Chapter 307: Chapter 288, Flower Morning Festival_1
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“Big sister!”
“Sister Zixuan!”
After looking at the dowry for a while, Daohua and Li Zixin held hands and entered Li Zixuan’s room, just in time to see Li Zixuan holding a gold inlaid with ruby and pearl hairpin, shyly looking down and smiling.
Seeing her like this, Daohua and Li Zixin exchanged glances and covered their mouths, giggling quietly.
Li Zixuan hurriedly put down the hairpin, feigning annoyance as she glared at her two sisters, “What are you laughing at?” After saying that and seeing that they continued to stare at her, she felt shy and had to use a handkerchief to cover her face, then feeling that wasn’t appropriate, she removed it again.
Daohua walked up with a smile, snatched the hairpin, “What a beautiful hairpin, who gave this to you?”
Li Zixin came over and chimed in, “Who else but my future brother-in-law?”
Unable to endure their teasing, Li Zixuan stood up, pretending to strike at them.
Daohua and Li Zixin quickly ran away, teasing as they fled, causing Li Zixuan to blush with embarrassment.
After frolicking for a while, all three were out of breath and finally stopped.
Daohua put down the hairpin, sat beside Li Zixuan, and taking her hand asked, “Sister Zixuan, you really like that Feng Liangji, don’t you?”
Li Zixuan immediately spat at Daohua, “What nonsense are you talking about, liking or not liking, stop speaking such nonsense.”
Seeing her coyness, Daohua silently laughed, it seemed she did like him.
Indeed, before getting to know someone’s character and values, attraction often stems from looks.
Feng Liangji, with his graceful appearance, was indeed easily favored by girls.
Seeing Sister Zixuan so embarrassingly shy, Daohua cheerfully changed the subject, “I heard the Feng Family brought quite a few people today, and the dowry they gave is generous, it’s apparent that the Feng Family values you highly.”
Li Zixuan pursed her lips with a smile, tapping Daohua on the forehead, “You little mischief, there’s no need to make fun of me here. In another two years, it will be your turn.”
Daohua shivered and quickly moved aside, “It’s still early for me, my mother said I should stay at home a few more years.”
Li Zixuan laughed, “Even if you stay a few more years, in the end, you must marry someone.”
Not wanting to continue this topic, Daohua quickly said, “Stop it, Zixuan, I’m leaving after the Flower God Festival, let me enjoy a few more carefree days.”
In Zhongzhou, the Flower God Festival is on February twenty-fifth. The day before yesterday, Dong Yuanyao sent out invitations for them to attend the temple fair at the Temple of the Flower God on the festival day.
Initially, she planned to go to Ningmen Prefecture tomorrow, but since Dong Yuanyao invited her, it was just a matter of staying three more days, so she agreed.
Li Zixin intervened, “Sister, let’s go together that day.”
Daohua immediately nodded, “Right, I’ve been here for almost half a month and haven’t seen you step out once.”
Li Zixuan also felt tempted, “But we have to ask our mother and aunt.”
Li Zixin smiled, “They are also going to enjoy the outdoors that day.”
…
The Temple of the Flower God is located on the outskirts of the provincial capital.
On the day of the Flower God Festival, the Fan Family, accompanied by Daohua and others, left home early in the morning but only arrived at the Temple of the Flower God by 10 o’clock in the morning (the fourth quarter of the 9:00-11:00 AM period).
Dong Yuanyao had already arrived, and as soon as Daohua’s group stepped into the temple, she came over. After paying respects to Mrs. Fan and the Jian Family, she asked, “Why have you only just arrived?”
Daohua: “Don’t mention it, there were so many people going out today that we got stuck halfway.”
Dong Yuanyao: “You must have left late then; we didn’t get stuck when leaving the city.” As she spoke, she lifted the multicolored paper in her hand, “Come on, let’s go paste the colored paper.”
Daohua looked at Mrs. Fan, and after receiving a nod, she along with the sisters Li Zixuan followed Dong Yuanyao to the garden.
In the garden, flowers bloomed in profusion, and young ladies flitted among them like butterflies, while in the distance, in the Jiao Pavilion, elegant young men were brewing tea, admiring the scenery, and composing poetry.
After pasting the colored paper, the four strolled around the garden, laughing and chatting as they admired the flowers.
Midway, Li Zixin wasn’t paying attention, ran a bit too rashly, and sprained her ankle. Daohua and the others had no choice but to send her back to Mrs. Fan and Mrs. Jian.
“You go on and have fun, I’ll stay here with Zixin,” said Mrs. Fan, reassuringly.
Knowing that her cousin and Miss Dong were fond of playing, Li Zixuan smiled and took the initiative to say.
Li Zixin followed up, “Yes, go enjoy the flowers. Big sister, you too. It’s not easy to come out, don’t let me spoil your fun.”
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Li Zixuan shook her head, “I’ve been walking around for half the day and I’m a bit tired too, I won’t go.”
Hearing what the two said, Daohua finally smiled and left with Dong Yuanyao.
“I just heard that the peonies in the eastern corner of the garden have bloomed, shall we go take a look?”
“Sure!”
The two girls laughed and walked towards the eastern corner of the garden.
“Look quickly, there really are peony flowers!”
As soon as they turned the corner, Dong Yuanyao saw pots of blooming peonies in the distance and pulled Daohua to go over.
But who knew, her pull did not budge her.
Turning her head, she saw Daohua frowning at a pavilion not far away.
Following Daohua’s gaze, Dong Yuanyao immediately looked surprised, “Isn’t that Feng Liangji, the son of the Feng Family that your cousin Sister Zixuan has just been betrothed to?” As she spoke, she paused and furrowed her brows as well.
In the Jiao Pavilion not far away, Feng Liangji and three or four youths in brocade were sitting together chatting, with several girls by their side.
One of the girls in pink was feeding Feng Liangji cakes.
Not handing them over, but directly feeding the cakes into Feng Liangji’s mouth.
Feng Liangji’s face showed reluctance, yet he did not sternly refuse.
Looking at this scene, Daohua’s brows were knotted in a lump.
Dong Yuanyao scoffed, “Merchant families really are like this, devoid of all etiquette and manners.” The girl in pink was almost clinging to Feng Liangji’s body.
Inside the Jiao Pavilion.
“Brother Feng, have another piece, I made this myself yesterday,” Sun Jiayue said while feeding a piece of glutinous rice cake into Feng Liangji’s mouth.
Feng Liangji was visibly impatient and wanted to refuse, but out of concern not to embarrass his good friend Sun Yongyi, he grudgingly ate the cake.
Feng Hao stood at the edge of the pavilion with his hands behind his back, his gaze caught the scene from the corner of his eye, and his face turned unpleasant, “Liangji, if you don’t want to eat it, don’t force yourself, lest you upset your stomach.”
Feng Liangji’s expression changed, wanting to spit out the cake, but finding it indecent to do so, he forced it down. Before he could respond, a companion suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
“They say a beauty surpasses the splendors of spring, and I never quite believed it until now, seeing the real person, there really are such enchanting creatures in the world.”
As he stared transfixed behind them, everyone turned their heads, and suddenly, two lovely figures, one red and one blue, caught their eyes.
When Feng Hao noticed the silence in the pavilion, he couldn’t help but look back, his gaze instantly deepening.
“Ahem~”
Suddenly, there was a severe coughing fit from inside the pavilion.
It was none other than Feng Liangji.
The glutinous rice cake was quite sticky, and not being careful, he choked on it.
Sun Jiayue immediately went forward to help him by patting his back, but sadly, this time, Feng Liangji, like a startled rabbit, quickly dodged away.
…
“Why are you standing here?”
A voice suddenly came from behind, Daohua and Dong Yuanyao quickly turned around and found it was Xiao Yeyang and a few others.
Daohua glanced at the direction of the Jiao Pavilion with a snort, “We have just seen quite a play.”
Yan Wenkai immediately asked, “What play? Where is it? Let me have a look.”
Daohua gave him a blank look, “Fourth Brother, I’m afraid you’ll never have that knack for theater in this lifetime.”
Xiao Yeyang looked at Daohua curiously.
There is quite a strong whiff of gunpowder, someone must have made her angry, he thought, and then looked towards the Jiao Pavilion.
At this moment, Feng Hao from inside the pavilion was already walking toward them, with Feng Liangji following with his head down.
“Jiguang’s Feng Hao greets the Little Prince.”