When Zhou learned that Madam Cui of the Prince's Mansion had sent an invitation to her daughter to attend the Lotus Viewing Festival for the wives of officials, she was both happy and somewhat worried.
"Although Mr. Ling is now the Prince's capable assistant, you two are not yet married. Why would Madam Cui invite you to view the lotus flowers?"
Su Xuerong frowned slightly as she looked at her name on the post.
Although Madam Cui was not the prince's biological mother, she had been like a mother to the prince over the years, and the prince was very filial to her. Everyone in Hangzhou respected her.
If she doesn't go, she will lose face for Madam Cui, and it might implicate Ling Qingxue.
She sighed softly, "Let's go anyway."
A few days later, Su Xuerong took Xiuchun to Qixiu Garden by West Lake.
Upon learning this, Song San left a few men to guard the Su residence while he and three other guards went with him.
Su Xuerong did not refuse.
She knew that she had started to attract a lot of attention, so she had to be careful.
However, upon arriving at Qixiu Garden, they found that only women were allowed to enter, and Song San and his companions had to wait outside.
The sky was clear and the scenery in Qixiu Garden was breathtaking.
The female guests coming and going were all vying for attention, a dazzling display of beauty.
Today, Su Xuerong wore a low-key autumn-colored silk robe, paired with a moon-white bodice and a dark green swirling skirt. Her hair was styled in a simple bun, adorned only with a simple jade hairpin.
Her overall appearance was unremarkable.
But her face was the most striking among everyone.
The female guests around her were all incredibly surprised, their gazes towards Su Xuerong filled with speculation and contemplation.
Just as the group of women were all surprised by Su Xuerong's identity, a group of people walked out from the flower path in front.
A maid held up a bamboo umbrella, sheltering a woman dressed in fine clothes and adorned with jewels.
As soon as the female guests around her saw her, they all took the initiative to go up to her.
"Greetings, Princess Qinghe!"
Looking at her bright and flamboyant outfit, Su Xuerong thought to herself that her own outfit had finally been overshadowed by her.
Xiuchun, however, couldn't help but mutter, "Wife, look at all these people, they're all dressed in bright colors, but you're dressed so old-fashioned..."
Su Xuerong glanced at her: "What do you know?"
Based on her experience from her previous life, something always goes wrong at banquets like this.
She deliberately dressed in a low-key manner, which was also a way of protecting herself.
However, once she entered the Qixiu Garden, she couldn't wear a veil; otherwise, she would rather be everyone else's foil.
Chen Siyi skillfully dealt with the female guests who fawned over her, and walked towards Su Xuerong with a smile, affectionately taking her wrist and saying, "We've been waiting for you, Arong. I'll take you to see Madam Cui right away."
Upon hearing this, the female guest next to her became even more interested in Su Xuerong.
Someone couldn't help but ask, "Princess, who is this lady...?"
"Oh, she is Lady Su, the fiancée of Mr. Ling, the Chief Secretary of the Prince's Mansion," Chen Siyi said with a smile.
The female guests who came today were all relatives of various officials in Hangzhou Prefecture, and almost all of them were shrewd and capable.
Hearing this, I was immediately shocked.
After all, she had a married woman's hairstyle, and she was actually Ling Qingxue's fiancée!
Immediately, all sorts of gazes turned to Su Xuerong.
Su Xuerong frowned slightly.
Why is Chen Siyi making such a big fuss about announcing that she is Ling Qingxue's fiancée?
If she hadn't had the experience of her previous life, she would probably have been moved by Chen Siyi's sincerity these past few days.
But in her previous life, Chen Siyi, the shrewd and calculating Consort Chen, was a formidable figure who kept Xiao Cheng firmly in her grasp.
Nothing she does is ever intended to be a dowry for someone else.
Thinking of this, Su Xuerong subtly withdrew her wrist from her hand.
Chen Siyi was puzzled, but then she saw the maid take the bamboo umbrella from the maid next to her and hold it above their heads, saying with a smile, "It's more comfortable this way."
Chen Siyi immediately reached out and took her arm, smiling as she and the other women walked toward the back of the garden.
Along the flower path behind, on one side is the shimmering West Lake, and on the other side are several exquisite pavilions nestled among various flowers and plants, creating a secluded and tranquil atmosphere.
Turning a corner, one side of the lake was covered with vast expanses of lotus leaves, scattered with blooming lotus flowers of various colors. In the distance, the mountains were lush and green, hazy like mist. Such a beautiful scene instantly brightened one's day.
In front of this lotus leaf, a huge painted boat was moored, with maids already standing on one side, guiding the guests onto the boat.
Surrounded by a group of women, Su Xuerong and Chen Siyi boarded the painted boat.
The pleasure boat is very large, with three decks.
When everyone reached the top floor, there was a spacious and bright hall in the middle, with all the windows open, making it feel as if you were in the middle of West Lake.
The hall was furnished with dozens of squatting seats, with low tables in front of them displaying various fresh fruits and pastries. On the higher tables beside them, delicate flowers were arranged in vase-shaped holders, and female musicians were playing the zither nearby.
The air was filled with the fragrance of incense, and the music of the zither was melodious and beautiful.
After Chen Siyi pulled Su Xuerong to sit down, they heard someone coming upstairs.
"The old lady has arrived!"
So all the guests present stood up and waited respectfully.
Madam Cui was dressed in gorgeous clothes, with dazzling gold and jade ornaments on her head, and her makeup was dignified and elegant.
As she walked slowly towards them, Su Xuerong couldn't help but admire her graceful and elegant demeanor.
Such a woman was not much different from the concubines in the palace.
But the moment she saw Cui, she suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.
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