Xiangqin whispered to Apple, "Hey, why is it a female general? Do flowers have male and female characteristics?"
Apple paused and said affirmatively, "Because it's blooming. Have you ever seen a man with flowers?"
"Oh. That's right." Xiang Qin nodded in sudden realization and began to watch the excitement with relish again.
At this flower viewing event, Li's initial success was a triumph. Her gentleness, modesty, and well-mannered manners left a favorable impression on the ladies who attended. They overlooked her mere descent from a merchant family and instead focused on her other identity: the legitimate daughter of Prince Xian and the late emperor's granddaughter. Furthermore, Ren Shimin was exceptionally talented and graceful among the younger generation of scholars at Yunyang Academy, and disdained fame and fortune, possessing the qualities of a true Wei and Jin gentleman. This in turn prompted the ladies who had initially approached Li out of respect for Ouyang to consider her friendship. Madams Liu and Chen, who already had a strong affinity with Li, grew even closer.
In fact, in addition to these factors, everyone's attitude is also related to Xiao Jinglin's presence.
Everyone in Yunyang City knew that Princess Xiao was not someone who liked to join in the fun. She would generally not go to see anyone if they sent her an invitation. But this time, she came uninvited, and she came on the day she returned from the border.
Princess Xiao's attitude made people think of the attitude of the Yanbei Palace, and everyone knew that it seemed that the Yanbei Palace did not vent its anger on Ren Shimin's family when it gave the Ren family a small lesson a while ago.
At the end of the flower viewing party, when Li took Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua to see off the guests, several ladies invited Li and her daughter to attend their gatherings or small banquets, and Li gladly agreed.
Xiao Jinglin, on the other hand, stayed until the last to leave. Although Li was not as awed by the Xiao family as she was by other people from Yanbei, she still liked this easy-going and unpretentious princess who was on good terms with her daughter. Seeing that Xiao Jinglin also liked those floral porcelains, Li gave her a set of unused long-necked, round-bellied wine bottles painted with peach blossoms.
Xiao Jinglin accepted it readily and told Ren Yaoqi that she would use the bottle to store her favorite peach blossom wine when she got home, which made Ren Yaoqi laugh and cry.
Ren Yaoqi personally escorted Xiao Jinglin out of the second gate. Xiao Jinglin came on horseback today with Hongying, not in a carriage.
"The invitation should arrive in a few days." Xiao Jinglin said before getting on the horse.
The invitation Xiao Jinglin was talking about was the invitation to her coming-of-age banquet. The Yanbei Palace would send invitations to some important families. Logically, a family like the Ren family would not receive such an invitation.
Ren Yaoqi smiled and nodded: "Okay."
Xiao Jinglin asked curiously again: "Have you thought about that?"
Ren Yaoqi knew that Xiao Jinglin was talking about her nickname, so she blinked and said, "I've thought about it, but I won't tell you now."
Xiao Jinglin curled his lips childishly, turned around and mounted his horse: "Then I'll be leaving first. If you have anything, come to the palace to find me."
Ren Yaoqi nodded and watched Xiao Jinglin and Hongying ride away on horseback.
When Ren Yaoqi returned to the inner courtyard, Xiangqin ran out breathlessly, holding a pot of flowers: "Fifth Miss, Fifth Miss, the princess's 'female general' was left behind and not taken away!"
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