Despite Song Yanqing's repeated assurances that no preparations were needed, she had Feng Yi deliver well-fitting clothes two days before the Spring Banquet.
Lu Qiqi looked at the clothes laid out on the table, puzzled. "Sister Yi, how do you know my and Ayao's sizes?"
Fengyi got a vacation, and when she came back, she looked completely refreshed, and her smile was even more friendly.
She put down her teacup, stood up and walked towards Lu Qiqi, leaning close to her ear and saying, "The embroiderer who came to the manor a few days ago works at the embroidery shop run by the young master."
I see.
Fengyi saw her smile, her eyes fixed on the clothes on the table.
She said, "These two outfits were made by the best embroiderers in the embroidery shop."
The Spring Banquet is the day after tomorrow, and you sisters will surely shine brightly at the banquet.
Let those noble ladies see just how stunningly beautiful the person our young master has his eye on truly is.
Lu Qiqi could hear the teasing in Feng Yi's tone, but she really liked the gift that Song Yanqing had sent.
She couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.
After Lu Qiqi saw Feng Yi off, Lu Yao went into the house. For some reason, she felt a little scared of Feng Yi, who pinched her face as soon as they met.
"Sister, has Sister Yi gone back?"
Lu Qiqi nodded. "Going back? What's wrong? Is Ayao looking for her?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Yao immediately shook her head, her little head bobbing like a rattle drum.
Two days passed quickly, and today is the Spring Banquet.
In previous years, it was the wives of prominent officials who organized spring banquets for the women of their respective households in the suburbs.
This was ordered personally by the Empress Dowager, and the event was held in the Royal Garden. When the women of various households heard the news, they were eager to participate.
Fortunately, the Empress Dowager did not impose any harsh conditions or restrictions on this spring banquet.
All officials' families residing in the capital could enter the palace by presenting a memorial stamped with the official seal by their husbands; they only needed to write the name of the person visiting on the memorial.
At this moment, the second branch of the Marquis of Lin'an's mansion is extremely busy.
After much pleading and persuasion, Ding Wanyue finally succeeded in getting Chen Ziye to agree to let Chen Siqi leave the mansion and go to the Royal Garden to attend the Spring Banquet hosted by the Empress Dowager.
However, even after today, the punishment will remain the same: kneeling and copying scriptures, and being taught proper etiquette by the nanny—nothing can be omitted.
Even so, Chen Siqi was so happy to hear that she could leave the mansion and see the person she had been longing for that she couldn't sleep.
If she weren't worried that her makeup wouldn't look good the next day, she could have laughed until dawn.
Meanwhile, Ding Wanyue was fortunate that the second wife's family had not separated from the first wife's family.
Otherwise, at today's spring banquet, the second branch of the family would have had a hard time even seeing what the grass in the royal garden looked like.
Not to mention entering the royal gardens.
"Why is it so difficult for the two sisters to pick out an outfit!"
Xuan Wenying only had one daughter, who is now married. Her two daughters have also come of age, and today she is thinking of making more connections with the wives of officials so that she can find good marriages for the two sisters.
Ding Wanyue stood up and instructed the maids beside her, "You two hurry up and urge them. If they miss the appointed time, tell them not to make a fuss in front of me!"
Just as the maid was about to leave the room to look for the person after receiving the order, she heard hurried footsteps.
"Second Madam, the two young ladies have arrived."
Ding Wanyue looked towards the door and saw her two daughters, dressed elegantly, gracefully walk into the house.
Chen Siqi wore a moon-colored dress and a pearl hair ornament, which made her look gentle and quiet.
Chen Siyi wore a light yellow dress, which was bright and charming. Standing in the crowd in this dress, she would definitely be an extremely eye-catching presence.
Seeing her two daughters growing more and more beautiful, Ding Wanyue smiled with pride.
She said, "It's getting late. Your aunt sent someone to ask, so let's hurry up and not waste any time."
Chen Siqi was so excited to finally see the person she longed for that day that her heart was pounding.
Chen Siyi, on the other hand, was thinking about how to stand out today and earn a good reputation for herself, so as to pave the way for her future marriage.
The Marquis of Lin'an's family held high-ranking official positions in the court. Even though the sisters were born to the second branch of the family, as long as they remained in the same household, they could still live together.
Therefore, they are still the noble ladies of the Marquis of Lin'an, without a doubt.
Finding a good marriage is only a matter of time.
The mother and her two daughters walked out of the mansion gate, where a carriage was already waiting. Looking at the carriage in front, they knew that Lu Qiqi and her sister had already boarded the carriage with Xuan Wenying.
The three boarded the carriage, and the wheels slowly began to turn.
As the carriage passed the disturbance, Ding Wanyue, still inside, began to give instructions.
She said, "I can turn a blind eye to what you sisters do in the mansion, and I will never tell your father."
But today's spring banquet is different from the past. This banquet was ordered by the Empress Dowager, so you must not act willfully.
Otherwise, if he goes back to the manor to be punished, I can't stop him."
When the topic of punishment came up, Ding Wanyue glanced at Chen Siqi, her eyes conveying a hint of warning.
Chen Siyi found her mother nagging and quickly said, "I know, Mom. You've said it so many times. My sister and I are tired of hearing it."
Ding Wanyue said irritably, "Who am I doing this for? It's just because I'm afraid you sisters won't learn your lesson."
Upon hearing this, Chen Siyi immediately retorted, "That's my sister, not me."
At this point, Chen Siqi didn't say anything more.
Ding Wanyue didn't say anything more. Of her two daughters, the elder daughter was not very bright and was prone to impulsiveness.
The youngest daughter is clever; she always thinks others are fools.
But precisely because of this, she felt most at ease with her youngest daughter.
The night the old lady fell ill from anger, her youngest daughter sensed something was wrong and knew to leave early to avoid getting into trouble.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
