Chapter 123 New Year's Eve
She certainly couldn't tell anyone about their first encounter in Qingshi Town, so she told her two little cousins what happened in Jueshui County. Unexpectedly, after she finished speaking, they had a lukewarm reaction.
"It sounds like you two don't know each other very well. Just because of a chance encounter and a conversation, you decided to be together and spend the rest of your lives together?" Lu Ling asked.
"It's called hitting it off right away."
After all, she has lived two lives, and when it comes to feelings, Song Lingyi at least knows more than her two little cousins.
"There aren't many passionate loves in this world. The Song family is in decline, and Brother Jianzhi comes from an aristocratic family. He's talented, handsome, and kind-hearted. He's the best choice. What reason do I have to reject him?"
What's more, the Lu and Pei families are old friends, and Guan also likes her very much. Even if the eldest branch is in decline and Xiang doesn't like her, it doesn't matter.
There aren't many perfect things in this world. If you don't get angry at one thing, you'll get angry at another. She's open-minded. At worst, she'll just have to stop hanging around Xiang. Maybe in the future, Pei Zhao will become an official in another province, just like his second uncle. It would be quite free for them, just the two of them.
"That's true." Lu Yu nodded solemnly, "Pei Erlang is indeed the best man among the aristocratic families in Kyoto."
But Lu Ling disagreed. "But doesn't my cousin think Pei Erlang is too serious and doesn't know how to talk about love? When you two are alone together, don't you feel uncomfortable or have trouble finding topics to talk about?"
It seems like a little.
Song Lingyi stroked her chin, thinking that it was probably because they didn't know each other well and hadn't been together for long. It would be fine after they got married in the future.
Seeing her cousin silent, Lu Ling smiled slightly. "I think if they really like each other, at least their personalities should be compatible. If I want to eat pears, he will sell them to me; if I want to play with swords, he will get them for me; if I like to be good at both civil and military affairs, he will have to work hard to learn them. In front of him, I can be myself to the fullest."
"Are you looking for a husband or a servant?"
Lu Yu complained bluntly, "Besides, you're a year younger than me, so where do you get all those theories from?" As if she had thought of something, she smiled crookedly, "Oh, I remember now. Second Uncle mentioned in the letter that you had a childhood sweetheart in Lizhou."
Lu Ling's cheeks suddenly flushed, and she blushed, "What? It's not true."
"Still shy, what's his name?"
"I won't tell you."
The two little cousins were laughing and playing beside her. Song Lingyi looked at the curtain above her head, her thoughts flooding in.
Just be yourself?
It's not that easy. The Song family is in decline and she is the only one left. It is impossible for her to live under the protection of the Duke's Mansion all her life.
Pei Zhao is a talented gentleman, so she must work hard to improve herself so that others will not say that he married a less virtuous wife; Pei Zhao has a gentle temperament, so she has to put away her sharp side.
She still understands the principle that husband and wife are one.
…
The next morning.
Four maidservants carried two large mahogany boxes to Zhilan Garden. When they opened them, they were dazzled by the abundance of items, from jade pendants and hairpins, soft brocade, to writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, as well as landscape calligraphy and paintings.
At the welcoming party last night, my second uncle said he had prepared a lot of gifts for her. I thought it was just a courtesy, but I didn't expect there were so many.
"Not only that, there are still a few large boxes of luggage that have not been unloaded. They will be delivered to my cousin later." A maid said with a smile.
As she was counting and making the list, Hong Qi said, "The Second Master and Second Madam are really kind to the young lady. In previous years, they didn't bring so many gifts to the young master and the second young lady."
"The second lady said that this is the first time she has met the cousin, and it is also the first time for the cousin to celebrate the New Year in Kyoto, so the gifts must be grand. When the cousin gets married, the master and the mistress will add some more dowry for you." Wu Bi said.
Song Lingyi sat at the stone table in the courtyard, picked up a piece of goose yellow satin from the mahogany box and stroked it gently, "What kind of satin is this? I've never seen it before."
"This is warm forging. One piece is worth a hundred taels. If you wear clothes made of it, you won't feel cold even in the coldest winter without a thick cloak." Wu Bi smiled.
Goose yellow satin is the most picky about skin color. The letters sent from the Duke's Mansion to Lizhou before always mentioned the beauty of my cousin. Seeing it today, I can see that she is indeed extraordinary. This goose yellow satin makes my cousin's skin look like cream.
Song Lingyi patted the satin gently and happily told the maid to take it to make new clothes.
Later, she took Hongju to the East Courtyard to express her gratitude. Unlike her second uncle who was a rough military officer, her second aunt Wen was as her name suggested, with a gentle and quiet temperament and a very beautiful appearance.
Unlike Guan's beauty, my second aunt has a cold appearance, with a bit of proud and elegant air. Her eyebrows and eyes are very gentle, and her smile is like a spring breeze. You won't feel restrained when chatting with her.
Just like now, Song Lingyi sat quietly beside the soft couch, watching Wen Shi pouring water into the tea bowl and whisking it, while smiling at her:
"Jianzhi is a gifted child. He has had the ambition to become an official since he was young. Your maternal uncle once taught him and always praised him highly. Even though he is only a Hanlin Academy scholar now, he will definitely have a bright future."
"Brother Jianzhi has wanted to be an official since he was a child?" Song Lingyi asked while holding a cup of hot tea.
"Of course, he has lofty ambitions."
Wen smiled gently, but Song Lingyi felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar when she heard it.
"This world belongs to the Xiao family," Empress Shen's words echoed in his mind. What if marrying Pei Zhao affected his career? Although Empress Shen supported the marriage, Xiao Mingyi still had the final say in the court. If his superiors were to play tricks on him in the workplace, promotion would be difficult.
Seeing her niece staring blankly at the tea, Mrs. Wen asked with concern, "What's wrong? Is this tea not to your taste?"
Song Lingyi came back to her senses and smiled in realization: "Nothing, my second aunt's tea is delicious."
After saying this, she took a long swig. Mrs. Wen was grinning from ear to ear. Mrs. Si had written to her earlier, saying her niece had gotten into a fight with the girls from the Wang, Zhao, and Lin families at the engagement banquet. She had thought she was a sharp-tongued little rascal, but seeing her today, she was clearly a genuinely kindhearted girl.
…
To celebrate my second uncle's family's return to Beijing, the palace held a three-day banquet filled with delicious food and fish. The family rarely got together, and the atmosphere remained lively until New Year's Eve.
On that day, a banquet was held in the palace, inviting relatives and wives of ministers of the third rank and above to join in the celebration.
In Zhilan Garden, Hongju and Yunyao, two maids, were busy dressing Song Lingyi. The warm satin sent by her second aunt had been made just in time. The light yellow dress was elegant yet luxurious, highlighting Song Lingyi's face as bright as morning glory and her extraordinary charm.
The sun was setting outside the window. Song Lingyi looked at the girl with light makeup on in the bronze mirror and was in a trance for a while.
I will definitely meet Xiao Mingyi when I enter the palace today. I hope everything goes smoothly tonight. I can go home after dinner and don’t cause any more trouble.
Just after the hour of You, a group of people from the Duke's Mansion gathered at the gate, preparing to take a carriage into the palace.
"It's really cold today. Is it going to snow?"
Lu Yu held the hand warmer in her hand, and in just a short while her nose turned red from the cold.
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