Full House Spring

Chapter 94 The Talented Third Cousin

Rong's brows were furrowed, as if he was weighing the pros and cons of various options.

When she met her daughter's bright and determined eyes, she suddenly felt relieved and a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"As long as my dear daughter is happy, everything is fine. Your mother gave birth to you to enjoy happiness, not to carry on the family line. A man can have three wives and four concubines, so what's wrong with my daughter divorcing and finding another one?"

Xia Li was stunned when she heard this. She chewed on her mother's words again and again, then her eyes turned red. She naturally threw herself into her mother's arms and choked up:
"Mom, you give in to me in everything. Aren't you afraid of spoiling me and bringing shame to the family?"

Rong gently stroked Xia Li's head, sending a comforting signal with her warm palm. Her eyes were full of love and tenderness, and she whispered:

"The honor and disgrace of the family are borne by your brothers. If you don't even have the freedom to divorce, why would I take you home? My good daughter is well-behaved, beautiful and intelligent. Mother trusts you unconditionally."

At that moment, Xia Li's heart seemed to slowly melt under the warm sun. She felt inexplicable peace and happiness, as if she was injected with new vitality and energy. The mother and daughter stayed together for a while.

Xia Li did not plan to wear anything too eye-catching at the flower banquet. Her return was eye-catching enough. If she dressed too gorgeously, she would inevitably give people the impression that a poor person had suddenly become rich. When she appeared in front of people, she only needed to be dignified and elegant, with the demeanor of a lady from a noble family.

Rong was not good at making decisions and let her decide on her own. After choosing the clothes, Xia Li returned to Cuihua Courtyard. She went into the room and half-leaned on the Luohan bed, stroking the jade pendant around her waist carelessly.

Since she left the capital, the emperor has been very active. Even though Lu Lingchuan has the title of Earl of Cheng'en, his life seems to be very difficult. I wonder if the queen's pregnancy is safe.

Even if His Majesty dislikes the Lu family, the child in Queen Lu's belly is his eldest legitimate son. His throne requires an heir to be secure, so he must be hoping for a safe birth for the Queen's child, but others may not be willing to do so.

Empress Lu does not have a strong backing, and the emperor's supporters naturally want to replace her with their own daughters. The fighting between the former dynasty and the harem may be more intense than she imagined. She does not know whether Empress Lu can survive until giving birth smoothly. If she can give birth to the eldest prince to increase her bargaining chips, it should be much easier.

Shi Mi was out to settle Chan Yi and his wife and was not in the house. Bai Guo and Bai Ying also had other things to do. Apart from a few second-class maids standing quietly on both sides, there was no one else there.

Du Ruo came in with a fruit plate, and seeing Xia Li's empty eyes, she said softly, "Miss, have you encountered any difficulties? Why don't you tell me about it and let me share your worries."

Xia Li's eyes gradually cleared up after hearing this. She hummed and said with a smile:
"Nothing, I'm thinking about tomorrow's flower banquet. Mother will send the maid to bring the clothes later. You and Shi Mi will help me choose a suitable headwear. It doesn't have to be too luxurious, just dignified and generous."

Du Ruo nodded gently and said, "I understand. Please have some fruit first. These are newly sent from the south. They are very fresh and juicy."

Xia Li reached out and picked up a cherry and put it in her mouth. She took a bite and it was sweet and juicy. It tasted really good. She saw that there were tangerines on the fruit plate, so she quickly picked them up and sniffed them. She couldn't help but smile and said, "This tangerine smells really good. If I put it in perfume, it will definitely be very good."

Du Ruo smiled and said, "Miss, you may want to try it. There is no such thing as too many recipes. We still have a lot of tangerines. How about I bring some more?"

Xia Li put the peeled orange segments into his mouth and said with a smile: "Go and get them. I'll go mix the perfume."

With important things to do, Xia Li couldn't be distracted and think too much. No matter whether it was Lu Lingchuan or Empress Lu, it had little to do with her after all. She might not be lucky enough to see them again in this life. Xia Li had her own way to go...

The singing of birds in the early morning broke the silence. Because of the flower banquet, Xia Li got up half an hour earlier than usual. After washing up, he let the maids take care of him for a long time before he set out to the main courtyard to have breakfast with his mother.

Mrs. Rong saw her daughter's eyes light up and smiled broadly, "My dear daughter doesn't need fancy clothes to set off her beauty. With such a beautiful appearance and character, it would be a great blessing for him to choose anyone."

Fang Zongru looked at his daughter with eyes full of admiration and love. Xia Li tilted her head and grinned, "Mom, are you praising me or yourself? We are like two peas in a pod. It's inevitable that you will be accused of bragging about yourself."

Rong's eyes sparkled, and she said gently, "Mother is old, and can't be as pretty and lovely as you. If you put on that long jacket with peony brocade, you will look better."

Fang Zongru smiled and said lovingly, "This is also good. The most important thing is that the little girl is comfortable. She is going to choose someone, not to be chosen by others. She doesn't need to please anyone."

Xia Li nodded continuously, thinking that what his father said made sense. The three of them had breakfast together, and the mother and daughter leisurely got on the carriage to go to Magistrate Zhang's mansion. Sun Fuya had to be in charge of the household affairs, and also had Shuo Ge'er to look after, so she did not join in the fun.

When the Fang Mansion's carriage arrived at the gate of the prefect's residence, a steward led them inside. When they entered the inner courtyard, they saw Mrs. Zhong, the prefect's wife, standing at the archway to greet them. When she saw Rong coming, she hurried forward and said eagerly:
"Mrs. Rong is here. It's really a great honor for our family. I haven't seen you for a long time. Is this your daughter? She's so beautiful that I can't take my eyes off her."

Zhong was a very versatile person, and she and Magistrate Zhang were a perfect match. There were many things that were difficult for Magistrate Zhang to handle openly, so they were handled by her in private. She basically had the final say in the Zhang Mansion.

Xia Li didn't need to speak in such an occasion. She just had to smile reservedly. Rong held her daughter's hand and smiled gently:
"She is just a little girl, there is nothing wrong with her being pretty, she just has a more decent appearance."

Mrs. Zhong scolded, "Look at what you said, you are too modest. If this is not considered beautiful, then the maids in my house are burnt papers. Tell me, what is your maid's name?"

Rong looked at her daughter lovingly and said slowly, "Call her Fang Xiali. The original name is no longer used. She is used to it, so there is no need to change it. It is already in the family tree."

Everyone knew that the young girl of the Fang family had gone missing. Rong did not shy away from mentioning it, and took the initiative to mention it in order to avoid being questioned. Zhong's eyes flickered, and she sighed softly:

"It's really hard for this child. I heard that he grew up in front of the old lady of the Duke's Mansion. It can be considered a blessing in disguise."

Rong nodded gently and said, "I think so too. No matter what our little girl has been through, it doesn't matter. As long as she comes back, she will still be the apple of my and her father's eye. I can't say anything else, but I can still protect her for the rest of her life."

Mrs. Zhong agreed repeatedly, "Of course. You will take a good look at my third son later. Apart from his mild temper, he is good in every other aspect, and his character is impeccable."

Rong turned her head and saw that her daughter didn't care at all. She chuckled and said, "There's no rush. Let's say hello to the other ladies first. Is there anything new for today's flower banquet?"

Following Rong's topic, Mrs. Zhong said with a smile, "Every dish today is made with flowers and rare species found in southern Yunnan. I guarantee you will enjoy it to your heart's content."

Rong raised her eyebrows and smiled, "That's great, I'm in for a treat today."

During the conversation, the group arrived at the courtyard of Zhang's mansion. In the courtyard, various flowers were arranged in an orderly manner, competing with each other for beauty, making people dazzled. When the other female relatives saw the two people coming, they all came over to greet them. Among the people present, Zhong and Rong had the highest status, so naturally everyone else was vying to curry favor with them. Zhong had no legitimate daughter, so she asked her niece Zhong Huiting to accompany Xia Li.

Zhong Huiting didn't dare to act rashly in front of Mrs. Zhong. She pretended to be enthusiastic and greeted Xia Li. After she left Mrs. Zhong's sight, she looked at Xia Li with eyes like a cold blade, shooting out bursts of chill through the narrow slits of her eyes. She led her to the group of ladies, snorted coldly and said lightly:

"I thought the daughter of the Fang family was very talented, but today I see that she is nothing more than that. I heard that you have been a maid for more than ten years, and now you have become a master and are served by others. Can you get used to it?"

As soon as Zhong Huiting said this, the girls who were originally admiring the flowers looked towards Xia Li one after another. Some of them couldn't help but chuckle. Shi Mi clenched her fists, her face looked terribly gloomy, and she wished she could go up and tear her mouth apart.

Xia Li raised her eyes and looked at the other person. Her eyes instantly became sharp, like a cheetah locking onto its prey, revealing an unquestionable majesty. She spoke word by word:

"Have you got your brain wrapped up? I was born to be the master, how can I turn over? You are the one who is taking advantage of the power of the tiger. Do you really think you are the daughter of the Zhang family?"

As soon as these words came out, there were whispers among the crowd. It was obvious that many people looked down on her. Zhong Huiting's face turned green and red, and she said in a gloomy tone:
"You have never received proper education and probably can't even read a few words. How can you be worthy of my talented third cousin? If I were you, I wouldn't have such wishful thinking."

Xia Li looked at her with disdain, as if she was an ant worthless, and raised his chin slightly and said:

"Who is dreaming? Is it you? Are you coveting the talented third cousin? Didn't your aunt tell you that you have to let me pick him out first before you are qualified to fight for him?"

These words seemed to expose Zhong Huiting's shame, and she screamed:

"What nonsense are you talking about? How can you be with my third cousin if you are so disrespectful to him?"

Xia Li was filled with an indescribable sense of superiority. After glancing at her, he said nonchalantly:

"Don't worry. If your talented third cousin doesn't perform well and doesn't catch my eye, you still have a chance."

Zhong Huiting was so angry at Xia Li that her breathing became rapid and her body trembled slightly. He Moli, who was usually on good terms with her, walked up to her and whispered:
"Don't be angry Hui Ting, she has no other skills except her eloquence. If she is asked to compete with the sisters, she will be humiliated."

Zhong Huiting was a person who listened to advice. She tried her best to control her temper and sneered:

"Miss Fang, you don't have to argue with me. You probably don't understand the rules of this flower banquet. Guests who come to the banquet must leave calligraphy to show their sincerity, otherwise it would be disrespectful to the host. I think Miss Fang can do the work of serving people, and she may not know how to paint. If you ask me kindly, I will write for you."

Xia Li raised a sly smile and said briskly, "Who will judge the paintings? What will be the reward for the winner?"

He Moli, who was standing next to Zhong Huiting, said softly, "The ladies will judge the paintings. The winner can ask for an item from anyone, and the person being asked cannot refuse."

Xia Li's eyes sparkled with mischief, and she said with a smile: "This rule is quite interesting. Can the painting be framed in any way?"

Zhong Huiting asked suspiciously, "Could it be that you have learned painting?"

Xia Li shook his head and said leisurely, "I haven't learned it. After all, I have to serve others, so I don't have the opportunity. But I can draw patterns, and I am good at needlework."

Zhong Huiting's eyes showed disdain, and she sneered, "That's perfect. The flowers in the courtyard must be included in the painting. It's also your strong point."

He Moli's eyes were gentle, the corners of her mouth were raised, and she said softly: "Since everyone has no problem, let's paint now?"

Everyone responded, and they were all impatient to see the joke, not knowing who would win. Xia Li leaned close to Du Ruo's ear and whispered something in her ear. Du Ruo looked puzzled when she heard it. Although she didn't understand, she did as Xia Li asked without hesitation.

When everyone else picked up their pens and started painting, Xia Li was staring at Mudan in a daze with his chin in his hand. Zhong Huiting's eyes were full of contempt, and she was thinking in her mind which item she would take off Xia Li's body that would make her lose face.

When Du Ruo found a few small pieces of charcoal pencils from the kitchen of Zhang Mansion and handed them to Xia Li, Zhong happened to be leading the ladies to appreciate the flowers. Seeing the girls painting, she lowered her voice and said to Rong:
"This is Miss Fang's first time attending the Laizhou Flower Banquet and she doesn't know the rules here, so why not just not paint."

Rong turned around and saw her daughter drawing calmly. She said indifferently, "It's okay for a child to play around. Let her do what she wants."

Mrs. Zhong also wanted to see if Xia Li was a fool, so she didn't say much. Mrs. Rong was not worried about her daughter at all. She bent down to admire the peonies. Xia Li saw this and smiled knowingly, and wrote a little faster.

Little did they know that in an inconspicuous corner next to the rockery, Kuang Yulin saw everything Xia Li did. She came with He Moli, who was the concubine of County Magistrate He. He Moli and Cui were sisters, and because of their cousin relationship, they were able to attend the flower banquet.

Although Kuang Yulin knew that the Fang family had a strong foundation, she was not as shocked as when she saw it with her own eyes. Even someone like Miss Zhong who needed her cousin's flattery was looked down upon by Fang Xiali. She suddenly understood why her elder brother was holding on to the marriage.

Kuang Yulin had no intention of painting. All his thoughts were on Xia Li. He had to look up at her from time to time and could not calm down at all.

Time passed quietly. When Xia Li put down the last stroke, Shi Mi and Du Ruo beside her were already stunned at the painting. Shi Mi was the first to come back to her senses. She touched Du Ruo's arm and said proudly:
"The young lady once embroidered a portrait of the old lady of the Duke's Mansion. It was as if the real person was standing in front of her. I think she drew the pattern first and then embroidered it. The young lady is very talented, so this is nothing."

Du Ruo's eyes sparkled with excitement, and she lowered her voice and said, "Our girl will definitely win the championship."

Du Ruo was glad that she followed the right person. Only a master like the girl could make her wholeheartedly convinced. She was proud of her decisiveness at that time.

As each girl shot the picture from a different angle, they were some distance apart and could not see each other's paintings clearly. When it came time to judge, Zhong led everyone to start with the paintings of other girls and deliberately left Xia Li for last.

No matter what, Xia Li couldn't be left at the bottom. Even if her painting was disgusting, she had to handle the matter decently.

(End of this chapter)