C49

Just as Meng Ruhan and the three Jin Lan sisters were about to leave, a servant hurried over and greeted them when she saw Meng Ruhan and the others. Then, she lifted the curtain and peeked her head out, causing Qing Yu to see them from the corner of her eye. Seeing that the Madame Qin and the Madame SHen were happily chatting, she did not disturb them, and quietly retreated.

Not long later, Qing Yu quickly entered the house, "Madam, Madame Zhao's carriage has arrived outside the door."

When the Madame SHen heard this, he frowned without a trace. This Madame Zhao was the wife of Jiang Nan Patrol Officer Zhao Ruping, and her family name was Ruan. Although Madame SHen had met her a few times, she had never liked the way she acted.

Constable Jiang Nan and Constable Yan Ji were both second rank officials, while Madam Zhao, Madam Ruan and Madame SHen were both second rank first-class ladies. It was reasonable to say that they were on equal footing, but in front of Madame SHen, she had a haughty expression. Firstly, the Madame SHen had been married for many years but still ended up being a direct descendant. The wives in the Yangzhou City all looked down on him and couldn't help but mock and ridicule him, especially the Ruan Family. Secondly, the Ruan Family was the young lady of Marquis Ruan's house in Changping and was more or less related to Imperial Concubine Ruan in the palace.

The Ruan Family had naturally risen in status. Although Ruan Ruan was a young lady who came from a branch family of the Ruan Family and had some relationship with Imperial Concubine Ruan, naturally, Ruan Ruan's horizons were high, if not for the Meng Family in the capital, she would not even bother to take up the Madame Qin's invitation today.

Madame Qin was very clear about the relationship between the Madame SHen and the Ruan Family, why did the Madame Qin invite the Ruan Family this time? She glanced at Madame Qin in puzzlement, but even if she was unhappy in her heart, she would not show any expression so that Madame Qin would lose face.

Because of curiosity, Meng Ruhan stopped outside the door to listen. When she heard Ruan Shi who was standing in the corner, her expression changed, he immediately pushed aside the curtain and rushed in. She grabbed Qing Yu's sleeves and asked anxiously: "Is Zhao Qianrong also coming?"

"This servant isn't sure either. Miss will know when Madame Zhao arrives at Inner Court." Qing Yu laughed, seeing Meng Ruhan's displeased face, she asked, "Miss Zhao, are you not happy that you are here as a guest?"

Meng Ruhan snorted coldly, but still worried about the Madame Qin, and then muttered: "Who would want her to be a guest? Let's never come back to my house."

Jin Lan and the other two followed Meng Ruhan back to the house. Jin Lan was closer to her, so she could hear her clearly. She could not help but be suspicious of what kind of person Zhao Qianrong was, to actually be rejected by Meng Ruhan in such a way. In her previous life, when she was at the Yangzhou, she was only slightly closer to Meng Ruhan. The other girls basically all nodded their head in friendship, so even if they met each other for so long, it was normal for her to not have any impression of him.

Meng Ruhan pouted sher lips, then turned her eyes. She suddenly thought of an idea and pulled Jin Lan's hand, "Sister Jinlan, let's go. Then, he turned around to Madame Qin and said, "Mother, I will bring the Ye Family sisters to the chrysanthemum garden for a stroll."

Madame Qin never planned to hold them captive in the first place. Furthermore, the banquet of admiring the flowers was right in front of the chrysanthemum garden, so she naturally nodded her head in agreement. Madame SHen called over Jin Lan and the other two and instructed them to follow.

Meng Ruhan pulled Jin Lan's hand and ran, Ye Jinwei and Ye Jinxian could only follow behind, all the way until the end of the corridor, and then after turning another corner, when they could no longer see Madame Qin's courtyard, she stopped to pant.

The two servants behind Meng Ruhan were panting from running, upon seeing her stop, they heaved a sigh of relief and quickly advised: "Miss, normally only the servants will follow, it's nothing much, but now that the three young ladies are here, it's better to be more careful."

Only then did Meng Ruhan remember that there were still people by her side, and immediately apologized along with Jin Lan and the rest.

Jin Lan and the other two had never made such a big move before, all of their faces were flushed red, their chests anxiously rising and falling, seeing Meng Ruhan apologizing, they all shook their heads. Ye Jinwei had always wanted to be on good terms with Meng Ruhan, so now that she was lucky enough to find the right thing to do, she took a deep breath and said: "No, it's not tight, it's just the Sister Ruhan, why are you running so fast?"

Compared to Zhao Qianrong, Ye Jinwei was clearly much more pleasing to the eye. Meng Ruhan patted her chest, and waited for her anger to ease before saying: "I was afraid that if I walked too slowly, Mother would let me bring Zhao Qianrong with me, that would be …." She frowned, her face filled with tears, "We agreed to only invite you, but never did I expect mother to invite so many people, and even send a thread to Zhao Qianrong. When I thought of her, I felt uncomfortable all over!"

Seeing her answer, Ye Jinwei was overjoyed in her heart, and deliberately went along with her words: "If you say it like that, then that whatever Zhao Qianrong is definitely not a person that she likes."

Meng Ruhan quickly nodded, but said while looking at Jin Lan: "If you see her, you'll hate her the same."

Jin Lan looked at Ye Jinwei's flattering look coldly. It would be good if his words were not spread out, but if it was spread out, others might not say that Meng Ruhan was rude, since it did not seem like a day or two that she and Zhao Qianrong were going against each other, but Ye Jinwei who was talking behind everyone's back would not be so lucky.

Someone who was able to obtain a Meng Family thread definitely had a good family background, especially one that Meng Ruhan disliked so much. Madame Qin had even sent a thread, which showed that the Zhao Family was probably even more illustrious than the Meng Family. At that time, not only would the Zhao and Ye Families get into trouble, even the prestige of the Ye Family would be implicated.

She held onto Meng Ruhan's hand, interrupting him and said softly: "Let's hurry up and go, the people outside all say how good your chrysanthemum garden is, I have never seen it before."

Meng Ruhan was also aware that her words were inappropriate, and followed the steps down, "En, then let's go over first." With that, she pulled Jin Lan along.

The opportunity that she had painstakingly found disappeared just like that. Ye Jinwei was so angry that the root of her teeth started to itch, as she fiercely stared at Jin Lan's back. A trace of resentment quietly flashed past her eyes.

Ye Jinxian followed behind him and walked two steps, then turned to look at the furious Ye Jinwei who was standing at the same place, and anxiously said: "Big sister, let's go over too?"

Ye Jinwei's face was gloomy, she glanced at Ye Jinxian's round face, then raised her head and chased after Meng Ruhan, and when she passed by Ye Jinxian, he intentionally knocked her shoulder.

If the servant did not hold her back in time, Ye Jinxian might have fallen to the ground. Even so, a painful cry came out of her mouth, causing Meng Ruhan and Jin Lan to turn around and look.

The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, as if she was talking about something funny. However, her tone was like a knife that was being sharpened as she slashed at Ye Jinxian, "Third sister, be careful. This is not a place where you can lose etiquette. If you do something dishonorable here, it will ruin the reputation of the Ye family.

Ye Jinxian looked at Ye Jinwei with wide eyes, her face was pale white, the ten fingers on her hands were continuously twisted, waiting for Ye Jinwei to walk a short distance, before she recovered from the servant's warning, and quickly followed.

Although Jin Lan did not know what Ye Jinwei had said, but looking at Ye Jinxian's expression, she knew that it was not a good thing. She purposely stopped for a moment, and waited for Ye Jinxian to follow along.

After walking for less than a quarter of an hour and walking out of a door, the group of people arrived at the intersection of the veranda. With one on the left and one on the right, Meng Ruhan headed in the right direction without even thinking. Although Jin Lan had come to the Meng Mansion before in his previous life, he did not go deep. The rest of the people did not know where they were and could only follow Meng Ruhan.

However, although the people from the Ye Mansion were unsure, it did not mean that the two maidservants by Meng Ruhan's side were unclear. The moment they walked towards the right, Lan Xiang's personal maidservant, Lan Xiang, could tell that something was amiss.

"That's right, head to the right." Meng Ruhan raised her charming face and laughed, her black eyes filled with cunning.

"But isn't the girl going to the chrysanthemum garden? "If that's the case, we'll have to walk to the left. To the right is Pin-Lotus Lake." Lan Xiang had a bad feeling about this.

Meng Ruhan rolled her eyes, and said unhappily: "Of course I know where to go to Pi Lian Lake at the chrysanthemum garden, the Flower Lover Banquet is in the chrysanthemum garden today, and it will happen sooner or later. Since I have free time now, I will take care of my little sisters by the lake, and then we can go back to the chrysanthemum garden when we get there, wouldn't that be better?"

Ye Jinwei echoed her words with a smile: "I heard that the lotus flower within the Meng Mansion is as famous as the chrysanthemum.

"But madam …" Lan Xiang still wanted to advise her otherwise, but Meng Ruhan waved her hand and interrupted her, "I will naturally explain to mother." She then stared at Lan Xiang, "You are not allowed to reveal yourself, otherwise you won't be allowed to follow me anymore."

Seeing Meng Ruhan's serious face, Lan Xiang could only force a smile, but his heart felt like it was on fire, and did not know what to do.

He then turned his head to look at her excited face and couldn't help but snicker in his heart. First, he purposely told Madame Qin that he was going to the chrysanthemum garden, and then turned to Pi Lian Lake midway. He was acting in such an inverted manner, just to avoid Zhao Qianrong, perhaps, he would go to the chrysanthemum garden after a while, and wouldn't be able to face him sooner or later? However, seeing her joy, Jin Lan didn't pour cold water on her.

Everyone suddenly felt a light flash before their eyes, and a large green lotus leaf sprinkled on the surface of the lake. Although it was already past the blooming period, there were still white and pink spots scattered among the green flowers, and there was even a faint fragrance of lotus flowers in the cool breeze blowing from the lake.

Jin Lan couldn't help but take in a deep breath. The gloom that had been lingering in his heart suddenly dispersed, and he felt refreshed and refreshed.

Meng Ruhan proudly looked at Jin Lan's shining little face, and suddenly suppressed her voice, speaking softly: "Sister Jinlan, do you want to go and pick the lotus seeds?"

Jin Lan was stunned. He turned his head and asked doubtfully, "Harvesting lotus seeds?"

Meng Ruhan nodded her head, then pulled her and walked a few steps forward, pointing to the pavilion near the water surface: "Look, there is a boat there, we can go there and pick some lotus seeds. Mother and the rest still need some time before they can go to the chrysanthemum garden, they won't be able to find out."

Ye Jinwei naturally would not refute her words, but Ye Jinxian nodded her head timidly. The hesitation in Jin Lan's heart also subsided under Meng Ruhan's pleading, and she half pushed her away as he followed her towards the pavilion.

It was only when the red lacquer boat entered their eyes that the confused Hui Xiu and Wan Ju realized what was going on. Panic surfaced on their faces. Wan Ju remembered that time when Yue Yang fell into the water, his face was filled with panic, he anxiously grabbed her sleeves and said, "Miss, you cannot go, the lake looks to be deeper than the mansion, what if something happens?"

"Don't worry, it's not like this is the first time I've gone back. My brothers often go to the lake to sing poems against each other. Even I've played with them so many times, how could there be any accidents?" Meng Ruhan waved her hands unhappily and dragged Jin Lan onto the pleasure boat.