Chapter 3:The Banquet
997 Words
I reflected the whole morning's happenings and decided to change.
The coffee had cooled down now.. more like freezed. I left it at the table and went to freshen up.
I called for Diu and she chose my change of clothes along with their particular sets of jewellery and spread them out on the bed. I came out of the bath area in my towel and she brought 3 sets of outfits for me to chose. I chose the light blue hanfu which she left hanging for me to change.
Thankfully she didn't offer to help me change. I didn't want to be in an awful position.
I changed and sat at my vanity table. I was internally proud of myself that I knew what to do. She brought their specific jewellery sets and did my hair in a simple half updo with a simple and elegant hairpin. She didn't speak much throughout the entire process. Once she was done she looked at me like she was proud of her handiwork before she gave a look like she wanted to say something.
"So, what do you want to say Diu jiejie?Spill it.Go on."
"There is this banquet in the palace given by the royal family as part of the crown prince's birthday celebrations this coming week . DaXiojie has to purchase another set of respectable clothing and is expected to present a gift to the prince and a performance based on your talent."
"Hmmm... Let's go out this afternoon"
"Yes Miss"
"You don't have to be so formal Diu jiejie."
She smiled, I felt like I had found an elder sister. Then she grinned an said " As you wish Meimei"
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"There are so many people this afternoon." I said, noticing that there were so many richly dressed ladies along with numerable guards and servants.
"Yes miss, you will see more along the way. Many are invited for the banquet."
Like how I decided in the morning all the ladies of the family decided to go out shopping.
There are three tiers of servants in the household. All the senior servants of the family where getting two pieces of festive cloth and one casual cloth piece and two hairpins matching their outfits, while the secondary where allowed one piece of festive cloth and one piece of casual cloth and two hairpins and the third sector were allowed one piece of casual cloth and one hairpin as their work was mainly at the household, the senior servants where few and have been serving for long so they have been bestowed more privileges as a mark of respect and because they would be attending more important occasions and others as compared to the secondary servants, the secondary servants would attend only less important occasions and their work was at home otherwise. Diu was a secondary servant. Only secondary servants were given to the young misses of the family and based upon their trust and efficiency they would be promoted to be a senior servant and only after the miss has turned eighteen.
I was getting along quite well with my mother and sister * cough* *cough* ahem. They are fun to be with. Unlike other ladies who are stern and strict they are nice and easy-going
"They are my family after all."
"Agreed...no need to be that watchful."
"Its Ok, you aren't used to such affections, I am fine with you getting along."
"Aw, Thankyou."
We entered a shop after I was done with my mind conversation. First, the lady and her daughters would buy after which the servants would get to do their shopping. It isn't right for servants and their masters to buy from the same shop so we would be going to another after this. My mother was quite positive that this shop would have just what we need and it would suit our taste.
The lady of the shop and mother seemed to know each other and she herself came to help us with the choosing. First both of us sisters and mother's personal servant aka head servant or Momo Cuifen as we call her pulled out all types of cloth along with the shop owner. Mother was quite confused and finally picked out five pieces and a special green hanfu cloth for the banquet. Next was my turn and my eyes turned to a purple and cream hanfu piece and I knew I was smitten I picked that out for the banquet along with a few other pieces chosen by my meimei and Diu jiejie, six in total.
When it was my meiemei's turn, we spent a lot more time compared to my mother and myself. She was quite the picker. When I realized that she went for the more different than other usual colour combiantions I decided to join in and picked up a midnight blue and bright green hanfu piece which I combined which attracted my sister. She loved it and it made me happy that she likes it. I picked up a few more combinations which she liked and we gave it to the tailor and agreed for three we selected for the banquet to be given earlier than the rest and went to the hairpin maker, I gave orders for the hairpins I designed earlier and it was decided for them to be delivered three days earlier than the banquet. Then we went to pick cloth for the servants and the servants were quite quick.
We left the market place and arrived just in time for tea.
My father was seated overseeing the garden and admiring since mother wasn't there to talk to him. My mother and sister went to change and then go for tea in the garden. Mother invited me and I excused myself saying I was tired. Mother ordered for tea to be sent to my room.
I reached the room and I called for Diu.
"You are skilled in playing the flute aren't you jiejie?"
- Writer
