On the tenth day after the New Year, it was City Lord Li’s birthday.
This year happened to be his fortieth birthday, so he invited all the dignitaries and nobles from the city’s various households to a banquet.
As one of the major aristocratic families, the Gu family naturally could not avoid attending.
Uncle Gu brought Luo Li and Gu Xuanjing along to attend. However, before leaving, Uncle Gu arranged for a maid skilled in martial arts to accompany Luo Li.
There were many hidden conflicts among the various households, and young girls often engaged in rivalry.
He had heard about quarrels between young ladies at gatherings and felt uneasy.
After all, their little girl was exceptionally beautiful, and if she attracted unwanted attention…
Originally, he did not want Luo Li to attend, but considering that she would eventually have to live in the city, these social interactions were unavoidable sooner or later.
Thus, he had no choice but to settle for the next best option and prepared a maid skilled in martial arts.
“Stay close to your uncle or your cousin for a while. We’ll just make an appearance and then return.”
Thinking it over, Uncle Gu still felt uneasy and gave another reminder.
Of course, it would have been better if Old Lady Gu could accompany Luo Li, but she was now advanced in age and rarely went out.
Moreover, City Lord Li was of a younger generation than Old Lady Gu, and it would be inappropriate for an elder to attend his birthday celebration, as it would undermine the dignity of both families.
Therefore, Luo Li had no choice but to stay close to them.
Fortunately, the customs of the Flame Kingdom were open and less feudal than other countries. At such banquets, there was no segregation by gender, and everyone gathered in the same garden.
If any problems arose, they could attend to them promptly.
“Alright.” Listening to Uncle Gu’s reminder, Luo Li obediently nodded.
It must be said that Luo Li’s character setting was too well-established—fragile and delicate, like a harmless and vulnerable little white rabbit.
But in reality, she was far from what she appeared on the surface.
……
City Lord’s Mansion.
“Be careful, Miss.” Taozi reached out to support Luo Li, helping her down from the carriage.
Only after seeing those slender, fair hands steadily assisted as she alighted did Gu Xuanjing withdraw his gaze.
The surrounding people also turned their attention toward the commotion. When they caught sight of Luo Li’s face, not a single pair of eyes was free from amazement.
They had long heard that the Gu family had welcomed a young cousin, but they had never had the chance to see her in person.
Now, seeing her for the first time, they were truly stunned.
“Is she the Gu family’s cousin?”
“She’s so beautiful.”
“……”
Dressed in a light pink gown with a white cloak draped over it, only her delicate face was visible. Her skin was as white as porcelain, her brows and eyes like a painting, and her cherry lips tinged with a hint of crimson.
Her demeanor carried a hint of frailty, delicate and vulnerable, evoking pity and making others hesitant to approach her.
When her peach blossom eyes gazed directly at someone, it truly felt as if she had placed you in her entire world, yet her gaze remained so clear and pure.
Truly, she was alluring without realizing it, pure yet captivating.
“She looks like a little fairy…”
Hearing this voice, Luo Li was momentarily stunned. She glanced over before withdrawing her gaze and obediently following behind Uncle Gu and the others.
Well, the look in their eyes didn’t seem like they were insulting her. Sorry, she had heard such comments too often before and couldn’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu.
The young lady who had been glanced at by her inexplicably blushed.
“Walk in the middle.”Perhaps due to curiosity at seeing an unfamiliar face, many gazes fell upon Luo Li as she made her way through the crowd.
The original host was already quite beautiful, but Luo Li’s own lively temperament amplified that nine parts of youthful charm to a full twelve.
At the sight of that delicate, ethereal face, many unmarried young gentlemen were momentarily stunned.
Gu Xuanjing felt a flicker of displeasure and switched places with Luo Li, shielding her from view.
Uncle Gu also felt somewhat dissatisfied, but seeing his adopted son so perceptive, he nodded in silent approval.
…In truth, such banquets followed a simple routine. First, each household would present gifts and offer congratulations, while guests sampled tea and pastries and admired the garden scenery.
Then the feast would begin, with performances, wine, and polite official conversations—that was essentially all.
Here, Uncle Gu had many acquaintances, and along the way, numerous people came over to chat with them. Luo Li obediently followed along.
“This is my niece, Luo Li.”
“Li’er, this is your Uncle Li…”
To each person who approached, Uncle Gu proudly introduced her.
“So this is Miss Li. Truly, ‘autumn lacks no beauty, yet the eye delights in a fair maiden’…”
Seeing this, those who came over tactfully joined in with various compliments. While they might not know much else about her, their praise for her stunning appearance was entirely sincere.
Luo Li’s looks leaned toward the Gu family’s features. Back in the day, her mother, Gu Lan, had already been renowned in the city as a true beauty.
Now, seeing Luo Li, it was clear she had surpassed her predecessor.
Considering that Luo Li was still unmarried, many families with eligible sons began to entertain thoughts.
After all, they were well aware of the Gu family’s standing. Although society ranked scholars above farmers, artisans, and merchants, money could move even ghosts—everyone here was shrewd.
Moreover, it was no secret that Gu Xuanjing was actually an adopted son of the Gu family.
In terms of bloodline, Luo Li could be considered the only direct descendant of the Gu family in her generation.
“Uncle, I’ll go take a look over there.”
As the crowd around them grew larger and the area became predominantly filled with male guests, Luo Li felt it was no longer appropriate to stay. She informed Uncle Gu before leaving.
Hearing this, Uncle Gu glanced around and nodded.
“Taozi, take good care of the young lady.”
“Yes,” Taozi replied respectfully. She was the skilled maid Uncle Gu had assigned for Luo Li’s protection.
Gu Xuanjing stood with his friends, saying nothing but following her movements with his gaze.
Only after she found a seat and he had scanned her surroundings did he finally look away.
With Luo Li gone, those who had begun to entertain ideas started probing Uncle Gu’s thoughts.
“Brother Gu, Miss Li seems to be of marriageable age now. Have you considered any suitable matches for her?”
“If not, such a treasured daughter deserves careful selection.”
Uncle Gu understood their meaning perfectly. For some reason, his first reaction was to glance at his adopted son’s expression.
Then, he laughed heartily and brushed it off.
“This child takes after her mother—she has a strong will. We elders don’t want to impose on her, so this matter depends entirely on her own wishes.”
In any case, he made it clear: neither he nor the elder Gu couple had the final say in Luo Li’s marriage.
Everything depended solely on Luo Li’s own heart.
Understanding his meaning, the crowd paused briefly before joining in with laughter.Though they did not entirely agree with his statement, which could be considered “defying parental orders and matchmaker arrangements,” they dared not say much given Uncle Gu’s status, merely following along with flattery.
“Brother Gu is open-minded… Brother Gu is open-minded…”
But overall, this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Winning over Luo Li did seem much easier than dealing with that old fox, Uncle Gu.
Hmm, better hurry back and tell the brats at home.
Meanwhile, Gu Xuanjing, standing nearby, fell into deep thought because of Uncle Gu’s words.
For some reason, he felt that his adoptive father’s words seemed almost directed at him.
Looking up and noticing the thoughtful expressions of the elders around him, he lightly clenched his hand and turned his gaze toward where Luo Li was.
Coincidentally, he saw several young gentlemen also stealing glances in Luo Li’s direction, their faces flushed as if stirred by budding affection.
Over there, Luo Li remained completely unaware, carefully nibbling on pastries with small bites. Her sparkling eyes wandered over the plum branches around her, full of life.
Even though she wasn’t doing anything in particular, she effortlessly drew everyone’s attention.