Chapter 45 Horse Racing in the Suburbs [10]
After attending a spring banquet, A-Chu became a familiar face in the capital's social circles.
Everyone knows that the sixth young lady of the Marquis of Zhongyi's mansion is exceptionally beautiful, so beautiful that one would forget the mundane world upon seeing her.
Many unmarried young men fell in love with Achu at first sight and went back to ask their elders to inquire about her, hoping to propose marriage.
However, the wives of officials also needed to consider factors when choosing daughters-in-law.
The sixth young lady of the Shen family is indeed beautiful and comes from a good family.
However, there are two downsides.
She was raised by her aunt, so she tends to be petty and narrow-minded in her actions.
Secondly, she looks too delicate and frail, and may not be able to live up to the status of the mistress of the house.
Being the eldest daughter-in-law is not acceptable.
But she was, after all, the legitimate daughter of a marquis's family, so being a concubine was definitely not an option for her.
But being a daughter-in-law would be acceptable.
So after the spring banquet, several families came to Rong's house to sound out his opinion.
Madam Rong knew that it was impossible for her to find a husband for her daughter who could rival Shen Jingya's.
But she also hoped to choose a family that was good in every way.
At first, she was dissatisfied with either the family background of the families she visited, or she was dissatisfied with the men in those families.
So she politely declined them all.
Privately, the Rong family was also looking for outstanding young talents.
I just didn't tell her because I was afraid that A-Chu would be shy.
That morning, Ah Chu came to pay her respects to Madam Rong as usual, and Shen Jingya also came.
Rong invited the two of them to have breakfast together.
After breakfast, Rong remembered what Shen Jingya had said before: she had made an appointment with Si Jinxuan to go horseback riding in the suburbs.
Counting the days, it will be in two days.
Rong asked Shen Jingya, "Has the new riding outfit arrived?"
Shen Jingya nodded and replied, "They've all been delivered! They're so beautiful!"
During this time, under Rong's tutelage, Achu seemed to have become much more outgoing and lively.
When she heard Rong ask about riding clothes, she looked at Shen Jingya with some curiosity: "Fifth Sister, can you ride a horse? That's amazing!"
Achu's tone was full of envy.
A sense of superiority immediately arose from her calm demeanor.
She raised her chin, a smile playing on her lips: "Yes! I also have a magnificent Akhal-Teke horse, a gift from Brother Xuan!"
The envy in Achu's eyes intensified.
Madam Rong recalled that many years ago, when the young ladies in the manor reached the age of formal education, they would be asked if they wanted to learn martial arts.
Meng said that Shen Jingtan was not interested in martial arts or archery.
In Rong's opinion, it didn't matter whether a girl practiced martial arts or not, so she followed Meng's lead.
Now it seems that Meng Shi was just afraid that Shen Jingtan would improve her physical fitness by practicing martial arts, which is why she didn't let her learn!
That's absolutely vicious!
Rong hated Meng to the core, but at the same time felt sorry for her daughter.
"Does Tan'er want to learn to ride a horse? If you do, Mother will arrange a teacher for you."
Achu looked at Rong Shi with longing in her eyes, but also a little apprehensive: "Can my daughter learn it? Maybe we should forget about it."
Madam Rong smiled encouragingly at her: "Your father was a military officer, and your maternal grandfather and uncle were also military officers. You have their blood in your veins, how could you not learn it!"
Encouraged, Achu pursed her lips and said to Rong Shi, "Mother, I want to learn."
Shen Jingya felt very uncomfortable watching the affectionate interaction between Achu and Rong Shi, the mother and daughter.
She was the only daughter whom Rong Shi had ever doted on.
Since Ah Chu came into the picture, Shen Jingya has clearly felt that the Rong family favors her.
They say they will still love her as their own daughter, but if it weren't for her marriage agreement with Si Jinxuan, how could she still be the legitimate daughter!
Shen Jingya lowered her eyes to hide her resentment, and when she looked up again, she smiled and said to A Chu:
"Sixth Sister wants to learn to ride a horse. In a couple of days, I'll go to the countryside to ride horses with Brother Xuan. Why don't you come with me?"
She wasn't genuinely inviting her; she was just being polite and putting on a good sisterly act in front of the Rong family.
Shen Jingya felt that, given the personality of this sixth sister, she should refuse.
Ah Chu did indeed refuse. She waved her hand and said, "Fifth Sister has made an appointment with the Fifth Prince, so I won't go."
"Besides, I don't have riding clothes."
Even when she was calm and composed, she still offered a few words of advice, feigning concern.
Before she could even open her mouth, Madam Rong said, "Tan'er, you should go with your fifth sister. The riding clothes are no problem; I'll have Linglong Pavilion make them for you tonight."
The world is more lenient towards unmarried women, while it is more restrictive towards married women.
Madam Rong wanted Achu to go out and move around more, since she had been confined to the mansion by Madam Meng before.
If you don't go out more now, it will be even harder to go out after you get married.
The smile on Shen Jingya's face froze.
She regretted making a false invitation; she should have known better than to ask!
Now things are really complicated; Madam Rong really wants her to take Achu with her.
Shen Jingya didn't want to bring Achu along.
She was already worried that A Chu would seduce Si Jinxuan.
But now that it's already been said, it's already been said.
Shen Jingya could only hope that Achu would be firm in her stance and refuse her invitation and Rong's persuasion.
However, after looking left and right, Achu finally nodded in agreement.
She looked at Shen Jingya and said softly, "Then I'll have to trouble Fifth Sister again."
Shen Jingya felt as if a wad of cotton was stuck in her throat, making her very uncomfortable!
But she still smiled and agreed, assuring everyone, "Sixth Sister, don't worry!"
Achu naturally noticed Shen Jingya's reluctance.
She didn't necessarily want to be a third wheel for Shen Jingya and Si Jinxuan.
Although the system said that A Chu could also win over Si Jinxuan, she wasn't interested in this male lead.
Ah Chu wanted to go out simply because ancient times were too inconvenient.
As long as she stayed in the Marquis's residence, she had no chance to come into contact with Si Jinye.
So if she has the chance to go out, of course she'll go.
Moreover, thanks to the system, A Chu learned that Si Jinye also appeared in the nearby forest on the day Shen Jingya and Si Jinxuan went horseback riding in the suburbs.
So, all she could do was go and annoy Shen Jingya.
.
Soon the day for the horse race in the suburbs arrived.
Although Achu's riding clothes were made in a hurry, the embroiderers of Linglong Pavilion were very skilled.
In addition, Rong was willing to spend money, so her riding clothes were made very exquisitely.
The overall peach-pink color scheme suits her temperament very well.
The maidservant styled her hair in a way that wouldn't fall apart while riding a horse, and the hair accessories were also simple and lightweight.
As she finished dressing and went out, Shen Jingya also came out of her courtyard.
She still sported a bright and flamboyant outfit, making her stand out.
"Fifth Sister looks so beautiful today," Achu praised softly.
Shen Jingya was also looking at A Chu, and she was very satisfied with her simple and elegant attire.
"Sixth Sister is very pretty too!"
"Let's go, don't keep Brother Xuan waiting!"
Achu nodded.
The two first went to Chunhui Hall to pay their respects to Madam Rong before heading out to board the carriage that had been prepared in advance.
Inside the carriage, besides Achu and Shen Jingya, there was also a maidservant who had accompanied them.
Shen Jingya told Achu about the funny things that happened between her and Si Jinxuan.
They even said that some young lady was in love with Si Jinxuan, but Si Jinxuan completely ignored her.
Shen Jingya mainly wanted to express that she and Si Jinxuan were childhood sweethearts with a good relationship, and no one else could interfere.
Achu naturally understood what she meant and found it somewhat amusing.
However, she still managed to express her envy in a subtle way.
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