As everyone chatted, another elderly maid lifted the curtain and stepped inside, announcing that it was almost time.
Shen Yunshuang then followed the ladies of the household to attend the baby’s Third-Day Bath Ceremony.
The ceremony was elaborate and filled with tradition. A silver basin and fragrant herbal water had long been prepared. After the Quanfu matron—a woman blessed with a complete and fortunate family—poured the first ladle of water into the basin, the other ladies came forward one after another to add water. Each also placed the gift they had prepared for the basin into the water.
Madam Wang had brought a small gold longevity lock. Standing nearby, Shen Yunshuang observed that most of the other women had also contributed gold and silver ornaments, symbolizing lasting wealth and prosperity.
Once the basin-filling was complete, the newborn young master was carried out.
Wrapped snugly in a cloud-patterned brocade swaddling blanket, only half of his tiny face was visible, soft and plump like the flesh of a freshly peeled lychee.
He had been sleeping peacefully, but the moment the Quanfu matron gently wiped him with warm water, he suddenly woke and burst into loud cries.
The guests immediately began praising the baby again, saying that such a strong, ringing cry meant he was destined for an extraordinary future.
Madam Wang’s eyes remained glued to the child, her heart filled with envy.
The baby was undeniably adorable—his skin was fair, his little body round and chubby like a glutinous rice dumpling. If only this were my own grandson…
Standing beside her, Su Wanrou felt equally miserable.
Her mother-in-law adored children. If only she could bear a child herself, would she still have to tread so carefully every day just to win Madam Wang’s favor?
As for Madam Su, seeing her newborn grandson so healthy and lovable made the smile on her face impossible to suppress.
Though everyone harbored different thoughts, the baby’s body was still delicate. Before long, the wet nurse carried him back inside.
After the Third-Day Bath Ceremony concluded, the guests took their seats for the banquet.
Since Shen Yunshuang was still unmarried, she did not sit at the same table as Madam Wang or Su Wanrou.
The Pei family’s Second Branch had four daughters. The second young lady was already married, but the remaining three were still unmarried, so they shared a table with Shen Yunshuang.
Shen Yunshuang sat quietly among them, watching as maids filed into the hall in orderly rows, serving one exquisite delicacy after another.
Before her sat a boat-shaped Ru kiln celadon teacup filled with Mengding Huangya, a famous yellow tea whose tender buds were pale golden and released an exceptionally rich fragrance. It was obviously a rare and precious tea, yet she had little interest in drinking it. Instead, she simply smiled and listened to the young ladies chatting around the table.
Among them, Pei Wushuang was clearly the center of attention.
As the only legitimate daughter of the Second Branch, with two elder brothers doting on her, she had naturally grown up cherished by her entire family.
She had an oval face, large round eyes, and shallow dimples that appeared whenever she smiled. Her soft, rounded features, combined with her bright, lively eyes, gave her an innocent and endearing charm.
Whenever she spoke, she radiated confidence and vitality befitting a noble young lady, effortlessly drawing everyone’s attention.
After talking at length about the coming-of-age ceremony she had recently celebrated, Pei Wushuang finally turned her gaze toward Shen Yunshuang.
Seated so close together, she could clearly see Shen Yunshuang’s flawless complexion.
Her skin was as smooth and luminous as white jade, without the slightest blemish even beneath the sunlight.
Moreover, she carried an exceptionally pleasant fragrance, making her seem like an immortal fairy untouched by the mortal world.
“Miss Shen,” Pei Wushuang asked curiously, “what fragrance are you wearing?”
Shen Yunshuang blinked and discreetly glanced around the table.
Some of the young ladies, like Pei Wushuang, were looking directly at her, while others couldn’t even spare her a glance.
To them, this cousin who had appeared out of nowhere came from far too humble a family to deserve sitting alongside them.
Yet she had the Marquis’s wife as her patron, and she was so breathtakingly beautiful that they couldn’t help but regard her as a potential rival.
Still, everyone was naturally drawn to beautiful things and hoped to become more beautiful themselves. So when Pei Wushuang asked about the fragrance she wore, even those pretending not to care secretly pricked up their ears to listen.
Without trying to keep it a secret, Shen Yunshuang picked up the sachet hanging from her waist.
“Are you referring to this?”
She untied it and handed it directly to Pei Wushuang.
A flicker of curiosity crossed Pei Wushuang’s eyes as she accepted it and held it beneath her nose.
Sure enough, the elegant fragrance surrounding Shen Yunshuang came from this very sachet.
Wearing scented sachets was common enough.
But this fragrance was unlike anything she had ever smelled before.
It was delicate rather than overpowering.
At first, it carried the gentle scent of orchids, but soon afterward came a faint medicinal aroma with a hint of bitterness, which somehow made the orchid fragrance seem even more refined.
It wasn’t strong, yet it lingered in an irresistibly captivating way.
Smiling softly, Shen Yunshuang said, “I blended it myself as a pastime. If you like it, you may have it. And if you’d rather have the recipe, I’d be happy to write it down for you.”
Pei Wushuang’s eyes immediately lit up.
She hadn’t expected Shen Yunshuang to be so generous and completely free of the pettiness often associated with girls from humble backgrounds. Her impression of Shen Yunshuang improved considerably.
“Wonderful, Miss Shen! I won’t take your sachet, but you absolutely must write down the recipe for me later.”
She blinked playfully, her amber eyes sparkling with delight.
Shen Yunshuang naturally nodded in agreement.
Because of this conversation, hardly anyone paid much attention to the food anymore.
Instead, they all became eager to learn the recipe for the fragrant sachet.
Even the two concubine-born young ladies shamelessly followed them to Luoxue Pavilion, the residence of Third Miss Pei.