Nanny Wan glanced at the tall figure disappearing at the end of the alley, then looked back at the returning Miss Bao Shu and sincerely sighed, "The neighbors in the alley... are truly good people!"
ng Qianqian said to Bao Shu, "From now on, you are not allowed to sneak out. Do you understand?"
She then instructed Nanny Wan, "Next ti, make sure to lock the courtyard gate."
Bao Shu’s eyes darted mischievously, sneaking a glance at a certain corner of the courtyard wall.
ng Qianqian: "Block up the dog hole too."
Treasure Piggy: "..."
That night, Qing Shuang ca to pick up Bao Shu. ng Qianqian ntioned that she would be attending a banquet, and coincidentally, Bao Shu also planned to et so new friends that day—quite the serendipity.
This was ng Qianqian’s first ti visiting soone’s ho under her own na. She couldn’t go empty-handed, so she thought of asking Lady Wang the next day about Lady Xing’s preferences. Unexpectedly, Steward Cen arrived at dawn.
He held an exquisite jar, his face beaming with smiles. "I heard from Qing Shuang that Miss ng is visiting Lady Xing’s ho. Lady Xing loves the sugared pastry from our Governor Mansion, so I had the chef prepare so for Miss ng to take as a gift."
ng Qianqian accepted the jar. "Thank you, Steward Cen."
Steward Cen smiled and said, "Miss ng flatters this old servant. You are the future mistress of the Governor Mansion and will be my master as well. If there’s ever anything you need from this old servant, please don’t hesitate to ask."
ng Qianqian pressed her lips together.
Well, there wasn’t really room for refusing, was there?
Seeing her silence, Steward Cen chuckled and pointed to the jar in her arms. "Lady Xing has been craving this for a long ti. She’ll definitely like it."
ng Qianqian nodded. "Alright."
On the day of the banquet, after preparing alongside Yu Li, ng Qianqian boarded the family carriage with Ban Xia and Tan’er in tow.
"Cousin, are you nervous?"
"Is Cousin nervous?"
Yu Li hesitated for a mont before honestly admitting, "A little."
The Yu Family was decently prominent in You State, but compared to the noble families in the Capital City, they were utterly unremarkable.
He lowered his voice and said, "I’ve heard that if a brick falls in the Capital City, it can hit three marquises."
ng Qianqian laughed. "Not quite, but there’s so truth to it. Beneath the Emperor’s feet, in the heart of the Imperial City, aristocratic families rise and fall, court power shifts; one might throw gold around in a tavern today as a marquis, only to have their property seized tomorrow. And there are always commoners who ascend in an instant, gaining titles and fortunes, draped in embroidered robes."
Yu Li fell into thought after hearing this.
ng Qianqian smiled gently. "No need to be nervous, Cousin, you have ."
Yu Li: "Alright!"
Cousin was truly different from when they were young. She had grown into a young woman, exuding a reassuring strength.
The carriage stopped outside the Xing Mansion, and the group alighted.
Yu Li said to the young servant at the door, "I am Yu Li from the An’yuan Marquis Mansion, and this is my cousin, surnad ng. We are here together."
The young servant was stunned as he looked at ng Qianqian.
ng Qianqian slightly nodded. "Yes, together."
The young servant hurriedly replied, "The two of you! My lady has been waiting for you. Please, co in!"
The group entered the Minister’s Mansion.
Lady Wang and Lady Zhou had already arrived. They were chatting with several other noblewon and daughters in the garden, while a dewy-eyed little maid stood beside Lady Zhou.
The little maid spotted ng Qianqian from afar and blinked her large eyes before walking quickly over.
Tan’er’s almond-shaped eyes widened. "Sister Zhou?"
Zhou Nanyan covered her mouth. "Shh, shh, shh! Keep your voice down; I sneaked out. Don’t let anyone overhear!"
Only after saying this did she notice the unfamiliar young man standing behind ng Qianqian. "And he is—"
ng Qianqian replied, "My cousin, Yu Li. He just arrived in the Capital City."
Yu Li cupped his hands in greeting.
Zhou Nanyan returned the gesture. "If you’re Sister ng’s cousin, then you’re my cousin as well. Have you made any acquaintances in the Capital City yet?"
Yu Li shook his head.
"That’s easy to fix!" Zhou Nanyan ran off with a pitter-patter and soon dragged back a handso young gentleman. "This is my second brother, Zhou Ye! Second Brother, he’s Sister ng’s cousin, Yu Li. Take him to hang out!"
Yu Li quickly gave a polite greeting. "Young Master Zhou."
Zhou Ye smiled. "Please, just call Zhou Ye. Yu Li, we’re playing pitch-pot. Co, I’ll bring you along!"
Yu Li looked at ng Qianqian.
ng Qianqian curved her lips. "Go ahead, Cousin. We’ll et the noble ladies later."
Zhou Nanyan reminded, "Second Brother, you must take good care of Young Master Yu."
Zhou Ye flicked her forehead. "Do you not trust your brother? Yu Li, let’s go. If we’re lucky, Uncle Xing might watch us play pitch-pot after court."
Yu Li was pulled away by Zhou Ye.
ng Qianqian asked Zhou Nanyan, "What did you an by sneaking out?"
Zhou Nanyan lowered her head gloomily. "I’m about to enter the palace, aren’t I? Consort Li suddenly sent a governess to teach court etiquettes. I’m not allowed to step outside—it’s suffocating! Today, my grandmother tricked her into attending a banquet, so I managed to slip away. But I mustn’t let anyone know I’m here at the Xing family’s banquet, or I’ll be reprimanded again."
ng Qianqian said, "That’s really tough."
Zhou Nanyan said pitifully, "Isn’t it? By the way, Sister ng, aren’t you also about to enter the palace? Hasn’t your family arranged for a governess to teach you?"
Tan’er suddenly realized. "So the person you beat up was the governess sent by Consort Li!"
Zhou Nanyan: "..."
ng Qianqian and Zhou Nanyan went to greet the noble ladies and presented the gift to Lady Xing.
Lady Xing was genuinely delighted, clutching the jar with affection.
Zhou Nanyan winked mischievously at her mother and aunts.
Lady Zhou, both annoyed and amused, said, "Alright, I got it. Go play!"
The two girls left.
The noble ladies exchanged knowing glances and sighed.
During the boating excursion, the Grand Commander had treated them politely out of consideration for ng Qianqian and had even escorted her ho. They had thought he was interested in ng Qianqian.
Who could have expected that the Grand Commander was planning to marry soone else?
"I’ve heard she’s a noble lady from Miaojiang," Lady Wang said.
"Which family’s daughter?"
Before her figure appeared, Lady Lin’s voice reached them first.
Lady Xing smiled and said, "We’re talking about your daughter. She’s always hiding away. When will we get to et her?"
Lady Lin pouted. "She’s just like her father—a bookworm!"
Lady Zhou teased, "The Sacrificial Officer of the Imperial College is just a bookworm in your eyes? Don’t you think there’s a line of people who’d gladly take your ’bookworm’ if you’re not interested?"
Lady Lin scoffed, "I’d like to see who dares!"
Lady Xing said to Lady Lin, "Lately, I heard many have sought you out to arrange placents in the Imperial College."
Lady Lin sat down on a stone stool and lazily waved her handkerchief. "Don’t even bring up the Imperial College. Today, I just want so peace and quiet here."
Elsewhere, the Yu Family had also arrived.
In the five years since the An’yuan Marquis had been stationed elsewhere, the Capital City’s dynamics had completely transford. Those currently holding important positions at court were no longer his old contacts.
Yu Family wasn’t particularly acquainted with Lady Xing, but thanks to the Marquis Mansion’s deep roots, they had procured an invitation through a distant relative.
Aside from paying respects to Lady Xing, she also hoped to connect with so of the other noble ladies.
Yet unexpectedly, just as she entered the estate, she caught sight of ng Qianqian sitting in the pavilion.
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