The girl sitting next to Zhu Jiayu was talking to someone nearby, but she fell silent after Zhu Jiayu sat down, lowering her head and only daring to occasionally peek at him.
After a long while, as if she had mustered up her courage, she turned around and spoke to Zhu Jiayu: "Are you the Qiu family's new cousin?"
Zhu Jiayu was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at her and said, "It's me."
The girl then asked her softly, "What's your name?"
Zhu Jiayu then told her his name.
She found this to be quite novel. In her past life or this one, no one had ever spoken to her like this before—treating her as an equal and communicating with her properly, just like the most ordinary young lady of her age.
The girl nodded and quickly said, "My name is Cui Yuanshu." After she finished speaking, she exclaimed, "You are really beautiful."
Zhu Jiayu smiled, wanting to say something, but then felt it was unnecessary.
After chatting for a while, Wei Wu Niang, the host of the day, said that she wanted to take everyone for a walk by the lake. Because of today's flower banquet, many water lilies had been planted in the Wei family's Mian'ou Lake by gardeners. Now that the weather is warm, the water lilies have bloomed early and are lying on the lake surface, one after another, in groups, looking lovely and magnificent.
Everyone naturally agreed.
Wei Wu Niang is domineering. If anyone dares to disrespect her on her turf, she will definitely hold a grudge against them.
However, the Wei family held a high position in Heling City. Offending Wei Wuniang could implicate one's family, which would be a terrible loss. Therefore, no one dared to go against her wishes.
But Wei Wuniang was narrow-minded and liked to put on an act of being understanding, gentle and virtuous, which was what Qiu Lingyan disliked the most.
Hearing Wei Wuniang feign shyness and say, "I was just worried that everyone would be bored, and I was thinking that perhaps we could go and see the lotus flowers together to relieve your boredom. I didn't expect that you all had the same idea..."
Qiu Lingyan lowered her head, her eyes practically rolling to the sky.
Today's banquet was attended not only by prominent young ladies from the city, but also by idle young men who were staying at home.
Due to the strict separation of men and women, the male guests were not seated together with the female guests. Although both were in Qingtan Garden, there was actually a hanging flower archway separating the two groups. Next to the archway stood a plain silk screen embroidered with flowers and birds. The figures of the male guests in their tall hats and wide belts, and the figures of the female guests in their flowing skirts, were vaguely reflected on the screen. Although their figures could not be seen clearly, it was enough to make people's hearts flutter.
After noticing the female guests leaving their seats and heading towards the lake, some of the male guests suddenly started shouting:
"What's the point of sitting in this garden? We're in the prime of our lives, how can we waste it here? Why don't we go to the lake to admire the lotus flowers? I've heard that the gardeners for the Wei family were hired by Madam Wei from the capital at great expense, so these lotus flowers must be extraordinary!"
"You just want to go admire the lotus flowers? I have a feeling you have ulterior motives!" someone exposed him.
The man said, embarrassed and angry, "As the saying goes, embroidered robes shine in the late spring, with golden peacocks and silver unicorns. Spring breezes fade quickly, wouldn't it be a pity to miss such a beautiful scene? What does it matter whether we admire the lotus or not? What matters is to enjoy ourselves while we can. What, if you think I'm wrong, you're free not to go!"
“Brother Lin is certainly right,” the man said with a smile, and everyone else echoed his sentiments.
Therefore, not long after the female guests left Qingtan Garden, the male guests also got up from their seats and went to the lakeside.
They were all from the same circle and often interacted. The female guests were familiar with each other and mostly walked hand in hand in twos and threes. Zhu Jiayu was originally walking with Qiu Lingyan, but after walking for a while, she turned around and looked back, said a few words to Qiu Lingyan, and then walked alone behind, slowing down her pace, and gradually walked to Song Jiangmei's side.
Seeing Zhu Jiayu arrive at her side, Song Jiangmei was flattered and called out to her, "Miss Zhu."
She already knew that on the day she fainted, Qiu Lingyan and Zhu Jiayu happened to be at the jewelry store, and that the teacup happened to fall from the private room where they were. This made her think a lot.
She knew how much Qiu Lingyan liked Liu Yasheng. But she was a complete fool, and Song Jiangmei didn't think Qiu Lingyan would dare to plot against her.
So, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the person behind it all is Zhu Jiayu.
Fearing that she might resort to some underhanded tricks, Song Jiangmei walked slowly while keeping a watchful eye on Zhu Jiayu.
After she called out to Zhu Jiayu, Zhu Jiayu nodded and said, "Miss Song."
Song Jiangmei slightly tugged at her lips and forced a smile.
She not only guarded against Zhu Jiayu, but also wanted to get revenge on him.
Although several days have passed, she still vividly remembers the sound of the cup shattering near her ear, like the sound of tearing silk and the clanging of a sword. Equally vivid is the feeling of palpitation she experienced that day.
"Why isn't Miss Zhu with Miss Qiu?" Song Jiangmei asked her after a moment of silence.
Zhu Jiayu smiled at her: "Of course I feel a connection with Miss Song. Doesn't Miss Song think so too?"
She looked Song Jiangmei up and down.
Song Jiangmei's eyebrows and eyes carried the gentle and affectionate qualities unique to the South. When she looked up, her eyes shone with tenderness; when she lowered her head and smiled, her eyes were filled with a subtle charm.
But once you get to know her, you'll find that she's not as gentle as she looks; instead, there are hidden thorns growing beneath her gentle exterior.
Her ambition, her desires, her methods, and these hidden thorns are all intricately intertwined.
Zhu Jiayu cut to the chase: "Miss Song, I was the one who threw the teacup that day. But I think you should really thank me, otherwise that Liu Yasheng would have kept bothering you for who knows how long. Although you were scared unconscious by the teacup I threw down, you also got rid of an annoying suitor because of it, didn't you?"
Song Jiangmei smiled.
Her smile was beautiful, with a slight curve, perfectly befitting the smile of a well-bred lady.
Then she said, "Miss Zhu, I don't understand what you're saying."
Zhu Jiayu smiled and spoke to her in a voice only the two of them could hear: "You don't need to understand, just know that I have a bad temper and I'm protective of my own. You stole Cousin Lingyan's sweetheart, but because he's a scoundrel, I won't hold it against you and will only give you a small punishment. But if there's a next time, you'd better pray that a teacup falls from the sky and hits you on the head."
Those around them couldn't see the tense atmosphere between them; they could only guess from their smiling faces that they must be having a good conversation.
"What's wrong with your cousin? Didn't you tell her not to get too close to Song Jiangmei?"
Qiu Lingyan was already angry, and hearing her friend say that only made her angrier. She turned around and glared at her friend fiercely: "Mind your own business!"
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