216 Doting on His Concubine
Seeing that she looked like she had seen a ghost, Yu Youyao was speechless. “Keep your eyes to yourself. Otherwise, I won’t be responsible for picking them up if they fall to the ground.”
Song Wanhui finally came back to her senses. “When did you lose so much weight? I almost mistook you for your third sister. I was stunned.”
Yu Youyao pursed her lips. “I was sick previously. I also learned the rules from my Nanny. How can I not lose weight?”
Song Wanhui looked at Yu Youyao. “You’re really beautiful. Grandmother often said that no woman is as beautiful as your mother. Look at you, you’ve taken after your mother. I’m really envious.”
When she was rounder in the past, she also looked like jade. Now that she had lost weight, she looked very delicate and beautiful.
Yu Youyao squinted at her. “Do you still envy me?”
Song Wanhui was wearing peach powder today and had a standard full moon face. This face was also called a peony face. It looked as bright as the moon and was elegant. It was a face that everyone liked.
After chatting for a while, Fifth Miss Tang of the Hanlin Academy, Tang Yunxi, came over. Along with her was a slightly older young lady.
Tang Yunxi was wearing a bean-green dress and was short and fat. She lowered her head and followed behind the young lady. The young lady was tall and looked to be about eleven or twelve years old. She was wearing a rose-red dress that accentuated her delicate face.
Yu Youyao was stunned and did not react for a moment.
Song Wanhui nudged her with her elbow and asked softly, “You invited Tang Yunmeng?”
Yu Youyao did not know Tang Yunmeng and shook her head. “I only invited Fifth Miss.”
Seeing that she was a little confused, Song Wanhui explained in a low voice, “Eldest Master Tang has a younger cousin who was his childhood sweetheart. Her family has fallen from grace and she’s living at home. Before Eldest Master Tang’s first wife even married into the family, the two of them already had a relationship. A month after Eldest Madam Tang married into the family, Eldest Master Tang couldn’t wait to welcome his younger cousin into the family to be his concubine.”
“Tang Yunmeng is the daughter of that noble concubine. She’s the eldest daughter of a concubine in the Tang Residence. Eldest Master Tang likes this daughter very much and has repeatedly wanted to put his eldest daughter under the name of the first wife. However, Madam Tang is also stubborn and refused to agree. Fifth Miss isn’t very outstanding looking and isn’t favored in the residence, so Tang Yunmeng stole all the limelight. Usually, she visits the other families. Tang Yunxi might not go, but Tang Yunmeng will definitely follow the first wife.”
Yu Youyao only knew a few things about the Tang family, but they were not as detailed as what Song Wanhui described. She pursed her lips tightly. Eldest Master Tang’s behavior was exactly the same as his father’s.
The so-called etiquette and shame of the scholarly families had become a joke.
The current emperor doted on his concubines and ignored his official wife. He doted on Imperial Consort Lu, but the court officials followed his lead.
In the past, with King You around, the entire imperial court could still restrain themselves a little. Now, with King You’s rebellion, it was as if all of them had lifted the cloth covering their shame. The Great Zhou Dynasty was rotten to the core.
Tang Yunmeng’s eyes darted around, and she pulled Tang Yunxi forward. She looked at Yu Youyao’s aura and pushed Tang Yunxi lightly.
Tang Yunxi quickly looked up at Yu Youyao, then lowered her head and introduced softly, “This is my eldest sister, Tang Yunmeng.”
Before Yu Youyao could react, Tang Yunmeng said with a smile, “My fifth sister is a little timid and usually doesn’t go to other families often. First madam was worried, so she asked me to come along. I wonder if Eldest Miss Yu welcomes me.”
Yu Youyao smiled faintly. “Everyone who comes is a guest, so of course you’re welcome.” After saying that, she looked at Tang Yunxi. Seeing that she had her head lowered and seemed to be very nervous, she stepped forward and held Tang Yunxi’s hand. “Fifth Sister, you’re finally here. Just now, Third Sister Song was asking when you were coming.”
Tang Yunmeng stood rooted to the ground.
Tang Yunxi was also stunned. Her long bangs covered her forehead and almost covered her eyes. Eldest Miss Yu smiled so widely that her eyes curved into crescents. She looked at her with eyes clearly welcoming her without any of the mockery she had seen on the other young mistresses’ faces. “I-I’m late. I-I’m sorry.”
Then she quickly lowered her head again.
Yu Youyao smiled and said, “It’s not time for my banquet yet. How can you be late?”
Song Wanhui also smiled and said, “I heard from Yao Yao that she had prepared a lot of exquisite food today. I wanted you to come over quickly so that we could eat together. I’m starving.”
Tang Yunxi pursed her lips and was no longer so nervous.
Tang Yunmeng stood alone at the side, feeling really awkward. Just as she was about to interrupt, another carriage stopped in front of the door.
Sixth Miss Qi and Qi Sining also came over.
Qi Sinian was 11 years old and a little older than them. He was handsome. As soon as he entered the house, he saw Yu Youyao. “Hey, where did this little beauty come from? You’re in such a hurry to show off.”
Yu Youyao blushed at her teasing. “Don’t talk about me. You’re showing off before me.”
As soon as Qi Sining arrived, all the people Yu Youyao had invited were present.
The few of them chatted and laughed as they went to An Shou Hall to greet Old Madam Yu. Tang Yunmeng fell behind and called Chun Xiao before following awkwardly.
On her granddaughter’s birthday, Old Madam Yu had also changed from her usual dull clothes. She was wearing a brown-gold longevity-patterned jacket, and the headband on her head had a Swastika that Yu Youyao had embroidered previously. She asked Nanny Liu to remove the seven treasure pearls on her forehead and turn it to the other side. On this side was the word “Longevity.” She looked extremely happy.
Madam Yao and Yang Shuwan were both sitting in the hall.
The few young ladies chatted and laughed together. With their youthfulness and the fragrance of the flowers, the eyes of the few people present could not help but light up.
Yang Shuwan did not see Yu Jianjia, so she knew that Yu Youyao was welcoming guests outside. There were many sisters at home in the courtyard, so it was not appropriate for her to follow her.
The few young mistresses were also well-behaved. After greeting Old Madam Yu, they greeted Yang Shuwan and Madam Yao one by one.
Old Madam Yu chuckled and asked about their elders.
As she spoke, Yu Youyao heard the sound of wheels and turned around.
Chang An pushed Zhou Linghuai into the room.
Zhou Linghuai was wearing a set of green clothes with golden patterns. There were branches and leaves embroidered on his collar, sleeves, waist, and the hem of his clothes. He looked less thin and more elegant.
Yu Youyao’s eyes lit up.
She made this set of clothes for her cousin a few days ago.
Song Jin’s clothes were decorated with grass and trees, and the color was darker and more elegant. There were two layers at the bottom and the top which were respectively light and dark. The layers were especially clear. Cousin’s clothes were embroidered with dark patterns of gold and bright patterns were light green. When they were interwoven, they made him look even more regal.
Zhou Linghuai looked up and saw the little girl looking at him with sparkling eyes.
His gaze paused for a moment. The little girl’s curved eyebrows were especially beautiful, like a crescent moon that revealed a bright color. They actually captured the beauty of the mountains and rivers, and the brilliance of the moon.
Her pale lips curved slightly.
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