They went through a black painted corner gate and walked along a long passageway. The passage was paved with cyan and light yellow cobblestone arranged in compasses, hexagons and circles. There were trees on either side, and across was a pool with a rock garden. A clear spring flowed from the artificial mountain and became a small waterfall. It could even be called divine craftsmanship.
Walking further, a large sea of yellow chrysanthemum appeared before their eyes. Only after getting closer did they see that it was a large flowerbed. Due to the positioning and angle, it gave others the impression that it stretched as far as the eye can see. Of course, this flowerbed wasn't small either. Its area was rather large.
After circling around this flowerbed, there was a covered terrace in the distance. It had a traditional feel, with curved awnings and raised corners. There were also several small pavilions scattered in the area. There were yellow, white, red and violet chrysanthemum flowers. The covered terrace had several pots of chrysanthemums arranged in various shapes. The pot in the middle was actually highest quality chrysanthemum "green peony".
The branches on the green peony were thick and sturdy and the leaves were shaped irregularly. The petals were multilayered and their buds were covered. When they bloomed, some of the petals were light green while the central petals were emerald green and curled upwards. Their core petals were dark green and the corolla was a compact flattened sphere. One plant could be said to be a thousand gold, and can only be stumbled across and not sought out.
The center of the other layout was a "flapping phoenix wing". This flapping phoenix wing's branches were ash green and firm. The leaves were long and the flowers were circular in shape. The central petals were fine tubes and the outer petals were reddish brown while its base was yellow. The flowers bloomed in all directions and their petals curled upwards like a phoenix flapping its wings.
The petals near the middle curled inwards like a phoenix resplendently rising. The outer reddish brown petals were dazzling, making the entire flower elegant and moving. When people heard the name and then looked at the flower, they would associate it with the beauty of a phoenix.
This was also a top class chrysanthemum!
Those who understood flowers naturally understood the beauty within. Those who didn't understand merely thought they looked nice. Yan Yan and Liu Shu Yi were precisely people who didn't understand flowers. Yan Yan felt flowers were too weak. The slightest wind or rain could ruin them. As for Liu Shu Yi, she had seen too many of them growing up.
In her household, people her age all pretended to love and understand flowers to flatter the Yiyong Madam, making her feel disagreeable and revolted.
There were quite a lot of people who came for the viewing today. Most of the madams from various households were sitting in the covered terrace. That was the liveliest place. Ma Quan Fang and Shen Yi Yao were there as well. The various misses were gathered next to the terrace, in a place called the Wangxian Pavilion.
Liu Shu Yi and Yan Yan first went to greet Ma Quan Fang and Shen Yi Yao. They were then pulled in for a brief chat by a few noblewomen before heading over to the Wangxian Pavilion. Despite its name, it was more of a kiosk constructed on a stone platform. The area was rather large and there were two banquet tables. Next to the railings were several chairs and small tables.
In the middle of the kiosk were around a dozen misses. They were chatting together in smaller groups, and all seemed to know each other. Yan Ru and Yan Ling were there as well. The two of them sat silently in the corner, and no one went to speak with them. There was no sign of Yan Qian and the rest.
When Yan Yan arrived, she went straight over. Liu Shu Yi accompanied her. There were quite a few who recognized Shu Yi and they smiled and greeted her. It was clear Shu Yi was quite popular.
"Eldest sis, fourth sis, why are you sitting here? Where are Yan Qian and the rest?"
Yan Ru said quietly: "Some servants led us over earlier and said Aunt Liu ordered it. They didn't invite Yan Qian and the rest, so they didn't come."
Yan Yan nodded and didn't ask futher. She went and sat down in one of the chairs. Liu Shu Yi sat next to her. She covered her mouth and laughed: "I told you my mom would help Auntie Shen vent her anger and you didn't believe me. How about now?"
Yan Yan shot her a glare but she was also smiling.
This sort of method wasn't unusual. Which noblewoman didn't have a few tricks up their sleeves? Since they wanted to tag along, go ahead.
But what they ended up doing wasn't up to them to decide. The servants did as they were ordered. Could the guests forcibly question them?
Yan Ru finally relaxed. She had been worried the entire time about Yan Qian provoking trouble. Since she wasn't here, there was naturally nothing to worry about. Of course, she had also experienced a noblewoman's methods. That Yiyong madam-in-waiting had appeared full of smiles but her true thoughts were well concealed.
When the servants came to fetch them earlier, they had said their noble estate's Miss Yan wanted to speak to them. They didn't reveal anything else. Yan Qian had wanted to tag along but was blocked. They respectfully told her that since Miss Yan didn't invite them and the estate was complex, it was better not to walk around in case the miss got lost.
Right as they were chatting, a gaze drew several people's attention.
Looking over, they saw a fourteen or fifteen year old girl. She had a round face and large eyes. Her skin was very fair, but her figure was chubby. She was looking over in a very strange manner. She didn't look away when she was noticed, and instead smiled condescendingly.
Liu Shu Yi immediately counterattacked and viciously glared back. At the same time, she asked Yan Yan: "Do you still remember that Wu Qiong Qiong?"
Yan Yan blinked. Liu Shu Yi could only continue speaking: "It's that meatball from back then, the one who has a grudge against us!"
Putting it this way made Yan Yan remember who she was. This was something that happened several years ago. At that time, Yan Yan and Liu Shu Yi were both young, around four or five. They met Wu Qiong Qiong at a flower banquet in someone else's estate.
The Wu Qiong Qiong from back then wasn't like her current self. Perhaps her meals were too tasty back home, so she was very fat. This would have been fine, but she was also incredibly rude and unreasonable. She had started arguing with little Shu Yi for some reason, and they never got along after that. Whenever the two met, neither would give an inch. Yan Yan was close with Liu Shu Yi and naturally had to help her. Therefore Wu Qiong Qiong became enemies with both of them.
Yan Yan hadn't gone out in several years. Unexpectedly, these two were still the same way.
"You don't know since you haven't been out recently, but she's become even more hateful. Not only did she gather people to shun me, but she also spreads gossip about me everywhere. However, I'm also not easy to provoke!"
As she spoke, Wu Qiong Qiong walked over. There was another young miss by her side.
"You are Yan Yan?"
Wu Qiong Qiong seemed very startled, pointing at Yan Yan in surprise.
Liu Shu Yi stepped up. "Wu Qiong Qiong, your grandfather is the esteemed official of the Ministry of Rites. Does he know your etiquette is so lacking? Pointing fingers isn't something a noble lady should do!"
"What, can't it be me?" Yan Yan asked with raised brows. "From your surprised appearance, could it be you missed me?"
When they were younger, Liu Shu Yi was the one skilled with words whereas Yan Yan played the role of the muscle. She wasn't able to win with words, so she usually used her fists. She still remembered whenever little Qiong Qiong finally got the upper hand in an argument with little Shu Yi, she would get pressed down and beaten while Shu Yi cheered from the side.
It naturally didn't last long. There were many maids and grannies after all, and they would get pulled apart. But this was an extreme humiliation for Wu Qiong Qiong. She had naturally tattled after returning, but fights between little girls weren't taken seriously. They merely viewed them as insensible children.
Since it was two against one, Wu Qiong Qiong naturally lost more often. However, she was also one who grew braver the more she was oppressed. She repeatedly retreated in defeat but still repeatedly stepped up to challenge them. Both sides thus ended up with irrevocable "grudges".
Children's grudges were quite laughable in hindsight. But from what it sounded like, this grudge seemed to only get deeper.
Wu Qiong Qiong retracted her finger and sneered condescendingly, "What's a violent girl like you doing at a chrysanthemum viewing banquet? Aren't you worried people will hurt themselves laughing!? Don't tell me you also know arts in addition to brute force?"
"What business is it of yours whether I'm artistically inclined? We don't seem to be close? Since we aren't close, then please keep your distance!"
Wu Qiong Qiong didn't expect Yan Yan to be so inconsiderate of her face. Girls were naturally more polite and restrained as they matured. Even Liu Shu Yi had become more cautious with her words.
She naturally didn't know that the past Yan Yan who was all brawn had undergone several years of "training", and was now well-versed in the dao of angering others to death.
"You....." Wu Qiong Qiong's face trembled from anger.
The miss next to her interrupted: "Which estate are you from? How can you be so rude!?"
Pei Jia Yu's face was filled with disdain. She often went to various estates and households but had never seen Yan Yan before. She assumed Yan Yan was an impoverished relative of Liu Shu Yi here to broaden her horizons. Therefore, her words were exceptionally impolite.
These words and actions made Liu Shu Yi laugh angrily.
"You guys are really laughable. You seem to have been the ones who came over and provoked us, but we're the impolite ones?" She sneered and said to Wu Qiong Qiong: "Wu Qiong Qiong, hurry and take that dog of yours away. Don't let her make a fool of herself. Your household's esteemed official title is rather big, but Ah Yan's grandfather is the Zhenguo Duke. Why don't we compare whose houseold is more respected?! What noble lady uses her background to suppress others? Only those lacking in confidence would randomly ask about someone's background!"
A round of sniggering sounded out. It turned out everyone was focused on this argument.
Liu Shu Yi wasn't wrong. What noble lady of status would randomly throw out her own background? This wasn't making one's household seem impressive, but was losing its face instead.
Yan Yan's identity did startle everyone a little. However, some at the scene had seen Yan Yan back then and weren't too surprised.
Yan Yan didn't feel insulted, but merely felt that the two people were very annoying. She had finally reunited with an old friend and everyone was chatting happily. These two flies buzzing over were truly hateful.
She gave Wu Qiong Qiong a sideglance. "Since you said I'm all brawn, don't blame me for what happens if you don't leave!"