Chapter 1324: Chapter 1160: The Conservatory

"Second Master Yao, I wish you may have this day every year, and this very morning every year!" Gu Chengyu’s congratulatory words were really quite perfunctory, but he had been dragged here at the last minute anyway.

"Good, good! I’ll take your lucky words!" Yao Qingcheng hurriedly rose to return the salute, while glancing at the elder brother beside him, unable not to envy his brother’s good fortune.

Outside the screen it was boisterous; the younger generation drank a few cups, felt bored, and began playing hand-gesture drinking games and reciting wine orders to liven things up.

Inside the hall everyone was laughing and joking; from behind the screen came faint birdlike chatter, and Gu Chengyu seemed to hear a young lady calling "Third Sister." The one ranked third should be Yao Mengxian.

Thinking of how his fiancée was right behind that screen, he couldn’t help feeling a bit strange. Fiancée? It was a feeling he couldn’t put into words.

"Third Sister! Today is Father’s birthday, surely if we ask to go to the flower house, Aunt will agree." Yao Mengdie smiled at Yao Mengxian, her eyes full of expectation.

"Yes! Third Cousin, I heard the flower house in the mansion isn’t usually opened; we sisters have long admired it by reputation. Today is such a festive day, we finally have a chance to see its splendor. Do please plead with the Madam on our behalf, let us go in and have a look around."

The one speaking was the second branch’s Miss, Jiang Rong, second in her family’s birth order, only a year younger than Yao Mengxian; she had been the first just now to address Gu Chengyu.

Yao Mengxian’s face stiffened. Yao Mengdie clearly knew her mother disliked her, yet still wanted her to go and ask. If her mother refused in public, wouldn’t that be a loss of face?

By the usual standards of aristocratic wives, Mrs. Ke shouldn’t give her stepdaughter a hard time in front of people. But ever since Mrs. Ke bore a legitimate son, she felt her back was a bit straighter than before, and her scruples had lessened a great deal.

Publicly embarrassing her, embarrassing Duke Mansion, letting others watch the joke—she just might actually do such a thing. And weren’t these few exactly making this proposal because they knew she and her stepmother were at odds?

"It’s only a pity Grandmother isn’t well today, otherwise if we asked her, we wouldn’t have to trouble Third Sister to go. After all, Aunt has to manage the household accounts, how would she have the leisure to concern herself with us?" Yao Mengdie looked all regretful, then picked up the jade chopsticks on the table and clipped a piece of the Buddha’s Hand golden roll into her mouth.

"Indeed! How did the Old Madam catch a chill? In winter it’s easiest to catch cold; the servants are far too careless." Jiang Family’s third young lady, Jiang Shao, put down her spoon, her brows lightly furrowed, her face full of worry.

"Exactly. But Third Cousin, don’t be too anxious; I’m sure the Old Madam will recover in a few days at most."

Yao Mengxian watched Yao Mengdie basking in the flattery from her cousin, while the ladies at the neighboring seats smiled and praised Yao Mengdie for being sensible and filial. She couldn’t help a cold snort in her heart.

This one truly never misses a chance to perform in front of aristocratic ladies—trying to make people think she is the filial one, and that as the legitimate daughter of the main branch, she is less filial than this second-branch girl?

"Fourth Sister, I already went to Grandmother’s courtyard this morning. Mrs. Qin said Grandmother’s condition has improved today; you needn’t worry so much."

This Yao Mengdie was far too eager; even if she wanted a good match, there was no need to step on her to shine.

The aristocratic ladies present were no fools—women steeped in the inner courtyard for years, who among them can’t read these twists and turns? She didn’t need to argue; she was the main branch’s legitimate daughter and had to show the bearing of an aristocratic legitimate daughter.

Besides, even if she wasn’t favored by her stepmother, she still held the status of the main branch’s legitimate daughter. What’s more, with her fiancé’s current standing in court, the Capital’s aristocratic wives were hardly eager to make an enemy for nothing.

Yao Mengdie was only a girl of the second branch; when Duke Mansion divided its estates in the future, the second branch would have only Second Uncle’s fifth-rank post to rely on. Any family with a bit of property would have to think carefully about such a marriage.

On top of that, Yao Menglian was concubine to Prince Jing. Now that the Emperor had just ascended the throne, Prince Jing’s position was sensitive, and families with any foresight didn’t dare link themselves to him at the moment.

Yet Second Madam was still dreaming of a lofty match for Yao Mengdie. Unfortunately, the Capital’s aristocratic families now hardly dared marry a daughter of the second branch.

Lately Second Madam didn’t know how many walls she had run into in the Capital; she simply still couldn’t see the second branch’s situation clearly, indulging herself in the joy of her elder daughter being Prince Jing’s concubine.

Yao Mengxian beckoned, calling Lianxin over.

"Miss!" Lianxin took a few steps forward and leaned close to Yao Mengxian.

Yao Mengdie watched Yao Mengxian’s every move; seeing her whisper a few words to Lianxin and Lianxin then slip out past the screen, she couldn’t help feeling puzzled.

"Third Sister! Look, Aunt is in a good mood right now, why don’t you go ask her at once? We’ve been coveting that flower house for so long; Third Sister, you simply must let us broaden our horizons this time!"

Yao Mengxian smiled faintly, a chill flickering in her eyes as she looked at Yao Mengdie. "What’s the hurry, Fourth Sister? I’ll be sure to give you a surprise later."

"Mr. Gu truly holds his liquor! Today we must drink our fill!" The speaker was Second Master’s brother-in-law, Jiang Dongcheng, father of the Jiang Family’s three sisters just now.

Jiang Dongcheng held only a seventh-rank post, currently serving as an Experienced Officer in the Ministry of Communication. Though merely seventh-rank, the Ministry of Communication’s powers were special, so Second Master Yao was still rather courteous to this brother-in-law, even if he was from a small, modest family.

"I’m afraid I can’t today! I still have to report for duty at Dali Temple this afternoon; I’ll have to spoil everyone’s fun!" Gu Chengyu drained his cup in one go to show his apologies.

"If you must be on duty then you really shouldn’t drink too much. I’ll host a banquet at my residence another day, invite you then—Mr. Gu, you must do me the honor!"

"Indeed! We’ve long admired Mr. Gu; it’s a real pity we can’t drink ourselves senseless today. Another day we’ll be the hosts, Mr. Gu, you must grace us with your presence!"

The others at the table chimed in one after another. Duke Zhen, at the side, seeing Gu Chengyu like the moon surrounded by the stars, couldn’t help wearing a broad smile. This man was the Duke Zhen’s Mansion’s son-in-law: the more the crowd fawned over Gu Chengyu, the higher it proved his standing in court.

With such an in-law, Duke Zhen’s Mansion would naturally reap plenty of benefits in the future.

Just as Duke Zhen was all smiles, Lianxin quietly came to stand before him and whispered a few words in his ear.

Of course Gu Chengyu recognized Lianxin; the moment she appeared, he pricked up his ears to listen, but only vaguely caught something about a flower house.

He thought for a moment and understood that a flower house should be the place where wealthy families kept their flowers. Many rare varieties were extremely delicate and needed a warm house to keep them alive in the cold of winter.

"Go, then! But tell those young ladies to be careful; they mustn’t touch those few pots of orchids—they’re very delicate!" Duke Zhen waved his hand, not taking it to heart.

The flowers in the flower house were meant to be admired anyway; aren’t young ladies fond of such blossoms and greenery? On such a festive day there was no need to dampen the mood.

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