Chapter 357: Chapter 335, Birthday Banquet_1
“Miss, Madam has asked me to bring you an invitation.”
Daohua was burning incense; the summertime was rife with mosquitoes, and without the smoke, they could drive one to distraction. Seeing Ping Tong come with the invitation, her face showed surprise, “Whose invitation is it?”
Ping Tong smiled, “It’s from the Little Prince.”
Daohua took the invitation and opened it, seeing that it was from Xiao Yeyang inviting her to his birthday banquet on the first of June.
“How could I have forgotten about this? The first of June is almost upon us.”
As she spoke, she looked at the address written on the invitation and exclaimed in surprise, “It’s being held at Ningmen Prefecture!”
Ping Tong said with a laugh, “Exactly, Madam said fortunately it’s at Ningmen Prefecture, otherwise it would have been quite the ordeal to prepare for.”
Daohua nodded in agreement, “Indeed.”
After Ping Tong left, Daohua began to ponder deep in thought.
What kind of gift should she prepare for Xiao Yeyang?
In a moment, an idea struck her, and a mischievous smile appeared on her face.
Why not make a pig head cake? A big one at that.
After the last time they flew kites at the Temple of the Flower God, she had learned Xiao Yeyang’s zodiac sign. A pig head cake would be most fitting for him.
In the blink of an eye, it was the thirtieth of May.
That afternoon, Madam Zhou brought Zhou Jingwan to the Yan Family.
“Jingwan, what brings you here?”
“Yan Yiyi, do you not welcome me?”
With Zhou Jingwan’s arrival, Madam Yan claimed, “Miss Zhou gracing us with her presence is like a ray of light in a humble courtyard.”
After Zhou Jingwan had paid her respects to Old Madam Yan and Madam Li, Daohua took her to her own courtyard.
Zhou Jingwan curiously surveyed Daohua’s courtyard and said with a smile, “Yiyi, your courtyard is better than the one behind the Prefectural Governor’s Office, it’s both spacious and exquisite.”
Daohua replied with a smile, “If you like it so much, then stay a few more days.”
Zhou Jingwan quickly nodded, “That would be great, I would be so glad to.”
Once inside the house, Zhou Jingwan saw the Rengui Mat on the floor and pounced on it, “Yiyi, where did you get this mat? Get me one too.”
“You have no idea how much I’ve suffered this summer, often too hot to sleep. I’d like to use more ice, but my mother forbids it, claiming it’s bad for the health.”
Daohua shrugged, “I’m afraid I can’t help you there, this mat was a gift from Xiao Yeyang. It was intended for my grandmother, but she found the color too light, and my mother was reluctant to use it, so I got lucky.”
Zhou Jingwan exclaimed, “The Little Prince is playing favorites, I’m well acquainted with him too, yet he only sends his nice things your way.”
Having said that, she rolled around on the mat a few times before sitting up and looking at Daohua.
“Did you know, this mat is incredibly rare? My grandfather has one that was bestowed by the Emperor himself, but it’s not as comfortable as yours and has seen quite a few years.”
Daohua wasn’t particularly surprised. The things Xiao Yeyang sent were almost always of the finest quality, “I wasn’t aware of that.”
Zhou Jingwan gave her a look, “What do you know? I’ve seen all the treasures in this room of yours. There are several sets of ware from famous kilns, verging on a collection as grand as my grandfather’s.”
“It’s not as exaggerated as you say!” Daohua laughed, shaking her head, then looked around her room. She preferred a broad view and didn’t keep many things around, only those she liked.
However, come to think of it, most of them were indeed gifts from Xiao Yeyang.
“I don’t really understand these things.”
Take, for example, pieces from Ding kiln or Ru kiln. Others could recognize them at a glance, but she couldn’t tell them apart, always choosing based on what looked nice to her.
Zhou Jingwan said, “You just don’t pay much attention to these things,” and after a pause added curiously, “Have you met the Little Prince’s cousin?”
Daohua answered, “Are you talking about Jiang Wanying?”
Zhou Jingwan nodded.
Daohua’s expression softened a bit, “I’ve seen her, during the last Dragon Boat Festival when I went to the provincial governor’s residence.”
Zhou Jingwan, “What do you think of her?”
Daohua thought for a moment, “She looks alright, but she seems to be rather frail.”
Zhou Jingwan laughed, “She is known in Beijing as a frail beauty, too delicate to touch. If you ever meet her, try to stay as far away as possible to avoid any trouble being blamed on you.”
Daohua immediately said, “I will definitely keep my distance from such people. Besides, I am living in Ningmen Prefecture, and she is in the provincial governor’s residence; there’s no chance we would meet.”
Zhou Jingwan, “That’s easy to say, but what if? She is the Little Prince’s cousin, and he is having a birthday celebration, how could she not come?”
Daohua thought it over and agreed, “Don’t worry, I will keep away from her.”
…
On the first day of June, Madam Li, accompanied by Daohua and her four sisters, as well as Madam Zhou and Zhou Jingwan, who were staying with them, went to Governor Guo’s other residence in Ningmen Prefecture.
The residence was located in the county city near Ningmen Pass; it was less than an hour’s journey to their destination.
Dong Yuanyao, Su Shiyu, and others had already arrived. After Daohua and Zhou Jingwan had greeted all the ladies, they ran off to join them.
“I thought you would stay at my place!”
Daohua said to Dong Yuanyao with a smile.
Dong Yuanyao, “I wanted to as well, but my mother had already made plans with Aunt Su. They came over by boat early this morning, and I still feel dizzy. I don’t understand what the Little Prince was thinking; wouldn’t it be nice to celebrate his birthday in the provincial governor’s residence? But he had to come to Ningmen Prefecture.”
Daohua, “…It must be because of Governor Guo being here.”
Afterward, the conversation shifted to other arrivals.
A while later, Zhou Jingwan, a bit bored, looked at the empty stage and muttered, “The stage is set up; why isn’t anyone singing?”
Dong Yuanyao grimaced, “Because the VIP has not arrived.”
Daohua looked over and asked in a low voice, “Are you referring to the Jiang Family?”
Dong Yuanyao spoke with a hint of resentment in her voice, “Who else has such grandeur?” Seeing Daohua and Zhou Jingwan both looking at her, she whispered.
“You don’t know, but recently, whenever there is a banquet in the provincial governor’s residence, the Jiang Family is always the last to appear. Some families, wanting to flatter Madam Jiang, wait to start the opera until she arrives.”
Daohua and Zhou Jingwan exchanged glances, both with a look of relief.
Thankfully, their family did not reside in the provincial governor’s residence and did not have to associate with such families.
At that moment, a stir went through the crowd.
Dong Yuanyao immediately said, “It must be Madam Jiang and Jiang Wanying arriving.”
Daohua and the others turned their heads to look, and indeed, it was Madam Jiang and Jiang Wanying who had arrived. To their surprise, Xiao Yeyang was with them.
After escorting Madam Jiang and Jiang Wanying to the women’s side, Xiao Yeyang immediately turned to leave. Before departing, his gaze searched through the crowd, lingering for a moment on a familiar green figure before moving away.
“Yeyang is so considerate. Knowing his cousin is frail, he hurried over early in the morning to pick us up. With all the commotion and careful inquiries, we were delayed a bit, causing everyone to wait.”
As soon as Madam Jiang arrived, she said this to the ladies present with a beaming smile.
All the ladies there were astute and quickly understood the hidden meaning behind Madam Jiang’s words.
“How long has it been since she arrived in Zhongzhou? And she’s already rushing to assert her authority?”
Madam Dong had no regard for Madam Jiang’s behavior and scoffed at it to Madam Li, Madam Zhou, and Madam Su.
Madam Li and the others smiled without making any comment.
Some ladies eager to ingratiate themselves with the Jiang Family immediately picked up the conversation, “I heard that Miss Jiang and the Little Prince grew up together in the Empress Dowager’s palace; aren’t they childhood sweethearts?”
Madam Jiang smiled without denying it.
And Jiang Wanying shyly hung her head.