Chapter Ninety-Three: The Second Young Lady Was Quite Unashamed

Gu Ruoning led Song Ruqi toward the waterside pavilion, watching her face with care all the while, weighing whether she ought to speak up for her mother.

“Come to think of it, my elder brother really did invite a few scholars over today for a little poetry gathering. I quite forgot about it, and I never expected Cousin Cheng to come as well. What a coincidence,” Gu Ruoning said, affecting a cheerful tone.

Song Ruqi asked, “Your cousin isn’t married yet?”

Gu Ruoning’s heart gave a small jolt, but she only smiled and shook her head. “Not yet. My aunt and the others wanted to wait until he had a better degree before arranging a match. I heard he is going to sit the academy examination this year.”

“So that means he’s already a licentiate?”

“That’s right.”

“At that age, and still not even a recommended man,” Song Ruqi said, her tone faintly disdainful.

Gu Ruoning: “...”

Hearing that, the last trace of unease in her heart faded. Indeed, what was Song Ruqi’s present status? Why would she think highly of some minor licentiate? Besides, the other family was no great aristocratic house; his father was merely a fifth-rank official.

As for Song Ruqi herself, her father was the prime minister, and one of her uncles was also a fifth-rank official. Their family had produced two jinshi scholars besides, and most importantly, her father enjoyed the emperor’s favor, while her grandmother was treated by the empress dowager as though she were her own sister.

With such backing, Song Ruqi certainly had reason to be a little proud. Perhaps her true ambitions lay in becoming the consort of a prince, or even a princess.

“Not everyone has your father’s ability, to become prime minister while still so young,” Gu Ruoning said with a smile.

Song Ruqi was even more pleased by that and said, “My father is indeed very capable.”

Song Ruwei: “...”

Second Cousin was truly incapable of the slightest humility.

Gu Ruoning understood this cousin’s temperament well enough. She was competitive and unwilling to lose, but Gu Ruoning did not take offense.

The group chatted as they walked, and soon they reached the waterside pavilion where Gu Ruoning was hosting her little gathering. In the hexagonal pavilion hung with clear, tinkling wind chimes, several richly dressed young ladies were already chatting merrily.

The pavilion was draped with pale moon-white gauze curtains, loosely tied back with a multicolored silk cord. Their ends fluttered in the breeze, while all around them bloomed flowers of every shade, their fragrance rich and intoxicating.

The waterside pavilion stood beside the Green Lotus Lake of the Loyal and Brave Marquis Residence. At this time, the lotuses on the lake were lush and thriving. It was nearly the fifth month of the year, and some of the stalks had already formed buds, waiting only for the day of bloom.

Along the shore were moored one or two small boats, with boatwomen waiting aboard. Around the pavilion, maidservants and matrons tended to their own tasks, attending these delicate, exalted young ladies.

As Song Ruqi drew near, she spotted two familiar faces and could not help smiling with genuine warmth.

“Ah Yan.”

An Yan came to the pavilion rail and looked down at her, smiling. “We’ve been waiting for you for ages. Why are you so late? Come up quickly.”

Song Ruwei looked curiously at the girl in her spring robe of lake-green, with a blue hairpin in her hair and a gentle smile on her lips. It was hard to imagine that her own domineering, forthright cousin could be friends with someone so soft-spoken.

“I stopped first to pay my respects to my grandmother and aunt,” Song Ruqi explained.

An Yan chided her with a fond smile. “I guessed as much, so I’m not blaming you. Oh? This younger sister looks unfamiliar.”

Song Ruqi hurriedly drew Song Ruwei forward to introduce her. “This is my cousin from my third uncle’s family. She just came back from Shanxi, so I brought her out to have some fun. Wei’er, this is Sister An Yan, and this is Sister Lu Yuqing.”

As the hostess, Gu Ruoning had also invited several others, and she introduced them one by one, including two young ladies who were about Song Ruwei’s age.

Song Ruwei greeted them all politely.

“So soon you’ve started the fun without us? Not even waiting a bit.” A bold voice sounded from outside the pavilion.