The box was opened, revealing a brand-new set of glazed teaware, decorated with green mountains and pine trees, in excellent condition.
Qin Sheng glanced at it and nodded.
This tea set was part of Madam Qin's dowry, and Qin Sheng has never used it.
During breakfast, Qiao'er said, "I wonder how many people were at the spring banquet at the Marquis of Wuping's residence that day."
Jade said, "There are definitely many. There are many famous families in Ningzhou Prefecture, but if we're talking about the most prestigious, it has to be the Wuping Marquis's family."
Qin Sheng nodded: "In any case, if we can get in touch with the Lady of Wuping Marquis, it will be beneficial for us to do business in Ningzhou Prefecture in the future."
For some reason, she had a vague sense of unease.
...
The day for the banquet at the Marquis of Wuping's residence arrived quickly.
Qin Sheng was pulled up early by Qiao'er, and several maids surrounded her, helping her with her makeup and dressing.
She wore a deep blue dress, adorned with a jade pendant and a sachet at her waist. Jade gave Qin Sheng a particularly beautiful hair accessory, with a jade hairpin inserted diagonally on it.
"Even if you don't outshine all the beauties today, my lady, you are still—"
Qiao'er smiled and clapped her hands: "A crane among chickens!"
"..."
Qin Sheng chuckled, and Caiyue also laughed, "That's not how you use the phrase 'a crane standing among chickens'."
After checking the time, Qin Sheng said, "Alright, stop joking around, let's go out." She then led the three maids out the door.
Inside the carriage.
Jade recounted in detail what she had learned about the Marquis of Wuping's mansion to Qin Sheng, and finally sighed, "The Marquis of Wuping's mansion looks glamorous, but it's not a peaceful place inside. Everyone in Ningzhou Prefecture knows that the Marquis dotes on his concubines and illegitimate daughters while neglecting his wife and legitimate daughters."
Qin Sheng smiled and said, "Aren't these kinds of things common in wealthy and powerful families?"
Putting everything else aside, isn't Yin Wenxiao just that kind of person? Ultimately, it's just the inherent flaws of men.
Qin Sheng said, "Rather than saying that Concubine Xing of the Marquis of Wuping's mansion is capable and resourceful, it would be more accurate to say that it is the Marquis's favoritism towards her."
Just like Ye Jiaoniang in the beginning.
If Yin Wenxiao hadn't been backing her up, would she have dared to give herself a hard time on her first day?
After talking for a while, Caiyue said, "I heard that there are some distinguished guests from the capital at the Marquis of Wuping's residence today."
"Distinguished guests from the capital?"
Two months have passed since Qin Sheng arrived here. Although she communicates with her parents every now and then, she still misses them.
Upon hearing the words "capital city," Qin Sheng's eyes lit up instinctively.
“Yes, but I don’t know which company it is from,” Caiyue said.
In any case, it won't belong to the Qin family.
...
Before long, they finally arrived at the Wuping Marquis's residence.
Someone led the way at the entrance.
This Marquis Wuping truly lives up to his reputation as the 'local emperor' of Ningzhou Prefecture; the grandeur and luxury of his mansion are simply breathtaking.
Leading the way was the head maidservant of Lady Rong, the wife of Marquis Wuping.
After passing the screen wall and covered walkway, there was a large garden in front of us. In March, the garden was already full of colorful flowers.
There were already quite a few guests, and many young women were admiring the flowers and chatting in the garden. At first glance, they were truly more beautiful than the flowers.
Even though she had grown up surrounded by fine silks and brocades, Qin Sheng couldn't help but marvel at the extravagance of the Marquis of Wuping's mansion.
A stage has already been set up next to the garden.
Several actors, dressed in costumes and with their makeup done, were quietly practicing their voices, all standing sideways, as if afraid of accidentally bumping into the distinguished guests in the garden.
Jade whispered, "They're an opera troupe invited from the capital."
Qin Sheng couldn't tell whether they were an opera troupe from the capital.
Looking at the young ladies chatting and laughing in groups of three or five in the garden, I suddenly felt a little envious.
In her memory, she also had such an innocent and carefree time, but when she thought about it, it seemed like a long time ago.
Qin Sheng and his group were led to where the female guests were seated.
On the east side of the garden, everything was arranged nicely, and the air was filled with a delicate floral fragrance. Each person's seat was also adorned with freshly cut flowers.
The head maid had a slightly cold expression, but her attitude was very polite. She arranged for Qin Sheng and her maid to sit down.
"Madam Qin, please wait a moment. I will come and lead you to pay your respects to the Madam shortly."
There are so many distinguished guests today that Lady Wuping is probably too busy to attend to them all.
Qin Sheng nodded, and the head maid curtsied and left.
Little did they know that at that moment, Marquis Wu Ping, Wu Rukai, was striding over from the garden gate.
Today's spring banquet was just like every year, and Rong Shi would take care of it; he was too lazy to show up.
But little did they know that there was more than one distinguished guest from the capital, so Marquis Wuping hurriedly went to the front to greet them.
His steps suddenly stopped.
Marquis Wuping's gaze fell on a figure in deep blue on one side of the garden, and he asked his attendant, "Who is that?"
Judging from the seat the other person was sitting in, I didn't know whose wife she was.
The attendant replied, "My lord, that is the owner of Qin's Pastry Shop, Madam Qin. She is the one who came from the capital after her divorce. Madam and the Third Miss both particularly enjoy their pastries. Didn't Madam tell you that she also invited Madam Qin to this spring banquet?"
"It's her." Marquis Wuping gave Qin Sheng a deep look, then walked forward with brisk steps.
The attendants followed closely behind, and all they heard was Marquis Wuping say, "He doesn't look that old."
"I heard she's only eighteen. She was originally a dignified and talented young lady in the capital, but she divorced her husband because he didn't like her."
Marquis Wuping did not stop walking while his attendants were speaking.
He felt uneasy. He had said these words according to his wife's instructions, and he didn't know if the Marquis had taken them to heart.
In the garden.
Qin Sheng sat for a little over fifteen minutes when Rong Shi's head maid arrived, smiling and inviting her to the front flower hall to see the Lady of Wuping Marquis.
There were quite a few people in the flower hall.
These were all women from prominent families in Ningzhou Prefecture. Madam Rong, the wife of Marquis Wuping, was smiling and talking with another woman when she saw the head maid bring Qin Sheng in and she stopped abruptly.
Is this... the owner of Qin's Dim Sum Shop?
Granny Xue spoke eloquently about how beautiful and radiant Lady Qin was, but since Madam Rong hadn't seen her with her own eyes, she still felt somewhat uneasy.
Now that I've seen it with my own eyes, I can't help but think, this is no divorced woman at all; she looks like a young woman who hasn't even left home yet.
"Mrs. Qin pays her respects to the Lady of the Marquis." Qin Sheng curtsied.
Every gesture and movement was proper, dignified, and elegant.
"Madam Qin, please rise." Madam Rong smiled and invited her to sit down beside her, becoming more and more satisfied with her appearance.
Qin Sheng is clearly a well-read and knowledgeable woman. The Marquis has always been attracted to this type of woman since he was young.
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