Princess Consort quickly raised her hand to interrupt Xiao Yun, "Alright, little ancestor, stop spouting nonsense. Today's guests are all distinguished, there are more than twenty young ladies in total. What do you mean, 'Sister-in-law has arrived'? Do you think your brother is going to start a harem?"

“Mother, that’s very disrespectful,” Xiao Yun said seriously, then raised the flower cake in her hand to stuff it into the princess’s mouth.

The head maidservant turned away, suppressing a laugh, leaving only the pearl hairpin in her hair trembling.

"If Mother doesn't eat, she'll smudge her lip rouge." The princess picked up a handkerchief and pressed it against her face, which had been rubbed with the flower cake.

"Don't call anyone by their name later. Just call anyone you don't know their name 'sister,' and you won't go wrong."

The princess dared not imagine what would happen if this little rascal accidentally called her "sister-in-law," wouldn't that embarrass the girl to death?

"Hmm, umm."

Xiao Yun's mouth was full of flower cakes, and she had no time to respond to her mother.

Her little head bobbed up and down, the butterfly beads on her double buns danced gracefully, and the pearls inlaid in the tassels swayed incessantly.

A short while later, Xiao Dai walked through the covered walkway, chatting and laughing with the girls who had come to the banquet.

Xiao Dai knew that her mother intended to train her in managing the household.

Standing amidst a group of brightly colored girls, his phoenix eyes sparkled with laughter as he chatted and laughed with them, without putting on any airs.

Aunt Cai watched the girls getting closer and closer, her eyebrows and eyes filled with smiles.

"Your Highness is blessed; from now on, the arrangements for banquets can be left to the eldest young lady."

The Princess Consort of Yan's eyes were filled with admiration. "Excellent, you know how to advance and retreat with ease."

Anyone with a keen eye can see that the young lady's ability to control the atmosphere is evident.

Among that group of girls, some were people Xiao Dai knew, while others were meeting for the first time. She didn't miss a single one, and the atmosphere was lively and never dull.

Xiao Dai stood out the most among the group of girls.

She wore a lilac-colored pomegranate dress, was tall and slender, and had a dignified and elegant demeanor.

Her appearance was like jade, and her temperament was pure and refined.

The girls filed in and bowed to the princess in greeting.

The princess was so overwhelmed by the group of bright and beautiful girls that she could hardly take it all in. If it weren't for her status, she would have loved to hold each of them's hands, chat with them, and get a closer look.

"I've invited everyone here today for two reasons. First, the Mid-Autumn Festival has just passed, so we're having a belated Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. Second, the young master has brought some rare and exotic flowers and herbs to present to me. Please enjoy them to your heart's content and don't feel shy."

The princess spoke to the young ladies without any airs, and never used the self-reference of "I am the Empress," acting like a gentle elder.

The girls, who were initially a bit reserved, became lively and all looked towards the outside of the flower hall.

"The Crown Prince is so busy that he still thinks of the Princess. The Princess is so blessed to have such a filial son."

"These flowers are beautiful and varied, and many of them are unfamiliar to us. Let's take a good look at them in a bit."

The girls seized the opportunity to praise him.

"So it was the Crown Prince who came looking for us. My elder brother will be returning to Yannan in a few days, and he will definitely come to the Prince's residence to bother the Princess Consort."

The girl who spoke was Lin Ruyin, the younger sister of Lin Xiangzhi, Xiao Jingzhao's good friend.

When Lin Ruyin spoke of Xiao Jingzhao, her cheeks flushed, and her delicate face revealed a hint of shyness.

Lin Ruyin was about sixteen years old. Her fair and tender cheeks were like peeled eggs, crystal clear and moist, and her eyes were like water apricots.

Her jet-black hair was styled into a simple bun, adorned only with a delicate white jade hairpin inlaid with gold. Though simple, it was nonetheless fresh and elegant.

“Miss Lin, you’re too kind. Xiangzhi and Jingzhao are as close as brothers. It’s only right that he come to the Prince’s Mansion for a get-together when he returns.”

"Sister Lin will come too. Yun'er hasn't seen you in a long time." Xiao Yun, like a mischievous monkey, picked another flower in her hand in the blink of an eye.

Upon seeing Lin Ruyin, her phoenix eyes smiled like a fox that had stolen honey, gleaming with cunning. She cheerfully held up the flowers in her hand in front of Lin Ruyin.

"Sister Lin, these flowers are for you."

"Thank you." Lin Ruyin was flattered and took the flowers with both hands, then lowered her head to smell them. "They smell so good."

The girls all cast envious glances at Lin Ruyin. The Prince's Mansion rarely held banquets, but this time it was Xiao Dai's name that invited the girls to get together.

Anyone with eyes could see that the princess was going to find suitable girls for the two young masters of the royal family.

Lin Ruyin gained the favor of the second young lady, which meant she was one step closer to entering the Prince's mansion.

As expected, Aunt Cai smiled and said to everyone:

"After you've enjoyed the flowers, you can go to the next hall to admire the calligraphy and paintings. The young master recently hung up another masterpiece, but unfortunately, my eyesight isn't good, and the landscape painting looks like it's covered with a layer of fog."

“Auntie, are your eyes alright? Big brother has a landscape painting that perfectly captures the mist on the river. That painting is so beautiful.” Xiao Yun spoke with a serious expression, looking just like a real person.

The girls walked toward the garden in twos and threes.

Only one girl walked down the corridor to the next hall, and Xiao Dai followed her.

“Miss Su Hui? I’ve heard my second brother mention Su Zhubu to my father. She was once a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). She’s a rare talent with a bright future ahead of her.”

Xiao Dai had already greeted Su Hui, but there were too many people earlier, so she hadn't had a chance to say more to her.

"Miss Xiao is too kind. My father was fortunate to be appreciated by the Crown Prince and was able to return to officialdom. It is an honor for Su Hui to receive Miss Xiao's invitation." Although Su Hui was older than Xiao Dai and Xiao Dai was of noble status, she slightly curtsied as she spoke.

"Does Miss Su enjoy calligraphy and painting?"

As the two spoke, they arrived at the entrance of the hall. Xiao Dai noticed that Su Hui's eyes were glistening as she looked at the paintings in the hall, and asked with a smile.

"Yes, I really like it. I have a painting in my collection, just like that one called 'Autumn Mountains in the Evening.' The brushstrokes are rich and flowing, like clouds and mist, and the artistic conception is also very beautiful."

Su Hui knew that the painting in her hand was by the eldest son, Xiao Kang.

She understood the purpose of the banquet at the Prince's mansion today, and in order to avoid suspicion and prevent Xiao Dai from misunderstanding that she had ulterior motives, she deliberately did not mention it.

"Miss Su may wish to go in and appreciate it at her leisure. Inside there are calligraphic works by Qingling Shanren and by the true scholar."

Upon hearing Su Hui's evaluation of the painting, Xiao Dai knew that Su Hui was a connoisseur of art.

Xiao Dai led Su Hui into the hall and showed her the location of the calligraphy and paintings. Then she went out to entertain the other girls.

This hall is equivalent to the calligraphy and painting exhibition hall of a prince's mansion. It is filled with calligraphy and paintings by talented people and celebrities throughout history. Su Hui can identify them without looking at the signatures. There are more than twenty pieces of calligraphy and paintings by Xiao Kang alone.

Meanwhile, Xiao Kang heard from a maid that the princess was waiting for him in the flower hall.

Today, his father went to the military camp, and his younger sister hosted a party for her girlfriends. Xiao Kang had no intention of leaving the hospital.

Now that his chronic illness is gone, he walks much more easily.

Xiao Guizi secretly learned the young lady's true intention in holding the banquet.

Seeing his master hesitate, he urged, "Young master, let's go through the corridor on one side of the garden, so we won't bump into the girls admiring the flowers in the garden."

Xiao Kang thought it made sense. The master and servant walked through the passageway, entered the moon gate, and followed the covered walkway.

As Xiao Kang passed through the hall, he caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a figure inside.

Looking up, my eyes lit up, and my feet involuntarily stopped.