◎”Yuanniang, you truly eat so well.”◎

Lan Shanjun’s eyes narrowed slightly. She didn’t immediately lower the curtain, but instead rolled it up a bit more. Without averting her gaze, she met Yu Qingwu’s eyes directly.

The carriage moved forward, passing by his side. He turned and looked sideways, his gaze following her movement, but Lan Shanjun didn’t look back.

His gaze toward her carried fire. Lan Shanjun couldn’t quite understand it—she could only tell it wasn’t anger, but it wasn’t goodwill either.

Why was he looking at her like this?

She slowly lowered the curtain, striving to recall what might have happened at this time that would leave him so distraught, and what intersection there might be between them. After pondering for a long while, she helplessly shook her head.

In her previous life, she had been confined learning etiquette at this time, knowing nothing about him and having no connection to him whatsoever. Her later knowledge of him came only from others’ fragmented gossip. Aside from the moment of his execution, she and he had never met.

In this life, they had now met twice. But they had never spoken.

When he saw her, there should not have been such a gaze.

Lan Shanjun’s heart filled with suspicion. By the time they arrived at the Marquis Boyuan’s residence, she still hadn’t recovered. It was only when the Third Young Madam laughingly called out to her that she snapped back: “Shanjun, what’s wrong?”

Lan Shanjun followed her down from the carriage, saying quietly, “I may be a bit flustered.”

The Third Young Madam took her hand. “It’s all right, it’s normal to feel this way on your first outing.”

Zhu Shi, leading Huihui, descended from another carriage. Seeing Lan Shanjun in this state, she felt rather sympathetic and came over to comfort her: “It’s nothing. Later, your sister-in-law will go with me to greet people, and you just stay with Huihui.”

At banquets like this, the married women and unmarried young ladies entertained themselves separately.

Lan Shanjun smiled and agreed.

The Fourth Madam was the last to descend from the carriage. She had a reserved and shy temperament and didn’t like to talk much, but hearing this, she also added: “If you encounter something you don’t know how to respond to, you don’t need to speak—just lower your head and smile a little. Others won’t force you to talk.”

Lan Shanjun hurriedly expressed her thanks.

Zhu Shi couldn’t help but laugh. “Remarkable! She’s actually sharing her secret techniques.”

As soon as she finished speaking, another servant woman came to lead the way.

Today was the sixtieth birthday of the Old Madam of the Marquis Boyuan’s residence. Having arrived at the estate, they naturally had to first pay respects to the birthday celebrant. Walking slowly along the way, they encountered several other families. Everyone was mutually acquainted, so they always had to inquire about Lan Shanjun.

Zhu Shi spoke in gentle, refined tones: “She was raised in Huailing. We didn’t dare bring her back until she had passed through the dangerous period of her destiny.”

Lan Shanjun graciously performed greetings and courtesies for them. Her every word and action was beyond reproach and quite endearing.

The various madams praised her profusely. Zhu Shi’s expression grew increasingly pleased. She felt that Lan Shanjun was truly intelligent, having undergone such a complete transformation in such a short time. Delighted, even the awkwardness from several days ago dissipated somewhat. Embracing her, she said: “When the time comes, I’ll also bring her to visit your residences—you must bring out your fine wines.”

Luoyang women loved to drink a bit of wine, and wine-tasting banquets were common.

They went together to pay birthday respects to the Old Madam of Marquis Boyuan. By the time they finished these conversations, half an hour had already passed. Lan Shanjun briefly swept her gaze around and, as expected, caught sight of the Duke Songguo’s wife.

Even though she was prepared, her emotions still couldn’t help but surge.

She grew agitated and instantly lowered her head. Her hands clenched, her fingernails digging into her palm. She grasped a handkerchief in her hand to conceal it. Lan Hui sat beside her and didn’t see her hands—she only noticed her poor complexion and asked with concern: “Sixth Sister, what’s wrong?”

Lan Shanjun gently shook her head. When she raised her head again, her emotions had already calmed. “It’s nothing. It’s just rather stuffy in here, and I feel a bit dizzy.”

Lan Hui: “Then I’ll go out with Sister for a walk.”

It wasn’t yet time for the banquet to begin, and people had already scattered in groups of two or three to catch up with old acquaintances. By coincidence, the Fourth Madam’s sister-in-law from her natal family came over to invite her to talk and left. Lan Hui took the opportunity to say to Zhu Shi: “Mother, I’d like to go out for a walk with Sixth Sister.”

Zhu Shi nodded with a smile. “Go ahead. Several young ladies you’re friendly with have come today.”

The Third Young Madam’s eyes flashed. Before the two could leave, she hurriedly introduced Lan Shanjun to her mother and younger sister.

Lan Hui, pulling Lan Shanjun along, grew anxious, but it wouldn’t do to leave now. Lan Shanjun patted her hand and, grateful for her kindness, smiled and said: “It’s fine, I feel much better.”

Though the Tang family wasn’t from the aristocracy, they held real power. Zhu Shi was very courteous to Madam Tang. Pointing to her two daughters with a smile, she said: “Thirteenth Maiden has always been sensible. If I entrust my two girls to her, I can go have a drink with peace of mind.”

Madam Tang also gave her face, and they exchanged compliments. After this back-and-forth, with the adults praising each other to their satisfaction and hearing their fill, the younger generation could finally leave. Tang Thirteenth Maiden knew Huihui. Once they were at a distance, she said: “This morning when Mother got up, she was still complaining about being tired and having terrible back pain. I was worried and wanted her to sit more.”

“But what do you know? Once she started talking, standing there her back stopped hurting and her legs weren’t sore anymore.”

Lan Hui pursed her lips and smiled. “They’re all like that!”

Thirteenth Maiden then looked toward Lan Shanjun, taking her hand and saying: “What a spirited younger sister.”

Lan Hui asked curiously: “How do you know my Sixth Sister is younger than you?”

Thirteenth Maiden rolled her eyes at her. “Just now my sister said Shanjun is the same age as me. And I was born in January—January first.”

Then she asked Lan Shanjun: “What month were you born in, younger sister?”

Lan Shanjun: “September.”

Lan Hui raised her head and opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

—Sixth Sister’s birthday was clearly in July.

Every year in July, she accompanied Mother to pay respects at the grave.

But in the next instant, she realized that the day Sixth Sister was found might have been in September, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to correct her. She just smiled and teased Thirteenth Maiden: “Then indeed, everyone born in the same year as you is your younger sister.”

Hearing this, Lan Shanjun laughed. Young ladies were always carefree, and the things they said lifted one’s spirits, allowing her tense body to relax somewhat. Following them to sit down on the side, she listened to them discuss the different ways to drink crucian carp soup versus grass carp soup. After hearing a few sentences, however, she couldn’t help but begin searching for someone.

In recent days, she had pondered in her mind many people she could try to cultivate connections with at this time, finally settling on one person most worthy of befriending first.

The daughter of the former Shuzhou Assistant Prefect, current Vice Commissioner of Luoyang Prefecture: Zhuyun.

The Zhu family currently still lived in a small courtyard in the southern district, but next year in June, as her father and brothers gained His Majesty’s favor, over the next ten years the Zhu family would rise step by step, becoming people even Song Zhiwei would have to regard with caution. Zhuyun would also marry the eldest young master of the Duke Qingguo’s estate two years later, and she and Lan Shanjun would often meet.

At first, because both were from Shu and spoke with Shu accents, they grew closer. But as Song Zhiwei became at odds with the Zhu family and the Duke Qingguo’s estate, even she and Zhuyun grew distant.

She never imagined that befriending her again now would already be with impure intentions.

Lan Shanjun gloomily ate a piece of pastry. Sitting in the covered walkway, she looked all around but didn’t see Zhuyun anywhere. She said to Lan Hui and Thirteenth Maiden: “Shall we walk around the garden?”

Marquis Boyuan currently held the position of Luoyang Prefect. For his residence’s birthday banquet, the Zhu family would certainly come to wish the superior mother well. She should be able to encounter Zhuyun today.

Tang Thirteenth Maiden had already noticed that Lan Shanjun wasn’t fond of talking! She had just been worried about her feeling awkward and wanted to offer conversation topics. So she immediately nodded. “Good idea! I also want to see the red plum blossoms in the garden.”

Walking around while not talking was always better than sitting here in silence.

Lan Shanjun sensed her kindness and, smiling, thanked her: “Then let’s go.”

They had been sitting in the covered walkway in the garden earlier, which wasn’t a secluded spot. After walking just a few steps, they reached the red plum grove. There were many young ladies here, all admiring the plum blossoms. Several were composing poetry and playing word-linking games. As soon as the three of them walked over, acquaintances gathered around. After mutual greetings, Thirteenth Maiden was pulled aside by a young lady in sapphire blue clothing to talk.

Lan Hui: “That’s her future sister-in-law.”

Lan Shanjun nodded. After Lan Hui also went to compose poetry, she slowly began searching for Zhuyun.

Though they hadn’t been close for long in her previous life, she knew Zhuyun had a reserved temperament and didn’t like talking with people, but she enjoyed making bamboo crafts and was quite fond of bamboo.

She unobtrusively looked toward the bamboo grove outside the red plum garden and, sure enough, spotted someone on a stone bench in a corner pavilion.

Lan Shanjun’s eyes brightened. She didn’t immediately go over, but waited. Only after the people near the stone bench had mostly dispersed did she say: “Huihui, I’d like to go sit over there.”

Lan Hui was enthusiastically engaged in the word-linking game. Hearing this, she hesitated: “I’ll go sit with Sixth Sister.”

Lan Shanjun waved her hand. “I don’t understand poetry, so naturally I find it boring. But you do understand, so it must hold endless pleasure. You don’t need to accompany me.”

Lan Hui also hadn’t been out for a long time. Being young at heart, the desire to play won out. She nodded: “Then Sister, go sit on the side and wait for me. Last time I lost at the word-linking game—this time I absolutely must win back my standing.”

Then she added: “Sixth Sister, sit wherever you like. Let me watch you settle in before I leave.”

Under her watchful gaze, Lan Shanjun sat down beside Zhuyun.

Since they were sitting together, there was something to say. She spoke softly: “It’s quite warm in here.”

Though they were sitting outdoors, servants had long since placed charcoal braziers here. Zhuyun had always been sensitive to cold and had come here precisely because it was warm. Hearing this, she first nodded, then looked up in surprise: “You… you’re from Shuzhou?”

Lan Shanjun smiled and nodded. “Yes.”

Just like in her previous life, the Shu accent alone made Zhuyun feel a sense of kinship. The two exchanged information about their residences and ages. Zhuyun sighed: “You’ve only been in Luoyang for just over a month? I’ve been here almost a year now.”

During this year, whenever she went out for social occasions, she was always alone. Others didn’t like talking with her either.

Her family background wasn’t good, after all. Luoyang’s noble young ladies didn’t say it openly, but they all looked down on her in private.

At this moment, looking at Lan Shanjun, she actually felt some wariness—after all, this was someone from the Duke Zhenguo’s estate. Her brother had once told her that the Third Young Master of the Duke Zhenguo’s estate, though named Zhang, was actually an obstacle.

A person of narrow vision—her family’s upbringing probably wasn’t good.

She became somewhat more distant, slowly drinking her tea, using the tea to block her mouth, unwilling to speak.

Lan Shanjun was familiar with her temperament and continued smiling warmly, complaining as if casually: “I find it quite difficult to adjust to Luoyang. The food here doesn’t taste good.”

Hearing this, Zhuyun couldn’t help but nod repeatedly, even while holding her teacup. “Exactly.”

Coming out to attend banquets, she had never once eaten her fill.

Then she couldn’t resist adding one more sentence: “Fortunately, my family brought a cook from Shuzhou.”

Unexpectedly, she couldn’t stop after that. She saw Lan Shanjun reveal an envious expression: “Really? Can she make red-braised Bingxue fish?”

Zhuyun: “She can.”

“Can she make amaranth soup?”

“She can, she can.”

“Can she make crimson gauze cakes?”

“I can even make those myself.”

Lan Shanjun immediately showed longing: “Yuanniang, you truly eat so well.”

Being so envied and admired by her, Zhuyun couldn’t help but say: “If you don’t mind, come sit at my home when you have time?”

As soon as these words left her mouth, she immediately regretted them, but it was too late to take them back. She saw that Lan Shanjun was already nodding with a smile, saying gratefully: “Yuanniang, I have no friends in Luoyang. If you don’t mind, I will definitely come visit.”

Zhuyun swallowed back the words of refusal. She understood the loneliness of having no friends in Luoyang. She said earnestly: “All right, I’ll definitely have the cook prepare a full Shuzhou banquet for you.”

Having had this exchange, their conversation became even more intimate, and they sat closer together.

When Zhu Shi came over and saw this, she was initially pleased. She called Lan Hui over and said: “Your Sixth Sister has made a friend so quickly.”

But after one glance, she asked curiously: “How is it I’ve never seen that young lady before?”

Lan Hui did know. She said: “I believe her surname is Zhu. Her father is the Vice Commissioner of Luoyang Prefecture, working under Marquis Boyuan.”

Zhu Shi’s expression immediately soured somewhat. She said helplessly: “How did she go and make such a friend right away?”

But it wouldn’t be appropriate to interfere at this moment—she could only talk about it when they returned home. She had Huihui go call Lan Shanjun back: “Old Madam Shou has arrived. We must go pay our respects.”

Lan Hui asked curiously: “Why would Old Madam Shou come?”

Zhu Shi: “Who knows? She hasn’t appeared in public for many years. I heard she had previously declined the invitation from the Marquis Boyuan’s residence. Now she’s suddenly come, so we still need to go over and greet her.”

Old Madam Shou was His Majesty’s sworn elder sister and had married the elder brother of Minister Wu. After Minister Wu’s brother passed away, she lived as a widow in Luoyang and almost never went out, but His Majesty’s gifts had never ceased.

There used to be a saying in Luoyang: Minister Wu was originally going to be executed, but considering Old Madam Shou’s position, he was merely demoted and sent to Shuzhou.

An old madam with such influence before His Majesty naturally deserved respect and obeisance. Zhu Shi sighed: “When I was young, I could still go before her to kowtow and exchange pleasantries. Now I’m afraid I can’t squeeze into the crowd of flatterers.”