After breakfast, Yuxi went to the main courtyard, where everyone had been told to gather today.
On the way there, Yuxi met Yuchen. She approached her with a smile, and stated, “San Jie, today is a beautiful day!” Both of them had officially gone out to socialise from the start of this year. Before that, they only attended banquets arranged by a few relatives, and they usually attended them when they had holidays. Otherwise, they would not have been allowed to attend. Of course, even if they went out to socialise now, the two sisters were unlikely to be found in non-upper class banquets.
Yuchen looked at Yuxi’s clothes and smiled softly, “Si Meimei’s clothes are very unique.” How could it not be called unique! The skirt was embroidered with a rose pattern, and the pieces of jewellery on Yuxi’s body were also in rose style. She estimated that all those were the only set that had been made.
Yuxi smiled and asked, “Does San Jie think I look good?” No matter what other people said, she already felt beautiful about herself anyway.
Yuchen nodded, “Si Meimei looks good in whatever you wear.” She said it sincerely, but to outsiders, it may not sound sincere at all.
The two talked as they walked side by side, and soon, they reached the main courtyard. At this moment, the other people had all arrived, except for the two of them.
When Qiu Shi saw that everyone had arrived, she instructed, “Let’s move.” Since Han Jianye’s marriage had not yet been decided, it was natural for her to go out and socialise more. Otherwise, how would she know if a girl was good or not without knowing her first?
The carriages were currently waiting at the second gate, and instead of walking, everyone took sedan chairs to go there. Others were used to it, except for Qiu Yanfu. However, her self-control ability was very good, that no one could even see anything unusual about her.
Based on Qiu Shi’s arrangements, she and Yuxi would be riding on one carriage. Her daughter-in-law, Ye Shi and Yuchen would share another carriage, while Yuru and Yujing would be together in a carriage, and lastly, Qiu Yanfu would have a carriage for herself.
Yujing objected, “Mother, I want to be in the same carriage with Fu Biaojie. I don’t know if it’s okay.” After being locked up for a year and severely taught by nurturing momo for another four years, Yujing’s old bad habits had all been corrected. It was just that some of them had exceeded the proper limits in righting a wrong and had been ruthlessly suppressed, where all her shortcomings had gone, and even her advantages had disappeared. In the past, she was as proud as peony flowers in full bloom, but now, she was still as beautiful as before, but, now, she was only a flower vase without any distinguishing quality.[+]
Qiu Shi felt that Yujing’s objection was meaningless, “If you want to, then you can share a carriage with her.” Although she had always hated Concubine Rong, when she looked at Yujing, she still felt that these mother and daughter were too extreme. When they were smart, they would be too smart. When they were stupid, they would become too stupid.
Once they boarded the carriages, Qiu Shi took some time to advise Yuxi, “This time, we’re going to Marquis Taining’s residence, so you must show your best behaviour. You can’t act like a backward person, do you understand?” She had to properly raise the matter with Yuxi since this was Yuxi's first time attending such a big banquet.
Yuxi was somewhat surprised, “Why, Eldest Aunt?”
Qiu Shi was the type of person who always said what she thought and there weren’t many twists and turns in her spoken words. She said, “You’re eleven now and fast approaching the age of marriage. If you perform well now, you will be able to get a good marriage in the future, do you understand?“
Yuxi also wanted to settle her marriage much earlier, so that she would not have to worry anymore about the Jiang family. She nodded and said, “Well, don’t worry, Eldest Aunt, I’ll behave well.” With Duke of the State as her family pedigree, plus, her status as a di daughter, the family that was going to be selected for her marriage certainly would not be bad, but if she had a good reputation to offer, the candidate selection would also be much better.
Qiu Shi thought that Yuxi was the most worry-free child, much better than her ever escaping youngest son, “This is a very big banquet, so, it will surely be attended by a lot of young ladies. It would be great if you can make a few friends with those who share the same interests.”
Yuxi nodded and said, “Okay. If I meet those with similar temperament, I will definitely make friends with them.” Making a few more close friends was the same as making a few more connections, which would be a great benefit for her in the future.
When they arrived at Marquis Taining’s residence, the group first went to the main courtyard to greet Old Lady Chen and the wife of Marquis Taining. Then, Yuchen and Yuxi were taken to the residence garden.
At the entrance of the garden, a girl dressed in autumn-colour clothes came out and greeted the group with a smile. From the beginning of the year till now, Yuchen had been out only twice. Although she didn’t socialise much, her reputation had already spread out.
Through the introduction, Yuxi finally knew that the young lady in front of her was the eldest young miss of the Chen family, Chen Xue.
When Yuxi heard the name, she couldn’t help taking a glance at Chen Xue once more. She was not familiar with Marquis Taining’s residence, but Chen Xue’s name was like thunder had come into her ears. Chen Xue was Yun Qing’s fiancée, who was frightened to death because of him. Yuxi had never personally met her in her last life, so she did not expect that she would be meeting her now.[+]
As the host, Chen Xue led them into the garden. Before the introduction even started, a young lady in Imperial dress came up and said with a loud voice, “I’ve always heard that the Third Miss of Duke Han of the State residence was pretty, and from what I’ve seen today, her name is also not in vain.”
As soon as this was said, all the young ladies in the garden turned and took a look at Yuchen.
Yuchen wore a light blue dress today, with finely embroidered flower petals at the corner of her skirt. Her hair was combed into feiyun bun, which was attached with an exquisite jasper hairpin, that was decorated with thin silver beaded tassels. Although she was not being rigged out at her best, she was still too beautiful which made people didn’t dare to look straight at her.
Chen Xue smiled and introduced, “Yuchen Jiejie, this is Heshou Xianzhu.”
Yuchen had already used to being praised for her appearance, but the words said by Heshou Xianzhu just now were definitely malicious. She did not retort her statements, but instead said with a smile, “This appearance was given by my parents. It doesn’t deserve to be praised this much by Xianzhu.”
Heshou Xianzhu’s appearance was gorgeous. She was dressed in a floor-length dark red-purple colour yarn imperial dress, with her black hair slightly coiled upwards, attached with a long string of beads. Her hair was also decorated with a set of pure gold head ornaments which were chic and exquisite but not prominent. Her whole body showed her wealth and integrity, but what made people not look straight at her was her imposing manner, which solely belonged to those with a high-rank background. Even if Yuchen stood by her side, she would not be robbed even a bit of her splendour.
Yuxi had seen many women over the years, but she had never seen such a powerful woman with such a powerful aura. Her heart was a little shocked.
Heshou Xianzhu smiled, “Yuchen Jiejie is truly good at talking.” After saying this, she looked at Yuxi, and asked questioningly, “Who is this girl?”
Although Yuxi did not grow as beautiful as Yuchen, she had immersed in books all year round, which tainted her with scholarliness. This made her difficult to be ignored.
Chen Xue asked with a smile, “This is Yuxi Jiejie, the Fourth Miss from Duke of the State residence?”
When Heshou Xianzhu heard Chen Xue’s introduction, she asked incredulously, “You are Han Yuxi?” She had never seen Han Yuxi before her death. She only heard people say that Han Yuxi had been changed into a timid poor person by her stepmother, and she was not only disliked by her grandmother and father, but also by her husband’s family. It was also not clear why Jiang Hongjin, the youngest scholar of the Zhou Dynasty, married such an obscure wife. However, the problem right now was, the natural and graceful girl in front of her and the girl from what she heard were like two different people.[+]
Yuxi failed to understand the reason behind Heshou Xianzhu 's reaction, but she decided to answer her carefully, “Yes, I am Han Yuxi, the Fourth Miss from Duke of the State residence. Is there something wrong with it?“ Looking at Heshou Xianzhu, she seemed to have heard of her, Han Yuxi. The question was, what had made her this famous? Even a Xianzhu would know about her.
Heshou Xianzhu was shocked just now that she lost control of herself. She regretted her spoken words. Rather than giving any explanation, she immediately changed the subject, as she looked at Yuru, Yujing and others nearby with a smile, and said, “Duke Han of the State Residence sure is full of beauties, which can make those who see them be dazzled.”
Heshou Xianzhu’s status was special. Although the incident just now was a bit strange, it was unlikely that others would examine roots and inquire at the base. Even Chen Xue tried to mediate, “What Xianzhu had said was that all the young misses of Duke of the State residence are all as lovely as flowers, making others cannot just stand by and watch.”
Heshou Xianzhu was a smooth and slick kind of person as she asked with a smile, “May I know the other three young misses?”
Chen Xue introduced them one by one.
Yuru and Yujing had often gone out to socialize in the past two years. They knew how to behave appropriately so they made no mistakes. It was only Qiu Yanfu who had stage fright since this was her first time to be in such a big scene.
All the young ladies present showed little interest in her when they heard that she was from Hebei and just merely the niece of the Third Lady of the Duke of the State residence.
After the greeting, Yuchen became integrated with Heshou Xianzhu. Yuxi took this opportunity to find Zhou Shiya, as the two of them were usually bored people who always stuck at the same place.
Zhou Shiya asked Yuxi in a low voice, “Yuxi, do you know Heshou Xianzhu?” The words and deeds of Heshou Xianzhu just now were very strange.
Yuxi shook her head and replied, “I don’t know her.” She did not have the same status as Heshou Xianzhu, not to mention, she had never heard of her. Even in her previous life, she had no impression of this person at all.
Zhou Shiya no longer asked Yuxi any more questions. Both of them were so familiar with each other, that she knew Yuxi wouldn’t lie to her about this matter. So, she immediately reminded Yuxi, “Heshou Xianzhu is deeply loved by the Empress Dowager. It is said that the palace intends to match her with the 9th Prince. If she is acting hostile towards you, it will not be good, so you should be extra careful around her.“
Yuxi nodded. “I will.” She also wondered in her heart. She was not Yuchen, who was lovely enough to cause the fall of a city, nor was she a gifted woman. So, why did Heshou Xianzhu looked so surprised when she saw her. This was truly an insoluble problem. Thus, it was useless to think too much about it.
Just as the two of them were talking, a maid came over to Chen Xue and announced, “Eldest Miss, Qingxia Junzhu is here.” Kang Wangfei was Marquis Taining’s younger sister from the same mother. So, it was normal for Qingxia Junzhu to come and paid her respects.
There were seventeen to eighteen maids and old women servants who followed Qingxia Junzhu. Although Yuchen was served by so many people at home, she usually only took two maids and an old woman servant when going out, unlike Qingxia Junzhu who went out in such huge ostentation and extravagance.
Fan Bingbing has a melon seed shaped or oval kind of face. For more about ancient Chinese beauty, you can read about them in Chopsticks Only.
Zhou Shiya lowered her voice and said to Yuxi, “This Qingxia Junzhu is also lucky. Kang Wang has only one daughter. Otherwise, how can an illegitimate daughter get the title junzhu?” Qingxia Junzhu’s biological mother was only a concubine, but Kang Wang had only her as his daughter, which was precious because of its rarity. Besides, she was very popular with his Wangfei, so Kang Wang had requested the Emperor to confer her the title junzhu.
Yuxi smiled and speculated, “This is also fate.” Being reborn was also a skill that could save someone's life. So, she had no other choice but to say that Qingxia Junzhu, like herself, had also been reborn.
Noob Translator's Musing
The question of the day, how many reborn people had attended the banquet in Marquis Taining's residence?
The second question, how did Yuxi know that girl had been reborn?
The second question, how did Yuxi know that girl had been reborn?
Tags:
The Rebirth of Han Yuxi