Chapter 328
Qu Moying left after chatting with Qu Xuexin for a while.
Qu Xuexin’s eyes became gloomy immediately after Qu Moying left, and she looked at the door resentfully.
Seeing that Qu Xuexin was in a daze, Hong Mei called out in a low voice, “Lady!”
Qu Xuexin gritted her teeth and almost tore the handkerchief in her hand. “Don’t blame me. You made me do this!”
Qu Moying was the one who was supposed to marry Third Young Master He. But when He Mansion came to Qu Mansion and claimed to deliver betrothal gifts to Qu Xuexin, no one spoke up for her, and only her mother shed tears for her.
Rage bubbled in Qu Xuexin’s mind, “Why should I sacrifice my reputation for Qu Moying?”
“I’ve suffered a lot to secure a marriage. After the previous engagement was canceled, I hadn’t found a suitable person for a long time, and my marriage was therefore postponed. Mother picked up some candidates for me. Some of them liked me, but I didn’t like them. Some were good in all aspects, but they didn’t like me.”
“I thought that Third Young Master He was really a good option and would have a promising future. He was better than anyone Mother had chosen for me. With Qu Moying’s current appearance, she would be looked down upon and end up being abandoned even if she married to He Mansion. She would even cause Qu Mansion and He Mansion to have a grudge. It was bad for everyone!”
“I was willing to accept this marriage proposal for Qu Moying and for the entire Qu Mansion!”
“But why did it turn out like this?”
Bai Mei was naturally on Qu Xuexin’s side, and she said angrily, “Lady, Fourth Lady has gone too far. It was her business in the first place, but she didn’t apologize to you, and she still has the mood to go out and have fun. She deserves all the shit.”
Since Bai Mei said so, Hong Mei hurriedly pandered to Qu Xuexin, unwilling to be outdone by the former, “Yes, First Lady. Even if something happens to Fourth Lady, she deserves it. It has nothing to do with you!”
The comfort of the two maids worked. Qu Xuexin nodded, totally forgetting it was she who set up Qu Moying in the first place. When she was plotting against Qu Moying, He Mansion didn’t come to Qu Mansion to propose to her. There wasn’t such a big accident. She didn’t reflect that if she hadn’t seduced Third Young Master He on purpose, he would not have come to her.
The so-called accidental encounter was an ambiguous way that noble ladies used to express their feelings.
For example, when Qu Moying and Pei Yuanjun bumped into each other, others thought that Qu Moying deliberately bumped into him out of vanity. Others thought that Pei Yuanjun was tired of the pressure to get married from the Emperor, and he had to get a woman. Coincidentally, Qu Moying bumped into him, so he chose her.
Anyway, she was blind. She would not be the Princess Consort. It was already a blessing if she could be given the title of Side Princess.
Noble ladies and young masters always had maids and lad servants by their side, so how could normal people bump into them easily?
On the Qixi Festival, Qu Moying did not wake up early. She felt a little uncomfortable. Her body was too weak. That day when she was hit in the head in the carriage, she was a little dizzy and did not have much strength. Although she was better now, she was not in the best state.
The Old Lady specially told her that she did not need to greet her and that she should have a good rest.
While Qu Moying was still sleeping, her maids had already prepared the clothes for Qu Moying to wear at night. It was one set of clothes that the Yue Family in the South had sent over. It was made of five-color brocade, for which Yue’s Clothing Pavilion had been vigorously advertising.
The five-color brocade got its name because it could only be dyed with five colors. These five colors were not gaudy but light. The five-color brocade was elegant and smooth. It would shine under the light, revealing a bit of hazy beauty. It looked like cloud brocade, but it was softer.
Qu Moying got up at lunchtime. After lunch, she listened to Granny Miao report on what had happened in Yue’s Clothing Pavilion today and felt very satisfied. The opening event of Yue’s Clothing Pavilion was going well. Many people went there yesterday. Some were watching, and some took part in it.
Yue’s Clothing Pavilion and Yue’s Gold Pavilion started their businesses at the same time. Both of them were topical. Now that they started the business at the same time, there would naturally be many topics. In the past, Yue’s Clothing Pavilion and Yue’s Gold Pavilion were not famous in the capital. But now, at least half of the people in the capital had heard about them, so many people went to watch the fun upon hearing that these two shops started business again.
Moreover, thanks to the well-built stage for the opening event, many people went up to join the fun. Hearing that the top prize would be given away today, many people who had come to the shop yesterday came again today.
After Granny Miao finished reporting what was going on in the shop, Qu Moying went to the Old Lady’s place.
After leading Qu Moying to her seat, the Old Lady carefully examined her face. She saw nothing abnormal and asked with concern, “Moying, are you still dizzy?”
Qu Moying said softly with an elegant smile, “Grandmother, I’m alright. I got up very late today. It’s good to go out for a walk and relax.”
“It’s best if you’re alright. Be careful when you go out today. I have asked your Eldest Sister to take care of you. Don’t go to places where there are too many people, lest people squeeze into you.” The Old Lady warned, obviously not completely at ease.
Qu Moying replied, “Grandmother, I know. I will listen to Eldest Sister!”
Seeing that she was so obedient, the Old Lady breathed a sigh of relief and then frowned. “Qiuyan will also go with you tonight. She behaved well recently, and she promised that she will not cause trouble and will definitely listen to your Eldest Sister.”
Qu Moying smiled and nodded slightly without any comment. How could Qu Qiuyan sit still on such a day? She would definitely go out.
According to the news Granny Miao had collected, Qu Qiuyan went out on this festival every year. It was said that she met Lord Jing outside last year on the same day, and the relationship between the two of them was built at that time.
Qu Qiuyan could go anywhere she wanted, and Qu Moying couldn’t control her.
Seeing that Qu Moying did not say anything to oppose, the Old Lady breathed a sigh of relief. Although she knew Qu Moying and Qu Qiuyan were not on good terms, she didn’t want them to be like fire and water. They should at least maintain harmony on the surface. Otherwise, it would be bad for the reputation of both of them.
After returning from the Old Lady’s place, Qu Moying took a bath again and put on the prepared clothes. After she put the clothes on, the maids were amazed.
Although they already knew that Qu Moying was gorgeous, they found her even more stunning in such clothes.
While the long eye veil covered her watery and attractive eyes, it also made her delicate and beautiful.
The eye veil drooped like ribbon. It fluttered, and so did her hemline. She stood in the wind like a fairy.
She was like a walking advertisement for Yue’s Clothing Pavilion!
With the previous day’s momentum and today’s top prize, and with Qu Moying as the walking advertisement, who would not be interested in five-color brocade?
Everyone finished their dinner earlier than usual today. Before the sky was completely darkened, everyone had been ready.
The carriages were waiting outside. This time, the Old Lady prepared three carriages for her three granddaughters, one for each of them, and they were spacious enough to seat their maids.
This festival was for young girls, so the Old Lady and Luo naturally would not go with them.
Qu Mingcheng couldn’t go because he was still lying on the bed and recuperating. But the first branch’s Eldest Young Master, Qu Minghui, would accompany them. Xiao Hanyuan, who had asked to be shown around on this day, was nowhere to be seen. Qu Moying felt strange about it, “Didn’t he ask us to show him around on the Qixi Festival?”
When Qu Moying came out of the corridor, she saw that Qu Minghui was already there. Not only he but Qu Xuexin and Qu Qiuyan were also there.
Qu Xuexin and Qu Qiuyan were talking happily.
The color of Qu Qiuyan’s clothes was very bright. From far away, one could see that she was wearing a light yellow eight-piece skirt that outlined her slender waist. Although she was young, her figure was not bad, and her eyes were beautiful. She was much more outstanding than Qu Xuexin beside her, making the latter pale in comparison.
Seeing Qu Moying come over, Qu Xuexin took two steps forward and said softly, “Moying, you’re late.”
Her expression looked normal, but the corner of her eye was still a little swollen. It was not obvious, and it made her look pitiful. However, when she was next to Qu Moying, Qu Moying seemed to be the more pitiful one. With the eye veil, Qu Moying appeared to be the most pitiful one among the three of them.
Qu Xuexin noticed this, and a trace of jealousy appeared in her eyes, but it was quickly suppressed.
Qu Moying turned her body slightly and bowed apologetically, “Grandmother gave me a few words of advice, so I was late.”
“Grandmother is really good to you!” Qu Qiuyan couldn’t help but say tartly, and she boarded the carriage in the middle without looking back.
Qu Xuexin said with an apologetic look on her face, “Moying, don’t be angry. Qiuyan is just like this!”
“Eldest Sister, Eldest Brother, thank you for keeping me company this time!” Qu Moying did not answer her. She only smiled slightly and bowed deeply to Qu Minghui, who was walking over.
Qu Minghui said hurriedly, “Moying, you’re too polite!”
Qu Minghui looked a lot taller. Although he was not as handsome as Qu Mingcheng, he appeared quite calm and honest.
Qu Moying knew that Qu Minghui had a good reputation, but now she was more willing to believe what she saw with her own eyes.
Qu Minghui was afraid that Qu Moying was unfamiliar with the festival in the capital, so he explained, “Moying, please get on the carriage first. It is the right time for us to go there. When we get there, we will all get down the carriages and walk on foot.”
“Thank you, Eldest Brother!” Qu Moying bowed again. Then, she held Yu Dong’s hand and went to the last carriage.
Qu Xuexin got on the first carriage. Qu Minghui got on the horse and followed beside the three carriages to escort them. They all headed forward together.
It was not late at night, but the streets were already lit up with lights.
Along the way, there were numerous young ladies who were beautifully dressed up. Today, men and women wouldn’t deliberately keep a distance from each other as usual. There were women and men walking and chatting happily together. It was very lively.
Yu Dong lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked outside. It was his first time going out on such a festival. He used to be either at the border or in the mansion. Lord Yun was not willing to come out at such a time. Even if he happened to be in the capital, he never went out at this time.
But he would probably come out for a walk today.
Having been briefed by Eunuch Ji Hai, Yu Dong was full of anticipation for tonight’s festival.
There were more and more people on the street, and the carriages were slower than walking. Qu Minghui decided to stop the carriages. In an alley, the ladies of Qu Mansion tidied up their clothes before getting off the carriages with their maids.
The carriages were parked in the alley. The group of people from Qu Mansion turned out of the alley and walked amongst the wandering crowd.
Yu Dong had been keeping an eye on the surroundings. He sharply noticed a person who looked like a lad servant not far away. After glancing at them, the person immediately ran away…