Li Man'er and her entourage set off for the County Princess's mansion in the Marquis's carriage.
As instructed by Madam Cui, two carriages were prepared, along with two guards and two experienced maids to accompany Li Man'er. Her two senior maids, Ziyan and Muyun, also went with her. Madam Wu remained at Qingping Xuan to oversee things, while Madam Du, who served Madam Cui, accompanied Li Man'er to the County Princess's mansion.
Madam Du maintained proper decorum, taking a seat in the rear carriage and not crowding Li Man'er.
Ziyan felt that Madam Du was quite sensible and not overly assertive.
"The Old Madam sent her to prevent our young lady from causing trouble; do you really think she's a good person?"
Ziyan replied, "Regardless, she is here to protect and advise our young lady, which is a good thing. In the past, it was uncertain if our young lady could even leave the mansion."
Muyun nodded, finding some sense in Ziyan's words.
The journey was uneventful. The carriage stopped steadily in front of the County Princess's mansion. Ziyan and Muyun hopped down, unfurled the steps, and helped Li Man'er alight.
The guards and experienced maids were not permitted to enter. Madam Du gave them a few instructions and then accompanied Li Man'er to the gatehouse to present their calling card.
The attendant who greeted them looked at Li Man'er with suspicion as she was unfamiliar. He took the card hesitantly, but upon seeing it was a personal invitation from Princess Wuyou, he immediately became more welcoming and ushered them in with a smile.
Muyun muttered under her breath, "They really judge people by their appearance."
Madam Du immediately glanced at her and, without further ado, stated directly, "Young Lady Muyun, please watch your words."
This was Princess Wuyou's mansion, not the Marquis of Iron Courage's residence.
Li Man'er shook her head and chuckled, "Madam, please don't scold her. These girls have suffered following me and have limited insight, making them prone to resentment. As they see more of the world, they will understand the diverse nature of life. If they cannot even endure this, would they not be overwhelmed by a few words of criticism?"
Madam Du replied, "You speak wisely, my lady." The young lady's change was indeed significant; in the past, she would likely have cursed before her servant could even speak.
As they were speaking, someone approached them. Upon closer inspection, it was Madam Min, the most trusted attendant of the County Princess. Madam Min was no ordinary person; she came from the palace and had served the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager had bestowed her upon Princess Wuyou as a sign of favor.
Madam Du quietly offered a few pointers, and Li Man'er understood. She gave a slight bow, "Greetings, esteemed Aunt."
Madam Min had a kindly face, her smile appearing even before she spoke, making people feel favorably disposed towards her.
The palace was a place where people devoured each other; those who were merely kind would not survive the initial stages. That Madam Min had left the palace safely demonstrated her capability.
"You are too kind, my lady. The County Princess has been waiting for you for some time. Please follow me to see her."
"Thank you, Aunt."
They followed Madam Min through the second gate and along a covered corridor, arriving at a beautifully landscaped garden. Lush green willows provided shade, and clusters of strange rocks and artificial hills dotted the landscape. Lotus flowers bloomed vibrantly in the lake, their leaves resembling small green umbrellas, complementing the blossoms in a scene of unparalleled beauty.
Li Man'er was here for the first time and thought to herself that the ancients certainly knew how to enjoy life, and their aesthetic sense was indeed refined. The garden was truly elegant, likely built with considerable expense.
Madam Min explained, "The County Princess loves lotus flowers, which is why this Xiao Cheng Lake scene was created."
Beautiful scenery always uplifted the spirits, and Li Man'er, inspired, couldn't help but recite, "The lotus leaves stretch to the horizon, endless green; the lotuses in the sun are a special red."
Madam Min's eyes widened upon hearing this. She thought that everyone in the capital described this eldest daughter of the Li family as arrogant and simple-minded, but these two lines of poetry were exceptional, causing her to doubt the rumors.
"Eldest Young Lady Li truly has remarkable talent."
Uh...
Could she say it was a spontaneous expression? It was a required ancient poem from elementary school textbooks; what did it have to do with talent! Could it be that Yang Wanli did not exist in this era?
She had been careless. It seemed she would need to brush up on her knowledge in this area to avoid making a fool of herself someday.
"You flatter me, Aunt. Is the County Princess in the waterside pavilion?"
"Indeed," Madam Min seemed pleased with her. "You may go by yourself. The County Princess has been waiting for a long time."
Ziyan whispered, "My lady..."
Li Man'er interrupted her before she could finish, "You all wait here. This is the County Princess's mansion."
Ziyan thought that the previous incident had occurred at the Princess's mansion too! If someone wanted to scheme against you, it mattered little whose residence it was.
Although reluctant, they dared not disobey Li Man'er's words and could only agree.
Li Man'er proceeded to the waterside pavilion alone. The young maid at the entrance saw her and quickly asked, "Are you the eldest daughter of the Li family?"
The young girl was only about eleven or twelve years old, wearing a green vest and a light grass-colored sash around her waist.
The rules of the County Princess's mansion were impeccable. Only the most outstanding servants were assigned to attend the County Princess. This girl could not possibly be untrained in etiquette, nor could she have been stationed at the waterside pavilion during a gathering of noble ladies hosted by Princess Wuyou.
Perhaps she was specifically prepared for her, or perhaps the County Princess intended to test her.
"I am Li Man'er. Is the County Princess here?"
A flicker of surprise crossed the young girl's eyes. She had prepared herself for a scolding, but she hadn't expected the eldest daughter of the Li family not to lose her temper.
"Please follow me, my lady." The young girl, relieved, led Li Man'er into the waterside pavilion.
"County Princess, Eldest Young Lady Li has arrived." After speaking, the young girl lowered her head and withdrew, her etiquette indeed excellent.
Li Man'er looked up and saw a beautiful woman leaning by the window, reading. The summer weather was hot, but the waterside pavilion was cool, indicating it was an excellent place to escape the heat.
"Man'er pays her respects to the County Princess and wishes you well." Li Man'er curtsied and performed a formal bow.
Princess Wuyou put down her book and appraised her with curiosity. She then stepped forward and personally helped Li Man'er up. "This is my first time meeting you, and I am astonished. Noble Consort Shu is already a beauty of the nation, yet Eldest Young Lady Li surpasses her. Truly, you have a remarkable appearance."
Good heavens.
Finally, she understood why Princess Wuyou was so favored by the Empress Dowager; her flattery flowed as readily as water, without even batting an eye.
"You flatter me, County Princess. The Noble Consort possesses celestial beauty; I dare not compare myself to her." Speaking carelessly could cost one their head. Not knowing the County Princess's intentions at this moment, she decided to remain cautious.
Upon hearing her words, Princess Wuyou revealed a hint of playfulness. "The rumors outside paint you as quite unbearable, yet you are a delightful person. My invitation came too late."