Chapter 93: The Marquis's Flower Banquet
As winter approaches, Beijing welcomes its first light snowfall.
Snowflakes fell like cotton, swirling and dancing, adorning the pavilions and towers of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion with a silvery blanket. As the year drew to a close, visits and banquets between various households gradually increased. On this day, Su Wanrou received an invitation to a plum blossom viewing banquet from the Marquis of Yongting's residence.
The Yongting Marquis's Mansion was a renowned noble family in the capital. The Marquis's wife, Lady Li, came from a scholarly family and was known for her refined taste. Her plum garden was a unique sight in the capital, and the plum blossom appreciation banquet held every winter was a gathering that literati, scholars, and noblewomen enjoyed participating in.
Holding the exquisitely crafted stationery with a faint plum blossom fragrance, Qingdai hesitated before speaking to Su Wanrou, who was teaching Mingxuan calligraphy, "Madam, the plum blossom appreciation banquet at the Yongting Marquis's residence... I've heard that in previous years, those who attended were mostly extremely refined individuals, speaking with erudition and classical allusions. What do you think..."
Su Wanrou naturally sensed Qingdai's worry. The banquet at the Yongting Marquis's residence was different from the previous banquets at the Duke of Ying's residence, which were more geared towards the families of nobles and military officers. The atmosphere was more refined, and... perhaps more discerning. As a young second wife of a duke, whose background wasn't particularly high, and who had married into a military family, it was inevitable that some people would view her with prejudice.
She put down her pen, took the letter, glanced at it, and a faint smile appeared on her lips: "Since the Lady of the Marquis has extended such a warm invitation, how could I refuse? Go and reply to the person who sent the invitation, and tell them that I will definitely be there on time."
She understood that now that she was in this position, such occasions were unavoidable. Not only could she not avoid them, but she also had to go gracefully. This was not only about her personal dignity, but also about the reputation of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and even more so about the reputation of her husband, who was far away in the northern border.
On the day of the plum blossom viewing banquet, Su Wanrou dressed up meticulously. She chose a honey-colored satin jacket and skirt embroidered with magnolia branches, over which she wore a lotus-green brocade cloak with a silver fox fur lining. This outfit maintained the dignified bearing of a duchess while exuding the elegance of a young woman. Her hair was simply adorned with a single translucent white jade plum blossom hairpin and a few pearl hairpins. Her eyebrows were lightly drawn, and she wore a touch of powder. She looked fresh and refined, like a jade tree in full bloom, perfectly complementing the atmosphere of plum blossom viewing after the snow.
A procession of carriages and horses lined the gates of the Yongting Marquis's residence. Maids, dressed in uniform light blue vests, gracefully led the guests inside. Su Wanrou, supported by Qingdai, stepped out of the carriage, and a head maid immediately greeted her with a beaming smile, respectfully guiding her into the residence.
Passing through several courtyards, we arrived at the renowned Plum Garden. Even before entering, a delicate fragrance wafted through the air. Stepping through the moon gate, the view opened up before us, revealing a picturesque scene of white snow and red plum blossoms. On the old, gnarled plum trees, red, white, and pink plum blossoms bloomed proudly, their subtle fragrance wafting in the air, their sparse shadows casting long, slanting rays. The garden was already filled with guests, gathered in twos and threes, admiring the plum blossoms, sipping tea, whispering and laughing softly. The air was filled with the fragrance of their clothes and the tinkling of their jewelry—truly a scene of refined elegance.
Su Wanrou's appearance attracted many glances. Some were curious, some scrutinizing, and some well-meaning. She remained calm and composed, and guided by the maids of the Marquis's residence, she first went to pay her respects to the hostess of the day, Lady Li, the wife of the Marquis of Yongting.
Madam Li was about forty years old, with a dignified appearance and gentle temperament. When she saw Su Wanrou coming over, she smiled and stood up to greet her: "Madam Gu has arrived. Please have a seat. I have long heard that you are young and beautiful. Seeing you today, I can confirm that your reputation is well-deserved."
"Madam Hou, you flatter me. It is my honor to be invited by you. The plum garden in your residence is elegant and refreshing." Su Wanrou bowed gracefully and spoke with propriety.
Seeing that she was well-mannered and had a clear and honest look in her eyes, and that she did not have the timidity or arrogance of a second wife as rumored, Li felt a sense of goodwill towards her. She kindly pulled her to sit down next to her and chatted for a while.
Before long, several more ladies and young women came to pay their respects. Among them was a young woman dressed in a deep purple jacket and skirt with peony patterns and adorned with pearls and jade. She was Madam Wang, the young mistress of the Marquis of Anyuan's mansion. She looked Su Wanrou up and down a few times, then covered her mouth with her fan and smiled, "This must be the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo, right? You're so young, you look like a young lady who hasn't even left home yet. Speaking of which, how is the Duke of Zhenguo doing in the northern border? In this cold weather, you must be quite worried about him, Madam, being alone in your room." Her words sounded concerned, but there was a hint of sarcasm in her tone.
The surrounding ladies all turned to look, some with sympathy, others waiting to see how Su Wanrou would handle the situation. A general going to war, leaving his wife alone in her chambers—this was always a topic that would easily attract gossip.
Su Wanrou picked up her teacup, gently skimmed off the foam, and looked up at Madam Wang. Her gaze was calm, and there was even a faint smile on her lips. "I am grateful for Madam Wang's concern. As a military general, it is my duty to protect the country. He is fighting on the frontier, safeguarding the territory of the Great Zhou and the peace of thousands of families in the capital. As a servant at home, I can only do my best to manage the household affairs and raise the children well so that he has no worries. Of course, I am concerned, but even more so, I feel honored and supported as the wife of a military general."
Her voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly. Her words, neither humble nor arrogant, not only pointed out the significance of Gu Yangui's campaign, but also expressed her responsibility and attitude at home, elevating the potentially ridiculed "loneliness in her empty room" to the level of "supporting her husband and sharing the burden of the country."
Lady Li, the wife of the Marquis of Yongting, glanced at the woman with admiration and said, “Lady Gu is absolutely right. The generals fight bloody battles on the front lines, while their families hold the fort inside. They are all meritorious. Come, try some of my newly acquired Huiming tea, paired with these pastries made from freshly picked plum blossoms. It has a unique flavor.”
The topic was subtly diverted, and the young mistress of the house, feeling awkward, stopped talking.
After a brief chat over tea, a maid came to announce that paper and ink had been prepared in the warm pavilion of the plum garden, and invited the ladies to come in. If they were in the mood, they could compose poems or paint on the spot.
The group moved to the warm pavilion. The pavilion was cozy and warm, with windows wide open all around, facing a patch of red plum blossoms in full bloom. On the long table were fine Xuan paper, and all kinds of pigments and brushes were readily available.
Several ladies, renowned for their talent, readily took to painting or composing poems. Su Wanrou, however, remained quietly on the sidelines, observing. She knew that poetry and prose were not her forte, and preferred to keep her abilities hidden rather than force herself to stand out.
At this moment, a lady of the Hanlin Academy who was on good terms with the Marquis of Yongting's family smiled and said to Su Wanrou, "I have long heard that Madam Gu comes from the Yongchang Earl's family, which is also a family of scholars. I suppose she must also be accomplished in poetry. Today is a beautiful day with snow and plum blossoms. Why don't you leave a piece or two of your calligraphy as a memento?"
All eyes were once again focused on them. The Yongchang Marquis's mansion had long since fallen into decline, and the so-called "scholarly family" was nothing more than a polite expression. This Hanlin scholar's wife seemed to be extending an invitation, but in reality, she also had a bit of a test in mind.
Su Wanrou knew that declining would make her seem petty, so after a moment's thought, she walked gracefully to the table and smiled, "I dare not presume to say that I have any skill. I only learned to write for a few days with my mother when I was young, and it is barely presentable. Since Madam is in the mood, Wanrou will humbly offer to write a few words to add a footnote to this plum blossom scene."
Instead of composing a poem, she picked up her brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote four elegant yet spirited characters on a piece of gold-flecked paper: “Hidden Fragrance and Sparse Shadows”.
These four characters are taken from a famous line about plum blossoms, perfectly matching the scene. What's even more remarkable is that Su Wanrou's calligraphy is not the delicate and charming style commonly seen in women from ordinary boudoirs, but rather carries a sense of elegance and freedom. In the turns and twists of her brushstrokes, there is even a faint trace of Gu Yangui's calligraphy, which is obviously due to her daily practice of copying her husband's calligraphy.
"Beautiful calligraphy!" Lady Li, the wife of the Marquis of Yongting, exclaimed first. "This calligraphy is elegant and refined, perfectly matching the spirit of plum blossoms. Lady Gu has indeed grasped its essence."
The Hanlin scholar's wife also examined it carefully and nodded, saying, "The calligraphy reflects the person, elegant and refined. You are too modest, Madam."
Su Wanrou skillfully defused a potential awkward situation, instead showcasing her calm, composed, and dignified demeanor.
The plum blossom viewing banquet lasted until the afternoon. When Su Wanrou left, Lady Li, the wife of the Marquis of Yongting, personally escorted her to the second gate, took her hand and said, "I feel like we've known each other for a long time. Although you are young, you are insightful and open-minded. Please come to my mansion often when you have free time."
This address of "little sister" is a great sign of recognition and closeness.
On the carriage back to the manor, Qingdai couldn't hide her excitement: "Madam, you were so wonderful today! Look, even that young mistress Wang was speechless afterwards! The Lady of the Marquis even invited you to visit often!"
Su Wanrou leaned back on the cushions, her eyes slightly closed, a hint of weariness mixed with relief on her face. She knew she had successfully navigated today's flower banquet. Not only had she not disgraced the Duke's mansion, but she had also won the favor of several truly noble ladies.
Social interactions within this high-ranking household are like a battlefield without gunpowder; every word and action must be carefully considered. But she is no longer the apprehensive young woman who first entered the manor; she is Lady Gu Su, the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo, and behind her lies her husband's trust and the support of the entire Duke's manor.
And she will surely use her own methods to win the respect and status that her husband and family deserve in this circle of high-society women in Beijing.
The snowflakes continued to fall silently, covering the tracks left by the carriage. The carriage drove smoothly toward the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, the home she was protecting with all her might.
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