After several days of snow, the sky finally cleared up. It was as if the sky had been washed, a beautiful azure blue.
After that bet, Mu Liuyue didn't attend any gatherings in the circle. She spent her days hiding in her room, depressed, and her temper grew worse and worse.
With a bang, another expensive vase was smashed. The servant girls surrounded the door, but no one dared to enter.
At first, General Mu and Mu Qingwu would still come over to take a look, but now they were numb to it. They were more worried that this lass's reputation was so bad that marrying into a good family in the future would be a big problem.
"Someone come! Someone come! "
Mu Liuyue shouted angrily. A servant girl timidly ran over, not daring to get too close.
"Did Princess Changping come? Did I not know if she came? "Mu Liuyue questioned.
Her only hope was Princess Changping. However, ever since the incident, Princess Changping hadn't come even once. The Plum Blossom Meet was just around the corner, yet she still hadn't received an invitation. Was she being completely abandoned?
"No …" The servant girl replied cautiously. She immediately comforted her, "Miss, maybe the princess is busy. She'll come over in a few days."
"Busy with what? The Plum Blossom Meet? Who did she invite? Did she invite Han Yunxi? "Mu Liuyue asked anxiously.
She had long heard that this year's Plum Blossom Meet was hosted by Princess Changping. She had the final say on who to invite.
How could the servant girl know so much? She immediately found an excuse and fled. "Miss, please wait a moment. This servant girl will go ask around!"
With Mu Liuyue's reputation being so bad, Princess Changping naturally wouldn't come. She was indeed busy with the Plum Blossom Meet. The first invitation was sent to the Duke of Qin's estate, and it was for Han Yunxi.
These past few days, Han Yunxi had been shuttling back and forth between the Han Estate and the Duke of Qin's estate, dealing with the aftermath of the Han Estate. After that night, she hadn't seen Long Fei Ye again. She had long locked the windows of the attic, so she had no idea if that fellow had returned at night. She also had no idea if he was busy or not.
As for news of the Western Zhou princess, she didn't try to find out. Her days went on like this. Occasionally, she'd visit Grand Concubine Yi to help her "expel poison and nourish her beauty" and chat a bit. Although their relationship wasn't very close, it was much better than before.
During this period, Gu had sent a few cans of premium Nanshan black tea leaves, but she threw them all away. No one knew that she didn't go to Nanshan to pick the black tea leaves for herself.
At this time, she had just returned when Steward Xia came looking for her. "Esteemed Wangfei, Esteemed Imperial Concubine Dowager wants you to go over."
"What is it?" Han Yunxi didn't understand. She'd just performed acupuncture on Grand Concubine Yi this morning. Besides that, Grand Concubine Yi would never seek her out.
"This subordinate doesn't know. Consort Dowager is waiting. Esteemed Wangfei should hurry over," Steward Xia replied.
Could it be that something had happened to Madam Xu? Grand Concubine Yi had ignored her multiple indirect inquiries. She couldn't get any news from the justice courts, so she could only try to figure things out. Han Yunxi hurried over.
But as soon as she entered, she saw an unexpected person … Murong Wanru!
What was going on? This white lotus had actually appeared!
Did Grand Concubine Yi never suspect Murong Wanru, or … was she covering for her despite knowing the truth? She was just an adopted daughter, so was it worth it?
"Sister-in-law, you're finally here. It's cold outside, so hurry and have a cup of hot tea."
Murong Wanru acted as if nothing had happened. She was especially attentive and warm as she pulled Han Yunxi to sit and poured tea. Han Yunxi politely declined and asked, "Mufei, Steward Xia said you were in a hurry to find me?"
Grand Concubine Yi knitted her brows as she handed over a pink invitation card. It was double-layered with flowers and carved with a thin, delicate plum blossom.
Han Yunxi took a look and immediately understood what was going on.
This was an invitation to the Plum Blossom Meet. Unlike the other invitees, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
There was no good banquet, no good table.
She was the least interested in such things. The so-called Plum Blossom Meet only invited the rich and noble. Moreover, most of the guests were young women. Although it was said to admire the plum blossoms, it was actually a group of women vying for attention, forming cliques, and trampling on each other.
Every time something happened at the Plum Blossom Meet, it would spread and become the talk of the noble ladies. How boring.
Han Yunxi hesitated before saying, "Mufei, chenqie's body isn't well. I don't know if this banquet can …"
But before she could finish, Murong Wanru spoke up. "Sister-in-law, you mustn't not go! The empress's body isn't well, so Princess Changping is hosting this time. If you don't go, what will she think? "
Han Yunxi was startled. She didn't expect things to turn out like this.
If that was the case, then this banquet wouldn't be a good one. Han Yunxi still remembered the scene at the general's estate last time. Mu Qingwu had run off on the streets, so Changping probably held a grudge against her. Heaven knows what kind of trap she'd prepared for her this time!
"Mufei … chenqie is a coarse person without any talent or learning. Coincidentally, my body isn't well, so I'm afraid I'll lose face for you if I go," Han Yunxi refused again.
It was too easy for her to refuse Princess Changping. She could just refuse without giving her face, but the effects of this matter weren't small. She had to get past Grand Concubine Yi first.
Grand Concubine Yi still didn't speak, so Murong Wanru spoke up again. "Sister-in-law is too modest. It's just admiring the plum blossoms. What talent or learning is needed? If sister-in-law doesn't go, won't Wanru be left alone? Moreover, sister-in-law is going as a representative of our Duke of Qin's estate. If you don't go, then Wanru might as well not go. "
Now Han Yunxi understood why Murong Wanru's ban had been lifted without any warning. As it turned out, she'd been invited as well.
She opened up the invitation and saw that it was dated three days later.
Han Yunxi knitted her brows and didn't speak. Finally, the silent Grand Concubine Yi spoke up. "Yunxi, if you don't go, I'll lose even more face. A few days ago, they were already discussing whether or not Changping would invite you. Do you dare to go?"
Yunxi? Heavens!
With a thump, the teacup in Murong Wanru's hands fell to the ground. She was frightened!
Mufei was calling Han Yunxi by her name so intimately and even discussing things with her so nicely?
Murong Wanru's face was ghastly white. She'd been caught unprepared. She thought mufei would angrily reprimand Han Yunxi, but who knew mufei's attitude was like this?
What had happened between mufei and Han Yunxi while she was locked up in the palace? She'd just been released and hadn't had time to ask her confidante about the situation.
Seeing this, Grand Concubine Yi looked over unhappily. "What's the matter with you?"
Han Yunxi was secretly laughing in her heart. It didn't matter that Murong Wanru was released. She'd be crying in the days to come.
"Mufei, chenqie heard that as long as an unmarried woman wins a prize at the Plum Blossom Meet and becomes famous, matchmakers will trample all over their doorsteps afterwards. I don't know if it's really that exaggerated?" Han Yunxi asked seriously.
Grand Concubine Yi smiled. "It's exaggerated, it's exaggerated. Still, it can't be considered fake."
As long as one dazzled the crowd at the Plum Blossom Meet, they'd attract the admiration of countless gentlemen who'd want to marry them. Thus, the Plum Blossom Meet was a sacred gathering that women in the capital yearned for even in their dreams.
"So it's like that. Then I'll go with Wanru. That girl's reached marriageable age," Han Yunxi said with a smile.
Murong Wanru's heart skipped a beat at these words! Han Yunxi, that slut, really wanted to marry her off? It wasn't up to her to care about her marriage!
"Wanru, you have to perform well. Mufei, you should have Steward Xia thicken our doorsteps later, heheh," Han Yunxi teased.
A complicated look flitted past Grand Concubine Yi's eyes, but she didn't speak.
Han Yunxi added, "Mufei, or have you already chosen a family for Wanru?"
Grand Concubine Yi immediately shook her head. "There's nothing like that. Don't start rumors."
"Mufei, Wanru's not young anymore. If she's not anxious, aren't you anxious for her sake as well?" Han Yunxi asked next.
Murong Wanru felt like her lungs were about to explode. Neither she nor mufei were anxious, so why was this slut so anxious? What did it have to do with her?
But Grand Concubine Yi only replied mildly, "Of course I'm anxious. But such things can't be rushed. You have to think things over slowly, right?"
Murong Wanru's heart almost stopped at these words. How could mufei say such things?
She was an adopted daughter, not the Duke of Qin's blood sister. Mufei had even tried to match her with the Duke of Qin time and time again. Mufei said that as long as the Duke of Qin nodded, she'd immediately make her his concubine. That way, she could stay by her side for the rest of her life.
Could it be that mufei had changed her mind?
She'd worked hard for so many years just to stay by the Duke of Qin's side. Even if she couldn't be official consort because of her birth, she didn't mind. Mufei understood her heart best, so how could she be like this?
"Indeed, we should think things over slowly. If mufei has any candidates in mind, don't hide them in secret. Chenqie can help consider them as well," Han Yunxi said seriously.
Grand Concubine Yi nodded without a word, but the mere movement was enough to break Murong Wanru's heart.
She grabbed Grand Concubine Yi's hand in agitation and grew anxious. "Mufei, daughter won't marry! Won't marry! Daughter wants to stay at home and serve you for the rest of my life! "
These words were clearly hinting at Grand Concubine Yi. Even if she married the Duke of Qin, she'd stay at the Duke of Qin's estate and serve her for the rest of her life.
But before Grand Concubine Yi could speak, Han Yunxi spoke up. "What a silly girl. How could mufei keep you for the rest of your life? You're harming yourself and mufei! You're not young anymore. If you don't marry now, what will people outside say about you and mufei? "
Murong Wanru gave Han Yunxi a resentful look before sobbing. "Sister-in-law, could it be that you dislike Wanru? You want to chase Wanru away? "
"This is mufei's home. What are you saying? Sister-in-law is doing this for your own good. " Han Yunxi explained seriously. How could she not feel Murong Wanru's good feelings towards the Duke of Qin?
"Mufei, I …"
Murong Wanru wanted to continue, but Grand Concubine Yi waved a hand to cut her off. "Alright, alright. Let's talk about the Plum Blossom Meet first."
She looked at Han Yunxi from head to toe and said, "Yunxi, prepare three sets of presentable robes. One for the day and two for spare. Use these three days to understand the situation at the Plum Blossom Meet with Wanru. Remember, you're Qin Wangfei and Changping's elder. Don't lose face for me."
Han Yunxi looked at Grand Concubine Yi seriously. She knew she couldn't avoid this calamity. It was rare that Grand Concubine Yi didn't warn her, but reminded her like this.
All right, this time she'd go just because of Grand Concubine Yi's attitude. Forget about the Plum Blossom Meet, she wasn't afraid even if it was a banquet at Hongmen!
"Yes, chenqie understands," Han Yunxi replied seriously.
Murong Wanru's heart was filled with terror. She couldn't accept everything she'd seen and heard. That very night, she found Gui mama and a few servant girls to ask about the situation.
What a Han Yunxi. It's only been a few days, but you've already dispelled mufei's enmity towards you. If I keep you here, how am I supposed to keep a foothold in the Duke of Qin's estate?
The next day, Murong Wanru immediately made a secret appointment with Princess Changping!
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