sister's aunt, the once-powerful Consort Ming, Yao Ziyuan, demoted herself to the rank of Ronghua and was imprisoned in the palace. She was always resentful and complained about her poor health every few days. She thought that this would attract the emperor's attention, but instead she annoyed the empress. With the words "Ronghua is complaining that the palace is not quiet enough", she was demoted to the lowest-ranking Cai Nu. It seemed that there was no way to turn back from there.
The Yao family was once incredibly powerful and ruthless in Mujing, but now they are hated by everyone... The world is indeed too unpredictable.
With their once-prosperous family suddenly falling from grace, and given the numerous enemies the Yao family had made in the past, there were naturally many who would laugh at their misfortune. However, judging from the looks of it, compared to Yao Suran's burning desire, Yao Su'an seemed to be suffering greatly internally and wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.
Lin Xu took a sip of tea. The women of the household had been waiting there for a long time. As the auspicious time approached, another line of graceful palace maids stepped forward with bowed heads, leading everyone to the banquet. Although all the guests were in Xianqing Hall, the women of the household were required to sit in a side hall according to custom, separated from the main hall by several screens.
The hall was already brightly lit, with several golden lanterns hanging high, making the cloud and dragon carvings on the ceiling appear and disappear. Hundreds of glass palace lanterns hung high in the four corners, casting a soft light as if it were daytime. The long, melodious sounds of bells, chimes, and string instruments filled every corner, solemn and lingering. The women were led to their seats by palace maids one by one.
Lin Xu and Dou Zhen sat at a table with the Yao sisters, Yao Suran and Yao Su'an. Soon, they were led there by a palace maid, along with Song Jiaoling, a former classmate from Zhiqiong Hall who had not been seen for a long time.
The once delicate and literary Song Jiaoling now appears more low-key. She wears a light apricot-colored ruqun with fine patterns, the cuffs of which are embroidered with a few faint sprigs of orchids that are barely noticeable unless you look closely. She wears a lake-blue gauze shawl over it, making her look much lighter and softer.
Song Jiaoling silently sat down, glanced at Lin Xu and the others, and nodded slightly as a greeting.
Lin Xu smiled slightly at her. The last time he saw Song Jiaoling was when he accompanied Dou Zhen to Baozhen Pavilion to buy rouge, and they bumped into each other there. At that time, Song Jiaoling was clearly shopping with Duan Jinru, and it was only when she saw Lin Xu that Song Jiaoling let go of Duan Jinru's arm.
At that time, Lin Xu pretended not to see it. She remembered that Song Jiaoling was a year or two older than her, and that her departure from the school was not honorable, and she remained unmarried to this day. For Song Jiaoling's proud father, Song Anyi, this was naturally a wound in his heart. Duan Jinru was not only of noble status, but had also been promoted to an official position, making the difference in their social standing even greater.
These two people had become so close at some point, and it was unclear whether they were still as intimate as before... However, this involved their private affairs, and Lin Xu did not want to comment.
Beyond the screen, the main hall was already brightly lit with golden lanterns and filled with nobles and princes. Ministers, aside from the women, were also seated in the main hall. Through the sandalwood screen with its dragon, phoenix, and cloud patterns, Lin Xu could vaguely see several bright yellow and reddish-yellow figures seated high above. These were none other than Emperor Su, the Empress, and the most esteemed princess of Dayu.
Today is a joyous day. Miao Yiyun grew up with Princess Kunrou, and Princess Kunrou will surely come, perhaps even sitting next to the Princess right now. Lin Xu hasn't seen Liao Yan for a long time since the Liang Zhengyuan incident, nor has he heard any news about her. He couldn't help but miss her and glanced back at the screen.
"Little sister Xu'er, do you still love lively gatherings so much?"
Yao Suran placed the handkerchief she had used to wash her hands aside and smiled brightly.
Even in such a predicament, Yao Suran still had the time and leisure to observe her.
Lin Xu couldn't help but chuckle. She recalled the last time Madam Yao brought Yao Suran to the Dou family as guests. When the mockery of those wealthy women reached Yao Suran's ears, although she couldn't control her emotions, the arrogance in her eyes remained. At that time, Yao Suran confidently declared that she would have another good game with her in the future.
I wonder if Yao Suran is ready after all this time?
Lin Xu smiled gently at Yao Suran and said warmly, "Thank you for your concern, Sister Suran. Today is His Highness's big day, so I am naturally curious and happy for him. We were His Highness's classmates in the past, so we are old friends. I'm sure you are also very happy."
Before she could finish speaking, Yao Suran's expression changed.
Back when she was at the height of her fame, it was true that she liked the Third Prince. At that time, she was used to being flamboyant and believed that only her family background and appearance were worthy of the Third Prince, who was born of the Empress. She didn't care at all that others knew about her feelings.
Besides Lin Xu, Yao Su'an and Song Jiaoling naturally knew that she had tried every means to get close to the Third Prince but failed. Now that the Duke's mansion had declined, they naturally felt that even mentioning it was wishful thinking.
As proud as Yao Suran was, she couldn't hide her anger for a moment. Yao Su'an glanced at her sister with concern, covered her lips with her handkerchief, but kept her eyes lowered and didn't say anything.
At the dinner table, and even throughout the entire side hall, countless eyes were already waiting to see the two sisters make a fool of themselves. After all, Yao Su'an had previously been domineering and had done many things to bully other noble ladies by abusing her status.
Now, however, we no longer have the resources to easily retaliate.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
