Madam Cai ushered everyone into the flower hall.
The flower hall is divided into two parts: the outer room faces the pool and is set up for male guests; the inner room faces the Tree Peony and is set up for female guests. They are separated by a brocade screen. Although they are in the same room, they are two separate spaces.
The women were seated according to their family background and social status. Jin Shanyao and Meng Anzhi, being of the lowest status, were placed at the end of the table.
Madam Su's family, both her maternal and paternal, held official positions in the court and were seated at the front. She feared that Jin Shanyao, being new to the place, might be uncomfortable and wanted to join her, but the host had already assigned seats, making it inappropriate to casually move between them.
Jin Shanyao saw through her thoughts and waved her hand to appease her... She wasn't someone who hadn't seen a lot; back in the day, when Su Wenqian received the Silla envoys, she sat in the front row.
The banquet officially began as maids filed in carrying trays, neatly arranging plates of delicate pastries and serving floral tea to each table.
Jin Shanyao stared at the chrysanthemum in the teacup, her heart conflicted. She had tolerated bathing with roses, but did she really have to drink this water? She didn't want to drink chrysanthemum bathwater; if word got out, it would damage her reputation in the natural world.
Forget it, I'll just stay thirsty...
As she was thinking this, she heard Madam Cai, seated at the head of the table, speak slowly with a smile, "Welcome, ladies, to this banquet. Today's gathering in the flower hall is not only for catching up and chatting, but also to make some new friends among you all."
Her gaze fell on the table at the end of the banquet, where Jin Shanyao, and she smiled, "This is Lady Jin, the aunt of the newly appointed top Meng Anci."
Jin Shanyao nodded to the crowd.
Madam Cai then turned her gaze to the opposite side and smiled, "This is Lady Zhuang, the mother of Zhao Zhiyuan, the second-place scholar. Next to her is Madam Cheng, a member of the Madam Cheng. We hope you will all visit each other often and look out for one another."
Zhuang Buyan and Madam Cheng nodded to the crowd.
Not long after the banquet officially began, a melodious zither tune drifted in from outside the flower hall.
Jin Shanyao looked up and saw a man of about forty sitting among the flowers. He was dressed in white, with a slender figure. His fingertips lightly touched the strings of the zither, and without much plucking, clear and melodious music entered his ears.
Wan Ning, the wife of the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, was sitting at the head of the table with Jin Shanyao. Seeing that Jin Shanyao was listening intently, she leaned over and lowered her voice.
"This is the most famous qin player in the Sheng Dynasty, named Feng Qixian. He won first place in this year's qin player competition."
Jin Shanyao her head slightly, listening quietly to the music.
Wan Ning sighed, "This man, he's obsessed with sheet music his whole life. When he was young, he took his daughter to gamble on sheet music. He won the sheet music, but before he could even enjoy it, his daughter went missing. He's been searching for her for so many years without any luck."
His wife couldn't bear the blow and fell ill, passing away a few years later. In the years since, he has traveled all over the country, making friends through his music while searching for his daughter.
Jin Shanyao somewhat surprised, "You know about these things?"
Wan Ning chuckled lightly, "This isn't a secret. Feng Qixian had two great obsessions in his life: finding his daughter and playing the most beautiful music in the world. Now he's failed at both, making him a pitiful man."
The melodious sound of the zither seemed to tell a story of a life full of hardships, and the laughter and conversation in the flower hall seemed to be softened by the music.
As the music ended, Feng Qixian picked up his zither and left.
The familiar wives of officials chatted and laughed, and people would come over from time to time to greet the three families. They would sit up and sit with their Jin Shanyao, and drink cup after cup of chrysanthemum bath water.
In the end, she was too lazy to continue the socializing, so she pulled Meng Anzhi aside and secretly slipped away. The two hid behind the artificial hill, and as soon as they stood still, Jin Shanyao took out a bag of pastries from her bosom.
The pastries were wrapped tightly in a handkerchief. Meng Anzhi exclaimed in surprise, "Auntie, when did you take these? I didn't see them at all!"
Jin Shanyao smiled and handed over a piece, "If I really wanted something, Taishang Laojun wouldn't notice. Have something to tide you over..."
As she spoke, she picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, mumbling, "I thought a flower-viewing banquet was a grand feast, but it turns out it's just about looking at flowers..."
Meng Anzhi caught the pastry crumbs in her hand. "Maybe they just like this style, but the pastry is quite delicious."
"You like..."
Meng Anzhi nodded and continued eating her pastry. Jin Shanyao took out a handkerchief and wrapped up the half she had left. Meng Anzhi asked in confusion, "Why aren't you eating anymore?"
"Take it back and let Qing He try it..." Jin Shanyao said, her eyes crinkling with a smile.
Meng Anzhi's eyes welled up slightly, and she took her arm and said coquettishly, "Auntie, you're so good to me."
"That's right, as long as you behave, Auntie will get you whatever you want."
A sly glint flashed in Meng Anzhi's eyes as she raised her bright, flamboyant face. "I want the sun in the sky."
Jin Shanyao looked at her very seriously, " Anzhi, are you being a good girl?"
"Good..."
"Sweetie... we don't want to."
Meng Anzhi:...
When Jin Shanyao led Meng Anzhi out from behind the artificial hill, the banquet had entered the free-for-all phase: some people were playing the game of pitch-pot, some were admiring the flowers around the pond, and others were chatting and laughing in small groups.
A group of the Aristocratic Clan noblemen surrounded Zhao Zhiyuan, laughing and jeering, "Brother Zhao, don't be modest. The spouts in the capital are a bit small, but I don't believe you can't get a single one in. Try again..."
Unlike Meng Anci, who was skilled in both literature and martial arts from a young age, Zhao Zhiyuan was a true scholar. Although he had a broad knowledge of the six arts of a gentleman, this was the first time he had encountered such a narrow spout in the capital.
He had hoped that if he threw a few arrows and missed, the crowd would give up after seeing him make a fool of himself. However, he ended up being surrounded by them and unable to escape.
The speaker had already shoved the arrow into Zhao Zhiyuan's hand. " Zhuangyuan Meng threw it right in... Brother Zhao is the second-place scholar, surely he can't even get it through the spout?"
The phrase "can't get in" caused a burst of laughter from those around them. Zhao Zhiyuan and Meng Anci were precocious, so how could they not know that they were deliberately making things difficult for each other?
Just as Meng Anci was about to step forward to help, a sweet female voice came from behind him.
Everyone turned around, Cai Wenyan quickly walked up to Zhao Zhiyuan, smiling, and said, "My brother just loves to joke, please don't take offense, Lord Zhao."
As she spoke, she took the arrow from Zhao Zhiyuan's hand, lightly rolled up her wide sleeves, raised her hand and threw it. With a "thud," the arrow landed steadily in the bronze pot.
Smiling at everyone, he said, "Consider this arrow a gift from Lord Zhao; please don't make things difficult for him anymore."
Cai Wenyan smiled at Zhao Zhiyuan, "You two continue playing... Just tell the maid if you need anything." She turned to leave but was stopped by Cai Wuyi.
"Little sister, you're cheating..."
Cai Wenyan laughed, "Brother... Lord Zhao is skilled with the pen, did he become the second-ranked scholar by throwing arrows in a pot? Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, if you continue..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but instead gestured with her fist at the other person, making Cai Wuyi laugh heartily. He put his arm around Zhao Zhiyuan's shoulder and introduced her, "This is my sister, Cai Wenyan. She's proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. As you can see, she's also quite skilled at pitch-pot."
The young masters from prominent Aristocratic Clan present were all shrewd individuals. Upon hearing this, they secretly exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with understanding. No wonder Cai Wuyi wouldn't let go of Zhao Zhiyuan; he was waiting for this all along.
Zhao Zhiyuan bowed to Cai Wenyan, "Thank you for helping me out, Miss Cai."
Cai Wenyan laughed frankly and generously, "What do you mean by 'helping out'? My brother went too far. If he bullies you again, come to me... and see how I deal with him."
Cai Wuyi exclaimed, "Sister, you've wronged me... When have I ever bullied anyone? Why don't you stay here and watch me instead of going anywhere else?"
He then pulled Cai Wenyan to the pavilion, saying, "You can sit here and watch... so you won't worry."