The maidservant who came to greet them had a delicate and pretty appearance. She wore a light pink vest inlaid with white wind feathers and an emerald green cotton jacket. She was dressed in a clean and delicate manner.
Qin Yining guessed that she was Madam Lu's capable maidservant.
"Thank you for your trouble." Qin Yining smiled and nodded. With the support of Ji Yun and Xian Yun, she stepped on the wooden stool and got off the carriage.
Qin Yining wore a snow-white fox fur coat with a sky-blue robe and a crescent-white eight-piece skirt. Her outfit was simple and elegant like an orchid, but her appearance was bright and beautiful. Even the light clothes couldn't suppress her sharp beauty.
When the maidservant saw her clearly, she was stunned for a moment. She hurriedly smiled and curtsied: "No wonder Madam Lu always praises Miss Qin's appearance. Now, isn't your opinion just like the bright moon?"
Qin Yining adjusted her skirt and smiled slightly: "Your Majesty is like the sun, and the Empress is like the bright moon. The sun and the moon shine together. I'm just the light of a candle. How could I dare to accept such praise?"
When the maidservant heard this, she broke out in a cold sweat.
This Miss Qin was indeed worthy of being the daughter of the famous minister of a generation, Qin Huaiyuan. She was too sharp and cautious!
Originally, the maidservant didn't have any other intentions. She just couldn't help but want to flatter and praise her. However, after hearing Qin Yining's words, she made a slip of the tongue.
The maidservant didn't dare to delay and smiled as she led Qin Yining into the manor.
After entering the Marquis Zhongyong's Estate, Qin Yining discovered that there were no old people walking around the estate. Moreover, all the servant girls she saw were young and beautiful, and all the manservants had decent appearances.
Qin Yining thought of the rumors about Madam Lu's appearance and vaguely understood.
They walked through the mountains and corridors until they arrived at the main hall. Two young manservants dressed in green were guarding the door.
Qin Yining frowned slightly. What kind of banquet was this? If he had only invited a woman, why would there be a servant to serve her?
Qin Yining calmly entered through the door, took off the fox fur coat, and handed it to Xian Yun. With his eyes, he signaled Xian Yun to wait outside, while he led Ji Yun through the main entrance with the maidservant who led the way. After bypassing the glass screen, they came to a spacious and warm hall.
The interior of the hall was covered with a red Persian carpet. Lily incense was burning in an incense burner on the floor, and a faint sweet smell lingered in the air.
At the head of the table, Madam Lu and Elder Princess Anyang were already seated.
There were two tables on each side, and three young women had already taken their seats. The empty seat on the left was obviously prepared for Qin Yining.
Qin Yining calmed himself down and went forward to greet Eldest Princess Anyang with a smile.
"Greetings, Eldest Princess."
Li Helan was used to these women's jewelry. She narrowed her eyes when she saw Qin Yining, who was wearing a fresh outfit and had beautiful skin.
But his absent-mindedness only lasted for a moment, and then he smiled amiably and said, "Qin meimei is here. No need to be so polite, today Sister Lu is the host. "
Qin Yining bowed to Madam Lu again, "This little sister is new here, but Madam Lu doesn't mind. I am really grateful for your invitation today."
Madam Lu faintly made an "en" sound. She pointed to the empty seat on the left and said, "Sit down, the people who came today are not outsiders. Qin meimei is new to the capital, so you must not be familiar with the capital's matters. Let's just gather as sisters and get to know each other."
"Yes, many thanks, Madam Lu."
Qin Yining sat down on the empty seat.
Madam Lu smiled and introduced the other three to her.
She had a plump figure and was about thirty years old. She was Madam Lu's older sister. Her husband was doing business outside. Because her husband's surname was Cui, everyone called her Cui Lu-shi.
The delicate and pretty woman with a worried expression was Madam Cai, but she had been a widow for many years.
The younger one was Madam Lu's younger sister born of a concubine. Because she didn't introduce her, Qin Yining called her Little Lu-shi in her heart.
Apart from her, there were also Madam Lu's older sister, Madam Lu's younger sister born of a concubine, the eldest princess of Anyang, and Madam Cai. Qin Yining could tell that today's banquet was probably a show of goodwill from Madam Lu's side branch of the Lu Family Qin in the capital.
Even if she didn't know whether the Lu Family and the Family Qin would stand on opposite sides in the future, this gesture was necessary.
The Lu Family must have made arrangements for her father.
As she was thinking, Madam Lu smiled and said, "I invited Qin meimei here today for two reasons. First, to get to know us sisters. Second, I saw that Qin meimei has been through a lot, and your appearance is outstanding. I deeply feel that you and I are kindred spirits, so I want to befriend you." Her tone was very different from the previous time when she was at daggers drawn and hostile.
"That's right." Cui Lu-shi nodded with a smile and said, "I originally thought that women with the same appearance and character as my meimei and the eldest princess of Anyang are rare. Today, after seeing Qin meimei today, I finally understand why Prince Zhongshun was so infatuated with you. Not to mention men, even I feel my bones go soft when I see you. "
Qin Yining felt that these words were a bit outrageous, but because she didn't know these people, she didn't say much and just smiled.
Madam Lu raised her eyebrows and smiled, then raised her jade hands and clapped three times.
In the next moment, melodious music sounded.
Qin Yining looked in the direction of the sound, only to find that there were already musicians waiting behind the red pillars and hanging bead curtains.
In the midst of the melodious music, several dancers dressed in light muslin leisurely walked over and danced gracefully, each of their steps light as if they were stepping on lotus flowers.
Then, several men slowly walked into the room.
These men were dressed differently, their figures and appearances were different, and their temperaments were also different, but each of them was a handsome man with an outstanding temperament. Some were tall and elegant, while others were tall and imposing. There were even two handsome young men who looked exactly the same, one in red and the other in white, as refined as the red and white plum blossoms.
Qin Yining didn't understand why so many men had come, but in his heart, he was even more displeased with this banquet.
It seemed that this Madam Lu really didn't pay attention to etiquette. How could a woman's banquet allow men to enter?
When Madam Lu saw these people, she immediately smiled and pointed to a young man with a tall and imposing figure, who was wearing a silver-white sleeved shirt and said, "Why aren't you pouring wine for the eldest princess?"
Then she pointed to a seventeen or eighteen year old scholar in white and said, "Fill Miss Qin's cup as well."
That elegant white clothed scholar faintly smiled and then came to Qin Yining's side. His white and slender fingers picked up the jade pot and filled Qin Yining's green jade cup. Then he secretly sat down in the empty seat beside Qin Yining.
Qin Yining didn't have any expression on his face. He watched as the handsome man who looked like a Pang Xiao sat down beside Eldest Princess Anyang. His left hand held the pot and poured wine, while his right hand intimately rested on the back of Eldest Princess Anyang's chair behind her. This kind of offense made Eldest Princess Anyang's face flush red. She shyly looked at the man's side profile and then lowered her head.
Qin Yining finally understood why these people had come!
It was like when men were discussing business, they wanted to drink wine with women.
It seemed that Madam Lu had invited her to this banquet to drink wine with women!
She was an unmarried girl, what did Madam Lu mean by this!
Thinking of Madam Lu's opening words, Qin Yining's face turned red and even her neck turned red.
These people must have thought that since she had already been "stolen" by Pang Xiao, she should already know what was going on. Moreover, since Pang Xiao had kidnapped her, she might not like that kind of imposing man. Therefore, they had arranged for a gentle and elegant man to serve her.
It wasn't a secret that Eldest Princess Anyang liked Pang Xiao, so Madam Lu had arranged for a man with a similar temperament to Pang Xiao to serve her.
Should she praise Madam Lu for being so meticulous?
"Young miss Qin." The elegant man beside her saw that Qin Yining wasn't drinking and immediately picked up the cup. He had a gentle smile as he looked at her. His light brown eyes were filled with a warmth that could melt the winter snow, "Young miss Qin, please eat a cup. This is a fruit wine specially prepared for you. It isn't very strong, but it is sweet and refreshing."
Qin Yining pursed her lips and pushed aside the wine cup that the man was about to bring to her lips. She said in a cold voice, "No need."
There was no good wine and no good banquet. Madam Lu dared to arrange for these men to drink wine, so how could she dare to use the things here?
The man stared at Qin Yining's pretty face with infatuation. He had been mesmerized for a long time. He didn't expect her to reject him, so he was caught off guard and spilled a glass of wine on his sleeve and half of his clothes.
The commotion here immediately alarmed the person at the head.
Madam Lu's red lips were slightly opened as she took a piece of orange from the red clothed twin. She was leaning against the white clothed youth's chest and angrily looked over when she heard the commotion.
Qin Yining stood up and bowed to Madam Lu and Li Helan as she said, "Many thanks for Madam Lu and Eldest Princess Anyang's good intentions, but this little girl still has matters to attend to at home. It isn't convenient for me to stay here, so I'll be leaving first."
After saying this, she turned around and called out to the red faced Ji Yun before turning to leave.
Madam Lu suddenly sat up and fiercely slammed the table, "Qin Clan! You dare to give me face! If you dare to step out of this door, then don't blame me for being ruthless! "
Qin Yining gave a cold laugh. She turned around and sternly looked at Madam Lu and Li Helan, "Do you think I grew up being scared? Moreover, you and I have just met, so what kind of feelings do we have? I want to ask Eldest Princess Anyang, does Marquis Dingbei know that you're coming to the banquet? "
"You!" Li Helan was furious when he heard this, but his heart was filled with panic. He felt a bit guilty and his mouth didn't think before speaking, "What are you so noble about! You're just a withered flower that Big Brother Xiao played with. Today, I gave you a chance to taste what gentleness feels like, but you don't appreciate it! "
Qin Yining's face was like ice as he coldly said, "Then Eldest Princess Anyang wants to taste the taste of power, so you found this kind of person?"
"You're shameless!" Li Helan's heart was poked where it hurt. He was both embarrassed and angry, his eyelashes already filled with tears.
The man who had a similar build to Pang Xiao quickly hugged Li Helan and softly comforted her.
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