Lu Nian Fu handed over the memorial and returned to the Marquis's mansion with peace of mind.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she entered the mansion, she was summoned to Qiulan Courtyard, as Madam Fang was about to have lunch. Lu Nian Fu sighed inwardly. This matter was unlikely to be resolved anytime soon. She took her chopsticks and stood by, diligently serving her dishes.
Madam Fang deliberately tormented her for nearly two quarters of an hour before letting her go.
Lu Nian Fu had no appetite. She lay on the bed pretending to be dead, and as she pretended, she fell asleep.
Having been too idle for the past few days, she was exhausted from just a little movement today.
It was cold in the capital. While the bed was warm, getting up was a torment. Therefore, Lu Nian Fu had changed her habit of resting at noon. Her sudden nap now made a few maids feel distressed.
They all thought that their young lady must be tired from adhering to the rules, and each of them cursed Madam Fang thoroughly in their hearts.
She slept until the third quarter of the hour of Wei (2:45 PM). After waking up, she lingered in bed for a while before getting up. Qing Miao heard the movement and entered the room to serve her with her grooming. "Young lady, Miss Zeng, the eldest daughter of the Pingning Earl's mansion, has been waiting for you for three quarters of an hour."
Lu Nian Fu then remembered that Zeng Wei Yang had sent a calling card yesterday, and she had agreed to meet her this afternoon.
"Why didn't you wake me up?"
"I said you were sleeping, and Miss Zeng automatically said she could wait and asked not to disturb you."
So well-behaved?
Lu Nian Fu asked, "Where is she now?"
"In the small parlor."
"Then hurry up. If you make her wait any longer, it will be time for dinner." She had no inclination to dine with the Zeng family.
The small parlor was as warm as spring. There was no shortage of tea and pastries on the small table, indicating that Qing Miao had taken good care of the guest.
Zeng Wei Yang was wearing a twelve-panel skirt in Xiang Fei color, with a lake-blue short jacket over it. The collar and cuffs were adorned with a circle of white rabbit fur, adding a touch of playful charm to her delicate complexion.
However, she still appeared frail, with a sickness that was evident at first glance.
This illegitimate sister was indeed as she remembered, not in good health.
As Lu Nian Fu was sizing her up, Zeng Wei Yang was also secretly observing her.
A white silk jacket and a green satin skirt, casually draped with a light-colored embroidered vest. Her cloud-like hair was lightly pinned up and secured with a simple green jade hairpin. Perhaps due to having just woken up, her rosy face carried a hint of languor, her lips were red and her teeth were white, and her beauty shone, making it clear at a glance that she was healthy. Zeng Wei Yang quietly clenched her fist. If it weren't for Madam Ban, this kind of health should have been hers.
She only regretted that her birth mother had died early, leaving her with no one to plan for her, which led to her current predicament.
She skillfully concealed her envy and gently called out, "Sister."
While both were called sister, Lu Fei's voice always brought her joy. However, Zeng Wei Yang's address sent shivers down her spine. Lu Nian Fu suppressed the urge to rub her arms and said indifferently, "Miss Zeng, you should call me Madam Gu. We are not related by blood or by marriage, so calling me sister is not appropriate."
Zeng Wei Yang was stunned, then gracefully replied, "Madam Gu."
"What business do you have with me?"
Zeng Wei Yang took the gift box from the maid. "This is the first time we've met, and I don't know what you... Madam Gu likes, so I've personally embroidered a sachet. Inside is a copy of the Peace Sutra, wishing Madam Gu all the best and happiness."
The person had been kept waiting for over three quarters of an hour, and now she was smiling and offering such a sincere gift.
Even though Lu Nian Fu was puzzled, she couldn't continue to be cold. "Miss Zeng's thoughtfulness is appreciated, I will accept it."
"Madam Gu, you can just call me Wei Yang."
"I don't think so. After all, we're not close."
Zeng Wei Yang: ...
Her smile almost faltered. Weren't people who did business good at talking? With her demeanor, how had the family business not gone bankrupt?
She forced a smile. "We'll get to know each other if we interact more. In a couple of days, it will be the Lantern Festival. I've booked a spot at Mingyue Tower. Let's go appreciate the lantern show together. The Lantern Festival in the capital is very lively, and the lanterns are especially beautiful."
Mingyue Tower was the tallest building in the capital besides the Imperial Palace, and also the most luxurious and elegant restaurant.
It was unparalleled.
It housed the Four Societies of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as well as entertainment facilities such as a casino and a pleasure house. However, the courtesans in the pleasure house here only performed and did not sell themselves. Moreover, there was an annual "Flower Queen" competition. All the pleasure houses in the capital would send contestants. If one was fortunate enough to be selected, that pleasure house's business would soar. They would not have to worry about business for a year, and they could even raise the prices for the courtesans in the house.
In her previous life, Lu Nian Fu had won the title of Flower Queen, which gave her the capital to negotiate with the madam of the house.
The capital was different from Jiangnan.
In Jiangnan, wealth and beauty were paramount. Those who were rich and attractive naturally gained fame. However, in the capital, wealth and beauty were often not valued as much. After all, these two things were too vulgar to catch the discerning eyes of the nobles.
They valued elegance.
The proprietor of Mingyue Tower shrewdly grasped these people's psychology. Even a cup of water was priced like a cup of good tea, yet people still flocked to it.