Another Lifetime

Chapter 4: Suspense and Excitement

The dresses and the hairpins were arriving today. The house was bubbling with excitement. I was quite strict in keeping my designs a secret and they were curious about the young miss's talent and everybody were receiving gifts today and gifts could definitely make somebody happy.

My grandmother had previously ordered for material to be brought for her and had done everything herself the day before yesterday and was expecting them this evening. I had designed hairpins for her too.

The cooks were preparing something special and the kitchen was exceptionally lively. The whole household was in a joyous mood.

My waking up was quite ceremonial and I was poutingly complaining to jiejie that I was starting to regret requesting her to disregard formalities.

She had a hard time waking me up and sprinkled cold water on my face after trying every possible way of waking somebody up along with my meimei.

After I was done dressing. I was escorted to the dining hall along with my meimei. Grandmother, Father and mother were already seated.

"Greetings to Grandmother, Father and Mother." Both of us chorused.

"Sit down, before they get cold." Mother said grinning at us and eyeing the dishes hungrily. She made sure she made faces at us only when grandmother was not looking.

"Daughter Kaili, never mind hiding your faces from me dear, I quite like them in the morning." Grandmother said looking at the soup she was currently gathering in her spoon.

Father gave an amused look and grinned at my mother.

"Dig in, If you are waiting for me to start, you both won't be getting anything. Judging by your mother's

face they seem delicious."

My grandmother and father loved teasing my mother. It was a nice icebreaker in the morning andput everybody in a more jollier mood than earlier. The servants smiled at us as they watched us eat.

Their share was already in the kitchen and the moment we finish it would be their turn to 'dig in'. Soon all the plates were empty and I was thinking about escaping to the modern world along with my spoon and plate where I could lick them clean.

After coming here I was not expecting such good food but maybe it was because my taste was adapting to this era's taste. I made a mental note to teach a few common basic dishes in the modern world to the cooks as they could be a delicacy here. But still I enjoyed.

The plates were cleared and all of us left the table to be in the garden for some family time. The sun was pretty kind with us and the cool breeze as relaxing.

We didn't talk much in the beginning and all of a sudden the topic of the banquet entered our conversation.

"Mei'er, what are you preparing to gift to the crown prince at the banquet?" Enquired mother, with the utmost curious expression.

Being a well versed cupid, I sensed her slight hesitation and light blush that spread across her face. " A..Painting " My sister was pretty talented with colours and she created her own shades while painting. Her colour quality was good combined with her exceptional talent made the painting quite realistic. Her gifting a painting to anyone but the crown prince was rare.

"Her Majesting the crown prince must be waiting for this household's gifts more than the others." Mother kept teasing her.

"Anyway what are you giving to your childhood friend?" Mother knew that the prince was not particularly fond of me and had also noticed my change since I woke up that 'day'. I wasn't blabbing about him the whole day long as 'I' usually do and was quite relieved, she didn't want a fight among her daughters in the future and knew the quiet romance between my sister and the crown prince. She was glad her daughter had changed for the better and thought nothing much about it. After all, this was the era when pretty ladies walked around in male clothing and the whole world feigned ignorance.

" That's a surprise mother." I said.

As for the rest of the houshold: My mother and grandmother were gifting a few sweets made according to grandmother's and mother's secret recipe and father was gifting an expensive calligraphy brush crafted to the finest by the best.

I was quite satisfied that I wasn't far behind their gifts. I knew it would be a success and felt it would make up a little for the hatred he has for me.

We were still discussing when a eunuch announced the arrival of the ordered items. Everybody rushed to the hall where the servants were bringing them in and sat around admiring their respective outfits. Everybody were greatly pleased with them and started trying them on. They were still praising my fashion designing skills when the hairpins arrived. They were distributed and a dramatic silence followed. I held my breath hoping their view of me should change and this would be the first step. Slowly a gasp spread through and I was covered with praises once again. The first miss was not known to share her exquisite belongings and ideas and this was unexpected. Everybody was touched that the miss was willing to give away so many designs.

My cheeks started heating up and I was greatly pleased. My mother looked proud. And the rest of my family smiled at the change.