Chapter 137 Birthday Clothes
As the old lady's birthday approached, the quiet Xiao Mansion gradually became lively. The guest rooms were full, and several courtyards were cleaned up to entertain guests. However, Mengxi didn't have to worry about these, as everything was arranged by the first wife and the housekeeper. But Mengxi was not idle either. Almost every day, the old lady summoned her to Shouxi Hall to meet some elders and distant relatives in the family.
Mengxi could hear Zhiqiu's lamentations every night:
"Second Madam, when will this day end? Seeing you sitting there like a Buddha every day, I am so tired that my waist and back ache. I feel tired too. This family has so many rules. It's just a guest coming, why does the whole family go to greet him? You don't care about the affairs, and you don't know them. When you meet them, you just say some flattering words. Just to see these people, you didn't even see Master Li."
Mengxi tapped Zhiqiu on the head and said:
"It's almost time, it's almost time. The day after tomorrow is the old lady's birthday. I heard that they have invited a troupe of actors. On her birthday, she can choose her own play to listen to. Then she will have free time."
Listening to opera was the only entertainment in ancient times. Mengxi felt that it was really boring in ancient times. Otherwise, the women in the courtyard liked to fight with each other. They were all idle. If they didn't stir up some trouble, they would get bored.
Now hearing that a theatre troupe had been invited, Mengxi, who had always enjoyed quietness, was also very excited and yearned for the occasion.
"Second Madam, don't expect too much. I heard that the old lady likes excitement. The plays prepared by the first lady are mostly farces. If you are asked to choose, you can only look at the playlist. Who doesn't look at the old lady's face? A quiet person like Second Madam might just suffer there!"
Mengxi felt bored after hearing this. She glanced at the pile of new clothes on the table and asked curiously:
"I just took the measurements yesterday, how come it was delivered today? Which tailor shop is it that's so fast?"
What Mengxi didn't say was that she suspected that the tailor shop was opened by a comrade who traveled through time and space. There was a sewing machine, but no one had to sew stitch by stitch.
"Second Madam, this is not the autumn clothing prepared by the courtyard. It was bought by the eldest wife for the people in the mansion on the old lady's birthday. Each person will wear a set on the birthday. They have been distributed to each courtyard."
"When was it made? Why didn't you measure the size?"
"Everyone in the mansion makes clothes, but there is no time to measure everyone. The eldest wife divides the clothes into several sizes according to similar body shapes and has them custom-made at the tailor shop. Only a few masters have their sizes measured specially."
When Zhiqiu said this, he remembered that the second wife was also the master, and the first wife did not give any measure, so he shut up.
Mengxi nodded and said "oh". Seeing Zhiqiu looking at her with a worried look on his face, she knew that she was overthinking again, so she said casually:
"Try it on and let me see."
When Zhiqiu heard Second Madam say this, she quickly responded and ran out excitedly. After a while, Zhichun, Zhixia and Zhidong followed in. The four maids started chattering and putting on a fashion show in Second Madam's room.
"Second Grandma, look, what do you think?"
Zhiqiu dressed first and turned around in front of Mengxi. Zhichun came forward to help Zhiqiu tidy up her clothes, saying as he did so:
"The waist is a little fat, and the hem is a little long. I'll modify it tonight. The edges of this dress are all decorated with plum blossoms. Hmm... It would look better if Zhiqiu had a plum blossom hairpin on her head. I have one and I'll lend it to you the day after tomorrow."
"Can you guys change it up in the evening?" Mengxi asked curiously.
Zhiqiu pouted and glanced at Second Grandma:
"I've never seen Second Madam, but her needlework is one of the best."
Mengxi found it funny and asked, "Whose is it?"
Zhiqiu turned away from looking at Second Grandma and went to help Zhichun and the others sort out their new clothes.
Mengxi leaned on the couch, watching the girls chattering in front of her. She couldn't help but think of her past life when she was very young. Every New Year, her mother would make her one or two new sets of clothes. She and her sister would try them on in her mother's room. The two sisters would often argue over whose flower was bigger, whose flower was prettier, whose color was brighter, and whose faces would turn red...
I was looking forward to the arrival of the New Year with all my heart. What a joyful mood I was in. As I thought about it, the lines at the corners of my mouth slowly softened, and a warm current flowed through my heart.
"Why is the color of Second Madam's wedding dress so old-fashioned? With all these peonies, it's so vulgar. It's not something young people should wear! Ah... Zhiqiu! Why are you pinching me?"
After trying on the clothes, Zhichun remembered Second Grandma's new clothes, so she ran over to get them and wanted to persuade Second Grandma to try them on. But when she saw the deep red color, she became angry and didn't notice that Zhiqiu kept winking at her and yelling loudly. When she saw Zhiqiu's eyes, it was too late. She quickly shut up and looked at Second Grandma nervously.
Mengxi came back to her senses from Zhichun's shouting, and saw that the four maids were silent, standing there looking at her, and sat up straight:
"Bring it here."
Zhichun carefully handed the wedding dress to the second wife. Mengxi shook it open and took a look. The workmanship and materials of the dress were very fine. It was obviously made of the finest and gorgeous palace satin. Although the color was the same as the one worn by the wife, it was the kind of red that the ladies of about fifty years old wore. The peony on the chest made it look extremely wealthy. However, because the color of the peony was too eye-catching and matched with the old red, it gave people a feeling of how a poor person could become rich, and it could not get rid of a sense of vulgarity.
Damn, it's so vulgar, are you really afraid that I will steal the limelight from my cousin? Looking at this auspicious dress, Mengxi's mouth curled up into a cold smile, as if a poppy flower was blooming.
Mengxi guessed it right. This was exactly what the eldest lady had in mind. At this moment, she and Aunt Cui were trying clothes on Xiu'er.
The new dress Xiu'er made for the old lady's birthday was also a bright red peony auspicious dress, but she chose pure red. There was only one peony, and the branches extended from the hem of the skirt to the waist, highlighting her slender waist, like a willow swaying in the wind, spreading its branches upward to her chest. A gorgeous peony, rich and elegant, charming and more charming. A jade hairpin inlaid with pearls was inserted diagonally on her drooping hair. At this time, Xiu'er was really beautiful, and even more like a lotus emerging from water.
Aunt Zhang helped Xiu'er put her clothes in order while she said with a sigh:
"Miss Xiu is so stunningly beautiful when she dresses up, with a fairy-like appearance and beauty that is hard to find in this world. Add to that Miss Xiu's skills in chess, music, calligraphy and painting, and I wonder which gentleman will be lucky enough to marry her. This outfit is beautiful, but, but..."
Aunt Zhang said this, turned her head and glanced at the first wife, and seeing that she didn't say anything, she continued:
"It's just that the Second Madam just came into the family this year. For the old lady's first birthday, she must have worn bright red wedding attire. Will Miss Xiu clash with the Second Madam? The old lady loves the Second Madam dearly! "
The eldest wife's face darkened when she heard this:
"Everyone is wearing red, and Xiu'er is the legitimate daughter of the Imperial Censor. I'm just worried about offending someone."
Aunt Zhang heard this, the corners of her mouth twitched slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes, and when she raised her head again, her face was full of caution:
"What the eldest lady said is true. Who in this mansion can compare to Miss Xiu'er's exquisiteness?"
After hearing this, Xiu'er's mouth twitched slightly and she revealed a hint of sneer.
"Collision!" She was not afraid at all. She imagined that her cousin's wife would wear the wedding dress that she had carefully selected for her aunt that day, and see who would steal the limelight.
The person who wins the first prize in front of her cousin and all the guests must be her!
