Daiyu Returns to the Mansion
It was the hour of the goat, and by the time one considered the schedule of the written portion of the Immortal Selection Bureau's Immortal Selection Meeting, it should have ended long ago.
At that moment, in the rear courtyard of Rongguo Mansion, in the main hall of Grandmother Jia's residence—
The spring afternoon sunlight filtered through the thin gauze windows and into the hall. The largest hall in Grandmother Jia's courtyard was already packed, with nearly all the prominent womenfolk from Rongguo and Ningguo Mansions gathered there.
The air was filled not only with the calming scent of sandalwood, but also with the mingled aromas of the women's various cosmetics, incense, spirit-herb sachets, and natural fragrances.
Together, they created a delicate, heady atmosphere unique to the private inner quarters of a great aristocratic household.
"..."
At that moment, Grandmother Jia, the Dowager Lady Shi, sat high in the center of the hall, like a retired emperor, upon a rosewood armchair inlaid with treasures and carved with auspicious clouds.
Today, she had deliberately donned a formal ochre-gold brocade robe patterned with longevity motifs. A gold-and-kingfisher crown adorned with five bats surrounding the character for longevity rested on her head, and she held a warm, lustrous jade ruyi. Though her expression was composed, anticipation and a trace of barely perceptible nervousness flickered in her eyes, which had seen every vicissitude of life.
Standing beside her were Yuanyang, Amber, and her other trusted senior maids. They all held their breath and served her with utmost care, not daring to show the slightest negligence.
On either side below her sat Lady Wang, Lady Xing, Aunt Xue, and the others.
Lady Wang wore a sapphire-blue skirt woven with gold thread and a kingfisher-feather crown set with pearls. Her face