The Liu family has always kept a low profile, but this time, with his son becoming an official, Old Master Liu wanted to be high-profile for once.
Therefore, many relatives and friends were invited to today's banquet. There were many male guests in the front yard and quite a few female guests in the back yard as well.
Especially since Liu Zhiheng's two sons were at home, many people also brought their children of similar age.
For a time, the Liu family's front and back yards were bustling with activity.
Madam Liu sat in the flower hall, greeting the matriarchs of various families she knew well, as well as her aunts, cousins, and sisters-in-law from the same clan.
The group chatted about clothes, jewelry, and the weather, and got along quite well.
A woman noticed that Madam Liu kept looking outside, as if waiting for someone, and asked with a smile, "Is there some important guest coming?"
To everyone's surprise, Madam Liu nodded and replied, "Yes, I have indeed invited several distinguished guests today."
Just as everyone was about to ask more questions out of curiosity, a young maid ran in and reported, "Madam, Old Madam Li and the others have arrived!"
Madam Liu quickly got up and went out to greet everyone without even having time to say hello.
Curious, everyone got up and went to the door to look inside.
At this moment, a group of people walked into the hanging flower gate.
Madam Liu's wet nurse, Granny Tang, was supporting an elderly woman of about fifty years old. She was wearing a dark blue outer robe with cloud and peacock patterns. She was plump and her slightly graying hair was neatly combed and adorned with a jade hairpin with the character for longevity, which made her eyes and brows appear bright and amiable.
To her right was a four- or five-year-old girl, dressed in a silver-red diagonal-front blouse and a plain white pleated skirt. Her soft, fine hair was tied into two small flower buds, wrapped with a red ribbon inlaid with pearls. A pair of lifelike golden caterpillars perched on the flower buds.
Then look at her chest; she's wearing a necklace adorned with seven jewels.
Now, shimmering in the sunlight, it sparkles and glitters, making it exceptionally eye-catching.
But what's most captivating is the girl's appearance: her skin is as white as milk, her eyebrows are light, her big eyes are like black grapes, her long eyelashes flutter, her small nose is upturned, and her lips are rosy.
Perhaps she was very happy to see Madam Liu, because her big eyes curved into crescent moons with laughter, making her look both joyful and adorable!
Following behind the old man and the young man were two women of similar age. One wore a lotus-green shirt, exuding elegance and nobility, while the other wore purple, appearing straightforward and generous.
The more they looked, the more curious they became, wondering when the Liu family had met such a distinguished person and why they had never seen him before.
Could it be a semi-reclusive aristocratic family from Kyoto?
At this moment, Madam Liu stepped forward and greeted them warmly, "Auntie, why are you so late? If you hadn't come soon, I would have sent someone to urge you!"
As she spoke, she bent down and picked up Jiayin, saying, "Our lucky girl is here! Your two brothers were urging the kitchen to make your favorite snacks last night!"
Jiayin hugged Madam Liu's neck, kissed her, and said sweetly, "Thank you, Auntie. Fu Niu'er also brought some delicious fruit for Auntie and my brothers!"
Needless to say, this is the Li family and Madam Cui.
Grandma Li explained with a smile, "When we were about to leave, this girl insisted on bringing Zhiheng a congratulatory gift. She brought flowers, fruits, and so on. She was busy for a long time, which is why she was late!"
Madam Liu turned her head and saw that her servants were indeed carrying two baskets, and Dongmei was also carefully carrying a three-foot-tall straw basket.
She didn't take it seriously, assuming it was just fruit picked from the mountain by the Li family, and said with a smile, "Our Fu Niu'er is the most thoughtful, knowing that Auntie is short of fruit for the banquet today? Come on, come inside, Auntie will get you some snacks."
The group chatted and laughed as they arrived at the flower hall. Madam Liu personally helped Old Madam Li to her seat, while Tao Hongying and Madam Cui stood to the left and right of the old lady. Jiayin, on the other hand, was placed in another empty seat.
The crowd watched with growing astonishment. Madam Liu didn't let them guess for too long, and introduced with a smile: "This is Madam Li of the Marquis of Zhongshan's mansion, who is also a first-rank imperial consort personally bestowed by the Emperor."
"Speaking of which, my master's promotion to the fourth rank today is all thanks to the Earl's mansion. Without the Earl's eldest son finding high-quality corn and potato seeds in the south, how could our master have achieved such glory today?!"
After saying that, she held Jiayin's small hand again and said, "This is the adopted daughter of the Marquis of Xinting, and also the Princess of Kangle, personally bestowed by the Emperor."
Everyone was startled, only then realizing that the old man and the child were actually members of the Li family!
The name "Li family" is now a household name both inside and outside Kyoto.
Of course, some people praised it, some were curious, and some ridiculed it; opinions were mixed.
Because this family were refugees who fled famine and ended up here, they provided Xindu with a lot of topics to discuss.
Whether it was the Marquis of Xinting's protection, the Li family's eldest son's near-death return, the presentation of the jade melon and golden fruit, or the reward for offering grain, all these events combined are enough to keep people talking for three days and three nights!
However, the Li family is very low-key. Even after receiving honors and joining the ranks of the newly rich, the young and old never made an appearance.
But today, at the Liu family's banquet, the Li family's wives actually came, which shows how close the Liu and Li families are...
Regardless of what others thought, everyone quickly stood up and bowed.
Because none of them were of the same rank as Old Madam Li, nor did they possess the noble status of the young lady from the Li family!
Grandma Li smiled and raised her hand to help everyone up. "Please don't be so polite, everyone. I came here today to congratulate Zhiheng. I didn't expect to be late and disturb you all. Please forgive me."
No one dared to accept the apology. Someone quickly smiled and chimed in, "The old lady is not late. We just arrived too."
One woman remarked humorously, "Yes, it's all because it's so crowded today. The street outside is mostly blocked, making it very difficult to get in."
Everyone laughed and bowed to Jiayin, the young princess. Jiayin didn't put on airs, jumped down, and returned the bow in a proper manner, smiling sweetly and joyfully.
What woman doesn't love a child, especially such a cute and adorable chubby little girl? So they all started praising her.
"Your Highness is so fair and delicate. Do you take any supplements?"
Before Old Lady Li could respond, someone in the corner sneered, but when everyone looked, they couldn't find who it was and assumed they had misheard.
Grandma Li raised her eyebrows slightly and smiled, "My girl is naturally fair-skinned, but she's also afraid of the sun. After a day in the sun, she'll be as dark as charcoal, but if she stays home for a couple of days, she'll recover quickly."
After saying that, she turned her head and gestured for Tao Hongying to come forward. "As for what this child usually eats, I really don't know, because it's all taken care of by my daughter-in-law."
Taking the opportunity, Madam Liu introduced Tao Hongying to everyone, "This is the princess's mother, the fourth madam of the Earl's mansion."
Then, she personally led Madam Cui a few steps forward, saying, "This is Jinrou, the only daughter of Grand Secretary Cui Zhengqing. She was originally married to a man in the capital, but now, with the relocation of the capital, she has returned to Jiangnan."
"As you all know, my master doesn't have any sisters, but our patriarch and Cui Daxue are sworn brothers, and he treats Jinrou like his own daughter. So, I'll be a sister-in-law now!"
"My younger sister is introverted and not good with words. If you see her elsewhere, please take good care of her for me."
Everyone readily agreed, their faces beaming, but their minds were in complete turmoil.
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