Chapter 78: Involvement (Part 1)

  The maid came forward and lifted the curtain, and the room suddenly became much quieter. Even Xue San Ye was no longer smiling.

  Everyone looked out of the door.

  Outside the door was Xue Mingrui, who had changed into casual clothes.

  Xue Mingrui untied the cord at his neck and handed the stone-blue cloak to a young servant beside him, then entered the house.

  Xue Mingrui paid his respects to Tai Furen and the other ladies, who returned the courtesy.

  Xue San Ye saw Er Ge coming, and hastily retreated a step back, respectfully yielding Xue Ming Rui's position. Xue Ming Rui sat down beside Tai Fu Ren.

  The ladies all sat down again, and few dared to look straight at the marquis. Ronghua and Yaohua were also a bit reserved.

  Chang Ning's fourth sister was an exception, her face flushed as she occasionally glanced at Xue Mingrui.

  Among the chatter of the crowd, Rong Hua finally turned to look at Xue Mingrui. Xue Mingrui was wearing a dark blue changshan with a right lapel and four openings at the hem, sitting upright with his long eyes slightly narrowed, his gaze exceptionally clear, and his thin lips pursed, revealing a strong determination that seemed to contain resilience.

  Although the guests invited by Xue's family had some connections with the Xue family, after all, several misses present were unmarried, so Wu Mu Hou and his brother did not stay for long before leaving.

  Miss Changning bit her lip lightly.

  The banquet was ready, and Madame Wang led the way with several other madames in front, followed by several young ladies. Changning Bo's fourth daughter walked at the very end, when her maid Qingtong whispered to the fourth daughter: "I only heard Zisu, who is beside Madame, say that Madame is not happy."

  Fourth Miss puckered her lips, she had also looked at her coldly just now. Mrs. Xue didn't say a few words to her mother, but was very close to the eldest lady of the Tao family. Could it be that Mrs. Xue would choose one of the Tao family's misses as her daughter-in-law? The two misses of the Tao family looked like they were knowledgeable and reasonable, but Second Miss's pale face always made people feel a bit sickly. Eighth Miss Tao had some talent for being a virtuous wife, but she was born out of wedlock.

  Qing Gong said: "It's not just the Tao family and the Xue family, but also several other families. However, most of this is Mrs. Xue's own idea. I think Old Lady Xue likes Miss a lot, it's just that two young ladies came from the Tao family, don't know which one is... Logically speaking, it should be Second Young Lady Tao."

  Miss Changning nodded, although she had sat with Miss Tao for a while and found that this second miss was a good-tempered and soft-hearted person who didn't guard against others. However, at this time, she couldn't retreat just because of this.

  Chang Ning Bo's fourth miss let out a cold snort, "Tao Ba Miss is just an illegitimate daughter, even if she wants to, I'm afraid she doesn't have the qualifications, it's just that she's very annoying." Suddenly smiling, "I actually have a way." She whispered a few words in Qing Yun's ear.

  The blue sky listened and gradually had a smile on his face. "I think this will work. Don't worry, miss, I'll definitely get it done."

  Chang Ning Bo Si said: "Have you seen the Marquis looking at me a few more times?"

  Although Qing Gong didn't see it, he couldn't say anything and just went along with Fourth Miss's meaning, "Miss had a brief encounter with the Marquis, perhaps the Marquis recognized Miss."

  Miss Changning's face turned red with laughter

  In the Xue Mansion, a "Spring Chanting Pavilion" was built, with a pool of warm spring water in front. On winter days, the ice around the spring had frozen, but the spring water in the middle still flowed gently.

  A mist floated above the spring water, like a paradise on earth, and the young ladies who had never been to Houfu couldn't help but take a few more glances.

  Entering the house, Mrs. Tao first took her seat, and then the young ladies modestly sought their places and sat down.

  The lady looked at the decorations in the house and said: "The poem 'Yong Chun Guan' is well-written."

  Mrs. Xue smiled and said, "It was written by Mingrui when he was a child. At that time, I thought this poem was the best, so I used it." She continued, "Mingrui's intelligence as a child was unmatched by anyone. Even if ten teachers were called to test him, they would not be able to stump him."

  When mentioning her son, Mrs. Xue also had a smile all over her face.

  The azure canopy leaned down and whispered in the ear of the fourth miss of Changning Bo: "Miss, what a coincidence, the marquis also likes to write poetry."

  Miss Changning's ears turned red again. Ronghua smiled slightly after hearing it, didn't she hear Mrs. Xue say that it was the young master's childhood... things he liked in his childhood may not be liked now.

  She also liked writing poetry when she was young, but now she's gotten tired of it and always feels that those poems have some pretentious meanings.

  After a while, some of the young ladies couldn't sit still anymore. Madame Xue, who was used to such scenes, smiled and said: "You young people can't sit still, go play whatever you like!"

  Old Mrs. said this, and the young ladies did not dare move either, waiting until the banquet was over and then going together to listen to the opera.

  It's said to be listening to opera but actually it's just those few familiar tunes, in fact it's for convenience of conversation.

  On stage, they are singing "Li Kui Bears a Grudge", Li Kui is asking Wang Laohan for a token.

  Miss Changning quietly got up from her seat and went aside to talk to her personal maid.

  "That's all set, wait for them... Miss can also go to the study by herself." He leaned over and whispered a few words in Fourth Miss's ear.

  Miss Changning nodded slightly.

  Qingqiong had some doubts, "I'm just afraid they won't be willing to come."

  Miss Changning smiled slightly, "I go ask them not to come isn't openly rejecting my face? I want to first ask the elder's meaning, they will even more won't say anything. Besides, Tao Second Miss has intention to get along with me, definitely won't refuse."

  Changning Bo's fourth miss watched the play for a while, and when the Misses of the Xue family had almost left, she went to ask her mother, "Just now I saw that the warm spring water was extremely good, but didn't have time to take a few glances. Now I want to go and take a closer look."

  Madam Changning couldn't help but ask the host's intention and looked at Madam Xue.

  Mrs. Xue smiled and said: "Let the maidservants and old women follow, be careful not to slip on the frozen ice around."

  Chang Ning Bo Si Xiao Xiang, then looked at Da Tai Tai, "Madam, may I ask if Second Sister and Eighth Little Sister can go with me?"

  The old lady, Mrs. Xue, smiled kindly and said, "Even we love it this way, these kids also like it, playing together is more fun."

  The lady naturally agreed with what the old lady said.

  Ronghua was watching the black whirlwind on stage with relish, when Changning Fourth Miss and Yaohua came over and said: "Sister, come with us to take a stroll in the courtyard."

  Ronghua seemed reluctant to end this play, "The two sisters can go take a turn! I just like this one."

  Chang Ning's fourth sister was extremely enthusiastic, and had almost become a different person from when she first arrived. "I don't know how many times I've seen it, but my younger sister still isn't bored with it," she said. "If it were any other day, that would be fine, but today I'm not going to give in. I must go and have fun with you all." As she spoke, she took her younger sister's arm, saying "Come on, let's hurry up. It's stifling here."

  Fourth Miss Changning's voice was not small, and almost everyone around her heard it. Under the gaze of many eyes, Ronghua couldn't refuse again, so she had to get up and follow Fourth Miss Changning and Yaohua back to Yongchun Hall.

  A few people were about to go see the hot spring water when they met several maids in and out of the Spring Chanting Building, busy with dried fruits and pastries in their hands.

  Upon seeing the young ladies, the maid hastily curtsied and greeted them. The fourth Miss of Changning asked curiously, "What is she doing?"

  The maid replied: "It's getting dark and they're going to set off fireworks."

  Fourth Miss Changning looked around and said in surprise: "Is there a fire? Why can't I see it?"

  The maid pointed across the bridge and said, "It's being set up just ahead."

  Changning Bo's fourth miss smiled and said to Yaohua, Ronghua: "Let's go quickly to the courtyard to take a look, come back early, don't miss watching the fireworks." She then let the maids and servant women follow her as she walked away.

  Several people had already turned most of the Hou Mansion around, and Rong Hua advised, "It's better to go back earlier."

  The crowd then walked back along the winding path.

  Miss Changning said, looking ahead, "We'll just follow this road back to the hot spring, and then cross over from the bridge above the hot spring, and take a look at those elegant scenery."

  Ronghua glanced back, the maids and old women of the Marquis's residence were also exhausted from following, walking and talking behind. How strange that the fourth miss of Changningbo was still looking like she hadn't had enough after walking so far.

  Qingqiong, the maid of Fourth Miss Changning, came back after scouting ahead and reported to several misses, "They are preparing to set off fireworks ahead."

  Miss Changning Bo's fourth sister raised her eyebrows and laughed excitedly: "Let's go take a look quickly."

  Ronghua hesitated, "I'm afraid it's not good." He went to see Yao Hua again, and Yao Hua still had a gentle and amiable appearance. "Eighth sister said that we'd better not go over there now. When the sky darkens and the fireworks are officially lit later, wouldn't it be even more enjoyable?"

  Changning Bo Si Miss refused to comply, "What's wrong with that? We're just passing by. Besides, every time we watch the fireworks, it's always from a distance. We've never seen how they're actually set off. Let's take a look and then head back over the bridge."

  It sounds reasonable, but I always feel that something is wrong. Rong Hua turned to ask the servant girl who followed her, "Is there anyone else over there?"

  The old woman smiled and said, "It's true that there may be some real releases, but they are also the family members of the mansion. Now it's just some daughters-in-law over there making arrangements, and the young ladies can take a look from afar without any harm."

  Rong Hua asked again, "What about the other masters in the mansion?"

  Although Ronghua's words were ambiguous, the woman understood and hastily replied: "The masters are all drinking wine in front, they know that the inner courtyard is full of women, so they won't come over easily."

  Changning Bo's fourth sister advised again: "Let's talk for a while and set off fireworks, maybe there are still guests coming, we may not be able to see clearly." As she said this, she pulled Yao Hua and Rong Hua, "Let's hurry over!"

  In front of the winding path was a group of artificial hills. Just as Ronghua had turned behind the artificial hills, suddenly sparks flew everywhere, and a string of sparks came rushing towards her. She hastily dodged, and then heard a "plop" sound beside her ear, something had fallen into the Warm Springs River.

  What's wrong?

  I haven't eaten yet, actually.