In the blink of an eye, it was the end of the month. Yu Shu set the banquet on this day. Everyone in Wangji Tower began to prepare a few days in advance. They prepared a lot of food and wine, tuned the zither and pipa, and cleaned the corners of the doors and windows. They must not let their steward lose face on this day.
Yu Shu went out from home in the morning with only a maid, Yun Dou. He Fangzhi took Yu Xiaoxiu to the medical center to explain things, and later went to the restaurant with Pei Jing.
Wangji Tower did not welcome guests today. Last night, they put up a red sign in front of the door to prevent more guests from blocking the door the next day.
"Miss, here we are." Liu Zhong had sent Yu Shu to Wangji Tower several times, so he was familiar with the road. Soon, he stopped the carriage at the front door. On such a good day, it was taboo to leave from the back door.
Yu Shu neatly picked up the hem of her clothes and jumped out of the carriage. Her hair was tied with a jade buckle, and her ponytail was tied high, revealing her increasingly plump forehead and bright eyes. She wore an apricot-red waist and narrow sleeves, and an exquisitely crafted silver silk gown. The big hem of the gown was embroidered with a picture of Yin and Yang fish, which was given by Madam Qin the day before yesterday.
Lin Fu, the shopkeeper, was standing at the door directing the waiter to put a crooked lantern. When he saw Yu Shu coming, he hurriedly greeted her with a smile.
"Miss, you are so energetic today."
Yu Shu was in a good mood and reached out to pat his shoulder, "Bring me breakfast upstairs. It would be best if there is salty porridge."
After giving the order, she took Yun Dou to the back room.
After breakfast, Yu Shu washed her hands and rinsed her mouth. Before the guests arrived, she asked Lin Fu to bring the account book to check and do this month's external accounts.
Xue Rui left the yamen early and only arrived at the Building of Forgotten Opportunities after he returned home and changed his clothes. When he heard that Yu Shu had arrived early, he went upstairs to look for her. When he pushed the door open and entered the elegant room, he heard a series of crisp sounds of abacus beads. When he turned his head around, he saw Yu Shu sitting behind the study table in a loose gown, her head lowered as she concentrated on her calculations. Only a pair of raised eyebrows and a smooth and plump forehead could be seen. There was a unique charm to it.
Seeing that she didn't notice his arrival, Xue Rui walked to the door of the study with a warm expression. Crossing his arms, he scrutinized her current appearance, inadvertently recalling a year ago in Yangzhou, when he met that half-worn and ill-fitting youngster. He was obviously helpless and downcast, but brimming with confidence and a calm smile.
"Heh."
Xue Rui couldn't help but smile, which startled Yu Shu who was doing the accounts. She looked up from the account book. Seeing him standing at the door, she subconsciously smiled at him and said in a light voice, "When did Big Brother come? Why didn't you call me?"
Xue Rui was taken aback by her smile as usual. His heart fluttered and he warmly said, "Seeing that you are busy, I was afraid to disturb you."
Pausing for a moment, he reprimanded, "Why are you still doing this today? If you don't have time to rest, you'll be busy when the banquet starts. "
"Haha. I'm strong, what can't I deal with? "Although Yu Shu said so, she still put down the brush in her hand. She rolled up her sleeves and went to the basin rack to wash the ink. While wiping her hands, she turned her head and talked to Xue Rui.
"On the first day of tomorrow, the official is unlucky. In the north, there is a sign of theft. If you have something important, be careful not to lose it. "
Xue Rui came over to look at the fake account book she made. When he heard her reminder, he nodded and remembered it. He didn't turn a deaf ear to her words.
"When do you need to find time to practice your calligraphy? It's not presentable like this. Forget about it now. In the future, if you want to do divination for a noble person, it will be a disgrace. "
Yu Shu shrugged her shoulders, "How can I have time, I'll deal with it first."
Xue Rui put down the account book and said, "This time, the calligraphy on the invitation is written beautifully. Is it the study companion that you took from the Institute for Students last time?"
"Yes, it's written by Bai Ran. You also think his calligraphy is beautiful, right?"
Xue Rui nodded, and a trace of doubt flashed on his face, saying, "The strength of the pen is steady, which is rare at his age. Even if he is talented, it will take him seven or eight years to practice."
According to this, Bai Ran started to practice calligraphy at the age of three or four. That was really early.
"Isn't he the son of a big family? It's normal for him to be smart early." Yu Shu didn't think much about it. Instead, she felt that the study companion she chose for Yu Xiaoxiu was very good. Not only did he not have the bad habits of a big family, but he was also sensible and sensible.
The two moved to the outer room to drink tea and chat. Not long after, He Fangzhi and Pei Jing arrived. Zhao Hui's birth date was approaching, so it was inconvenient to move. As a female, Madam Qin came to greet them with two maids.
It was almost noon. The front reported that several guests had arrived. Yu Shu and Xue Rui tidied up their clothes and went downstairs to greet the guests.
*
*
*
At a scene like this, the status of the guests was high and low. Yu Shu, who only had a title, couldn't handle it. With Xue Rui, the famous Young Master of the Xue Family, accompanying them, it seemed much more imposing.
The first group of guests were neighbors and acquaintances. Among them, Xin Liu was the first to arrive. Accompanying him was an unfamiliar young lady. She looked delicate and gentle, but her eyes were very bright.
When Xue Rui saw the female guest, he consciously moved to the side and didn't step forward to be rude.
Xin Liu had the maids put down the gift box and went forward to intimately hold Yu Shu's hand. He looked around the luxuriously decorated restaurant and pointed at the person he brought. He said with a smile, "This is Qin Family's Xiao Wu, Qin Yuerou. Because she admires you, female fortune-teller, she heard I had an invitation and shamelessly begged me to bring her here. If you're not happy, we can drive her away."
That Qin Family's young lady secretly glared at Xin Liu and walked over to greet Yu Shu with cupped hands. She lowered her eyebrows and said, "Greetings, female fortune-teller. I came uninvited. I hope you don't mind my lack of manners."
Yu Shu recalled the Qin Family, one of the twelve aristocratic families of Anling's twelve prefectures. She smiled and took her hand. "Young Lady Qin, there's no need to be so polite. Today, I'm announcing good news. How could there be any unpleasant guests? Please come in."
Yu Shu arranged for all the acquaintances to sit in the private rooms in the back. To prevent them from being bored, she arranged for familiar people to sit together. For example, Xin Liu's table. When Feng Zhaomiao and the others arrived, they could sit at the same table and join in the fun. They were all children of the Dao of Yi, so the etiquette of men and women not sitting at the same table after the age of seven naturally didn't apply.
After chatting with Xin Liu and Qin Yuerou for a while, Xue Rui asked Gui Qi to call her over. He said that a few important people had arrived. Yu Shu then asked Madam Qin to serve the female guests. She excused herself and hurried to the front.
This time, there were three or four officials from the imperial court. The lowest rank in the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Appointments was a Middle Minister in charge. Xue Rui let Yu Shu meet some familiar faces. There was no need for her to exchange pleasantries and he led her to the private rooms in the front.
In the afternoon, Yu Shu went back and forth in the restaurant, walking around and greeting people. She followed Xue Rui to welcome guests and build relationships. She was so busy that she didn't even have time to catch her breath when the banquet started.
*
*
*
After noon. The guests were all seated. Liu Tan was the last to arrive. He only brought Helanchou with him. He alighted from the sedan chair in front of the restaurant's main entrance. He wore a golden crown and a jade necklace on his head. He was eye-catching. Even though he was dressed in casual clothes, it wasn't hard for the people present to guess his identity. Some people took the lead and stood up to greet him. There were many commoners among them. They were so moved that they knelt down on the spot.
Liu Tan's expression wasn't very close, but he politely asked Yu Shu, "There's no need for formalities. I'm here today to tell you good news and congratulate you on your success."
Liu Tan gave Yu Shu enough face. Of course, Yu Shu wouldn't be vague. She put on a grateful expression in front of everyone and said in a clear voice, "Thank you, Your Ninth Highness. Congratulations to you too. Your Highness was able to come out on top in the Double Suns Meeting. You really have the virtue of recognizing people. "
A bright light flashed in Liu Tan's eyes. He smiled, then turned around and said to Xue Rui, "Cousin Brother, do you want to drink with me today?"
"Haha, please, Your Highness."
Xue Rui led Liu Tan to the back of the building under the bowing of the crowd. As soon as they left, the people downstairs began to whisper excitedly — —
"This female fortune-teller is so extravagant. Even the imperial prince personally came to congratulate her at a banquet. I saw that there were a lot of high-ranking officials upstairs earlier."
"Tsk, what do you guys know? There's a big competition every three years. There's only one spot for fortune-teller. It's fine that Miss Yu passed. I heard that she also got top three in another subject. It's hard to find a female fortune-teller who's in the top three of two examinations every ten years. She's very rare! "
"I think this Ninth Prince is gentle and polite. He has a very good character. Didn't the rumors say that he cultivated in the mountains? He doesn't seem like he's unworldly."
"Shh, how can we comment on this man? Lower your voice."
.....
Yu Shu walked between the tables. When she heard these whispers, she couldn't help but want to laugh. She shook her head gently and walked to the small pond in the backyard. She sat on a stone bench and rested her feet. She looked at the people running errands upstairs and downstairs in the corridor. She let out a long sigh and massaged her legs without caring about her image.
"Older Sister." Yu Xiaoxiu appeared out of nowhere and brought her a cup of tea. "You must be tired. Do you want me to massage your legs for you?"
Yu Shu opened the lid of the tea and took a sip. She shook her head and said, "Where's Young Master Hu? Why aren't you accompanying him?"
When Yu Shu gave out the invitation, Yu Xiaoxiu shyly asked her for one. He said that he wanted to give it to his classmate, Young Master Hu, who was the grandson of the second-rank official of the Supreme Court, Guo Huai 'an.
Yu Xiaoxiu scratched his head and said embarrassedly, "He heard the laughter next door and ran over to join in the fun. I looked at the door. I didn't know the brothers and sisters at the table, so I came out to look for you."
Yu Shu arranged for Yu Xiaoxiu to play in her room. The table next door was Xin Liu and Feng Zhaomiao's table. Hearing this, she smiled and pulled him up with a cup of tea. "They are all my friends. Don't be shy. I'll take you to meet them. Let's go."
Yu Xiaoxiu had been studying in the college for half a year. With a tough sister like Yu Shu, he had no inferiority complex. She took him to Feng Zhaomiao's group and introduced him. "This is my younger brother. We were born in the same mother's womb. His name is Xiu. He is the one who cultivates fate and fortune. He hasn't got a courtesy name yet. You can call him Xiaoxiu."
The young masters and young mistresses at the table were all smart people. When they saw Yu Shu holding Yu Xiaoxiu, they knew that the siblings were close. They all laughed and agreed, teasing him to call them older brother and older sister.
Yu Xiaoxiu was thin-skinned, but he didn't act coy. He called them over with a red face. He looked simple and cute. Feng Zhaomiao took the lead and took the jade button from her waist for him. She also took the pouch of the young master Zhou, who came with them. Xin Liu giggled and took an exquisite sachet for Yu Xiaoxiu. Qin Yuerou also took a bracelet of Na Fu beads.
Yu Xiaoxiu hurriedly waved his hands. He was too embarrassed to accept them. Yu Shu took them all and stuffed them into his hands. She said cheerfully, "Take them if you dare. We can't call them older brother and older sister for nothing. They'll take advantage of us."
Everyone at the table laughed. They were making fun of Yu Shu, the stingy girl. Hu Tian 'er winked at Yu Xiaoxiu. The two boys slipped away and whispered to each other when no one was looking.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
