When Ren Yaoqi and the other two emerged from the pavilion, the sun was already setting in the west. They had spent the entire afternoon in the pavilion drinking tea, chatting, and amusing themselves with Silly Girl, until the Princess Consort sent someone to look for them.
The lively and colorful scene outside the garden throughout the afternoon seemed to have had no effect on the tranquil and pleasant atmosphere within the courtyard.
Ren Yaoqi had been keeping an eye on Xiao Jingxi's injury from time to time. By the time they left the garden, the swelling on Xiao Jingxi's finger had completely subsided. This change astonished Ren Yaoqi, and she couldn't help but wonder what kind of poison Xiao Jingxi had been afflicted with.
Back when she had accompanied Mr. Pei in compiling books for the imperial court, she had read many medical texts and pharmacopoeias. Although most of it was just a cursory glance, she had some understanding of most of the world's rare and difficult illnesses. Yet, Ren Yaoqi couldn't think of any poison or medicine that could make someone immune to all toxins.
"Yaoqi? Yaoqi?"
Xiao Jinglin's voice brought Ren Yaoqi back to her senses. They were passing through the Butterfly Garden on their way out.
"What were you thinking about so intently?" Xiao Jinglin asked.
Xiao Jingxi, who was walking a few steps ahead, also stopped and turned to look back. Ren Yaoqi couldn't very well say she had been thinking about Second Young Master Xiao's illness, so she vaguely changed the subject: "I was just lost in thought. What were you saying?"
Xiao Jinglin was holding Silly Girl in her arms. Although Silly Girl didn't look very big, she was not light. Ren Yaoqi had tried holding her earlier and found her quite heavy—at least much heavier than Cenger. Yet, Xiao Jinglin showed no sign of strain while carrying her.
"We were talking about your name. Do you have a courtesy name?" Xiao Jinglin pulled her waist pendant out of Silly Girl's mouth and casually gave her a pat.
Silly Girl looked at Xiao Jinglin blankly: "Aowu..."
Xiao Jinglin was informal in front of close friends and didn't see anything wrong with mentioning Ren Yaoqi's maiden name in front of Xiao Jingxi, a man. After all, everyone around them was her own people, and those who spoke out of turn would face dire consequences.
Xiao Jingxi, however, coughed lightly, somewhat awkwardly turning his head away as if he hadn't been paying attention, though his steps slowed considerably.
Ren Yaoqi didn't mind either: "I was born in April, just when the snowball viburnums bloom in Yanbei. The snowball viburnum is also called the 'yao flower.' On the day I was born, my father happened to paint a picture of snowball viburnums, so he named me Yaoqi. As for a courtesy name... I haven't come of age yet, so I don't have one."
As she spoke, Ren Yaoqi's expression grew wistful. In her previous life, she had had a courtesy name—two, in fact. One was "Wushuang," given to her by her father when she came of age. Later, when she followed Pei Zhiqian, Mr. Pei said that a flower's blooming period was too short, which was why her life had been so full of hardships. He gave her the courtesy name "Biqing," derived from Zhuangzi's words: "Be still and clear, do not exhaust your body, do not disturb your essence, and you may live long."
Seeing the strange expression on Ren Yaoqi's face, Xiao Jinglin said, "I don't have a courtesy name either. How about we give each other one when we come of age?"
Ren Yaoqi was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and nodded: "Alright."
According to the customs in Yanbei, courtesy names were usually bestowed by elders when one came of age, or used between husband and wife. It was rare for peers and friends to exchange them as Xiao Jinglin suggested. But Xiao Jinglin didn't care about such rules, and Ren Yaoqi, having lived through a lifetime, didn't mind much either.
Xiao Jinglin was pleased and ruffled Silly Girl's fur.Xiao Jingxi shook his head, glanced back at Xiao Jinglin, and was about to say she lacked propriety.
Xiao Jinglin, however, looked at Xiao Jingxi and smiled quietly, her tone meaningful: "It's a pity my literary talent has never been good." So when the time comes, she might need to seek advice from those with better literary skills.
Ren Yaoqi thought Xiao Jinglin was speaking to her and replied with a smile, "That's alright."
Xiao Jingxi paused, silently turned back, and continued walking.
Xiao Jinglin narrowed her eyes slightly, smugly flicking Silly Girl on the forehead as she passed by.
Silly Girl: "Ow…"
As they were about to leave the Rare Treasures Garden, Xiao Jingxi stopped first, turned around, and said with a smile, "You two go ahead. I still have some matters to attend to."
Ren Yaoqi looked at Xiao Jingxi, understanding that he didn’t want to appear in public with them and risk gossip. Earlier in the garden, after Yun Wenting and the others had left, the attendants around them had been replaced by Xiao Jingxi and Xiao Jinglin’s people.
Grateful for Xiao Jingxi’s thoughtfulness, Ren Yaoqi curtsied to him.
Xiao Jinglin nodded, took Ren Yaoqi’s hand, and led her out of the garden. Xiao Jingxi watched them leave before turning and taking another path.
After returning to the Moon Embracing Pavilion, no one mentioned the incident of the poisonous spider in the teacup in the Rare Treasures Garden that day, nor did the Princess Consort send anyone to inquire. It was unclear whether Xiao Jingxi and Xiao Jinglin had kept the matter so well concealed that it hadn’t spread, or whether, with so many people at the hot spring villa, no one wanted to escalate the situation.
The day passed quietly and uneventfully.
The next day was when the young ladies would showcase their talents, marking the official start of the Thousand Gold Banquet.
Early in the morning, the Princess Consort sent her own maids and matrons to help Xiao Jinglin with her grooming and attire. The relatively spacious room was packed tightly with maids and matrons.
Xiao Jinglin sat stiffly before the dressing table, enduring with a cold expression as Nanny Xin, the Princess Consort’s attendant, directed the bustling crowd in the room. The grand scene left Ren Yaoqi both amazed and amused.
Ren Yaoqi occupied another dressing table that Nanny Xin had ordered brought in, calmly allowing Pingguo and Sangshen to help her change clothes and style her hair. Meanwhile, she heard Xiao Jinglin, on the other side of the room, finally lose her patience and say, "I won’t wear that!"
Nanny Xin pleaded earnestly, "Commandery Princess, today all the young ladies are dressing elaborately. Please bear with it for a while. This phoenix crown was sent back to be modified once more by the Princess Consort’s orders—it’s not as heavy as before."
Xiao Jinglin, unusually childish in her indignation, retorted, "Mother always says I’m too rough to be a proper girl, but those young ladies who can wear over ten pounds of headpieces and jewelry without batting an eye are the real warriors! Even the soldiers’ broadswords aren’t that heavy!"
Ren Yaoqi laughed so hard she nearly fell off her stool, and the room filled with giggles.
Nanny Xin looked at Xiao Jinglin, both exasperated and amused. "My dear Commandery Princess…"
In the end, Xiao Jinglin still wore the headpiece that proved she was a true warrior. There was no way around it—the Princess Consort had given strict orders, and even Xiao Jinglin couldn’t defy them.
Xiao Jinglin’s attire today was more elaborate than the day before. She wore a luxurious long coat in deep purple, embroidered with flying phoenixes and pheasant patterns. Her phoenix crown was adorned with a large luminous pearl, making her look dignified and noble, perfectly befitting her status as a Commandery Princess.
Nanny Xin then hurried over to check on Ren Yaoqi’s grooming progress.Ren Yaoqi wore the lake-green jacket and skirt embroidered with pink lotus flowers that the Ren Family had prepared for her, along with the matching head ornaments and jewelry. Though the clothing and accessories were not particularly dazzling, once worn, they still made her look graceful and elegant like a budding lotus. Even standing beside Xiao Jinglin, she was not overshadowed by the latter's imposing presence.
Nanny Xin had originally intended to dress Ren Yaoqi more elaborately, but upon seeing her appearance, she decided against it.
The venue for today's Thousand Gold Banquet was a peach grove behind the Hot Spring Villa. The peach trees in this grove, of an unknown variety, were still in full bloom, with pink blossoms covering the branches. As far as the eye could see, the ground was carpeted with fallen petals.
Dozens of low huanghuali wood tables were arranged in the peach grove, each set with fruit platters, fruit wine, and cups, somewhat resembling the imperial banquet scenes Ren Yaoqi had heard about.
Many guests had already arrived in the peach grove. Ren Yaoqi noticed that several of her sisters from the Ren Family were already present, seated in relatively forward positions, likely due to special consideration from the Yun Family.
"Would you like to sit with me?" Xiao Jinglin glanced around and asked Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi observed that each table was shared by two people. The Princess Consort and Old Princess Consort were seated at the head, and Xiao Jinglin was likely to sit with the Princess Consort. Not wanting to draw attention at this moment, Ren Yaoqi declined.
"I'll go sit over there instead." Ren Yaohua was looking in their direction, so Ren Yaoqi pointed toward Ren Yaohua and the others.
Xiao Jinglin thought that since she would be sitting with Old Princess Consort Xiao Wei and the others today, Ren Yaoqi might become a target if she joined them, so she did not insist.
"Then I'll head over. If anything comes up, send someone to find me."
Ren Yaoqi nodded and, after Xiao Jinglin left, made her way to where the Ren Family members were seated.
Ren Yaohua had spotted her earlier and gestured for her to share a table.
Ren Yaoying smiled and said, "Fifth Sister is back? I was wondering if you'd be sitting with the Commandery Princess today."
Ren Yaoyu glanced at Xiao Jinglin, who was seated at the head table, and sneered, "Those seated up there are all from the Prince's Mansion. What business would Fifth Sister have sitting there? It would only make people laugh at the Ren Family's women for lacking propriety."
Ren Yaohua shot them a cold look and said sharply, "Are you complaining that your seats are too good? Then go sit in the back!"
Ren Yaoying chuckled and fell silent, while Ren Yaoyu swallowed her words.
Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but glance at Ren Yaohua in surprise. Had these people become so obedient in just a few days?
Ren Yaohua sneered without a word. Xiangqin, the maid standing behind her, immediately leaned in and whispered in Ren Yaoqi's ear, "Fifth Miss, we were originally seated further back, but a nanny from the Princess Consort's side asked First Madam Yun to move us forward. We all benefited from your influence."
So that was it. Ren Yaoqi understood.
It seemed her decision to return to her seat was correct. The Princess Consort likely did not want her to witness the internal strife within the Yanbei Prince's Mansion. The incident where Xiao Jinglin and Xiao Wei had clashed over a courtyard had already been seen by her, which had embarrassed the Prince's Mansion.
Ren Yaoting arrived with the Su Family, whose seats were arranged to the right of the main table, in a better position than the Ren Family's. Ren Yaoting sat with Su Fangfei. When she saw them, Ren Yaoting nodded in greeting.Adjacent to the Ren Family's seats was the place reserved for the eldest daughter of the Qiu Family, Qiu Hong, while Guo Yujiao and Jiang Yuan Niang, whom she had met briefly the day before, sat diagonally across from them.
Upon seeing each other, they exchanged nods in greeting.
Finally, the Princess Consort and Xiao Wei escorted the Old Princess Consort over, and the young ladies who had been chatting and laughing softly fell silent and rose to their feet.
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