Before Jiang Wan could speak, Gu Yurong spoke first.
“It’s no trouble at all. The princess’s child is the future King of Donglai. It is my blessing to be able to pray for him.”
All eyes turned to Jiang Wan.
Jiang Wan smiled and said, "That's right, how could I refuse when the princess has asked?"
Gu Yurong gave a wink to the people behind her, and several maids dressed in pea-green long coats immediately brought over writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Their movements were so fluid that it seemed as if they had been prepared in advance.
Jiang Wan pretended not to notice anything amiss and obediently sat down at the table.
Song Tingyue set an example by writing a line of Donglai characters on a piece of paper.
Jiang Wan asked, "What does this mean?"
A gentle smile crossed Song Tingyue's face, but the smile was somewhat strange.
"I pray for the health and well-being of my child with the King of Donglai. Ah Wan, just copy this."
Some of the women were curious and leaned over to look.
However, the script of Donglai and Dayong are very different, looking like scribbles, and not a single character can be recognized.
The onlookers lost interest and dispersed in twos and threes.
Only Jiang Wan carefully copied the characters and then used glue to stick them onto a delicate paper kite shaped like a beautiful woman.
Then, a light pink cat's eye necklace was tied to the kite frame.
This was Pei Tang's idea; everyone tied different necklaces to their kites to distinguish them.
Song Tingyue watched as Jiang Wan finished doing all this, and then smiled with satisfaction.
"That's great. Once the kite is in the sky, our mission will be accomplished. I'm a little tired, so I'll go back and rest first."
At this time, the other women had also finished their kites and were preparing to go to the backyard.
Gu Yurong said considerately, "Princess, please do as you wish. I will take care of these."
Several maids immediately stepped forward and took the items away.
One of the maids even slightly raised her head and glanced in Jiang Wan's direction.
When flying kites, Pei Tang deliberately pulled Jiang Wan along, and was very excited.
"I hope it's my brother who found my kite, then I can ask him for a present."
She fiddled with a red carp-shaped paper kite, whispering mysteriously in Jiang Wan's ear.
“My brother sent someone to buy a cat from the Western Regions. It has two blue eyes and is very beautiful! Unfortunately, I asked him for it many times, but he couldn’t bear to part with it.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wan also became interested.
She loved cats. She used to have one at Linglong Pavilion, which had blue eyes and white fur, but it died of illness after only six months.
She was depressed for a long time because of this.
Hearing Pei Tang's description, she chimed in, "It must be very cute."
The autumn breeze is crisp and refreshing.
Various exquisite kites floated in the azure sky, their vibrant colors a beautiful sight.
Jiang Wan stared intently at the sky.
A strange light flickered deep within his calm eyes.
Before dinner, the lords and their sons who had gone hunting in the mountains returned.
The servants carried the game in their hands. The ordinary game was sent directly to the kitchen to be cooked as wild game, while the rare pelts were kept to make fur products, blankets, and other items.
At the banquet, Pei Tang couldn't wait to ask about the kites.
Such timely games are something only a child like her would enjoy most.
Or perhaps, she just wanted Pei Xuan's cat.
The young men in the male seats took out the necklaces they had taken from the kites, and Pei Xuan had a light pink cat-eye necklace in his hand.
When Pei Tang saw that it wasn't hers, her face fell.
But the next moment, she looked at Jiang Wan and her eyes lit up: "Brother, what a coincidence! You found Madam Jiang's kite!"
Pei Xuan gave a nonchalant "hmm".
It's really a coincidence.
While riding a horse, this beautiful kite, by sheer bad luck, blocked his path and nearly got him to split it in two.
Remembering Pei Tang's instructions, he stopped.
Pei Tang ran to Jiang Wan's side and frantically gave her meaningful glances.
"Brother, since you've gotten a good omen from Madam Jiang, why don't you give her that cat?"
Pei Xuan glanced at Jiang Wan, his phoenix eyes narrowing slightly.
Jiang Wan was very perceptive.
Pei Xuan had specially sought out that cat from the Western Regions, so it must have another purpose. She was perceptive enough to know that much.
"It's just a game. Your Highness, please reward me with whatever you have caught today."
Pei Xuan nodded, seemingly satisfied with her answer, and gestured for someone to bring over two items.
A beautiful peacock tail feather, shimmering and iridescent, would surely be dazzling as a cloak or headdress.
Many of the women at the banquet were already tempted.
Another thing is the smooth, glossy gray fox fur.
Although its fur is beautiful, the color is rather dark, which is not something women would like; it would be more suitable for men.
Jiang Wan chose the last item.
Everyone assumed that Jiang Wan was chosen for Song Ziyu, and the ladies praised her for her virtue.
Gu Yurong laughed menacingly, thinking that Jiang Wan was just putting on an act to gain a reputation for virtue.
Only He Xingyun, with an expression that seemed to see through everything, nudged Pei Xuan with his elbow and said cheekily, "This thing definitely won't appear on Song Ziyu! Shall we bet? I'll put up fifty taels!"
Pei Xuan: "...Are you very free?"
Jiang Wan had no interest in what others thought, nor did she bother to explain.
With the weather getting colder, and this fox fur being thick enough, it would be perfect to make a cloak or felt hat for Song Yu.
After dinner, Song Tingyue suddenly said that she felt unwell in her abdomen and had slight pain.
Pei Tang suspected that she was prone to feeling cold, so he invited her to soak in a hot spring, and the other women went along as well.
The princes were all very worried when they heard that Song Tingyue was not feeling well.
Pei Xi, in particular, believed that Jiang Wan had harmed Song Tingyue, which was why she was physically weak.
He secretly sent someone to sprinkle a packet of powder on rose petals and deliver it to the pool where Jiang Wan was.
Qiyun Mountain Villa is famous for its hot springs, which are said to have beautifying and cold-dispelling effects.
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