Chapter 3: The Literary Banquet at the Wang Manor

  Just as she was about to make up for her sleep, Yun Tao came to drag her away again. She waved her hand in annoyance and muttered: "It's not my turn today, don't disturb me."

  But Yun Tao didn't give up today, and anxiously said: "Yun Shu quickly get up, today the old master will attend a literary banquet after court, Rui Guanjia said you need to serve, just wasted half a day's time, if you don't get up now you'll be late!"

  Qin also heard the last two words, and with a sudden burst of energy, she jumped up from bed. The shadow of being punished for oversleeping last time was too strong, making her reflexively wake up as soon as she heard that it was late. Her mouth still asked casually: "Yuntiao, isn't it said that Lingjiang dike broke and flooded many places? How can there be spare time to hold some kind of literary banquet?" In fact, she had no idea what this literary banquet was, but this was something that couldn't be asked out loud. By its name alone, it was probably a gathering for making friends through literature or something like that.

  "Those are matters for officials and masters, it's not something we lowly servants should be concerned with. Just focus on serving carefully and don't ask too many questions."

  Yun Tao Ba suddenly appeared, scolding her, saying that she was very boring. She pouted and said: "I just asked casually." Grabbing the comb, she combed her messy hair with force, pulling it so hard that it hurt at the roots, but she didn't care.

  "If you keep on like this, your hair will all be gone." Yun Tao, feeling both annoyed and amused, snatched the comb away from her and helped her tidy up her hair.

  After someone took over, Qin Yiteng also reached out to grab the towel on the frame to wipe his face. The cloth was really rough and scratched his face painfully. He couldn't help but ask: "Isn't it your turn today? Why did you suddenly call me up?"

  Yuntiao leaned in close, pointing to the tip of his nose for her to see. It was only then that she discovered a huge pimple on the tip of his nose, making his bright red nose look quite comical. Looking at Yuntiao's sulky expression, she couldn't help but laugh too hard, and it was really hard to hold back.

  "Go ahead and laugh, see if you can laugh yourself sick." Yun Tao's movements while combing her hair were very gentle, but she said, "Why do you always have to clash with Bi Tuo every time? She is a high-ranking maid who speaks well in front of the mistress. If something gets blown out of proportion later on, you'll end up suffering unnecessarily."

  "I saw her coming to find fault with you, I couldn't help it. Alas, there's no way, I have such a bad temper. If someone dares to provoke me, don't blame me for not showing mercy." Qin Yi said casually while waving his handkerchief, without noticing that Yun Tao's hands paused for a moment before quickly helping her tie up her long hair and securing it with a headscarf on top of her head.

  She took a hard handkerchief, dipped it in cold water and rubbed her face vigorously several times, finally driving away the drowsiness. Only then did she turn her head to look out of the window and ask: "What time is it?" She had never learned the skill of telling time by the stars or sun.

  Yun Tao knew that Qin Yiyu had the habit of relying on his bed, and every time he was not on duty, he would intentionally leave early for breakfast. He lifted up the cover on the table, revealing a bowl of millet porridge and a plate of steamed buns, and felt the side of the bowl with his hand: "The time is already late, at most there is only one incense stick left, I'm afraid it's too late to heat up food for you."

  As soon as she heard that it was getting late, Qin didn't dare to dawdle and quickly put on her outer clothes. She took the food from Yun Tao's hands and ate a few mouthfuls of steamed buns, which made her pat her chest, then hastily drank down the thin porridge. After that, she hurriedly went to wait for Rui at the side door. Since she was under the eaves, she had to lower her head, it was better not to make herself uncomfortable.

  Perhaps due to the flood, the time for the morning court was significantly later than before. Outside the imperial city, carriages from various families gathered, but the Yunfu mark allowed their carriage to quickly pass through the congested area and arrive at the place closest to the palace gate. Without lifting the curtain, Qin Yiyao knew that Rui Guan would definitely be standing with his hands behind his back in an empty space, surrounded by a group of servants from other officials' households, flattering him and trying to curry favor, with a self-satisfied expression on his face. At this time, he wouldn't come to manage his own affairs, so Qin Yiyao didn't bother getting off the carriage and took advantage of the break to take a nap, until she was startled awake by the drumbeat signaling the opening of the palace gate after the morning court session. She rubbed her chin, finding no drool, and quickly got down from the carriage to wait.

  Yun Pei Xin was walking out of the palace gate with a man in Chinese attire, seemingly chatting enthusiastically, but Qin Yi noticed that his smile was only superficially plastered on his face. As it turned out, this was one of Yun Tao's tricks: before approaching the old master, observe his facial expression and then take action accordingly. Luckily, he wasn't nearsighted, or else everything would be blurry. He had basically mastered the art of observing expressions, but responding skillfully was a more complicated task that Qin Yi was still figuring out.

  After she had thought through these thoughts, the two of them had already approached, and she lowered her head with a humble expression. All she heard was Yun Pei Xin saying slowly: "I thank the Third Prince for his appreciation, loyalty to the monarch is our duty as ministers."

  I don't even know what I was just saying, and then I only heard this one sentence before it stopped, but what made Qin Yi feel regretful was that he had just brushed past the prince without even getting a clear look at his face. This is a prince we're talking about, something you can only see in modern times by visiting a mausoleum... uh, not something, a corpse.

  But reality didn't allow her to think too much, after helping Yun Pei Xin into the car, she also stepped on the footstool and entered the carriage. The snacks were already prepared, first handing over a warm handkerchief, then kneeling in the corner to brew tea. In fact, according to her heart, Yun Pei Xin was a very good master to serve, usually as long as she was quick with her hands and feet, and kept to her place, she could live a stable life. However, she still had to think of another way out, until her body started to develop, this daughter's body couldn't be hidden for too long.

  The carriage drove smoothly on the road, and almost without any bumps, it arrived at its destination. Only the three major courtyards closest to the Imperial City were so luxurious that they were all paved with bluestone, apparently belonging to a certain noble's mansion. Although he had already mentally prepared himself, Qin Yi was still stunned when he got off the carriage, and on the gate of the mansion were written four large characters "Yaoqin Wangfu", which turned out to be the residence of the third prince, no wonder it dared to hold such a grand literary banquet during this busy political season.

  Waiting for Yun Pei-xin to enter through the main gate, Qin followed Rui's housekeeper into the Wang Fu from a side door. Along the way, he felt that everything in sight was luxurious and magnificent, but there was no beauty, only a strong sense of vulgarity like that of a nouveau riche.

  The banquet was set up in the backyard, where everything was green and it was still a quiet and elegant place. Unfortunately, the thick incense in the garden made people dizzy. Three tables were arranged in a semicircle under two ancient trees on the east side, while dozens of smaller tables were scattered on both sides of the south and north. The table tops were equipped with writing materials, and on the west side, several thin lines were stretched out with frames, but it was unclear what they were for.

  Yun Pei-xin was chatting with the man they had met at the palace gate earlier, and he should be the owner of the mansion - the Third Prince Wei Yao. He had changed into a casual robe, looking like a young adult in his early thirties, with a pale complexion and a pair of bright phoenix eyes, but unfortunately, the small beard on his chin made his face look extremely comical. Just as she quickly walked up to stand behind Yun Pei-xin, she heard someone outside the garden report: "The Crown Prince has arrived."

  New book "Jin Guan", hope everyone will support it.