May passed in the blink of an eye, and June arrived.
Early in the morning, the air already carried a hint of heat. Cicadas gathered on the branches, chirping without pause.
The third day of the sixth month was the birthday of the Wen family's Old Madam.
"The first day of the sixth month also marks the end of the mourning period for the Wen family's Old Master. Today's birthday banquet is not only for her sixtieth birthday, but also to announce to relatives and friends that the younger generation of the Wen family may resume marriage negotiations," Nanny Dai explained while combing Zheng Qian's hair.
The mourning customs in the Liang Kingdom were complicated and filled with many rules.
For the imperial family, the mourning period lasted twenty-seven days. Among common people, it lasted twenty-seven months.
Even within ordinary families, the length of mourning varied depending on relationships.
For example, if a husband died, the wife had to observe mourning for one year. But if the wife died, the husband was not required to do the same. Children and grandchildren mourned elders for twenty-seven months, but the eldest grandson of the main branch—the heir grandson—had to mourn his grandfather for a full three years.
Zheng Qian's fiancé happened to be the Wen family's heir grandson, and his mourning period had not yet ended.
Therefore, their wedding was scheduled for next year.
Zheng Qian sat quietly while Nanny Dai arranged her hair.
As an unmarried young lady, her hair ornaments were simple. She only wore a single red-gold hairpin set with a ruby—elegant and understated, unlike nouveau riche ladies who covered their heads with excessive jewels.
Nanny Dai then took out a jade bracelet and placed it on Zheng Qian's wrist.
The bracelet was entirely emerald green. Against Zheng Qian's snow-white skin, it made her complexion appear even more delicate.
Zheng Qian looked at the body she now inhabited and murmured to herself,
"It actually looks pretty good. Why does everyone dislike me?"
Everyone fell silent.
What kind of noble young lady praises herself like that?
The older servants and maids froze for a moment. Instead, it was her cat that softly meowed beside her, as if agreeing that she truly did look good.
Zheng Qian immediately reached out to pick it up.
"See? My son has good taste."
The maids hurriedly stopped her.
"Miss! If you hold him again you'll be covered in fur. This purple outfit doesn't hide Ah Chou's fur."
Zheng Qian looked a little conflicted.
Caiyuan asked cautiously, "Miss… you're not planning to bring Ah Chou with you, are you?"
The cat had already approached Zheng Qian and meowed twice. The sound was slightly different from before, as if insisting that it absolutely must go.
Zheng Qian happily interpreted the cat language herself.
"Ah Chou wants to go. I should let my son see the world. If he stays home all the time, he'll become timid."
Caiyuan: "…"
Nanny Dai's face darkened.
Xiuzhu said nervously, "Miss, when we arrive at the Wen residence, please don't say things like that."
"I know. I'm not stupid," Zheng Qian replied.
Xiuzhu: "…"
Are you sure about that, Miss?
In the end Zheng Qian still picked up Ah Chou.
To prevent people from noticing cat fur on her clothes, she decided to hold him the entire time. That way, if her clothing looked messy, guests would understand the reason.
Once she was fully dressed, the maid accompanying her today was Xiuzhu.
Xiuzhu was steady and reliable. Nanny Dai repeatedly reminded her to keep an eye on the young lady and not let her do anything improper.
Holding the cat in her arms, Zheng Qian brought Xiuzhu to the gate of the Marquis residence.
Two carriages were waiting there.
When they saw her come out, the curtain of the front carriage lifted and a young maid's face appeared.
The girl looked about fourteen or fifteen, slightly chubby with baby fat. Two pearl hairpins decorated her hair. The hairpins were set with a circle of South Sea pearls, each pearl full and lustrous. Their glow made the girl's face appear even whiter and rounder.
"Elder Sister, please get in. Mother has been waiting for you for quite some time," the girl said.
She was Zheng Xi, the third daughter of the third branch. Her mother had died when she was young, so she had grown up under the care of the Third Madam. She was fifteen this year and had reached marriageable age, so the Third Madam often took her along to social events.
Zheng Qian smiled and nodded.
The Third Madam's carriage was spacious enough to hold five or six people, but inside were only the Third Madam and the third sister.
"Third Aunt," Zheng Qian greeted politely.
The Third Madam was not very fond of this eldest miss and only nodded lightly.
But the Third Miss was very interested in Zheng Qian's cat.
"Elder Sister, you brought a cat to a banquet?"
"Yes."
"His eyes are beautiful, and his fur is so white," the Third Miss said. "He's very pretty."
Zheng Qian smiled happily. She loved hearing people praise her cat.
Just as she was about to thank her sister, the carriage suddenly lurched forward. Zheng Qian leaned back slightly and hurriedly tightened her hold on the cat in surprise.
The carriage had started moving.
Zheng Qian asked the Third Madam, "Third Aunt, is it just the three of us going?"
"Yes," the Third Madam replied.
Zheng Qian: "…"
The Marquis of Jing'an's household had four branches: besides the main branch, there were the second, third, and seventh branches.
The First, Third, and Seventh Masters were all born to the Old Madam. The Second Master was a concubine's son.
The Seventh Master was nearly thirty but had no wife or concubines—only one daughter. She was still young and currently away with him. As for the Second Madam, she held little status in the household and rarely went out.
Zheng Yutan definitely wouldn't attend. If she didn't go, she would probably persuade the Old Madam not to go either, denying the Wen family their face.
At that point, the Wen family might blame Zheng Qian for not being capable enough to invite her grandmother.
Fortunately, the Third Madam was going, which would prevent too much awkwardness between Zheng Qian and the Wen family.
Thus only the three of them were attending.
"Elder Sister, Grandmother wasn't feeling well this morning," the Third Miss said, trying to ease the situation by offering an excuse.
"Oh," Zheng Qian replied.
Third Miss: "…"
With that obviously disbelieving tone, how am I supposed to continue?
The Third Madam raised an eyebrow and glanced at Zheng Qian.
Zheng Qian smiled back, revealing a trace of slyness. The Third Madam felt a strange pause in her heart.
For some reason, Zheng Qian seemed a little… uncanny.
The beauty mark between her brows did not look dull or dark like ordinary moles. Nor did it blend with her skin tone.
It was bright red.
It wasn't large, and because her face was young and pale, the red mark on her forehead didn't look strange. In fact, it looked quite attractive.
But when looked at carefully, it carried an inexplicable hint of something eerie—too red.
To relieve the awkwardness, the Third Miss began chatting with Zheng Qian about the cat again.
Zheng Qian happily continued the conversation.
"Elder Sister, may I touch your cat?" the Third Miss asked.
She reached out.
But before her hand even got close, the cat bared its teeth and let out a threatening hiss, clearly warning her away.
The Third Miss quickly withdrew her hand in fright.
Zheng Qian smiled apologetically.
"Don't mind him. My cat is a bit strange. If strangers touch him, he'll definitely scratch them."
The Third Miss laughed awkwardly.
While they talked, the carriage arrived at the Wen residence.
The Wen family was wealthy, so naturally they had no shortage of guests. The road outside the Wen residence was already filled with luxurious carriages and fine horses. The Zheng family's carriage barely managed to squeeze through.
Seeing the Zheng family carriage arrive, a young man hurried over excitedly.
"Second Miss—"
But when all the passengers stepped down and the carriage curtain fell again—with no Second Miss appearing—his face showed obvious disappointment.
Zheng Qian looked over and was suddenly startled.
Her eyes instinctively fixed on the young man.
Was this… Wen Zhao?
His appearance was completely beyond Zheng Qian's expectations.