Nolan left, but the lotus flowers remained. Why let just one Ninth Royal Uncle ruin her mood for flower-viewing?
Snatching a rare half-day of leisure, Serena Feng shoved all thoughts of Nolan’s possible anger to the back of her mind and relaxed into flower-viewing. Nolan’s little boat hadn’t gone far, so Serena shamelessly called it back.
Drifting through the emerald lotus leaves, Serena Feng in her bright red dress was even more dazzling than the flowers themselves. Her radiant, carefree smile and bell-like laughter made people want to treasure her, to shield her so she could always hold onto this joy and freedom.
Even the boatman couldn’t help but smile—Serena’s laughter was contagious.
Nolan sat on the viewing platform, and by coincidence took in the whole scene. His fingers relaxed from the wine cup, the corners of his lips lifted, and his eyes filled with laughter.
The attending eunuch also smiled, stepping forward eagerly to pour wine for Nolan. He wanted to offer some praise, but seeing Nolan’s gaze glued to Serena, he thought better of it.
"Go, have them prepare refreshments and send the musicians over." Nolan vaguely heard Serena, busy picking lotus blossoms, say, "If someone played a tune and brought tea snacks, it would be perfect."
"Yes, sir." The eunuch hurried off to make arrangements, secretly thinking: As expected, anyone Nolan likes, he finds pleasing no matter what they do.
Everyone knew how much Nolan treasured this lotus pond. The subtle fragrance of lotus was one of the few floral scents he wasn’t allergic to, and with the lotus being the gentleman of flowers, it was naturally his favorite.
The lotus pond at Nolan’s manor was meticulously cared for by his people. Nowhere else in Eastlyn could compare to the beauty of these lotus flowers.
Normally, anyone wanting to view the flowers could only do so from the terrace—Nolan never allowed anyone to enter the lotus pond itself, not even the Emperor and Empress. But now…
Miss Feng not only boated on the pond, she even picked lotus blossoms directly.
Honestly, Miss Feng was truly one of a kind. Most noble ladies would never dream of picking or damaging the flowers themselves, but Miss Feng did it anyway—so openly that no one could really dislike her. Well, mostly because Nolan didn’t mind, so nobody else dared to object.
Before long, Serena heard the sound of a zither drifting over. She couldn’t tell what was being played, but listening to that elegant music while floating on the lake made her feel at ease, all the heat of summer melting away…
Serena spent the whole afternoon on the lotus pond; Nolan kept her company from afar for half an hour before leaving.
He wasn’t Serena—he didn’t have the luxury of being so carefree. Since he’d invited people for dinner tonight, there were things he had to prepare in advance. Even if this banquet was a whim, he still expected results for his effort.
Since the Emperor didn’t want Princess Yara Valen to marry Prince Rowan, it was only right for Nolan, as his younger brother, to help fulfill that wish.
His dinners were never easy to swallow!
The entire villa was suddenly busy; only Serena remained idle, using a lotus leaf to shade her face as she napped under the leaves. When a servant woke her, she realized it was nearly dark.
Staring at her wrinkled clothes, Serena was mortified. “Where are my maids?” She was helpless with these ancient garments and really hoped her two versatile maids would show up. Supposedly, she always kept a spare outfit in her carriage, though she wasn’t sure if it was still there.
The servants at Nolan’s manor were as precise as their master. Bowing slightly, one said, “Miss Feng, don’t worry. Your clothes have already been prepared. Please come wash up and change.”
Of course Nolan wouldn’t let Serena keep wandering around the villa in the dress William Wang Jinling had provided. Boating and flower-viewing were sure to dirty the clothes, and Serena herself was so cooperative—after a nap, her outfit was completely ruined.
So, the clothes and accessories Nolan had prepared in advance finally came in handy.
Serena hadn’t thought much about all these hidden rules. At flower parties, if your clothes got dirty, the host would have servants ready to help you change—after all, showing up in stained clothes embarrassed both guest and host.
As for body shape, that really wasn’t an issue. Noblewomen these days were all skinny, and height didn’t matter much—skirt lengths could be adjusted. Serena’s kind of lush beauty was rare, but most garments were loose enough for her to wear anyway.
Serena handed the lotus blossoms to her maid. “Keep them alive for me—I want to take them home later.”
Feng Manor was tiny—forget having a pond, even the rock garden was barely a garden. There was no way to enjoy flowers at home, so she planned to take these lotus blossoms back and keep them alive for a few more days of happiness.
The two maids froze. Oh my god, someone had actually picked Nolan’s lotus flowers—what were they supposed to do?
Urged by Serena, the maids dazedly took the lotus blossoms and nodded, still in shock for a long while.
......
The outfit Nolan had prepared for Serena was completely different from the one she was wearing.
The red dress William Wang Jinling had chosen was just like what Serena had worn at the Poetry Salon—wide sleeves, loose waist, flowing hem. Simple, free-spirited, the skirt fluttered with every step, giving her a carefree, natural air, faintly reminiscent of noblewomen from a previous dynasty.
But Nolan’s choice was a sky-blue palace gown, lavishly detailed and exquisitely noble—even a single sleeve showed the effort poured into it.
There were seven layers in all—undergarment, inner robe, outer robe, overcoat, and more. Serena’s head spun just looking at it. Wearing so many layers in this summer heat, surely she’d melt.
But once she put it on, she realized the fabric was cool and soothing against her skin—actually more comfortable than before. Serena couldn’t help sighing again: no wonder everyone wanted power and status. Having them really was nice.
Different clothes called for different hairstyles and makeup. Such an elaborate palace gown couldn’t be paired with the casual cloud bun and simple gold hairpins she’d worn before—they couldn’t ‘hold down’ this level of formal attire. The maids undid Serena’s hair, smoothed it out, and styled it anew.
Honestly, the maids these days were as professional as modern stylists. Serena barely felt a tug before her new coiffure was finished.
Serena didn’t know what the hairstyle was called—just that it was beautiful, intricate, and complex. When the matching hair ornaments were added, she saw in the mirror that she looked completely different from usual.
Elegant and dignified, beautiful and poised—the fitted palace gown perfectly showed off her figure.
Was this really her? When had she ever looked so regal and graceful?
Serena could hardly believe her own reflection until a maid stepped forward and praised her: “Miss Feng, you’re naturally beautiful—no matter how you dress, you look stunning. Please change into these soft-soled shoes. They’re more comfortable for walking in the courtyard.”
The maid knelt to change Serena’s shoes. Without her noticing, every accessory William Wang Jinling had given her was quietly removed and replaced with items from Ninth Prince Manor.
In an instant, Serena transformed from a carefree maiden to a stately, dignified lady. She felt a moment of discomfort—until, supported by her maid, she walked out and saw Nolan in blue under the candlelight. Only then did she realize…
Aaargh… Nolan had schemed against her again! Even if she jumped into the Yellow River, she’d never wash away the rumors now!