Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 89 Banquet and Hospitality

The Moon Pavilion overlooks the lake. Meng Shu walked along the pebble path, through the covered walkway, and across the small bridge for several dozen steps before entering a small courtyard. This courtyard was originally for guests to stay in. The back room had already been cleaned, and the maids in the courtyard all bowed to Meng Shu when they saw her.

Meng Shu checked each room one by one and found nothing amiss.

Back in the small flower hall of the main courtyard, Meng Shu asked, "Are the tea, fruit, and seeds ready?"

A young maidservant from the small kitchen stepped forward and replied, "Everything is ready. According to custom, this is where distinguished guests change clothes and rest occasionally. The doors and windows have been checked, and incense has been burned inside. We have prepared cloud tea and pine needle tea. The kitchen will send over some snacks in a little while."

Cloud and mist tea is for distinguished guests, while pine needle tea is for the maids and servants brought by the guests. Meng Shu nodded. At today's banquet, all the food and drinks were served by special maids. The one in charge of this area was Yu'er, who had just spoken.

"This place is also quite important, Yu'er, please take good care of it."

The back room is crowded and noisy. Yu'er loves to listen to gossip, but she rarely makes mistakes when doing things. She is also close to Donggua, so it is most reassuring to have her guard Meng Shu here.

Meng Shu had been at the Tang residence for over half a year, and naturally had a good understanding of the second-class maids in Yunyi Courtyard. She knew who was reliable and dependable, and who was cunning and scheming. This time, she selected a few reliable maids and placed them in various locations in Yunxi Courtyard, such as the reception area, around the Nongyue Pavilion, banquet attendants, and even those at places like the chrysanthemum viewing area, the lakeside, the singing and dancing area, and the opera stage.

However, there are always times when there aren't enough people, which shows the importance of connections. Meng Shu personally went to ask Steward Cui for help and borrowed a few skilled or cautious cooks from Steward An's small kitchen.

This banquet is of utmost importance; not a single detail can be overlooked. Jinshu, relying on her parents' position in the general affairs office, is used to swaggering around among the second-class maids. Last time, she couldn't resist going out and about, clearly with ulterior motives. Therefore, Meng Shu keeps a close eye on her wherever she goes today.

Emerging from the back building, dozens of pots of chrysanthemums of various colors were scattered around the lake and among the pavilions. These potted plants were sent by the old lady and had been placed here two days in advance. Meng Shu checked them one by one and left a few reliable maids scattered around the lakeside.

The head of the Fang family was outside the pavilion, directing people to neatly lay out the tablecloths on the seats. The faint sound of string and wind instruments could be heard from behind the screen; the opera troupe kept in the mansion was tuning their instruments. Seeing Meng Shu return, the head of the Fang family said, "Madam is at the second gate. She will be taking some high-ranking officials' wives to Fu'an Residence to visit the old lady. I'm afraid the eldest and second young ladies won't be able to help. Don't worry about this place; go and help them."

He then whispered a reminder: "The people that Second Aunt and Cousin brought should be taken good care of."

Among the guests of honor at this banquet, the most distinguished were naturally the wife of the prefect and her two daughters, the wife of the assistant prefect Qin and her daughter, Miss Qin the Third, as well as other officials' families from Lin'an.

The reason these people attended the banquet was simply out of respect for Madam Yun and the Marquis of Huai'an's family. After all, the Tang family's relationship with the capital was becoming increasingly close, and the eldest son of the family was a prodigy. Seeing that the Tang family might soon change its status, officials' families from Lin'an would always attend their banquets.

Next are the Tang family's in-laws; the husbands' families of the two great-aunts will also send representatives, along with some business associates and their families. The families of the shop owners are at the very bottom; although they are the most supportive of the Tang family, their low status means they are ranked last.

Even the banquets were separate. Most of the young ladies of the same generation as the Second Miss were at Yunxi Courtyard, while the Prefect's wife and other officials' families were at Fu'an Residence. After the banquet, they would all go to the Fu'an Residence stage to watch a play together.

After studying with Master Fang for several days, Meng Shu understood that banquets were places for guests to socialize. Based on this principle, and using the guest list and previously collected information, she rehearsed in advance with the maids in charge of welcoming guests which guests were on good terms with whom, which guests were at odds with whom, and which groups were taken to which places.

At the second gate, Madam Yun, a woman of great social graces, stood aside to greet guests. As the granddaughter of the late Minister, her status was insignificant in the capital city, where nobles were everywhere, but in Lin'an City, she was second to none.

The prefect's surname was Fan. Madam Fan arrived very early, accompanied by her two meticulously dressed daughters; the elder was dignified and quiet, while the younger was charming and adorable. The two beauties, dressed in their finest attire, shyly greeted Madam Yun.

Madam Yun glanced at the dignified and quiet eldest daughter, then looked at Madam Fan, who was more enthusiastic than usual. How could she not know what the other woman was thinking? At Madam Fan's signal, the two daughters of officials and the second daughter exchanged a few auspicious words.

The second young lady responded according to the rules. Just as Madam Fan was about to say something, Qin Tongzhi's wife arrived with Qin Sanxiao. Madam Yun then signaled to the stewards on both sides and personally led several officials' families to Fu'an Residence.

Meanwhile, maids led other guests to Yunxi Courtyard. As Meng Shu walked along, all she could see were colorful decorations, expensive fabrics, and sparkling jewelry. As for figures and appearances, after layers of makeup, they all looked pretty much the same.

Several stewardesses surrounded the eldest and second young ladies, greeting the second aunt and the five or six girls brought by the Song family cousin. The second aunt was speaking.

"Wan'er, these are some of your cousin's daughters. You should get to know them better, you might have to meet them in the future, right?" As she spoke, the second aunt pushed a girl who looked to be about fifteen years old in front of the second young lady.

The girl was wearing a long red dress and looked delicate and frail. However, her eyes were fixed on the second young lady's clothes and jewelry, which looked inexplicably out of place.

As soon as Meng Shu arrived, she hurriedly stepped forward to stop her, smiling and saying, "Second Aunt, you are not only our cousin's sister-in-law, but also a distinguished guest of the Tang family today. You should welcome her into the mansion."

The remaining four girls were all around thirteen or fourteen years old. Putting aside their appearance, they all seemed a little awkward and were stealing glances at the second young lady's outfit.

This scene left the maids of Yunyi Courtyard speechless. Guangbai stepped forward and supported the Second Aunt's arm: "Greetings, Second Aunt. Our old lady is waiting for you. She has prepared the finest Golden Altar Sparrow Tongue tea. The old lady is usually reluctant to serve it to guests. You must have a few more cups today."

Meng Shu squeezed Rui Zhu's hand, and Rui Zhu hurriedly said, "Miss, Second Aunt is going to Fu'an Residence to pay her respects. Please follow me to the banquet at Yunxi Courtyard."

Second Aunt pulled the older girl aside and turned to say, "I'll take Sister Li to Fu'an Residence to pay my respects to the old lady. Sister Hong will take the others to Yunxi Courtyard first."

As the eldest sister, the young lady was naturally also there to entertain guests. Seeing that her cousin Hong was not going to Fu'an Residence, she had no choice but to accompany her to Yunxi Courtyard.

Just as Guangbai and the eldest young lady left with their respective groups, they saw the eldest aunt and Miss Pei arrive at the second gate with a man and a woman.