Legend of Concubine's Daughter Minglan-Part Two

C205. Before and After the Feast (3)

The house was full of guests and their laughter. The women all gathered together to view how simply the mansion had been decorated. However, when they looked closely, they found that the furniture and the decorations were all extremely expensive and delicate. The room gave people a comfortable feeling with a modest luxury style. The tea wares on the table were all made of light pink lotus-jade porcelain, looking neat and exquisite, according with the spring times.

The maids who served the tea and snacks wore the same white dresses with green flower patterns and brocade belts in different colors. They walked slowly and spoke decently, not even daring to take glances at the guests.

After the women guests looked around this place, they all praised Minglan inwardly and stopped underestimating her. These women thought, 'After all, she's from a scholar's family. Though she is an illegal daughter, she knows how to set strict rules. As young as she is, she still manages to handle the family affairs neatly without any help from the elders in her family.'

And due to their appreciation to Minglan, they started to think highly of Wang shi too. A few noble madams walked over to chat with Wang shi right away. Wang shi who had learned a lesson from her interactions with Junzhu Pingning already knew how to deal with those noblewomen. She was neither too humble nor pushy while talking and behaved with grace.

After Minglan had led Old Madam Lu who was the eldest guest among all ladies and madams and also the latest one to arrive to sit on the seat of honor, she went to greet other guests. As Minglan saw Little Shen shi who was sitting in the corner, she walked over and expressed her thanks, "I wouldn't know what to do today without you. Thank you so much." On these words, Minglan poured a cup of tea for Little Shen shi whose mouth was parched because of the excessive talking.

Little Shen shi took over the tea cup naturally and said with a smile, "It's my pleasure. Talking is easy for me. I'm a country girl who don't know about poetry or literature. Those rules that you ladies have to obey don't fit me so well. I just hope you won't turn your nose up at me in the future."

"Why did you say that?" Minglan glanced at the guests in the room, finding Zheng Jun's wife, who was also Little Shen shi's eldest sister-in-law was talking with Countess Shoushan. Then, with something dawning on her, she turned back and said smilingly, "You are Empress Shen's sister and married into the Zheng family. I'm only afraid that you would turn your nose up at me. Come here, you have introduced so many people to me. Let me introduce you to my sisters."

Having looked at Madam Zheng, Little Shen shi followed Minglan quietly to greet Countess Shoushan. As they met each other, Minglan gave her obeisance with a smile, saying, "Aunt, it's been so long I haven't seen you. My Eldest Sister said that you paid a visit to your hometown. How was your trip?"

Countess Shoushan was a straightforward woman. With a beaming smile, she said, "Everything's fine. I just wanted to finish the business back in my hometown while I am still healthy. Who knows if I will be able to walk when I get older. Little did I know that you would be a married woman when I came back. It's such a shame that Wenying couldn't attend your wedding."

Yuan Wenying who stood next to her held Minglan's arms and said, "Tell me, how are you planning to make it up to me?"

Minglan poked Yuan Wenying's forehead with her index finger and teased, "You, how dare you confuse right and wrong. You are the one who have missed my wedding! And I'd like to hear how you are going to make it up to me!"

Little Shen shi looked at the woman beside Countess Shoushan and said in a low voice, "Eldest Sister-in-law."

Madam Zheng was around thirty-three or thirty-four years old, decorous in appearance, looking a bit domineering. As she heard Little Shen shi's greeting, she only nodded slowly and replied, "Why didn't your sister-in-law from your parents' family come today?" She was taking about Zhang shi, Marquise Weibei's wife.