SFS Chapter 365 Poetry Party
Chapter 365 Poetry Party
As soon as the Tang family's carriage arrived, the housekeeper immediately sent Qin Huiyin to Zhu Hongxiu's boudoir.
The housekeeper only received Qin Huiyin and wanted Tang Luwu to go somewhere else to rest and stay with the other female members of the family.
Qin Huiyin knew that Tang Luwu was not yet able to face those young ladies from official families alone, so she insisted on taking her with her, and the housekeeper couldn't say anything.
Zhu Hongxiu was gesturing with the hair accessories on her head, and no matter how she looked at them, she felt that they were not pleasing to the eye. When she saw Qin Huiyin appear, she smiled and said softly, "Sister, you are finally here. Please help me find the best one."
Qin Huiyin's maid Zhilan brought the box.
"This is..." Zhu Hongxiu was puzzled. "Today is a poetry gathering. Why are you being so polite, sister? Take it back quickly."
"Sister, don't rush to refuse. Open it and see if you like it." Qin Huiyin said, opening the box. Inside was a new dress. "This dress can change color in the sun."
Zhu Hongxiu was already amazed by her new dress, and when she heard it had this function, she loved it even more. She asked the maid to help her change into it, and couldn't wait to show off her new dress.
"It's so beautiful." Zhu Hongxiu's maid exclaimed.
Zhu Hongxiu was also very satisfied. She took Qin Huiyin's hand and walked to the dressing table, saying, "I'll leave my face to you."
Qin Huiyin applied a golden hairpin and jade butterfly makeup to Zhu Hongxiu. As the makeup took shape, the golden butterflies seemed ready to flutter through her hair. While it was clearly a hairpin she'd normally wear, paired with the golden butterfly, it created a dignified yet playful look, perfectly suited to her age. Her features could only be described as delicate, but Qin Huiyin used makeup to enhance all her strengths and conceal any flaws. Her features became even brighter, and with the carrot-colored lip gloss, they shone like a sweet and delicious peach.
Zhu Hongxiu was here today to meet a man, and the first impression she made on him was crucial. While ladies of noble families valued decorum, that was for the elders to see; most men preferred girls with character.
She defined Zhu Hongxiu's style as elegant yet bright, generous yet playful.
Zhu Hongxiu was extremely satisfied with herself in the mirror.
"Did you see how Miss Qin changed her appearance just now?" Zhu Hongxiu asked the maid next to her.
The maidservant next to her confessed her crime in shame.
"What's the point of me raising you?" Zhu Hongxiu was angry.
"Sister Zhu, don't be angry. These are all trivial matters. If you two girls want to learn, I will arrange for one of my men to teach them. Come back when they have learned."
The housekeeper came in and said to Zhu Hongxiu, "The distinguished guests have arrived. Miss, it's time to go over now."
"Got it." Zhu Hongxiu stood up, took Qin Huiyin's hand and said, "Let's go together. I want to introduce you to the sisters so that we can play together in the future."
Qin Huiyin looked back at Tang Luwu and said, "Sister, let's follow Sister Zhu!"
It's not that Zhu Hongxiu didn't notice Tang Luwu, but in comparison, Qin Huiyin was indeed more eye-catching than Tang Luwu. The most important thing is that Qin Huiyin is beautiful, smart, and will definitely have an extraordinary future.
"Wow..." As soon as they entered the back garden, Chang Xiaohuan strode over, her eyes full of admiration, "Sister Zhu, you really outshined all the flowers today."
Around the back garden, various items of art and elegance were displayed. Inside the pavilion were instruments like the guqin, pipa, xiao, and flute. Outside, several tables and chairs were set up where some sat painting, others writing poetry, and others playing chess. The ladies were not only beautifully dressed, but also possessed their own unique talents.
"Two sisters are here too." Chang Xiaohuan took the initiative to greet them. "Sister Zhu, you are so mean. The two sisters came with you. We have known each other for so many years, but I have never seen you personally bring me to the banquet. I am jealous."
Gong Qianyue walked over and said, "Don't listen to her. She sees that everyone else has something to do, but she only loves to eat and drink. She's afraid that someone will ask her to play chess or show off some talent, so she wants to use you as a cover."
"That's great. I don't know how to do those things." Qin Huiyin said to Chang Xiaohuan, "Sister Chang, you have to take me away to avoid embarrassment."
This is Zhu Hongxiu's home turf, and guests like them cannot stand out too much.
"Sister Zhu, look..." Chang Xiaohuan pouted towards the opposite side.
Qin Huiyin followed Chang Xiaohuan's gaze and saw a graceful and beautiful girl approaching. She was dressed simply, standing out among the group of young ladies from official families who pursued extravagance. She was a beauty with a delicate complexion, and it had to be said that she was very good at showcasing her strengths, giving people an air of transcendence.
"Sister Qin has never met her. She is Cui Lingyao, the daughter of the Prime Minister."
"So she is the prime minister's daughter!" Qin Huiyin said.
"The young master just died, how could she still have the nerve to come to my sister's poetry gathering? Doesn't she know about this poetry gathering..."
"Sister Huan." Gong Qianyue interrupted Chang Xiaohuan.
Everyone knew that Zhu Hongxiu was organizing this poetry gathering to meet people, but she kept it a secret, saying only that the younger generation was meeting through poetry and learning from each other's talents. However, while everyone knew it, they couldn't say it too explicitly.
"She and the young prince of the Zhenguo Duke..." Qin Huiyin asked in a low voice, "Is there any relationship between them?"
"They had been engaged," Gong Qianyue said, "but the engagement was cancelled before the incident at the Zhenguo Mansion."
"Without the marriage at the Zhenguo Mansion hindering her, the position of Crown Princess will probably be hers." Zhu Hongxiu curled her lips, "I didn't expect she would actually come."
Anyone with any dignity would not come out to attend a banquet at this time, let alone a banquet where young men and women meet each other.
"Sister Zhu, the male guests are coming." Chang Xiaohuan reminded.
Zhu Hongxiu then realized that her brother and the male guests pretended to accidentally break into the place where the female guests were, but in fact, this was the official start of the dating process.
Qin Huiyin took two steps back and said to Tang Luwu, "Let's go sit over there for a while!"
Tang Luwu exhaled lightly: "Okay."
Seeing the two of them about to leave, Gong Qianyue said to Zhu Hongxiu, "Hongxiu, I'll go accompany them and introduce them to the other sisters."
Zhu Hongxiu knew Gong Qianyue already had a lover and had no interest in the men who arrived today, so she naturally wouldn't stay to see them. As for Qin Huiyin and Tang Luwu, although their brothers were officials, their positions were too low, and their family backgrounds too ordinary. The young men from the aristocratic families who arrived today would definitely not be interested in them. Even if they were interested, they wouldn't be his legal wives. Therefore, there was no point in them staying here.
So, let them be!