Free Web NovelChapter 648: Chapter 647: Can’t Look Away
Xia Wenjin joked, "Nanny Zhou, I don’t need to learn all that. I’ll just do what everyone else does. Besides, although this flower-viewing party is hosted by the Seventeenth Princess, I probably won’t get much chance to meet her. Most of the time, I guess I’ll just quietly watch from the side and act as the situation demands!"
Nanny Zhou knew that when the young lady said this, she didn’t want to learn.
Thinking about it, it’s true. The young lady, having grown up in Jianghu, was surely used to being free and unfettered, so how could she have the patience to learn such things?
But the young lady is so clever, and with her help at hand, she wouldn’t suffer any losses!
She still reminded Xia Wenjin, "The young lady needs a maid by her side!"
That was a gathering of esteemed noble ladies, and one should have a personal maid, not merely for convenience, but as a symbol of status.
Xia Wenjin accepted Nanny Zhou’s suggestion and was about to send someone to the broker to buy one, but Nanny Zhou thought a newly bought maid would surely be inconvenient to use. So she personally went back to the Right Minister’s Mansion, spoke with the Prime Minister’s Wife, and she immediately sent over two maids.
What could Xia Wenjin do? Of course, she accepted her aunt’s goodwill.
However, isn’t the aunt taking this matter a bit too seriously? It’s just a flower-viewing party.
But she quickly understood that, in her aunt’s eyes, it was her first time attending such a gathering, and she was worried she wouldn’t know what to do and would end up at a loss.
Regarding this aunt who wanted to integrate her into the Capital City’s noble lady circle, Xia Wenjin was both amused and helpless.
Aside from her aunt’s intentions to open up business in the Capital City, just her aunt’s good intentions alone she must appreciate.
As for in the future, yes, in the future, she might be just a business owner in the Capital City? With a few power divisions and a few business branches here? This perhaps would be her business hub? Just that!
The next day was the date of the flower-viewing event. Early morning, Nanny Zhou came over to remind her, being very diligent and considerate. Seeing Xia Wenjin already up, Nanny Zhou was very pleased.
Being an esteemed noble lady, although enjoying life is proper, but when it’s time to be diligent, one definitely shouldn’t be lazy!
After tidying up, Nanny Zhou finally pinned a hairpin in Xia Wenjin’s hair, then looked at the person in the mirror, nodding with satisfaction.
She had served the Prime Minister’s Wife for many years, and this niece seemed even more beautiful than the Prime Minister’s Wife was at her young age.
Such stunning beauty, even without jewels, is indeed very pretty.
However, jewelry not only enhances beauty and temperament but also serves as a symbol of status.
If she truly had no jewelry on, she might be lightly looked down upon and mocked by those noble ladies at the Seventeenth Princess’s flower-viewing party.
Nanny Zhou praised, "Young lady, you truly are like a fairy!"
Xia Wenjin laughed, "Has Nanny Zhou ever seen a fairy then?"
Nanny Zhou also laughed, "In any case, so beautiful that one can’t take their eyes off; isn’t the young lady exactly like that?"
Nanny Zhou accompanied Xia Wenjin outside, and upon seeing the incoming carriage was just an ordinary blue cloth one, she couldn’t help but be startled. How come the Third Young Master’s family doesn’t even have a presentable carriage?
There’s not enough time now, or else the Prime Minister’s Wife surely would have been willing to send out a carriage.
Nanny Zhou had no choice but to get on the carriage with the maids and Xia Wenjin.
This carriage wasn’t that big; it felt a bit cramped with four people on board.
Nanny Zhou was quite uncomfortable, but the flower-viewing venue was still some distance away, and getting off and walking with the maids was unrealistic.
Xia Wenjin glanced over and noticed Nanny Zhou’s discomfort, promptly asking, "What’s wrong, Nanny?"
Nanny Zhou couldn’t say the carriage was too small and too ordinary, so she ambiguously replied, "Young lady, it’s my oversight that I forgot to have someone send a carriage over!"
Xia Wenjin said, "It’s alright. Doesn’t it fit everyone?"
Nanny Zhou smiled awkwardly, thinking the young lady really grew up in Jianghu and didn’t mind the little things, not knowing that in the Capital City, a carriage can represent a person’s face. Such an ordinary carriage, when rented in a carriage broker shop, would be considered mid-lower class.
With this kind of carriage heading towards a crowd of luxurious carriages, where noble sons and ladies ride, isn’t it just asking to be laughed at?
If the young lady feels embarrassed because of the carriage and gets questioned by the junior servants at the gate, it would surely be a joke.
Oh, after this flower-viewing party is over, I must mention to the wife whether a better carriage should be gifted to the Third Young Master’s family.
Nanny Zhou’s complicated feelings did not lessen even a bit as the carriage traveled, and after half an hour, the carriage arrived at the destination.
The flower-viewing venue was set at Jinting Pavilion.
This Jinting Pavilion is quite a unique place in the Capital City, with the three-story main building Yanxia Pavilion half on the bank and half suspended over water, with a view of the distant Shuowang Mountain, boasting beautiful scenery and elegant surroundings. Besides the main building, there are numerous pavilions and terraces, exquisite and magnificent.
Of course, ordinary people can’t easily enter here; hosting guests and friends inside costs at least several hundred taels of Silver.
The Seventeenth Princess chose this venue for the flower-viewing party, quite thoughtfully; first, it’s spacious enough, no matter how many people come, there’s room; second, it’s refined and tasteful, matching the noble status.
The Seventeenth Princess is seventeen years old, the daughter of Consort Li, who is favored by the Emperor. The previous princesses have mostly married, so the Emperor naturally dotes on those still at his side.
The arrangements for the flower-viewing party were aided by palace people from Consort Li’s palace, while the owner of Jinting Pavilion treated it with great caution, not daring to show any neglect.
The princess choosing his place for the party is a great honor that cannot go wrong.
When Xia Wenjin’s carriage arrived, many people were already present.
At the entrance, only those with invitations were allowed to pass. After the carriage entered, turning right led to a dedicated parking area where the coachmen would wait.
As for the attendees, the noble sons headed east, while the noble daughters headed south; although both headed towards Yanxia Pavilion, they could only see each other from afar along the way without much interaction. After all, the separation of genders must still be observed.
Even in Yanxia Pavilion, a large hall had two sides: the gentlemen on one side, the ladies on the other. Whether admiring flowers, discussing literature, or chatting and laughing, sounds crossed over, but people remained separated by some distance.
As the carriage entered the gate, there was a burst of vibrant red, white, purple, blue... flowers vying for beauty.
Who knows how many days the flower-viewing party had been prepared; both sides of the road were lined with flowers, some as flower trees, some in pots, either scattered artfully or arranged symmetrically, or with main and supporting elements...
In a glance, the scene was luxuriant with glorious blossoms, enchanting and resplendent.
Xia Wenjin’s carriage indeed caught quite the attention.
While the carriage was heading to the parking platform, some were just getting off, being led by junior servants towards Yanxia Pavilion, with others still at the back, where the crowd was busiest.
As Xia Wenjin’s carriage just passed, someone shouted, "Stop there, what kind of rubbish carriage dares to come close!"
