Chapter 26 The Double-Pupiled Beauty in the Backyard of the Deep Mansion 8
"Miss Yunqin, Master has asked you to go to the garden to entertain distinguished guests with Miss Luoshu. Would you like to get up now or not?"
After Qian Li finished relaying the message to Luo Yunqin, he waited for her with a respectful attitude.
Luo Yunqin didn't dare to be presumptuous in front of Qian Li, so she had someone serve her tea and said, "Yunqin needs to freshen up a bit. Manager Qian, please have some tea and wait a moment."
Then she went into the inner room and asked the maid to change her jewelry into a more expensive set. She thought to herself that her uncle was also the kind of person who wouldn't do anything without a profit. If it weren't for her father's foresight in offering his services early on, their family's life probably wouldn't be so good.
Besides Luo Yunyao, there are several other young ladies in the manor. However, because Luo Yunyao is of high value, these young ladies all fawn over her. A few days ago, her maid told her that the courtyard that was prepared for Luo Yunyao had been given to Miss Luo Shu. When did this manor have such a Miss Luo Shu?
I heard from her maid that this woman is beautiful and charming.
This made Luo Yunqin even more curious. She herself was a pretty and delicate beauty, and Luo Yunyao was even known as the most beautiful woman in the capital. Just how beautiful must this Miss Luo Shu be for Grand Tutor Luo to praise her more than Luo Yunyao?
Today I finally get to see this woman who stole Luo Yunyao's things, how delightful! Although Luo Yunyao shows some respect to her other sisters, after years of pampering her, they are also young ladies from prominent families, and as members of the same generation as Luo Yunyao, it's perfectly normal for them to harbor some resentment.
With the appearance of such a person, the situation in the Grand Tutor's mansion is likely to change.
Luo Yunqin adjusted the position of the jade hairpin in front of the mirror to make sure her makeup was appropriate before leaving the inner room and following Steward Qian to the garden.
Over there, Grand Tutor Luo checked the time. Yunqin must have gone to the garden by now.
His eyes were half-closed, and he looked quite smug. Of the three people in the garden today, only one was Luo Shu. If Yun Qin could catch the eye of that young master Li, it would truly be a wonderful thing.
Looking towards Lanfang Pavilion from afar, Luo Yunqin saw four figures. One of them, dressed in a red dress, was likely Miss Luo Shu. The other three were probably men; their faces were too obscured by the distance.
She walked step by step toward the pavilion, the tassels on her hair ornaments swaying gently, every movement exuding the graceful charm of a well-bred lady.
The closer she got to the pavilion, the clearer the faces of the people inside became. She recognized the other three men; they were none other than the Second Prince, the Fourth Prince, and the young master Li from the Princess's family. They were all extremely powerful figures in the capital. Luo Yunyao's heart was filled with shock. Did these three really come to visit this Miss Luo Shu together?
"Yunqin greets the distinguished guests. Yunqin pays her respects. My uncle asked me to accompany my sister in entertaining the guests, but I could not bear to do so."
Before Luo Yunqin could finish speaking, Luo Shu, who had been facing away from her, turned around and revealed a face even more beautiful than a lotus flower. In an instant, Luo Yunqin was so shocked that she forgot the words she was about to say and stared straight at the woman in red in front of her.
There are countless beautiful young ladies in the capital, and Luo Yunqin has seen countless pretty girls. But in front of this person, they all seem like ordinary, common women. No wonder, no wonder, the strange attitudes of everyone before her are now explained.
Luo Yunqin composed herself before saying, "Second sister, this is the first time I've met you. I've prepared a gift for you. See if you like it."
Having said that, he had the maid behind him hand him the brocade box she was holding, and then he personally handed it to Luo Shu. Only when she got closer did she realize that this person also had double pupils. Her beautiful and dazzling eyes, under the sunlight, were like enchanting gems, breathtakingly beautiful.
When beauty reaches its peak, it attracts people regardless of gender.
Even though Luo Yunqin was a woman, she still blushed under the gaze of the great beauty. The three men over there didn't say anything. This was a display of sisterly affection between them. They didn't have any real relationship with Luo Shu yet, so they had no reason to stop Luo Yunqin's behavior at this moment.
Luo Shu took the brocade box, opened it, and saw a white jade hairpin inside. It was pure white except for a touch of red at the top. It had been carved by a skillful craftsman into a little rabbit holding a radish, which was very delicate and cute.
Luo Yunqin originally thought that Luo Shu was young and would definitely like the gift. As the older sister, it was only right for her to give a gift to her younger sister who was meeting her for the first time. In a family like theirs, etiquette could not be lacking.
Now it seems that we can't be sure. Although the jade hairpin is exquisitely crafted and the jade is of high quality, when Luo Shu holds it, her fair and delicate wrist is even whiter and smoother than the hairpin.
Luo Yunqin was a little embarrassed, but Luo Shu quite liked the hairpin; it was quite cute.
"Put it on for me."
Luo Shu stretched out her hand holding the jade hairpin, her eyes fixed on Luo Yunqin. Luo Yunqin took a deep breath before taking the hairpin and carefully putting it into Luo Shu's hair.
"I'm tired. You play with them. You know how to play chess, right?"
Luo Shu, Li Xuanshu, and Li Xuanwei each played a game, and now it was Li Yu's turn. Ignoring the eagerness on the young man's face, she spoke to Luo Yunqin.
"Yes, Second Sister, won't you play a little longer?"
Luo Yunqin was a little stunned. In the past, when she played with Luo Yunyao, Luo Yunyao was always the one who stood out the most. All the men would admire her. In front of Luo Yunyao, they were just inconspicuous passersby and did not attract any attention at all.
Unexpectedly, the second sister has a simple and kind personality. The author's four noble ladies are all excellent candidates for husbands. Luo Shu's actions can be described as magnanimous.
"Miss Luo, if you're tired, please take a rest. My tea-brewing skills are quite good; please try some and see if it suits your taste."
It was Li Xuanshu who spoke. His face was gentle, and his smile was warm, like a piece of smooth and beautiful jade, captivating all who heard him.
Luo Yunqin was even more surprised when she heard him speak. She and Luo Yunyao had attended many gatherings and knew that this second prince was gentle but aloof. This personal tea-making was a privilege that even Luo Yunyao did not receive. It seemed that Luo Shu was really popular.
Li Xuanwei also sat down next to Luo Shu, while Li Yu continued playing chess with Luo Yunqin. His expression was somewhat resentful, but he couldn't embarrass Luo Yunqin, a young woman, especially since she was Luo Shu's older sister. He couldn't afford to show her any displeasure.
They told Luo Shu some interesting stories and explained the chess game to her. Both princes were well-read and eloquent, and the little things they told were quite interesting. Luo Shu was amused and smiled brightly, revealing two small dimples. She was truly beautiful and charming.
The other three men, including Luo Yunqin, were stunned by her beauty. They stared at the woman, who looked even more radiant with a smile, with a kind of infatuation. She was truly a peerless treasure.
Leisurely time always passes quickly. The setting sun spread across the entire sky, and Li Xuanwei and his companions, though reluctant, had to say goodbye.
"Miss Luo, the day after tomorrow is the Lantern Festival. Would you like to come with me and go see the lanterns?"
Li Xuanwei extended the invitation with a natural expression, but no one knew that his left hand, hidden in his sleeve, was clenched tightly, the veins of which were bulging.
Luo Shu thought about it for a moment. She had never seen a lantern festival before and was quite curious, so she agreed.
Li Xuanwei visibly became excited. If he weren't mindful of the others in front of him, he would probably have roared to the sky to express his excitement and joy.
After bidding farewell to Luo Shu and the others, and saying goodbye to Grand Tutor Luo, the group reluctantly left the Grand Tutor's residence.
Luo Yunqin also bid farewell to Luo Shu. This girl was very considerate, and Luo Shu had a good impression of her after spending the afternoon with her. She was well-mannered, generous, and had a steady personality. So she asked, "Do you want to go to the lantern festival together?"
Luo Yunqin looked bewildered for a moment, then, slightly excited, asked, "Can I go with you? The Fourth Prince invited you, sister. Would it be inappropriate for me to go?"
Luo Shu said calmly in a low voice, "Go if you want to."
Luo Yunqin smiled shyly and said gratefully, "Okay, I want to go, thank you, sister."
Luo Shu nodded, then walked away without looking back, her bright red dress fluttering like a phoenix spreading its wings, dazzling in its splendor.
Looking at that carefree figure, Luo Yunqin felt a surge of inexplicable envy. She was just a young girl of sixteen, and she also enjoyed watching lantern festivals.
On the day of the lantern festival, Li Xuanwei arranged for a carriage to be parked at the back gate of the Grand Tutor's residence early in the morning to pick up Luo Shu to go see the lantern festival. Luo Shu and Luo Yunyao got into the carriage. Before they came out, Grand Tutor Luo already knew about this and was happy to see it happen. He waved his hand and told them to come back early.
Because the Lantern Festival is a folk festival, the government did not celebrate it in a grand manner. However, in such a prosperous and bustling place as the capital, the festival was still celebrated in a lively manner.
The two got off the carriage at the street corner. Standing outside the carriage were two handsome men, none other than Li Xuanwei and Li Xuanshu.
"Second Brother, I invited Miss Luo to the lantern festival today. What do you mean by this?"
Li Xuanwei's face was grim, and his tone was angry. He had originally arranged to go to the lantern festival with Miss Luo, where the two of them could spend a sweet and wonderful time, but this man had interfered, which infuriated him.
"Really? I thought Fourth Brother was inviting us to the lantern festival that day. I misunderstood him."
Li Xuanshu remained calm, speaking without a hint of embarrassment, as if he had truly misinterpreted Li Xuanwei's words.
Li Xuanwei said in a low, cold voice, "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. She's mine, and she can only be mine."
Li Xuanshu maintained his perpetually indifferent expression, but his words were anything but calm: "Fourth brother, the outcome is still uncertain."
The two were on the verge of a passionate confrontation, but upon seeing the carriage slowly approaching in the distance, they both stopped talking and moving, quietly waiting for his arrival.
The carriage stopped, and Luo Yunqin was the first to lift the curtain and get off. Li Xuanshu and Li Xuanwei were both taken aback when they saw her, and then they smiled helplessly. Luo Shu, didn't they already know? She never plays by the rules.
Then Luo Shu stepped out of the carriage, dressed in a simple blue dress. Her loosely tied bun was adorned with nothing but two silver beaded flowers, which only accentuated her snow-white skin and made her look stunningly beautiful, like a celestial maiden. Her makeup was so sharp that it seemed it could cut one's eyes.
Li Xuanwei then took out several more masks for Luo Shu and Luo Yunqin to choose from. Wearing masks is a custom during the Lantern Festival, which is one of the reasons why Li Xuanwei dared to invite Luo Shu to come out and see the lantern festival at night.
Luo Shu chose an ordinary fox mask, and Luo Yunqin also chose one with emerald feathers. The two men were not picky and chose two low-key ones to wear. The group headed towards the lively lantern festival.
The ten-mile-long street is brightly lit with a wide variety of lanterns, including lifelike goldfish lanterns, realistic lotus lanterns, and simple and elegant official lanterns. The lanterns are beautifully shaped, exquisitely decorated, and finely crafted, making them a dazzling and beautiful sight.
The area was also filled with the cries of various vendors and the acrobatic performances of some artisans, making it a very lively and bustling place.
The east wind at night releases a thousand trees of blossoms. It also blows down stars like rain. The road is filled with the fragrance of fine carriages and jeweled horses. The sound of phoenix flutes stirs, the jade pot shines, and fish and dragons dance all night.
This is truly a prosperous era.
Seeing that Luo Shu was enjoying herself, Li Xuanshu and Li Xuanwei protected the two of them and walked in the middle so that they wouldn't be separated by the crowd. They also carried some small things that Luo Shu had bought in her excitement. As for what Luo Yunqin bought, it was naturally carried by the servants following behind.
At the largest lantern display, there was a traditional activity of guessing lantern riddles. In the center was an eight-treasure glass incense lamp, which was exquisitely crafted and beautifully designed. Luo Shu was a little tempted.
The first riddle: A rabbit invites a tiger; guess the Chinese idiom.
"Living beyond one's means."
It was Li Xuanshu who spoke. His expression was gentle, and he didn't even look at the answer the boss had announced. He just stared at Luo Shu tenderly, his eyes fixed on her alone.
The second riddle: "Traveling thousands of miles to the battlefield, guess the answer."
"Remotely facing each other"
This time it was Li Xuanwei who spoke. He glanced at Li Xuanshu in a seemingly provocative manner, then looked at Luo Shu with a beaming smile, as if seeking praise.
The two brothers solved the riddles completely, but the shopkeeper was in a dilemma. The two brothers solved the same number of riddles, but there was only one prize. What should he do?
"I don't want this lamp, give it to this young lady."
The two voices rang out in unison, and it has to be said that there is some tacit understanding between the brothers.
The shopkeeper secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said to Luo Shu, "Young lady, please come with me to this platform so I can get you a lamp."
Luo Shu followed the shopkeeper up the tall wooden platform to lead the guests up to retrieve their lanterns. This was also to ensure that the lanterns were not switched, otherwise, if something went wrong, neither of them would be able to explain it clearly.
Luo Shu was dressed in a light blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her figure slender and graceful, her black hair flying in the wind, as if she were about to ride the wind away.
As she turned to descend the stairs, she noticed that this was the largest display area, and the palace lanterns there were indeed exquisitely beautiful. A large crowd had gathered to watch, observing Luo Shu leading the lanterns down the stairs.
Then Luo Shu felt that the straps of her mask had come loose. At this moment, she was holding a palace lantern in one hand and could not free her hand to tie the straps, so she simply took off the mask.
A gust of wind passed, and all was silent. Everyone stared in stunned silence at the peerless beauty on the stage. Her flowing skirt swayed, her blue dress wafting a fragrance in the breeze. She was exquisitely beautiful, her every glance captivating and alluring. Like a lotus emerging from the water, pure and flawless, like an autumn chrysanthemum covered in frost, serene as a pine tree in a secluded valley, she seemed otherworldly, more like a fairy.
What kind of beauty is the most beautiful? It's that which is unaware of its own beauty, that shows no pride in its appearance, and that freely radiates its charm. Like the bright moon, it attracts everyone.
Luo Shu looked at the stunned crowd, handed the palace lantern to Li Xuanwei, and put on her mask. Seeing that the crowd had not yet reacted, Li Xuanshu and Li Xuanwei quickly led the two away from the lantern festival.
It wasn't until the four men disappeared that the remaining villagers realized what had happened.
Everyone in front of the stall was praising Luo Shu's beauty. Some people even wondered if they were seeing a fairy. The lantern stall owner looked dazed, as if he had just handed a lantern to a fairy goddess.
It's wonderful that a fairy godmother visited my stall.
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