The Green Chrysanthemum still thrives beautifully, with its slender petals not yet fully unfolded, already larger than Zheng Lingbo's palm. It's easy to imagine how magnificent and astonishing it would be when they completely bloom out.
Zheng Lingbo looks at the heart's delight, and unknowingly says: "Huiyan must like this, thanks to Jin's reminder."
Jin'er smiles faintly, deeply hiding her achievements and fame.
Zheng Lingbo visits the green chrysanthemum every day, but dares not approach, worried that it might affect the flower's growth. All she does is watch it continue to thrive and bloom happily.
Then she wrapped up the cape, carefully packed it in a wooden box, and reached the birthday banquet of Mu Rong Huiyan.
Mu Rong Huiyan is a princess, with an unusual status. Her birthday banquet was lively, held at an estate outside the city. Along the way, many young ladies and gentlemen were heading to the outskirts of the city. Zheng Lingbo found it somewhat amusing to see them all on their way.
If one insists on saying so, after all, Mu Rong Huiyan is a princess and holds a grand banquet. The guests invited are not just anyone; there are limits. Invitations aren't sent out just because they live in the capital.
It is understandable that the hurried carriage in front of them must be carrying guests who have no invitation but are going to the estate in hopes of being accepted.
If one is lucky enough to catch the eye of a noble's daughter and strike a chord with her, then rising to prominence is not far off.
Some are more astute and will sing poems or play the guitar along the way to the estate, hoping that a noblewoman with a taste for the arts will deign to stop and chat.
However, as the best friend of Mu Rong Huiyan, Zheng Lingbo's treatment is naturally different.
She arrived in a carriage to the outskirts of the city, and before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, she saw the sign of the general's mansion on the carriage. The lackey standing at the gate darted inside to deliver the message.
Shortly after, when Zheng Lingpo had finished getting off the carriage and was preparing to dismount, Mu Rong Huiyan had already appeared behind the shadows.
Zheng Lingbo's face was filled with smiles, and she took a few steps forward to extend her hand. Mu Rong Huiyan immediately walked over with a joyful smile and clasped her hand.
"You're here."
Zheng Lingpo nodded: "Today is your birthday, how could I not come?"
Mu Rong Huiyan just pulled Zheng Lingpo directly to the room she lived in at the back, and once they got there, she sent a maid to fetch Zheng Lingpo's favorite snacks. She then excitedly peered over at the wooden box Jin was holding, and asked very directly: "What have you brought for me?"
Saying such a thing would seem forward on the part of an ordinary noblewoman, but since they were close friends, and there were no other people around, being straightforward was fine and no one thought anything of it.
Zheng Lingpo's expression for a moment was somewhat arrogant: "You must like it, let me guess."
Mu Rong Huiyan tilted her head and thought for a while: "What I like... it can't be chrysanthemum, right?"
Zheng Lingbo opened her eyes wide and signaled for Jin to bring over the object, "You guessed it right!"
Mu Rong Huiyan "ah"ed and went to look. As soon as she saw it, she couldn't help but exclaim again.
"It turns out you bought it away."
She was both surprised and delighted for a moment.
She heard a while ago that someone was going to sell Green Chrysanthemum, but when she went to look for it, the person said it had already been sold. When she asked who bought it, the person only said it was a young master and he couldn't tell which family it was from. Mu Rong Huiyan could only feel sorry about it.
But unexpectedly, the turn of events led to the green chrysanthemum being bought by Zheng Lingpo, who then gave it as her birthday gift.
Mu Rong Huiyan couldn't take her eyes off the flower and carefully touched the fully opened petals, emitting a small gasp of surprise at the moment.
"The blossoms in the lofty pavilion, the fragrance filling the cups of the common folk, are truly beautiful."
Zheng Lingbo was accustomed to Mu Rong Huiyan's eloquence, and upon hearing her words, she smiled contentedly, "As long as you like it."
Then she asked Jin to bring out the cape as well: "My second brother sent me some fabric from the border, and I think it's pretty. I made two capes, one for you and one for me."
Mu Rong Huiyan put down the green chrysanthemum to examine the skin, her eyes full of praise.
Zheng Lingbo loved Mu Rong Huiyan's reaction so much; it made her feel that her efforts had not been in vain, and she couldn't help but smile with her lips pursed, "They say it's dyed with some precious plant, and the pattern is indeed special. There isn't another piece like it in the entire capital. I thought of pairing it with a light silk shawl; it's just the right thing to wear at this time."
Mu Rong Huiyan was very generous, and upon hearing this, she removed her outer robe and tried it on, and even had a servant bring a light silk shawl to put on top of it.
Indeed, the exotic patterns on the fabric were barely visible through the light silk, giving it a unique touch compared to the dresses and jackets worn by modern girls.
Mu Rong Huiyan clapped her hands together, "Wonderful, absolutely wonderful."
She said with a twinkle in her eye, "That's how I'll wear it today."
Zheng Lingbo was taken aback, somewhat helpless to laugh: "On such a significant occasion as your birthday, how can you wear something like this?"
Mu Rong Huiyan was indignant: "What's wrong with this? You said there isn't anyone else in the capital with it. My birthday banquet should be the most special, shouldn't it?"
Zheng Lingbo: "……"
She really has a point.
Zheng Lingbo couldn't argue with Mu Rong Huiyan, and in her heart, she was truly happy that Mu Rong Huiyan liked her gift so much. She could only let it go as she was.
After a while, some servant girls came to say that someone had come.
Nowadays, various banquets are not just for a single purpose, but for the daughters of the nobles to gather together to establish a relationship and research their positions and so on.
Also, it is an opportunity to take a look at the young men and women from their families who have not yet been introduced.
Therefore, even though Mu Rong Huiyan is a young lady, her birthday banquet not only invites her close friends, but also noblewomen who receive the invitations personally.
This requires Mu Rong Huiyan to personally go to the doorway to greet.
Just as she personally came out to greet Zheng Lingbo when she arrived.
However, greeting Zheng Lingpo is because of their close relationship, while greeting these ladies is because of their status.
Mu Rong Huiyan went out to meet guests, and Zheng Lingpo followed the servants to the banquet venue.
The birthday banquet, aside from the coming-of-age ceremony, is more or less the same every year. Since Mu Rong Huiyan won't be coming of age until next year, this year's banquet was also quite similar to previous ones. Zheng Lingpo even found a seat for herself without waiting.
Some noblewomen had already gathered in a group to chat at the venue, and seeing Zheng Lingpo come in, some of them couldn't wait to approach her.
"Miss Cousin, you've arrived."
Zheng Lingbo looked at the person and recognized her as a sister from the Zhang family, known by her maiden name Mingyue. She smiled and greeted others, then overheard Chapter Mingyue in a low voice, "I just saw someone from the Liu family with a young girl by the Yueyue Pavilion. Be careful."
As soon as she heard the surname "Liu," Zheng Lingpo's expression changed.
Last time, Liu Chengwang of Xuanming Lake fell into the water. He stayed at home and recuperated for quite some time before making a reappearance. That girl Xinxin always played together with Zheng Lingpo in serendipitous encounters.
When they met, she didn't say anything; instead, she gave her a look of disapproval that was meant to be shy but actually screamed to the world that Zheng Lingpo pushed her cousin into the lake. When others asked why, she acted as if she were trying to hide something, but in reality, she couldn't wait to announce to the whole world about this incident.
Zheng Lingbo is fed up with it.
Explain, once or twice, it's really tedious. Not explain, someone will take it seriously, and it will affect her Ou family's reputation.
