The sixty-eighth year of Ming Qi's Chrysanthemum banquet finally came.
Guang Wen Tang was different from the past as the academy examinations became a battle of talents. As long as one had talent, they could casually go up on stage to challenge their classmates. This would show the youthful vitality and also let others see that the students of Guang Wen Tang had their own merits.
Thus the male and female students had to be on the same stage, which meant that it was not like the past where it was divided into male and female groups. If one liked, the females could challenge the males in strategy and archery while the males could challenge the females in the four arts. However, it was rare to see such a scene.
Early in the morning, the Shen residence was bustling with activity. In the Western courtyard, Shuang Jiang carefully placed a silver hairpin on Shen Miao's hair and smiled, "Young Lady, it is done."
Shuang Jiang was the best at combing hair and previously Shen Yue wanted to ask her to comb her hair but Shuang Jiang was personally ordered by Shen Furen to be Shen Miao's maid. Since Shuang Jiang was unwilling, Shen Yue could not do anything.
"Young Lady's outfit is really good looking." Bai Lu smiled when she saw it but was somewhat hesitant, "It is just that the head looks too plain."
Shen Miao's hair was black and thick and was combed into an exquisite cloud bun by Shuang Jiang, looking elegant and unique. Even after reaching the marriageable age, Shen Miao still combed her hair into a double ring bun like a maid. With a change of style, it looked like she had grown up a lot. That round and cute face seemed to be delicate and graceful, and finally had some taste of a young lady.
There was only a silver hairpin stuck on her head, making her look rather pitiful.
Gu Yu could not help but show anger on her face. This Shen residence had a big business but Shen Miao did not have a single piece of jewellery that she could take out today. The entire Shen residence was raised by Shen Xin but they did such cruel and unscrupulous things. But Shen Miao was unable to say anything. Why? It was because they had made jewellery for Shen Miao and it was only gaudy gold jewellery. If one were to wear it out, one would definitely be laughed at.
Shen Miao only took a look at Gu Yu and guessed what Gu Yu was thinking and could not help but shake her head and laugh. In fact, since young, the Second and Third household of the Shen family had racked their brains to cultivate her lousy hobbies and did all they could to make her believe that those dazzling gold jewellery were the best. In this way, they could say to the outside world that it was not the second and third branches who deliberately embarrassed the first branch's daughter. It was because they loved this kind of glittering gold ornament!
Looking at Shen Miao who was tirelessly wearing those exaggerated jewellery, everyone had this kind of understanding that the Di daughter of the First household of the Shen residence was greedy and loved money, and was unbearably vulgar.
Although gold was good, it was not meant to be worn.
Gu Yu was afraid that Shen Miao would be sad and quickly changed the topic, "But that Li Niang really has good craftsmanship. Young Lady's outfit is really beautiful."
One did not know if it was because she pitied Shen Miao in her heart, but the embroidery of the clothes that Li Niang sent over was surprisingly exquisite. As if taking into consideration that her appearance was on the small side and that the lotus green color would inevitably be old and heavy, the hem of the skirt was embroidered with large begonia flowers. The flowers were vivid and lifelike, blooming and gorgeous, truly extremely beautiful.
Shen Miao also wore it well and did not look uncomfortable at all.
Shuang Jiang and Bai Lu looked at each other and saw the surprise in each other's eyes. Now that Shen Miao could even suppress such a heavy colour, one did not know what was going on.
"Let's go." Shen Miao stood up, "One cannot wait too long."
Just as they walked out of the courtyard, they saw that the begonia flowers in the garden were growing more and more. She stopped her footsteps and pinched a small one and rolled it into her hair bun, like the icing on the cake.
"Young Lady is really good looking." Gu Yu praised.
Gui Momo just came out from the small kitchen and prepared some snacks for Shen Miao on the horse carriage. When she carried the basket out and saw Shen Miao, she could not help but be surprised.
She had served Shen Miao for so many years and Shen Miao was brought up by her milk. It could be said that she had watched Shen Miao grow up but today she felt that Shen Miao was very unfamiliar. Her temperament was calm and steady and coupled with that noble lotus green color, it was not an exaggeration to say that she was a princess. She almost did not hold the basket in her hands tightly and just stood there foolishly.
Until Bai Lu said with a smile, "What is Gui Momo looking at?"
Gui Momo was surprised for a moment and was about to say a few beautiful words out of habit when she suddenly remembered that today was the Chrysanthemum banquet. With Shen Miao being so outstanding, would it not suppress Shen Yue and Shen Qing? She swallowed the words of praise that were already at the tip of her tongue and turned her head with a worried expression, "Miss, the color of this dress is really too heavy. Miss is so young, why do you need to wear such a color? It will only cover up your good complexion for no reason. Why not go back and take that peach coloured jacket embroidered with magpies? It looks pink and tender. Also this hairpin, this old servant remembered that Second Furen had bestowed a lot of it. If this goes on, no one would say that the Young Ladies in the General residence are still so plain. "
Gu Yu's lips twitched. That peach coloured jacket embroidered with magpies was given by Ren Wan Yun and the colour was tacky. In addition to wearing gold and silver jewellery all over her face, she looked like a young lady from a rich family in the countryside. If she went to the Chrysanthemum banquet today, Shen Miao would definitely be laughed at by everyone. Gui Momo clearly had ill intentions and just as she was about to reprimand Shen Miao, she heard Shen Miao speaking softly, "Ming Qi is now prosperous and the people are at peace. The common people live and work in peace but His Majesty advocates frugality. In the ways of the world, extravagance and waste is the lowest so what is wrong with being a little plain? If others were to see it, they would only say that our General residence is honest and upright. It is a good thing and not bad. As for clothes, there is no need to care about it. "Shen Miao's lips hooked up," Today things are admiring the flowers and people are competing with their talents. It has nothing to do with clothes. "
Her words were gentle and affectionate, yet they contained an unquestionable majesty. Gui Momo's mind was in a mess. She was not afraid of Shen Miao's anger but when would Shen Miao be able to talk to her with so much logic? Shen Miao usually did not like to do homework and thus did not have a brain. Now with so much logic and so genteel, it made Gui Momo, who was a boorish person who had not studied before, did not know how to refute.
Bai Lu could not help but laugh out loud and quickly kept quiet with a solemn expression. It was just that the carefree look in her eyes could not be concealed.
Gui Momo could not refute and was even seen as a joke by the few maids. Her heart was annoyed but she could not understand why in this trip back to the residence, every time she conversed with Shen Miao, she would always be at a disadvantage. Saying that she was sharp-tongued, Shen Miao's tone was very gentle. Saying that she was gentle, every word and sentence made one speechless.
Gui Momo was somewhat embarrassed as she handed the basket in her hands to Gu Yu, "This is a snack for Young Lady on the journey. There is still some distance before the Chrysanthemum banquet so one must not starve Young Lady." She said to Shen Miao, "This old servant will return to the courtyard to do some work."
"Go." Shen Miao replied lightly.
After Gui Momo left, Gu Yu and Bai Lu were extremely happy. The more powerful Shen Miao was, the more she looked like a master. This way those in the Shen residence who did not know how to read would not dare to bully her.
Just as they walked to the door, they saw two carriages parked at the door. The first carriage was ready to set off but the second one was empty.
Shen Qing's maid, Chun Tao, was standing in front of the first carriage.
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