Quite a few people attended the Xiang family’s whole-deer banquet.
Knowing about this banquet, Old Madam Qi looked meaningfully at Qi Yuan and said, “This is to give Rong Jie’er face. Their family has just arranged a marriage with the Gao family from Jiangxi. That Gao family’s child has also come to the capital this time to prepare for the examinations.”
So the Xiang family holding a whole-deer banquet in heavy snow was, first, to welcome the Gao family, and second, to show them that the Xiang family also had status in the capital, hosting a banquet that drew most of the noble circle to attend.
Qi Yuan gave a soft “mm” and asked Old Madam Qi, “This time, will Second Aunt accompany me, or Third Aunt?”
…
Third Madam Qi was not very willing to go.
She was still badly frightened even now.
Especially after returning from the Eldest Princess’s residence, there had even been follow-up to that matter.
Zeng Wenxiu, County Princess Luochuan, and Zhou Wangfei had all died cleanly, not one left.
It was too strange!
Thinking of Third Madam Qi’s state, Old Madam Qi coughed a few times.
After all, she had not seen much of the world, just one incident had frightened her so badly that she still hadn’t recovered.
She could only say, “Let your Second Aunt accompany you first. This time you…”
After thinking for a moment, Old Madam Qi carefully chose her words: “Yuan Jie’er, this time you’re only going to have fun, right?”
Actually, what Old Madam Qi originally wanted to ask was: this time, there won’t be anything happening again, right?
Qi Yuan had been looking down at something. Hearing the question, she raised her eyes and looked at Old Madam Qi for a moment, then shook her head. “No, there’s a bit of something.”
…
There really is something again?!
Old Madam Qi thought seriously for quite a while but couldn’t figure out what could possibly happen.
Everything had clearly been calm recently.
Qi Yuan had only gone out once with Wang Chan to Dazhao Temple, and that had been to accompany Wang Chan to a matchmaking meeting.
Logically, nothing should happen.
She couldn’t help asking, “What is it?”
“Still don’t know.” Qi Yuan smiled with a hint of amusement. “That depends on how they want to play.”
How they want to play, and how big they want to play, depends on the other side.
She wasn’t worried anyway.
Old Madam Qi’s heart skipped.
It wasn’t that she was worried about Qi Yuan.
She was worried about Shen Jialang and Qi Yunzheng.
Those two little ones were excitedly preparing to attend the banquet at the Xiang family’s villa!
If something major happened, then if Shen Jialang and Qi Yunzheng followed Qi Yuan, they might become burdens.
She immediately said, “Then… then should Yunzheng and Jialang not go?”
Qi Yuan had originally been about to nod, but after thinking for a moment, she changed her mind. “No, let them go out. More experience and more exposure isn’t a bad thing.”
Ability isn’t built in a day.
Advice from those who have experienced things cannot be understood by those who haven’t.
No matter how much experience you give them, it’s not as good as letting them experience it themselves.
Suffering losses isn’t scary, after more losses, they’ll know how to avoid them.
Old Madam Qi had originally been afraid Shen Jialang and Qi Yunzheng would cause trouble for Qi Yuan after going out, but since Qi Yuan said so, she agreed without further objection.
Still, the more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt.
She couldn’t help grabbing Qi Yuan’s hand and lowering her voice. “Yuan Jie’er, logically things should be quiet recently… what exactly is going to happen?”
County Princess Luochuan and Zhou Wangfei were dead, and Zeng Wenxiu was also dead.
Something had happened to the Song family, and Concubine Song had also died.
Logically, no matter what, things should stay quiet for a while.
Why would anyone still be so blind as to come looking for trouble?
Qi Yuan had originally intended to mention the matter of the Crown Prince and the Lu family.
But after thinking about it, she didn’t.
Forget it. Previously, just killing a Qi Wang had already made Old Marquis Qi and Old Madam Qi tremble in fear for more than a year.
If she now said she also wanted to kill the Crown Prince, Old Madam Qi and Old Marquis Qi probably wouldn’t be able to sleep.
So she lightly recounted what happened with Ling Qiang and Ling Chuhan at Dazhao Temple, raised her brows, and said, “I slapped Ling Qiang. Judging by how she looked, she isn’t someone who will let it go.”
Oh…
Old Madam Qi actually let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Good, good.
Now hearing that it was only offending a duke’s household young lady and young master, she felt it was merely a small matter.
She had thought it was something serious.
She immediately relaxed and smiled. “Good, good, then go and have fun. You and Rong Jie’er haven’t seen each other for quite a while anyway.”
Qi Yuan smiled.
Second Madam Qi was also relaxed as she accompanied Qi Yuan out.
Now when she went out with Qi Yuan, she felt there was nothing to fear anymore.
After all, the unlucky ones were always other people.
The whole-deer banquet was personally hosted by Madam Xiang. Seeing Second Madam Qi bringing Qi Yuan down from the carriage, she hurried forward a few steps, took Second Madam Qi’s hand, and looked at Qi Yuan with a smile. “We’ve been waiting for you for quite a while. I’ve been sick recently, and Rong Jie’er has been attending to me. I heard you returned to your hometown for a while?”
Second Madam Qi immediately exchanged pleasantries with her, asking what medicine she was taking, what illness it was, and whether it was serious.
Xiang Rong quietly leaned toward Qi Yuan and whispered, “Before you came, Ling Qiang had already arrived. She was speaking in a sarcastic tone about Chan Jie’er and that lantern festival incident.”
Qi Yuan’s expression turned cold.
This world was already harsh toward women; women already lived difficult lives. As women themselves, if they had even a bit of empathy, they shouldn’t repeatedly bring up such matters.
This was no longer just gossip.
To put it bluntly, Ling Qiang was deliberately trying to push Wang Chan to her death.
As they spoke, they had already reached the moon gate and happened to hear Ling Qiang’s sharp laughter from inside: “Chan Jie’er, you’re not angry, are you? Why are you overthinking? I never said the one who was lost was you, I only heard it from others. Don’t take it to heart…”
Xiang Rong’s expression immediately darkened. “Before I came out, I had already pulled her away and told her not to continue. How is she still…?”
“How can a beast understand human speech?” Qi Yuan said expressionlessly as she quickened her pace, stepped through the moon gate, walked straight toward the animated Ling Qiang, then suddenly lifted a teapot from beside her and poured it over Ling Qiang’s head.
At that moment, most of the guests who were supposed to arrive had already arrived, and everyone had been listening with great interest.
With that pot of tea poured down, not only did Ling Qiang scream and step back, everyone else was also stunned.
Qi Yuan’s reputation for being formidable had long spread through the noble circle.
But for her to act like this in front of everyone, this was the first time.
Ling Qiang screamed and lunged toward Qi Yuan.
Qi Yuan frowned, exerted force with her foot, and kicked a stool forward.
Ling Qiang immediately tripped over the stool and fell heavily forward onto the ground, letting out a miserable cry.
The fall was solid. Even Madam Xiang and Second Madam Qi, who had just entered, exchanged glances at the same time and both thought: That must hurt!
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