Chapter 320

Chapter 325: Dragon Boat Festival (Part 2)

"Arranging a marriage for Zhenjie?" Eleven Miss exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes!" Lady Lin laughed. "It's a nephew from my mother’s side of the family. He's sixteen this year. Though not from my immediate branch, his grandfather once served as the deputy regional commander of Guangxi. Not only is he handsome, but he excels in both literary and martial arts. At such a young age, he’s already a holder of a military degree. My elder brother often says that among the Zhong generation in our Shao family, he and my youngest brother are the most promising."

Lady Lin’s mother’s side of the family was in Cangzhou.

Forget elder madam and Lord Xu—even Eleven Miss herself would likely hesitate at the thought of Zhenjie marrying so far away.

She smiled and said, "You know how things are with me. Zhenjie was raised by elder madam since she was little, and Lord Xu has only her as his daughter. This matter would have to be discussed with Lord Xu and elder madam."

Lady Lin was well aware of this.

As impressive as her nephew was, he was still far away in Cangzhou. Had it not been for her younger brother’s constant urging and seeing even families like the Zhuos making marriage proposals, she wouldn’t have dared to bring it up. At this thought, her matchmaking zeal cooled.

"Whenever I picture your Zhenjie with our Zhong Ran, they seem like a match made in heaven," Lady Lin said, exchanging pleasantries before changing the subject to Eleven Miss’s Dragon Boat Festival plans. "...Elder madam personally sent an invitation to my mother-in-law, saying it’s your coming-of-age celebration and asking us to come early that day to celebrate."

Elder madam had mentioned long ago that she wanted to hold a grand coming-of-age celebration for her. Eleven Miss wasn’t too concerned with such formalities, but the gesture touched her heart. However, elder madam hadn’t brought it up again since then. Recently, she often sent Madam Du on various errands and even went out visiting a few times, as if secretly planning a banquet—all very mysterious. Eleven Miss pretended not to notice.

"Of all days, it had to be the Dragon Boat Festival," Eleven Miss said with a smile. "Ruining everyone’s holiday!"

"At least it’s the Dragon Boat Festival," Lady Lin replied amiably. "Had it been Mid-Autumn Festival, it’d have been a real headache."

The Dragon Boat Festival was for outings, while the Mid-Autumn Festival was for family reunions. It was fine for people to gather during the former, but throwing a party then would be rude.

Eleven Miss nodded with a smile. "Looked at that way, it’s not so bad."

Lady Lin hid a laugh behind her sleeve.

Mrs. Zhuo arrived.

Seeing her chance, Lady Lin excused herself.

This time, Mrs. Zhuo brought some melons. "...A gift from my husband’s former subordinate. They’re different from the melons in Yanjing. We specially brought them for elder madam and you to try."

Eleven Miss thanked her and made small talk before escorting Mrs. Zhuo to greet elder madam and seeing her off at the inner gate.

Returning to her room, she saw Amber putting away the red-and-gold lacquered box Lady Lin had brought.

Eleven Miss smiled. "She said these are gilt Sichuan fans Huijie made for Zhenjie. Deliver them to her." As soon as she finished speaking, Amber’s hand slipped, and the box fell to the ground. Five fans scattered messily across the floor.

"Madam!" Amber’s face paled.

"It’s fine, it’s fine," Eleven Miss reassured her, stepping forward to help pick up the fans.

The gold-trimmed fan ribs and black silk panels, with intricate paintings of peonies and pheasant chicks, were exquisitely beautiful.

Eleven Miss couldn’t resist unfolding one to look.

The vibrant colors and charming composition surprised her.

"I didn’t expect Huijie to have such skill."

Amber also admired it. "So beautiful!"

Eleven Miss nodded with a smile, appreciating the fans as they tidied up.

One depicted jade hairpins under a moonlit night, another showed crabapple blossoms in spring slumber, a third featured lotuses under the sun, and the last portrayed orchids by a stone.

Not only were the paintings of exceptional quality, but the Moonlit Hosta fan painting was particularly innovative in its conception.

A spray of pristine white hostas bloomed vividly, their deep and light green leaves occasionally left blank, resembling the gentle glow of moonlight—though not a trace of the moon itself was depicted, it perfectly captured the sight of hostas blooming under the night sky.

Eleven Miss marveled.

Hostas, with their flawless white petals and intoxicating fragrance, were a beloved and common flower. Most painters captured their delicate, charming simplicity. Yet this painting of hostas bathed in moonlight carried an elegance akin to narcissus. What was even rarer was that this elegance didn’t stem from an aloof posture but radiated from every petal and stamen. Like innate nobility shining through, it evoked deep admiration—completely different from the delicate, exuberant charm of the peony and chick painting.

As this thought crossed her mind, Eleven Miss froze. Then, gathering the fans in haste, she hurried to the eastern chamber.

Amber, noticing her hurried movements, grew alarmed and quickly followed.

There, she saw Eleven Miss laying all five Sichuan-style painted fans side by side on the large desk, examining them with a grave expression.

"My lady!" Amber whispered. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing," Eleven Miss replied, lifting her head with a composed expression. "I just thought these fans were too beautiful not to examine."

Her demeanor remained as warm as ever, her gaze as gentle, yet Amber, who knew her well, sensed something amiss. It was like the ominous calm before a storm—deceptively peaceful but carrying an undercurrent of tension.

Eleven Miss gathered the fans lightly. "What is the eldest daughter doing?" she asked, enunciating each word.

Amber quickly replied, "She’s embroidering with Sister Binju!"

"Bring her here," Eleven Miss said, placing the fans back into the vermilion-lacquered box with gold tracery. "Tell her I need to speak with her." She added, "Say nothing else."

A flicker of surprise passed through Amber’s eyes, but she obeyed respectfully and left.

Eleven Miss stared at the closed box, her gaze gradually turning sharp.

"Mother, you wanted to see me?" Zhenjie’s voice rang out, clear and cheerful like an oriole’s song.

When Eleven Miss looked up, the sharpness in her eyes had vanished, replaced by warmth like early April sunshine.

Twelve-year-old Zhenjie wore a rust-red linen blouse and now stood half a head taller than Eleven Miss.

Eleven Miss glanced at the delicate gold filigree blossom earrings in her ears and smiled faintly. "Huijie sent you something."

"Really?" Her dark eyes lit up like polished onyx.

Eleven Miss gestured toward the vermilion-lacquered box with gold tracery on the desk.

"How lovely!" Zhenjie exclaimed as she admired the fans. "Mother," she said, opening one and holding it up to Eleven Miss, "look—these steps bordered by flowering crabapples are the ones behind Huijie’s room! There’s even a carved tiger’s head at one end!"

Eleven Miss glanced at it but then opened the fan with the hosta painting instead. "I think this one is the best."

Zhenjie turned to look and immediately widened her eyes. "Hostas!"

"Do you like hostas very much?" Eleven Miss’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Yes!" Zhenjie replied joyfully. "I love hostas the most." Her eyes shone as she gazed at Eleven Miss. "Huijie doesn’t like hostas—she must have painted this just for me." She accepted the fan from her mother and examined it closely. "Hostas under moonlight..." she breathed in wonder. "Did Huijie really stay up late to paint this?" She broke into a delighted smile. "She summons maids for every little thing—yet she stayed up late to paint this…" Tears shimmered in her eyes. "I must pen her a proper letter of thanks."

She began putting the fan back into the box.

Suddenly, Eleven Miss picked up the moonlit hosta fan again. "I'm quite taken with this one myself," she said, smiling at Zhenjie.

Zhenjie looked surprised but then brightened. "Do take it, please, Mother!"

"A gentleman doesn't take what's dear to others..." Eleven Miss held Zhenjie's gaze.

Zhenjie gestured to the remaining four fans, "I still have so many!"

Eleven Miss smiled, unfolding a fan and gently waving it.

Zhenjie cheerfully cradled the box, about to leave.

Eleven Miss snapped the fan shut with a flick and said with a smile, "How about writing the letter here? The sun is strong outside—no need to trek back to Shaohua Courtyard."

Zhenjie thought for a moment, then agreed with a smile and settled in to grind the ink.

Eleven Miss summoned a young maid to help while she herself sat on an embroidered stool nearby, studying the fan in her hand.

Zhenjie sat poised at the desk, her expression serene and composed. She finished the letter swiftly, without pause, and instructed the maid, "Send this to the Lin family’s eldest daughter at the Weibei Marquis’s estate."

The maid murmured an acknowledgment and sprinkled fine white sand over the letter—the sand soaked up the ink, speeding up drying. There was no attempt to conceal anything.

Eleven Miss nodded to herself in approval.

Meanwhile, Zhenjie stood up and noticed Eleven Miss still holding the fan. After a brief thought, she approached with the open red-lacquered, gold-traced box and offered it with a smile, "Mother, if you like it, why not take a few more?"

Eleven Miss looked up, studying Zhenjie.

Zhenjie gazed back with clear, transparent eyes, her smile radiant.

Eleven Miss suddenly laughed and pushed the box away, "No need, this one is enough!"

Zhenjie, sensing her sudden relaxation, showed a flicker of confusion and urged, "Worst case, I’ll just have Huijie make me more."

Eleven Miss's eyes flickered slightly, then she suggested, "What if we visit the Weibei Marquis’s estate tomorrow? Lady Lin sent us some honey peaches today—we could select a few embroideries as gifts in return. And we can see Huijie while we're there."

"Yes! That’s perfect!" Zhenjie exclaimed excitedly, "It feels like forever since I’ve seen Huijie!"

"Didn’t you go boating together on Double Third Festival?" Eleven Miss teased, "It hasn’t even been two months yet."

Zhenjie flushed slightly.

Eleven Miss lowered her voice, "You really like Huijie, don’t you?"

"Mother… do you not like her?" Zhenjie asked worriedly.

"Not at all," Eleven Miss reassured with a smile, "I just noticed how particularly happy you seem."

Zhenjie looked a little embarrassed, "Huijie’s so talented… while I only know the zither."

Eleven Miss patted her hand with a smile. That evening, she informed the Elder Madam, mentioning only the need to return the courtesy gifts. After selecting a few small embroideries, she took Zhenjie to the Weibei Marquis’s estate the next day.

The Weibei Marquis’s estate was like a scaled-down Yongping Marquis’s estate.

Though it was her first visit, Eleven Miss found it warm and familiar.

Upon hearing of their arrival, Lady Lin came out with Huijie to greet them at the festooned gate.

After exchanging pleasantries, the two adults engaged in polite conversation while the two girls linked arms, whispering eagerly.