Chapter 278: A Mix of Scents
Chapter 278: A Mix of Scents
Zhou knew exactly what Queen Qi was worried about, and she smiled reassuringly, "Don't worry."
It wouldn't be appropriate to say more.
Although Queen Qi felt a bit guilty, she wasn't too concerned.
The Xu family had already recognized one child; they wouldn't dare to forcefully take another, would they?
Even if Mrs. Shao or Mr. Shao wanted to, they would need compelling evidence and a reasonable argument to try and take the child away. With these thoughts, Queen Qi's confidence returned.
Sui Sui, unaware of her mother's concerns, curiously observed the beautiful aunts and sisters.
The room was filled with an array of fragrances, many of which were even stronger than the scent worn by Aunt Ren, causing Sui Sui's head to spin slightly.
She thought that her mother's scent was the best—fragrant yet subtle and pleasant.
Feng Xuanrui and Feng Xuanbin wanted to accompany their sister, so they temporarily refrained from joining the fun.
However, Ying Ningzhi was urging Feng Xuanrui to go out and play, even trying to convince him to bring his sister along.
With so many people around, Feng Xuanrui was reluctant to leave his sister's side, especially during her first experience with such an event.
Moreover, he also wanted to prevent others from getting too close to his sister.
Therefore, he couldn't possibly take her outside.
But...
It sounded so lively out there.
He really wanted to go and take a look.
Feng Xuanrui was getting a bit restless. Seeing that his mother was talking to his aunt, he leaned over to Sui Sui and whispered, "Sister, do you want to go out and see? It's so lively outside."
As someone of noble status, Feng Xuanrui was accustomed to a life of privilege in the capital. Thus, he had little to fear in his daily life.
Sui Sui was also quite curious, but she didn't want to leave her mother's side, and she didn't dare to do so either.
Today, there were...
Just too many people.
Sui Sui hesitated, and Feng Xuanbin quickly noticed. He immediately joined in, encouraging his sister, "Let's just go out and take a quick look. We'll come back soon; the banquet hasn't started yet."
The sons of the Song family were with Mr. Song in the front yard and weren't accompanying Zhou, so she didn't have to worry about taking care of the children, which made things a bit easier for her.
At that moment, hearing the three children whispering, Zhou couldn't bear to see them in a dilemma. She spoke softly to Queen Qi, "There's no need to restrict the children either. Xiao Liu is with them, so let them go out and play for a while."
Zhou understood Queen Qi's concerns, and when she turned her head, she noticed Lu Xuerou not far away. Her smile deepened as she said, "If things get out of hand, we can always call for Xuerou to help keep an eye on things. We can't let Sui Sui be at a disadvantage."
Given Sui Sui's young age and her first attendance at such a banquet, Queen Qi was naturally worried.
Even with Zhou's suggestion, she still shook her head and said, "Xuerou is helping your sister-in-law. We shouldn't cause any more trouble."
After saying this, Queen Qi turned to Feng Xuanrui and said, "Xiao Liu, behave yourself."
Hearing his mother's admonishment, Feng Xuanrui pouted slightly, expressing his displeasure.
Feng Xuanbin also looked a bit disappointed.
However, Sui Sui didn't seem to mind. She was simply feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the sights and smells around her.
So many people, so many beautiful clothes, and so many fragrant scents.
However, with all the different perfumes mixing together, the entire venue smelled a bit overwhelming.
Sui Sui felt a bit suffocated in the room.
She coughed a few times, which worried Queen Qi enough to ask a few more questions.
When her mother inquired, Sui Sui lowered her head shyly and said, "... Mother, it's a bit too fragrant."
Previously, Aunt Ren's perfume had been quite strong, and Sui Sui hadn't felt comfortable smelling it.
But recently, the other party had reduced the amount of fragrance they used, resulting in a fresh and subtle scent that felt pleasant and refreshing.
The various fragrances filling the room were a bit overwhelming for Sui Sui, especially with so many blended together.
Queen Qi also found the scents a bit too strong.
However, the use of perfume was quite common among the nobles and elites of the capital. Some believed that it added a touch of elegance to their presence, while others used it to mask body odor or simply followed the trend. Most fell into the latter category.
Some preferred stronger perfumes, while others opted for lighter fragrances. It was a matter of personal preference, and one couldn't interfere with another's choice.
Queen Qi felt that the air in the room had become a bit stuffy after sitting for a while. She glanced at Zhou, suggesting, "Why don't we take a walk in the courtyard?"
The backyard of the Viscount of Fu's mansion was quite spacious, featuring winding corridors, artificial hills, and elegant pavilions. There was more than enough space for all the ladies present.
Zhou also felt that the room was noisy and the fragrances too overpowering.
Especially when Madam Xiao Xu and the Marchioness of Jinyang passed by, a strong wave of perfume wafted over, almost choking Zhou. She managed to restrain herself and didn't cough in front of others.
However, the children didn't have such self-control.
Sui Sui, already feeling uncomfortable, now had tears welling up in her round eyes, and she coughed several times.
Feng Xuanrui was also feeling a bit unwell and cleared his throat.
Feng Xuanbin fanned his nose with his hand, looking displeased.
The Marchioness of Jinyang heard the coughing and turned slightly to look. Upon seeing that it was Queen Qi, she didn't pay further attention.
However, before turning away, she lowered her eyes and glanced at Sui Sui, then quickly looked away again.
With her eyes cast down, it was hard to discern her expression, and Queen Qi couldn't be sure if she had actually seen Sui Sui or not.
Had she...
Ever seen Chen Sanniang before? Queen Qi had seen a portrait of Chen Sanniang.
It was sent back by King Qing, who had helped with the investigation. However, the painting was quite rough, likely done hastily, and it didn't capture the true likeness of the subject.
So, whether Sui Sui resembled Chen Sanniang or not, Queen Qi couldn't be certain.
But since the Marchioness of Jinyang had turned away and didn't look back, perhaps they didn't look alike after all?
Queen Qi wasn't sure, but she didn't want Sui Sui to feel uncomfortable any longer. She quickly picked up her daughter and hurried out.
As they passed the doorway, they happened to encounter Lu Furen, who was talking to someone.
Seeing Queen Qi's hurried appearance, Lu Furen thought something was wrong with the child and came over with a concerned expression. "Is the child unwell?" she asked.
The person Lu Furen was talking to was Lu Xinglan, the eldest daughter of the Lu family, married to the Duke of Cheng.
As Lu Xinglan was older than Queen Qi, the latter had to address her as 'Sister Lu'.
The two women exchanged greetings, and then Queen Qi explained, "We've been sitting inside for a while, and it's a bit stuffy. I thought it would be nice to take the child out for some fresh air."
With summer approaching, the days were getting hotter.
It was understandable that one might feel suffocated sitting indoors.
Lu Furen nodded in agreement. "Why don't you go take a look at the flowers by the pond? I had someone tend to the pond recently, and the lotuses are about to bloom. It's the perfect time to enjoy their beauty, and it will be a nice change for the child as well."
Since they were already at the doorway, Queen Qi didn't feel the need to rush off immediately.
After all, she had just run into Lu Xinglan, and it would be impolite not to exchange a few words.
As they chatted, Queen Qi glanced behind Lu Xinglan and asked in a lowered voice, "Why didn't you bring Sister Shu with you?"
(End of Chapter)
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