Chapter 81

Chapter 81

The gifts of gratitude delivered by Cao Fugui were all valuable items. After a round of refusal, Li Hui accepted them, thus settling the debt of gratitude between the two families.

After the gifts were accepted, Cao Fugui took out something akin to an invitation and placed it on the table. Li Hui opened it to find an admission spot for the Imperial Academy. At present, this was the most important thing for Li Hui.

"This is too valuable," Li Hui declined.

"For the great favor you did by saving my brother, this is just a small token," Cao Fugui thought to himself, after all, Li Hui had saved a princess, so what was an admission spot to the Imperial Academy in comparison?

Li Hui accepted the admission spot and wanted to return the other gifts. For him, this admission spot was enough. As a scholar, Li Hui could attend the Imperial Academy, but spots were limited and required testing. After his arrival in the capital, Li Hui had inquired at the Imperial Academy and found that it was already full.

Now with this admission spot, he could study at the Imperial Academy. For Li Hui, this spot was more significant than any other valuable gift.

Li Hui was unaware of the identity of the person he saved; to that person, this was but a simple favor.

Cao Fugui had a good overall impression of Li Hui. Back at the Chengen Marquis Residence, he relayed his impressions to Lady Luo, saying, "It's a pity that my eldest sister is already married."

"You should stop thinking about others' marriages and consider your own. Li Hui is already engaged," Lady Luo was speechless at Cao Fugui's needless worry.

"I'm still young. I can wait a couple more years." Given Cao Fugui's reputation in the capital, he was a well-known profligate, and nobody wanted to marry him. He also looked down on the daughters of those families.

"You are not young. You're already 16 years old. Your elder brother was married at your age," Lady Luo was helpless with her younger son.

"Mother, I remember my sister-in-law's family is hosting a plum appreciation banquet in a few days. You and my sister-in-law should invite the two Miss Lis," Cao Fugui changed the subject.

When Lady Luo heard about the Miss Lis, she looked at Cao Fugui, "You fancy Miss Li?" When checking on Li Hui, they also checked on Li Xin and Li Xia. Regarding Li Xin's misfortune, Lady Luo sighed at her ill-luck.

Li Xia was the first to spot Ms. Liu, and with a glance, signaled Li Xin. Both sisters rose to give their respects to Ms. Liu.

"Consider this your own home; there's no need for such formality," Ms. Liu said, taking Li Xin's hand.

Following Ms. Liu's lead, Li Xin took a seat next to her. "Ms. Liu, we've come in a rush because we need your advice," she started.

Li Xin then explained how Feng Zhenzhen had sent them both an invitation to the plum blossom viewing. "Ms. Liu, we've just arrived in the capital and we don't know a lot of the rules. We're even more clueless about this plum blossom banquet. We had no choice but to impose on you."

Ms. Liu had heard about Li Hui's accidental rescue of the young master of the Chengen Marquis Residence and she had guessed the origin of the plum blossom banquet invitation. She began to explain the details of the banquet to the sisters.

The Plum Garden of the Feng family was planted by the late Mr. Feng for his beloved wife. Especially notable were the plum trees by the Viewing Plum Pavilion in the center of the garden, which Mr. Feng had personally planted every year on his wife's birthday since their marriage.

With 60 years of loving companionship, they had planted 60 plum trees. The late Mrs. Feng loved lively gatherings, so every time the plum blossoms bloomed, she would invite friends and family to admire them. After both had passed away, the Feng family continued to hold the plum blossom banquet in memory of their parents. Gradually, the banquet became a venue for young men and women to meet.

A rumor even spread that if a young man and woman could meet in front of the 60 plum trees, they would enjoy a lifetime of love and harmony. Thus, the plum blossom banquet became a sought-after event for young men and women in the capital, with an invitation being hard to come by. This year, the banquet was even more exclusive, reportedly due to the attendance of the crown prince and his wife.

Li Xin and Li Xia exchanged looks, realizing the invitation they held was even more valuable than they thought.

"Ms. Liu, will you be attending?" asked Li Xin, somewhat worried about her own performance.

"I will take Dingxing with me," said Ms. Liu, whose heart is now set on Zhou Dingxing. She had no interest in the plum blossom appreciation banquet, and even when she received the invitation, she just put it aside. However, since Li Xin and her sister Li Xia wanted to go, she decided to accompany them to support the two sisters, so that no one would dare to offend them.

"Thank you, Aunt Liu," Li Xin quickly understood why Ms. Liu wanted to take Zhou Dingxing along.

"Dingxing loves being in lively places. Don't overthink, just dress up beautifully for the event," Ms. Liu said. Just then, Maid Yan entered, carrying a box of jewelry. Ms. Liu took the box and handed it to Li Xin. "This set of jewelry was worn by me when I was young."

Li Xin didn't take it. Ms. Liu had already given her a lot of jewelry. She couldn't be greedy and take more from Ms. Liu. "Aunt Liu, I can't accept this." The jewelry in the box looked very valuable. A single bracelet made of mutton fat white jade was worth more than all the clothes and accessories Li Xin was wearing that day.