Chapter 275 - 164: What Are These? (Part 3)
Han Lei was not interested in this; she originally didn’t want to participate, but when it came to her turn, seeing everyone’s enthusiasm, she found it hard to decline.
Without thinking, she casually brushed off two lines.
"The beauty of spring cannot be hidden; a branch of red apricot emerges beyond the wall."
"Excellent poetry!" Sun Mingcheng clapped his hands in admiration, "Mr. Wei, those two lines are fresh and refined, with profound meaning!"
"Uh..."
This is considered profound meaning?
Han Lei held her forehead, feeling that this seemed like something learned in elementary school. With just these two lines, can she outshine them all?
In the second round, with "moon" as the theme, the young men at the table were again involved in a struggle, but none produced any particularly outstanding verses.
When it was Han Lei’s turn, she spontaneously offered two lines.
"I raise my cup to invite the bright moon, and with its reflection, we become three."
"Marvelous!"
This time, not only Sun Mingcheng but everyone cheered in unison, "Mr. Wei’s talent is exceptional!"
The lively scene among the young men indeed drew the attention of the female guests.
Marquise Champion turned her head and seeing it was Han Lei reciting poetry, whispered to the Empress beside her, "Empress, look at that Wei lad, who would have thought he has some talent."
Following the direction of Marquise Champion’s indication, the Empress nodded.
"Indeed! Unexpected that the Wei Family can produce a talent, possibly inherited from Prime Minister Wei?"
Prime Minister Wei once taught Emperor Jing, and was highly talented.
However, within the Wei Family, aside from Prime Minister Wei, the other members are much like Wei Chengchao, merely wine sacks and food bags, and it’s rarely heard of anyone possessing significant talent.
Marquise Champion glanced at her daughter, the radiant Princess Changle, then looked at the faraway plump and round Han Lei, and couldn’t help but chuckle softly with a hint of regret.
"This child has a sweet mouth and some talent, but... tsk, she’s just a bit plain in appearance."
Princess Changle, hearing their discussion, curiously followed their gaze.
When she saw it was Han Lei, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.
This ordinary-looking chubby one could actually come up with such fine verse?
Han Lei was unaware that none of the handsome young men at the table could catch the eye of Princess Changle, while she, a somewhat "plain-looking" chubby one, actually garnered Princess Changle’s attention.
With the Emperor and Empress present, the guests were reserved; halfway through the banquet, the Emperor and Empress intentionally created opportunities for the young ones by retiring to the palace.
A few older guests also gradually left, and soon the venue was left mostly with young people, engaging in poetry and discussing life.
Having departed, the Marquise and the Marquis moved to a zitan tea table under the pavilion, sitting to drink tea.
From the tea cups on the table, the aroma of Da Hong Pao wafted up, but the couple had no heart to savor the tea.
Their eyes continuously lingered on the young men in luxurious attire at the banquet table.
Marquise Champion lifted her round fan to half-hide her lips and whispered into her husband’s ear, "Look at the Zhang family’s child, he seems steadier than last year."
The Marquis stroked his beard and nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to another blue-clad young man reciting poetry, and the couple commented on him as well.
The moment finally arrived, Han Lei smirked slightly.
She gestured to Fourth Brother behind her, then adjusted the neck of her brocade robe and approached the Marquise and the Marquis with a composed smile.
"Greetings to Aunt!"
Han Lei called affectionately from five steps away, her voice clear yet polite.
Marquise Champion looked up and saw "him," her smile deepening at the corners of her eyes.
"The Wei lad arrived just in time," Marquise Champion said, lightly tapping the empty seat beside her with her fan, "Come and sit."
Then she turned to the Marquis. "Marquis, this is the Wei family heir I often mention."
The Marquis’s gaze landed on Han Lei, looking her over.
Han Lei immediately smiled and bowed in salute, "Nephew greets Uncle."
Han Lei’s manners were complete yet not restrictive, her etiquette just right.
"I saw you recite poetry earlier; not only is your speech sweet, but your poetic talent is remarkable," the Marquise praised with a smile.
Han Lei humbly waved her hand, "Aunt, don’t tease your nephew, it was just casual play with them."
Among the swirling scents of tea, Han Lei exchanged a few pleasantries about their household, while a maid approached to serve freshly brewed Da Hong Pao to Han Lei.
Han Lei accepted the tea cup from the maid but did not rush to drink, instead indicating Fourth Brother to present the brocade box.
Fourth Brother placed two brocade boxes side by side on the tea table, then pretended to dust the top lightly.
Both brocade boxes were made of fine Sichuan brocade, with the corners wrapped in silver with floral patterns, shining brightly in the sunlight, looking valuable at a glance.
"You lad," Marquise Champion feigned scolding with a look at Han Lei, "I told you that day to just come, why go to such lengths?"
Han Lei chuckled, "Aunt, you’re just being polite with your nephew, but how could I truly come empty-handed? What’s more, the gift I give isn’t particularly precious, it’s just rare."
"Oh?"
𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
"Rare?"
Hearing that the gift was rare, both the Marquise and the Marquis’s eyes lit up, eager to see exactly how rare Han Lei’s gift was.
Seeing the couple display hopefulness, Han Lei then slowly opened the first brocade box.
Inside the box, on crimson velvet, were neatly arranged ten military-green grenades.
Each grenade was no larger than a palm, perfectly round, exquisitely crafted.
"Eh? What are these? So delicate."
The Marquise and the Marquis both leaned forward unanimously, their gaze fixed on the rows of grenades.
The Marquis picked up one to examine closely, seeing that the grenade was entirely military-green, with protruding squares across the oval, topped with a delicate silver ring.
"This is..."
The Marquis’s thick eyebrows slightly raised, his eyes flashing with curiosity as he looked at Han Lei.