Capítulo 1491: Chapter 1467: Housewarming Gift 3
As they chatted, they had already walked into the garden, where refreshnts had been laid out in the open pavilion. Zhou Lijun had just instructed people to set up, and turned around to see the guests, quickly stepping forward to greet them.
Manbao introduced them, “This is my second niece.”
Seeing Manbao call a girl older than her niece, they found it unsurprising; in large families, an eight-year-old uncle or a forty-year-old grandnephew are common occurrences.
Seated in the open pavilion, Madam Tang asked who she had invited.
Manbao replied, “Just so friends that I know. Besides you, I only invited my friend Second Sister Fu, and a few young ladies from the Liu Family, Li Family, and Wang Family.”
These were acquaintances officially made at the palace last ti; before that, she had visited their hos for dical consultations but hadn’t spoken much.
Madam Tang was relieved upon hearing this; they were familiar families’ girls, their temperants shouldn’t be too different.
Madam Tang was about to ask for more details when Zhou Liru ca in, saying, “Aunt, Second Sister asked to tell you that the Second Miss of the Fu Family has arrived.”
Manbao’s eyes lit up and she said to the others, “I’ll go greet her; sister-in-law, you all enjoy yourselves first.”
Saying that, she ran off quickly.
Madam Tang smiled and shook her head, raising her teacup to gesture to Eldest Sister Yin and the others.
Eldest Sister Yin smiled too, raising her teacup and taking a sip.
Fu Wenyun ca on her own, and upon eting, she held Manbao’s hand, and the two went inside together. She asked, “Why didn’t you bring the child?”
“He’s too young,” Fu Wenyun said, “It’s inconvenient to bring him out, so I left him at ho.”
She held her hand and laughed, “I thought of coming early to accompany you. Once noon is over, I’ll head back. I didn’t expect soone to arrive before .”
Manbao laughed, “Madam Tang and the others live nearby, so they got here quickly.”
Fu Wenyun hadn’t t Madam Tang and the others; Manbao held her hand and introduced them.
There weren’t many people, and they were all friends of Manbao, so the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
Zhou Lijun and Zhou Liru helped Manbao continuously welco guests into the house, while Liu Lirong, Liu Huan’s sister, directly planned with Wang Family’s young lady Wang Zhenshu, Li Family’s young lady Li Ming, Han Family and Cheng Family’s young ladies Han E and Cheng Wei to co together.
They were a group of friends Manbao played well with at the palace last ti, and afterward, they frequently bought flower branches from her. They also got along very well with Princess Mingda and were of similar age to Manbao. Therefore, when Liu Huan got invitations from Bai Shan and gave them to his sister, Manbao straightforwardly sent invitations to all of them.
They all ca.
The three unmarried sisters from the Yin Family were familiar with them, as regular banquets frequently saw them eting. So, they gathered together to chat.
This left only Madam Tang, Madam Yang, Eldest Sister Yin, and Fu Wenyun, four married won, in the open pavilion.
Li Ming turned her head to glance at the open pavilion, pulling Manbao aside to ask, “Is Yang Heshu here at the front?”
Manbao nodded.
Li Ming’s eyes glead, whispering, “Is it really like everyone says, very handso?”
Manbao asked curiously, “You haven’t seen him?”
Li Ming shook her head, “I used to live with my grandmother in the old hotown and only ca to the capital three years ago. I missed seeing him at my cousin’s son’s hundred-day banquet last ti.”
Wang Zhenshu said, “I have two sisters a few years older, who married early two years ago. I heard they didn’t want to speak because of him; if they hadn’t fought so fiercely back then, the chance may not have fallen to the Cui Family’s girl.”
Manbao slightly frowned, “Scholarly Senior Brother Yang is handso, but not to the point where it should be like this, right? There are a lot of good-looking people in the world; Madam Yang isn’t difficult to look at either.”
“Talented people are rare, and good-looking people exist, but it’s rare to find soone who’s talented, good-looking, has an excellent character, and cos from such an outstanding family,” Han E leaned on Manbao and Li Ming’s shoulders, laughing, “You weren’t in the capital when you were young; you don’t know how remarkable Yang Heshu was. Look at how he is now good friends with Tang He, though Tang He is three years older than him.”
“Tang He entered the National Academy of Arts through the imperial grace, but Yang Heshu relied on his own young age to take the exam and get in. When he got into the National Academy of Arts, my dad and uncle punished their three sons. Every day they scolded and beat them.”
Manbao was taken aback and thought for a mont, saying, “Bai Shan also got into the National Academy through exams. I looked at their exam questions last year; I think if I took the sa exam paper, I should be able to get in too.”
So she felt no envy or jealousy toward Yang Heshu.
The young ladies were suddenly upset: … quite annoyed.
Liu Lirong couldn’t help but ask, “Do you know how to play the zither?”
Manbao: “I learned a bit; do you want to play? I can borrow a zither from Bai Shan and them; they have one.”
“Do you know how to paint?” Li Ming asked, “I can paint decently.”
Manbao: “Also learned a little.”
She paused and then said, “Do you want to learn so dical theories with ? You never know; it might co in handy in the future.”
Not able to compete in education, the five young ladies felt discouraged. Wang Zhenshu said, “The book you wanted to borrow last ti, I found it in my family’s study room, but my father doesn’t allow to lend it out. I’m currently copying it. Once I’m done, I’ll send it to you.”
Manbao was very grateful.
The Wang Family had the most extensive collection of books, but unfortunately, they were also very particular about their rules and valued their books highly. She had been to the Wang Family three tis, twice for dical consultations, and another ti to see Wang Zhenshu.
On their last visit, Wang Zhenshu sneaked her into the study room hidden away, which was filled with books everywhere, making her eyes dazzle. Unfortunately, they were quickly discovered, and they ran off.
The other four young ladies weren’t particularly fond of reading, so they couldn’t join the conversation. When they finished talking, Cheng Wei curiously asked, “Didn’t you say your Fourth Sister-in-law and Fifth Sister-in-law were coming too? Why haven’t we seen them?”
“Yes, I saw Madam Bai arranging tables in the guest courtyard just now; isn’t she your future mother-in-law?”
Manbao said, “My Fourth Sister-in-law is ill, and my Fifth Sister-in-law is a bit worn out after long travels while having to care for the child, so they didn’t co out today.”
After all, these delicate young ladies have fragile health; what if sickness were passed?
Manbao said, “Next ti, when you co, I’ll introduce them to you.”
Fourth Miss Yin looked around and saw no new guests arriving, so she couldn’t resist asking, “Are there only us female guests today?”
Manbao thought for a mont and answered, “I only sent invitations to you all; I don’t know if Bai Shan invited any female guests at the front. If he did, my nieces would bring them here.”
Fourth Miss Yin breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, “I feel it’s quite fun with only us; it’s more relaxed.”
Cheng Wei: “Yes, at Minister Li’s house last ti during the hundred-day banquet, there were too many people everywhere in the garden. I hadn’t t many before.”
Li Ming: “You’d better say it was chaotic directly; I was dizzy as the host, too. So many people I didn’t know, and adults just dragged around to greet others all day. Quite a few ca as family mbers accompanying exam candidates coming to the capital.”
The conversation flowed freely among them, and slowly, the topics scattered. Cheng Wei nudged Fourth Miss Yin and Fifth Sister Yin, grinning and said, “You two are getting married in June; since you’re here today, why not have Manbao take a look at you? It’s better to secure one’s place after marrying.”
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