Yan mansion was crowded as young people began filling the yards and pavilions. Yan Xiang had made sure to invite as many family's youth in the capital that she knew would come. She stood at the front gate and warmly welcomed each guest, ushering them through the doors. She wore a beautiful blue dress and her face was painted, her two maids stood behind her with smiles on their faces.
Festive colors made the mansion seem bigger and brighter, and lanterns hung along roof lines, walkways, doors, along with ribbon being strung along the pathways. Servants walked quickly with their heads tilted down, some carrying trays for serving guests, while others rushed around to keep everything in order.
It was noon when the gathering officially started, and the lasts of the guests came through the gate. Madam Xiang led everyone to the main pavilion where seats and tables had been prepared for the mid-day meal. There was a divider seperating the young men from the young women, but it was made from sheer pink fabric.
Meiwan walked along the stone pathway to the pavilion, along with her cousins. They had all donned their stunning new dresses, and items bought the day before. Meiwan had wrapped her head with the white fabric, as it matched her light green dress very well, and liked the idea of part of her face being covered. Though she new the look was somewhat unusual for a young lady of an official's family.
"Oh mother has really out done herself this time! I haven't seen the servants looking this frantic in years!" Yan Shi covered her mouth as she laughed, her eyes squinting.
"Hush!" Yan Wei whispered to her younger sister while poking her shoulder.
"Let's not cause our Yan family any troubles today, sisters." Yan Tu had taken the eldest daughter role more seriously today, though her second sister tended to be more like the oldest. Now her face was stern, despite the deep red rouge on her cheeks and lips, and white powder that covered her face.
The two younger sisters pursed their lips and remained silent as they arrived at the pavilion. Meiwan followed her cousins to walk down the female side and stand before their mother who hosted the event. She noticed several familiar faces from the academy, and most seemed pleasent. The young ladies who were seated stopped chatting and watched as the Yan family daughters made their way to the head of the pavilion. Yan Xiang smiled and nodded her head slightly before coming to her feet. She was to announce her daughters' and neice's arrival, but before she could open her mouth and introduce them, a sheer voice called out.
"Princess Wei Tan'er! Her royal highness has arrived!"
All who were seated stood, and those who were already on their feet, turned at the newcomers. Madam Xiang hurried around her table past the girls and quickly went to greet the princess, bowing low. Her face was calm and her bow was elegant.
"Your highness."
At her actions, the rest of the guests followed suit and their voices mixed together in greeting. The Yan sisters, and Lu Meiwan had moved to stand behind Yan Xiang, and bowed next to her. Not rising till she did.
"Hmm, rise." Princess Tan'er twitched her fingers in an upward motion, not even looking at those who bent for her. She wore the most lavish dress and high hairstyle, making everyone else present seem casual. It was part of her plan to stand out, and catch her beloved's eyes.
Everyone immediately returned to an upright position, though kept their heads tilted downward. The princess scoffed as she watched their humble actions towards her, and she felt quite satisfied. With a sigh, she moved past Yan Xiang and headed under the pavilion, not caring as she took the hostess' seat at the head of the room. Guests looked towards the madam, and some murmered between themselves. The princess' actions were insulting and demeaning, the Yan family was being looked down upon by her.
Madam Xiang stood for a moment, suprised at the princess, but quickly recovered and hurried after her. She called servants to bring another seat to place at an angle, so she could still host the event without offending Wei Tan'er.
"Place it there." She motioned to the servants as they brought her seat and table.
"I heard Shang Qinglou was supposed to be here. Why don't I see him?" The princess' voice sounded accusatory.
"Your highness, young master Shang hasn't yet arrived. His messenger sent word he would arrive later." Madam Xiang said politely. "I shall do my best to serve you though."
The princess scoffed and sipped a glass of wine and rolled her eyes, but she didn't say anything. She motioned for Yan Xiang to continue hosting the gathering while staring off, not planning on giving any attention to the present gathering. Despite the awkward and uncomfortable arrival of the princess, the madam put on a smile and called her daughters and neice to stand before her.
Lu Meiwan stayed close behind Yan Shi as the girls lined up before Yan Xiang and bowed in unison, demonstrating their respect and showing the guests that Madam Xiang was indeed the lady of the mansion. Meiwan held her breath, as she felt light headed.
"Welcome to Yan Mansion." Yan Xiang smiled. "Today, I have invited you all here to introduce a new member of the family, my neice Lu Meiwan."
The princess was far from impressed and yawned into her hand. Meiwan glanced over her shoulder, the young men's side of the pavilion entering her vision. They whispered to each other and nodded, some shook their heads. It was barely a moment, but she could tell that much judgment, both good and bad, was being made. To her side, her three cousins smiled gracefully in her directions and she felt much better about herself, but the voices still rang in her ears. She forced herself to smile and turned back to face her aunt.
"This gathering is in her honor, and today, she'll become officially apart of the Yan mansion." Yan Xiang smiled and raised her hand to her neice.
Applause came from both sides of the room, and Meiwan blushed behind her sheer white cover as she turned to face the room and bowing. Servants entered from the side of the pavilion and brought a small round mat, woven from fine silk and set it on the floor before Yan Xiang. Those in the room began whispering again and it made Meiwan's heart pound.
Her aunt had found her a week earlier to discuss a ceremony to welcome her into the family publicly, but she hadn's imagined that she would be so nervous to be the center of attention.
"I would like to use the gathering as a way to annouce your acceptance into the family. I think a ceremony should be held before all of the guests, and that way everyone will recognize you as one of us. How does that sound to you?"
"I'll do as you say, aunt." Had been all she could think to say, she hadn't considered it much on her own or thought about how it might affect her future.
"I also don't want you to misunderstand one thing." Yan Xiang added. "Our Yan family accepts you regardless of who you are and what's happened to you. I'm not asking you to forget your own parents, but I want you to feel like you're in a close and warm family. Does that make sense to you?"
Meiwan had felt that her aunt's words had been clear. Her and her husband weren't replacing Lu Shouxia and Lu Man, but becoming an addition to two young children's family. It was a kind a thought, and Meiwan was glad to have such wonderful people want her and her brother.
Now, here she stood, about to be officiallly and publically brought under the Yan mansion's love, care, and protection. And the pressure inside her head built up as she recognized the importance of this occasion. She gripped her hands tightly before her stomach, attempting to calm herself.
Yan Xiang gestured for her daughters to step to the side and for Meiwan to kneel on the mat. An elderly female servant came to stand at the front of the room, her hands folded stiffly in front of her.
"Kowtow!" She called out.
Meiwan brought her hands out in a salut before her to her aunt, who smiled kindly, and then brought her forehead to the floor. Once, twice, three times.
"Honoring the elder is complete!" The servant announced. "Entering the family will now be made known!"
"You may come to your feet dear." Yan Xiang said gently, for Meiwan's ears alone. "Welcome into our family child."
Meiwan stood and accepted the warm and loving gazes her family sent her. Her aunts had also been sitting off to the side, and they congratulated her with deep nods and brights smiles. Meiwan felt pride in her chest, and she now turned more confidently to face the room. But as she did so, the pavilion seemed to tip and everyone turned sideways to her. She gasped as all of a sudden, something hit her head and her vision blurred,and voices called to her from far away. Then was the touch of hands, and the world went black.