On a sudden whim, the old matriarch invited the young descendants to play in the back. As a result, the scale of Shu Danyao's banquet doubled.
The maids served snacks, and everyone sat around in a circle. The girls sat together in groups. Afraid that Zhao Luoning didn't know anyone, Ji Shihan asked her to sit with her so that she could introduce people to her at any time.
At this time, Ji Shisu was also "driven" here by the old matriarch.
Seeing this, Ji Shihan quickly offered the seat beside her.
"Second brother, sit here."
Both of them were well aware of Ji Shihan's intention.
Naturally, Ji Shisu didn't decline and sat in the seat next to Ji Shihan, on Zhao Luoning's left.
As for Ji Shihan, she found another seat. Just as she sat down, Ning Huainan and Ning Huaizhi, whom Zhao Luoning had invited, came over.
By this time, most of the seats were occupied, and there were only two empty seats beside Ji Shihan.
Ning Huainan sat down beside Ji Shihan and greeted her.
"Sorry to intrude."
Ji Shihan blushed, lowered her head slightly, looking at the wine in front of her, and replied in a barely audible voice.
"It's okay."
When Ning Huainan saw Ji Shihan in the inn on the Qixi Festival, she was just as shy and silent.
Ning Huainan thought it was because she was a gentle lady from a noble family and was afraid of strangers. He couldn't help thinking of his naughty younger sister at home.
Just thinking about it gave him a headache.
Zhao Luoming and "Zhao Luojing" also came and sat right opposite Zhao Luoning. They could see each other just by raising their eyes.
Seeing that everyone was seated, Shu Danyao, the host, picked up a silver chopstick and tapped the wine cup.
"I have a bunch of plum blossoms in my hand. Starting from me, we'll pass it on in turn. Whoever gets the plum blossoms has to draw a lottery and compose a poem. If anyone fails to do so, they'll have to drink three cups of wine as a forfeit. What do you all think?"
Everyone agreed without objection, and the drinking game began.
The plum blossoms were passed around among the people and landed in some people's hands one after another. Some composed poems on the spur of the moment, while others were willing to be punished. After this round, some people were already slightly drunk. Only Zhao Luoning and Ji Shisu hadn't been chosen.
The drum sounded again.
The plum blossoms had been passed to Ji Shisu's hand. He quickly passed them on, but at that moment, the drum stopped abruptly.
At this time, the plum blossoms were firmly in Zhao Luoning's hand.
Zhao Luoning smiled, drew a lottery from the lottery tube. Shu Danyao snatched it and read it with a smile.
"Sure enough, it's the second sister - in - law. This topic is much more novel and unique than others. Impromptu compose the first line of a couplet about plum blossoms, and the opponent has to answer with the second line. The artistic conception must be combined. There are no requirements for the meaning of the second line, but it must be opposite to the first line. Those who can't compose or answer have to drink as a forfeit together."
This topic was rather strange. Everyone's eyes were on this second young mistress.
At this time, because the plum blossoms had been passed around, some petals couldn't stand the tossing and had fallen off. One petal happened to fall into the tea in front of Zhao Luoning.
Seeing this scene, Zhao Luoning smiled charmingly and recited the first line of the couplet.
"Tea soaks the fallen plum, the flower is fragrant, and the leaves are fragrant too."
And Zhao Luoning's opponent happened to be that "Zhao Luojing".
She raised the wine in her cup and drank it all in one gulp. Everyone thought she was willing to admit defeat and drink the forfeit. It was a pity that Zhao Luoning had composed the first line but still had to be implicated.
Unexpectedly, after she put down the cup, the second line of the couplet came out of her mouth along with the strong smell of wine.
"The wind flutters the flying catkins, the wind is cold, and the snow is even colder."
In order not to let others recognize her voice, Ning Ruonian deliberately lowered her voice, looking like she had a bad throat.
Although her deliberately made voice was not nice, her couplet still surprised everyone.
Everyone sighed with admiration: "This second young master of the Zhao family is really an extraordinary person!"
Although the couplet was not extremely neat, it was already very difficult to come up with it in such a short time.
The barely - made couplet allowed the two of them to pass. At this time, the plum blossoms continued to be passed on along with the drumbeat. When it was passed to a girl's hand, the drum stopped abruptly.
"Hey, it's passed to a new face."
The new face in Shu Danyao's mouth was Wu Jiarong, the fiancée that Ji Shijun had betrothed to before his disappearance.
Zhao Luoning had heard something about Wu Jiarong. It was rumored that the Wu family had very strict family teachings, and all their children were excellent examples. So before Wu Jiarong came of age, she was already a moral model among the girls in Huangcheng.
Wu Jiarong's marriage had been arranged early, and the groom - to - be was Ji Shijun, the eldest young master of the Ji family. But later Ji Shijun disappeared, and this marriage had been put on hold.
Everyone advised the Wu family to cancel the engagement, but unexpectedly, Wu Jiarong was so persistent that she insisted on waiting for Ji Shijun to come back.
No one knew if this was a case of suffering giving way to happiness for Wu Jiarong.
Wu Jiarong rolled up her sleeve and drew a bamboo slip.
"Oh, this is a good lottery. Your wishes will be fulfilled without prior knowledge. If you desire to reach the sky, don't turn back. I advise you to be firm in your will for good luck. You will surely enjoy glory in the future. It's a marriage lottery!"
The maid holding the lottery tube couldn't help exclaiming. This lottery was one of the best in the tube.
"This is really accurate. Big Brother Ji is back, and Sister Wu's good marriage is not far away."
Those who knew that Wu Jiarong was engaged to Ji Shijun were happy for her to draw this lottery, saying that her fateful marriage had arrived.
Zhao Luoning didn't pay much attention to others. She looked at the "Zhao Luojing" opposite, whose face had changed greatly and looked terrified. She was very puzzled.
He seemed to be restless ever since he heard the name Wu Jiarong.
Just as Zhao Luoning was puzzled, she saw a maid carry over a pot of hot wine and was about to fill "Zhao Luojing"'s cup. At this time, Wu Jiarong had drawn that marriage lottery, and everyone was blessing her. "Zhao Luojing" seemed to be disgusted with the atmosphere at this time. When he stood up, he accidentally bumped into the maid who was bringing the wine.
"Be careful!"
Before Zhao Luoning could remind him, she heard.
"Ah!"
With the maid's exclamation, half of the full pot of boiling wine spilled on Zhao Luojing. His long gown was also soaked with wine. The heat and the smell of wine turned into white smoke in the air.
To avoid getting burned, "Zhao Luojing" lifted the wet clothes with his hand. The maid apologized while taking out a handkerchief and trying to wipe off some of the wine for him.
"Forget it. I'll take Luojing to change clothes."
In this situation, Zhao Luoning had to step in and lead "Zhao Luojing" to Furong Garden.
Furong Garden
Ning Ruonian was changing clothes in the room, and Zhao Luoning was贴心地 waiting outside.
At this time, Caixue came over.
"Miss, Feixing is looking for you."
Now that the crisis of "Zhao Luojing" was over, Zhao Luoning had already asked Caixue to send a message to Feixing.
Was Feixing looking for her for something else?