Chapter 107: Strange Encounter

  The Milky Way is full of stars and dew, The Weaving Maiden is busy on the Double Seventh Festival.

  July 7th, Qixi Festival, the sky is bright and warm, the grass and trees are fragrant, it's a very grand festival in the Great Yan State.

  Unlike the modern Qixi Valentine's Day, in ancient times, Qixi was actually a festival for women, commonly known as "Women's Day". On this day, girls could dress up in festive attire, make themselves look beautiful, either visit relatives and friends, or return to their mother's home for a reunion, or stroll around the streets and temples. Even those wealthy young ladies who normally stayed at home were allowed to go out freely.

  Even in the imperial palace, a high pavilion of over 100 feet was built with brocade, and on top were placed melons, fruits, wine, and dried meat offerings to worship the Cowherd and Weaving Maiden stars.

  The imperial concubines then each took nine-hole needles and five-color threads to sew the moon, the first to finish got the clever marquis, the last to finish had to give a piece of embroidery treasure that they usually treasured as a gift to the person who got it done, then drums and music sounded, playing the clear Shang melody, feasting until dawn.

  In the folk, a fragrant case is set up to face the moonlight and pray for blessings. After that, you can invite three or five close friends to go out and have fun, watch flower lanterns, visit temples, and beg for cleverness in the market. The crowd is surging, and the cars are galloping, with a lively atmosphere comparable to the Spring Festival.

  Lin Zhaoyan and her sisters had long been preparing the clothes they would wear on Qixi Festival. Man Shuang and Man Hua also made many decorations in the shape of cherries, mulberries, millet, gourds, etc., which were distributed to the girls in each room and a few close sisters.

  Lin Zhaoyan was rather indifferent to the Qixi Festival, she wasn't someone who liked noisy celebrations. In previous years, during Qixi, she would just follow the rules and thread a needle under the moonlight, say a prayer, and then go back inside to do whatever she needed to do.

  This year is different, one is because she eased her relationship with her outgoing younger sister, and the other is because she has Zhou Wanrou, a lively and cheerful friend. Under their double attack, she was forced to agree to accompany them to visit the temple fair.

  Instead, Man Shuang and Man Hua were overjoyed, silently giving Lin Ruoyan and Zhou Wanyu ten thousand likes in their hearts.

  Because Lin Xingyu was summoned into the palace, Empress Dowager granted a special favor to allow Liu Shi to enter the palace as her companion. Although Liu Shi was unwilling, she could not defy the imperial order and had no choice but to be escorted into the imperial palace under the envious, jealous, and resentful gaze of Wang Niang.

  But her heart was tied to Lin Ruoyan, repeatedly reminding her to be mindful of her boundaries, being cautious in all things, not to be careless and make mistakes. She even sent Lin's mother and Ziying ahead to accompany them, and even held Lin Zhaoyan's hand, telling her to keep an eye on Lin Ruoyan. After instructing her N times, she reluctantly left.

  Lin Ruoyan gazed at the carriage that was slowly disappearing into the distance, and helplessly pursed her lips. "Am I really so untrustworthy in Mother's eyes?"

  "Do you want me to tell the truth?" Lin Zhaoyan asked sideways.

  Lin Ruoyan said: "......Let's start with a lie."

  Lin Zhao said: "You are a quiet and elegant, cautious and reliable person."

  “……”

  "Do you still want to hear the truth?"

  "...... The weather is really nice today! Man Shuang, Man Hua, you two have never been out before, right? Today, I, Wu Niang, will take you to have a great time!"

  Man Shuang: "......"

  Fifth sister, you are indeed a quiet and elegant, cautious and reliable person!

  Dew drops hold the bright moon, green mist cuts off the crimson river.

  Heavenly Street Seven Turns, Gallery Road Two Spirits Pass.

  Wearing embroidered clothes with tinkling jade pendants, fragrant mats are spread with embroidered silk.

  Tonight is the last night of the year, and I have many feelings as I bid farewell to you.

  The Double Seventh Festival has always been like this.

  On both sides of the road, colorful lanterns were hung high, casting a bright and dazzling light onto the ground, illuminating the entire imperial city. The Qixi Festival market was bustling with people, and even if one looked as far as the eye could see, it seemed impossible to take it all in. Along both sides of the street, stalls of every kind were set up, offering a vast array of food, goods, and clothing; many young ladies from noble families also ventured out in groups, strolling along the main road, their fragrant hair and clothes wafting through the air, surrounded by the sweet scent of flowers, a truly breathtaking sight.

  Lin Zhaoyan wore a pale pink embroidered apricot blossom half-sleeve, paired with a light crimson Suzhou-embroidered long skirt, standing in the midst of this crowded scene, gazing at the lively and bustling atmosphere, for the first time after eight years, she felt the festive atmosphere of ancient times.

  The noise didn't annoy her at all, but instead brought a sense of joy as if she were part of it.

  "That flower lamp is so beautiful!"

  "The embroidered shoes I just saw are really top-notch!"

  "These people are really skilled, if Weaving Maiden could grant me a pair of hands like that, it would be great!"

  “……”

  The maids all exclaimed and sighed with emotion.

  Lin Ruoyan rushed Lin Zhao Yan raised an eyebrow, "How's that? Don't regret coming out this time?"

  Lin Zhaoyan turned his head and gave her a dazzling smile, "Really beautiful!"

  Lin Ruoyan smiled even more brightly and walked forward, taking her hand, "The sixth Miss Zhou you mentioned, where is she waiting for us?"

  "Oh, in a painted barge on the other side of Xijiang River."

  "West Street River's painting boat?" Lin Ruoyan's eyes lit up, excitedly saying: "Every year there is a Red Girl competition, whoever gets the first prize has a very rich reward! Let's hurry, if we're late, there won't be any seats left!"

  Lin Zhaoyan had no reaction yet and was dragged forward by her.

  Lin's mother rushed to follow behind, shouting as she chased after them, "Fifth Sister, have you forgotten what the mistress told you? Slow down a bit! Fourth Sister, don't follow her, hurry and stop Fifth Sister!"

  Unfortunately, her cries were all scattered in this bustling air.

  Lin Zhaoyan and Lin Ruoyan arrived at Xijie River, the surrounding area was already crowded with people, and even the lively sound of drums and music could be heard from inside the painted boats.

  Lin Ruoyan excitedly told her, "It's said that the Xiao Wang Fu sponsored it, and those excellent seamstresses can even move into the Xiao Wang Fu or be recommended to the imperial palace!"

  This is indeed a very rich reward, and it's not something that can be bought with silver.

  "So you see, there are also many young ladies from official families who have come to attend!" Lin Ruoyan pointed at the several young girls on the painting boat.

  "Since she can be recommended by the Xiao Wangfu to enter the palace, it proves that her skills are extraordinary. In the future, when she enters the palace, she won't be a small palace maid. With the identity of an official's daughter supporting her, she will definitely marry better than before." Lin Zhao spoke calmly and thoughtfully as he glanced over them.

  "Yes!" Lin Ruoyan nodded, "It's said that in the past, the embroidery girls selected by the Xiao Wangfu all ended up marrying into good families! It's even said that the original eldest lady of the Zhen Nan Bo fu was an embroidery girl from the palace, and it was the Empress Dowager herself who gave her away in marriage. Unfortunately, she had a short life, and after being married for less than two years, she passed away without leaving behind any children. The young master is also a romantic, and to this day he remains unmarried." She sighed with emotion.

  Lin Zhaoyan furrowed his brow tightly, "Who did you say it was?"

  Lin Ruoyan looked at her strangely, "The young master of the Zhen Nan Bo Fu, is actually the maternal cousin of my mother's family. How, you didn't know?"

  Lin Zhaoyan indeed did not know, she had never cared about these insignificant gossips, but she clearly remembered that on that day at the Chengnan Bo Mansion, the "umbrella man" mentioned by Zhou Wanyu was also the "melon leaf chrysanthemum man", referring to the young master of the Zhen Nan Bo Mansion.

  Moreover, on that day, she let Man Hua's elder brother Cha investigate the households in Shengjing City with siblings, including the young master of Zhen Nan Bo Fu.

  It turned out he had been married before.

  Lin Zhaoyan didn't have any prejudice against men who had been married before, she simply thought that Zhou Anyu was too innocent and might not be suitable for a widower who had lost his original partner.

  Nor does he know how others are doing.

  Just then, she heard Zhou Wan Yu's voice calling out from a distance, "Zhao Yan jie!"

  She followed the sound and saw Zhou Wanyu, wearing a long dress with a water-red embroidered golden silk sea-pink flower bud cloud pattern, excitedly waving at her.

  She was accompanied by Zhou Jingyu, whom she had met at Lingyun Temple last time, and a pretty girl she didn't know.

  As they approached, Lin Zhaoyan saw the girl's appearance clearly. She was 14 or 15 years old, with skin as white as snow, dark and bright eyes, slightly raised eyebrows, ink-washed hair, rosy cheeks, and a pearl earring that shone and swayed. Her figure was slender, wearing a yellow dress that wrapped around her body, exuding an indescribable delicate charm.

  Among the young ladies of noble families that Lin Zhaoyan had come into contact with, apart from Lin Xingyan, he hadn't seen any other woman more beautiful than her.

  Beautiful things should be pleasing to the eye, but Lin Zhaoyan didn't know why he felt a sense of rejection. Looking at her eyes, he always felt uncomfortable.

  "Miss Zhao Yan, this is the eldest miss of Zhen Nan Bo Fu, Qin Yu Xue." Zhou Wan You's laughter brought back Lin Zhao Yan's thoughts, and she saw Qin Yu Xue smile slightly at her, extending her slender white wrist. "Miss Lin Si, nice to meet you."

  Her smile was radiant and dazzling, making the flower lanterns by the roadside seem a few shades dimmer.

  Lin Ruoyan whispered in her ear, "I heard that the Town South Duke's mansion is mostly sons, and this Qin young lady is the Town South Duke's wife who prayed to Buddha for a long time before giving birth to her at middle age, she is very spoiled. Look at her hands, I reckon she hasn't even done any needlework, what's the point of asking for cleverness?"

  Qiqiao, Qiqiao, the main reason is still to wish oneself clever and skilled. Because in ancient times, needlework was a required course for women to cultivate.

  Lin Zhaoyan lowered her head and smiled secretly, then pretended to be serious and raised her head, "Miss Qin, nice to meet you."

  "And this is my third sister, everyone has met her before. This is the younger sister of Zhao Yan's older sister, the fifth miss of Jian'an Marquis Manor." Zhou Wan Yu continued to introduce.

  The crowd followed her introduction and nodded to each other in greeting.

  Because Zhou Jingyu had a conflict with them before, her face was always sour, and she put on a cold and icy attitude that rejected people from thousands of miles away. She didn't even bother to talk to Zhou Wanyu, only occasionally exchanging a few words with Qin Yuxue.

  Lin Ruoyan was gradually led astray by Lin Zhaoyan, and when she met people or things she didn't like, she wouldn't throw a tantrum anymore. Instead, she would use cold violence - if you don't talk to me, I won't think about talking to you either!

  So she treated Zhou Jingyu as if he were air.

  Zhou Wanyu said carelessly, "The embroidery competition on the painting boat doesn't distinguish between age and status. Why don't we also go give it a try? Although we definitely won't win, it's fun!"

  Lin Ruoyan nudged Lin Zhaoyan and whispered in her ear, "Hey, I've been there before, it's really boring. Do you want to go?"

  "I won't go." Lin Zhaoyan refused without even thinking, her face burning with shame to the point where she couldn't look straight ahead. Losing face at home was one thing, but she couldn't lose it outside!

  Zhou Jingyu also had a cold and indifferent expression, "Not interested."

  Zhou Wan Yu didn't force them either, letting them wait on the shore while she herself took Qin's eldest miss' hand and said: "Yu Xue jie jie, let's go?"

  Qin Yuxue smiled extremely warmly and elegantly, lightly nodding her head, "Alright, since you're my big brother's friend, I should accompany you."

  Zhou Wan Yu looked embarrassed and lowered her head, her ears turning red.

  Qin Yuxue smiled again, elegantly and refinedly, and turned to the maid beside her: "Xuesu, you're seasick, just wait for me on the shore."

  The maid curtsied and said, "Yes, I thank you, miss."

  As soon as this voice came out, Lin Zhaoyan's eyebrows immediately furrowed, and he subconsciously said: "Xue Su?"

  The maid called Xue Su looked up at her.

  Lin Zhaoyan was immediately stunned, and his whole body stiffened on the spot.

  After searching for so long and investigating for so long, the woman who had been tormenting her in her dreams every night was right before her eyes!

  It's just like it! This Snow Essence is simply a replica of that maid in my dream!

  Maybe it's her!

  "Lin Si, do you know my personal maid?" Qin Yuxue's soft inquiry brought back Lin Zhaoyan's thoughts, she came to herself and found that everyone was staring at her, while the maid also had a frightened and confused expression.

  Lin Zhaoyan bit her lower lip and tried to calm herself down, "I... I'm not sure. Miss Qin, can you make your maid smile?"

  Want a smile? Qin Yuxue was stunned, her expression very complicated. "Lin Si, what...do you want to do?"

  Everyone else was also confused by Lin Zhao's words.

  Lin Ruoyan furrowed her brow and pushed her, "What are you doing?"

  Lin Zhaoyan steadied her thoughts, forced a smile on Qin Yuxue and said, "I just think that this maid of Miss Qin resembles an old acquaintance, I wanted to see what she looks like when she smiles."

  Qin Yuxue nodded despite being perplexed, and said with a smile, "Give Lin Si a look."

  Xue Su was so angry she couldn't help but laugh, this is just like a dirty old man flirting with a respectable woman!

  But she had no choice but to force a smile, squeezing out an expression that was even uglier than crying.

  However, this did not prevent her from revealing the two shallow dimples at the corners of her mouth, which were exactly the same as those of the maid in her dreams!

  Lin Zhaoyan's face turned white instantly.

  How can I say it, how can I say...

  Her mind was racing with countless fragments flashing through her brain and piecing together, but she could only think of one possibility.

  The young master and young lady of Zhen Nan Bo's mansion had an affair. The "madam" who was strangled to death was the eldest daughter-in-law of Zhen Nan Bo's mansion.

  Xue Su's age, in the dream, was much older than now, that is to say, it was not the previous young lady, but the one married later. Listening to her call "Madam" should be after the young master of Zhen Nan Bo Fu succeeded to the title.

  So who did the young master of Zhen Nan Bo Fu marry?

  Lin Zhaoyan subconsciously cast his gaze to the side, onto the innocent and lovely Zhou Wanyu, and a chill rose from the bottom of his heart.

  "Lin Zhao Yan, what's wrong with you? It's really strange." Lin Ruo Yu pushed her, his eyes hidden with worry.

  Zhou Wan Yu also stepped forward a few steps, reached out and touched her forehead, "Zhao Yan sister, are you feeling unwell?"

  Others also looked at Lin Zhaoyan with a strange expression.

  This is the first update, and there will be another one this afternoon, specific time to be determined later. RS