July sixteenth, auspicious, suitable for proposing marriage.
Lu Qing Wan was dug out of her quilt by Yue'er early in the morning. Several unfamiliar maids lined up at the dressing table to style her hair and adorn her.
Lu Qing Wan was so sleepy she wished she could faint.
Yue'er was so anxious she was hopping, "My lady, please wake up! You absolutely cannot sleep today! I heard the Regent has invited Prime Minister Wen and Prince Nan, and if you doze off in front of them, you'll lose face for all of Da Qian!"
Feng Xi Wu, the current Regent, had no elders above him, so he invited his maternal grandfather and his sworn friend, Prince Nan, Feng Jue. One was the current Prime Minister, with disciples spread throughout Da Qian. The other was a pillar of the state who had been granted the imperial surname. To lose face before these two men would indeed be to lose face for all of Da Qian!
Lu Qing Wan was also surprised that the little maid Yue'er could think so far ahead. She managed to pry her eyes open. She let the maids decorate her like a Christmas tree. Fortunately, those maids were perceptive. Knowing Lu Qing Wan disliked gaudy things, they didn't go overboard. A simple coiled bun was secured with a delicate silver flower crown, adorned with a silver-inlaid agate tassel hairpin. Paired with the simplest of robes, she looked gentle, grand, and appropriately mannered.
The maid carefully observed Lu Qing Wan's expression and said cautiously, "With this attire, is the eldest young lady satisfied?"
"Quite good," Lu Qing Wan said, adjusting her hairpin and slowly standing up. "You girls look unfamiliar. Has the Noble Consort changed staff?"
The maid who was styling her hair curtsied and replied, "No, eldest young lady. The Regent heard that you were short of staff, so he sent us to serve you. We happen to be skilled in hair and makeup. Aunt Lan Yin and those few older sisters have returned to the palace."
Lu Qing Wan suddenly remembered her conversation with Feng Xi Wu's shadow guards that day and immediately understood. "So, you won't be returning to the Prince's mansion for the time being?"
The maid maintained her curtsy, respectfully stating, "Once we arrive at the Marquis's mansion, we are the eldest young lady's people. Our departure is entirely at your command."
As she spoke, the maid kept her head down, making it difficult for Lu Qing Wan to see her. "Lift your heads, let me see you."
The maids raised their heads as requested, and Lu Qing Wan almost recoiled in shock. "You are truly Feng Xi Wu's dowry maids sent for me?" She wasn't being overly dramatic; the four maids, apart from their slender builds, were remarkably different in appearance. One had a face full of freckles, not a clear spot in sight. Another had sallow skin, looking malnourished, as if she could starve to death at any moment. One had a face covered in a red rash, like a mosquito's sworn enemy. The only one who looked somewhat decent was the one styling her hair, but even then, her face was so dark it gleamed, as if she had just returned from a coal mine.
Upon hearing this, the maid looked innocent and replied, "The Prince did indeed send us to serve the eldest young lady. He didn't say anything else."
"I understand," Lu Qing Wan said, pressing a hand to her chest and gasping. Feng Xi Wu was truly remarkable to find such uniquely unattractive maids within a few days. "Familiarize yourselves with Wan Ju. Yue'er, accompany me to the front courtyard."
Just then, Aunt Lan Yin sent someone to summon her. Lu Qing Wan didn't hesitate and headed directly to the front courtyard. If Yue'er hadn't been chattering behind her, she would have rushed to the front courtyard to beat up that scoundrel.
However, upon reaching the front courtyard, she still had to maintain a dignified and elegant demeanor. "Qing Wan greets Princess Nan, and Madam Wen. I pay my respects to both ladies."
"Please rise." Madam Wen was a particularly kind old lady. She extended her hand towards Lu Qing Wan from afar, "I've long heard Lady Chi say you are a blessed person. Today, I finally get to see you!"
"It's all Lady Chi's praise. Qing Wan is ashamed that Madam Wen and the Prime Minister have gone to such lengths for me!"
"What's there to say? Qing Wan, you wouldn't know, but Madam Wen is so delighted to see the Regent marry that she'd run herself ragged happily!" Princess Nan teased Madam Wen with a smile, and the latter chuckled in agreement, "That's right. To see Xi Wu get married, even if my old bones fall apart from running, I'd be happy to!"
"The Regent is here!" a maid outside announced. They all looked towards the entrance. Before the person could be seen, their voice arrived.
"It's rare for you, you brat, to ask for my help. I'd crawl here even if I had to, just to see what kind of capability this little girl from Marquis Lu's family has that makes you, a scoundrel, lower yourself to ask for help!"
"If it weren't for His Majesty's imperial decree for this marriage, and Marquis Lu being someone this Prince respects, I wouldn't go to this trouble!"
"What nonsense are you spouting, you scoundrel? Be careful the Lu family girl hears and refuses to marry you, and you'll remain single!"
...
The bickering voices of an old man and a young man drifted in. Madam Wen chuckled, "Qing Wan, don't mind him. This scoundrel just talks tough. Since it's an imperial decree for marriage, if he were unwilling, he could have skipped the betrothal gifts and dowry, and the Ministry of Rites would have handled the wedding. He specifically invited us here because he's afraid you'll be wronged!"
"Who's to say otherwise? To receive an imperial decree and then present such grand betrothal gifts, this is truly unprecedented!" Princess Nan also chimed in with a smile.
As they spoke, several figures appeared at the entrance. The most striking was still Feng Xi Wu. Even seated in his four-wheeled chair, he was still so flamboyant. He controlled the wheelchair himself, showing no sign of a disabled person's dejection. To his left was a handsome old man with a long beard. Though his hair and beard were white, he still possessed an extraordinary aura. The person to his right wore dark, close-fitting attire and strode with imposing presence, his sharp features exuding the unmistakable aura of a military commander. The distinction between civil and military officials was quite clear.
Both men were trusted ministers whom even the Emperor treated with deference. Lan Yin and Xu Guo immediately stepped forward, "We pay our respects to the Prince, and to Prince Nan and Prime Minister Wen."
"You two are too kind," Prime Minister Wen said with a wave of his hand, magnanimous. "Today, you two represent Marquis Lu and Princess An Yang. It is we who should pay our respects to you. Take a look, two aunties, are there any points of dissatisfaction with these betrothal gifts?"
While they were helping to arrange the wedding, the matter of betrothal gifts was hardly something they could decide. They glanced at them briefly and handed them over to Lu Qing Wan. Lu Qing Wan quickly scanned them and passed them to Yue'er behind her. "My thanks to the Prime Minister and the Prince for making this trip for me. Please be seated."
"Good, good!" Prime Minister Wen said twice. "Marquis Lu is truly blessed! You, girl, have your mother's demeanor. Xi Wu is fortunate!"
Lu Qing Wan pinched the inside of her thigh to suppress a blush, but smiled without speaking. Prime Minister Wen was even more pleased. She was shy yet not coy, capable of bearing the responsibilities of the Regent's mansion. Then, she and Feng Xi Wu were both ushered out of the hall, under the guise of fostering their affection.