Chapter 27: Double Ninth Festival Gathering
It was late at night, and the light in the east wing of Jiyunzhai was still on. The dim light made the eyes and eyebrows of the woman doing needlework in front of the lamp look even more peaceful and gentle.
Qiao Wei watched from the side for a while, and seeing that the flame was not very bright, she picked up the silver needle and helped to pick the lamp wick.
Feeling the darkness in front of her eyes, Xu Shuyao raised her head and saw that it was her. She smiled and said, "You go and rest! I'll be fine after I finish sewing this one on my hand."
Qiao Wei nodded, but did not leave immediately.
Xu Shuyao stopped talking. The master and servant were doing needlework seriously, while the other was quietly accompanying them.
After a long while, she put away the needle while yawning. The maid beside her hurriedly took a basket and put it away.
Tomorrow is the Double Ninth Festival. These days Xu Shuyao has been making shoes and dogwood bags, and Qiaowei has seen it all.
Ever since that incident a few days ago, Second Madam Chen has become much less enthusiastic about Jiyunzhai.
It has been many days since my cousin returned from the Shen family academy, but no one has asked about him.
Qiaowei knew that her master was anxious, but as a maid, she could not do anything to help.
She couldn't help but look at the basket in her hand, where lay several embroidered dogwood sachets with exquisite craftsmanship. The faint fragrance of dogwood and chrysanthemum wafted into her nose.
Qiao Wei was quite surprised to see Xu Shuyao could easily pick up all kinds of cakes and food.
But now, two years later, she is no longer as surprised as she was at the beginning.
Take needlework, for example, it would be fine for young ladies in the boudoir to know it, but my cousin can even make shoes that fit perfectly.
She sighed in her heart, but when she thought about Xu Shuyao's life experience, she began to understand a little.
The young lady lost her mother when she was young, and she has to take care of her younger brother, doing everything by herself. No wonder she is so calm and capable?
On the Double Ninth Festival, Xu Shuyao went to Jinhua Hall as usual, and after paying her respects to her aunt, the group went to Songhe Hall of Old Madam Xiao.
She hadn't seen Xiao Jintong today, so when she asked about it, she only heard her third cousin lazily say, "She said she was sick. She was timid all day long. Don't worry about her."
After Xiao Jinyi got married, the third girl Xiao Jinshan felt quite bored.
She didn't like the one who lived with the third wife, nor did she look down on her half-sister Xiao Jintong. She also had complicated feelings towards Xu Shuyao who lived with the second wife.
On the one hand, she felt very comfortable getting along with this cousin, who did not fight or compete with her and would go along with her.
The most important thing is that she has excellent aesthetic sense. Even ordinary clothes will make people shine after she matches them.
Young ladies always yearn for beautiful people.
On the other hand, the third daughter of the Xiao family did not think much of Xu Shuyao, thinking that her cousin Xu was just an orphan and was fundamentally different from her, the daughter of a duke.
So when she saw Xu Shuyao today, she just greeted her lazily.
Chen saw it, but didn't take it as an offense.
Xu Shuyao had long been accustomed to it. She was wearing a light blue dress today, with her hair tied into two buns, and only a small comb inserted near the top of her head. There were two small and unique clove ears on her ears, which were barely visible.
Chen glanced at her and didn't say much.
The family buys two sets of clothes every season, and she would not deliberately shortchange her niece in this regard.
As for jewelry, the Duke's wife would send people to buy some every New Year. Although the jewelry sent to Jiyunzhai were the leftovers from other courtyards, Xu Shuyao was still in mourning and did not need any eye-catching jewelry.
Take the cloves on her ears, for example. They were given to her by the shopkeeper as an extra. Seeing her wearing them today, Chen felt that this extra piece of jewelry seemed quite good.
Not only her, Xiao Jinshan also stared at the lilac for a long time, secretly comparing it with the jade pendant on her ear, and finally felt that hers was better.
Perhaps to appear solemn, Xiao Jinshan was wearing a plain dress with a lotus pattern, while Chen was wearing a dark purple jacket with a square pattern. Xu Shuyao glanced at them and stopped looking.
Perhaps because the journey was too quiet, Xiao Jinshan took the initiative to talk to Xu Shuyao after a while: "The lilac earrings on your cousin's ears are really nice. I want to exchange them with you."
Xu Shuyao smiled and said, "I think so too."
She naturally wouldn't take her cousin's words seriously, but she added, "If you like it, I'll have someone send it to you when I get home today."
Xiao Jinshan waved her hands uncomfortably. She only liked it at first sight. There were many jewelry stores out there, and the third daughter of the Duke's Mansion wouldn't be so superficial.
"What did my cousin prepare for Grandmother?" The third Miss Xiao's eyes turned and glanced at the crimson bag on Xu Shuyao's waist. Suddenly, her eyes lit up: "You actually made this!"
Seeing that her cousin was interested, Xu Shuyao hurriedly asked Qiao Wei to take the one prepared for her.
Chen was also quite surprised. She picked it up and sniffed it, "There really is mugwort inside?"
Seeing her niece nod, Chen smiled and said, "You are thoughtful."
During the Double Ninth Festival in Wu, people often wear red dogwood bags filled with Wu dogwood, also known as mugwort seeds by Chen, which have a light fruity aroma.
People in Beijing also wear dogwood, but they rarely wear it on their bodies.
When Xiao Jinshan saw what was in the maid's basket, her eyes lit up. She pulled Xu Shuyao aside and said, "How many do you have left? Give them all to me!"
Xu Shuyao looked up and saw her aunt waiting for them not far away. She nodded and said, "There are quite a few."
So, when they entered Songhe Hall, the red dogwood bags prepared by Xu Shuyao fell into the hands of the third young lady of the Xiao family. Qiao Wei sorted out the only pair of shoes left in the basket, feeling a little anxious for her master.
Xu Shuyao had been preparing these gifts for a long time. She had given the dogwood and crimson sachets to the third girl. She wondered if this only pair of shoes could impress the old lady.
At this time, in Songhe Hall, Liu and Liu Qingwan had already arrived, and the fourth young master's marriage was scheduled for one year later.
Now that her son's marriage has been arranged, Mrs. Liu is in high spirits.
Seeing Chen, and thinking of the difference between them, he couldn't help but soften his tone. "I was wondering why I didn't see you guys! Turns out you were in the back."
After saying that, she told the maid to bring the stool and teased Xiao Jinshan: "The bag hanging on your waist is so unique, niece. Have you prepared one for your aunt?"
When the person in front of her actually took one out of his arms, she smiled and waved her hands, "I'm just kidding, you ladies can play with it."
Chen sneered at her: "You really are in high spirits because of good things happening to you." Then she sighed softly.
Liu wanted to say a few words of comfort, but because the old lady was sitting above her, she thought better of it.
After a while, Wang also came to Songhe Hall, and the house was bustling with activity.
Wang told Old Madam Xiao about the arrangements at the mansion for the evening, replied to a few maids, and sat aside to chat with her sisters-in-law.
The Chengguo Mansion is dominated by men but lacks women. Now, only the third girl, Xiao Jinshan, is left in the mansion, so her aunt and sister-in-law only tease her.
Xiao Jinshan handed Old Madam Xiao a red dogwood bag and said, "Grandma, please smell it. Are you used to the smell?"
The old lady actually took it to her nose and sniffed it. "Hmm, slightly sweet fruity smell, not unpleasant. How did the third girl come up with the idea of making this?"
Xiao Jinshan's face froze for a moment, but she remained calm and said, "It was my cousin's idea. She said people in Wu often wear this on the Double Ninth Festival."
Seeing the old lady at the top looking at her again, Xu Shuyao also smiled and said, "That's right, this is indeed popular in our hometown."
"What's popular?" Just as he was speaking, a male voice was heard from outside.
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