The day of the Jade Rabbit Festival was indeed especially lively.
After Shen Miao finished dinner, Bai Lu and Shuang Jiang rushed in and said to her excitedly, “Miss, someone is setting off fireworks in the city. I heard that they’re going to set off fireworks non-stop tonight. It’s very beautiful.”
“Why are you getting so excited?” Gu Yu reprimanded them as she combed Shen Miao’s hair. “We will go out to look at the fireworks anyway. There’s no hurry.”
Before she could finish her sentence, she heard Shen Qiu’s joyful voice outside. “Sister, are you done dressing up? Father and Mother are waiting for us in the front hall.”
“Young Master,” Jingzhe replied from outside. “Miss is still doing her hair. Please wait a moment.”
“Why does it take so long for a young girl to do her hair?” Shen Qiu muttered, “My soldiers don’t need this much time to put on their armor.” With that, he shouted into the room, “Sister, I’ll wait for you in the front hall. Come over when you are done.”
Shen Miao responded through the window. Gu Yu happened to have finished combing Shen Miao’s hair and was fumbling in the boxes. In the end, she found a jade hairpin and put it on for Shen Miao. Shen Miao glanced at the bronze mirror and was stunned. “Why this one?”
“I think this hairpin matches your clothes very well.” Gu Yu smiled and said, “Moreover, this hairpin is exquisite but simple. It suits Miss very well.”
Shen Miao couldn’t help but reach out to touch the hairpin on her head. It was the jade hairpin given to her by Xie Jingxing. This hairpin was later appraised by a few pawnshops and was said to be priceless. Shen Miao wanted to return it to Xie Jingxing, but later on, she thought better of it. She thought that she might be short of money one day and could probably use it to exchange for some money. However, if Xie Jingxing found out that this hairpin ended up in the hands of a pawnbroker, he would probably be furious.
“Miss, don’t you want to use this hairpin?” Seeing Shen Miao was hesitating, Gu Yu said, “How about I find another one for you? There is a lot of jewelry in the boxes. I can probably find some good-looking hairpins.”
“There’s no need.” Shen Miao interrupted her. “I’m afraid it will only waste more time. Let’s just settle for this one.”
Gu Yu adjusted Shen Miao’s collar and put a cloak on her. She smiled and said, “This looks perfect.”
“Don’t forget the hand warmer.” Jingzhe stuffed a hand warmer into her hands.
When Shen Miao and her maids arrived at the main hall, everyone from the Shen family was already there. In the past, the Shen family always went to the Jade Rabbit Festival together, so it was the same this year.
Chen Ruoqiu and Shen Wan were talking. Shen Yue was wearing a light pink dress with a long skirt. In such cold weather, she still chose to wear thin clothes. Though she put on a cloak to keep warm, it wouldn’t help much. When she saw Shen Miao, she smiled and called her, “Fifth Sister.”
Shen Miao nodded at her and turned to look at Shen Gui. If there was anything different this year from the previous years, it was that Ren Wanyun was not around, and neither was Shen Yuanbai. In the past, it was Ren Wanyun who brought Shen Yuanbai along, but now, Ren Wanyun was delirious and could not go out. Shen Yuanbai was too young, and there were so many kidnappers on the street. Old Madam Shen kept Shen Yuanbai in the mansion to stay with her. Shen Yuan stood beside Shen Wan, and behind him, Concubine Wan was holding the hand of a girl who was looking over.
This was the illegitimate daughter of the second branch, Shen Dongling.
Shen Dongling was wearing an apricot-colored long jacket. It was probably because she was ‘afraid’ of the cold, the jacket was extremely thick. which made her look tiny and thin in contrast. In fact, seriously speaking, her facial features were as beautiful as Concubine Wan’s, but for some reason, her aura was so faint that she appeared almost invisible. She did not greet Shen Miao and just looked at her in silence. It was unknown if she was being shy or cold.