Chapter 40: An Unexpected Ball

On this day, it was the Marquis Xiangyang Marquis's grand birthday celebration.

The daughters of the Fu'an Hou Wei family arrived early at Xingguo Ward.

As soon as they stepped off the carriage, the Wei family's Peng Erniang spotted the Han family's Han Han Wu Niang at the gate.

The two were of similar age and had once been classmates at the same girls' academy.

The Wei family's Peng Erniang quickened her pace and approached the Han family's Han Han Wu Niang.

"Younger sister, why have you arrived so early?"

Han Han Han Wu Niang said, "Older sister, you are not late either. I have long heard from the sisters in my household that the Marquis Xiangyang Marquis's Hou Fu is vast and wealthy; seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation."

"Hey, look, that old maid from the Qin family has arrived. The one who just stepped out is her sister-in-law."

"I heard this sister-in-law of hers is famously stingy."

Wei Peng Erniang said, "Hahaha, so you've heard too? Previously, she even hoped to arrange a marriage with our family's Han Wulang."

"She cannot even scrape together a dowry; who would want her! I reckon she is only fit for a poor scholar or a merchant family."

Wei Peng Erniang said, "Look at her clothes; they are a style that was fashionable three years ago."

"Even my first-class maidservants dress better than she does."

"She still has the face to come out, needlessly shaming the reputation of us noble families."

"Let's go, let's go inside."

The Qin family's Peng Erniang stepped out of the carriage; seeing her elder sister-in-law ahead ignoring her, her expression did not change in the slightest.

The maid Xiang nearby glanced around discreetly and whispered,

"Miss, the Xu family has not arrived yet."

"Come, let us go inside."

Qin Er Lady entered this flourishing Marquis Xiangyang Marquis's Hou Fu; wherever she looked, the ladies were dressed in luxurious attire.

Walking into the garden of the Marquis Xiangyang Marquis's Hou Fu, Maid Xiang obtained a cup of tea from the household servants for her young mistress to sip slowly.

After a while, taking the empty tea bowl, she intended to fetch a fresh cup of tea.

Just then, a maidservant from the Marquis Xiangyang Marquis's Hou Fu approached.

She saw Qin Er Lady, who was standing with her back turned, admiring the flowers.

Seeing that this person was dressed plainly and wore no hairpins or rings in her coiffure,

she did not think much of it and called out,

"Older sister maidservant, could you help me lift this trunk? Sister?"

Qin Er Lady turned around, a look of puzzlement on her face.

Maid Xiang walked over from the side.

"Younger sister, trouble yourself to open your eyes wide and look properly; do not call out names without cause."

The maidservant of the Marquis Xiangyang Marquis's Hou Fu also froze in shock; judging by Qin Er Lady's demeanor, she realized she might have called out incorrectly.

She hastily covered her mouth, performed a curtsy, and said,

"Forgive this humble one, forgive me! I am so busy my head is spinning."

Having spoken, she lifted the trunk with all her might and hurried away.

"Miss, let us move to a spot closer to the outer area; I know Xu Pingmei and Xu Anmei, the two young ladies from Xu Fu. Once they arrive, their family's Zhang Sanlang should be here soon as well."

The mistress and servant walked through the garden.

From afar, glances occasionally came their way, followed by ladies covering their mouths and whispering about something.

Maid Xiang's face had already turned somewhat red, but Qin Er Lady remained unperturbed, even having the leisure to look back at them.

Some noble ladies who were gossiping felt somewhat embarrassed upon being seen by the original owner of this body and stopped their chatter.

In this courtyard filled with people wearing gold and jade, Qin Er Lady indeed appeared somewhat plain.

Those few groups of ladies playing pitch-pot and ball-hitting games, along with others kicking shuttlecocks, did not have the leisure to pay attention to this mistress and servant pair.

After staying for a short while, just as Qin Er Lady was staring blankly at the clouds in the sky, Maid Xiang tugged at her sleeve.

Qin Er Lady looked over to see five ladies, four grown and one child, walking toward them, followed by seven or eight maidservants and attendants.

Further away, five boys of varying heights were heading toward the men's quarters, each followed by their own young attendants.

The distance was too great for Qin Er Lady to distinguish which one was her old friend's nephew.

The newcomers were precisely Bai Shi and Sun Shi, who had come together, while the little girl was Gu Gu Tingyi.

Gu Gu Tingyu, Gu Gu Tingye, and the three Xu brothers were walking together.

Bai Shi and Sun Shi did not have many friends within the noble circles of Bianjing; after all, one came from a merchant family, and the other was an adopted heir to a marquisate.

Although the current Marquis Xiangyang Marquis was also an adopted heir, having capable descendants who earned the Emperor's favor naturally made him different.

Relying on the connection of Grandmother Sun's family, Xu Xu Zaijing and his group of brothers, acting as the generation of nephews, went to offer birthday wishes to the Marquis Xiangyang Marquis.

Xu Xu Zaijing could tell that the Marquis Xiangyang Marquis was already not very familiar with the collateral daughters from their hometown in Qingcheng.

It was the old steward beside him who whispered an explanation into the Marquis's ear.

The Marquis Xiangyang Marquis nodded, his gaze gradually clearing as he sorted out the relationship between Xu Xu Zaijing and his companions and his own family.

"All good children! Good children born of our Gu family."

Because Gu Gu Tingyu and his brothers theoretically held a closer relationship, they had entered to offer their respects before the Xu family descendants and were now standing behind the old Marquis.

Beside the Marquis Xiangyang Marquis stood a small boy of three or four years old, standing properly next to Gu Gu Tingye.

That was Qi Heng, the son of Princess Princess Pingning.

After offering birthday wishes, the younger ones, Gu Gu Tingye, Xu Xu Zaijing, and the other boys, all exited the room.

Gu Gu Tingyu, Xu Xu Zaiduan, and others who were older remained in the room, listening to the various Shen Daxianggong, the Marquis Xiangyang Marquis, and other heavyweights of the state discuss matters of family and nation.

Only those from clear-stream noble families, descendants of generations of high officials, could compare to such treatment.

Gu Tingye and Xu Zaijing arrived in the courtyard; besides pitch-pot and ball-hitting, several open patches of ground hosted people playing kickball.

From the open ground where cuju was being played ahead, shouts drifted over.

"Good shot!"

"Brother Rong Xian has superb skill!"

One could tell the praise came from the heart.

Behind Xu Xu Zaijing, young Qi Heng followed the group out.

Behind him walked a personal attendant slightly older than he.

Among the several playing cuju, a male guest about Gu Gu Tingye's age spotted Qi Heng.

Watching the approaching group, a flash of malice crossed his face.

With a forceful kick, he sent the cuju ball flying straight at Qi Heng's head.

This ball, wrapped in cowhide, would at worst scatter a hair braid or scrape the skin if it struck.

But being struck so suddenly would surely startle a child Qi Heng's age.

A frail one might even suffer a frightened soul and fall ill.

With poor care during illness, who knew what consequences might follow.

Just as the ball was about to hit Qi Heng, the boy's eyes brimmed with glee and the thrill of revenge.

But.

'Smack!'

The cuju ball was slapped away by a hand.

Brother Qingyun, accustomed to standing before Xu Xu Zaijing's archery targets where he could clearly see the arrows,

could even block low-flying arrows affected by wind with his shield.

To him, a cuju ball flying at such speed was terribly slow.

Hearing the sound, Xu Xu Zaijing and the others turned their heads.

Behind them, Zhi Que widened his eyes, clearly startled by Brother Qingyun's display.

Young Qi Heng had not yet realized what had happened.

Hearing Buwei, behind Qi Heng, hurriedly stepped in front of his Young Master and, eyes full of gratitude, said to Brother Qingyun,

"Thank you for intervening, elder brother. I will surely report this to the Princess. Thank you, elder brother."

Having spoken, he looked back at the cuju players, still trembling with after-fear.

Brother Qingyun, seeing his Young Master Xu Xu Zaijing looking over, politely nodded to Hearing Buwei.

The boy who had just kicked the ball over, lacking any depth of character, glared with hatred and shouted at Brother Qingyun,

"Hey, that servant! Bring the ball over to your master."

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(End of chapter)