Chapter 19: The Grand Princess's Banquet
Yun Chu had the carriage circle the streets twice before returning to the Xie residence.
Apart from slightly reddened eyes, there was no indication she had just wept bitterly.
Upon returning to her courtyard, Ting Feng came in to report: "Madam, after you returned to the General's residence, the eldest young lady secretly went to the abandoned temple and delivered many items to Mother He..."
The madam had treated the eldest young lady as her own daughter, so she couldn't understand why the young lady would be so kind to a servant who had framed the madam...
Sitting on the couch, Yun Chu instructed: "Have Ping Jie'er come see me."
Since taking over some household affairs, Xie Ping had become increasingly busy—either reviewing account books or summoning matrons from the outer courtyard for discussions.
While occupied with these tasks, she saw Ting Xue arrive to summon her.
Normally, she was the one who initiated visits to her mother; her mother had never sent a maid to fetch her before.
Putting down the account books, Xie Ping felt somewhat apprehensive.
Could it be that Mother had learned about her delivering items to He Shi and was calling her for questioning?
If only she hadn't given in to a moment of weakness and visited He Shi—how should she explain this to Mother now?
Throughout the journey, Xie Ping's mind swirled with various thoughts.
Entering Sheng Residence, however, she saw Yun Chu looking at her with a warm smile: "Ping Jie'er, have a seat."
Xie Ping sat down and took a sip of tea.
"Tomorrow is the Grand Princess's flower appreciation banquet. Would you have time to accompany me?" Yun Chu asked with a gentle smile. "It's alright if you'd rather not go."
Xie Ping could hardly believe it, suppressing her excitement as she said: "The Grand Princess invited you, Mother?"
Yun Chu shook her head: "The Grand Princess invited the Yun family. Your maternal grandmother asked me to join them. If you'd like to come, bringing one more person is no trouble. It would be a good opportunity for you to gain some experience."
Xie Ping nodded vigorously: "I would love to go."
Her father held a fifth-rank official position, so the young ladies she usually interacted with were daughters of fifth or sixth-rank officials. At the Grand Princess's flower appreciation banquet, however, the attendees would primarily be family members of officials ranked third or higher.
By accompanying her mother, she would surely meet many noblewomen from prestigious families.
If she conducted herself with grace and maturity, those noblewomen might even consider her as a potential daughter-in-law...
The thought made Xie Ping almost impatient. She stood up: "Mother, I should return to my duties now."
Watching her departing figure, a cold smile touched Yun Chu's lips.
In her previous life, during the Yun family's spring banquet, Xie Ping had met the Fourth Prince for the first time and fallen for him at first sight.
The daughter of a fifth-rank official and the current Fourth Prince—there was simply no possibility for a match between them. She wasn't even qualified to become a Side Princess Consort. Thus, Xie Ping had resorted to a foolish scheme: seizing an opportunity when the Fourth Prince was unaware, she attempted to drug him, hoping to force a compromising situation... It was only by chance that Yun Chu discovered Xie Ping's plot and prevented the scandal from unfolding.
Not long after this incident, the Fourth Prince met with misfortune...
She had arranged a good marriage for Xie Ping.
Though the prospective groom was only a minor seventh-rank official, his family had upright traditions and promising prospects. Yet Xie Ping looked down upon the match. Just as the marriage arrangements were nearing completion, Xie Ping used the pretext of paying respects to her grandaunt in the palace to gain an audience with the Emperor... and subsequently became one of the Emperor's new consorts...
The so-called grandaunt was Yun Chu's biological aunt, who had entered the palace through the selection process and became one of the Four Consorts, bearing the Eighth Prince for the Emperor.
Xie Ping had climbed over Yun Chu's own aunt to become the Emperor's favored consort.
In her previous life, her aunt had fallen victim to Xie Ping's schemes, suffering torments beyond human endurance...
Remembering events from her past life, Yun Chu's expression grew sorrowful.Given a second chance, she would never again allow Xie Ping the opportunity to enter the palace, nor let her aunt be threatened by Xie Ping...
Since Xie Ping was so fond of the Fourth Prince, she would let her become the Fourth Princess Consort. The glory of this position would be as fleeting as it was magnificent...
The night passed quietly.
At the first light of dawn, Yun Chu finished her morning ablutions and stepped out to find Xie Shi'an already waiting to pay his respects.
"With the academy examinations approaching, there's no need to come and pay respects during this period," Yun Chu said gently. "Focus on your studies and strive to bring honor to the Xie family."
Xie Shi'an cupped his hands respectfully. "Paying respects is one of the filial duties, and rituals should not be neglected. Mother need not worry—I am quite confident about the academy examinations. Becoming a Cultivated Talent shouldn't be difficult."
Yun Chu knew he wasn't boasting.
Not only did he become a Cultivated Talent, but he also ranked first as the top candidate. The following year, he participated in the provincial examinations and again took first place as the top graduate. Two years later, in the metropolitan examinations, he secured first place once more, becoming the top candidate, and subsequently, in the palace examination, he was personally designated by the Emperor as the Number One Scholar.
He was the only Number One Scholar in the dynasty to achieve the top rank in three consecutive examinations, and also the youngest Number One Scholar...
With Xie Shi'an joining the Grand Secretariat, Xie Ping becoming a favored consort in the palace, and Xie Shiwei entering the military camp, the Xie family's rising influence was simply unstoppable...
After Xie Shi'an left, the women from the inner quarters came to pay their respects.
Yun Chu's gaze fell on Xie Ping as she said calmly, "Go back and change out of these clothes. Ting Shuang, you go and help her with her attire."
Xie Ping looked bewildered. "Mother, what's wrong with my clothes?"
"Miss, your attire is too flamboyant," Ting Yu said softly. Having served in the general's household for many years, she naturally understood these matters. "The Princess's flower appreciation banquet is meant for enjoying flowers, not for young ladies to compete in splendor..."
Yun Chu interjected, "This is Ping Jie'er's first time attending a banquet with me, so it's normal for her not to know these things. Go back and change, then return."
Ting Shuang accompanied Xie Ping back to her courtyard, selecting a light pink spring dress for her and styling her hair in a simple updo, adorned only with a single jade hairpin and a pair of pearl earrings the size of rice grains.
Xie Ping pursed her lips. "Isn't this too plain?"
Ting Shuang replied with her hands clasped, "The Madam is attending the Princess's estate under the Yun family's name, so it's appropriate to be discreet. This attire is most suitable."
Xie Ping felt somewhat displeased.
Dressed so plainly, who would notice her in the crowd? How could she possibly get to know the noble ladies and young misses from influential families?
But since her mother had instructed so, if she insisted on having her own way, she might very well miss the Princess's flower appreciation banquet altogether.
Yun Chu took Xie Ping by carriage to the Yun residence first. After meeting up with the Yun family, they proceeded together to the Princess's estate.
The Princess was the current Emperor's full sister, a leading figure in the noblewomen's circles of the capital. Her banquets were always packed to capacity.
The carriage stopped at the entrance.
Yun Chu helped Lin Shi alight.
Following them were two unmarried young ladies: the general's second daughter, Yun Ran, and the Xie family's eldest daughter, Xie Ping.
The four of them walked in together. There was no need to present an invitation—the moment Lin Shi stood there, the servant at the door announced, "The General's Lady has arrived!"
Immediately, a matron came out to greet them and led Yun Chu's party inside.
This was Xie Ping's first time visiting such a prestigious estate. She looked left and right, unable to take it all in.
Lin Shi frowned and reminded her in a low voice, "Ping Jie'er, why are you so lacking in decorum? I'll have Matron Qi come to the Xie residence later to teach you properly."Yun Chu replied with a smile, "There's no need to trouble Mother with such a small matter."
If there was any embarrassment, it would be the Xie family's to bear—she had no obligation to preserve their dignity.
However, since Xie Ping had come here with the Yun family this time, she needed to offer some guidance to prevent the Yun family from becoming a laughingstock.
Yun Chu gave Ting Shuang a meaningful glance.
Ting Shuang stepped back and approached Xie Ping, whispering a few words of reminder.
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