Chapter 195 Heading to the Marquis's Residence

Chapter 195 Heading to the Marquis's Residence

The lady of the house, Lady Hou's, trusted maid, came to deliver a return gift and invitation to Xie Wan Niang. The gifts and invitation that Xie Wan Niang had sent in the morning were not delivered to Lady Hou, who was returning home, until noon.

Upon seeing that it was a visiting card sent by Xie Wanniang, Lady Hou immediately had someone write a reply.

Once the gifts were prepared, she sent her trusted nanny to personally invite Xie Wanniang to her residence for a chat.

Xie Wanniang didn't expect the Lady of the Marquis to see her. You know, the Marquis's mansion receives at least fifty visiting cards every day, if not a hundred. It's impossible for the masters of the Marquis's mansion to see every single one of them.

She thought the Marquis's mansion would send her a reply and a gift as per custom, and then she could go have fun without worry.

Unexpectedly, not only did Lady Hou write a reply inviting her to her residence, but the person sent to deliver the reply was also one of her trusted nannies.

Xie Wanniang was surprised, and her attitude became unusually cautious.

This was a gatekeeper from a wealthy family, someone who had more face and status than the masters of ordinary families in that special era, not to mention that he was also a trusted confidant of the Lady of the Marquis.

Maintaining just the right amount of enthusiasm and respect, Xie Wanniang exchanged a few pleasantries with Granny Liu, whom she had met once before, before the two quickly got down to business.

Granny Liu took out the gift list and reply letter. She first said a few words about how the Lady of the Marquis admired Xie Wan Niang and how surprised she was to learn that she had come to the prefectural city. Then she smiled and said to Xie Wan Niang, "The Lady requests that you come to the mansion for a chat tomorrow."

Xie Wanniang smiled and nodded, holding the reply note. "It is my honor to be invited by Madam. I will definitely come to the mansion to pay my respects to Madam on time tomorrow."

After saying that, she handed the small purse that Haitang had brought to Granny Liu, saying, "Thank you for making this trip, Granny."

Granny Liu accepted the reward with a smile, saying, "You flatter me, young lady. I would be more than happy to be at your service, Madam."

After saying this, she stood up and curtsied to Xie Wanniang, "If you have no other instructions, Miss, this old servant will return to the manor to report back."

Xie Wanniang stood up and personally saw her out.

Haitang followed behind her like a little tail. After Granny Liu got into the carriage and left, she asked Xie Wanniang in a low voice, "Miss, shouldn't we prepare another gift?"

Xie Wanniang nodded, "You can't go to someone's house empty-handed."

However, there's no need to prepare particularly expensive gifts; the thought is what counts.

Thinking this, Xie Wanniang ran to rummage through drawers and cabinets looking for things.

Unable to find anything she liked after trying various options, she went out again and bought two kinds of cakes and candies that were very popular in the area.

That evening, when Xie Wanniang went to the inn lobby for dinner with Haitang and the others, she paid special attention to the inn entrance, but she still couldn't find the girl she thought would most likely come.

After finishing her meal, she still wouldn't give up and beckoned over the young waiter who had kindly reminded the girl, and asked him in a low voice if he had seen the girl.

The young waiter shook his head vigorously, his gaze towards Xie Wanniang carrying a hint of inquiry.

Xie Wanniang pretended not to see him, gave him a tip, and sent him away.

Although she wondered where the girl could go if she didn't look for her, she knew that the girl had legs and couldn't just drag her over if she didn't want to seek her protection.

Thinking about visiting the Marquis's residence the next day, Xie Wanniang put the matter out of her mind and went to bed early after washing up.

After a good night's sleep, Xie Wanniang got up early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten.

She practiced martial arts for a while before washing up, changing clothes, and going to the inn's lobby for dinner.

After finishing her meal, she went through the trouble of washing up and changing her clothes again, putting on a set of fine clothes that wouldn't make her feel out of place even in the Marquis's mansion.

After checking everything to make sure that nothing was missing—whether it was herself, Haitang, the guards who had accompanied her, or the gifts she had prepared in advance—she then boarded the carriage and headed to the Marquis's residence.

The Marquis's residence is located in the heart of the city. All those who live in this area are prominent families with influence, power, and status in the city.

Xie Wanniang's carriage stood out in the area because of its unusual simplicity, and many people cast curious glances at them, some subtle and some overt, as their carriage passed by.

Some people, with their shallow eyelids, couldn't help but show a hint of disdain because the carriages and horses were unremarkable and the guards accompanying the carriages were dressed plainly.

However, considering that they might be relatives of someone in the neighborhood, they didn't directly make sarcastic remarks.

The guards immediately noticed the unfriendly expressions and eyes, but they always followed Xie Wanniang's orders and ignored everyone unless they jumped on their faces.

As they made way for others, the group walked and stopped frequently until they reached the side gate of the Marquis's residence.

Those who were secretly watching this group of people saw that they were heading to the Marquis's residence and thought to themselves that this was probably yet another person who had come to try to curry favor with the Marquis.

However, they soon discovered that their guess was incorrect.

This unremarkable, ordinary carriage was let in by the gatekeeper immediately.

Clearly, this was a guest whose master had given prior notice to the gatekeeper, allowing them to pass directly.

Because of this astonishing discovery, those who had been secretly observing Xie Wanniang and her group couldn't help but speculate about their identities.

Looking at their simple appearance, it's hard to imagine that they would be honored guests of the Marquis's household.

Xie Wanniang ignored these discussions. She arrived at the second gate of the Marquis's mansion by carriage, and was then politely invited to the Marquis's courtyard by the maids and servants sent by the Marquis's wife.

She arrived at the perfect time, just as the Lady Hou had finished dealing with the household affairs and was about to have a cup of tea and rest.

Also staying in the flower hall with Lady Hou was Chang Yuan, who was already engaged and about to get married.

Chang Yuan's wedding date is set for March next year. Her husband's family was chosen after the Marquis's wife made many inquiries and secretly investigated for a long time.

The groom's family was of slightly lower social standing than the Marquis's family, but the household was small, the atmosphere was relaxed, and the family was wealthy. The young man Chang Yuan was to marry was also very promising.

Because she had asked the servants in the mansion to send a dowry to Xie Wanniang when Xie Wanniang got married, Xie Wanniang specially prepared a curtain with a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons and a kang screen with flowers blooming and wealth, which she had embroidered herself, to give to Chang Yuan as a dowry gift when she came to the prefectural city this time.

Chang Yuan's needlework skills were mediocre, but she loved exquisite and intricate embroidery. Xie Wan Niang's dowry gift was exactly what she wanted.

The reason he was able to cater to Chang Yao's preferences so well was largely thanks to the fact that Jiang Yuan had served as Chang Yao's bodyguard for a period of time.