PFC Chapter 775 I Won’t Save You This Time (8)
Chapter 775 I Won’t Save You This Time (8)
Yan Caiyue sat in front of the dressing table, holding the gold-embossed invitation in her hand, her brows slightly furrowed.
The invitation was written in neat regular script "Mrs. Liu sincerely invites you", and the vermilion seal of Yucheng Garrison was stamped at the end.
She sighed softly, placed the invitation on the table, and her fingertips unconsciously stroked the edge of the invitation.
Her slightly tired face was reflected in the bronze mirror.
At the age of seventeen, she should have been a pretty girl waiting to be married, but after experiencing everything in the palace, she always felt that her heart had grown old.
After arriving in Yucheng, she set up a family as a female householder.
Yan Caiyue was well aware of the principle that "the people should not fight against the officials", so after arriving in Yucheng, in order to quickly gain a foothold, it was necessary for her to maintain friendly relations with the officials' families.
Madam Liu was the principal wife of the garrison commander of Yucheng. Although she was not the most prominent official wife, she was also one of her important clients.
This lady was not only generous, but also often introduced other wives of officials to her.
Yan Caiyue understood that this relationship must be maintained.
Otherwise, at her age, with such a large family fortune and without a man to support her, she would have been targeted long ago.
She stood up and walked to the window, looking at the peonies blooming in the courtyard.
In two years, she will be twenty years old.
According to Daliang law, if a woman was unmarried by the age of 20, the government could arrange a marriage for her.
Although you can pay a single tax to avoid marriage, the tax rate for all taxes is more than five times that of married people.
Thinking of this, Yan Caiyue couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Since the current emperor Liang Song ascended the throne, he has been trying to solve the problem of sharp population decline caused by years of wars caused by previous emperors.
The imperial court not only raised the single tax, but also issued many policies.
Even widows who remarried could receive rewards from the court.
These policies are indeed effective, but they also make life difficult for women like her who don't want to get married early.
"Miss, the Liu family has sent someone to ask again." The maid Xiaoyuan walked in quietly, "They said you must come tomorrow."
Yan Caiyue turned around and looked at herself in the bronze mirror.
The person in the mirror has beautiful features, but a bit stubborn.
She took a deep breath and said, "Let's prepare the car! Let's go pick out a decent gift for Madam Liu first. It's not good to go to someone's house empty-handed!"
Since you can't avoid it, just attend this banquet with confidence!
"Madam, actually the hairpins we made before and the purse you embroidered can both be used..." Xiaoyuan reminded.
"I'd better not do that!" Yan Caiyue frowned slightly. "Although what I did is very thoughtful, Madam Liu may not need it!"
Compared with the velvet flower hairpin, she felt that a golden hairpin might be more pleasing to Mrs. Liu.
Yan Caiyue brought Xiaoyuan to Jinxiu Street, the most prosperous street in Yucheng.
There are shops on both sides of the street, and the colorful signs sway gently in the wind.
She walked straight to a jewelry store called "Jin Yu Man Tang", which is the most famous jewelry store in Yucheng, specializing in custom-made jewelry for dignitaries.
When the shopkeeper saw Yan Caiyue, he immediately came up to her with a big smile: "Miss Yan, your visit is a great honor to our small shop!"
He was so familiar with Yan Caiyue because she had taken many jewelry drawings to customize items for him.
Those design drawings were extremely ingenious, and he even did not charge Yan Caiyue for two pieces of jewelry in order to buy the drawings.
"Boss, I'm not here to order anything today." Yan Caiyue knew why the other party was so enthusiastic about her. "I have to attend a banquet tomorrow, so I want to pick a gift for the host."
After saying this, Yan Caiyue looked around among the dazzling array of jewelry.
Suddenly, a golden hairpin caught her attention.
The hairpin was gilded all over and inlaid with the finest rubies, and the tassels hanging down sparkled with tiny lights, making it look both noble and elegant.
"This hairpin is quite unique," she said softly.
The shopkeeper quickly took it out and handed it to her carefully: "Miss Yan, you have good taste! This is a new style in our store, made of top-grade red gold, and the ruby is a treasure from the Western Regions. Madam Liu came to see it a few days ago and praised it!"
The word "Mrs. Liu" made Yan Caiyue look sideways at the shopkeeper.
Perhaps he felt that he had said something wrong, so his expression was a little stiff, but he immediately explained: "Mrs. Liu will host a banquet for quite a few female relatives tomorrow, so those who come to us to choose gifts will inevitably..."
When Yan Caiyue heard this, a glimmer of understanding flashed in her eyes.
She gently stroked the lines on the hairpin, feeling the delicate touch from her fingertips: "Let's take this one."
"Madam!" Xiao Yuan couldn't help but want to remind him, but Yan Caiyue spoke first: "I remember that a few days ago, the shopkeeper's shop seemed to have a batch of emerald beads. I wonder if you can bring them to me for selection?"
"The items are all good, but they are scattered and there are few similar ones!" The shopkeeper said as he took out a small wooden tray, "Madam Yan, take a look!"
The luster, color and translucency of these beads are all good, but the colors and sizes are a bit mixed, so they are probably not very useful.
Of course, this is true for others, but not necessarily for Yan Caiyue.
Although I will be attending Madam Liu's banquet tomorrow, she has several girls under her!
Since she has already spent a lot of money to buy this hairpin, she can use these beads and the hairpins that have already been made to modify the gifts for other people in her family!
Seeing her master buying so many things, Xiaoyuan felt distressed, but she also understood that her master had stopped her once when she spoke too much just now. If she spoke again, she would probably be punished.
After paying the money, the master and servant walked out of the shop.
The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the bluestone road, stretching their shadows very long.
Mrs. Zhou, who had been watching from the second floor for a long time, had a look of doubt on her face. After Yan Caiyue and her people left, she hurried downstairs and asked, "Boss, whose family was that young lady just now? What's her name?"
"Madam Zhou, the one just now was our Yucheng's famous embroiderer - Madam Yan." The shopkeeper naturally knew Madam Zhou's identity, so he did not hide anything, "She just came to choose a gift for tomorrow."
Madam Zhou took the handkerchief from the nanny beside her and spoke after a long while: "He looks like a talented person!"
This is not a compliment, but the greatest truth.
Because if the person just now was really Aunt Yan, the senior palace maid who used to be by the Imperial Concubine’s side, then she is truly a capable person.
If she can make rouge, snacks, wine, needlework, and also practice medicine, wouldn’t she be a very powerful person?
At this time, Yan Caiyue looked up at the sky, feeling that something would happen tomorrow. She thought it was time to divert her attention, so she asked Xiaoyuan beside her, "Have you prepared your clothes for tomorrow's banquet?"
"It's all ready. It's the newly made plum-colored brocade jacket, which goes with the lilac-colored pleated skirt." Xiao Yuan replied, "It will look great on you, my lady."
Yan Caiyue nodded, but she was still thinking about tomorrow.
She knew that this banquet would not be just a simple drinking party.
Mrs. Liu sent people to urge him again and again, so she must have had some other intention.