Following the palace attendants, the three of them walked forward until they reached the entrance of a hall. A eunuch bowed and said, “Ladies, please enter.”
Xu Nanxi smiled. “Thank you for your trouble.”
Her maid, Huangzhu, immediately took out a pouch and discreetly handed it over. The eunuch bowed in thanks and quickly retreated.
Mingxi looked up at the plaque above the hall’s entrance—three golden characters gleamed: Yichun Palace.
This wasn’t the Eastern Palace’s main hall, so it seemed that today’s spring banquet would be held here.
Soon, another palace maid emerged and curtsied to them. “Ladies, please follow me.”
The three of them stepped forward and entered the palace.
Yichun Palace was not excessively extravagant but had a refined elegance. The palace servants moved with practiced grace and spoke with careful decorum, demonstrating that strict discipline was maintained here.
As they ascended the stone steps and entered the hall, the sound of laughter and conversation reached their ears. The room was already filled with guests.
At the highest seat, Bai Shixi, the Crown Princess, sat in a place of honor. The three of them approached and curtsied.
“We pay respects to Your Highness, the Crown Princess.”
“Please rise. Have a seat, let’s talk.”
Bai Shixi’s voice was warm and inviting. Mingxi suppressed her curiosity and kept her head lowered as she followed Xu Nanxi and Yao Yunyi to their seats.
“It has been some time. How have you all been lately?”
Only then did Mingxi lift her gaze to Bai Shixi—and was slightly surprised.
Bai Shixi seemed thinner than before she had entered the Eastern Palace. Though she was dressed in splendid court attire with impeccable makeup, upon closer examination, there was a hint of weariness in her expression.
Mingxi felt a heaviness settle in her heart but made sure not to let it show. Since she had entered the hall, many eyes had already fallen on her, and she couldn’t afford to betray any emotion.
A banquet like this was a grand social occasion. The aristocratic families in the capital were intricately connected by bloodlines and alliances, making it all the more necessary to tread carefully.
Soon, more young ladies arrived, and the hall grew even livelier.
Mingxi finally took a quiet breath and secretly observed Bai Shixi.
At that moment, Yao Yunyi, standing beside her, whispered, “Look who just arrived.”
Mingxi turned her head and saw a girl in a pink dress, bright and charming, greeting the Crown Princess.
He Wanqing?
Mingxi wasn’t very familiar with her. In her previous life, they had barely interacted, and she hardly had any memory of her. If the Crown Princess hadn’t addressed her by name, she might not have even recognized her.
“One He Wanyi left, and now the Xingan Marquis Manor has pushed He Wanqing forward. It seems like every girl from their family, whether legitimate or not, must have some use.”
“Lower your voice,” Xu Nanxi reminded softly. “It wouldn’t be good if someone overheard.”
Yao Yunyi scoffed, “If they dare to do it, they shouldn’t be afraid of people talking. I’m not afraid of them!”
Yu Wang had already been sent away, which was not good news for her Guangxiang Marquis Manor. All thanks to the Xingan Marquis Manor.
No matter what Yu Wang had done, he was still her cousin. Besides, she had always had a good relationship with Yu Wangfei, so naturally, she held a deep grudge against the Xingan Marquis Manor.
Mingxi subtly turned her head and sighed internally as she watched Bai Shixi warmly interacting with He Wanqing.
Soon after, Jin Wangfei arrived. Yu Wangfei, being pregnant, did not attend. With Jin Wangfei’s arrival, the hall became even more lively.
Since it was a spring banquet, flower appreciation was inevitable. The banquet was set in the Eastern Palace garden.
As everyone followed the Crown Princess, Mingxi walked alongside Xu Nanxi. Yao Yunyi glanced ahead and spotted Liu Yunhua, waving to her to come over.
Liu Yunhua was about to step forward when Sun Yaoqing called out to her.
Mingxi didn’t have a favorable impression of Sun Yaoqing. At the last palace banquet, she and her mother’s attitude toward Madam Jiang was still fresh in her mind. She didn’t want to interact with her, so after greeting Liu Yunhua, she walked away.
Sun Yaoqing frowned slightly and glanced at the backs of the three leaving. Her face showed a hint of displeasure as she said, “Why did they leave as soon as I arrived?”
Liu Yunhua wasn’t particularly fond of Sun Yaoqing either, but she had no choice—Sun Yaoqing was going to be her cousin-in-law, the future Qi Wangfei. No matter how much she disliked her, she had to endure it.
“We just happened to run into each other and exchanged greetings. We weren’t originally walking together,” Liu Yunhua said evasively. “Miss Sun, are you alone?”
Sun Yaoqing glanced again at the distant figures of Mingxi and the others, but they were already out of sight. She withdrew her gaze and said to Liu Yunhua, “I was looking for you to chat, so I separated from the others.”
Liu Yunhua inwardly scoffed, thinking that more likely, no one wanted to accompany her. But she smiled and said, “Perfect, let’s walk together.”
Even if she didn’t like this unfortunate family connection, she couldn’t avoid it.
Meanwhile, Mingxi and the others followed the crowd to a large pond. The pond was surrounded by blooming flowers and lush willow trees, their branches swaying in the breeze. Palace maids in colorful dresses moved gracefully through the picturesque spring scenery, like figures in a vivid painting.
Mingxi had no interest in the scenery. Instead, she quietly observed the layout of the Eastern Palace, committing it to memory.
In the garden, numerous tables and chairs were set up for guests to sit at their leisure. Palace maids served tea and refreshments, filling the air with the fragrance of tea.
Most people gathered around the Crown Princess and Jin Wangfei, while Mingxi and her companions kept their distance.
However, they couldn’t avoid being noticed. Before long, their names were mentioned, and Mingxi, Sun Yaoqing, and Zheng Siyu were summoned forward.
Jin Wangfei’s gaze briefly swept over Mingxi before settling on Zheng Siyu. Sun Yaoqing was outright ignored. Mingxi caught a glimpse of Sun Yaoqing’s fading smile.
Bai Shixi had seats arranged and said with a smile, “We are all family in the future. No need to be so reserved—let’s sit and talk.”
Jin Wangfei chuckled lightly and said slowly, “The Crown Princess is right. But people’s hearts can change easily. Who knows if there will be unforeseen circumstances?”
As soon as these words fell, the atmosphere turned silent. All eyes shifted to Mingxi and the other two, as if they had done something shocking.
Mingxi suppressed her irritation and didn’t respond, pretending she hadn’t caught the underlying mockery.
However, Sun Yaoqing, having just been ignored and now hearing such a veiled jab, couldn’t hold back and immediately retorted, “Does Jin Wangfei mean that there’s some kind of change in the Jin Wang household?”
Liu Yunhua’s face darkened instantly. Not wanting to be the subject of gossip, she quickly stepped forward and smoothed things over with a smile. “Wangfei, please don’t take offense. Miss Sun spoke without thinking and didn’t mean anything by it.”
Sun Yaoqing shot Liu Yunhua a displeased look but wisely said nothing further, though her eyes still held a hint of defiance.
Mingxi secretly glanced at Bai Shixi and caught a flicker of impatience in her eyes, which quickly disappeared. Just as Mingxi wondered if she had imagined it, Bai Shixi suddenly asked, “Miss Duan, do you also think Miss Sun spoke without meaning?”
Mingxi: …
What did this have to do with her?!
