Yun Qiuchen glanced at Ren Yaoqi, a flicker of surprise in her eyes that quickly vanished as she composed her expression. She then said to Yun Qiuping and Yun Qiufang, "Since our Ren cousin has already chosen for me, it's your turn now, Second Sister and Third Sister."
She then turned to Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin, saying, "Let's go to the inner room to try them on. If anything doesn't fit, we can have the tailor make adjustments."
Typically, when families had clothes made, each person would first select the fabric, then choose the style, and finally have the tailor craft the garments accordingly. The Yun Family's method of having the clothes made first and then selecting them was rather inconvenient. They did this simply to make Xiao Jinglin feel their care and regard for her.
Xiao Jinglin’s choices seemed casual, but the two pieces with flying phoenix and pheasant patterns happened to align perfectly with her status. Although the court’s regulations on clothing were no longer as strict as they were during the founding of the dynasty, and the current court had little control over such trivial matters in Yanbei, families like the Yun Family still adhered closely to these traditions.
Otherwise, since Xiao Jinglin was taller than the others, there was a risk that the clothes she picked might not fit well. Clearly, Xiao Jinglin had chosen exactly what the Yun Family had prepared for her.
As for the Yun Family’s young ladies, their figures were quite similar, so even if there were minor fitting issues, adjustments could be made.
Yun Qiuchen let her two younger sisters choose their clothes while she led Xiao Jinglin and Ren Yaoqi to the inner room to try them on. Sure enough, the two pieces Xiao Jinglin had selected fit perfectly.
Unable to decline the warm gesture, Ren Yaoqi tried on the peach-red outfit. When she emerged, Yun Qiuchen was momentarily stunned before smiling and saying, "Cousin Ren has fair skin, and this outfit truly looks lovely on her."
This outfit had actually been chosen by Yun Qiuchen herself because she found the color fresh and appealing. However, she knew she likely wouldn’t be able to wear it, as her grandmother would deem the color too frivolous and unsuitable for the image of the Yun Family Eldest Miss. Still, her mother, seeing how much Yun Qiuchen liked it, had the seamstresses make an extra set, saying it wouldn’t matter if she wore it at home.
Unexpectedly, when worn by Ren Yaoqi, the frivolous undertones were completely subdued, leaving only a lively and radiant impression, as if the person outshone the flowers.
Xiao Jinglin examined Ren Yaoqi for a moment and nodded, "Not bad." Commandery Princess Xiao rarely praised others, so her compliments often sounded dry, almost perfunctory.
Ren Yaoqi smiled faintly and, following Yun Qiuchen’s suggestion, tried on the deep purple outfit as well. It had to be said that Ren Yaoqi’s eye was quite accurate—both outfits she had chosen were ones Yun Qiuchen had selected, and neither was intended for the Thousand Gold Banquet.
The purple outfit exuded an air of nobility but was also highly demanding on the wearer’s temperament; otherwise, the color would overpower them.
Ren Yaoqi was beautiful, with an outstanding and composed demeanor, so it was always she who chose the clothes, never the clothes that chose her.
Yun Qiuchen walked over and checked the waistline for her. "You and I have similar figures, so it likely won’t need adjustments. What do you think?"
Ren Yaoqi nodded and smiled, "Thank you, Cousin."
Yun Qiuchen smiled gently. "No need to thank me. It’s fate, I suppose. I think the peach-red outfit would be perfect for you to wear at the Thousand Gold Banquet."
Just as Ren Yaoqi was about to reply, a composed-looking maid entered and reported to Yun Qiuchen, "Eldest Miss, the Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master have arrived."Yun Qiuchen was momentarily taken aback, glancing toward Xiao Jinglin before nodding calmly. "Understood. Lead Eldest Brother and Second Brother to the side hall to sit first. I'll join them shortly."
Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin changed out of their clothes and followed Yun Qiuchen out.
Yun Qiuping and Yun Qiufang had already finished selecting their garments and were now looking over the jewelry.
Yun Qiuchen didn’t even glance at the remaining outfits, simply instructing the maids to pack them away into chests. Then, looking at the several opened jewelry boxes, she said, "The headpieces and jewelry were all previously chosen by Grandmother for each of us, one set per person. Cousin Ren can take my set."
Ren Yaoqi shook her head with a smile. "I’ll accept the clothes, but there’s no need for the headpieces and jewelry. When I return home, Grandmother and Mother will prepare them for me."
This time, Yun Qiuchen didn’t insist further. After all, her offer had merely been a polite gesture. The headpieces and jewelry were only one set each, personally selected by Old Madam Yun and First Madam, and having new ones made would take time.
Yun Qiufang, however, widened her round eyes innocently and said, "Eldest Sister, I like your ruby peony-style top hairpin. Can I trade my plum blossom-style one for yours?"
Yun Qiuchen didn’t mind and replied generously, "If you like it, you can swap. What about Second Sister? Is there anything you’d like to exchange?"
Yun Qiuping glanced at Yun Qiuchen and shook her head, maintaining her usual quiet demeanor.
Yun Qiuchen nodded and instructed the maids, "Deliver the clothes and jewelry to the residences of the two young ladies. Send those for the Commandery Princess and Cousin Ren to the carriage."
After a moment’s thought, Yun Qiuchen said to Yun Qiuping and Yun Qiufang, "Will you two sisters come with us to meet Eldest Brother and Second Brother, or would you prefer to return first and try on the clothes and jewelry?"
Yun Qiufang, being young and fond of beauty, was eager to outshine everyone at the Thousand Gold Banquet. Hearing this, she immediately said, "Second Sister and I should go back first to try on the clothes," pulling Yun Qiuping along with her.
Yun Qiuchen nodded. "Then we’ll wait for you in the side hall."
And so, the two sisters were subtly sent away. As she left, Yun Qiuping slightly lifted her eyes, glancing toward Yun Qiuchen and Xiao Jinglin.
Yun Qiuchen led Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin toward the side hall.
Yun family's eldest young master Yun Wenting and Second Young Master Yun Wenfang were sitting in the side hall, drinking tea and chatting. When the three entered, Yun Wenting’s gaze lingered on Xiao Jinglin. His smile was gentle and modest as he stood up to bow in greeting. Yun Wenfang also rose to bow, but his eyes rested unabashedly on Ren Yaoqi. When Ren Yaoqi looked over, he even raised an eyebrow.
Ren Yaoqi curtsied to both of them, then, at Yun Qiuchen’s invitation, she and Xiao Jinglin took seats opposite them.
Faced with the sudden appearance of the Yun brothers, Ren Yaoqi could only pretend to know nothing, lowering her head to drink tea. Xiao Jinglin also wasn’t much for conversation, so once everyone was seated, Yun Qiuchen and Yun Wenting chatted about trivial matters. Yun Wenfang, meanwhile, drank tea while studying Ren Yaoqi, his gaze remarkably straightforward.
After he had stared for a while, Ren Yaoqi could only suppress her displeasure and frown inwardly.Just as she was thinking of hinting to Xiao Jinglin to find some excuse to leave, Yun Qiuchen spoke up: "If the Commandery Princess and Cousin Yaoqi don't speak, it makes my brother and me seem like noisy nuisances. There are only us siblings here, no outsiders, so the Commandery Princess and Cousin Yaoqi should feel at ease."
As Yun Qiuchen spoke, she glanced at Ren Yaoqi, appearing even more amiable and friendly than when Yun Qiufang and Yun Qiuping were present. Even her address had become more intimate.
Her "no outsiders" made Ren Yaoqi's heart stir, uncertain whether Eldest Miss Yun was hinting at something.
Ren Yaoqi casually glanced around and noticed only four senior maidservants and one middle-aged matron attending them, all maintaining proper decorum.
Ren Yaoqi recalled that Yun Qiuping and Yun Qiufang were from the Yun Family's second and third branches, while Yun Qiuchen, Eldest Young Master Yun, and Second Young Master Yun were from the main branch, all born of the same mother.
"Ren Yaoqi, weren't you quite smug when you tricked this young master into admitting defeat in that bet? Why are you acting mute today?" Second Young Master Yun glanced sidelong at Ren Yaoqi, his words complaining but his tone carrying a hint of teasing.
Yun Wenting and Yun Qiuchen also shifted their gaze over.
Eldest Young Master Yun showed some interest: "Oh? You two made a bet? What was it about?"
Ren Yaoqi felt a slight headache coming on.
She felt somewhat helpless about Yun Wenfang suddenly bringing this up, not expecting Second Young Master Yun to still remember this matter. And to mention it publicly—she thought he would at least care about saving face somewhat.
Seeing everyone looking at her with curiosity, Yun Wenfang lifted the corner of his mouth slightly, then merely snorted lightly without saying more.
Yun Wenting, however, gave Ren Yaoqi a thoughtful look, though it was unclear what he was thinking.
Xiao Jinglin seemed to hear Ren Yaoqi's silent plea for help and said: "It's getting late. Let's go pay our respects to Old Madam Ren before heading back."
Yun Wenting was taken aback and instinctively asked: "Won't the Commandery Princess stay for dinner?"
Yun Qiuchen smiled: "Indeed, it's rare for the Commandery Princess to visit. We sisters seldom have opportunities to gather—if you must leave, at least stay for the meal. Grandmother knew you were coming and ordered the kitchen early this morning to prepare several dishes you like."
Yun Wenting quickly regained his elegant demeanor: "I recall there's a mullet egg soup you're fond of."
"The mullet eggs were specially sought out by my brother, and even the chef was specially brought from Shandong." Yun Qiuchen glanced at Yun Wenting, smiling as if casually.
Xiao Jinglin's love for food was known to quite a few. If Xiao Jinglin decided to stay, Ren Yaoqi couldn't very well leave on her own.
However, Xiao Jinglin still shook her head: "I have matters to attend to today. I'll visit another day." With that, she stood up.
Yun Qiuchen and Yun Wenting exchanged glances, both somewhat resigned.
They knew this Commandery Princess's temperament—if even food couldn't change her mind, then nothing would.
A flicker of disappointment passed through Yun Wenting's eyes, but he still rose with perfect grace and smiled: "Since the Commandery Princess has matters to attend to today, we'll have to arrange another day."
Xiao Jinglin gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.
Yun Wenfang walked to Ren Yaoqi's side, glanced at Xiao Jinglin, and said to Ren Yaoqi: "The Yun Family isn't some dragon's den or tiger's lair. What are you afraid of?"
Ren Yaoqi lowered her eyes and said softly: "Second Young Master Yun jests."Yun Wenfang let out a light scoff, then said, "Ren Yaoqi, I have something to say to you. Come over here for a moment."
Ren Yaoqi frowned, glancing at Eldest Young Master Yun and Eldest Miss Yun, who were talking nearby and seemed not to have noticed this side. She wondered what kind of act this was supposed to be.
Xiao Jinglin gave Yun Wenfang a faint glance, then, to everyone's surprise, pulled Ren Yaoqi and walked outside.
Yun Wenfang was taken aback, his expression turning extremely unpleasant as he said coldly, "Xiao Jinglin! What do you mean by this!" (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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