Chapter 93 (1/2)
Chapter 93: Missing (Part 1)
During the day of the Jade Rabbit Festival, it was indeed extraordinarily lively.
After Shen Miao taken her dinner, Bai Lu and Shuang Jiang hurriedly ran over and spoke, “Young Lady, there are people in the city who have lit fireworks. On heard that there would be continuous fireworks that would be lit at night and it will look very good.” The anticipation in her words was unable to be concealed.
“What is there to be flustered?” Gu Yu was combing Shen Miao’s hair as she scolded, “One will eventually head over and see. There is no need to rush for a moment.”
Her voice hardly left when one could hear Shen Qiu smiling voice coming in from the outside, “Is Younger Sister read? Father and Mother is in the front hall waiting for us.”
“Replying Eldest Young Master,” Jing Zhe relied outside, “Young Lady’s hair is yet to be combed. Kindly wait for a while more.”
“How can a little girl’s hair take so long to be combed?” Shen Qiu muttered, “Already caught up in the time for a soldier wearing armour.” After saying that he roared towards the house, “Younger Sister, I will head to the front hall to wait for you first, you come over yourself alright?”
Shen Miao complied from the window side. At the same time Gu Yu finished combing her hair and was picking and choosing from the box and finally she found a jade hairpin and inserted into Shen Miao’s head. Shen Miao took a glance at the bronze mirror and could not help but be startled, “Why this piece?”
“This servant find that this hairpin goes well with the clothes that Young Lady is wearing.” Gu Yu smiled, “And this hairpin is delicate but not complicated which match with today’s simple spiral coil style.”
Shen Miao could not help but reached to the hairpin in her hair. That was the Begonia jade hairpin that Xie Jing Xing gave to her. This hairpin was later thoroughly vetted by Gu Yu and the rest and it was definitely invaluable thus Shen Miao initially wanted to return to Xie Jing Xing but later dropped the idea as she thought that perhaps there would be a day where she would be over-extended and she most likely would be able to use it for exchange of some money to spend. But if Xie Jing Xing was aware of that, one did not know how angry he would become.
“Does Young Lady felt that the hairpin is not good?” Gu Yu looked hesitantly at Shen Miao before saying, “How about changing to another one. Eldest Young Master had sent over a number of jewellery that were bestowed from the Palace and most likely one would be able to find some good looking hairpins.”
“No need.” Shen Miao interrupted her, “One fear that by searching it would only delay more time. Leave it as it is.” It was nothing more than a hairpin.
Gu Yu tidied her collar for her again and draped her cloak over before smile, “Now it is completed.”
“Don’t forget the little warmer.” Jing Zhe handed a hand warmer to her.
When Shen Miao and entourage reached the main hall, all the people of the Shen residence was already present. Because in previous years the entire Shen residence would travel together to the Jade Rabbit Festival and thought that it would be the same this year.
Chen Rou Qiu and Shen Wan were talking and Shen Yue wore a light pink long dress with twelve plaits, which had many winding patterns. In this kind of cold weather, what she wore was considered very thin inside and on the outside, she wore a pink peach embroidered cloak which was also visually attractive but useless as it most likely would not be able to even resist the wind but she still had a very satisfied appearance on. When she saw Shen Miao coming, she even smiled as she called her, “Fifth Younger Sister.”
Shen Miao nodded her head at her and turned over to see Shen Gui side. I was as if there were no difference from previous year, even if Ren Wan Yun and Shen Yuan Bo was no present. In previous years, Ren Wan Yun was bring along Shen Yuan Bo but now that Ren Wan Yun was mentally ill due to grieve and could not go out. Shen Yuan Bo was young of age and there are many kidnappers on the streats thus Old Shen Furen wanted Shen Yuan Bo to accompany her in the residence. Shen Yuan stood beside Shen Wan and behind Shen an Wan YiNiang was holding a young female’s hand as that female looked over.
This was the Shu daughter of the Second household, Shen Dong Ling.
Shen Dong Ling was wearing a long apricot coloured lined jacket, most likely because of her so called ‘chills’. That lined jacket was massive and tick but it seemed to make her looked very thin. In fact if one were to look seriously, her facial features followed of that of Wan YiLiang’s delicate beauty but one did not know why, her temperament was so plain that it was almost invisible. She did ot greet Shen Miao and just quietly look, one did not know if she was shy or cold.
Shen Miao retrieved her eyes back but heard Shen Qiu boast loudly, “Younger Sister, now you look even better looking!”
“Brat.” Shen Xin heard it and kicked Shen Qiu, “Since when was your Younger Sister not good looking!”
Luo Xue Yan also smiled as she walked over to Shen Miao’s side. She held her hands and said, “Our Jiao Jiao is also a grown Young Lady.”
Everyone’s gazes in the hall went towards Shen Miao, all with unknown implications. One year ago Shen Miao was still wearing gold and silver and her makeup was whiter than any silly females. But the current her was wearing a dark bluish purple with gold embroidered dress and her cloak was in peony colour. Her hair was styled into a delicate spiral coil to the side and there was only one jade hairpin that was inserted, an no jingling of accessories at all but still excluding a magnificent and majestic air. Her facial features were clean and clear and that pair of eyes were as clear as a young beast. If she looked more gentle and graceful, then she would look childish but she stood tall and dignified like the clear and bright moon of the Nine Heavens which made one feel a suppressing feeling.
She had directly competed with the houseful of females and one felt that the room was filled with vulgar powder and rouge.
There was a trace of jealousy in Shen Yue’s eyes as she thought that the person who cannot be compared to her the most was Shen Miao but now unwittingly, she had already snatched her limelight. Shen Yue was most confident of the elegance and beauty of her scholarly style but seeing Shen Miao today, a sense of inferiority was borne. She raised her head and looked towards Chen Rou Qiu, wishing to see a little look of disdain of Shen Miao but she saw a trace of heaviness which made her heart cold.
Wan YiNiang signed and her hands that were holding onto Shen Dong Ling unconsciously tighten. She did not thought about any other matters and only felt that Shen Miao was worthy of being a Di daughter. The bearing of a Di daughter was really different and no matter how exceptionally intelligent her daughter was, since previously she was kept in the courtyard for so many years. In terms of the air of nobility, she was incomparable to Shen Miao at all.
There was however not much reaction from the males in the room. Other than Shen Xin and Shen Qiu, Shen Gui and Shen Wan at the most frowned and as for Shen Yuan, he kept staring at Shen Miao but no one knew what was he thinking about.
Chen Ruo Qiu changed the subject seamlessly, “Since everyone is present, lets’ start to head out.”
Old Shen Furen was old and naturally was unable to appear in such an occasion. In the Shen residence, other than Old Shen Furen, Shen Yuan Bo and Ren Wan Yun who were left behind, all the concubines of the Second household also remained. The rest of them started heading to the streets to mingle in the Jade Rabbit Festivals. If it were in previous years, naturally there would be laughter the entire way but because Shen Miao was in the large fire that burn the ancestral hall this year, Shen Xin and Shen Qiu almost intentionally kept their distance from the rest and only talked to Luo Xue Yan.
The guards of the Shen residence were following at the back. In fact, in order to maintain the safety of the people in the Ding capital and stop kidnappers from abducting others in crowded areas, the city guards would put up patrols at both sides and thus it was could be said that it is considered relatively safe.
Shen Xin did not talked to Shen Gui and Shen Wand thus they did not bother to court a rebuff and talked to themselves. Shen Yue previously would walk together with Shen Qing and Shen Miao. Shen Miao would highlight her literary knowledge but now Shen Miao could not be bother with her and Shen Yue was not willing to let Shen Miao steal her limelight so she went to chat with Shen Dong Ling. When Wan YiNiang saw that Shen Yue was willing to get closer, naturally she was happy but one did not know if it was Shen Dong Ling who was shy, she was not warm with Shen Yue as Shen Yue was never this open hearted. However she had some timid appearance thus after a few times, Shen Yu also lost interest.
When this entourage of people walked on the streets, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward. It seemed to be at odds as there would always be enjoyment when an entire residence travel together instead of enjoying the moment by themselves.
As Shen Miao walked, she was seriously looking at the lanterns and riddles along the streets. Shen Xin and the few did not like to guess the lantern riddles as they were rough people of the military family, how would they be able to set their heart down to guess words from riddles. Using Shen Qiu words, “If Younger Sister like those colourful lanterns, tomorrow Eldest Brother will go to the capital to find a master to make an exact same one. There is no need to spend so much effort.”
Shen Qiu would not be able to understand Chen Rou Qiu and the rest of their ‘elegance’. After waiting with great difficult for Chen Rou Qiu and the rest to finish guessing the lantern riddles and when they were about to walk forward, suddenly Wan YiNiang said to Shen Gui, “Master, heard that there will be a dance from the Jade Rabbit Fairy on the lake tonight. This year the Jade Rabbit Lantern will be set off on the lake so let’s go there to see it.”
But Chen Rou Qiu frowned when she heard it and said softly, “That Jade Rabbit Fairy comes from Bao Xiang Lou and we also brought our residence’s young ladies along, so one fear that it is somewhat not good.” What kind of place Bao Xiang Lou was, it was the biggest money squandering establishment in Ding capital and the young ladies there had warm flesh and fragrance of a beauty. How many man had abandon their wives and stake a thousand gold to spend a night with the young ladies of Bao Xiang Lou, thus making the main wives felt shameful of. However no matter how much those TaiTai and Furen contempt, they are unable to change that fact that Bao Xiang Lou’s young ladies were all talented performers. Thus this year’s Jade Rabbit Fairy ended up performed by one of Bao Xiang Lou’s young lady.
“Second Furen,” Wan YiNiang softly said, “Although that is said, it is after all only a performance. One think that in front of so many people that Jade Rabbit Fairy would not be able to do any inappropriate things and one would only be watching the festive. There is no need to be that serious.” Wan YiNiang initially did not want to fight with Chen Rou Qiu but like Ren Wan Yun, she could not stand Chen Rou Qiu’s loftiness and always putting on a scholarly attitude. As compared to Ren Wan Yun, Wan YiNiang hated Chen Rou Qiu more because she was born in the troupe and today when Chen Rou Qiu suppressed that Bao Xiang Lou, she no doubt also looked down on her.
When both of their tit for tat were heard by others, in a moment the atmosphere started to get interesting. Males would not intervene in female’s dispute and Shen Dong Ling could only clutch Wan YuNiang’s hand and tightly pursed her lips without speaking. Shen Yue had the heart to argue for Chen Rou Qiu but find that by doing so she would lose her Di daughter status so at the moment no one spoke.
“Who say that going to Wan Li Lake is to see the Jade Rabbit Fairy.” In the silence Shen Miao gently spoke, “It is not every day where one can see tens of thousands of people will be setting off lanterns. Moreover, the rich and poor are unable to choose their birth and thus there is no need to look down on another because of it. No matter what identity she have, today she is the Jade Rabbit Fairy. A person with a clear heart would not care about these superficial things.”
Chapter 93: Missing (Part 2)
Everyone was first surprised for a moment before Shen Xin threw his head back and laughed, “Jiao Jiao said correctly. The rich and poor are unable to choose their birth and what kind of ability is that to look down on others!”
Luo Xue Yan also smiled. As the soldiers of the army that fight on the battlefields, some came from official’s families but even more came from ordinary commoners. Some of them could not even afford rice to eat and some of their families’ elderly almost starved to death, thus talking about family background, each had their own hardships. Thus they would never look down on the poor and Shen Miao’s words were in line with their minds.
“Younger Sister.” Shen Qiu patted Shen Miao’s shoulder, “Your tone is one who can bear the entire world in their mind. With this kind of vision, I as your brother am ashamed of being inferior.”
She obviously knew that Shen Qiu was teasing the words she used but Shen Miao was despondent. In her previous life she married Fu Xiu Yi and became the Empress and it was because of love, but as an Empress the responsibility that was placed onto her was not one less than anyone. The words of ‘motherly model of the world’ were to ensure that all the ordinary folks lived in peace and worked happily, and the person occupying that leading position must love one’s citizens. This was what Fu Xiu Yi taught her even though Fu Xiu Yi himself was unable to achieve it.
As they echoed one another at one side, Chen Rou Qiu’s face was however green and white. Was not Shen Xin praising Shen Miao’s frankness indicate her hypocrisy? Shen Wan’s expression was also somewhat gloomy, and Shen Yue had long burst into anger but held down the sarcastic words she had for Shen Miao.
Wan YiNiang thought that Shen Miao’s words were helping her and the next moment there was a hint of joy on her face. When Shen Dong Ling saw that, she slightly shook her head. Shen Yuan still had a cold smile on his face and Shen Gui was acting ignorant.
“Then let us go to Wan Li Lake.” Since Luo Xue Yan was used to being a female General, it was natural of her to give a command. Even if the rest of the Shen family was reluctant, because of the Shen family guards behind, they could only keep up.
Wan Li Lake was located slightly west of the heart of the Ding capital and the entire lake was embedded into the city. When it was spring, it looked like a piece of jade but during winter, when there was some snow descending, the image of the fluttering snow on the lake with boats floating by and one discussing about matter over wine was such an enjoyable thing.
There was also some snow today but under the many lights, those snowflakes had become crystal clear jade flowers that were lit as they fell onto the ground. The willow tree by the lake was covered with little snow crystals making one unsure which was snow and which were the lights.
But before one walked to the side of the Wan Li Lake, one was able to hear the sound of fireworks. Upon raising one’s head, one would be able to see in the dark skies large pieces of fireworks that made the people’s eyes flower. Below, people’s hearts were moved, lovers stood side by side and held hands and if an entire family was out for fun, when they looked up, they were able to see a moment of eternity.
“Young Lady, Young Lady quick look.” Jing Zhe said excitedly, “Those are the fireworks by Wan Li Lake. Heard that the fireworks would be lit the entire night tonight!”
“It really looks good.” Gu Yu also murmured.
“Ha. The Ding capital is indeed truly flourishing.” Shen Qiu said to Luo Xue Yan, “It is more fun than our Northwestern region.”