Attending the Banquet
"After you bring your people, I'll have someone arrange a courtyard for you. I'll go to your courtyard after I've finished choosing the previous one. If you don't come on time, I'll assume you don't want to do business with me, and I won't force you."
She made clear and detailed arrangements, taking into account the needs of everyone involved. Most importantly, she demonstrated her capabilities, so naturally no one had any objections, and they all expressed their intention to attend the next day.
Zhao Ruxi then served tea to the guests to see them off.
After everyone left, she got up and went to the Kang Family Painting Academy next door, found Wu Zong, and told him what had happened.
Wu Zong called people over simply to help his junior sister with some arrangements; he never expected her to be involved in such a large business deal, and he was quite taken aback.
"Why did you buy so many houses and servants? Do your family members know?" he asked.
Zhao Ruxi smiled guiltily, "I haven't had a chance to tell my family yet. But I have my reasons for doing this. Even if they object, I'm still going to do it."
She was used to freedom in modern times. Even though she had family and parents in ancient times, she didn't want them to become a constraint for her.
Seeing her say that, Wu Zong didn't want to criticize her. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Do you need my help? If so, I'll go with you to choose people tomorrow at noon. Wang Guangyao from Beining is also very discerning. If you think it's necessary, I'll ask him to come along."
"That's wonderful. I was just about to ask my senior brother for help. You've been at Court of Judicial Review for many years and have seen more people than I've eaten rice. I'll only feel at ease if you help me. I'm just afraid of interfering with your official duties."
Wu Zong waved his hand. "I asked the government for leave, and I've been painting here all afternoon. There's nothing else going on."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Senior Brother. If Uncle Wang is free, I'll also trouble him to come and take a look at my case." Zhao Ruxi was very Gao Xing.
In modern times, she was a designer and didn't have much experience in choosing people. If Wu Zong hadn't been available, she had planned to ask Shopkeeper Wang to help her make an assessment. Now that Wu Zong, with his discerning eye, was here, along with Wang Guangyao, the clerk of Beining, there was no need to trouble Shopkeeper Wang.
After saying this, Zhao Ruxi remembered that she had to attend a banquet later and asked Wu Zong, "Senior brother, is it the old princess consort's birthday banquet at the Prince of Zhennan's Residence? Are you and Master going to attend the banquet?"
Wu Zong shook his head. "His family are military officers, they're not on our side, so they didn't invite us."
Remembering that the Earl of Suiping's Residence also came from military backgrounds, he asked, "Did they invite you?"
"It wasn't an invitation to my family. No one in my family holds a position in the court now, and these families haven't invited my family for a long time. The Princess of Zhennan gave me four invitations because I have a good relationship with Master Xiao, and I even visited her last time, so the Princess just gave me the invitations."
"Oh." Wu Zong waved his hand dismissively, "Then go ahead."
"Since you're going to the banquet, go early. You don't need to stay here." He said, his gaze sweeping across the courtyard. Finding Cen Song, he turned and ordered a servant standing nearby, "Go, bring Cen Song over here."
The servant responded and left, returning shortly with Cen Song.
Wu Zong said to him, "You're going to a banquet at the Prince of Zhennan's Residence later, right? Keep an eye on your little master."
What's with this "little master" thing? Didn't we agree not to have master-disciple relationships?
Cen Song inwardly complained, but outwardly agreed obediently, smiling at Zhao Ruxi, "When are you going, Little Master? I'll go in with you then."
Not only Cen Song, but Zhao Ruxi also felt uncomfortable hearing this form of address.
She waved her hand and said, "Don't call me Little Master, it sounds like a little nun. Just call me Layperson Zhiwei, or Miss Zhao will do. I really can't accept being called Little Master."
These words made Wu Zong and Cen Song laugh as well. Cen Song's liking for Zhao Ruxi increased greatly.
Cen Song is the youngest son of Noble Consort Cen's elder brother. He is seventeen years old this year and is Xiao Lingpu's cousin and Xiao Lingyan's cousin. He is also related to Wu Zong. Wu Zong's wife is Cen Song's cousin.
Because he loved painting and had this relationship with Wu Zong, he heard that as long as he paid, he could come to learn painting without any formal teacher-student relationship or needing to perform the proper teacher-student etiquette. So he begged Wu Zong to join this painting training class.
He was a noble young master, and he cared about his reputation. He simply couldn't bring himself to call fourteen-year-old Zhao Ruxi "Master" and perform the teacher's etiquette in front of her.
"You don't need to come with me. I'm going with my family. Please make yourself at home," Zhao Ruxi said.
She taught these people to paint, without any formal teacher-student relationship. She took their money and taught them how to paint. Especially for people like Cen Song, who were about her age and had close ties to the royal family, she didn't want to get too involved.
Cen Song didn't press the matter. Seeing that Wu Zong didn't give any further instructions, he said a polite word and left.
"Thank you, Senior Brother." Zhao Ruxi was very grateful for Wu Zong's kindness.
Wu Zong didn't mind, waved his hand, and focused on his painting again.
Zhao Ruxi only left the painting academy after Cen Song left. She went to the neighboring courtyard, changed into the clothes and jewelry that Qingfeng had brought her, boarded the carriage, and returned to the capital, heading straight for the Prince of Zhennan's Residence.
In truth, she didn't care whether she changed into new clothes or not. However, the Earl of Suiping's Residence hadn't attended such a high-class banquet in a long time, and Earl of Suiping's Residence Lady Zhu was afraid of being looked down upon and laughed at for being so poor that they couldn't even afford to make new clothes for their daughter. For the sake of the mansion's dignity, Zhao Ruxi dressed up according to her request.
Upon arriving at the Prince of Zhennan's Residence, Zhao Ruxi presented her invitation. A maidservant sitting nearby immediately stood up, ran over, bowed to Zhao Ruxi, and said, "Miss Zhao, my mistress specifically instructed me to wait for you here. Now that you've arrived, please allow me to lead you to her."
Zhao Ruxi recognized Xiao Ru, Xiao Ruotong 'Xiaoru personal maid, and exclaimed with delight, "Master, you've come today too? That's wonderful!"
"Yes, Miss is back," the aunt said.
After Zhao Ruxi finished speaking, she realized that what she had said was nonsense. It was the birthday celebration of the old princess Prince of Zhennan's Residence, and Xiao Ruotong, as her granddaughter, would definitely have to attend the banquet.
"I'll go pay my respects to the old princess on her birthday first, then I'll go see the teacher," she said.
Xiaoru nodded. "That's how it should be. This servant will lead you there. The old lady and madam of the Earl of Suiping's Residence are here; they might still be talking to the Princess Consort."
Thank you for your help.
Zhao Ruxi led Qingfeng inside, following Xiaoru. Along the way, they encountered many people standing under the eaves and by the roadside, exchanging pleasantries and conversations.
Xiaoru Xiao Ruotong Xiao Ruotong's head Daya, and has served her for five or six years. Many ladies and young ladies in the inner quarters know her.
At this moment, seeing her enter with an unfamiliar young woman, a lady smiled at Zhao Ruxi and then inquired, "Xiaoru Ruxi, who is this...?"
"This is Fifth Miss Zhao from the Earl of Suiping's Residence. She is a top student of Mister Kumu and a good friend of our county princess. The princess also values her highly. The princess specially sent an invitation today to invite the old lady, the madam, and Miss Zhao Wu from their mansion to come over," Xiaoru said.