Bai Yuwei returned to her courtyard to change clothes, while ng Qianqian took Bao Shu to Tinglan Garden.
The little one grabbed the Old Madam’s hand and solemnly instructed, "Baby is going out to play. Great-Granny, stay ho and eat properly."
The Old Madam waved her hand dismissively, "Got it, got it, now off you go. I’m about to play leaf cards."
The little one said sternly, "Playing cards again!"
The Old Madam replied, "If I win, I’ll split half with you."
The little one responded, "Play more rounds then."
-
Bai Yuwei donned the attire of a Central Plains woman today: a red-and-white waisted silk dress paired with an exquisitely styled hair bun. She adorned a red gemstone flower hairpin and matching red gemstone earrings, standing graceful and charmingly delicate.
ng Qianqian remarked, "Not bad. Get in the carriage."
"Get in the carriage."
Bao Shu mimicked.
Bai Yuwei boarded the carriage with an indifferent attitude.
She didn’t ask where the banquet was; for her, all destinations were the sa.
She wore a sullen expression the entire ti.
Bao Shu shook her head and said, "Auntie, not obedient."
Bai Yuwei gave the little one a sidelong glance and said, "I don’t care to be your aunt."
Bao Shu instantly changed her tone, "Bai Yuwei."
Bai Yuwei: "..."
The Xie Marquis’ family had been stationed at the border for years and only returned to the Capital City earlier this year. anwhile, the Capital City had undergone a complete reshuffle of power during their absence.
To revive the Marquis Mansion, Anyuan Marquis had been tirelessly building connections with the city’s elites. This birthday banquet for the Old Madam of the Xie Family was an opportunity to showcase the results of his efforts.
"So many people,"
Nanny Li lifted the curtain and marveled at the street so packed with carriages that there was barely any space to move.
ng Qianqian comnted, "Xie Yan now works at the Hanlin Academy. I’ve heard he’s gained the favor of a senior Hanlin Academy Scholar and has been promoted twice in six months, rising from an eighth-rank Doctor of Five Classics to a sixth-rank Compiler."
Tan’er tilted her head and asked, "Is sixth-rank high?"
ng Qianqian shook her head, "You can’t underestimate a Hanlin Official. As the saying goes, only those who pass the imperial exam can enter the Hanlin Academy, and only those from the Hanlin Academy can advance to the Cabinet. Just being part of Hanlin already marks out a bright future."
Nanny Li sighed helplessly, seemingly reminded of sothing.
ng Qianqian, understanding her thoughts, said calmly, "In her heart, the ideal son is probably soone like Xie Yan."
Her own child was too diocre – an unbearable disappointnt to her. To her, only soone with the glow of a Marchioness and a champion’s mother was worthy of her regard.
Tan’er crossed her arms and said, "My mom says that’s called vanity!"
The carriage moved intermittently through the crowd before finally arriving at the entrance to Anyuan Marquis’ residence.
Bao Shu, anwhile, had fallen sound asleep inside the carriage, drooling the entire way.
"Treasure Piggy, we’ve arrived."
Tan’er poked her soft little cheek.
Bao Shu continued snoring soundly.
"Let handle it."
Nanny Li reached out to carry Bao Shu.
ng Qianqian chuckled, "Nanny, you won’t be able to carry her anymore."
The little one not only devoured her own baby-sized als every day but also stole food ant for the dogs and cats and guzzled goat’s milk like there was no tomorrow. She had turned into a proper little sturdy warrior.
Nanny Li, unwilling to give in, attempted to carry the child as they disembarked from the carriage. She almost threw out her back doing so.
In the end, Qing Shuang nimbly dismounted and expertly scooped up the little one into her arms.
A sixtieth birthday banquet was no trifling event. Normally, invitations would be sent at least ten days in advance, or at the very least three to five days prior. Yet, ng Qianqian hadn’t received her invitation until just the day before.
Either the Marquis Mansion had been negligent, or they had done it on purpose. In either case, it was clear the Marquis Mansion didn’t truly expect her to show up.
Thus, when ng Qianqian appeared, the steward of the Marquis Mansion was utterly stunned.
The last ti the Marchioness and Nanny Lu had gone to the Governor Mansion to formally acknowledge her, they hadn’t even made it through the gates. It was evident that the relationship between the Marchioness and her biological daughter was abysmal.
Otherwise, why delay sending her invitation until the last day?
The idea was simply to avoid gossip. If anyone questioned it later, they could always claim they had extended the invitation, and it was her who wanted no association with the Marquis Mansion.
"Quickly, go inform the Madam!"
"Yes!"
The servant scurried away anxiously.
The steward approached, laughing sycophantically, "We weren’t expecting such a distinguished visit from the Young Madam of the Governor Mansion. Forgive us for not greeting you sooner."
ng Qianqian smiled faintly, "Last ti the people from the Marquis Mansion called ’Miss.’ How is it you’ve changed your form of address so quickly?"
"Uh..."
Last ti, when Nanny Lu and the Marchioness went to the Governor Mansion to reconnect, they indeed addressed her as "Miss."
But ng Qianqian hadn’t responded.
The steward was at a loss for words.
At this mont, other guests were trickling into the entrance.
The steward stood there awkwardly, unsure if he should call her "Miss" or sothing else. Whatever he chose, it wouldn’t sit well.
Just then, a dignified, elegantly dressed woman approached with her maid in tow.
She remarked indifferently, "Steward Ji, you’ve been standing here forever. Don’t you have guests at the back waiting for reception?"
As she spoke, she gave ng Qianqian a once-over and asked, "And which household do you belong to? You look rather unfamiliar."
ng Qianqian replied, "Which household do you belong to? Since when is it your place to criticize how Steward Ji does his job?"
The woman’s expression hardened.
Steward Ji quickly interjected, "Third Madam, she is..."
"Third Madam?" ng Qianqian feigned astonishnt. "Oh, so you’re my Third Aunt!"
Madam Xie turned to ng Qianqian in confusion, "What nonsense are you spouting? Who’s your Third Aunt?"
ng Qianqian grabbed her hand excitedly. "Third Aunt, it’s ! Don’t you rember?"
Madam Xie had never even t ng Qianqian before. How could she possibly rember her?
ng Qianqian held Madam Xie’s hand so tightly it felt like an iron vice. Madam Xie tried to pull away but couldn’t.
Terrified, Madam Xie stamred, "You... Let go!"
"Oh."
ng Qianqian let go.
Unprepared for the sudden release and propelled backward by inertia, Madam Xie fell clumsily to the ground.
"Third Madam!"
The maids rushed to help her up, their faces blanched with shock.
Embarrassed and enraged by her public humiliation, Madam Xie shouted, "Who let this crazy woman in? Throw her out imdiately!"
Steward Ji scrambled and protested, "Third Madam, please, this isn’t appropriate..."
Madam Xie jabbed her finger at him and snarled, "Be quiet! What kind of steward are you? Letting lunatics roam the Marquis Mansion? Do you want to lose your job too? Fine! I’ll go straight to the Old Madam and have her kick you out as well!"
ng Qianqian put on a look of innocence and reached for Madam Xie’s hand again, "Third Aunt, no need to be angry..."
Madam Xie shrieked in terror, "You lunatic! Stop calling Third Aunt!"
The commotion naturally attracted a large crowd of guests.
"What’s going on?"
"That woman claims to be the eldest young lady of the Marquis Mansion, but both the steward and the Third Madam of the Marquis Mansion refused to allow her entry. They said they don’t recognize her and ordered the servants to throw her out."
"But isn’t the eldest young lady of the Marquis Mansion Xie Lingling? Who’s this woman then?"
"Could she be Anyuan Marquis’ illegitimate daughter?"
"The Marchioness raised the Marquis’ child for more than ten years, only for the Marquis to father an illegitimate daughter outside the household. Isn’t that too heartless?"
"Poor Marchioness."
The onlookers began expressing their sympathy for the Marchioness.
Madam Xie gritted her teeth and declared, "Don’t listen to this crazy woman’s nonsense. Our Marquis Mansion has no such person!"
Bai Yuwei sneered at ng Qianqian, "So you can’t even step through the gates of their household. Truly pathetic."
Despite her words, doubt flickered across Bai Yuwei’s face.
ng Qianqian could easily invoke the authority of the Governor’s wife or the Twelve Guards to suppress anyone in the Marquis Mansion. So, why didn’t she?
Why allow Madam Xie to rant and rave in front of her?
What ga was ng Qianqian playing?
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