Chapter 774 - 737: Schemes
Xia Wenjin could have avoided it, but she was being held by Princess He Ye.
If she avoided it, she would cause Princess He Ye to fall. A bit of tea spilled on her, compared to causing the hostess to fall to the ground, it was obvious she could only choose the former.
However, Xia Wenjin’s gaze still flickered for a moment.
What a coincidence!
Just at this time.
At this moment, the maid who had spilled the tea had already knelt on the ground in fear, saying, "Spare me, Princess, it was just a slip of the hand!"
Princess He Ye’s expression darkened, her eyes were fierce, and she shouted angrily, "You can’t even serve tea properly, of what use are you to this Princess? Someone, take her away!"
Immediately two old women rushed over to drag the maid away.
The maid whimpered softly, but dared not plead for mercy. The commotion here was seen by the two noblewomen in the hall, who immediately stepped forward to advise, "Princess, calm down, the servants are ignorant and get flustered with many people around, there’s no need to be upset with them, just replace her!"
Another glanced at Xia Wenjin, whose sleeve was stained with tea, and laughed, "Surely she doesn’t mind either, just change into another outfit. If you didn’t bring one, I have a spare in my carriage, why not use mine?"
Persuaded by these two, Princess He Ye couldn’t remain angry and said, "No need! Ling Dang!"
At her summons, a sharp-looking maid came hurriedly into the room, and Princess He Ye said, "Quick, take Miss Xia to change clothes!"
She paused for a moment and then corrected herself, "This Princess will take you!"
Xia Wenjin smiled and replied, "It’s a small matter, no need to trouble the Princess. With guests here, I’ll just go and change."
Princess He Ye leaned in closer, lowered her voice, and said, "You change quickly and take me to..." As she spoke, she quickly winked at her.
A girl’s admiration for a young man is just a budding springtime affection, not something arranged by matchmakers on orders of parents, and certainly not something to speak of openly.
Even a distant glance must be concealed, to meet with someone, even in the presence of a third person, is naturally a secret affair.
Is this demeanor indicating a secret that only she knows?
Xia Wenjin looked over with a smile, her gaze soft. Though she didn’t nod, wasn’t her expression already a tacit agreement?
Princess He Ye said to the maid Ling Dang, "Don’t you quickly take Miss Xia away?"
Ling Dang said, "Please, Miss Xia!"
Xia Wenjin said nothing and followed Ling Dang away.
Watching Xia Wenjin’s figure exit through another small door, heading to the room in the pavilion to change, she retracted her eager look, turned to the two noblewomen, and said with a smile, "The painting by the Eldest Young Master Xia is truly excellent!"
The noblewoman in green on the left heard this and showed excitement in her eyes. The gift she brought today was a painting by the Eldest Young Master Xia.
The painting by the Eldest Young Master Xia Xiaozhe of Chancellor Xia Mansion was praised by the Dean of Wenbo Academy. However, Xia’s paintings rarely made their way out. The noblewoman in green, whose brother had a good relationship with Xia Xiaozhe, had obtained a gift painting. Today, she had actually snuck it out of her brother’s study.
The noblewoman in green immediately said, "Although Eldest Young Master Xia is not as famous as the three young masters of the Capital City, he is equally outstanding!"
The noblewoman in yellow also quickly agreed, "I heard the Duan Family is considering becoming in-laws with the Xia Family!"
After she spoke, her face blushed slightly. Such matters as noblewomen are unsuitable for discussion; they could be seen as shameless. Nonetheless, discussing it privately should not be an issue, right?
Hearing the mention of the Duan Family, Princess He Ye’s expression turned slightly somber and she said with displeasure, "That pretentious Duan Yan, how could she be a match for Eldest Young Master Xia!"
The noblewoman in yellow said, "Indeed, Eldest Young Master Xia is as gentle as jade and as celestial as a person, not someone ordinary can match!"
The noblewoman in green also said, "That so-called talented Shuang Yan, truly doesn’t live up to the name, our Princess is the real talented one!"
Princess He Ye said disdainfully, "I didn’t even send invitations to them, yet Zhao Keyan still came, isn’t it laughable?"
"Isn’t Zhao Keyan always aloof? Coming without an invitation, how shameless of her!"
The noblewoman in green was surprised.
Princess He Ye sneered, "She came along with her brother, our mansion couldn’t just throw her out!"
The noblewoman in yellow immediately said, "Prince Ning Mansion is most courteous, this saved her face. Princess, you are truly kind and magnanimous!"
In truth, Prince Ning Mansion did not throw her out, first because Zhao Keyan came in with Young Master Zhao, which does not count as uninvited; second, Prince Ning Mansion dared not really expel the little daughter of the Grand Tutor Mansion, one of the famed talented Shuang Yan of the Capital City; and third, whether a guest stays or leaves isn’t for a little maid like Princess He Ye to decide.