"That’s right." Lady Zhang nodded.
Just as Lian Manman was sending soone off, a report ca from outside.
"...Aunt Luo has co, she serves the Fifth Miss of the Shen Family and wishes to see the Second Miss."
Like in the Song Family, anyone among the servants being called "Aunt" would at least be soone of steward level.
Lian Manman was slightly surprised, considering the large number of people in the Shen Family. Not only them, but even so mbers within the Shen Family may not recognize everyone. They were only familiar with Shen Liu and Shen Jiu, and once had dealings with the Third Master of the Shen Family, but had not interacted with others.
Lian Manman had never been to Prefecture City, thus she naturally had no interactions with the female mbers of the Shen Family. That a steward lady serving the Fifth Miss Shen ca to see her was indeed unexpected.
"Please invite her in quickly." Lian Manman thought for a mont and instructed.
In a short while, Xiao Xi led Aunt Luo inside.
"I am Luo, paying respects to the Second Miss." Aunt Luo smiled as she squatted down to salute Lian Manman upon entering.
This Aunt Luo seed to be in her thirties, with a round face and a slightly plump build, wearing a pale cyan cotton brocade with a skirt of the sa color. Her appearance was amiable yet capable. Lian Manman also noticed a gold hairpin in her hair and two pure gold bracelets on her wrists when she raised her hand, confirming her status as soone of high regard in the Shen Family.
"Thank you for your trouble, Aunt. Please have a seat to talk." Lian Manman quickly asked Xiao Xi to help Aunt Luo up and offered her a seat nearby. Aunt Luo declined several tis before sitting down.
Lian Manman also instructed Xiao Xi to bring tea and snacks for Aunt Luo.
"Where has Aunt co from?" Lian Manman asked Aunt Luo.
"Replying to Miss, I have just arrived from Prefecture City with our young lady." Aunt Luo stood up again and took a small note from her sleeve. "Our young lady sent here to see if Miss is ho and to invite you to visit the Nian Garden."
Nian Garden was the na given by the Emperor to the Shen Family’s bestowed garden, with an implicit aning to rember the departed Empress Shen.
Xiao Xi walked over, took the note from Aunt Luo, and handed it to Lian Manman.
Lian Manman took the note and could sll a light jasmine fragrance before she even opened it. The jasmine scent naturally emanated from the note. When she opened it, the scent intensified.
This note was slightly smaller than a regular letter paper and was not the usual white but rather a pale green with little white jasmine flowers printed on it. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that the jasmine flowers were not printed but sohow integrated into the paper. Remarkably, there was no hint of craftiness, making the entire note appear like a green leaf dotted with jasmine petals.
"So exquisite," Lian Manman thought to herself.
Such notes have existed since ancient tis, known as Xue Tao Paper or Red Paper, Washed Flower Paper. In modern tis they are rare, at least not available in the market. Only affluent and cultured families occasionally make them privately. They are no longer called Xue Tao Paper but are nad according to the materials used in their making.
For instance, those made with peach blossoms would be pink notes called Peach Blossom Paper. Others might be made with lotus, peony, or Shao Yao. The note from the Fifth Miss of the Shen Family to Lian Manman was evidently made from jasmine petals and leaves and should be called Jasmine Paper.
Of course, these are just common nas. Those with the leisure and taste to make such notes often give their creations a unique and elegant na.
The Fifth Miss of the Shen Family indeed seed to be a person of refined taste, Lian Manman thought, as she looked at the content on the note.
The content was simple, inviting Lian Manman to visit the Nian Garden, signed with the word ’Jin’, suggesting the Fifth Miss of the Shen Family’s na was Shen Jin.
"Our young lady ca here with the Sixth Master and Ninth Master," Aunt Luo added, "Our young lady invited the Miss, and the sedan chair is already waiting outside... Ninth Master also instructed to invite the Young Master Jixian from your family."
The Fifth Miss of the Shen Family sent a note of invitation, and Fatty Shen invited Xiao Qi along, so there was no reason not to go.
"Aunt, please wait a mont. My brother is still at the private school in town, and I will send soone to fetch him right away," Lian Manman said to Aunt Luo.
"Of course, of course," Aunt Luo replied with a smile.
"Aunt, please rest for a while. I will be back shortly."
Leaving Lady Zhang and Lian Zhizhi to accompany Aunt Luo, Lian Manman rose and went to the eastern room, followed by Lian Zhizhi who helped her with washing and dressing. While busy, Lian Manman also made arrangents.
"Xiao Qing, go pick a basket of apricots and a basket of cherries, and also bring up three bowls of the cream cheese we made this morning. Xiao Xi, prepare the sachets quickly, make sure to prepare several." The two maids agreed and went off to get busy.
Once Lian Manman was dressed neatly, Steward Han Zhong had also brought back Xiao Qi. The siblings went to inform Lady Zhang before leaving the courtyard.
Lian Manman sat in the sedan chair brought by Aunt Luo, with Xiao Qing and Xiao Xi attending it, while Xiao Qi, protected by Han Zhong and two colleagues, rode a big blue mule from their household. The group headed up the mountain.
********
Delivering the first update, aiming for a second update shortly.
Please vote for the base monthly ticket. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndation and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
User Comments
0 comments from readers