Chapter 42: Spring Banquet (Part 2)

  A group of people entered the flower hall, where several black lacquer square tables were arranged in front of them. On the tables, sweet white ceramic plates served fragrant and sweet-smelling citrus fruits, pineapples, and other delicacies. In the corner, high shelves displayed fresh flowers and potted landscapes, while bright octagonal glass lanterns shone down on the polished brick floor, reflecting a soft glow.

  Madam Wang was wearing a pink silk jacket with a gourd pattern, sitting on the black lacquer bed in the western wing of the house, surrounded by several women adorned with pearls and jade, dressed in bright clothes. A large group of women in red and green dresses were chatting and laughing around her. There were also seven or eight maidservants in blue jackets, busy serving tea, offering melon seeds and snacks, and changing plates, filling the room with a joyful atmosphere.

  Seeing Madame, Mrs. Tai got up and came over to greet her.

  Those women also got up one after another and followed behind Madame.

  Eleventh Sister saw Mrs. Qiao and Sixth Miss Qiao, Lianfang, supporting Mrs. Qiao.

  Qiao Lianfang also saw Shier Niang.

  Still the same simple and elegant attire, a face as white and delicate as porcelain, a pointed chin, big almond-shaped eyes, curved eyebrows... But when I looked at her again, somehow that little girl who always silently followed them became somewhat unfamiliar.

  She was slightly taken aback.

  There was no more shyness and weakness between her eyebrows, no more stiffness in her movements. Instead, there were warm eyes, a calm smile, and elegant manners, making her exude an air of composure and ease.

  Astonishment flashed across her eyes.

  What happened?

  She didn't have time to think carefully, and her eyes were attracted by a girl in a crimson dress next to Shíyīniáng.

  That girl was only fifteen or sixteen years old, with a tall and slender figure, skin as white as freshly fallen snow, eyebrows like distant hills, and black hair tied up in a high bun, with two crimson gold-inlaid blue jade flower pins inserted at an angle.

  Although she is a rare beauty, she can't be called the most beautiful in the world.

  But she followed behind the madam, her back straight as a pen, her chin slightly raised, and in her occasional glances, she revealed a few hints of pride that ordinary women dared not show, making her stand out like a crane among chickens in a room full of demure and obedient female relatives, radiant and dazzling.

  Qiao Lianfang took a deep breath of cold air.

  Who is this woman?

  Don't you know that a woman's virtue is in her modesty and obedience? Even the fifth wife of Xu's family, the county lady of Danyang, wouldn't dare to be so presumptuous. Or could she be the princess of some noble house?

  While thinking, Old Madam had already taken Eldest Madam's hand: "How come you're only arriving now? We were just waiting for you to start the meal!"

  The lady hastily pleaded guilty.

  Madam Tai saw Shi Nang behind her and was taken aback: "This is..."

  Lu Shi Xiangu gave a dignified curtsy to Madame Zhao: "Lu Shi Xiangu greets you, Madame. I wish you good fortune, longevity and peace, may all go well with you!"

  The old lady smiled and nodded, looking at the big wife, "You are really lucky." And asked Shining, "Why didn't you come with your mother last time?"

  The young girl glanced at the madam and smiled, "Elder sister's health is not good, I made a vow to eat vegetarian food for 99 days and copy out a chapter of the Blood Classic. The first two days have just been completed. Today mother brought me to pay respects to the madam."

  "It's really hard on you!" The old lady patted the hand of Shi Niang, and someone nearby laughed, "It's still the first wife who teaches girls well, sisters are close and harmonious."

  "You're overpraising me." The lady smiled modestly.

  "May I introduce you: this is Madame Lin of the Weibei Marquis's estate..."

  Mrs. Lin is around fifty years old, with a face as round and full as a full moon, looking very gentle and harmonious.

  The lady of the house hurried forward and greeted them.

  Mrs. Lin returned the courtesy.

  The lady introduced her to other people.

  "This is Madame Tang of the Zhongshan Marquis's estate..."

  She was a thin and tall woman, looking like she's in her fifties.

  "This is Madame Gan of the Zhongqin Duke's estate..."

  Zhongqinbo, surname Gan, is he a maternal relative of Xu Jia's third wife?

  The eleventh girl couldn't help but glance at Mrs. Gan.

  She was a beautiful woman in her thirties, wearing a blue and white porcelain-patterned embroidered jacket, with a very elegant temperament.

  "This is Madame Huang of Yongchang Marquis's Manor..."

  She is about the same age as Mrs. He.

  Madam Tai finally said: "You've already met Madam Zheng and Madam Qiao. No need for further introductions!"

  The lady smiled and paid her respects to Mrs. Zheng and Mrs. Qiao, then introduced the Fifth Daughter, Tenth Daughter, and Eleventh Daughter to several madams. The madams also introduced their own attendants.

  Swallows chirp in the house, pearls and pendants clinking, very lively.

  Eleventh Sister calculated that, apart from a few madams, the Lin family had brought Big Madam, Third Madam and Fifth Miss; the Tang family had brought Fourth Madam and Third Miss; the Huang family had brought Third Madam; the Gan family had brought Second Madam, Third Miss, and Seventh Miss; plus Qiao Lianfang... hmm, adding her own side, there were thirteen people in total. Excluding the married madams, there were eight unmarried misses!

  Two more young ladies arrived at the Gan household... Both were young and beautiful. Especially Lin's fifth daughter, who wore a moon-white dress, had a slender figure, was elegant and refined, with a gentle beauty like the moon, as if she had walked out of a painting. Alongside the stunning beauty of Wu Niang, the bright beauty of Shi Niang, and the soft beauty of Qiao Lianfang, they all shone brightly at the same time, causing Huang Fu Ren, the wife of Yongchang Hou, who was the only one not to bring a young lady, to praise Ta Fu Ren: "It's a pity that Er Fu Ren didn't come, otherwise, it would be a wonderful scene with so many beauties together."

  "We're having a hymn sing today." The mistress smiled, "She's a quiet person."

  Just as they were talking, a woman wearing a green embroidered jacket rushed in.

  "Mother, you can't blame me for being late." She said with a pout to the old lady, "I helped Fifth Master move that lotus flower lamp."

  The old lady nodded her head: "You're a woman, why are you following him to be crazy?" There was no blame in her tone, only doting love. "Don't go again in the future!"

  "Good!" The woman responded loudly, her big eyes curving into a crescent moon shape as she smiled.

  "You haven't met all the ladies yet!" The old lady chuckled and reminded her.

  "Yes!" She responded readily. One by one, she paid her respects to each of the ladies.

  All the ladies smiled and looked at her, calling her "the mistress of Danyang County".

  It turned out to be Madame Wu of the Xujia family, daughter of Sun Kang, Duke Dingnan!

  The eleven-year-old girl carefully sized her up.

  She looked like a 17 or 18-year-old, not very tall and slender, with a delicate face, extremely good skin, as white as snow, smooth as cream, and when she smiled, she had the sweetness of a child from a good family. There was also a deep dimple on her left cheek, which made people like her even more.

  When bowing to the madam, she looked at Wu Niang and Shi Niang with a sudden gleam in her eyes, smiling: "Are you Miss Wu and Miss Shi? Last time I went back to my maternal home, I didn't see you, this time we must have a good chat!"

  Wu Niang smiled and returned a gift to Wu Fu Ren. However, Shi Niang laughed and said: "I am Shi Niang." She then pointed to the person beside her, who was actually Shi Yi Niang, saying: "This is Shi Yi Niang."

  The eleventh girl smiled and gave Mrs. Wu a courtesy.

  The five madams saw that she was young, yet elegant and refined, and couldn't help but look at her in surprise. Just as they were about to wait for her to speak, Lin Xiaojie had already smiled and greeted her: "Cousin!"

  "Far away." The fifth lady smiled and said, "How did you come too? Today is the singing hall meeting!"

  I didn't know Miss Lin and Mrs. Wu were cousins?

  It seems that the Yanjing family is indeed complex and complicated.

  The eleventh girl quietly observed her surroundings.

  "Today is March 3rd." Miss Lin covered her mouth and smiled, with elegant posture.

  "It's also true!" said the fifth lady with a smile, "You can't stay at home reading and writing, painting and reciting poetry for 365 days a year." She continued, "Or else, let's go play by the Tai Chi pond later. Today is windy, just right for flying kites."

  "Nonsense," said the old lady with a smile. "You can only play in the garden and are not allowed to go out."

  The fifth lady smiled and pulled the hand of the main wife: "Then let's go fly a kite in the garden later?"

  "This monkey can't sit still for a moment."

  "Otherwise, how would you be surnamed Sun!" Madam Huang joked from the side.

  Everyone else started laughing too.

  The seventh young lady of the Gan family, who was about the same age as Shi Nang, whispered to her sister: "No wonder everyone says that the county master of Danyang is fun... We can go fly a kite later!" Her tone was filled with excitement.

  Her sister frowned and said with difficulty: "After all, we are guests in someone else's home... If you really want to fly a kite, go back home and fly one to your heart's content."

  Sister responded with a distracted "uh-huh", but her eyes kept following Mrs. Wu.

  The eleventh girl standing beside them couldn't help but smile slightly.

  This Miss Gan Qi still retains a few pure and innocent qualities of a young girl, truly rare!

  The Fifth Mistress and Miss Lin were distant relatives, and they weren't unfamiliar with the others either. After everyone had exchanged greetings, the Elder Mistress invited them to take their seats: "Let's hurry up and listen to the opera."

  Everyone laughed and sat down in order of seniority.

  The maids brought out a basin of orange water for everyone to wash their hands, and then another maid quietly brought in the soup.

  A few madams and grandmothers had a little wine, while the young ladies were properly served by people around them.

  After dinner, everyone moved to the Western Hall for tea before going to Dianchun Hall.

  Dianchuntang's theater stage backdrop is already set up, the courtyard is quiet and empty without a single person in sight. The wing room behind the stage is tightly closed, while the opposite north-facing wing room is wide open, with several low-to-the-ground long beds arranged inside, each with fruit platters and tea sets placed on top, and to either side of each bed stands a intricately carved porcelain gourd-shaped washbasin.

  The three madams led everyone into the northern wing room, after a round of pleasantries, the crowd sat down in pairs according to age. The old lady naturally sat with Zheng Taigong, while the second lady sat with the youngest, Gan Furen.

  Then the maid moved the embroidered quilt and placed it beside the long couch.

  The grandmothers and young ladies sat around their respective elders.

  The maids serve tea.

  A slender man wearing a yellow satin jacket with a floral pattern walked in: "Please, ladies, choose a play." As he spoke, he slightly bowed his head and presented the golden invitation card.

  Miss Lin and several others were shocked into standing up.

  The ladies all burst out laughing and teased: "When did our Fifth Master become the head of the DeYin class?"

  The man raised his head, revealing a handsome face as bright and radiant as sunshine.

  "I heard that there are several ladies present, so I specially took on this task." He said with a smile, "I wonder if the ladies are listening to a literary play or a martial arts play? Or should I announce the name of the play?" This remark was quite playful and irreverent, but it made the ladies laugh again.

  Miss Lin and several others also covered their sleeves and sat down laughing.

  For a time, the atmosphere in the house was extremely lively.