Chapter 235 (1/2)

Little servant girls looked demure as they poured tea for the ladies while little servant boys appeared tall and amicable as they poured wine for the men. The guests were very satisfied. One little servant girl bent at the knees as she presented a tray of little cakes and sweets to a group of girls before being jovially dismissed with the wave of a hand and a small pouch holding a silver coin passed by that girl's personal maid. The girl, who happened to have burnt umber coloured hair prettily braided and caught in a half bun upon her head turned to ask a question of the girl beside her.

”Are you also here to see Qinwang's sons?” She spoke behind her lace fan as if attempting to hide her blunt words.

Carmen huffed and glanced at that girl's colouring, admittedly jealous that the girl had such a wealth of rich hair, while hers seemed so dull in comparison.  Of course, there was no comparison between skin tone; Carmen's was like milk, this old Marquis granddaughter had to hide the ruddiness of her skin with pearl powder.  ”I can't say that is not what my Grandmother might be thinking,” she replied with some evasiveness.

The girls all nodded; they knew that Carmen was her Grandmother's favourite.  ”They are quite handsome!” A girl with indigo curls sighed as did the others, causing Carmen to almost sneer in front of them.  Could they not be any less like sheep?

Her sultry eyes glanced over at each princeling in turn.  The older brother was much like his father, but virile in his youth with a pointed chin and narrow eyes.  Two sword shaped brows neatly finished his handsome face and his dark steel coloured hair was captured in an ornate silver crown.  He was very broad of shoulder.  The younger brother was known to take after his maternal family more, he was round of face, which was very youthful and his hair was like strands of spun gold held in a crown of the metal with the same name.  His height just about reached his brother's chin.

”They are alright,” Carmen finally gave her response.  It was just that hair as black as coal was more appealing, a man who was tall and strong but not build like an impenetrable wall... (”I question your eyes,” Sun would have said if he had access to his cousin's mind.)

The girls all looked at each other, enlightenment suddenly lifting their features and with a rustle of silk, they all took a seat about her with broad smiles upon their lips.  ”Just which cad has attracted our Carmen's attentions?”

”Yes, yes,” the Marquis granddaughter tugged her sleeve coquettishly, ”is he here today?  Surely we should confront him!  How dare he steal our Carmen's heart and leave her so melancholy!”

The girls all giggled, but Carmen just smiled, coyly and allowed them to coax and please her for a while. Eventually, she gave them a little fodder for their thoughts. ”His name is Jin Li.”

More glances were exchanged and a girl with hair the colour of grape wine asked aloud; ”Is that person of West Xulaphrey? He sounds such with that unusual name.”

”I couldn't say,” Carmen allowed, not admitting that actually she knew very little about the young man, not that she hadn't attempted to find out. But Sun's servants never showed any face to her maids when they inquired. ”He attends that school that my sixth brother attends.” Although they were cousins, as they had the same genealogy, it was natural to refer to him as such.

”Speaking of your sixth brother,” said the girl with indigo hair, who happened to be related to a duke but not close enough to be considered for marriage amongst the purple. ”He seems to have matured somewhat over this half year.”