Chapter 807: Extra Episode Five, Handsome Little Brother
As May arrived, more visitors started coming to Ten Lotus Fragrance in the western suburbs of Capital City. Although it was not the season for Golden Lotus flowers to bloom, the rolling green waves in the lake, the buds emerging from them, and the fragrance of lotus leaves everywhere made people linger and forget to return.
By June, the lotus flowers were in full bloom and Ten Lotus Fragrance was at its most beautiful, but the number of visitors decreased. This was because the nobles residing here were coming to escape the summer heat, and ordinary people could no longer enter freely. Servants of the several estates also began to busy themselves to welcome their masters.
The first to arrive here were the Old Marquis from the Plum Court and Lady Wu. Earlier this year, Former Township, Qian Sangui, had passed his title to his son, Qian Manjiang, and had completely begun to enjoy his retirement.
The second batch to arrive were from the Peach Court: Prince Yonghe, Zhu Suji, and Princess Qian Yijing. Peach Court was the dowry of the Qian family’s great aunt, later given to Princess Yonghe. The Princess had married in February this year and was already more than three months pregnant. Due to the heat in Capital City, she came to the countryside to cool down, and her loving husband, Prince Yonghe, accompanied her.
Prince Yonghe was supposed to be at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but he didn’t go to the Yamen daily. Instead, he spent most of his time at home, writing a book tentatively titled "Western Travel Notes."
The third batch to arrive were Old Duke Liang and Prince Consort Pan, with the Old Duke moving into the Lan Courtyard of the Liang Family and Prince Consort Pan into his own Bamboo Courtyard.
In the past two years, Prince Consort Pan had built another courtyard a few hundred meters east of Lan Courtyard, with an artificial lake filled with Golden Lotus roots and surrounded by hundreds of green bamboo stalks, hence the name Bamboo Courtyard.
Old Lady Liang also wanted to come with her husband to escape the summer, but she had to remain in charge back home. Although Lady Cui was capable, many matters still required Old Lady Liang’s personal involvement due to her status as the daughter of a criminal official.
The fourth batch arrived at Lan Courtyard on the afternoon of the sixteenth. Qian Yixiu, leading Liang Sicheng, Liang Sixin, and Liang Sisi, alighted from the carriage. As Old Duke Liang was taking his midday rest, they did not disturb him and instead returned to the courtyard to bathe before dining in the main hall.
This small courtyard, called Lanzhou Garden, was where Liang Jinzhao, Qian Yixiu and their family stayed. The courtyard was modest, with only three main rooms and three chambers each in the east and west wings. Qian Yixiu and her husband occupied the main rooms, the two sons the east wing, and Sisi the west wing.
The countryside indeed was cooler than the city. Even during the hottest part of the afternoon, there was a gentle breeze carrying a hint of floral scent. Even the birds in the trees seemed to chirp more crisply than those in the city.