NCCnovel Chapter 212: Plum Blossom Viewing in the Imperial Garden
Chapter 212: Plum Blossom Viewing in the Imperial Garden
Mrs. Chen, who was about to continue speaking, immediately stopped talking when she received a look from Lord Chen.
Then he said, "Let's go in."
Chen Yayuan was a little puzzled. It turned out that the woman she scolded that day was the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. So what? She was just a country girl.
She just doesn't like the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, huh!
Although Xia Xuelian's heart was a little disturbed, she quickly adjusted her mood and blended into the crowd with her mother Wang.
Under the guidance of her mother, Xia Xuelian bowed to all the ladies and young ladies. Mrs. Wang looked at Xia Xuelian and found that she was not being rude, but compared with the young ladies from aristocratic families, she could still see the difference at a glance.
Moreover, those young ladies from aristocratic families only greeted her politely, and the looks they showed towards Xia Xuelian were not only curiosity at first, but also coldness.
This is the first time that Madam Wang has appeared in public since Xia Xuelian returned to the Duke's Mansion.
The midday sun shines on the magnificent palace gate, reflecting a dazzling light.
The palace gate was crowded with people, the heads and mistresses of various aristocratic families had gathered there. They were dressed in gorgeous clothes and looked calm, obviously they had all come for this important palace banquet.
The eunuchs in the palace led the dignitaries to the imperial garden, where they could enjoy the snow scenery before the palace banquet officially began.
This year's snow was heavier and longer than in previous years. The red plum blossoms in the imperial garden were dotted with white snow, and the unique scenery attracted the attention of the ladies.
Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Chen were sitting in the pavilion. Mrs. Wang didn't know about the previous feud between the two, so she wanted to introduce them to each other.
Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Chen are also good friends.
They knew each other before they got married, and after they got married, they became familiar with each other because they often attended various flower viewing parties. This time, both of them brought their daughters, so naturally they got to know each other.
Chen Yayuan, the daughter of Shuntian Prefecture, came to pay her respects to Madam Wang.
Xia Xuelian stood beside Wang, while the maid Xiaoqing and other servants stood outside the pavilion.
Chen Yayuan stepped forward and bowed to Madam Wang: "Yayuan greets Madam Wang!"
Mrs. Wang was very familiar with Chen Yayuan. Every time she saw her, she would think of her lost daughter, and her eyes were filled with joy every time she saw her.
"Hurry up, Yayuan, come here and let your aunt see you." In formal occasions, Yayuan always called her Madam Wang, and in private she would call her Aunt Wang.
Chen Yayuan walked up to Wang with a proud look on her face.
Xia Xuelian, who was standing next to her, felt jealous when she saw how kind her mother was to her.
Her face immediately darkened, and at this moment, Mrs. Wang spoke: "Lian'er, come here, let me introduce you two to each other."
Xia Xuelian walked in front of her with her head half lowered.
Mrs. Wang held their hands and said, "Yayuan, this is my daughter. Lian'er, this is the daughter of Mr. Chen from Shuntian Prefecture. Yayuan, you two are of similar age. Now that we have met, you can spend more time together."
Mrs. Chen concealed the doubt in her eyes and looked at the two with the same gentle smile: "Yayuan will have another close friend in the future."
Chen Yayuan said to the two ladies, "Mother, Aunt Wang, is it okay for Xuelian and I to go and appreciate the plum blossoms?"
Mrs. Chen was of course happy to see this happen, and Mrs. Wang also hoped that Xia Xuelian could make some good friends.
So he asked the two of them to go together to appreciate the plum blossoms after the snow.
Chen Yayuan and Xia Xuelian walked side by side on the path in the Imperial Garden. The snow under their feet made a slight creaking sound, accompanying their light steps. The surrounding red plum blossoms looked particularly delicate against the white snow, and the fragrance was refreshing.
Although Chen Yayuan knew that Xia Xuelian was the eldest daughter of the Duke's Mansion, she looked down on Xia Xuelian from the bottom of her heart and thought she was too petty. The two walked together under a blooming plum tree.
Chen Yayuan suddenly stopped and turned to look at Xia Xuelian, a smile flashing in her eyes. She opened her red lips slightly and said in a clear and pleasant voice: "So you bought that hairpin to attend the palace banquet, what a pity!"
Xia Xuelian stopped and asked, "What a pity?"
Chen Yayuan said: "It's a pity that I bought it"
Xia Xuelian was upset: "I was the first one to see the hairpin, but you snatched it away by force."
Chen Yayuan sneered: "It's more important who the hairpin suits. Such a beautiful hairpin will immediately lose its luster when you wear it."
Xia Xuelian asked, "Why?"
She regretted it after she said it. She was saying that she was not the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
This person actually ridiculed me in front of me. I was so angry that my face turned red.
She turned around and walked quickly to the side. Xiaoqing behind her saw Xia Xuelian leaving, glared at Chen Yayuan, and hurriedly chased after Xia Xuelian.
After Xiaoqing caught up with Xia Xuelian, the master and servant unknowingly came to a quiet little house. The door of the house was half-closed, revealing a hint of warmth. The two curiously opened the door and walked in.
The small courtyard is decorated very elegantly, with rockery, flowing water, pavilions and towers.
The red plum blossoms in the courtyard were in full bloom, and they looked even more gorgeous against the white snow. The two were intoxicated by the beautiful scenery, and unknowingly walked to a secluded corner.
Suddenly, a man in gorgeous clothes appeared in front of them.
When the man saw the two ladies, he was slightly stunned, and then he smiled gently.
It was the first time that Xia Xuelian saw such a handsome man, and she couldn't help but feel an inexplicable emotion in her heart. She blushed and lowered her head, not daring to look directly into the man's eyes.
The man looked at the girl who walked in. She was quite pretty.
He said softly, "I wonder which family's daughter this is?"
Xia Xuelian immediately bowed slightly and said, "Xuelian from the Zhenguo Gonggong Mansion."
The name was an embarrassing thing for Xia Xuelian, because although she was very much loved in the mansion, her surname was not changed back to Xue.
So I just introduced myself by saying my name.
When he bowed, he gave Xiaoqing a look, and Xiaoqing understood and said, "It's the eldest daughter Xuelian of the Zhenguo Mansion."
The man narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Xia Xuelian: "This is not a place for women to be welcomed. Please go back, Miss Xue."
After saying that, he turned around and left the courtyard.
Xia Xuelian was stunned when she saw him turn around and smiled at her, "Ms. Qing Xue, please come back soon. The palace banquet is about to begin."
At the palace banquet that night, Xia Xuelian saw the man again, and her heart began to beat fast and her face turned red. Madam Wang asked her if she was feeling unwell.
She just said it was a little hot.
At the banquet, her eyes always involuntarily looked towards the eldest prince who was sitting in the first seat opposite her. He was gentle and elegant, but still had the dignity of a royal family.
And Xia Xuelian is not the only one who has a special liking for the eldest prince.
But he had already gotten used to the eldest prince's passionate gazes.
The ladies of each family were whispering something, and then they heard the eunuch Li Zhun's voice coming from outside the palace: "The Emperor and Empress have arrived..."