Shen Miao informed Xie Jing Xing about the invitation the same night he returned. Xie Jing Xing told Shen Miao that she didn't have to go if she didn't want to. Despite their arrogance, the Lu and Ye families dared not tear away all pretences with Prince Rui's residence. Shen Miao, in other words, had the authority to refuse.
Even if it was true, Shen Miao couldn't bring herself to refuse. Understanding oneself and one's opponent would result in victory for every battle. She had no prior knowledge of the various fractions in Great Liang, and she could use this opportunity to learn more about them. The Lu family's feelings toward her can be seen at this time, without mentioning the Ye family.
Naturally, Xie Jing Xing would be powerless to sway Shen Miao's decision. Shen Miao told others to respond to the invitation and that she would be there on time after the husband and wife talked about it.
Two days later, it was the Bright Summer Banquet.
Shen Miao awoke early, and Xie Jing Xing had already left the house by the time she finished her breakfast. Every day after returning to Great Liang, he seemed to be very busy, leaving early in the morning and returning late at night. Shen Miao had the impression that this Imperial city was not as tranquil as it appeared on the outside.
Shen Miao's hair was combed by Jing Zhe. She kept her personal maids even after she moved to the residence of Prince Rui of First Rank for convenience. Speaking of which, there were very few female servants at the Prince's residence. The entire scene was made up of men, with the exception of the cook and a few Māmā. Tang Shu claimed that after Xie Jing Xing was elevated to the rank of Prince of First Rank two years ago, he would catch a few spies disguised as maids when he returned to Great Liang. Most likely, there were more problems with females, making it easier for some unscrupulous people to take advantage of them. There were no more females in the Prince Residence after that.
The Prince's residence, on the other hand, resembled a copper wall for this reason. The people outside despised it after so long, but they were also helpless because they couldn't find a way out.
Gu Yu said, "It is Fūrén's first time participating in a banquet in Long Ye thus one must dress up beautifully. When others see Fūrén as such, they would not say more and Fūrén will also give our Ming Qi some face."
Long Ye regarded Xie Jing Xing as prestigious. When Jing Zhe and Gu Yu went shopping, they overheard outsiders discussing how it was Shen Miao's past life blessing to marry Prince Rui of First Rank in this lifetime. Jing Zhe and Gu Yu listened until their hearts were unconvinced. What was the problem with their family's Young Lady? She was one of the higher ranking Young Ladies even in Ding capital in Ming Qi. She has a kind character and that temperament, she would not even give in to a Princess, so what was all this climbing up for?
However, one mouth would not be able to outperform the others. It was favourable to slap someone in the face with facts. Shen Miao reasoned that this time she should surprise everyone so that those people would stop talking about all of this.
"What is there for to mind this?" Shen Miao laughed, "They only said it to make their hearts feel comfortable but it will not affect us."
"Fūrén, Gu Yu did not say wrongly." Jing Zhe was helping Shen Miao choose the hairpins in the jewellery chest as she said, "One must not be lower than her in this opinion."
Tang Shu knocked on the door from outside just as she was finishing her sentence. Shen Miao motioned for him to enter and noticed a young lady trailing behind Tang Shu. She appeared even younger than Shen Miao and was slightly chubbier, most likely due to her youth, but she had a very pleasing appearance and a pair of smiling eyes. Her lips were wide, and her skin was fair and tender. Shen Miao suddenly remembered Su Ming Lang... However, it was a young girl.
"Today Fūrén is going to Bright Summer Banquet." Tang Shu smiled, "Shàoyé had instructed to find someone familiar to give pointers to Fūrén, thus this Lǎo Nú (老奴 - Old Servant) has transferred Ba Jiao Gūniáng over. Fūrén can bring Ba Jiao Gūniáng along as a maid and if one encounters unfamiliar people, Ba Jiao Gūniáng would explain it to you."
Shen Miao smiled, "Tang Shu, thank you."
Tang Shu waved his hands and said continuously that he dare not accept before speaking with smiles, "One had thought that Fūrén would not accept the invitation but did not expect that Fūrén would accept it. Fūrén is really courageous that this Lǎo Nú admires." When ordinary people arrived in an unfamiliar location, there was always a sense of trepidation in their hearts. Not to mention a young lady from an official family, even if one was more courageous, going to a place where everyone was a stranger and knowing that it was a place of ill-intention would take a lot of courage after arriving in a completely unfamiliar environment.
"It is only to drink some tea and chat." Shen Miao said lightly, "Where would courage be used at?"
"Exactly, exactly." Tang Shu said, nodding his head. His gaze was much more satisfied towards Shen Miao, and he withdrew after a few more instructions.
Shen Miao took a look at this Ba Jiao. Ba Jiao took a proper stance and smiled at her. This kind of look was a little silly, but it made one's heart melt. Shen Miao's trip to the Bright Summer Banquet today would be difficult if there was no one guiding, and if there was someone explaining on the side, a lot of effort could be saved. When Shen Miao suddenly thought of something, she smiled gently at Xie Jing Xing's thoughtful consideration. Shen Miao turned to face Ba Jiao and inquired, "Isn't there no shìnǚ (female maids) in Qīnwáng fǔ? You…"
Other than the female cook and a few Māmā, there were only male servants and guards in the Prince Residence and there were no maids at all. Thus Jing Zhe, Gu Yu and the few that Shen Miao brought over became the few fragrances in the Prince Residence.
Ba Jiao smiled, "This servant is not a maid in Qīnwáng fǔ. This servant is Mo Yu Army's people that was specially transferred over to accompany Fūrén."
"Mo Yu Army?" Shen Miao was startled. She had heard Xie Jing Xing vaguely mention a few words. When in Ming Qi, this army would help Xie Jing Xing on many matters and seemed to be Xie Jing Xing's privately raised army that was extremely powerful. However for Xie Jing Xing to dare to take action that open boarded, it seemed that Emperor Yong Le knew about the matter.
She asked, "Do you know martial arts?"
"This servant knows how to kill people." Ba Jiao answered with smiles. Jing Zhe and Gu Yu both suck in a breath of cold air when they heard it as they could not believe that this smiling female who looked like Su Ming Lang would actually have a good hand in killing people.
Shen Miao was however satisfied. She thought that Xie Jing Xing was indeed evil to send Ba Jiao to her for the Bright Summer Banquet. But this also meant that at least in the area of martial arts, she would not be at a disadvantage.
Shen Miao said, "Since it is so, then you will come together with me. Jing Zhe will remain in the residence and sort out the warehouse with Bai Lu, Shuang Jiang and a few people. Gu Yu, you and Ba Jiao will set off with me."
Jing Zhe had almost finished cleaning up when she was told she wouldn't be going, so her heart was somewhat grieved and she was not happy with Ba Jiao, but she feared that Ba Jiao would be angry and kill her in anger, so she reluctantly instructed Ba Jiao to pay extra attention of Shen Miao before leaving.
When everything was ready, Shen Miao then got onto the horse carriage and headed towards the location where the Bright Summer Banquet was held, the Lu Residence.
This time Shen Miao did not bring Mo Qing along and the guards that she brought along were all people from the residence of Prince Rui. Naturally, she had her considerations as Mo Qing was after all a person from Ming Qi but bringing the people from the residence of Prince Rui would make others feel some restrain and would not take action easily and only shoot with their mouths. Moreover, Shen Miao was most fearless with sparring others with words.
The difference between Ding capital and Long Ye was that Great Liang's land was towards the East and would be nearer to the sun. Thus even during winter, it would not be as cold as Ding capital, much less summer. Currently, it was the fifth month and if one was in Ding capital, it would still be spring but in Great Liang, it was already the beginning of summer and there was a slight heat.
As the horse carriage journeyed, Shen Miao and Gu Yu parted the curtains with a gap and looked out. Seeing the busy streets of Long Ye and liveliness made one's heart feel moved.
No wonder those citizens of those defeated countries would open their gates to welcome. If one would bring good days to people of under Heavens, the commoners would find that the name of the country was a small matter. Emperor Yong Le was one who had the talent to rule the world.
After almost an hour of journey, the horse carriage finally stopped. Ba Jiao lifted the curtains and said, "Fūrén, one has arrived at the Lu Residences."
Gu Yu and Ba Jiao supported Shen Miao down the horse carriage and saw that there were a number of carriages that were parked at the entrance of Lu Residence but there was not a single person at the gate who was welcoming. Gu Yu was stunned, "This… Why is there no one from this family not out to welcome? Could it be that one had come to the wrong place?"
Even though it was said that it was the wrong place it did not look wrong as the doors of the Lu Residences were not closed as if it was opened for her.
Shen Miao swept a glance at the door and had an inkling in her heart. She asked Gu Yu, "What time was it indicated in the invitation of the Bright Summer Banquet?"
Gu Yu quickly took out the invitation from her sleeves and opened it up, "It is SiShi (modern timing: 9am – 11am). Currently, it is not even SiShi yet."
"One thinks that only our invitation is as such." Shen Miao said lightly.
Gu Yu said, "Fūrén, what is the meaning of it?"
"There are horse carriages in front of the doors so obviously guests had arrived but even if one came in advance, there would not be that many. There are no one at the gates to welcome but the doors were opened for us, so it meant that they knew we will definitely come. If I did not guess incorrectly, the other's invitation would have indicated the time as ChenShi (modern timing: 7am – 9am) but our invitation is at SiShi. This is deliberately letting us come late." After finishing, her heart smiled, it seemed that no matter if one was in Ming Qi or Great Liang, these noblewomen would always use those tricks.
Ba Jiao was in smiles but Gu Yu suddenly understood and said with indignation, "What benefits does it do for them to do such tricks as this? This is just being too much!"
"Benefits?" Shen Miao's voice turned slightly cold, "There are substantial benefits. It is impolite to enter without being greeted, so the Shen family of Ming Qi is considered arrogant. It is impolite to accept an invitation and then leave halfway through. The reasons are all with them, and if caught, one would have to lower one's head from the start. The lower it went, the more one would be laughed at."
Confronting and quarrelling with others was an art. From the beginning, one's mistakes could not be caught by others else one's head would be lower than others. She and Mei Fūrén had been fighting for so many years but she understood this point.
Ba Jiao asked, "Does Fūrén still want to enter?"
"Enter." Shen Miao picked up her skirt and was about to head inside.
"But Fūrén." Gu Yu asked, "One's mistake will be mentioned upon going in and it is also wrong if one does not enter. Since entering and retreating are both wrong, why would one still enter?"
"Then one will need to let others commit bigger mistakes than you." Shen Miao smiled gently, "Like that, no one would notice of your mistakes."
------------------
In the Lu Residence, at this moment the atmosphere in the hall was very harmonious. As the well-known military commander in Long Ye, the Lu family's status is extremely high, thus the residence was large and it was renovated luxuriously. Today's Bright Summer Banquet was personally handled by Lu Fūrén, thus the compliments kept flowing in without stopping.
Lu Fūrén was in her early forties, past her prime. She was most likely a beauty when she was younger, but as she grew older, she became so thin that she lost some dignity in her appearance. Despite this, she wore it beautifully, as if it could add a little radiance to her.
It was just that if an elderly female continued to wear inappropriately bright clothing, it would not only make her look older, but it would also expose one's age shortcoming.
"Lu Fūrén is truly fortunate." A round-faced Fūrén said with a smile, "Jing Fēi Niángniáng gained Bìxià's favour in the Palace and Jing Fēi Niángniáng is still this filial to you. This Bright Summer Banquet, Bìxià specially sent over gifts, which is enough to see the weight of Jing Fēi Niángniáng in Bìxià's heart."
Lu Fūrén was pleased in her heart but still had a modest expression on her face, "It is all Huángshàng's generosity and pity to Jing Fēi that made our entire family enjoy the light."
"What kind of words Fūrén is saying?" Another short-statured Fūrén smiled, "Jing Fēi gained favour and the Èr xiǎojiě of the residence had married to a provincial military governor and one heard that recently she was even pregnant with twins. One has to also let us be blessed with a little of such fortune."
Lu Fūrén shook her head and said with an expression of a headache, "Is there not Lǎo Sān and Sì Jiě-er? These two are giving me a headache."
The round-faced Fūrén spoke with exaggeration, "Fūrén, a headache is needed for these? Sān Gōngzǐ is a talented person that has martial art skills that are outstanding at such a young age. One does not know which family's gūniáng would have the fortune to marry him. As for Sì Jiě-er, needless to say, she is a fairy-like character. She is inept with the four scholarly arts, so what matter need one worry with?"
"Fūrén has praised." Lu Fūrén shook her head and smiled bitterly, "Forget about Lǎo Sān since it is understandable for men to gain more experience for a few years but Sì Jiě-er's marriage cannot be dragged on. I am really having a headache about it…"
"Niáng. You are still talking about my bad points in front of other Fūréns!" A delicate female voice rang out. Everyone turned around and saw that a young female appeared in the main hall. This young female was about sixteen and seventeen, wearing a light purple butterfly pattered and cloud and bird embroidered robe. From a closer look, it was butterfly-shaped pears. This female lady had a delicate and beautiful appearance and most likely with the pampering, there was a natural romantic deposition of a wealthy young lady. With the surrounding pearls and jewellery, she was a sensational radiance, as if she was a butterfly fairy in spring. She was indeed very eye-catching.
This was the Fourth Young Lady of the Lu family, the Fourth Younger Sister of Jing Fēi, Lu Wan-er.
Lu Fūrén stroked her head dotingly and said, "How would I dare to sideline our Wan-er Xiǎojiě?"
Lu Wan-er snorted and did not speak anymore. There were still other young ladies of official family in the hall but when Lu Wan-er stood in the hall, compared to her, they all looked awkward.
Lu Wan-er had an arrogant expression and looked around, "Is that Shen family's Xiǎojiě of Ming Qi coming or not?"
The volume of her voice was not low at all and all the Fūréns and Young Ladies in the hall heard it and in a moment all started whispering.
Lu Wan-er referred to Shen Miao as 'Shen family's Young Lady of Ming Qi' and refused to call her 'Ruì Qīn Wángfēi', this itself had said many things clearly. Thinking of that, it would be as such as everyone had said that the beginning that the Fourth Young Lady of the Lu family would be marrying into the residence of Prince Rui of First Rank to be the Prince Consort of First Rank. Lu Wan-er was satisfied with Prince Rui too but who knew that halfway Shen Miao would appear. The people of the Lu family were not happy and Lu Wan-er was even more irreconcilable.
The purpose of today's Bright Summer Banquet was not as it seemed. However, most of these Fūrén were here to see the buzz and perhaps want to flatter Lu Wan-er. That Shen family's Young Lady was currently glamorous but did not have any roots or foundation in Long Ye so who would know how far she could drift? Prince Rui of First Rank is at his prime age so how would he place that much time and feeling on just one female?
All in all, that Young Lady of the Shen family did not seem to have a good ending.
Lu Fūrén smiled, "Perhaps one had experienced a delaying matter on the road."
"Really such great airs." Lu Wan-er said unhappily, "Other Fūréns and Xiǎojiěs are all punctual but only she alone is late. Is the rules and regulation in Ming Qi all dead?"
Just as she was speaking, one saw a round-faced young lady suddenly appearing outside. Everyone did not know when did she enter. That young lady smiled, "May one asks if this is the Bright Summer Banquet?"
Lu Fūrén was startled and smiled, "It is, are you Ruì Qīn Wángfēi?"
"Núbì is not." That smiling young lady said, "Qīn Wángfēi is here." As she was speaking, she turned back and supported a Young Lady to walk over.
One did not know if it was because of that round-faced maid or was it that everyone had imagined Ruì Qīn Wángfēi was not adequately worthy enough. In short, when that Young Lady walked in, everyone was stunned.
She wore a lotus green phoenix robe with butterflies surrounding hundreds of flowers with a translucent purple white magnolia gauze. One could not say that it was gorgeous but it was definitely not simple. The young ladies of Long Ye's official families loved to eat and dress well but when they saw her overall complementing clothes, they felt that it was very tasteful. There was only an inlaid phoenix shaped gemstone on one's head and despite the single hairpin, it made one look even nobler.
This young lady had eyebrows like a new moon with clear apricot shaped eyes, a small and straight nose with rosy lips that slightly smiled. She looked like a very gentle person but that slightly lifted chin and straighten back as she walked over made one feel a little tremble as she took every step. Involuntarily, one could not help but look up with a gaze, as if she was an unattainable nobility.
Speaking strangely of it, today this Ruì Qīn Wángfēi and the Fourth Lu Young Lady were wearing purple robes. The purple that Forth Lu Young Lady was wearing was light in colour and Ruì Qīn Wángfēi's purple was darker. Young Ladies who wear light purple would look lively and gentle, whereas wearing darker purple would look mature and stiff. However, Shen Miao's entire appearance of purple seemed to be tailored made for her as there was a luxurious style to it that could suppress the entire field. In contrast, Fourth Lu Young Lady looked like an actress who was singing in a theatre, somewhat unable to be seen in public.
Lu Wan-er was one who pay great attention to this on normal days and was accustomed to being the centre of the limelight thus she did not expect that others would snatch her limelight today, in particular, this was the person who robbed her position of Ruì Qīn Wángfēi, Shen Miao.
Lu Fūrén's eyes flashed and she smiled, "Qīn Wángfēi finally arrived. The Fūréns have been waiting for you."
Shen Miao smiled gently and said not too fast or slow, "One did not think that Fūréns would be so early. The invitation indicated Sishi. I mentioned it to Diànxià about it and Diànxià even mentioned to leave early and avoid the crowd. One had not thought that one would still be late and it is my fault. One has to blame Diànxià for not reminding me to leave even earlier. One should leave… At Chenshi..."
Lu Fūrén's heart jumped as she did not expect that Shen Miao would speak of it so unobtrusively. Sure enough, when the words were spoken, the Fūréns around looked at her differently.
Shen Miao was after all an outsider and those Fūréns would be in favour of the Lu family as compared to Shen Miao but it was a joke to others' eyes when one used this kind of ridiculous child play. Lu Fūrén was also somewhat regretful as she originally wanted to show an initial show of strength but there was no need to play tricks on the invitation but Lu Wan-er was unable to keep it in and she had insisted on it to be done like that. Now when Shen Miao's words enter others' ears, these Fūrén's invitation did not indicate Sishi so they understood. One would always feel somewhat happy when watching the Lu family.
If Shen Miao informed Prince Rui of this matter when she returned, with Prince Rui such an intelligent person, how would he not understand when he heard it? If he was dissatisfied with the Lu family on this matter then Lu Fūrén felt that this was a bad move.
However, Lu Wan-er was unable to see Shen Miao doing well and sized Shen Miao up, "Why did Ruì Qīn Wángfēi not inform others and just enter? If one does not know, then others would say that we have slighted another."
It was indeed rude to enter the residence without having another to report. Shen Miao looked at Lu Wan-er and laughed, "This is exactly what I wanted to say. If there is not enough manpower in one's distinguished residence, there is no need to be that constrained. Such a big residence but without any guards on duty is indeed somewhat dangerous. She smile warmly, "I will instruct the guards of the Qīnwáng Fǔ to guard one's distinguished residence so that there would not be strange people entering it. Else it would not be good."
When Lu Wan-er and Lu Fūrén heard it, they almost wanted to vomit blood.
What was going on? One initially wanted to say that Shen Miao was rude as naturally the entrance of Lu Residence was deliberately not guarded. However, from Shen Miao's words, it had become that it was their Lu Residence that was so poor that they were unable to afford servants. By letting the guards of the Prince Residence of First Rank guard their main doors, what would the commoners think when they pass by?
Shen Miao said kindly, "Fūrén do not need to thank me. In the future, if there is any need, it is alright to let Diànxià send some manpower over to the residence."
Send some manpower over? Who knows if those people who were sent over were spies? The residence of Prince Rui dared to gift but they dared not accept.
The surrounding Fūrén also understood clearly that this Ruì Qīn Wángfēi was not a soft persimmon that could be easily grasped. Originally the Lu family's arrangement was to destroy Shen Miao's prestige so that Shen Miao would make a mistake. After she makes a mistake, after saying some ambiguous things, it would be enough to make this Ruì Qīn Wángfēi's heart feel a little bottomless.
Who knew that one would not only fall behind but also checkmate the Lu family.
Lu Fūrén barely forced a smile out, "May Qīn Wángfēi please sit down."
However, she had arranged for Shen Miao an unobtrusive position.
Shen Miao declined to comment. Her presence today was not to fight for anything and also not to quarrel. It was only to show one's attitude and also take the opportunity to see some things clearly.
Ba Jiao secretly bends down to speak to Shen Miao, "That round-faced Fūrén is the Fūrén of Emissary Shu, Shu Fūrén and is in good relationship with the Lu family. The short-statured Fūrén is Fūrén of the Minister of Revenue, Wei Fūrén and are in-laws with the Ye family and likewise have a good relationship with the Lu family… On the utmost left side, the yellow-clad Fūrén, her husband is the current dynasty's Left Minister. You are also familiar with her xiǎo érzi, which is Ji Shàoyé."
Ji Yu Shu's mother? Shen Miao looked towards that Ji Fūrén. Ji Fūrén had a dignified appearance and seemed to have a very different temperament from Ji Yu Shu.
Shen Miao was pondering about it. These Fūréns were wealthy and respectable people, no wonder one said that the Fu family's power in Long Ye was not small. Consort Jing was so arrogant that she did not take the Empress into consideration and it was because there was a big tree behind her back and shade over her head. Even these aristocratic families had to give them face thus it was clear that the Lu family has a very wide-spreading relationship.
If Emperor Yong Le and Xie Jing Xing want to completely suppress the Lu family, it was indeed not an easy task. The interest of the Lu family would involve many other officials' families and if the Lu family fell, there were be many aristocratic families that would also fall. Even if it was for one's survival, these aristocratic families would not watch as the Lu family went down.
Just as she was thinking, someone walked over to her side and sat down. Ba Jiao immediately stood up straight and no longer explained matters to Shen Miao. Shen Miao turned around and that delicately beautiful and proud Fourth Lu Young Lady had sat by her side.
Lu Wan-er said, "Ruì Qīn Wángfēi, may one take the liberty to ask you a question?"
Shen Miao said, "Please speak."
"How long have you known Rui Qīnwáng?" Lu Wan-er asked.
Shen Miao was laughing in her heart as she roughly knew what this Lu Wan-er was here for. Speaking of which, Xie Jing Xing was in Ming Qi during his youth and other than Emperor Yong Le and Xie Jing Xing knew of it, the rest of the people should not be aware of it. Great Liang people only knew that Xie Jing Xing had followed his master and travelled around the land and their whereabouts were very mysterious.
Then her 'knowing' Xie Jing Xing should be from when she returned to Ding capital from Xiao Chun City from the tribute banquet. Calculating from that, it was less than a year.
So she said, "Less than a year."
Hearing this, Lu Wan-er laughed and her smile was somewhat prideful and a little contemptuous. Lu Wan-er said, "So it is less than a year. As such one thinks that Ruì Qīn Wángfēi would not know much of Rui Qīnwáng."
Shen Miao smiled, "It seemed that Sì Xiǎojiě knows Diànxià very well?"
"You mustn't mind." Lu Wan-er said, "I know your Shen family's position in Ming Qi but my Lu family in Long Ye is in a better position than your Shen family in Ding capital. Rui Qīnwáng is a very good person that in Great Liang, almost every single young lady dreams of marrying into the residence of Prince Rui. However, those ordinary families are not worthy of him."
Lu Wan-er looked at Shen Miao, "Ruì Qīn Wángfēi, Rui Qīnwáng Diànxià is a very ambitious person."
"From when he returned to Long Ye, he had accomplished a number of big issues in court. This kind of person would not be constrained by romance and relationships. What can you help him with? Naturally, now it would still be sweet but in the future when you are no longer of use to him, he would be able to give up and abandon you."
Shen Miao was surprised in her heart. Originally, she had thought that Lu Wan-er was a naïve and ignorant arrogant lady but after hearing her words, she felt that this Lu Wan-er was able to see clearly the situation and even able to pinpoint the advantages of the relationship.
"So?" Shen Miao asked.
"Bìxià has the intention to let me be Rui Qīnwáng's Píngqī (equal wife) but Rui Qīnwáng cannot have two Ruì Qīn Wángfēi." Lu Wan-er said as if she was bestowing, "So you be the Qiè and I will be the Qī."