This felt a bit like a matchmaking event. The women were just eating and drinking, while the men had to perform talents. The funny part was that the food and drinks were all paid for by the men.
She had arrived a little late, so most of the performances were already over. A young servant was handing out flowers to each noblewoman and explained that the men's calligraphy and paintings would soon be placed on the central table for viewing. If a lady liked a particular work, she could place her flower on the small dish next to it.
Then the man would come over to meet her, and they would play a game together. About fifteen minutes later, the servant collected all the artworks from the men's side and arranged them on the table. He told the women they could now come and appreciate the pieces.
Yaelle wasn't particularly interested in any of it. Since she arrived, she hadn't looked closely at the men at all. She only glanced a few times and saw that it was quite crowded.
She walked over and randomly picked a poem with decent handwriting, placed her flower in the dish, and returned to her seat. She was casual about it, but one of the men on the other side happened to be someone she knew. It was the doctor who had checked on her before, Young Master Xavier.
Young Master Xavier had been forced to attend by his parents. He had only planned to get through it quickly, so he casually wrote a proper but ordinary poem. When he saw a familiar face among the ladies, someone with a good personality, he felt a bit of regret.
If he had known earlier, he would've taken it more seriously. That would have given him more chances to talk to her. This kind of gathering wasn't new, the county lady had hosted similar ones in the past to help single men and women meet.
This year, because the county lady was unwell, her daughter organized it. The process followed the previous pattern, and the household servants already knew how everything worked. After the selection, the servant checked the small dishes and reported the results to the county lady's daughter.
The servant said her surname was Ling. She was twenty-two years old and already had two husbands and was choosing a third one now. Miss Ling then sent a few servants to escort the chosen young men over while the rest were guided elsewhere to enjoy flowers and tea.
Usually, noblewomen wouldn't choose a dish that already had a flower in it. They all ended up playing together anyway, and repeated choices meant there weren't enough men to go around. Yaelle noticed that each noblewoman now had a man seated beside her.
She was a bit speechless. What kind of setup was this, so awkward. That shopkeeper really tricked her.
Just as she was thinking this, a man in a gray robe walked over and sat down beside her. She forced a smile and stood up to greet him. In her mind she thought, "I just came to join the fun, who knew this was an ancient matchmaking event, and so bold too."
When she looked up and saw his face clearly, her awkwardness eased a bit. It was a familiar baby face, someone she had seen before. That was much better than sitting with a stranger.
She thought, "How did I not notice he was here just now?" Then she waved and said, "What a coincidence, Young Master Xavier."
"It really is," he replied. "What brings you here?" He remembered hearing she was still in mourning and wondered if it had ended.
"My shopkeeper tricked me," Yaelle said with annoyance. "I told him I wanted to go out and asked if there was anything interesting, he told me there was a flower appreciation event, but this is obviously a matchmaking party."
"I see." Matchmaking? That was a new word, but it made sense. "Young Master Xavier came to look for someone? Did any girl catch your eye?" she teased.
"My parents pressured me, so I just came to go through the motions." After chatting casually for a while, they heard a young woman speak. The noblewoman at the head table stood and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, today's game is Flying Flower Order."
"Each table will act as one group and take turns creating poetry using the themes spring, flower, autumn, moon, plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum." "You can discuss with your tablemates, but if no one can complete it, then someone must perform a talent."
The speaker should be Miss Ling. She really had an air of authority. This kind of interaction really helped people get closer.
Whoever came up with this idea was impressive. "I'll go first," Miss Ling said. "The beauty of spring fills the garden, a red apricot branch leans out over the wall."
The round-faced lady beside her followed with, "Peach blossoms and spring breeze, a cup of wine; the rainy nights on the road have lasted ten years." "Miss Huang's line fits perfectly," someone clapped and praised.
"Not at all, just a humble attempt," Miss Huang replied modestly. The lady in the yellow dress next to her continued, "Old men by the river, used to seeing autumn moons and spring winds."
...
They moved around several tables until they reached a young woman in apricot-colored clothing and a man in a blue robe. The two of them discussed for a while but couldn't come up with anything. The woman said, "We're honestly just not that knowledgeable. Everything we could think of was already said. I'll just dance for everyone. As long as Kevin can play an accompaniment for me, that's enough."
She walked to the center and stood ready. Kevin also went over and sat at the instrument that had been prepared earlier. As a few notes floated out, the young woman began to dance gracefully.
Their coordination was decent, and when the performance ended, the crowd responded with enthusiastic applause.
…
After a few more rounds, it soon came to Yaelle's turn. She had memorized Tang and Song poetry since childhood and had no trouble recalling them. Before Xavier could even speak, she said, "The face is nowhere to be seen, but peach blossoms still smile in the spring breeze."
She received a round of applause as well.
Xavier said, "You're incredible. I didn't even need to do anything."
"Just luck," Yaelle thought to herself. She had taken three years of college entrance exams and five rounds of mock exams in her previous life. Try doing that and see what gets engraved in your bones.
…
The next table came around. A girl with an oval face couldn't answer and chose to sing a song. A man in a black robe followed by playing a flute tune.
…
"Stopping my carriage for love of the maple forest at dusk, where frosted leaves are redder than February flowers."
…
"Spring river, flower mornings, autumn moonlit nights, I often drink alone at such times."
…
"People experience sorrow and joy, partings and reunions, just as the moon waxes and wanes."
…
"The plum may lack snow's brightness, but snow lacks the plum's fragrance."
…
"Orchids and angelica have lost their scent, and even good herbs have turned into weeds."
…
"Outside the bamboo, a few peach blossoms bloom. Ducks sense the warmth of the spring river first."
…
"I pick chrysanthemums by the eastern fence and calmly see the southern mountain."
After eight rounds, a few young men and women here and there couldn't answer and had to perform talents instead. Relying on her vast memory of poetry, Yaelle swept the floor with everyone and remained undefeated.
Xavier was shocked at first but grew more and more calm later. Since he didn't need to step in, he might as well keep drinking tea.
The banquet really helped many young men and women find mutual affection. Afterward, they sent people to inquire about each other's family and character, preparing for potential marriage.
Even Yaelle and Xavier became more familiar, and her reputation soared. She would later be called a talented lady.