Chapter 36: The Duke of Dongping's Manor Appreciates Roses

  The Shen family, Marquis of Dongping, was a founding merit title that had been passed down through generations. The first Marquis of Dongping returned to his hometown in Suzhou after the founding of the country and lived a seemingly leisurely life, but the relationship between the Shen family and the imperial court was intricate.

  Throughout the generations, the Shen family has produced three imperial consorts, seven princesses and crown princes' consorts, and married into two royal families. This number is astonishing in any dynasty. The Shen family seems to be far away from the imperial court, but it's not actually the case.

  This generation of the Marquis of Dongping has two sons and three daughters, with the youngest son being only four years old. The marquis had never taken a concubine, and his relationship with the Seventh Princess was extremely good, which made this marriage envied by the literati of Jiangnan.

  The human heart is indeed a strange thing. If this were to happen to someone else, it would likely be said that they are afraid of their wife. But if this virtuous woman were a princess, she would be praised by people. For women who want to marry well and have a happy marriage, matching social status is really important; romantic love and passionate emotions will eventually fade away, leaving behind only mutual dislike.

  The Seventh Princess did not look stunning, this was Daiyu's first impression of the princess, but she had a dignified demeanor and an extraordinary air, without the imagined gold and silver decorations, instead wearing a simple moon-white lotus-patterned silk jacket with three or four peach-red roses embroidered on it, and a purple skirt with green stripes, her hair styled in a flowing cloud bun, with only one branch of blooming rose inserted at the back, and no other ornaments.

  The princess held Daiyu's hand and looked at her for a long time, smiling: "Your brother is very close to our family, and also close to me. Since you are his sister, you should consider us as one family too. I've been wanting to invite you home for a visit, but was afraid of being too presumptuous."

  Daiyu only felt the princess's hand was warm and moist, with a motherly feeling. Her eyes involuntarily became slightly sour, and she said in a low voice: "It's Daiyu who should have come to visit Your Highness long ago, but I was still in mourning and feared disturbing you. Now that my brother and I are about to enter the capital, I came especially to bid farewell."

  "From now on, don't call me princess anymore. Just call me Auntie like your brother does. In our household, there's only the Lady of East Ping Prefecture, no such thing as a princess. You're being too formal by calling me that. Did Stewardess Shen teach you well?"

  "Your Royal Highness, Aunt Xue, Nurse Li is very good to me and teaches me with all her heart every day. I must also thank you, Aunt."

  "Silly child, since you called me Auntie, we should be like one family. I was thinking that once your household is stable, I would invite you to live with our family's girls for a few days. I didn't expect you to leave for the capital so soon." The princess lovingly reached out to smooth out Daiyu's stray hairs and had her maid bring out a large purple sandalwood box. "Inside this box are Snow Ginseng Jade Toad pills that I had someone prepare, take one every month and your body will be much better in a year. Your brother said you used to eat People Ginseng Nourishing Pills at the Jia household, but they're not as good as these. I asked the doctor who examined you, this is the most suitable for you."

  Daiyu hastily took the box, inside which were twelve Snow Lotus Jade Toad pills, each the size of a longan fruit, with a golden luster and a faint medicinal fragrance wafting up to her nose, just enough for a year's dosage.

  Smiling, she came up and grasped the princess's hand, "Mother was so busy talking to my sister that she forgot about us. We've been preparing for today for a long time!"

  The princess looked at the eldest daughter with a resentful gaze and said sorrowfully: "Alright, alright, I know I'm an old woman now. You young girls don't welcome me and don't want to talk to me. Go ahead, go ahead, just play among yourselves today. Later, if you've composed some poetry, show it to me!"

  The princess's words amused the whole house, and the four-year-old second young master of the Dongping Hou Mansion ran to his mother's side with a big smile on his face: "Mother, I'm accompanying you, I like you, I don't despise you for being old!"

  The two young masters were almost identical in age and appearance, but their fates were worlds apart.

  The garden of the East Ping Hou's house is extremely large, gathering the essence of Jiangnan gardens, with pavilions, towers, waterside pavilions, winding paths, and corridors. In the Hou Mansion Garden, there is a Late Fragrance Pavilion, which is a great place to admire flowers and water. Yan Ran ordered people to clean it up early in the morning, and also had them arrange fresh flowers and fruits. In front of the pavilion is a lake, where lotus flowers have not yet emerged from the water, but their leaves are lush and luxuriant.

  Daiyu followed the crowd to the Late Fragrance Pavilion, where she saw a large lotus-leaf-shaped jade plate on the black pear wood carved flower table, with various colors of cut rose branches arranged inside.

  She picked a "White Jade Hall" and inserted it into Daiyu's hairpin, looking elegant and simple, and then selected a "Seven Sisters" to wear on her head.

  Qiangqie pulled Daiyu's hand to sit in front of the table, handed her a pen and smiled: "We've heard from Brother Zhiyuan that you're the best at writing poems. If you can't come up with a good one today, we won't let you go back!"

  Daiyu was too modest to admit it, "Brother is talking nonsense, I don't know how to write poetry, it's just something I do in my free time." Daiyu had the intention of showing off her talent, but thinking of her brother and strict nurse's teachings, this thought gradually dissipated. The Jiangnan region produces outstanding people, and the several daughters of the Hou family were not ordinary either. If they were to be laughed at by others, it would also damage her brother's reputation. Moreover, Du's sister had not arrived yet, if she came and saw that everyone was waiting for her, she would definitely feel unhappy in her heart. It's better to wait a bit longer and do something that will bring harmony. Therefore, Daiyu said: "I came early today, Du Wenyi has not arrived yet, why don't we wait for her to arrive before discussing what to do?"

  She nodded in agreement. The flowers in the pavilion were indeed cut and placed on a jade plate, although beautiful, they had lost their original vitality, and could not be compared with those roses that grew on the branches, budding and waiting to bloom. In Daiyu's room, there were often flowers and plants, originally she didn't pay much attention to this, usually soaking in medicinal jars, Daiyu also didn't want those flowers and plants to suffer, getting smoked to death, however, when Zhiyan saw them, he had someone send seasonal flowers such as narcissus and plum blossoms, saying that people often seeing flowers would have a good mood, the fragrance of flowers was much better than those medicinal smells and incense.

  Everyone was unwilling to sit and wait for Du Wan, so they went hand in hand to the flower bed behind the Late Fragrance Pavilion to admire the flowers.

  The old woman who takes care of the flowers and grass knows that several girls are coming to admire the flowers today, so she specially trims them up, one by one, a few at a time, making them look delicate and charming.

  Jingqi said: "How come I didn't notice that the flowers in our house are so beautiful every day? Is it because Sister Lin has arrived, and these roses also want to make an effort to bloom?"

  Daiyu and several others were amused by this maid's words, and even Su Jie joked: "Isn't it just like what Jingqi said? We're all clumsy, these beautiful flowers don't want to see us. Now our family has a fairy-like sister, isn't she going to make an effort to bloom?"

  "Alright, you're going to tease me again, how annoying." Daiyu's face turned bright red. When she first arrived at the Jia mansion, Bao Yu also said that a fairy-like sister had come home and he thought it was a good thing at the time. Now thinking about it, these words were not auspicious, especially when spoken by a man. Daiyu knew that Su Shi's sister was joking with her, but after receiving strict teachings from Granny Liu, she began to pay attention to some things.

  Yanran saw that Daiyu was feeling embarrassed, and hastily came forward to intervene, "You all just know how to bully Lin sister, I won't stand for it. If you ask me, we should think about how to punish Du Wan for coming late! This girl said she'd come today, but what time is it now? She's still not here, who else do you want to punish?"

  Daiyu was deeply grateful for Yanran's help. Although she now had a brother, younger brother and sister, people are always greedy, and Daiyu couldn't share some things with them. If in the future she could have a sister-in-law like Yanran who would love and care for her, that would be great.

  As soon as this idea emerged, it was like an ink dot being dyed by water, spreading bigger and bigger. Brother, sister-in-law, Yanran sister

  Daiyu knew that Yanran sister was already fifteen, but had not yet been married, and she thought of the princess's kindness to herself, and the enthusiasm of the Lin family, perhaps it was not impossible for the two families to become in-laws. Otherwise, why did Yanran sister reach the age of marriage, but there was no news?

  Brother will participate in the imperial examination next spring, and when he gets his name on the golden list, he will come to ask for the eldest daughter of Duke Hou and Princess as his wife, what a great marriage this is.

  Daiyu thought of these things and quietly glanced at her sister Yanran twice.

  Shen Yanran and the princess didn't look alike, the princess was of average beauty but had an air of nobility that was intimidating. On the other hand, Yanran's sister and Su Jia, Bing Qi were all rarely seen beauties, and Yanran's sister was the most outstanding among the three. If it were true that they could form a marriage alliance with the East Ping Hou Fu, Daiyu thought about it and felt happy. Unconsciously, her words became more lively by three parts, and she also added a bit of closeness to Yanran.

  However, the young lady of the Shen family did not know about Daiyu's little thoughts and still took care of her younger sisters as usual.

  After about an incense stick's time had passed, the old woman from outside came in to report: "I have come to inform several young ladies that this is a letter sent by the Du family."

  Yan Ran was still wondering why Du Wan hadn't arrived yet, but now she had received this letter and hastily opened it to read.

  "Yanran sister, what did Du Wan sister say?" Daiyu guessed that the messenger was sent by Du Wan, but didn't know what had happened to Du Wan sister, and why she hadn't arrived yet.

  Yanran listened to Daiyu's question, and took the opportunity to fold the letter in her hand and put it into her sleeve, smiling and saying: "Nothing, this girl said that there are relatives at home, can't go out, let us forgive more."

  Jing Qi pouted, unhappy, saying: "This Du Wan sister is really something, she doesn't keep her promises. She clearly said she'd come today and bring the eight-treasure cake made by their family's chef, but I ended up waiting in vain."

  This little girl is still at the age of being greedy, last time when she went to Du's house and saw that their eight-treasure rice cake was delicious, she kept thinking about it and asked someone at home to learn how to make it. However, the taste was not as good as Du's house, and her sister said that it was because the cook in Du's house was brought from Beijing, and eight-treasure rice cake is a traditional snack in Beijing. Moreover, the cook of Du's aunt has some secret recipe that others can't learn!

  Daiyu thought that Jingqi liked it, so she comforted her by saying: "Since you like it, I'll ask our family's Bi Die to try making some. She's best at making pastries, and I'm sure the eight-treasure cake you mentioned is something she can do too. When we get home, I'll ask her." Daiyu liked Jingqi's lovely and lively personality, and also wanted to please her future sister-in-law for her brother's sake.

  PS: Jinghe writes with heart every day, hoping everyone can collect "Hong Lou Ye Hua", the collection rate goes up, it is the biggest support for Jinghe~~~~

  Thank you book friends 222224, Mingyue has the motivation to struggle again with the reward of having a thousand miles of shared beauty~~~~(\(^o^/~Cheers!