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Chapter 127: Considerate
Chapter 127: Considerate
Nanny Wan looked towards the tall figure that had disappeared at the end of the alley and then at Baoshu, who had been sent back. She sighed, "The neighbors in the alley are all kind-hearted people!"
Meng Qianqian turned to Baoshu and said, "From now on, you are not allowed to sneak out without permission. Do you understand?"
She then instructed Nanny Wan, "Remember to lock the gate next time."
Baoshu's eyes darted towards a corner of the wall.
Meng Qianqian continued, "And block that dog hole as well."
Baozhu: "..."
That night, Qing Shuang came to take Baoshu. Meng Qianqian informed her about her plan to attend the banquet and coincidentally, Baoshu was also scheduled to go out and make new friends that day. It seemed like their plans aligned perfectly.
This was Meng Qianqian's first time visiting someone else's home as a guest in her own right, and she couldn't go empty-handed. She considered asking Lady Wang tomorrow about Lady Xing's preferences, but before she could act on this thought, Cen, the estate manager, paid her a visit early in the morning.
He held a delicate canister and greeted her with a beaming smile. "I heard from Qing Shuang that you, Miss Meng, are planning to visit Lady Xing. Lady Xing has a fondness for the sugared pastries from the Governor's mansion, so I had the kitchen prepare some. Please take these as a gift for Lady Xing."
Meng Qianqian accepted the canister with a nod. "Thank you, Estate Manager Cen."
Estate Manager Cen chuckled. "Miss Meng, you're too kind. As the future lady of the Governor's mansion and my future mistress, please don't hesitate to give me any instructions. I'm here to serve you."
Meng Qianqian pursed her lips, realizing that she had no choice but to accept his offer of assistance.
Noticing her silence, Estate Manager Cen smiled and pointed to the canister in her arms. "Lady Xing has longed for these treats for a long time. I'm sure she'll be delighted."
Meng Qianqian nodded in agreement. "Mhm."
On the day of the banquet, Meng Qianqian and Yu Li prepared themselves and, along with Banxia and Tan'er, boarded their family carriage.
"Are you nervous, cousin?" Yu Li asked.
"Are you nervous, cousin?" Meng Qianqian replied.
Yu Li hesitated for a moment before honestly admitting, "A little."
Although the Yu family held a respectable status in Youzhou, they were insignificant compared to the noble families of the capital.
He lowered his voice and said, "I heard that in the capital, if you drop a brick, it could smash three lords."
Meng Qianqian laughed. "It's not that extreme, but there's some truth to it. We're in the heart of the empire, the imperial city. Here, the fortunes of aristocratic families rise and fall, and political power shifts. The person spending lavishly in a tavern today might be a lord, but tomorrow, they could have their property confiscated. Conversely, a commoner might suddenly rise to power, attaining officialdom and a life of luxury."
Yu Li fell silent, pondering these words.
Meng Qianqian smiled reassuringly. "Cousin, there's no need to be nervous. I'm here with you."
"Mhm!" Yu Li agreed.
His cousin had truly changed since their childhood. She had grown into a young lady, exuding a calming and reassuring presence.
The carriage came to a stop outside the Xing mansion, and the group alighted.
Yu Li addressed the doorman, "I am Yu Li from the Anyuan Marquis Estate, and this is my cousin, Miss Meng. We're here together."
The doorman looked at Meng Qianqian, astonished.
Meng Qianqian nodded slightly. "Yes, together."
The doorman quickly ushered them in. "Please come in, my lady and gentleman! Our madam has been eagerly awaiting your arrival!"
The group entered the mansion.
Lady Wang and Lady Zhou had already arrived and were chatting in the garden with several other ladies and young ladies. Standing beside Lady Zhou was a petite and delicate-looking maid.
The maid, with her big eyes, spotted Meng Qianqian from a distance and quickly walked towards her.
Tan'er, with her almond-shaped eyes wide open, exclaimed, "Sister Zhou?"
Zhou Nanyin covered her mouth and whispered, "Shh, keep your voice down. I sneaked out without anyone knowing. Don't let anyone hear us!"
Only then did she notice the unfamiliar young man standing behind Meng Qianqian. "Who is he?"
"He's my cousin, Yu Li. He just arrived in the capital," Meng Qianqian introduced.
Yu Li bowed politely.
Zhou Nanyin returned the gesture. "Since you're Miss Meng's cousin, you're also my cousin. Do you know anyone in the capital?"
Yu Li shook his head.
"This is easy to handle!" Zhou Nanyin ran off, and soon returned dragging a graceful and handsome young man. "This is my second brother, Zhou Ye! Second brother, this is Meng Qianqian's cousin, Yu Li. Take him with you to play!"
Yu Li quickly bowed politely. "Mister Zhou."
Zhou Ye smiled. "Just call me Zhou Ye. Yu Li, we're playing 'throwing arrows into the pot'. Come, let me take you there!"
Yu Li looked at Meng Qianqian.
Meng Qianqian curved her lips. "Cousin, go play first. I'll pay respects to the ladies later."
Zhou Nanyin instructed, "Second brother, you must take good care of Mister Yu."
Zhou Ye flicked her forehead. "Don't you trust your second brother? Yu Li, let's go. Maybe Uncle Xing will come to watch us play after he finishes his court duties."
Yu Li was pulled away by Zhou Ye.
Meng Qianqian asked Zhou Nanyin, "You said you sneaked out. What's going on?"
Zhou Nanyin pouted and said, "I'm about to enter the palace, right? Suddenly, Consort Li sent a teaching nanny to teach me manners. I'm not allowed to go out the main door or even the side door. I'm so bored! Today, my grandmother tricked the nanny to go drink, so I was able to sneak out. But, I must not be seen at the Xing family's banquet, or I'll be scolded when I go back."
"That's tough," said Meng Qianqian.
Zhou Nanyin looked aggrieved. "It really is. By the way, Meng Qianqian, aren't you entering the palace too? Didn't your family send a teaching nanny as well?"
Tan'er suddenly realized, "The person who was driven away by Father, was actually the teaching nanny sent by Consort Li!"
Zhou Nanyin: "..."
Meng Qianqian and Zhou Nanyin went to greet the ladies and presented the gift to Lady Xing.
As expected, Lady Xing loved it and held onto the canister fondly.
Zhou Nanyin winked at her mother and the other ladies.
Lady Zhou said with a laugh, "Alright, alright, go play!"
As the two girls left, the ladies exchanged glances and sighed.
That day when they went boating, the Grand Commandant had treated them politely for Meng Qianqian's sake and even sent her home. They had thought that the Grand Commandant had taken a fancy to Meng Qianqian.
Who would have thought that the Grand Commandant was about to marry someone else.
"I heard it's a young lady from Miao Territory," said Lady Wang.
"Whose daughter are you talking about?"
Before Lady Lin arrived, her voice came first.
Lady Xing smiled. "We're talking about your daughter. You always keep her hidden. When will you let us meet her?"
Lady Lin stuck out her tongue. "She's just like her father, a bookworm!"
Lady Zhou teased, "The honorable Director of the Imperial Academy, but in your mouth, he's a bookworm! Do you believe that there are plenty of people who would want him if you don't?
Lady Lin huffed. "I'd like to see who dares."
Lady Xing said to Lady Lin, "Recently, quite a few people have sought your help to get their sons into the Imperial Academy, right? They want you to help them study there."
Lady Lin sat down on the stone bench and tiredly waved her fan. "Don't mention the Imperial Academy. I just want some peace and quiet here today."
On the other side, Yu Li's mother, Madam Yu, had also arrived.
In the five years that the Marquis of Anyuan had been away from the capital, the political landscape had changed drastically. The officials holding important positions in the court were no longer his old acquaintances.
Madam Yu was not very familiar with Lady Xing, but fortunately, the Marquis of Anyuan's estate had a deep heritage, and through a cousin who acted as a go-between, she had obtained an invitation to the Minister's mansion.
Besides paying respects to Lady Xing, she also wanted to take this opportunity to get to know the other ladies.
However, she never expected that as soon as she entered the mansion, she would see Meng Qianqian sitting in the pavilion.
Double points for the last day, and there are still little cuties with tickets. Remember to vote!
(End of Chapter)
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