Doubt, Game, Flower, Qin (4)
Regardless whether it was male or female guest, all can find a place overlooking the lake. The seats were divided into different sections, separated apart by a set distance, forming a gap between the male and female side, yet not exceedingly out of reach and tightly concealed without the least bit of appeal.
As a female guest, one naturally would settle down in the ‘half-moon’ near the inner courtyard. Although the positions weren’t deliberately arranged into different hierarchies, overall it was still very distinct. The closer to the fixed seats near the outer courtyard, the more honorable the status, for example, the wangfeis, jun wangfeis, and also the other already wedded princesses of the same generation, or even high generation as Le Cheng Emperor’s. Afterwards, it was the wangfeis of the princes………..
For the women that were already married, the greater one’s age, the smaller one’s range of movement, but those unmarried young ladies were more casual. As long as they weren’t too close to those personages of high rank, admiring them close up was all without a problem. And if you really had the guts, showing off some talent near them was also okay.
Meanwhile, on the male guest side, it was pretty much the same arrangement.
Reportedly, these were all the Grand Elder Princess’s idea. Majority of people probably felt this was new and fresh, and the few that felt it lacked in propriety could only just hold it in, not daring to go criticize the Grand Elder Princess.
The flower platform in the middle of the lake was on the center line of the ‘crescent moon’ near the female guests’ side. That is the side closest to those madams of noble status. To call it a flower platform was truly fitting. The entire shape was like a blossoming lotus, and was decorated by all kinds of flowers.
“This flower platform looks rather interesting, don’t know whose idea it was?” Jing Wan said.
“Should be Jiang-fuma (Grand Elder Princess’s husband). Everyone all say, Jiang-fuma is a very eccentric person.” Sun Yi Jia said, leaning closer to Jing Wan and lowering her voice, “Actually, quite a few people all guessed, this ‘flower’ banquet’s layout arrangement is also Jiang-fuma’s handiwork, but had let Grand Elder Princess take the credit.”
Jing Wan nodded. It was understandable. If it was Jiang-fuma, then those old pedants that were displeased with the layout arrangement inevitably will accuse him of misconduct. However, the Grand Elder Princess was different. On one hand she was a woman, and on the other hand, there was Le Cheng Emperor to take responsibility.
“Third sister, I want to go over there. This side is too far, and can’t see clearly.” Luo seventh miss said, eagerly looking to Jing Wan.
At Qi’an Fu, above her was just Jing Wan, this one older sister, and since Jing Wan was friendly, she naturally was rather close with her.
“Fine, you all go then. Just, you must have the servant girls and servant women follow you, and don’t get separated. Also, stay far from the lakeside.”
“I’ll also go then, that way can also watch over them.” Luo Jing Qiang volunteered.
“Alright.” Jing Wan nodded. “However, second sister doesn’t need to just focus on them. You can also look around and play around yourself.”
Luo Jing Qiang helplessly smiled, “You even called me older sister, so don’t worry.”
Sun Yi Jia also felt, little sister Wan majority of the time all looked after them like younger sisters.
Sun Yi Jia was the same as Jing Wan, uninterested in the excitement on the other side. This kind of spectacle, she has seen too many times before and was long unmoved by it. Moreover, in such an occasion, it was very difficult for one to truly see a praiseworthy performance.
TN: All
Because they didn’t go see the excitement, they thus didn’t know that the girl on the stage actually didn’t go up voluntarily, but rather because of a little game, a little game by Yu Yao Wenzhu[1]. This little girl was also the Grand Elder Princess Manor’s youngest child, and probably because of her father’s influence, occasionally came up with some mischievous ideas.
She had long let someone fetch the list of guests from her princess mother, having every family’s young misses’ names carved onto a flat piece of wood. Of course, it wasn’t their personal name, but rather like ‘Luo third miss’ and such. And after all the guests more or less all arrived, had the names of the people that didn’t come all taken out. She had a bunch of ‘capable people’ by her side, so naturally there was no need to worry about little blunders appearing. For example, an already married woman’s name also appearing on the list.
The little game can start now. The little embroidered pouches prepared in advance had qin, qi, calligraphy, painting, song, dance, music, and so on written on numerous little slips of papers and stuffed inside. ‘Music’ was referring to any other musical instruments aside from qin.
Letting those noble personages draw wooden plaques, and those that had their names drawn then draw from the embroidered pouches, performing whatever was inside. If they perform well, they will receive the various noble personages’ reward, and those that don’t perform well, or those that give up because they don’t know how, will have to receive a punishment.
The content of the punishment was also inside little embroidered pouches, so it won’t be too overboard, but there were some that might make one lose etiquette. Under many staring gazes, and also in front of that many high ranking nobles, once one loses etiquette, one will absolutely lose all face and be reduced to a laughing stock.
When a child thinks up of these penalties, perhaps it was just for fun, but it didn’t rule out others with ulterior motives. After all, the little embroidered pouches were ready-made, and if someone were to casually urge on a few words, perhaps some other things will also get added inside.
The more they played, the livelier it got, so naturally there were some that made a fool of themselves, and some that got rewarded. Of the former, those who were luckier got away with just drinking a small cup of alcohol, and those who were unlucky, jumped a few times in place. Having the dress flip up was already shameful enough to wish for death. As for the latter, they naturally were beaming with happiness.
Gradually, more and more people were drawn over. Even if one sat in the corner, it was still difficult to not get affected.
“Luo third miss……..”
Jing Wan faintly heard someone call her. Lifting her head, she saw the surrounding people all parting, and a party led by a small girl walked over. Who the incoming person was, it goes without saying. The two stood up, “Greetings Wenzhu.”
“No need to be formal. Eh, you’re big sister Yi Jia?” Yu Yao Wenzhu pointed to Sun Yi Jia.
“Yes.”
“Why is big sister Yi Jia covered in a veil?” Yu Yao tilted her head and curiously asked.
“Because my face got injured, and worried that it would frighten people, thus covered it up.”
“Oh.” Yu Yao nodded, and then looked to Jing Wan, “Are you the Head Minister of Rites, Sir Luo, family’s third miss?”
“It is precisely this subject, what does Wenzhu need?” Jing Wan said with a smile. According to Gong mama’s description, although this little miss sometimes was a bit mischievous, and also a little unruly, her inherent nature wasn’t bad. In Jing Wan’s eyes, she was also a cute little lady.
“A few days ago, a miss from your family broke the glass lamp I prepared for mother, and it was even third older cousin that compensated me.”
The amount of information in these words were rather abundant. “That is her fault. Later, this subject will let grandmother lecture her. Don’t know if Wenzhu likes flowers or not, how about this subject compensate you with a pot of flower? To replace that glass lamp.”
“But third older cousin already compensated me.” Yu Yao tilted her head.
“You can just give it back to your third older cousin, and if you’ve already given it to your mother, you can buy a new one to return it back. After all, it was broken by a sister from this subject’s family, how can we let your third older cousin compensate it, isn’t that right, Wenzhu?”
“Then what flower are you going to compensate me with? If it’s not a rare breed, I don’t want it.”
“Wenzhu understands flowers?”
“Of course.” Yu Yao puffed her little chest, “My father and my mother both like flowers, I’ve learned a lot from them.”
“Wenzhu really is impressive.” Seeing her increasingly proud look, Jing Wan’s hand were somewhat itchy, wanting to reach out and pinch her, “A camellia, eighteenth scholar, what does Wenzhu think? Do you want it?”
(T/N: Eighteenth scholar is a breed of camellia.)
Yu Yao’s little eyes immediately lit up, and she even excitedly grabbed Jing Wan’s hand, “Want! Luo….big sister Luo better not be deceiving me.” This one was also a little social butterfly.
“Not deceiving, when I get back, I’ll let someone have the flowers sent over.”
Although not everyone knew what eighteenth scholar was, the mama behind Yu Yao Wenzhu however was very clear. Her judging gaze had Jing Wan sized up again and again. If she wanted to use this kind of method to curry favor with the Grand Elder Princess, wouldn’t it be a little too brazen? Moreover, her attitude was too casual and natural, saying it like it wasn’t some rare treasure worth thousands of gold, but rather a flower commonly seen everywhere.
It’s not that Jing Wan wasn’t aware, but she didn’t say anything, letting her freely size her up. “Then, the reason Wenzhu came looking for this subject, is it for the game?”
[1] Wenzhu – title for the daughter of a princess
