by Ning er
Meanwhile, Yun Qian Meng only indifferently smiled. She had also caught the fragrance of the osmanthus flowers a few moments ago at the rock garden as she had started to probe Wu Qin Qin.
Wu Qin Qin anxiously realized her shameful behavior, she had inadvertently leaked out the information, but sensing all the gazes were casted onto her, she realized that it was already too late.
Wu Qin Qin was already feeling intense remorse in her heart.
"You naughty girl, running all over the place in search of new and odd things, you have made me feel worried. Fortunately, Wu xiaojie here was very familiar with Chen wangfu, or else how could I have been able to quickly find you?" seeing Yun Qian Meng shot a glance at her, Qu Fei Qing immediately understood Wu Qin Qin's intentions, so quickly approached Yun Qian Meng, her words slightly blaming her.
Qu Fei Qing's words were like pouring oil into fire, and Wu Qin Qin was suddenly pushed to the heart of the struggle.
The various xiaojie, one by one, exposed cold smiles towards Wu Qin Qin. Knowing now that on the surface, the Wu Family's xiaojie only appeared to be a well-bred young lady, yet on the inside she was a frivolous and superficial person. Perhaps she had been in Chen wangfu on numerous number of occasions, otherwise she would not be familiar with the scenery ahead. She had practically reacted instantly to Yun Qian Meng's question, just as she had led them with great familiarization.
"Thanks for reminding me, cousin. Meng'er didn't consider it carefully." Qu Fei Qing smiled at the remark as she looked at Yun Qian Meng, and the two of them immediately walked towards the group.
Meanwhile, Wu Qin Qin's hands were tightly pinching the handle of the circular fan. With an embarrassed smile on her face, she tried to curry favor, "How can we blame Yun xiaojie? If it wasn't for Qin Qin's playfulness, she would not have been left alone here. Did Yun xiaojie come across any strangers? Were you frightened?"
With these implicating words, Wu Qin Qin seemed like someone who was not to be trifled with. When Yun Qian Meng and Qu Fei Qing pushed her to be the center of attention with just few words, she naturally would not allow herself to get trampled on by others.
At Wu Qin Qin's sincere eyes, a extremely faint coldness surfaced in Yun Qian Meng's eyes, yet the corner of her mouth was still wearing a smile as she respectfully answered, "Could it be that Wu xiaojie encountered someone on the way? Aside from appreciating the scenery, Qian Meng did not see anyone else."
Yun Qian Meng's eyes were flickering with sincerity, and her tone seemed calm, so the other xiaojie relaxed their tense hearts. On the other hand, they grew resentful towards Wu Qin Qin who was only full of lies. They found this woman to be quite scheming so her words earned no respect from them.
"Since that is the case, let's just quickly go back to the garden. We shouldn't make Yuan de taifei wait." Qu Fei Qing had interjected after a glimpse at Wu Qin Qin.
Among these ladies, Qu Fei Qing was the one with the best family background, because of this, people did not oppose her words. One after another, they looked strangely at Wu Qin Qin, following which they quickly turned around and returned to the garden.
Yun Qian Meng pulled Qu Fei Qing back and they fell behind the group on purpose, slowly walking behind Wu Qin Qin's yatou.
"Oh!" unexpectedly, the maid was caught off balance, and she fell forwards, falling onto Wu Qin Qin's back.
And since Wu Qin Qin was preoccupied with the thoughts in her head, she had not noticed what had occurred. In a short moment, she was suddenly being pushed by her own yatou as they simultaneously fell down, incidentally knocking a few of the ladies in front of them. For quite some time, noises echoed along the pathway, as the group of ladies with bright colored clothes and delicate adornments one by one fell to the ground. It was truly a magnificent sight!
As the ladies shouted and fell to the ground, Qu Fei Qing's eyes watched in ridicule, but her heart was greatly surprised; she had clearly seen Yun Qian Meng stepping on the yatou's skirt, which had caused her stumble.
Yet Yun Qian Meng did not even care to jeer at the disgraceful situation of the xiaojie. Instead, she had immediately rushed to carefully supported Wu Qin Qin, who was lying on the ground and unable to get up, as she asked with concern, "Are you alright Wu xiaojie? Why did you suddenly fall down?"
She then ardently stretched out her arms to pat Wu Qin Qin's slightly wrinkled skirt, helped her arrange the jade ornamented spice bag that she wore on her waist, and fixed up her slightly messy hair. She then proceeded to lend an arm to support the other ladies.
When everyone had tidied up their dresses and hair, quite a long time had already passed. A old mama was approaching them from quite a ways away. Seeing all the ladies in this area she bent at the knee, then coldly said, "Taifei invites all the xiaojie to go inside."
"Yes!" one after another they responded in low voice, since Yuan de taifei had personally dispatched her most reliable mama, none dared to be impudent. Following behind the mama, they proceeded towards the garden.
At this moment, the garden was already fully occupied with the rest of the invited guests.
Aside from Chu Fei Yang, who Yun Qian Meng had already met moments ago, the three brothers Qi Jing Yuan, Qi Jing Xuan, and Qi Jing Han were also present.
And since Yuan Qing Zhou was a part of Jiang Mu Chen's family, he was naturally also invited to this event.
Apart from this, there were many men from influential families who were present at this banquet. Apparently, they were all quite curious about Chen wangfu which rarely invited guests into the residence. The originally spacious garden was now full of people.
And what amazed everyone the most was seeing Hai Tian unexpectedly sitting beside Princess Ling'er. The way the two of them discussed things gave the impression that they had known each other for a very long time.
The daughters who were late paid their courtesies towards Yuan de taifei then hurriedly took their seats. Following which, a line of yatou silently came through the arched door, one by one, bringing delicious food to the tables of the guests.
Seeing more than twenty different dishes and pastries in front of her eyes, Yun Qian Meng felt that the noble families of ancient times really knew how to enjoy themselves. A single person's share was so large and so varied, yet during the chaos of war, the common people were not even able to consume a full meal. It was indeed as the saying went, "while the rich people have wine and meat, the road was littered with frozen bones of the common people".
Yun Qian Meng's heart sighed with this thought, then she completely lost her appetite.
During this time, in the seat of honor, Chen wang was staring coldly at Yun Qian Meng. Although she bore her usual expression, her eyes seemed somehow discontented with the food. She did not even lift her chopsticks, as her look grew increasingly gloomy.
Like Yun Qian Meng, Chu Fei Yang only quietly sat as his tranquil eyes watched the lively sight in the garden, yet he also never touched the food in front of him.
Seeing the two of them having the same reaction, Chen wang's eyes were suddenly brimming with a malicious expression. He lifted the wine cup towards Chu Fei Yang, and said in a clear voice, "I propose a toast to Chu xiang."
Chapter 102: part2 | Chu Wang Fei
The surrounding sounds of wine toasting gradually faded as all the gazes were focused on the two men in anticipation of their next move.
But they were disappointed see that Chu Fei Yang only calmly lifted the wine cup in front of him. Facing Chen wang with his cup in the air, both of them then lifted their heads to take a drink.
Those who had been waiting in anticipation of something suddenly felt bored.
After all, these two men both had been engaged to Yun Qian Meng, but after Chen wang and Yun Qian Meng's engagement had already been withdrawn, Chu Fei Yang had voluntarily sought permission to be married to her. This incident had not only shocked all the people, but it might also gotten Chen wang out of sorts.
Since these two persons' actions did not show any peculia
rities, it had dispelled everyone's doubts, causing them to disappointedly shift their gazes and continue on their activities.
Hai Tian's eyes had not settled on Chu Fei Yang and Chen wang just like all the others. Those cold and beautiful eyes had instead been watching Yun Qian Meng. Seeing her normal expression, Hai Tian's heart turned ice-cold, immediately she turned around, smiling as she spoke to Qi Ling'er beside her, "Princess, have you seen the eldest daughter of Yun xiangfu today?"
Following Hai Tian's words, Qi Ling'er took a glimpse at Yun Qian Meng. Seeing the opposite side had noticed her gaze, she smiled back with a simple yet elegant smile. Qi Ling'er recalled her appropriate responses moments ago, and immediately faced Hai Tian. "This Yun xiaojie is a very bright-minded person."
Hai Tian did not expect that Qi Ling'er would praise Yun Qian Meng, so she felt somewhat upset as she continued, "Yes, Yun xiaojie has a meticulous mind, she's a rare intelligent woman. During the imperial banquet last time, the way the Tenth Prince looked at Yun xiaojie, I thought that she would become the Tenth Prince's wife. Unfortunately, the two weren't brought together by fate, and quite unexpectedly after cancelling her engagement with Chen wang, she was again granted marriage with Chu xiang."
Hai Tian slightly lifted her eyes to shoot a glance at Qi Jing Han as she spoke. She saw him drinking wine with some gongzi from Western Chu, so she gradually retracted her gaze.
Based on her words, Qi Ling'er had the impression that Hai Tian rather disliked Yun Qian Meng, or else why would she discuss Yun Qian Meng's personal matters in this public gathering?
With the lily-white hands lifting a wine cup, Qi Ling'er and Hai Tian slightly bumped the edge of their cups, with smiles the two of them swallowed down the excellent wine.
"Yun xiaojie, are you angry with me?" Wu Qin Qin asked with remorse as she sat on the other side of Yun Qian Meng, as her hands pinched at her sleeves, seemingly uneasy.
Yun Qian Meng just smiled and comforted, "Wu xiaojie, you didn't do anything wrong, why would I be mad at you?"
"But, I've not seen you touch the meal in front of you." Even with Yun Qian Meng's guarantee, Wu xiaojie was still not reassured. Her gaze fixated directly at the untouched meal in front of Yun Qian Meng, her eyes full of apprehension.
Yun Qian Meng only giggled before she explained, "I'm just thinking about the osmanthus forest that Wu xiaojie mentioned a while ago. Now that it is already the ninth month, those flowers must be extremely beautiful, I would very much enjoy looking at them."
Hearing these words from Yun Qian Meng, the other ladies also expressed their intentions, which started everyone to engage in an animated discussion.
"Yes, a while ago when we were standing beside the lake, there was a faint smell of osmanthus flowers. The osmanthus forest must be extremely spectacular, I would like to personally see it with my own eyes." Qu Fei Qing actually did not understand why Yun Qian Meng would mention the osmanthus flowers for no reason, but she still followed after her.
"Yes, I also smelled it a while ago. Oh right, aren't you quite familiar with Chen wangfu, Wu xiaojie? You must be considerably familiar with Yuan de taifei, why don't you ask permission from taifei so we can go see?" Su Qian Yue deliberately said.
Today, all the ladies invited by the Chen wangfu were all the daughters of the officials above the second rank.
With so many of highly respectable status, Su Qian Yue naturally took advantage of it arrogantly.
Although Wu Guo Gongfu's position was somehow higher than Su fu, Su Qian Yue had similarly received the invitation from Chen wangfu, which could be taken that Chen wangfu considerably valued Su Family, or else why had Xing Jin Die not been allowed to set foot through the gates of Chen wangfu?
With this analysis, Su Qian Yue's eyes flickered brilliant rays of confidence. As long as Chen wang had not declared her position, then she was still on even grounds and did not need to feel intimidated just because Wu Qin Qin was quite familiar with Chen wangfu.
"Wu xiaojie is Chen wangfu's honored guest. If you look, a lot of xiaojie and gongzi are here, yet only Wu furen has been invited over. Now, she is even having a great time talking with Yuan de taifei, this proves that Wu xiaojie is greatly favored by Yuan de taifei. This is trivial matter, if Wu xiaojie was the one to ask the permission, taifei would certainly agree to it." Qu Jing Qing also said leisurely.
Although Qu Yan was the concubine born son, he had become an ally of Chen wang, so Qu Jing Qing had also naturally become an honored guest of Chen wangfu.
Moreover, although Qu Yan was not the son of the first wife, since Fu Guo Gongfu was an outstanding family, even though he was just the son of the concubine, his status was certainly greater than other sons of first wife of any influential family; multiple times greater even. He could be considered as someone with a reputable position.
The more people tried to link her and Chen wang together during the conversation, the more Wu Qin Qin's face grew anxious and eventually she turned to Yun Qian Meng, appealing for help. Yet the receiving party just demurely smiled and shifted her gaze away, so Wu Qin Qin could only summon up her courage and reply, "Since that is the case, then I'll try it."
She slowly stood up and somewhat unwillingly approached Yuan de taifei.
"Humph! Look at her frivolous manners. Why is she so afraid of letting people know that she has gained taifei's favor?" after Wu Qin Qin had left, Su Qian Yue scorned her.
Although the other ladies did not speak up, but majority of their gazes appeared to be mocking her.
Yun Qian Meng took a glimpse at Su Qian Yue, she was dressed in a beautiful and noble manner, but her envious looks had destroyed her look, making her appear malevolent instead.
"I believe for this trivial matter, taifei would certainly agree to Wu xiaojie's request. Let's go to the doorway of the garden and meet her there." Yun Qian Meng stood up and spoke to everyone after seeing from a distance that taifei was smiling at Wu Qin Qin as she nodded her head.
At witnessing Yuan de taifei's pleasant countenance towards Wu Qin Qin, those xiaojie who were watching felt unreconciled in their hearts. Furthermore, they were not pleased to see the delighted look on Wu Qin Qin's face, so all of them put down their chopsticks and followed Yun Qian Meng's suggestion of leaving their seats.
Yun Qian Meng took out a handkerchief as she wiped her hands, then placed it on the table. She turned towards Wu Qin Qin who was coming back, took her hands and together the they walked towards the assembled group of xiaojie.
The gongzi who were still drinking wine while admiring the beauties, they lost their joy of drinking once the xiaojie began leaving their seats. They also stood up and followed after the xiaojie who were proceeding towards the osmanthus forest.
For a moment, only Yuan de taifei, Chen wang, Wu furen, Chu Fei Yang, Hai Tian and a few people from the Northern Qi were left in the garden.
Although Hai Tian was already bestowed a marriage for the peace treaty, she still had yet to successfully restrain her eyes from looking at Chu Fei Yang, and they still flickered with complicated emotions.
Qi Ling'er caught a glimpse of her expression inadvertently, and both looked at Chu Fei Yang. Seeing his handsome face, his tall figure, and his wise impressive manners as he spoke, for a short moment Qi Ling'er became curious of this Chu Fei Yang.
Qi Jing Yuan was drinking wine alone, seeing Hai Tian, who would soon become the Crown Princess, having affection for someone else, the corner of Qi Jing Yuan's mouth hooked up in a cold smile.
Qi Jing Han looked at the cold and cheerless atmosphere of the garden. Unable to endure the loneliness, he stood up, and also followed everyone to the osmanthus forest.
"Did you know that, the Empress' brother got thrown out of the city gates a few days ago?" along the way, a well-informed xiaojie said in a low voice during their idle gossip.
"Yes. Based on the information divulged by the person who found Ruan Yu Xiao, that Ruan gongzi was thrown out of the city gates absolutely naked. Many common people wh
o passed by had seen him, so the Empress might already feel humiliated. I heard that Jiang laotaijun was furious and she had Ruan gongzi placed under house arrest." Another xiaojie remarked in great detail, as if she had personally witnessed it.
"Aside from that, it seemed like Ruan gongzi had been poisoned into becoming mute. He will no longer be able to speak again in this life." A third xiaojie went on gossiping with her own information. Soon after, she even spoke about her own suspicions, "Who else could be heartless enough to curse Ruan gongzi into such a…"
Before she could finish, her mouth was covered by another xiaojie as they looked at the mama leading the way. Using their eyes, they silently rebuked the xiaojie who had spoken so carelessly.
To examine the situation, the Yuan Family seemed to be the likely suspect of the Ruan Family's misfortune.
But some people only had the brains but are not capable of thinking. Standing on another's territory while expressing her own opinions. Being stupid was quite enough for just one person, but involving those around her in the discussion was really annoying.
Yun Qian Meng walked behind the crowd, quietly listening to their discussions, while the corner of her mouth could not help forming into a cold smile.
Heartless?
If it was not for Chu Fei Yang's timely appearance, the one who would have encountered bad luck would have been her. That Ruan Yu Xiao disregarded another's life for his selfish desires. Even if a person like that was killed, it would not be that heartless.
Seeing Yun Qian Meng's antisocial behavior, Qu Fei Qing worriedly gripped her hand. She recalled the events if that day at Feng Xiang Palace and her heart suddenly skipped a beat. She looked incredulously at Yun Qian Meng, who had already regained her usual flat expression. With some difficulty, she also suppressed the worry in her heart.
And during this time, Yuan Qing Zhou had quickly caught up to them. When he passed by Yun Qian Meng, he turned his head around and gave Yun Qian Meng a once over before he immediately he quickly followed the other gongzi's pace as the crowd headed towards the osmanthus forest.
