Before I knew it, this year had passed in a busy manner.
During the first month of the lunar year, every household visits relatives and friends, and banquets are inevitable.
The An family, feeling a surge of pride thanks to Wan Xueying's return and having some extra money, hosted several consecutive banquets for villagers who had helped them. As the main character, Wan Xueying attended nearly every one, feeling even more exhausted than usual.
During this period, she also received an unexpected invitation, which was sent by Xue Lingyue, the eldest daughter of Xue Wanfang, the governor of Ningyang County, through someone close to her, inviting her to attend a luncheon at the Ningyang County Governor's Mansion on the tenth day of the first lunar month.
"Why did Miss Xue invite me?" Wan Xueying immediately sought out Shen Yu to ask after receiving the invitation. Shen Yu had taken ten days off for the Lunar New Year holiday, and hadn't returned to the barracks when the invitation arrived.
"It's probably because of Pei Xuanqing's matter." Shen Yu guessed.
"Pei Xuanqing?" Wan Xueying blinked, "Could it be that these two want to get married?" Otherwise, a rich lady would not be casually mentioned in the same breath with a man.
"You guessed it right, but it was the Emperor's intention."
"The emperor wants Pei Xuanqing to marry Miss Xue?" This is the so-called political marriage.
"Yes." Shen Yu nodded. "I also heard a few things from Pei Xuanqing during this military training."
"Then she invited me to the banquet most likely because of you." After realizing this, Wan Xueying felt much more at ease.
"Then you must be careful too. I'll ask Shunzi to go with you."
"good."
In addition to letting Shunzi drive the carriage, she also brought Baiji with her on the ninth day of the first lunar month because she was going to meet the female relatives.
They found a larger inn in the Ningyang County government office and stayed there for one night. The next morning, after having breakfast and changing into new clothes, they simply tidied themselves up and estimated that it was about time before heading to the county magistrate's office.
She arrived neither too early nor too late. When the servants of the county magistrate's mansion led her into the flower hall, Xue Lingyue was chatting with a few young sisters who had arrived earlier.
Seeing a stranger walk in, Xue Lingyue guessed who it was. Smiling, she stepped forward, took her hand, and asked warmly, "Miss Wan, right?" Then she added politely, "I've heard of you for a long time, but this is our first meeting."
"Sister Xue, you can call me Xueying." Before coming, Shen Yu had Shunzi do some research for her. Xue Lingyue was eighteen, three years older than she was. Since she had just taken the seat of the head of the household, it must be Xue Lingyue.
"Okay then," Xue Lingyue readily agreed, "I'll call you Xueying from now on. We can be as close as possible."
"Okay." Wan Xueying agreed with a smile.
"Sister Lingyue, who is this lady? Why don't you introduce her to us?" The lady who was just chatting happily with Xue Lingyue when she was interrupted by Wan Xueying said polite words, but her face was longer than a donkey's.
"Look at me," Xue Lingyue said with an embarrassed smile, "I was so busy meeting new sisters that I forgot to introduce them to you." Then she took Wan Xueying and walked over to the young ladies who had arrived earlier. She introduced them, "This is Miss Wan from the capital. She is also the fiancée of Lord Shen, the assistant commander of the Ningjiang County Reserve Battalion."
"Assistant garrison commander of the Ningjiang County Reserve Camp?" The young lady thought for a moment and said sarcastically, "Could it be the second son of the Duke of Yuanping's Mansion? Then isn't this the real daughter of the Duke of Dingyang's Mansion?" It is not difficult to infer from these words that Shen Yu and Wan Xueying's original identities have long been no secret among officials.
Xue Lingyue awkwardly put away her smile. "Youyun, it's better not to talk about the past. My father said Lord Shen has made great contributions this time. Perhaps the emperor will give him a new reward in the spring." Without waiting for Qian Youyun to reply, she introduced Wan Xueying, "This is the eldest daughter of Qian Tongzhi, the governor of Ningyang County."
"Ms. Qian!" Wan Xueying nodded lightly at her and looked at the next lady waiting to be introduced.
Qian Youyun curled his lips, as if he wanted to say something, but Xue Lingyue gave him a cold look and forced him to shut up.
Xue Lingyue adjusted her expression and introduced the remaining ladies to Wan Xueying.
Those young ladies were not from high-class families, and seeing that Xue Lingyue was very protective of Wan Xueying, they greeted Wan Xueying with a smile.
Wan Xueying also politely returned the gifts.
After a round, Xue Lingyue wanted Wan Xueying to sit closer to her, but Wan Xueying knew that she wasn't married to Shen Yu yet and was considered a poor woman. She waved her hand and said with a smile, "I'm not familiar with you all yet. I'll just sit in the back and listen to you guys talk." Then she took the last seat.
Seeing that she insisted on doing so, and another young lady came in led by a servant, Xue Lingyue could only nod slightly apologetically to Wan Xueying, and then go to greet the new young lady.
After that, several more young ladies were ushered into the hall, and the last one to come in was particularly eye-catching.
In addition to wearing a jacket and skirt made of bright red southern brocade and a bright red cloak inlaid with silver-white fox fur to show her bold personality, the phoenix hairpin made of huge oriental pearls on her head further shows her noble status.
"Sister Rongshan, I've been looking forward to seeing you from the beginning to the end. I finally got you here just when the banquet was about to start." Xue Lingyue walked up to her and joked with a smile.
Ji Rongshan smiled and replied, "I was delayed because of something. I hope you, sister, will forgive me." This was clearly a polite remark. She was Ji Yun's third daughter and the only unmarried daughter. No one in Northern Xinjiang could hold a higher status than her. She had deliberately arrived at the right time.
"Look at what you said, how can I really blame you? Come on, let's sit down and chat for a while, and then we'll start eating."
"Okay, it's been a while since I've gotten together with you all, and I miss you all too." After Ji Rongsan sat down in the seat closest to Xue Lingyue, she looked at the female guests opposite her one by one.
When she saw Wan Xueying, who was dressed the simplest but had a first-class appearance, she was stunned for a moment and asked, "Who is this sister?"
"Her!" Xue Lingyue hurriedly introduced Wan Xueying to her formally, also to let some young ladies who came later know Wan Xueying.
Ji Rongshan nodded, "So she's Lord Shen's fiancée." Surprisingly, she didn't show any disdain. She smiled and asked, "Lord Shen and Lord Pei have a good relationship, and Miss Wan is from the capital. I wonder if Miss Wan has heard of Lord Pei's early love affair?"
Hearing her mention Pei Xuanqing, or his romantic affairs, Xue Lingyue's expression changed.
It's not that her father didn't send people to the capital to inquire about Pei Xuanqing, but all he told her was how good and outstanding he was, especially his archery skills, which no one in Dayan could match.
She had even met Pei Xuanqing when he came to visit her father. Honestly, no girl would dislike Pei Xuanqing's looks. Thinking that he would be her future husband, she was incredibly satisfied.
She also specifically asked Pei Xuanqing if he had ever been engaged before, and if he had ever liked any young lady. Her father told her no.
Why would Ji Rongshan bring up this matter?
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