Superstar's Development Diary-Chapter 733 - 734: A Startling Dream in the Garden (10)
Just as Miss Lv Zhu was about to walk in, suddenly, a hoarse woman’s voice came through: "Lv Zhu."
Lv Zhu paused her movements, spotted He Jinxia from the back of the crowd, and rushed out faster than anyone else, anxiously asking, "Miss, you’re back. How are you? Are you hurt? Did Nanny hit you?"
He Jinxia smiled and replied in a calm voice, "I’m fine, Nanny has been very kind to me. She even said she would add to my dowry to make sure I could marry into the Sheng Family in style."
Lv Zhu frowned slightly, instinctively feeling that Nanny had no such good intentions, but with too many people around, it wasn’t the right moment to voice her thoughts.
Seeing He Jinxia, other ladies crowded around to socialize, but since He Jinxia was wrapped up tightly, they were also careful not to touch her and possibly hurt her, so they all kept a careful distance.
He Jinxia, given way by the other ladies, smoothly made her way to the door and said to them,
"I will be married off to the border in seven days, and for the next few days, I need to prepare my dowry. I’m sorry I won’t be able to entertain you all. If you came to inquire about Young Master Lan’s correspondence, I have already passed that letter to Nanny. You can ask her about it." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
She glanced at the maid next to her: "Lv Zhu."
Lv Zhu immediately stood up straight: "At your service, miss."
"See the guests out."
"Yes, Miss!"
He Jinxia turned and walked into her residence, and as for how Lv Zhu would manage the guests, she would surely think of something.
As He Jinxia had anticipated, by the next day, from the top-tier government families to the common folk, everyone in the Capital knew that the former Red Building’s top courtesan, He Jinxia, held a personal letter from Gu Lanzi, the top scholar in the previous Capital’s Four Great Talents list!
Gu Lanzi, a legend in the Capital just a few years ago, was fluent at three, had mastered the texts of many scholars by five, was writing poetry at seven, and had attained scholarly honors by ten!
At fifteen, he participated in the imperial examination, debated with ministers of both bureaucracy and military, and with his brilliant talent, was directly appointed by the emperor as the top scorer!
That same year, he entered the court to serve as an official, directly becoming an Assistant Minister under the Hanlin University Scholar. It was clear to discerning eyes that he would be the next Hanlin University Scholar.
Yet such a vibrant and talented man suddenly resigned and left the Capital at the age of seventeen, heading to Jiangnan.
Since then, more than six years had passed.
The name of Young Master Lan was renowned, and to this day, many tales of his overflowing talents and charming appearance were circulated in the Capital. He had been the dream of many noble ladies from Capital families.
To this day, some noble ladies still determinedly remained unmarried, foolishly waiting for Gu Lanzi.
On the other hand, they had also received news that Gu Lanzi would return to the Capital this year!
Now, the fact that He Jinxia disclosed she held a letter from Gu Lanzi became extremely significant.
With this letter, why worry about lacking a topic to engage with Young Master Lan?
In an instant, the Capital was abuzz, and everyone’s eyes were fixed on the modest Red Building.
The next day, He Jinxia was awoken by a noisy disturbance; when she woke, she specifically looked out the window and noticed it was barely dawn.
She frowned, climbed out of bed in her undergarments, and pressed her ear against the window to listen.
The courtyard she now resided in was quite small and extremely simple; even the slightest noise from outside could be heard inside.
"Miss Lv Zhu, this is a gift from my young lady to yours, as an addition to her dowry. Your young lady has taken good care of mine in the past, and my young lady has never dared to forget her kindness. Please accept this."
Lv Zhu tried to refuse, "I can’t, I’m just a servant, I mustn’t accept!"
The maid did not care for her protests, stuffed the gift into her hands, and immediately turned to run away.
Lv Zhu: "Hey, come back, why are you being so unreasonable!"
By the time she shouted, the maid was already out of sight.
Lv Zhu frowned, puzzled, and returned to her mistress’s boudoir with the gift in arms, muttering, "Miss Ying Chun isn’t really close with my mistress. I remember they always used to be at odds, so why the kindness all of a sudden with a gift?"
"And other ladies, who have even less connection with my mistress, someone was sent early in the morning to bring gifts. What are they trying to do?"
He Jinxia looked at Lv Zhu placing the item on the only table in front of the boudoir, where there were already five or six gifts laid out, all of which were valuable items worth keeping.
"Lv Zhu," she croaked, her voice exceedingly hoarse from just waking up.
Lv Zhu hurried in, seeing her dressing and quickly asked, "Miss, let me help you!"
After a brief washing, He Jinxia asked about the morning’s delivery of gifts.
Lv Zhu was also confused, frowning as she said, "Just as dawn was breaking, I had just gotten up when I heard someone softly asking outside if I was there. The voice was very light; had I not been passing by the door to fetch water, I might have entirely missed it.
Upon opening the door, there stood a maid with a gift in her hands, telling me her young lady was grateful for your care and, hearing that you will soon be married, wanted to add to your gifts.
I was about to refuse, but the maid figured out my intent and quickly shoved the gift into my hands. It was quite heavy, I didn’t want to accept it, and was afraid it would break if dropped. As soon as I took it, the maid turned and ran, not coming back no matter how much I called."
"Miss, what do you think their intention is? Do they really want to reconcile with you? But I’ve never heard of these people’s names, it seems like they aren’t familiar to you?"
He Jinxia slightly smiled and tapped Lv Zhu’s forehead with a finger, "Of course you haven’t heard of them, remember my status before was that of Oiran in the Red Building, only girls pushed forward by the Red Building’s owner could meet me."
"The vast Red Building always has girls sold into it for other reasons; the misses you mentioned are probably former courtesans who have retired or been hidden away."
"Their sending maids with gifts to me is firstly because they feel my forthcoming marriage is a good omen, adding a gift might also bring them some of my luck."
"Secondly, it’s because of Young Master Lan, some people want to know about the letter Young Master Lan sent me, but since they have little contact with me, what other way would they have to approach me without reason?
Isn’t this a readymade method? I’m about to be married, they come to give me gifts and talk to me, and no one can fault that."
Upon hearing this, Lv Zhu asked nervously, "Miss, won’t you be in danger if you accept these gifts? Should I decline them?"
He Jinxia’s gaze flickered slightly, and she spoke softly, "I won’t be in any danger; on the contrary, remember to take any gifts that come my way for me. At noon, find some time to sell all the gifts off and convert them into silver notes.
There’s no need to be secretive about it, if anyone asks you, just tell them outright, tell them it was my instruction."
Lv Zhu looked at the gifts on the table, responded affirmatively, though with some reluctance.
