Chapter 107 A Residence and the New Year Banquet (3)
Wei-shi was from 1 to 3 in the afternoon. This was because her home was quite far away from the imperial palace. Not to mention, the officials entered the palace one by one, so it would take a very long time, hence Fu Tanghuan suggested they should go early.
She also gave Wen Yantong a bag that she had prepared in advance. It contained maid's clothing, Fu Tanghuan asked her to change into it on the thirty-first.
The officials and their children were separated during the New Year's Banquet, and the boys and girls would also be separated among the children. There were few women who had seen Wen Yantong, so there was no need to worry about being recognized by anyone.
Wen Yantong played with the two siblings of the Fu Residence for a while. She did not return home until dark, but Mo Li and He Ying were already waiting.
She went back to take a bath and slept comfortably.
In a blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve.
Her residence was full of red lanterns and auspicious knots that Wen Yantong personally braided; completely festive for the new year. Wen Yantong gave all the servants in her Residence a holiday. She also gave each of them ten taels of silver to go back to celebrate the New Year.
Early in the morning, the sound of firecrackers exploded from the street to the end of the street, waking up the sleeping Chaoge. It ushered in the festival under the severe cold.
Even in ancient times, this was the most important day of the year. This year, Wen Yantong felt a rollercoaster ride full of emotion. Long ago, when her family was still poor, this was the only day, once every year during the Chinese New Year, there would be abundant meat on the table at home.
Braised pork trotters, stewed chicken, braised fish, these are all things she and her family usually never could usually afford to eat. During the Chinese New Year when she was a child, all of these delicious dishes belonged to Wen Yantong. Her parents didn't eat much and would clip the best parts into her bowl, so she likes the Chinese New Year the most.
But after her younger brother was born, her family became poorer and poorer. There were also fewer and fewer things on the dinner table during the New Year, and most of them went to her younger brother's bowl. Wen Yantong's home town was poor and rural, so patriarchal thoughts were instilled in every villager’s mind. When she was younger, she didn’t understand this and had a few willful fights with her parents. After several beatings and heavy scolding, over time, she learned not to fight over things that ‘belonged’ to her brother.
When she grew up, she hated staying at home for the Chinese New Year even more. So much so that when she left home to work, and during the New Year, Wen Yantong avoided going home by giving an excuse of being busy at work. So every year, she would prepare her favorite food in her own rented house.
It's just that this kind of behavior eventually be criticized by her family members, they would call her unfilial and the like. Wen Yantong thought of their kindness during her upbringing and could only endure the accusations from her family over and over again. Looking back now, the past twenty years or so have been exhausting.
Wen Yantong was good at self-regulating her emotions and wouldn't take unhappy things to heart. But occasionally when these thoughts pop out, she would feel heavy and uncomfortable.
Wen Yantong got up early in the morning to tidy herself up and put on the clothes Fu Tanghuan gave her. The clothes were lotus pink, similar to the color of their Academy’s uniforms. The top was two-piece, the inside was a snow-white long sleeve. The sleeves faded from the white into a coral pink towards the end. The outer piece was a lotus pink short sleeve vest; the sleeves and collar were made of snow-white rabbit fur.
The bottom half was a long skirt embroidered with cloud patterns. Wen Yantong was afraid of the cold, so she added several layers inside.
After she was ready, Wen Yantong waited in the main hall until Fu Tanghuan sent someone to knock on the door. There were still some servants who remained in her residence, these were people who had no father, no mother, nor a home to return to to celebrate the New Year.
When Wen Yantong got into Fu Tanghuan's carriage directly, she saw a similarly dressed maidservant sitting inside. Wen Yantong automatically went to her side and sat by her.
Fu Tanghuan was also dressed up today. Due to the regulations of the New Year's banquet, these clothes were uniformly manufactured at the imperial palace. Red as firecrackers, snow-white fox fur, and loose long-sleeves. It was embroidered with a ruyi pattern using gold silk, representing auspiciousness.
The clothes were layered with a red tulle, with bits and pieces of jewels inlaid on top, the whole look was extremely beautiful.
Fu Tanghuan smiled at her and waved. "Come, sit with me."
Wen Yantong sat down with a smile. "The Third Young Lady is really beautiful today!"
Fu Tanghuan curved her eyes. "It took me some effort getting rid of my eldest brother and second sister to see you. So you and your sweet mouth should give me many more compliments."
Wen Yantong listened and praised her some more, which made Fu Tanghuan very happy.
It took nearly two hours to go from Wen Residence to the palace. After arriving at the imperial palace, they had to queue up for inspection before they could be admitted inside.
Fu Tanghuan said, "You will follow me for now, when we have time to do our own activities, I will take you around."
Wen Yantong nodded, feeling faintly excited.
While the two were talking, someone suddenly knocked on the carriage. They heard a voice from outside, "Young Lady, Young Master Mu is asking to see you."
Fu Tanghuan was stunned for a moment. "Where is he?"
"Just outside the carriage."
Fu Tanghuan paused for a moment, then said to Wen Yantong, "You sit here for now. I'll go down and have a look."
Wen Yantong nodded.
The maid beside her opened the curtain for her. There were people below to help her down, so Fu Tanghuan got out of the carriage safely.
Wen Yantong sat by the window, opened it a little bit to look out, and saw Mu Yang standing not far away. He was wearing formal attire, with a bright smile, and a handsome appearance. He looked beaming in bright red, without his usual silliness.
When Mu Yang saw Fu Tanghuan, his smile broadened even more. He took two steps forward and opened his mouth, "Third Young Lady Fu, I haven't seen you for a long time, you are becoming more and more like a dumb fool."
Fu Tanghuan: ? ? ?
Wen Yantong: …
Chapter 107 A Residence and the New Year Banquet (3)
Wei-shi was from 1 to 3 in the afternoon. This was because her home was quite far away from the imperial palace. Not to mention, the officials entered the palace one by one, so it would take a very long time, hence Fu Tanghuan suggested they should go early.
She also gave Wen Yantong a bag that she had prepared in advance. It contained maid's clothing, Fu Tanghuan asked her to change into it on the thirty-first.
The officials and their children were separated during the New Year's Banquet, and the boys and girls would also be separated among the children. There were few women who had seen Wen Yantong, so there was no need to worry about being recognized by anyone.
Wen Yantong played with the two siblings of the Fu Residence for a while. She did not return home until dark, but Mo Li and He Ying were already waiting.
She went back to take a bath and slept comfortably.
In a blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve.
Her residence was full of red lanterns and auspicious knots that Wen Yantong personally braided; completely festive for the new year. Wen Yantong gave all the servants in her Residence a holiday. She also gave each of them ten taels of silver to go back to celebrate the New Year.
Early in the morning, the sound of firecrackers exploded from the street to the end of the street, waking up the sleeping Chaoge. It ushered in the festival under the severe cold.
Even in ancient times, this was the most important day of the year. This year, Wen Yantong felt a rollercoaster ride full of emotion. Long ago, when her family was still poor, this was the only day, once every year during the Chinese New Year, there would be abundant meat on the table at home.
Braised pork trotters, stewed chicken, braised fish, these are all things she and her family usually never could usually afford to eat. During the Chinese New Year when she was a child, all of these delicious dishes belonged to Wen Yantong. Her parents didn't eat much and would clip the best parts into her bowl, so she likes the Chinese New Year the most.
But after her younger brother was born, her family became poorer and poorer. There were also fewer and fewer things on the dinner table during the New Year, and most of them went to her younger brother's bowl. Wen Yantong's home town was poor and rural, so patriarchal thoughts were instilled in every villager’s mind. When she was younger, she didn’t understand this and had a few willful fights with her parents. After several beatings and heavy scolding, over time, she learned not to fight over things that ‘belonged’ to her brother.
When she grew up, she hated staying at home for the Chinese New Year even more. So much so that when she left home to work, and during the New Year, Wen Yantong avoided going home by giving an excuse of being busy at work. So every year, she would prepare her favorite food in her own rented house.
It's just that this kind of behavior eventually be criticized by her family members, they would call her unfilial and the like. Wen Yantong thought of their kindness during her upbringing and could only endure the accusations from her family over and over again. Looking back now, the past twenty years or so have been exhausting.
Wen Yantong was good at self-regulating her emotions and wouldn't take unhappy things to heart. But occasionally when these thoughts pop out, she would feel heavy and uncomfortable.
Wen Yantong got up early in the morning to tidy herself up and put on the clothes Fu Tanghuan gave her. The clothes were lotus pink, similar to the color of their Academy’s uniforms. The top was two-piece, the inside was a snow-white long sleeve. The sleeves faded from the white into a coral pink towards the end. The outer piece was a lotus pink short sleeve vest; the sleeves and collar were made of snow-white rabbit fur.
The bottom half was a long skirt embroidered with cloud patterns. Wen Yantong was afraid of the cold, so she added several layers inside.
After she was ready, Wen Yantong waited in the main hall until Fu Tanghuan sent someone to knock on the door. There were still some servants who remained in her residence, these were people who had no father, no mother, nor a home to return to to celebrate the New Year.
When Wen Yantong got into Fu Tanghuan's carriage directly, she saw a similarly dressed maidservant sitting inside. Wen Yantong automatically went to her side and sat by her.
Fu Tanghuan was also dressed up today. Due to the regulations of the New Year's banquet, these clothes were uniformly manufactured at the imperial palace. Red as firecrackers, snow-white fox fur, and loose long-sleeves. It was embroidered with a ruyi pattern using gold silk, representing auspiciousness.
The clothes were layered with a red tulle, with bits and pieces of jewels inlaid on top, the whole look was extremely beautiful.
Fu Tanghuan smiled at her and waved. "Come, sit with me."
Wen Yantong sat down with a smile. "The Third Young Lady is really beautiful today!"
Fu Tanghuan curved her eyes. "It took me some effort getting rid of my eldest brother and second sister to see you. So you and your sweet mouth should give me many more compliments."
Wen Yantong listened and praised her some more, which made Fu Tanghuan very happy.
It took nearly two hours to go from Wen Residence to the palace. After arriving at the imperial palace, they had to queue up for inspection before they could be admitted inside.
Fu Tanghuan said, "You will follow me for now, when we have time to do our own activities, I will take you around."
Wen Yantong nodded, feeling faintly excited.
While the two were talking, someone suddenly knocked on the carriage. They heard a voice from outside, "Young Lady, Young Master Mu is asking to see you."
Fu Tanghuan was stunned for a moment. "Where is he?"
"Just outside the carriage."
Fu Tanghuan paused for a moment, then said to Wen Yantong, "You sit here for now. I'll go down and have a look."
Wen Yantong nodded.
The maid beside her opened the curtain for her. There were people below to help her down, so Fu Tanghuan got out of the carriage safely.
Wen Yantong sat by the window, opened it a little bit to look out, and saw Mu Yang standing not far away. He was wearing formal attire, with a bright smile, and a handsome appearance. He looked beaming in bright red, without his usual silliness.
When Mu Yang saw Fu Tanghuan, his smile broadened even more. He took two steps forward and opened his mouth, "Third Young Lady Fu, I haven't seen you for a long time, you are becoming more and more like a dumb fool."
Fu Tanghuan: ? ? ?
Wen Yantong: …
