Welcoming the Bride (1)

“This early in the morning, she's rather energetic.”

But this vigor instead made others loathe very much, practically just deliberately disturbing others' good mood.

For instance, Yuan Qiao Qiao who was previously very happily eating and didn't feel unwell at all, this while, felt a bit unwell, just like she'd eaten too much and somewhat wanted to vomit. Jing Wan, on the contrary, was somewhat amused by her exaggerated expression.

Just like that, this grandiose bunch uniformly spilled into the Elegant Haitang Residence. The place that originally was still considered s.p.a.cious seemingly instantly became narrow. Among these people, there were those few that had previously come to Jing Wan's place before, but for majority of the people, it was still their first time. However, even if it wasn't their first time coming, they still were full of astonishment towards Jing Wan's garden, as well as envy.

Afterwards, there were those few that perhaps out of habit, or really just felt it was pretty, reached out wanting to pick the flowers.

Have to say, that while when Jing Wan had just entered the capital, this courtyard had already been wrecked once before. That time, Jing Wan as the owner didn't say anything, but Yuan Qiao Qiao very much couldn't stand just watching. For it to happen again, she nevertheless couldn't bear it anymore, “Wan Wan, I heard you say last time the eighteenth scholar you gave to Grand Elder Princess's Yu Yao Wenzhu was extremely valuable, at least worth ten thousand taels of silver. Say, with the flowers in your courtyard blooming this beautifully, any random one should also be worth a lot too, right?”

That girl's hand that had plucked the flower uncontrollably trembled. And those that saw her all more or less looked to her with a different meaning in their eyes, perhaps wondering whether or not that flower was also similarly worth a lot, or perhaps held a mocking look, seemingly thinking this one was just a short-sighted one. However, there were probably also quite a few that inwardly rejoiced that they didn't act.

Jing Wan naturally could tell what Yuan Qiao Qiao's intentions were, smiling, “They're not that valuable. However, I actually do believe that if I really were to bring them out to sell, at worst should still be worth a few hundred taels.”

“Sigh, Wan Wan, probably only you have this ability. Replaced with anyone else, who doesn't understand anything, probably would just think it's merely a flower, wrecking it isn't that big of a deal anyways.”

“If it gets wrecked, then naturally it'll be destroyed, but it's really not all that big of a deal. Later, I'll just fix them up again myself.”

Yuan Qiao Qiao swept her a glance, “And it's only just you that would be this nonchalant, if it was me, I'd be heartbroken to death.”

“Raising flowers is about one's interest. If it were to get shoved together with other things, then it'll become inelegant.”

Yuan Qiao Qiao ‘pfft' at her, “Wan Wan, if you say it like that, you might as well use this time, seeing that the time is still early right now, to cut some flowers for us to play with, so as to avoid those who don't know anything waste your good things in vain.”

“Alright.” Jing Wan nodded in agreement. When she ordered her servant girl to go fetch the scissors, she shot a glance at Luo Jing Ying. If it was any other time, she probably would've long jumped out to smooth the situation, pretending to be the good person. However, since Yuan Qiao Qiao had mentioned the eighteenth scholar, and how that flower was given away, she probably was the one that didn't want to be mentioned the most.

That girl that had previously plucked a flower slightly sighed in relief, but the flower in her hand instead made her feel like it was a hot potato. Holding it would burn the hand, but discarding it away just like that was further unacceptable.

Jing Wan took the scissors and walked before her, taking the flower from her hand, “Your eyesight's not bad.” She slightly trimmed the flower, and then inserted it into that girl's hair. “Very pretty, very suited for you.” Jing Wan faintly smiled.

That girl's cheeks reddened even more, and softly muttered, “Thank you.”

Jing Wan clipped another flower in this area nearby, and also a small sprig carrying two flower buds, having the excess stem cut onto the tray held by the servant girl. Afterwards, she swept a glance at all the young ladies present, then had a pair of sisters called over, helping them put it on.

“Oh my, big sister is really pretty.” The little miss that was probably no more than ten batted her big eyes at her own older sister.

“Younger sister is also pretty.” The girl reached out and pinched her little sister's face, and then curtsied towards Jing Wan, thanking her.

“You're welcome. What about everyone else, is there one you've taken a fancy to?”

“Older cousin, how about you help us choose? I keep feeling that whichever one older cousin chooses will definitely further suit us.” An eleven to twelve year old little miss smilingly said to Jing Wan.

This was a young miss from third paternal aunt's family. Jing Wan never interacted with her before, but she appears to be a pretty good child.

The others listened to her words and all nodded in agreement.

Since the majority all expressed as such, then even if Jing Wan knew that some most likely didn't think this at all inside, she still didn't intend on tending to each and every one of their desire. Just like Yun Niang said, the most suitable is actually what's best, but some people just like the most expensive. Certain ones among these people were probably also the same, refusing to look at those unknown and obscure flowers, forever eyeing those famous and valuable breeds, for instance, that pot of purple wei in this courtyard. Yet they don't consider, just a little girl themselves wearing that kind of flower, would they be able to shoulder it.

(T/N: That purple wei is the one from Sun Yi Lin, from the chapter after the flower market fire, one of the four great breeds of peony.)

Jing Wan, at the moment, purely just treated it as a pastime, and also preventing her courtyard from getting destroyed again.

Aside from herself, she gave every young miss a flower or small sprig, including Luo Jing Ying. Everyone all got one that matched them very well, aside from Luo Jing Ying, because the one Jing Wan cut for her was a purple wei flower, and even the one that was blooming the biggest and the most beautifully, “I saw that fourth younger sister was looking at this peony the whole time, so presumably, likes it very much. As expected, it's very pretty.”

Luo Jing Ying's complexion was somewhat pale, but she couldn't even say anything, because her flower was the most valuable. It can be said to be the queen among flowers. But such a big flower on her head completely covered up her original head ornaments, and as one can well imagine, just how tacky it was. Quite a few young misses all turned their heads and covered their mouths laughing. Thank goodness they didn't have delusions about that flower, else, right now, the one being laughed at would most likely be them. They reached out and touched the flower on their own head. As expected, it was still the one that was suitable that looked good.

“Such a beautiful flower is truly too tacky for this younger sister. Just now, this younger sister was looking at it the whole time mainly because this younger sister feels it's the most suitable for third older sister you.” Luo Jing Ying reached out, wis.h.i.+ng to have the flower in her hair taken down, but then noticed at that moment, that there were seemingly still thorns remaining on the stem of that flower. If she were to directly take it down just like that, her hair will definitely be in disarray. For a moment, she hated Jing Wan to death.

Truthfully speaking, those servants that belonged to the Luo family all felt their fourth miss was practically broken in the head. Right now, in the Luo family, who didn't know third miss and fourth were at odds. Ever since coming back from the Grand Elder Princess Manor, afraid they've thoroughly shed all pretenses of cordiality. Third miss didn't even bother with giving face on the surface anymore. Just, this fourth miss just can't help but run over, and as a result, it was her that lost face every time.

Just like today, if not for her, who among these young ladies would run over this early in the morning. Yet in the end, she was still choked back by the ‘eighteenth scholar' before she could say anything, and right now, further embarra.s.sed herself once again.

“Fourth younger sister feels this way? Then fine, this older sister will try it out. Fourth sister doesn't need to take down the one on your head.” Jing Wan went and clipped another flower, that size and shape not inferior to Luo Jing Ying's in the slightest. Jing Wan just casually moved around the accessories on her head and then inserted that flower at the top.

“So pretty.”

“Right, right, have to say, fourth miss's color is actually a little brighter than third miss's, but the same flower, how come give off completely different feelings.”

To say it was incomprehensible, it actually wasn't that incomprehensible, nothing more than just two reasons, the position of the flower, as well as whether or not you have the temperament that could suppress it. Jing Wan undoubtedly possessed both of these qualities, but for Luo Jing Ying, the ornaments on her head were numerous to begin with, and the position Jing Wan chose was also rather interesting, and moreover, she was locked up for that long, with a weak and feeble withered little flower look, so how would she be able to support the peony, such a grandiose and bright flower. That's why, the feeling these two gave off were completely different.

Afterwards, the servants outside came to report, letting the young misses head over to use the morning meal.

Today's morning meal was already a little later than usual to begin with, so they really were somewhat hungry. Jing Wan and Yuan Qiao Qiao, who'd already eaten, was just preparing to go over to go through the motions. In reality, while Jing Wan was cutting flowers, the servants of Elegant Haitang Residence also separately went to go fill their stomachs. Although they didn't eat much, they won't be starving like the other servants.

Seeing this bunch of delicate young ladies appear, quite a few madams all smiled, “Oh my, where did you all go this morning, every single one all seemingly even more beautiful than before.”

Afterwards, the attentive ones all noticed that the flower on their heads all just happened to perfectly complement some of the places they were lacking in previously. Regardless whether it was the big bright flowers, or the small light color flowers, they all brought out the best in each.

“Whose handiwork was all this, to be able to tell where others are lacking at a glance, and able to easily make up for it. These eyes are sure impressive.”