13.1 His Wedding Gift (51)
1063 Words
"Young Master wants that hair clip." the pageboy said after noticing his master's discomfort.
"Ah... Ehm...this is the last hair clip with this design..." the female attendant is hesitant and took a gander to Dong Li Hua.
"Its fine. Let them take it. I only want this wisteria head ornament." she gave permission and headed to a new counter of accessories. That was close, Dong Li Hua cant believe she actually stared on a guy that long!
"Miss, that gongzhi [1] is really handsome." Jie Cui sighed, still under the young man's spell.
"He looks nothing to me." Dong Li Hua tittered and skimmed through the earrings though she has no intentions of purchasing one. "Sigh, he is indeed fascinating! Just one last look!" she gave up acting dignified and quickly glanced behind when Jie Cui is not paying attention. Just as she gazed there, she unexpectedly met the young man's serene eyes. He hurriedly averted his gaze and acted as if nothing happened.
"Eh?" she watched the man go downstairs, probably going to leave the store. Is that just an illusion?
That night, Dong Li Hua went alone to Lord Tianyi's manor. She thought Zhan Yuling is up to something when she spotted her standing outside the gate as said.
"Zhan jiejie, you really waited for me." Dong Li Hua greeted. Zhan Yuling placed her index finger in her lips.
"Shh. Lower your voice because the guards might discover us." Zhan Yuling warily glanced around them and sneakily brought Dong Li Hua into the manor. It took them a while to reach a courtyard that is more likely placed far from occupied residences.
"Huh?" Dong Li Hua froze on her place to see an entertainment troupe performing on a stage while three young women is sitting ahead and chatting with each other.
"Girls, I brought someone with me!" Zhan Yuling excitedly pulled Dong Li Hua into the courtyard then pushed her forward. "This is Dong Lizi, the girl Im talking about. She did a great contribution to Qin."
"Ah, it's her? So beautiful!" a woman with the same age as Zhan Yuling exclaimed. She wore a red hanfu which showcased her voluptuous figure.
"Mhmm. Dong Lizi, she is Qie Ning Bo. Lord Changping's first wife." Zhan Yuling introduced as Dong Li Hua's eyes rounded. "Can't believe it? Sister Qie is the fashionista in our group. That is why Lord Changping loves her because of her caring and stylish attitude. She is quite lucky because Lord Changping only had her as his wife."
"Introduce me to her! She looks cute!" another woman said who is dressed in a light blue ruqun dress and white wrap around skirt. She is an adventurous type of beauty, seemingly someone who is brave.
"And this girl, she is younger than me in a year. This is Tang Rouwei, the eldest di of Tang Family, the renowned clan as a bloodline of miraculous physicians. They owned many well-known pharmacies around Qin." she further explained and made Dong Li Hua face another new girl.
"Hello. Im Zi Qian, nice to meet you Miss Lizi. I came from a scholarly family whereas my father is a second rank minister, the head of Punishment Department, also known as Lord Tianyi." Zi Qian elegantly bowed. She is a prim lady with a fragile beauty adding on her seemingly meek temperament.
"Qianqian is actually the youngest among us, you two have the same age." Zhan Yuling smiled at Dong Li Hua in assurance.
"A royal family member's first wife, an eldest di of an important family and a powerful official's daughter! Zhan jiejie have so many important friends! Im unsure if I can get along with them all." Dong Li Hua thought while greeting the three new girls. She is a reckless young miss in their household and hanging out with there prim ladies made her feel small. They are all well trained inside their family, ah.
"Let's have a drink! Toast to Sister Zhan's marriage!" suddenly, the lady-like Qie Ning Bo loudly said. She has long filled five cups with lotus wines.
"For Zhan jiejie's wedding!" Tang Rouwei joined and held her own cup.
"A-are you sure to drink?" timid beauty Zi Qian hesitantly picked one.
"For me please?" Zhan Yuling persuaded and handed Dong Li Hua a cup.
"Eh? Did- did I guess wrong?" the corner of Dong Li Hua's lips went upturned. Where is the elegance they had once? Forget it. She will surely get along with them! She gulped down the cup of lotus wine with the four ladies. The three of them, except for Zi Qian and Dong Li Hua, sighed in infatuation from the intoxicating sweet taste. Dong Li Hua and Zi Qian glanced to each other before giggling lightly from their foolishness. She is a hundred percent sure they will get along.
The night has been restless. Zi Qian must have bribed the servants thus, no one came to stop their ruckus within the courtyard. Watching the play, drinking the sweet lotus wine, chatting with each other. Dong Li Hua had a good time that they didn't notice they're drunk.
"Sister Qianqian, I need to get in a comfort room." Dong Li Hua tugged at Zi Qian's sleeve. They are sitting closely together and the three other ladies are already sleeping. Only she and Zi Qian are left awake.
"Hic! F-follow me." Zi Qian is also near the verge of collapse. She brought Dong Li Hua to a nearby residence.
After washing her face and doing her business, Dong Li Hua came out of the courtyard to see Zi Qian talking with someone.
"You're drunk!" Zi Qian loudly shouted, pointing her index finger on the man's chest. "Im not drunk, you're the one who is. Its already two years, see? Where is that promise? Where is it? You are certainly the one drunk, hehe."
"Lover's quarrel? Again?" Dong Li Hua is a bit sober since she washed her face with a cold water. Hiding behind the moon gate, she squinted her eyes and the moonlight brightened. Because of her drunk state, she is unable to identify the young man holding Zi Qian's wrists. "Sister Qianqian's boyfriend is so pretty!" she exclaimed, not knowing it was the same youth she met in the jewelry store.
[1] gongzhi is a formal reference for young master's, childe if translated
- Writer
