Chapter 210: Birthday (Part 1)
On the third day of the seventh month, it was Xie Jing Xing’s birthday. Everyone in the residence of Prince Rui became busy. From what others said, even though Xie Jing Xing himself did not like it, Emperor Yong Le would hold a banquet for Xie jing Xing in Bi Xiu Lou yearly to celebrate for Xie Jing Xing. The more Emperor Yong Le express that he valued Xie Jing Xing, the better the officials would treat Xie Jing Xing. Of course Xie Jing Xing’s performance in the past two years was worth the scrutiny. The birthday celebration was a day where one could flatter so early in the morning, there were birthday presents that were continuous brought over to the residence.
Tang Shu was busy registering all the items in a booklet before bringing over to Shen Miao to look. Shen Miao was after all the WangFei of the residence of Prince Rui and even though she was in a cold war with Xie Jing Xing, she had to look through the list of gifts. Shen Miao swept a glance of it and her eyes were dazzled by the list of names. No matter if it was a high ranking official or a low ranking government official, they all rushed over to flatter. Even the Lu and Ye family also sent over gifts.
Shen Miao’s heart was deeply moved, it was all because of the close relationship between Emperor Yong Le and Xie Jing Xing. If this was Ming Qi, if any official’s birthday celebration had so many people celebrating, it would be suspicious to the eyes of the Emperor. Thus after coming to Long Ye, it felt somewhat strange to see it handled so openly.
Tang Shu pointed out to Shen Miao what gifts to be placed in the storehouse and which gifts could be used before he asked Shen Miao, “Furen must not forget to dress up earlier. Tie Yi’s side will arrange people to pick Furen up to head to Bi Xiao Luo.”
Shen Miao said doubtfully, “I…”
Tang Shu smiled, “Furen is the WangFei of the residence and His Highness’s wife. Naturally Furen have to go for His Highness’s birthday.” After hesitating, he said, “Quarrels between a couple is like fighting at the head of the bed and make up at the end of the bed. His Highness looked like he is angry but if Furen don’t go over today, one do not know how long he would sulk, so…”
“I understand, I will go over.” Shen Miao said.
Tang Shu then sighed in relieve and reminded a couple more sentences to Shen Miao before leaving.
After he left, Shen Miao looked at that booklet and kept it well. When she was returning to the room, Jing Zhe came over and asked Shen Miao cautiously, “Furen will definitely go to Bi Xiao Luo right?”
“The residence of Prince Rui are monitored by other and I just came to Great Liang, thus other people would be watching the bustle. If one do not go then others would have the opportunity to talk. It is better to head directly. Use a General when the soldiers come and build a dam from earth when the water approaches.”
Jing Zhe nodded her head continuously, “That’s right. They want to see how our WangFei from Ming Qi looks like then let them see clearly Furen who comes from a General residence. How could anyone casually become a WangFei?”
Gu Yu pulled Jing Zhe and glared at her before whispering, “The more you say the more exaggerated it becomes.”
Jing Zhe pouted and seeing that Shen Miao had headed to the room, she bit Gu Yu’s ears, “Furen is still feeling awkward and looked for so many reasons to give in to GuYe (used by wife side of the family to call the husband) but no one will laugh.” After speaking, she then felt emotional, “GuYe really have abilities to let Furen be willing to give in.”
Gu Yu said, “Speak a few words lesser.”
Shen Miao returned to the room and Jing Zhe followed in with Gu Yu. Gu Yu asked, “Would Furen like to choose what to wear tonight? Then this servant will be able to think of what hairstyle to comb.”
Shen Miao said, “Do those later, help me to grind ink first.”
Jing Zhe and Gu Yu looked at one another as the two of them did not know why Shen Miao had the mood to write now. Speaking of which, Shen Miao was not one who loves writing or drawing but they would naturally do what one’s Master wanted. When Shen Miao opened up the paper for a letter, Gu Yu and Jing Zhe then understood that she wanted to write a letter.
Shen Miao asked Gu Yu, “Older Biao Sister is returning soon?”
Gu Yu said, “Gentleman Gao had passed a message that she will definitely be able to catch up with the birthday celebration in Bi Xiao Luo tonight.”
One did not know where did Luo Tan and Gao Yang disappeared to for these few days. Luo Tan had a fierce temper and with Gao Yang bullying and deceiving her, one thinks that it would take some time for Luo Tan’s anger to dissipate so Gao Yang simply took her away. Shen Miao was rest assured as with Gao Yang’s character, he would not do anything bad to Luo Tan and it was Gao Yang who was in more danger. Today was Xie Jing Xing’s birthday, so Gao Yang, as Xie Jing Xing’s arms and legs and also his friend, naturally had to rush over.
After thinking for a while, she then started to write. She wrote somewhat hesitantly. After writing two to three sentences, she felt that it was not good and quickly crushed it and threw it aside. She then started to write again but again, like just now, threw it away. At the end, one did not know how much paper was wasted before she hang her brush. She put the letter into the envelop before handing it over to Jing Zhe, “When you see Tie Yi later, pass this to him and let him hand it over to Xie Jing Xing during the birthday celebration.”
Jing Zhe’s eyes widen as she did not think that it was for Xie Jing Xing. She had thought that Shen Miao was writing a letter for Shen Xin and wife and was curious because the letter home was only written two days back so why write again?
Shen Miao said, “Gu Yu, take a trip out for me.” She then pulled out a piece of paper and wrote a few things before passing to GU Yu, “Help me to buy the following things.”
Gu Yu quickly complied.
Two of them hurriedly left. Shen Miao sat in the room but she was relieved.
Giving in was something that she seldom do. Especially in this lifetime, the self-esteem in her bones did not allow her to bow her head to others but this time it was her that was wrong. Moreover Xie Jing Xing was also a prideful person and between two of them, there must be someone that had to lower their head first. Shen Miao thought that since Xie Jing Xing did not know anything at all so there was no need for him to bow his head.
As one would receive many gifts during the birthday celebration, she also had to show her sincerity. Since there was no shortage of gold, silver and jewels in the residence of Prince Rui and she was not considered good at handmade things, after some thought, she only had some few simple things. Moreover from what Ba Jiao said, Xie Jing Xing looked very picky on the surface but in reality very easy to coax.
However what mattered to her the most was that the Ye family were among the guests in Bi Xiao Luo and thus Ye Mei and brother was also one of them. Since Ye Mei and brother was presence, she had to follow up to prevent the two of them from playing any tricks and could not let Xie Jing Xing have any interactions with these two of them without her presence.
Time passed very quickly and in a turn of an eye, it was near evening. Tie Yi had send of people to come over to pick up and Jing Zhe put on the pearl hairpin onto Shen Miao’s hair with a smile, “Finish. Furen today can compete with everyone today.”
“I am not in the selection of XiuNu so what is the use of this?” Shen Miao laughed and looked at the mirror before pulling out that pearl hairpin off and replaced it with a purple jade Begonia.
Jing Zhe blinked her eyes, “It is even better to match it like this.”
The scene of how Xie Jing Xing gave her this jade Begonia appeared in front of her. At that time they were up on guards with one another and were full of suspicion of each other. At that time Shen Miao was unclear about Xie Jing Xing’s background and only felt that he was different form the rumours of the previous lifetime.
There were just too many coincidences and unimaginable things in life that now she and Xie Jing Xing became husband and wife and they came to Great Liang together. This was something that she had never thought about at that time. Perhaps by wearing this jade Begonia hairpin would let Xie Jing Xing’s anger dissipate and make him recall how they journeyed from strangers to a married couple and all those unnecessary suspicions were not needed.
Shen Miao stood up and there was a gentle smile on her face, “Ba Jiao and the rest are outside waiting. Let’s go.”
When they went out the doors, they indeed saw that the horse carriage was already prepared and Ba Jiao and Hui Xiang was waiting outside. Jing Zhe asked curiously, “His Highness is not going together with Furen?”
Hui Xian somewhat awkwardly replied, “His Highness left first and let these subordinates come over to pick up Furen.”
This made others feel somewhat uncomfortable. For the Prince and WangFei not leave together and come out one another, those with discerning eyes would see that there was a problem. Jing Zhe and Gu Yu felt some indignant for Shen Miao but Shen Miao faintly said, “Alright, lets’ depart then.”
She knew what kind of temperament Xie Jing Xing had. At times, a proud person would be as stubborn as a sea urchin. She would not be calculative with these small things and just felt that there was some uneasiness in her ‘apologies’ tonight.
Bi Xiao Luo was the largest and most expensive restaurant in Long Ye, not mentioning commoners, it was very prestigious for officials to hold a banquet here. Thus to hold a birthday celebration here, it was not just one or two tables but the entire restaurant was booked and it was considered very impressive. To create such an impressive scene, naturally it would require a lot of money and for three continuous years, the residence of Prince Rui has held banquets here and this was enough to show how rich the residence was.
On the main seat, a young man was sat in an inclined manner, indifferently hearing all the compliments from others. The purple gold long robes seemed to almost completely fill the entire seat and from a distance, it was like one was seeing an overflowing night scenery and there was a charming and gentle luxurious feel. There were too many people who came over to toast that one’s body was naturally become intoxicated but the pair of peach blossoms eyes was very clear, making others unsure if one was drunk or not.
There were also female family members among the guest and upon seeing that young man, they all involuntarily cast their admiration eyes over. This Prince Rui was young and had a peerless handsomeness but an air of devilish charm which was what made females obsessed with. Coupled with his noble and high position and wealthy background, it made one want to rush up despite smashing one’s head.
It was a pity that such a young maid was already married and had an officially wedding WangFei. However even though there was a WangFei, the Secondary Consort position was still empty. Even if one did not become a Secondary Consort, everyone would be competing to be a concubine.
Lu Wan-er was sitting by Lu Furen’s side and her gaze was involuntarily on Xie Jing Xing. Two years ago when she first saw Xie Jing Xing, she became clamoured with him as she felt that all men were vulgar and only this person would be matching with her but that position by her side should be hers. However that stupid woman, Shen Miao, had stood on that position that made Lu Wan-er so furious that she could not wait to tear Shen Miao apart. She had the intention to speak with Xie Jing Xing but there were officials who were complimenting Xie Jing Xing and she was only a Young Lady of an official family. No matter how courageous one was, she could not ingratiate oneself like that and thus became somewhat moody.
In a blink of an eye, she saw Ye Ke who was talking to Ye Mei and Lu Wan-er’s entire face sank.
As a female, one would always be more sensitive to the appearance of another female. Lu Wan-er believed that she was spoilt and all she eat and wore were of the best and thus upon seeing other females, she would have a gaze of despise. In the entire Long Ye, she felt that she was as precious even comparable to Princesses that she would not even place the Ye family, who were of equal status as the Lu family, in her eyes. It was because the Ye family’s descendants line was thin and there were no young ladies at all.
However one had heard that the Ye family have received a pair of wondering siblings back. Initially Lu Wan-er still had the mentality of watching a spectacle but upon a look now, after seeing Ye Mei’s appearance, she was not at all happy.
Ye Mei was just too beautiful already. Not mentioning one’s beauty, there was a unique charm that made others look at her unvolunteeringly. If one were to say it was seductiveness, it had a touch of innocence in the seductiveness. If one were to say t was innocence, there was a mature sense of style. The most important thing was that Ye Mei was smart that even though both siblings only recognised in the geniality books, they were able to chat with those Furens.
A beautiful, smart and knew when to advance and retreat female and now newly crowned with the Ye family’s young lady position. Seeing Ye Furen doting her excessively due to guilt, she was much better than herself in many ways and this made Lu Wan-er feel a strong sense of crisis.
One even heard that this Ye Mei saved Prince Rui’s life and naturally had a closer relation to the residence of Prince Rui. Lu Wan-er gritted her teeth with hate.