Liu Qingyun was dressed as a Central Plains woman today, a light purple silk dress cinched at the waist, with gauzy purple fabrics that floated like clouds.
It was warm inside the carriage, so her purple veil hung lightly by her ear, revealing her heavenly beauty.
Noticing Si Snake was staring at her, she did not mind.
She only liked shutting the door to discipline her daughter-in-law, but outside she would never disrespect ng Qianqian.
Ji Li tapped Si Snake’s shoulder with his folding fan, "Hey, what are you staring at? She’s gone, get in the carriage!"
ng Qianqian had prepared two carriages—one for herself, Liu Qingyun, and Tan’er, and another for Ji Li and Si Snake.
Si Snake withdrew his gaze. "It’s her."
Ji Li sneered, "You snake, so it’s not that you’re indifferent to won, huh? But let remind you, she’s Little Yin Hu’s mother-in-law—don’t go ssing around."
Si Snake ignored him and climbed into the second carriage.
Approximately half an hour later, ng Qianqian and her party arrived at the Princess Mansion.
As soon as she stepped off the carriage, ng Qianqian caught sight of Lin Xiaoru and Zhou Nanyan stepping down from another carriage.
ng Qianqian was slightly stunned. "Xiaoru, Yan’er?"
The two looked up upon hearing her voice.
Zhou Nanyan excitedly pulled Lin Xiaoru’s hand and rushed forward. "Sister ng!"
Lin Xiaoru simply called her, "Qianqian."
Lin Xiaoru was a year younger than ng Qianqian, but her calm and composed temperant made her prefer addressing ng Qianqian by her full na.
ng Qianqian didn’t mind—whether she was called sister or by her na carried the sa aning to her.
She asked in confusion, "Why are you here?"
Zhou Nanyan explained, "I heard you were betting with Princess Wanping, and I was worried, so I asked around and finally got permission from her. Princess Wanping said Lin Sister and I could co but made us promise not to report anything to Uncle Wang no matter what happens today."
ng Qianqian thought to herself, So Princess Wanping is fearful of Imperial Censor Wang after all.
ng Qianqian continued asking Zhou Nanyan how she found out about the wager.
Zhou Nanyan said indignantly, "Lady Wei exposed it—she babbled nonsense to a group of ladies at the tea house and made everyone in the Capital City aware of your bet with Princess Wanping. Now, the entire city is waiting to see you make a fool of yourself."
Lin Xiaoru said, "I think Qianqian won’t lose."
Zhou Nanyan clutched ng Qianqian’s arm. "Sister ng, I hope you win too, but—but that’s Princess Wanping we’re talking about!"
ng Qianqian smiled lightly. "My mother-in-law is here too. Go greet her."
Zhou Nanyan imdiately turned around to look at Liu Qingyun, who had been waiting inside the carriage for so ti. "Madam Lu!"
Lin Xiaoru also bowed. "Madam Lu."
Liu Qingyun carried herself with the dignity of an elder as she gracefully alighted from the carriage.
Next, ng Qianqian introduced Ji Li and Si Snake to the two.
Zhou Nanyan’s eyes widened in awe.
She couldn’t believe it—she had co face-to-face with not one but two elite Twelve Guards! Living legends!
Among the Twelve Guards, sightings were as rare as dragons glimpsed through clouds, and many spent their whole lives without seeing just one!
Lin Xiaoru’s reaction was much calr.
From the ti ng Qianqian had t her, she had always maintained a composed deanor.
According to Lin He, Lin Xiaoru had been like this since childhood—she didn’t cry, nor would she laugh, and her emotions never fluctuated much.
When her most doting grandmother, Madam Lin, passed away, her brother wept inconsolably, but Lin Xiaoru had rely knelt solemnly in the mourning hall.
Ji Li glanced at the wildly excited Zhou Nanyan, whose inner thoughts were practically screaming, and then shifted his gaze to the unresponsive Lin Xiaoru. With a flick, he opened his folding fan.
"Miss Lin, shall I divinate sothing for you?"
"Let’s go."
Si Snake stepped in between Ji Li and Lin Xiaoru.
Ji Li clicked his tongue. "Nosy snake."
The servants of the Princess Mansion ushered the group into the small garden where a banquet had previously been held.
One servant addressed them, "Madam Lu, Young Madam Lu, the Princess will arrive shortly."
ng Qianqian gestured at the guest seats across from them. "Who are those reserved for?"
The servant replied, "I was told they are for a few distinguished guests."
"Distinguished guests?" ng Qianqian murmured as she seated herself alongside Liu Qingyun, Lin Xiaoru, and Zhou Nanyan.
Tan’er sat behind ng Qianqian, munching on a hawthorn candied skewer.
Ji Li and Si Snake sat at the table beside them.
Liu Qingyun’s face darkened as she turned to ng Qianqian, her voice sharp and cold. "Hey! You’re not going to lose my son to them, are you? I’m warning you—if you lose my son, you’re finished!"
ng Qianqian blinked playfully and shalessly responded, "Mother, are you implying that I, this daughter-in-law, am more to your liking than a princess-in-law?"
Liu Qingyun: "..."
Princess Wanping didn’t keep them waiting long and soon arrived.
Accompanying her into the small garden were today’s distinguished guests.
ng Qianqian had anticipated Xun Yu’s presence, but she hadn’t expected the grandson and granddaughter of the Miao King.
Beyond that, the shaless Wei Mingxuan had joined them as well.
She dismissed Wei Mingxuan’s presence—it was undoubtedly his own thick-skinned persistence.
But what was with that pair of siblings? She refused to believe Xun Yu couldn’t see Princess Wanping’s interest in Lu Yuan. Given that, bringing along his rejected fiancée was utterly baffling. Had he lost his mind?
As ng Qianqian puzzled over this, Liu Qingyun suddenly choked and began coughing violently.
"Cough! Cough-cough-cough!"
"Mother, are you all right?" ng Qianqian hurriedly patted her back to soothe her.
Liu Qingyun coughed and touched her face, quickly pulling a veil over it.
ng Qianqian asked curiously, "Mother, aren’t you hot?"
Liu Qingyun sat up straighter. "I... I’m afraid of the sun."
ng Qianqian tilted her head upward. "Afraid of the sun? But it’s rather shady here."
Liu Qingyun’s expression darkened severely, and she said sternly, "You should focus on winning!"
ng Qianqian raised an eyebrow. "Oh."
Princess Wanping and Xun Yu’s party took their seats.
As the hostess, Princess Wanping introduced her guests one by one.
Xun Yu’s smiling gaze fell upon Liu Qingyun’s face. "I’ve heard Madam Lu is also from Miaojiang. Might you know Young Master Bai and Miss Bai?"
Liu Qingyun cleared her throat, picked up a teacup, and intended to sip to cover her false front. However, she soon realized her veil was in the way.
ng Qianqian comnted breezily, "Miaojiang is vast; surely one cannot claim to have t every soul from there. Even one as distinguished as Princess Wanping cannot assert that everyone in the Capital City knows of her."
Xun Yu flashed a smile. "I was rely curious why a Miaojiang native would fail to pay their respects upon eting their Young Master."
Princess Wanping interjected, "Madam Lu is my honored guest. She need not bow to anyone."
Bai Qingchen glanced at Liu Qingyun.
Liu Qingyun suddenly raised a hand and slamd it heavily on the table, her tone uncouth as she exclaid, "Is there no wine here?"
Bai Qingchen shook his head slightly.
Xun Yu carefully observed Bai Qingchen’s expression, concluding that this Liu Qingyun was indeed not Bai Zheng.
Princess Wanping promptly ordered elegant wine to be served.
ng Qianqian remarked, "Princess Wanping, now that everyone is gathered, shall we start our bet? I’ve brought my Twelve Guards. Where are yours?"
Princess Wanping glanced at Ji Li and Si Snake. "Which of them are Twelve Guards?"
Ji Li suavely flicked his folding fan and presented his token. "Twelve Guards Rooster, greetings, Princess."
Si Snake also laid his token on the table. "Si Snake."
Princess Wanping was greatly astonished, never expecting ng Qianqian to truly deliver two Twelve Guards.
Yet she quickly recovered, smiling smugly. "You’re better than I anticipated, but... Chen Long, co forth."
As soon as she spoke, Chen Long entered with two imposing n in tow.
One was stocky and robust, the other lean and wiry.
Old mories resurfaced, leaving ng Qianqian montarily stunned. "Hai Pig, Sheep."
Princess Wanping displayed her token triumphantly. "Chen Long, Hai Pig, Sheep, along with my Monkey Order token—ng Xiaojiu, you’ve lost!"
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