After the afternoon, when the sun was setting in the west, it was time for the Jiang fu's daughters to head to the Lantern Festival.
The rest of the Jiang fu would also go together, but they would not board the Ling Long Boat. Instead, they would enjoy the festive lanterns of the entire capital at the restaurants on the shore.
The coachman had been waiting for a long time in front of the fu's gates. Jiang Su Su was the first to get on the carriage and beckoned Jiang Ruan and the rest to come up. Jiang Li and Jiang Dan also sat in the same carriage as Jiang Ruan and the others. A few of the Jiang fu's imperial bodyguards followed them and sent them to the banks of Yong Ding River, where the Ling Long Boat was already waiting.
Although the Ling Long Boat was spontaneously organized by the noble ladies of the capital, the annual expenses were actually paid for by the palace. It was not the Empress, but the most popular Honored Consort Shu, the biological mother of the Eighth Prince. Consort Shu was favored by the Emperor and never declined. Her position in the palace was even somewhat feared by the Empress. Her maiden family was even richer and did not care about the few taels of silver. She generously booked the expenses of Ling Long Boat and Qing Song Boat every year during the Lantern Festival. She said it was just for the sake of liveliness, but the deeper meaning behind it was unknown.
As shu daughters, Jiang Li and Jiang Dan were participating in the Lantern Festival for the first time. Jiang Dan timidly lowered her head and did not speak. Jiang Li's expression was somewhat anxious. If it were not for the fact that she had misgivings about Jiang Ruan and Jiang Su Su, she would have long since lifted the curtain and stuck her head out to take a look.
As Jiang Ruan closed her eyes to rest, she suddenly heard Jiang Su Su's voice, "Does Da Jiejie know any talents?"
As expected, she had come. Jiang Ruan sneered in her heart, but when she raised her eyes, she said in astonishment, "I don't know anything. Why does Second Younger Sister ask this?"
"Why is Da Jiejie so modest?" Jiang Su Su pretended to be angry. "We're sisters, don't tell me you're shy? Big Sister might not know, but every year on the Ling Long Boat during the Lantern Festival, every family's young ladies would have to display their talents in order to come out on top. If they were able to win, they would be able to obtain the most beautiful lantern on the boat. "
Jiang Ruan lowered her head and muttered to herself, "It sounds interesting, but I really don't know how to do it."
"How could this be?" Jiang Su Su said, "When Da Niang was still alive, she was proficient in the four arts of zither, chess, calligraphy and painting. I don't believe that she didn't teach you." Her tone was innocent, as if she really was a frank and sincere little girl, but her words made people unable to be angry. At that time in the Jiang fu, who did not know that Zhao Mei was a heroine? She had always been born in the Wu family, yet she was willing to learn the four arts for Jiang Quan. Moreover, for the sake of Jiang Quan, she had forced herself to learn those genteel things. In front of the capital's most talented woman, she was as childish as a child who had just learned how to read. Jiang Quan was partial to Xia Yan, and would always bring her along on any occasion. Thus, Xia Yan's elegance served as a foil to Xia Yan's rudeness, at least in the eyes of the common people.
Now that Jiang Su Su had brought up the matter of Zhao Mei learning the four arts, it was easy to imagine the irony in it.
"Second Younger Sister's words are wrong," Jiang Ruan said with a smile, "Could it be that Second Younger Sister's knowledge was all personally taught by Mother? Of course not. Father wants to invite a teacher to teach Second Younger Sister, but I don't have the good fortune to invite a teacher in the Zhuangzi. "
Jiang Su Su choked and paused for a moment before saying, "But I see that Da Jiejie is so intelligent, so you're not a person without any strong points. Moreover, this matter also concerns our Jiang fu's reputation. Why doesn't Da Jiejie think about what talents you have that you can bring to the table? At the very least, it'll be enough to deal with it. "
"In Second Younger Sister's opinion, what can I do?" Jiang Ruan asked.
Jiang Su Su looked at her with some suspicion, but saw that Jiang Ruan's gaze was magnanimous, as if she really wanted her help to make a decision. She said, "Calligraphy, chess, and painting are not things that can be learned overnight. Da Jiejie has also never learned the zither. Why don't you dance? There should also be singing and dancing performances in the Zhuangzi. Just learn a few of the movements of those songs and dances. "
Jiang Ruan nodded, "This is a good idea. Second Younger Sister has thought it through thoroughly."
Jiang Li, who was at the side, sneered coldly, "Don't make a fool of yourself." Although she said this, a trace of schadenfreude flashed in her eyes. Jiang Dan, who was at the side, timidly smiled at Jiang Ruan.
Jiang Ruan leaned back, "If that's the case, I should think carefully about what dance to perform later."
"I believe that Da Jiejie will definitely amaze everyone." Jiang Su Su smiled.
Jiang Ruan closed her eyes, as if she was really deep in thought. However, her heart suddenly became clear.
The people on the boat were all young ladies of wealthy families. What kind of talent had they not seen before? Jiang Su Su's suggestion was to teach her the songs and dances that could be performed on the stage in the countryside. If she really danced, she would become the laughing stock of the entire capital tomorrow.
As expected, Jiang Su Su used the same method as in her previous life. However, the show could not start as she wished.
After traveling for an unknown period of time, they heard the coachman shout from outside. The carriage swayed and stopped. A few servant girls outside lifted the curtain, and the people on the carriage slowly alighted.
Jiang Ruan was the last to alight. When she walked down the grassy shore and saw the scenery in front of her, she could not help but feel a little absent-minded.
As the carriage moved, the sky had already darkened. In the deep and serene night sky, there were countless bright Kongming lanterns. The capital city was already in a state of splendor. The moat under their feet was also brightly lit. All kinds of lanterns covered the entire surface of the moat. At a glance, it looked like a flowing river of lanterns. The two boats at the front were carved with dragons and phoenixes, and decorated with many exquisite lanterns. Green smoke curled up in spirals, and sweet laughter could be heard.
These were the Qing Song Boat and the Ling Long Boat. Jiang Ruan took a deep breath and heard the manservant outside yell, "The Jiang family's young lady has arrived."
The laughter stopped abruptly, and from the large windows of the two boats, gazes from everywhere fell on the few young ladies who had arrived late.
As the capital's peerless beauty, Jiang Su Su naturally enjoyed such gazes. Today, she wore a silver rat gown with a white plum blossom long skirt. Her hair was tied up in a flowing cloud bun, and she only had a white plum blossom jade hairpin on her temples. As she walked, her snow-white cloak swayed in the wind. She was incomparably elegant, like a fairy descending to the mortal world.
However, people's gazes only lingered on her for a moment before falling on the young lady behind her.
The young lady's entire body was tucked under a bright red crane cloak, which made her skin even more white like jade. It caused people to be filled with wild and fanciful thoughts about her graceful figure under the crane cloak. Her eyes were like limpid autumn waters, her eyebrows were like an ink painting, and under the light of the lantern, her expression was delicate. Her slightly upturned charming eyes contained a faintly discernible coldness. Her red lips were curved, and her long jet-black hair was casually tied into a small bundle behind her head, letting the rest meander down. Unlike the elegant and refined fairy, she was charming and bright. She was obviously extremely well-behaved, and her aristocratic bearing was natural, but it seemed that she was inadvertently seducing people. As she walked towards the crowd step by step, people could not help but hold their breaths. They could not tell whether this young lady, who was like a mortal, was a dream or reality.
She was so beautiful that it made people's hearts tremble.
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