Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 59 Releasing Lanterns

At the Tang family banquet, the male guests were all in the front courtyard, while the female relatives in the back courtyard naturally surrounded Madam Yun, who was in the center. Seeing that her words had indeed attracted everyone's attention, the second aunt deliberately kept everyone in suspense and gently touched the gold hairpin with bat pattern and South Sea pearl inlaid on its hair.

The second young lady was also surprised. Her memories of her first birthday were vague, and her mother had never mentioned it, so she listened quietly.

“My niece Wan, she was quite the…” Second Aunt said loudly.

“Aunt Wei, your great-aunt is drunk. Help her back to her room to rest.”

Madam Yun, who was always dignified and kind, suddenly spoke coldly, and the atmosphere at the table became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The eldest aunt and the two concubines, Liu and Lu, had lived with Madam Yun for over a decade, so how could they not know that Madam Yun was furious? A chill ran down their spines. The eldest aunt stood up and awkwardly echoed, "My sister is really drunk."

Madam Wei had already taken the arm of her second aunt and said in a low voice, "Aunt, the old lady just reminded you a few days ago that you should think twice before you speak."

Second Aunt was stunned, completely unaware of what mistake she had made. Moreover, with Wei Mama standing very close to her, a sense of oppression washed over her, so she had no choice but to pretend to be uncomfortable and return to her room, just as her eldest aunt had said.

The female guests were mostly quick-witted, and someone immediately started a new topic of conversation to change the subject. Soon the atmosphere became lively again, from the latest jewelry to the pomelo drink in front of them, and then to the roundabout praise of the young ladies of the Tang family. Madam Yun seemed to have never changed her expression and always responded appropriately.

The second young lady had no intention of participating in such a banquet. After hearing her second aunt's abrupt half-sentence, the adults were tactful, but many of the young ladies couldn't help but look in her direction.

Even the other young ladies of the Tang family, including the eldest daughter, were filled with doubt.

Meng Shu used the serving of vegetables to block most of the view. The second young lady turned to look at the wet nurse. Qin Mama, who had been worried the whole time, had just breathed a sigh of relief and immediately turned her head away to avoid the second young lady's questioning gaze.

"Ruizhu, the moonlight is so beautiful tonight, don't you think?" Qin's mother said kindly, holding Ruizhu's slender arm.

"Ah, Mom, today is the fifteenth of August." Ruizhu blinked and replied blankly.

The second young lady felt a heavy weight on her heart. Knowing she wouldn't get any more information, she turned away and continued to act demurely as a lady of a prominent family.

The night was cold and the dew was heavy; the banquet was drawing to a close.

Madam Yun led the women to the garden to light various lanterns, while the young ladies gathered by the lake to release flower lanterns in clusters to pray for blessings.

The second young lady casually picked up a lotus-shaped lantern. After Mengzhu lit it, she pushed it into the water. Unlike the eldest young lady, who prayed with her hands clasped together in a devout manner, she did it as casually as if she were throwing fish food.

The pity in Qin's mother's eyes was hidden by the night, and she advised, "Miss, we should also make a wish. You see, the eldest young lady makes a sincere wish every year when she releases the lanterns."

The second young lady's voice was lost in the noise, and only Meng Shumeng and Zhu heard it: "What I ask for is destined not to come true."

Therefore, there is no need to ask for it again.

After the young ladies finished releasing their lanterns, they mingled with the adults to admire the various lanterns. The second young lady, supported by Qin Mama, turned to look at her three personal maids, her gaze settling on Meng Shu: "There are still a few left. You should go and join in the festive fun."

A gentle breeze stirred, rippling the surface of the lake, where lanterns floated and swayed. Amidst the envious gazes of the maids, Meng Shu and her two companions exchanged smiles and hurriedly bowed to thank their mistress.

Like the Second Miss, Mengzhu chose a lotus-shaped lantern, Ruizhu took a lotus flower, and Mengshu took a flower basket-shaped lantern. These lanterns were large and surrounded by colorful flowers.

Because Ruizhu had informed her in advance, and the Second Miss would ask her and Mengzhu to pray for blessings when she released lanterns every year, Meng Shu had already set her sights on this lantern.

On the Mid-Autumn Festival, a day of reunion under the full moon, releasing lanterns and making wishes for blessings is an experience Meng Shu has never had before. For the Second Miss, it is just a formality of the festival, but for Meng Shu, it is a very solemn occasion.

In the past, she would stand in front of her mother's tombstone and wish that her uncle would come to pick her up, talk to her mother, or simply read a book to her mother.

As many days and nights passed, her life became increasingly difficult. Meng Chengwen used his mother's dowry, and his stepmother wore a mask of hypocrisy. By the time their son grew up and they planned to sell her, she had also grown up and no longer expected her uncle. She understood that she could only rely on herself.

After carrying the heavy lantern, Meng Shu walked a few steps to the lakeside, her steps uneven, and with each step she made a sincere wish.

First, may my mother's spirit rest in peace; second, may my uncle's journey be smooth and his wishes fulfilled; third, and so on... Meng Shu watched the second young lady's retreating figure, silently repeating the wish, "To be redeemed from the manor and finally gain freedom," in her heart...

Then Meng Shu squatted down and pushed the lantern forward with all her might. The ripples from the lantern, carrying Meng Shu's wishes, slowly merged into the procession of lanterns. Suddenly, a few exclamations came from the crowd on the shore. Under the moonlight, a butterfly fluttered down and gently landed on Meng Shu's still-unretracted finger.

Two tears fell one after another onto the water's surface. The butterfly fluttered its wings a few times, then quickly flew away, finally circling around and landing steadily on the lantern surrounded by flowers.

As the moon rose high in the sky, Meng Shu slowly withdrew her finger and stood up. The lantern had already drifted further and further away.

The banquet ended close to midnight. The master and servants returned to Yunyi Courtyard, and it was Meng Shu's turn to stand guard again.

After helping the second young lady to rest, Meng Shu lay on the low couch. Before long, she heard the second young lady say softly, "What do you think I picked up during my first birthday celebration? Mother is so secretive about it, not wanting my second aunt to say it on the spot."

Meng Shu was exhausted. The second young lady had developed the habit of talking about her feelings late at night. Following this, she closed her eyes and pondered. It was more important than the prefect's official hat. Only things that came from the palace could make the madam avoid it. But how could the Tang family have anything from the palace?

The Tang family doesn't have it, but Madam Yun does.

In Yun Gui Courtyard, Madam Yun changed into her nightgown and sat in front of the dressing table while Wei Mama combed her hair.

Tang Xianzheng was gazing out the window, lost in thought, when he heard his wife say with concern:

"Second Aunt is always outspoken and almost revealed that Wan'er picked up a phoenix hairpin during her first birthday celebration."

Tang Xian already knew about this matter, and he was also very troubled by his second sister. "Don't worry, Madam. When Wan'er was one year old, there were quite a few witnesses to this, but none of them would think of it that way."

Madam Yun opened her makeup box and took out a phoenix hairpin from the bottom layer.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, according to regulations, non-royal family members were not allowed to use phoenix hairpins without permission, and the one in Madam Yun's possession had a very special history.

She was born into the fourth branch of the Yun family. Her grandfather had four sons and only one daughter, and she was pampered and loved like a precious jewel from a young age. This aunt of Madam Yun also grew up with her father and had a very close relationship with him.

When my aunt was young, she was stunningly beautiful. The Empress Dowager once intended to summon her to the palace to become a concubine. This five-tailed phoenix hairpin was a gift from the Empress Dowager to the Yun family. However, she died young and fell ill before officially entering the palace. The Empress Dowager, mindful of her grandparents losing their daughter in their old age, did not take back any of the gifts.

In her grief, the grandmother, mindful of the bond between her father and aunt, personally gave the phoenix hairpin to Madam Yun, who had just been born.

When it came time for Wan'er's first birthday celebration, there were more than a dozen items on the large table, but she wasn't interested in any of them. Helpless, Madam Yun, for reasons unknown, ordered Wei Mama to take this phoenix hairpin. As a result, Wan'er chose it three times in a row.

Meng Shu and the second young lady were unaware of all this; they shared a room but harbored two different thoughts.