Chapter Twenty-Three: Three Encounters with a Flower Cluster

  The Mid-Autumn Festival reunion dinner was set, and the whole family would definitely go to the Grand Duchess's mansion. Yao Yanyu sincerely did not want to go, but this was the first time Yao Fengge had appeared in front of the Grand Duchess after recovering from her illness, so she had to go, Yao Yanyi also had to go, and Yao Yanyu had even less reason not to go.

  So Yao Yan made up her mind to keep a low profile, not saying an extra word or taking an extra step. She just hoped that the Empress Dowager would completely ignore her existence, quietly pass by and eat something before returning.

  The Empress Dowager was in a good mood today, and she had always liked Yao Fengge. Now that she saw her recovering from a serious illness and coming to pay her respects with a gentle and elegant demeanor, she was delighted and couldn't help but take a few more glances at Yao Yanyu, saying: "Your younger sister is also quite pretty."

  Yao Fengge smiled and said, "Thank you, Princess Chang, for your praise. She has been a quiet and gentle soul since childhood, but sometimes she gets a bit sulky. She's not very good at talking, and it often makes people angry."

  The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Being eloquent has its advantages, but being taciturn also has its own merits. Do you think everyone should be as glib-tongued as you?"

  Madam Lu also smiled and said, "This child is indeed easy-going. Since arriving here all these days, every day he just stays in his own room, rarely coming out to take a stroll. Previously when your sister was ill you had to take care of her, now that she's better, you should also go out and about. Tomorrow when you're free, let your sister take you on a walk around."

  Yao Fengge and Yao Yanyu both agreed, and Mrs. Lu changed the subject again, bringing it to the Mid-Autumn Festival and moon appreciation, asking where the Eldest Princess would be appreciating the moon that night, so she could arrange for someone to go and prepare early.

  The Empress Dowager thought for a moment and said: "Year after year, appreciating the moon is either climbing mountains or beside water, but in the end it's all tedious and meaningless."

  Madam Lu said, "The osmanthus trees in the Hou Mansion's rear garden bloomed early this year. We can admire the moon from the Wishing Moon Pavilion and enjoy the fragrance of the osmanthus flowers while chatting together."

  The Empress Dowager smiled and glanced at Madame Feng, saying: "In that case, let's have Eldest Brother's wife make the arrangements."

  After lunch at Princess Dachang's residence, everyone moved to Dinghou's residence in the evening.

  Yao Yan was a guest and didn't care about those things, she just followed Su Yuexuan to one side to chat and laugh.

  In the afternoon, before it got dark, Princess Dachang arrived at Dingguo Mansion. Mrs. Lü led her three daughters-in-law to welcome her at the gate. After serving tea, Princess Dachang said, "Since we're here, let's have dinner together on the Wishing-for-the-Moon Pavilion."

  Ding Hou personally supported the hand of Da Zhang Gong Zhu, with Su Yu Ping following on the other side. Lu Furen brought her son and daughter-in-law to follow behind, and the group took advantage of the brilliant evening glow to climb up to Wang Yue Ge.

  Yao Yan walked at the very end, looking up at the filial and harmonious scene in front of her, and couldn't help but secretly sigh with envy. Thinking again about her own lonely soul, and having taken on this concubine's identity to enter the Ding Hou Fu, it was truly embarrassing to the extreme.

  Originally planned to leave the hustle and bustle of Yan Liu to find a quiet place to live a peaceful life, but unexpectedly Yao Feng Ge disagreed again.

  Alas, I was a bit impatient. At that time, I shouldn't have just discussed it with Li Nian's mother, but should have talked it over with Yao Fengge. But if I hadn't been impatient, how would things be? If Yao Fengge knew that she could save herself but didn't, I'm afraid even the life I have now would be gone.

  "Yao sister." Su Yuheng walked and walked, discovering that Yao Yanyu had fallen behind a few steps, so she stopped to wait for her to catch up, pulling her over, "Why are you so slow?"

  Yao Yan hurriedly smiled and said: "I just smelled the fragrance of osmanthus and was distracted for a moment, so I slowed down a few steps. But you, what's the hurry? Be careful not to trip on the stones under your feet, or you'll knock out your teeth."

  "Hmph, I'm not a cloud." Su Yuxuan smiled and pulled Yao Yanyu to walk quickly, "Hurry up! Tonight there's osmanthus steamed crab, osmanthus wine, osmanthus cake, osmanthus sugar, a string of osmanthus flowers, enough for you to savor until tomorrow!"

  All evening long, Yao Yanyu was silent and taciturn. In fact, whenever she participated in the Hou Mansion's gatherings, she was always like this.

  Madam Lu and the others just thought she was that kind of person, and didn't think much about it. After all, she's just the concubine daughter from her husband's first wife's family. Now that her husband has recovered from his illness, what will happen to this backup concubine depends on the Yao family's wishes.

  If they are willing to give their daughter to my son as a concubine, the Dinghou Mansion has nothing to say. Just accept it with a smile. Anyway, Yao Fengge still has no children, and having another noble concubine in her son's room is not something that outsiders can comment on.

  A family in joyful voices and laughter, playing drinking games and guessing riddles, telling jokes, the sound of laughter mixed with the fragrance of osmanthus flowers, intoxicating the enchanting autumn night.

  Yao Yan whispered to Yao Fengge's ear at the third watch: "Sister, I'm so sleepy, I can't even sit still."

  "Then you go back to sleep first." Yao Fengge was actually very tired, but since Princess Dachang didn't say it's time to disperse, she could only stay with her.

  Yao Yan quietly withdrew from the banquet, accompanied by Feng Nian and Cui Wei Cui Ping, and walked back along the same path they had taken to get there.

  These past few days, Yao Yanyu had been thinking of ways to leave the Ding Hou Fu. After today's family banquet, her status as a complete outsider became even more apparent. So she took advantage of the moonlight to stroll in the garden, and her mind was filled with thoughts of how to make a clean getaway with her belongings. Suddenly, someone emerged from a clump of wood hibiscus in front of her.

  "Miss!" Cui Wei followed behind Yao Yanyu, saw someone suddenly flashed out from the side, was startled at first, then subconsciously went forward to pull Yao Yanyu, but it was already too late.

  "Ah!" Yao Yan's voice was cold and unexpected, startling the person in front of her. She slammed on the brakes with her feet, her body leaning forward, and bumped into a hard chest. Her delicate cloud-like hairdo was slightly disheveled, and her pearl and jade hairpins were askew.

  "What? So it's Miss Yao. Another voice came from behind Furong, and after seeing Yao Yan clearly, he asked, "Why are you leaving before the banquet is over?"

  Yao Yan had not yet reacted when Feng's two maidservants came forward to pay their respects: "Your servants pay their respects to the young master."

  The night was dark and the flowers were swaying, the moonlight was bright but limited. Yao Yan stopped in her tracks, lifted her head to look over, and indeed saw that beside the tall, majestic figure with a dark greenish-blue complexion stood Su Yu-ping, dressed in a white jade-colored long shirt, looking refined and elegant.

  Yao Yan stepped back and quickly composed herself, bowing to Su Yu Ping: "I've seen the young master."

  "Miss Yao, are you alright? I was in a hurry just now and didn't bump into you, did I?" Su Yuping indeed had the demeanor of a Confucian general, humble and courteous.

  "Thank you, Young Master. I'm fine." Yao Yanyu had always disliked referring to herself as "concubine", so she usually referred to herself by her own name. At this moment, she didn't think twice and simply steadied her nerves before looking up at the guy who had scared her half to death again, only to freeze in surprise - huh? Isn't that... General Wei Zhang or something?

  Yao Yan couldn't help but go crazy, isn't it a family banquet today? How can there be outsiders?!

  "This is my third sister's niece, the second daughter of Grand Governor Yao of the Two Rivers," Su Yu-ping introduced to Wei Zhang, "You scared the girl half to death."

  "What's wrong, Yan Yu?" Wei Zhang asked, sizing her up in the soft moonlight. This girl was quite good-looking, with a pair of crescent-shaped eyes that sparkled like the black gemstone on his favorite Western dagger. It was the third time he had seen this girl, and each time he felt a little surprised.

  "General, please be careful." Feng's nanny immediately turned to Wei Zhang and bowed her head, but her tone was very serious. "It's better if you don't mention my young lady's name in vain."