If not for the separation of sexes, Bai Zhaohui and the others would have wanted to sit at the same table as Zhan Feiyu during the evening birthday banquet. They were all still eager to hear about her travels.
“Sister Zhan, my father said you are learned, and I didn’t believe him at first. It’s true that seeing is believing,” Miss Chang said with admiration, her eyes shining as she stared at Zhan Feiyu, wishing the road would never end so she could listen to more interesting stories.
“When you get married in the future, perhaps you can also travel with your husband,” Zhan Feiyu teased with a smile, looking unsurprised as Miss Chang’s cheeks instantly flushed with shyness.
“My mother is reluctant to marry me off far away,” Miss Chang mumbled, originally thinking it would be best to marry within the capital where her parents were.
However, thinking that Zhan Feiyu had traveled to so many prefectures, Miss Chang couldn’t help but feel envious. If she could really leave the capital with her husband to take up an official post, it wouldn’t be bad to see the customs and traditions of the Great Qing Dynasty.
Thinking of this, Miss Chang looked up at Wen Ruyi and the others walking ahead. Although they were known as talented women, their usual gatherings were about household trivialities or clothes and accessories. Unlike Sister Zhan, who spoke of the customs and traditions of various places, these strange tales were unheard of by her.
Seeing that the maids and servants were a bit far away, Miss Chang tugged at Zhan Feiyu’s sleeve and said a little sheepishly, “Before, when my brother and sister-in-law argued, my brother said my sister-in-law had long hair and short knowledge. My sister-in-law was so angry she cried. Today, hearing your conversation with Young Master Ning and the others, I suddenly realized that women indeed have short knowledge.”
Speaking of this, Miss Chang’s smile was replaced by a look of dejection. Her mother and sister-in-law always talked about trivial matters in the household, but Young Master Ning and Young Master Bai spoke of matters of the world.
Young Master Ning and the others, like her father, cared about the common people in various regions, merchant taxes, or judicial cases, the floods in Jiangnan Dao every July and August, or the lack of sand and rain in Longyou Dao.
Miss Chang looked up at Zhan Feiyu in the twilight, wishing she had Zhan Jie’s knowledge and erudition.
Zhan Feiyu looked at the dejected Miss Chang and couldn’t help but comfort her by patting her flower-bud-like hair, “You’re thinking about it the wrong way. After a day of official duties in the yamen, do you want to continue working when you get home?”
Miss Chang blinked and thought, That’s right. If she read books all day, she would get a headache from them during her rest. She would rather pick up needlework than read books again.
“If one is tense without relaxation, one cannot achieve anything; if one is relaxed without tension, one cannot accomplish anything. Balance is key, and combining work with rest is the right way,” Zhan Feiyu couldn’t help but sigh. It would be good after the spring examinations, and she wouldn’t have to study so hard.
“Yes, I understand,” Miss Chang nodded obediently, her face regaining its previous cheerful smile. “Sister Zhan, please sit here. Taotao, this is Sister Zhan. Please entertain her well…”
The girl called Taotao by Miss Chang looked no more than twelve or thirteen years old. She was a little shy when she smiled, but she was Miss Chang’s maternal niece, so it wasn’t disrespectful to have her entertain Zhan Feiyu.
As for Wen Ruyi and the others at the neighboring table, although Miss Chang was young, she could tell something was wrong.
Moreover, with Zhe Jing there, Miss Chang dared not let Zhan Feiyu sit at the same table as them. If there was a commotion, no matter who suffered, it would definitely ruin Madam Chang’s birthday banquet.
The elegant sound of silk and bamboo music began, and as dishes were served, the atmosphere in the room became even more harmonious. With Madam Chang, the elderly birthday star, present, even if there were some grievances between the ladies and young ladies, no one would be so tactless as to compete at the banquet.
“Oh!” A surprised cry rang out. Taotao dodged, but the fish soup spilled onto her clothes. Looking at the brown soup and a strand of ginger on her leg, Taotao’s face was filled with annoyance.
Zhan Feiyu, who was sitting nearby, was also affected, but only a few drops of fish soup splashed on her.
The maid who was serving the dish turned pale, quickly placed the plate on the table, and apologized in a frightened manner, “It is all my fault, please forgive me, young lady.”
“It’s alright, I’ll go change my clothes…” Taotao’s voice paused, but she found that the maid who should have been waiting in the corner was gone, which made Taotao’s face fall again.
He Nuan had already walked over. She glanced at the maid who was bowing her head to apologize, “Miss, Miss Li’s maid just went to change her clothes and hasn’t returned yet.”
Zhan Feiyu nodded and looked at Taotao, saying, “Why don’t we go change our clothes together?”
“Thank you, Sister Zhan,” Taotao nodded. Although she was young, this was her aunt’s family, so she wasn’t afraid. However, today was the Chang family’s birthday banquet, and guests were gathered. Thinking of her mother’s instructions before leaving, and with her personal maid not by her side, Taotao dared not be careless and guard against schemes.
Lanterns were lit on the corridor outside the flower hall, making it look very festive. Seeing Zhan Feiyu and Taotao walking out, the little maid waiting on the corridor immediately stepped forward.
“Are the two young ladies going to change? Please come this way.” After bowing, the maid saw Taotao’s dirty skirt and knew something had gone wrong. Fortunately, the mansion had prepared in advance, and many new clothes were prepared in the guest courtyard.
Passing through the moon gate led to the small garden behind the flower hall. The maid carried a lantern and led the way, “Miss’s carriage is parked in the pine forest on the left. If you go from this side door and keep walking forward, you will find it. There are also nannies ahead.”
Zhan Feiyu’s spare clothes were still in the carriage. He Nuan was not at ease with Zhan Feiyu wearing the clothes prepared by the Chang family, nor was she at ease with the Chang family’s maids retrieving the clothes from the carriage.
“Nuan, you go. I’ll accompany Taotao to change first,” Zhan Feiyu said with a smile. This was the Chang family’s residence. Even if someone wanted to scheme, they couldn’t do it openly. Moreover, Zhan Feiyu had the ability to protect herself, and the Jinlong Guard was secretly protecting her.
He Nuan left quickly. The little maid continued to lead the way. Two maids were also arranged in the guest courtyard. “Miss Biao, please come this way. The clothes are all in the wardrobe.”
“Sister Zhan, I’ll go change first,” Taotao said with a smile, following the maid into the room on the left. Since it was winter and people wore more clothes, she needed to change her outer jacket and skirt.
After Taotao left, the maids serving in the room brought tea first and then retreated to the corner to wait.
“Ah…” Suddenly, a rapid shout accompanied by a sharp cat’s meow broke the silence, followed by the noise of tables and chairs falling.
Zhan Feiyu remained seated steadily.
The maid serving in the corner was startled, then quickly bowed and said, “Miss, I’ll go see what happened. Please stay in the room, Miss.”
Zhan Feiyu nodded, and the little maid hurried towards the room next door. Perhaps in her haste, she accidentally bumped into the table, and the candlestick on the table also fell, plunging the room into darkness.
“Ah…” The maid who opened the door was startled, and after shouting, she suddenly darted out.
In the darkness, the wild cat’s eerie green eyes were particularly chilling.
Meow…
The mournful cat’s meow sounded clearly in the room. Zhan Feiyu adapted to the darkness of the room and looked closely, faintly seeing a white cat pouncing towards her like a madman.
“What’s going on?” a hoarse voice sounded from outside the door. It seemed to have heard the commotion in the room, and the question carried a hint of worry. “What happened? Miss, don’t be afraid!”
The moment the voice fell, the door was pushed open from the outside, but the half-open door was then closed with a creak by the person who came in.
The mournful cat’s meow, along with the man’s rough voice, the sound of tables and chairs falling, and porcelain shattering, continued until hurried footsteps and voices sounded from outside.
Miss Chang looked at Taotao, who ran out of the room next door, and rushed forward with a worried expression, “Taotao, are you alright?”
“Cousin…” Taotao, truly frightened, hugged Miss Chang and burst into tears. There were several bloodstains on the back of her hand, which clearly indicated she had been scratched by a wild cat. Fortunately, the wound was on the back of her hand. If it had been on her face, she might have been disfigured.
The two maids who followed were also shaken, but with Miss Chang and the others in the courtyard, and maids and servants holding lanterns to illuminate the area, they calmed down after the panic.
“To answer Miss, just now I was serving Miss Biao into the room to change clothes. Who would have thought that as soon as the wardrobe was opened, a wild cat would jump out from inside…” the maid knelt on the ground and roughly explained what had happened.
Not only was Taotao, this pampered young lady, frightened, but the maid was also startled.
This wild cat was like a madman, tearing and pouncing at people. It knocked over the candlestick, plunging the room into darkness. The cat could see in the dark, but the door was tightly shut. The maid protected Taotao, but she was still scratched on the back of her hand by the wild cat.
Fortunately, Taotao had just retreated to the door and opened it, and the wild cat ran out. Otherwise, who knows what would have happened.
“Sister Zhan?” Miss Chang’s hand holding Taotao paused, and she looked anxiously towards the main house. “You two, come with me to take a look!”