Chapter 43:
She truly regretted immensely not asking clearly that day how long the medicinal cuisine needed to be consumed.
She had already planned it out; this time going to Duke Pei’s Mansion, if she saw him, she definitely had to ask properly how long this medicinal cuisine needed to be eaten.
Madam Zheng watched her children walk far away, feeling both satisfied and worried in her heart.
The children of their family were all outstanding talents, yet they were yet having difficulty finding good matches.
Perhaps it really was a case of good deeds being fraught with difficulties.
…………
The two young ladies rode in a carriage, while Xie Yanyu’s three brothers went to the banquet on horseback.
By the time they arrived at Duke Pei’s Mansion, the sun had already risen high, and quite a few guests had come.
In the back garden, the noble ladies who arrived early had all found their close friends and gathered in groups of three or five to chat idly.
It was midsummer, the weather somewhat hot; Duke Pei’s Mansion was wealthy and imposing, even providing ice urns in the garden.
Xie Yanyu instructed his two younger sisters a few words, then followed his cousins to the nearby area for male guests.
Xie Wanning casually glanced toward the male guests’ side, just about to withdraw her gaze when she spotted a familiar figure.
She froze in place, simply unable to believe her eyes.
Lu Ziyan had actually come to such an occasion?
Xie Ruyu had of course seen him too; the corners of her lips, which had been curved, instantly straightened, and she said unhappily: “He wouldn’t have come for you, Sister Wanwan, would he?”
If it were Xie Wanning before the breaking off of the engagement, she absolutely wouldn’t have been so self-indulgent.
But now, she dared not be certain.
The words from that day were still fresh in her ears.
Lu Ziyan had said that their relationship would not end with the breaking off of the engagement.
Her brows furrowed tightly.
……Could it be that even after breaking off the engagement, he still wouldn’t settle down?
Taking advantage of the fact that they hadn’t been discovered yet, the sisters turned and walked away.
Pei Yuxuan, as the eldest young lady of Duke Pei’s Mansion, had started greeting the distinguished guests early in the morning, her eyes occasionally looking around; as the sun rose higher, she became somewhat disappointed.
A close noble lady beside her noticed and asked curiously: “Is the Commandery Princess waiting for someone?”
Pei Yuxuan was just about to reply when her eyes suddenly lit up.
“Wanwan, Ru Niang.”
She walked up quickly, chiding: “I thought you weren’t coming.”
The noble lady following behind her then realized that she had waited all morning and it was actually for the two young ladies from the Xie Family; she smiled and joined in: “The Commandery Princess was really looking forward to it, waiting so long.”
Xie Wanning knew her; she was the daughter of the Minister of Personnel, Cao Ying’er.
Both sides exchanged greetings.
Pei Yuxuan then took Xie Wanning and her sister’s hands, leading them to introduce them to several imperial clan commandery princesses.
After a round of greetings, the smile on Xie Wanning’s face had become somewhat stiff; she finally found an opportunity to slip away, only to be spotted by Pei Yuxuan, who was constantly paying attention to her.
Pei Yuxuan smiled: “My mother is in the flower hall; she said she wants to meet the new sisters I’ve befriended. Wanwan, will you come with me to see her?”
Xie Wanning’s pupils suddenly dilated.
Seeing this, Pei Yuxuan’s smile deepened, and she said softly: “Don’t worry, my mother probably doesn’t know about my elder brother’s intentions yet.”
“However…” Xie Wanning had just relaxed when she heard her tone shift: “My elder brother has been visiting your Xie Residence quite frequently these days, and he’s sent medicinal cuisine three times a day for many days; it’s uncertain if my mother has heard some rumors.”
There is no wall that doesn’t let wind through, especially given Princess Duanyang’s degree of care for her son.
Pei Yuqing had indeed come to the Xie Residence quite often these days, and the medicinal cuisine was all sent from Duke Pei’s Mansion.
Thinking of this, Xie Wanning’s expression became somewhat stiff.
She repeatedly declined her plan to take her to see Princess Duanyang.
Her nervousness made Pei Yuxuan laugh uncontrollably: “My mother is very kind, not some flood or fierce beast.”
Xie Wanning was at a loss for words: “Don’t laugh at me.”
She wasn’t a timid and cowardly person, but with so many noble ladies attending today’s flower appreciation banquet, for her alone to go pay respects to Her Highness the Princess, she definitely felt somewhat uneasy.
Everyone knew what the purpose of this flower appreciation banquet was.
Pei Yuxuan’s smile gradually faded, she composed her expression, and quietly asked her: “Then does Wanwan want to see my elder brother?”
Xie Wanning: “……No.”
“There are too many young ladies on this flower hall side; whenever my mother holds such banquets, my elder brother never shows up. If you want to meet, I can take you to…”
As she spoke, Pei Yuxuan glanced at her, then said somewhat subtly: “But this time, it’s not so certain.”
“…” Xie Wanning was silent for a moment, then glared at her: “You go greet other guests; I’ll wander around the courtyard by myself.”
Pei Yuxuan didn’t force her, but smiled and gave directions: “There’s a flower field to the southeast; if Wanwan is interested, you can go take a look. All the notable varieties in the capital are there, with flowers to appreciate in all four seasons.”
Hearing this, Xie Wanning did feel some interest; seeing her cousin engrossed in playing pitch-pot with others, she didn’t call her and instead lifted her steps to stroll around the garden.
This was her first time at Duke Pei’s Mansion; compared to Xuanping Marquis’s Estate, the duke’s mansion was clearly even more magnificent.
Rockeries with flowing water, pavilions and towers visible at a glance.
There were many people strolling in the garden; Xie Wanning encountered several groups along the way, some male guests, some female relatives.
It was clear that Duke Pei’s Mansion was extremely lively today.
She walked around with Er Qing, looking here and there, and finally arrived at the flower field Pei Yuxuan had mentioned.
Mistress and servant were both somewhat amazed.
Duke Pei’s Mansion was generous; an entire large flower field was actually built with glazed tiles, and looking from outside in, the scenery inside the transparent glazed enclosure was fully visible.
There were no other guests inside, and it looked very quiet.
May was precisely the season when peonies were in full bloom; naturally, the ones planted in the Pei Family’s flower field were all famous varieties.
Some Xie Wanning recognized, others she didn’t.
Looking at these peonies as large as plates, dazzlingly bright, with petals layered and blooming, she could only sigh that they truly deserved to be the true national beauty among flowers.
Among them, one whose name she couldn’t recognize looked particularly beautiful.
Filled with delight at the sight, she called over a servant tending the flower field and asked: “What is this flower’s name?”
The servant bowed and said: “This flower is called Noble Consort’s Charm; it originally grows in the south, and transplanting it to the capital region is extremely difficult to cultivate successfully; it’s very rare and precious.”
Xie Wanning nodded, lifted her skirt hem and squatted down, just carefully admiring it when footsteps suddenly sounded behind her.
She turned to look and saw Pei Yuqing in a moon-colored long robe emerging from somewhere, gazing down at her.
He said: “If you like it so much, how about I take it back for you to raise?”
Xie Wanning blinked, not finding it strange to see him here.
Thinking for a moment, she politely declined: “Never mind, the flowers and plants in my courtyard are all tended by my elder brother; this flower is so precious, I’m afraid I can’t keep it alive.”
She didn’t like gardeners coming into her courtyard, yet she loved raising some rare and unusual flower branches to enjoy.
If not for Xie Yanyu coming over from time to time to trim the flowers and cut the grass, the seedlings would probably have been replaced several times over.
This kind of hard-to-raise peony was better admired from afar.
Seeking votes~~
