Chapter 33: Chapter 32: Officials
As Mrs. Zhen and Nanny Zhao expected, the Yang Family readily agreed.
Miao Family received the news, and the weight on their minds was finally lifted.
In the blink of an eye, it was mid-May.
The clothes that Du Yunying would wear for her coming-of-age ceremony had already arrived. With her slender figure and delicate features, she looked quite beautiful in them, and even Old Mrs. Xia nodded in praise.
Miao Family beamed with joy, feeling indescribably comfortable and happy.
Someone outside announced, Shui Yue went to inquire and then turned back with a cheerful smile to Miao Family: "Second Madam, the fourth young lady of the Miao Family has arrived."
Miao Family, upon hearing this, quickly stood up: "Old Madam, Cai’er has come, I’ll go and greet her."
Old Mrs. Xia, in a good mood, embraced Du Yunluo by her side and laughed: "You too, what kind of aunt goes to greet her niece?"
Du Yunluo spat out a date seed, wiped her hands with a handkerchief: "Grandmother, I haven’t seen Sister Cai’er for some time now."
Du Yunying, hearing this, glanced at her and said, "A nose and two eyes, nothing extraordinary about it."
The words were sharp, and Du Yunluo knew it wasn’t directed at her, so she suppressed it.
It wasn’t long before Miao Family came with the guests.
The fourth young lady of the Miao Family’s eldest branch is named Ruoshan, nicknamed Cai’er, fourteen years old this year, not very tall, with snow-white skin, big round eyes, smiling with a slight shyness, like a lively yet timid rabbit.
Miao Ruoshan stepped forward, curtsied gracefully, and her voice was like that of a melodious oriole: "Cai’er greets Old Madam."
Old Mrs. Xia, always gentle to girls of good appearance and having a good impression of Miao Ruoshan from before, ordered Shui Yue to assist her, saying: "This child, she seems to have grown taller since last year. Her features have matured nicely, truly lovely."
Miao Ruoshan lowered her head shyly, her cheeks slightly reddened.
Du Yunying noticed and pursed her lips, rolling her eyes.
Du Yunluo observed Du Yunying’s actions clearly. She knew Du Yunying disliked Miao Ruoshan, but didn’t understand why, if she looked down upon her, still invited Miao Ruoshan to be an official. It shouldn’t be difficult for the Miao Family to find someone who satisfied Miao Family as a main guest, and among Miao Ruoshan’s sisters, there were several who were well-behaved and outstanding.
Miao Family seemed unaware of Du Yunying’s thoughts, pulling Miao Ruoshan to sit beside her, saying: "These days will trouble our Cai’er, Aunt has arranged the room properly for you, stay a few days without worry, and tell Aunt if you need anything."
Miao Family valued this coming-of-age ceremony and feared that the officials and praiser might make mistakes, so they brought Miao Ruoshan ahead two days early, inviting the nannies to teach Du Yunluo and Miao Ruoshan the rules carefully.
Miao Ruoshan lowered her gaze, smiling gently in response.
Old Mrs. Xia inquired about matters of the Miao Family, and Miao Ruoshan answered appropriately. After lunch, she let them go individually.
Du Yunluo had just left Lianfu Garden with her maid when she was called by Du Yunying.
"Fifth Sister," Du Yunying affectionately held Du Yunluo’s hand, "it’s been a while since you visited me, why not come and sit for a bit?"
Du Yunluo smiled without saying a word.
Their sisterly relationship appeared very good on the surface, but privately, aside from the naïveté of their past lives, in this life, Du Yunluo felt somewhat distant from Du Yunying.
Du Yunying, being perceptive, surely sensed this slight distance, but neither said anything, continuing as before.
Du Yunying suddenly inviting her, surely had a motive beyond just reconnecting emotionally.
Seeing Du Yunluo’s indecision, Du Yunying furrowed her brows slightly, then seeing only Jin Ling and her own maid nearby, said: "Think of it as a favor to me, stay for dinner at Shuifu Garden today, and invite eldest and fourth sisters, I’ll have Mother add some dishes you like, alright?"
After Du Yunying finished speaking, fearing that Du Yunluo still wouldn’t agree, she resolutely added: "Last time you mentioned you liked that pen holder on my desk, I’ll give it to you."
Du Yunluo was surprised.
Although that pen holder wasn’t from the official kilns, it’s a famous private kiln piece, its porcelain clear and painted with green hills, waters, and a solitary boat.
Du Yunluo really liked that pen holder, but since it was a gift from Du Yunlang to Du Yunying, she had never thought to brazenly claim it as her own.
Why did Du Yunying suddenly bring this up?
While Du Yunluo contemplated, seeing her slightly yielding, Du Yunying didn’t care anymore, coaxing and persuading, bringing her to Shuifu Garden.
Shuifu Garden had both front and rear sections, Du Huaiping and Miao Family stayed in the front, Du Yunying in the second section. Miao Family had cleaned the east wing of the second section for Miao Ruoshan today, and when Du Yunluo followed Du Yunying there, she saw Miao Ruoshan’s maid organizing items.
Miao Ruoshan was in the east wing, the window partially open, and hearing the maid’s greeting, she glanced over, then swiftly emerged: "Sister Ying, Sister Luo."
Du Yunluo returned the courtesy.
Du Yunying nodded emotionlessly towards Miao Ruoshan, then led Du Yunluo back to her room.
Du Yunluo sat down on her own, asking: "Since you don’t like her, why make her an official, needlessly causing yourself annoyance."
"It’s not like I wanted to invite her." Du Yunying pouted, frankly admitting, "Mother said to invite an official from the Miao Family, and I agreed, but little did I know it would turn out to be her. By the time I found out, it had already been decided. Do you think I could go to Grandma and say I don’t want Cai’er, I want to switch?"
"What did she do to provoke your dislike?" Du Yunluo asked again.
Du Yunying’s eyes flashed with disdain briefly, and she said irritably: "I simply look down on her!"
Du Yunluo became even more puzzled.
Du Yunying was competitive, her ambition and sense of rivalry were stronger than anyone else’s, which led to conflicts with her sisters. But those conflicts weren’t simply about "looking down on" someone.
It seemed that the relationship between Du Yunying and Miao Ruoshan was worse than she had imagined.
Du Yunying sent someone to invite Du Yunru and Du Yunnuo, the four sisters gathered to play leaf card games, and time passed quickly.
Miao Family saw them laughing and joking, complying with Du Yunying’s wish, sent someone to inform Mrs. Zhen and the Liao Family, keeping the girls for dinner.
The four sisters went to Miao Family’s room, where Miao Family waved Du Yunying over: "You had so much fun in the afternoon, why didn’t you call Cai’er?"
Du Yunying glanced at Miao Ruoshan, who sat politely aside, saying: "Sister Cai’er is staying here for a short while and has a lot to organize, so we didn’t disturb her."
Miao Family opened her mouth to say more but was interrupted by a round of greetings outside — Du Huaiping and Du Yunlang had arrived.
Du Huaiping lifted the curtain as he came in, curious: "It’s quite lively today."
"With Cai’er here, it’s naturally lively," Du Yunying laughed cheerfully, "Second Brother, if Third Brother is back, why not invite him over too?"
Du Yunlang looked at Miao Family, saw her nod, and then went out to give instructions, with a young maid going to fetch people.
Du Yunru discreetly pulled Du Yunluo’s hand, whispering: "What is this act about?"
Du Yunluo was about to shake her head to say she didn’t know either when, glancing up, she perceived Miao Ruoshan’s lingering gaze on Du Yunlang, and suddenly had a flash of insight.
Could it be, Du Yunying’s dislike for Miao Ruoshan was due to Miao Ruoshan having some designs on Du Yunlang?
