Chapter 132: The One Attending The Banquet
“Aren’t you not going?”
Sitting inside the carriage, Yang Luo looked at Yang Hui and frowned as she asked.
Qin Ying’s invitation was delivered to Duke Ding’an’s Mansion, inviting Miss Yang, so naturally Yang Hui was also invited.
But in the morning Yang Hui said she wasn’t going, yet in the afternoon when getting into the carriage, Yang Hui came along with a sullen face.
Hearing this maidservant ask, Yang Hui said irritably: “I’m going to keep an eye on you all, so you don’t act recklessly outside and forget your manners.”
Of course she didn’t want to go; going to school was so tiring, and after the holiday she didn’t want to go out at all, but helplessly her mother insisted she go.
“You must keep a close eye on her, don’t let her talk nonsense or babble outside.”
She even told her to bring more people, in case she spoke carelessly, they could forcibly bring her back.
“If she causes trouble, it will drag you down too.”
Indeed, thinking back on these past times, every time they caused trouble, she was the one who suffered misfortune, but there was never any good for her.
Yang Luo smiled: “Then we’ll have to rely on Miss Hui for guidance.” With that, she looked toward the direction outside the carriage and shouted to stop the carriage.
Yang Hui was caught off guard and lurched forward.
“What are you doing?” she shouted.
Mo Zheng smiled and said: “I had her go pick up Miss Liu.”
Yang Hui watched as Yang Luo lifted the carriage curtain and got out; beside them was an alley, and she pursed her lips: “Take care of yourselves first.”
As soon as the words fell, Mo Zheng signaled to the coachman outside to go, and Yang Hui, caught off guard again, leaned back.
“What now?” she said angrily.
Mo Zheng said: “Let her ride in the same carriage as Liu Chan, so cousin you can sit more comfortably.” As she spoke, she looked at Yang Hui with curved eyes and smiled: “Cousin, aren’t I good to you?”
Yang Hui shivered and scooted to the other side of the carriage. Good? More like terrifying!
……
……
Although one maidservant was fewer, when Duke Ding’an’s Mansion’s carriage stopped in front of Dengyun Tower, it was still quite lively.
After all, Yang Hui had brought three maidservants and one servant woman.
Zhu Yunxiao stood at the third-floor windowside watching, with maidservants and servant women surrounding two gorgeously dressed young girls.
He recognized Yang Hui; the one walking beside Yang Hui must be that Miss Yang Luo.
However, where was that fake Liu Chan maidservant?
No longer a young lady, so now among the maidservants?
Zhu Yunxiao’s gaze searched among Yang Family’s maidservants; perhaps he couldn’t clearly remember that fake Liu Chan’s appearance and couldn’t distinguish her for the moment…..
Why look at that maidservant!
Zhu Yunxiao came back to his senses, his gaze quickly shifting to that Miss Yang Luo, but Miss Yang’s figure had already entered Dengyun Tower.
Zhu Yunxiao frowned slightly, just about to withdraw his gaze, when suddenly he saw another carriage on the street.
Seeing the emblem on the carriage, Zhu Yunxiao’s eyes narrowed once more.
Grand Master of Deliberation Li Family.
……
……
“Lord Li’s youngest daughter, Li Rong.”
Sitting in the rickety carriage of Liu Chan, Yang Luo flipped through the note handed over by Sister Tao Hua.
She had come to see Liu Chan, but not to pick her up, rather to persuade Liu Chan not to go.
Liu Chan originally didn’t want to go.
Hearing Yang Luo say “I’m afraid someone might be unkind to our young lady,” she was startled and asked if she needed help, but upon hearing Yang Luo say “As long as you stay out of it, without us worrying about you, that’s help,” she immediately decided not to go.
She instructed them to be careful, then asked Sister Tao Hua to drive Yang Luo to Dengyun Tower.
Of course, Yang Luo came here first to stop Liu Chan from going, and second to get information on any movements in the capital from last night to this morning.
Last night those watching Li Family spied Li Family’s carriage and horses and servants preparing for Miss Li’s outing; from the eavesdropped departure time, it seemed they were heading to Dengyun Tower.
This Miss Li was not within the invitation range.
Marquis Yichun’s family had tight security with no chance to infiltrate; those watching on the street saw Chai Yuan leave the city last night for Feiyun Temple, not knowing whom he visited, and only returned early this morning.
Yang Luo flipped to the next note, seeing that at noon, Heir of Duke Yongwu Zhu Yunxiao had brought Madam of Duke Yongwu, Miss Zhu, and Jiang Rui to dine at Dengyun Tower.
They had not yet left.
What a coincidence, encountering them again this time.
Whether in the previous life or this one, “Yang Luo” and Zhu Yunxiao always had these chance encounters.
Yang Luo’s face was indifferent as she stuffed the read note into the incense burner beside her.
What coincidence.
It was all deliberate.
“Miss Asheng.” Sister Tao Hua said from the front, “Dengyun Tower has arrived.”
A smile bloomed on Yang Luo’s face; she lifted the carriage curtain and got out joyfully: “Thank you, Sister Tao Hua, I’m going in.”
……
…….
After stating her identity and verification through announcement, the servant woman outside Qin Family’s box led Yang Luo inside.
Yang Luo glanced around and saw quite a few people indoors, but few she recognized; they should all be Qin Family’s young ladies.
Indeed, no other companion reader young ladies had come to the banquet.
Besides the three from Yang Family, there was only Jiang Rui.
Jiang Rui, huh; Yang Luo’s eyes flickered slightly. She definitely wasn’t here for “Yang Luo,” but must have been sweet-talked into it by Zhu Yunxiao.
This time, Yang Hui was mocking Jiang Rui.
“I didn’t expect you to come, Jiang Rui, and so early too, waiting to greet us?”
“I must have misjudged you; turns out you’re so enthusiastic, Jiang Rui.”
“I’ve never seen you so close to the princess at the National Academy.”
“When school resumes—no, no need to wait for school; at the New Year’s palace banquet, I’ll definitely tell Princess Pingcheng this curious matter.”
This was undoubtedly a threat to tell the princess that she had come specially to the banquet for Yang Luo today.
No one else came, just her, so she was fawning over Yang Luo.
Listening to Yang Hui’s words, Jiang Rui’s face looked very unpleasant, her hands on her knees clenched tightly.
“A Rui happened to come here for a family banquet.” Qin Ying hurriedly explained, “She came to sit with me and will soon leave with Madam of Duke Yongwu.”
Yang Hui then gave Qin Ying a fake smile: “Qin Ying, then you should thank Miss Jiang Rui, thank me; so many invitations sent out, only our two families came, saving your face.”
As her words fell, a soft voice came from the side.
“Then I should thank Miss Qin for allowing me to come uninvited, so I could see Miss Yang.”
Yang Luo now stood behind Mo Zheng and softly called “young lady.”
“You’re back.” Mo Zheng turned to look at Yang Luo with a smile, then glanced behind her: “Miss Liu didn’t come?”
“Miss Liu can’t return to her hometown this year and is going to relatives outside the capital for the New Year; she’s busy packing her luggage.” Yang Luo said, looking at Qin Ying beside them and curtsying: “Miss Qin, Miss Liu asked me to apologize to you; she’ll visit you after the New Year when there’s a chance.”
With that, she curtsied to Qin Ying again.
“Miss Qin, let me also apologize to you; previously you took such good care of me, yet I hid my identity from you.”
At this moment, all eyes in the room fell on this young girl dressed as a maidservant, guessing she was that maidservant who impersonated Liu Chan.
Qin Ying’s expression was complicated.
How on earth did she think a maidservant was worth befriending back then?
She instinctively stood up; though one shouldn’t return a bow to a maidservant, she still slightly curtsied in response.
No matter what, this maidservant, though a maidservant, had stayed at the National Academy to study, attended the Libationer’s classes, and could be considered a scholar, so she should be treated with manners.
“Miss Asheng is too polite.” she said, then looked at “Yang Luo”: “No wonder when I first saw Miss Asheng, I felt she had an extraordinary bearing and would surely pass the exam; turns out she has such a talented young lady.”
The topic thus shifted from the maidservant to the young lady.
Saying this one sentence to this maidservant was enough.
Yang Luo said no more, smiling as she stepped back and quietly stood behind Mo Zheng.
“She also studied reading from a young age.” Mo Zheng said, then pointed to the girl sitting beside her at Yang Luo: “This is Miss Li from Li Family, the Li Family that gave me a set of ancient books.”
This was the Miss Li Rong from Li Family; Yang Luo saw she was sixteen or seventeen, with a beautiful face and a quiet demeanor.
Li Rong didn’t mind the young lady introducing her to a maidservant; she nodded and smiled at the maidservant, saying softly: “Strong generals have no weak soldiers under them; Miss Qin is right, Miss Asheng has an extraordinary bearing.”
Yang Hui rolled her eyes beside them: a crude-speaking, violent countryside maidservant—what extraordinary bearing! You all haven’t seen their true master-servant selves.
“What a pity.” Mo Zheng picked up the thread, “Miss Liu should come see you; like you, she’s obsessed with books.”
Li Rong smiled: “Then I understand; she must be one who doesn’t go out unless she has to—what could be happier than reading at home?”
Mo Zheng laughed, and Qin Ying and the young ladies beside her laughed along; Jiang Rui also curved her lips slightly: yes, staying home without going out is happier, but…
Jiang Rui’s gaze swept over the young ladies indoors, including this Miss Li who claimed to love reading and never went out; Miss Li indeed rarely went out in the capital and didn’t interact with other noble ladies, but today, hadn’t she still left home?
Said to admire the Libationer’s first female disciple—who knows if it’s true admiration for the person or the reputation, forced to come befriend her.
She was lost in wild thoughts when Li Rong’s voice continued by her ear.
“That set of books is most suitable for Miss Yang; not to mention you helped my aunt and Princess Wuyang, Princess Wuyang’s studies have improved greatly recently.”
“Princess Wuyang said before the exam you organized notes for her, and she benefited greatly from them.”
“My father was very pleased at home; finally no need to scold her for being useless, without any talent for reading like Li Family disciples…”
Before she finished, a scoff came from outside the door.
“…That’s an interesting thing to say.”
The clear female voice came, and with the words, the door was pushed open with a bang; an seventeen- or eighteen-year-old woman in a gorgeous dress, face like peach and plum, holding a whip in hand, strode in boldly.
The Qin Family servant woman squeezed to the back tremblingly announced.
“Young lady, Chai, Miss Chai Wan has arrived—”
Chai? Marquis Yichun’s family; Yang Luo’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Qin Ying was clearly shocked too and hurriedly went to greet her, but Chai Wan’er ignored her completely, walking past to stand in front of Li Rong.
She was a bit taller and habitually lifted her chin, her gaze looking down.
“Li Rong, are you saying Princess Wuyang has none of your Li Family’s bloodline.” She sneered, “It only passed to His Majesty’s bloodline, so she’s stupid and can’t read?”
What a vicious question; the young ladies indoors all drew in a sharp breath.
“Chai Wan’er, what nonsense are you spouting!”
Li Rong’s face paled, both angry and anxious and somewhat panicked, grabbing “Yang Luo’s” arm.
“I’m just thanking Miss Yang for helping Princess Wuyang; she is after all Princess Wuyang’s lady-in-waiting.”
Chai Wan’er’s lofty gaze then fell on this Miss Yang.
“Oh.” she said, “You’re that lady-in-waiting of the stupid Princess Wuyang in Li Family’s mouth, the one who outscored even the Princess Pingcheng always praised by His Majesty, that distant relative from the countryside of Duke Ding’an’s Mansion?”
What an impolite inquiry; the young ladies indoors drew in another breath.
Mo Zheng looked at this Miss Chai, smiled slightly, and paid respects: “Yes, that’s me.”
