DKGWF Chapter 10

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ANNOUNCEMENT

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After the Mid-Autumn Festival passed, in the blink of an eye, Zhongli Luo's fifteenth birthday was fast approaching. Rong Jiahui’s parents believed that it should be properly celebrated, as it was her first birthday since coming to the Zhen Guo Marquis Manor.

Zhongli Luo initially wanted to decline. Given her status, both emotionally and logically, she felt she shouldn’t be given such attention. However, with Rong Chen and Lady Yu’s firm attitude leaving no room for negotiation, she was left with no choice but to accept.

Having no other options, Zhongli Luo thought of asking Rong Jiahui to help her find a way out of this. But to her surprise, Rong Jiahui was also unusually avoiding visitors.

It seemed she had no choice but to accept this kindness. She reassured herself that, while others might not know, she was well aware that a girl’s coming-of-age year should be celebrated with great festivity.

Rong Jiahui was not deliberately avoiding Zhongli Luo—she was busy preparing a birthday gift. Next year, this person probably wouldn’t be celebrating her birthday here anymore, so she had to make it special. However, there weren’t many things she was good at. After much thought, she came up with an idea—embroidery!

Although she wasn’t bad at needlework, she rarely engaged in it. In her past life, even her wedding dress was mostly done by skilled embroiderers, with only a few final stitches added by herself. But now, she was straining her eyes over this project. Sigh, what choice did she have? It was the only skill she had that was presentable. Her painting skills were so poor that only her doting father could praise them with a clear conscience—even her teacher would get a headache looking at them. And as for things that could be bought, they lacked sincerity. So, she had no choice but to endure the hardship and exhaustion.

On the night of September 12th, after a full day of birthday festivities, everyone presented their prepared gifts.

Since their family was small and the rest of their relatives were too distant to be close, only her parents and Rong Jiahui had prepared presents.

When Rong Jiahui presented her gift, everyone was stunned.

Lady Yu was speechless for a long moment before asking in disbelief, "Jiahui, did you embroider this screen yourself?"

Rong Jiahui, her eyes swollen red like walnuts, nodded. "I rushed to finish it in half a month. The time was too short, so it's a bit simple. Brother Zhongli, I hope you don’t mind."

Zhongli Luo stared at the screen, which wasn’t exactly exquisite but was still quite well-made. She was moved, barely able to believe it. "This… this is for me?"

Rong Jiahui smiled and said, "I’m not very smart, and I don’t know much, but at least I’ve learned some embroidery. Maybe in the future, I can even make you… a double-sided embroidered ornament."

That was close! She had almost blurted out that she would make him clothes. Though she hadn’t meant anything special by it, those words couldn’t be said carelessly. Embroidering a screen or a small ornament was fine, but making sachets or clothes would be inappropriate according to etiquette. In her past life, she had only made clothes for her in-laws and husband. While she had cut corners on her wedding dress, the clothes and shoes she sent to her husband's family were all personally made by her—even if she never actually saw them wear them.

Rong Chen, looking at the embroidered screen his precious daughter had made, felt a little sour in his heart. "You have such skill, but we, your parents, have never received anything like this from you."

Lady Yu agreed, "Exactly, exactly."

"I…"

Just as Rong Jiahui was at a loss for how to pacify her parents, a servant arrived to report that guests had come to visit, rescuing her from the situation.

The visitors were Rong Jiahui’s two aunts—the wife of the Duke of Jing, Lady Liang, and the wife of the Imperial Academy’s Vice Minister, Lady Wen—along with several younger family members. As relatives, they had long wanted to visit, and since today was Zhongli Luo’s fifteenth birthday, they took the opportunity to bring gifts and pay their respects.

Lady Yu, who had a good relationship with her two sisters-in-law, immediately greeted them with a bright smile, her husband accompanying her. The younger family members also stepped forward to offer their greetings.

"Uncle, Aunt," they called.

Lady Yu nodded warmly, "Good children."

Rong Jiahui and Rong Jiaze also hurried forward, sweetly calling, "First Aunt, Second Aunt."

Only Zhongli Luo stood there, still a little bewildered.

As soon as the Mid-Autumn Festival passed, in the blink of an eye, Zhongli Luo’s fifteenth birthday was approaching. Rong Jiahui’s parents believed that it should be properly celebrated—after all, this was her first birthday in the Duke of Zhen’s residence.

Zhongli Luo initially wanted to decline. Given her identity, it was neither reasonable nor appropriate for her to be given such importance. However, with Rong Chen and Madam Yu’s firm and unwavering attitude, she found herself unable to argue.

Having no choice, Zhongli Luo tried to seek out Rong Jiahui, hoping to persuade her to help intervene. Yet, to her surprise, even Rong Jiahui had shut her doors and refused to see anyone.

It seemed she had no choice but to accept this kindness. She could only comfort herself—others might not know, but she was well aware that a girl’s coming-of-age ceremony was supposed to be celebrated grandly.

Rong Jiahui, however, was not deliberately avoiding Zhongli Luo. She was, in fact, busy preparing a birthday gift. By next year, this person would probably not be here to celebrate her birthday, so she had to prepare something special. The problem was, she didn’t have many skills to offer. After much thought, she finally came up with an idea—embroidery!

Although her needlework was decent, she never really enjoyed doing it. In her past life, she even left most of her wedding dress embroidery to the seamstresses, only adding a few finishing stitches herself. But now, she was pushing herself to the point of exhaustion for this. Her eyes were nearly going blind from the effort! Alas, this was the only skill she could rely on. Her painting skills were so bad that only her doting father could bring himself to praise them, and even her teacher would sigh in despair. As for gifts that could be bought, they simply wouldn’t carry the same heartfelt meaning. Thus, she had no choice but to suffer through this painstaking task.

On the night of the twelfth of September, after a whole day of festivities, the family finally gathered to present their prepared gifts.

Since the family had few members and their other relatives were distant and not particularly close, aside from her parents, only Rong Jiahui had prepared a gift.

When she brought out her gift, everyone was taken aback.

Madam Yu was stunned for a long moment before exclaiming in disbelief, “Jiahui, did you embroider this standing screen?”

With her eyes red and swollen from fatigue, Rong Jiahui nodded. “I rushed to finish it within half a month, so it’s a bit rough. Brother Zhongli, please don’t mind.”

Zhongli Luo looked at the standing screen. Though not exquisitely crafted, it was still rather well done. She couldn’t help but feel touched and asked in disbelief, “For… for me?”

Rong Jiahui smiled. “I’m not skilled in many things, but embroidery is something I’ve learned fairly well. In the future, perhaps I can even make you… a double-sided embroidered ornament.”

That was close! She had almost blurted out, "make you some clothes." Though she had no special intentions behind it, such words were inappropriate. Embroidering a screen or a small decoration was fine, but making personal items like sachets or clothes would be crossing a line. In her past life, the only people she had ever sewn clothes for were her in-laws and husband. Though her wedding dress had been a hassle to embroider, she had at least sewn the clothes sent to her husband’s family herself—even if she never saw them wear them.

Rong Chen looked at his beloved daughter’s handiwork and felt a pang of sorrow. “With such fine craftsmanship, we’ve never seen you make anything for your parents.”

Madam Yu agreed. “Exactly.”

“I…”

Before Rong Jiahui could find a way to appease her parents, a servant arrived to announce the arrival of guests, saving her from further questioning.

The visitors were her two maternal aunts, the wife of the Duke of Jing, Lady Liang, and the wife of the Imperial Academy’s Sacrificial Wine, Lady Wen, along with a few younger members of the family. Since they were all relatives and had long wanted to visit, they found today—Zhongli Luo’s fifteenth birthday—a perfect occasion to bring gifts and pay their respects.

Madam Yu, who had a close relationship with her two sisters-in-law, immediately welcomed them with a warm smile alongside her husband. The younger ones quickly followed suit, greeting them, “Uncle, Aunt.”

Madam Yu nodded kindly. “Good children.”

Rong Jiahui and Rong Jiaze also stepped forward, calling out sweetly, “Eldest Aunt, Second Aunt.”

Only Zhongli Luo looked completely lost.

Noticing her confusion, Rong Jiahui quickly pulled her over with a smile and pointed to the older woman with an oval face and a slightly plump figure. “This is my Eldest Aunt.”

Zhongli Luo made a respectful bow and hesitantly followed suit, calling, “Eldest Aunt.”

Then she suddenly realized her mistake and quickly corrected herself, “Madam Yu.”

Seeing her slightly silly and awkward demeanor, Lady Liang found it amusing and chuckled. “So, this is Young Master Zhongli. You may call me Eldest Aunt, just like Jiahui and the others.”

Zhongli Luo dared not overstep and politely declined.

Rong Jiahui then pointed to the younger woman with a slender figure and elegant temperament. “This is my Second Aunt.”

This time, Zhongli Luo was more cautious and greeted properly, “Second Madam Yu.”

After being introduced to several cousins, they finally sat down for the banquet.

It was merely a family gathering, simple and intimate, with three tables set up. Naturally, Rong Jiahui sat with the three girls from the Yu family. Thanks to Zhongli Luo’s presence, they found plenty to talk about.

Yu Yimei’s eyes sparkled as she whispered, “Cousin, this brother is even more handsome than I imagined.”

Rong Jiahui proudly lifted her chin. “I told you so.”

Yu Yixiang, who disliked her smug expression, muttered, “He’s not that special. Don’t you think he’s too delicate and pretty, almost like a girl?”

Hearing this, Rong Jiahui’s proud smile froze, and she sneered, “Yes, yes, yes, my Zhongli brother could never compare to your precious Liu—”

She had just started to say "Liu" when Yu Yixiang swiftly covered her mouth.

“Mmmph!” Rong Jiahui flailed, trying to pry Yu Yixiang’s hands off, one hand even reaching for her hair.

Yu Yimei, accustomed to their antics, nudged the youngest cousin, Yu Yilian, and together they managed to pull the two apart.

After some coaxing, the two finally settled down.

Meanwhile, at the men's table, Zhongli Luo found himself sitting across from the eldest cousin, Yu Zixun, second cousin, Yu Ziqing, and third cousin, Yu Ziyang. He had no idea what to say.

Fortunately, Rong Jiaze was quite talkative and engaged them in conversation. Zhongli Luo, on the other hand, found himself gazing wistfully toward the girls' table, wishing he could sit with them instead.

Noticing his disinterest, Yu Zixun decided to liven things up. Raising his cup, he patted Zhongli Luo’s shoulder and said, “Brother Zhongli, today is your birthday. I’ve heard you’re quite the scholar, so I wish you success in the imperial exams. Here, I toast to you—I’ll drink first, and you may drink as you please.”

Seeing his empty cup, Zhongli Luo couldn’t refuse. Though she didn’t drink, it would be impolite to decline, so she took a cup and downed it in one gulp.

Yu Ziqing, only slightly younger than her, also raised his cup. “Brother Zhongli, I toast to you as well.”

Another drink?

Zhongli Luo had no choice but to drink again. The burning liquor churned in her stomach, and her head grew dizzy. A light blush spread across her face.

By the time the banquet ended and the Yu family departed, Zhongli Luo had already been reduced to a drunken mess.

Rong Jiahui, seeing her leaning lazily on the table with a flushed face, sighed and instructed, “You, carry Young Master Zhongli back.”

When Zhongli Luo heard her voice, she murmured, “Rong Jiahui?”

“At least you still recognize me.” Rong Jiahui helped her up. “Come on, let’s get you to your room.”

Zhongli Luo nodded but promptly collapsed against her, clinging to her neck.

Rong Jiahui sighed. “Alright, alright, you’re the birthday star. I’ll take you back.”

T/N: Please give support on my ko-fi page, thank you🍊🍊🍊