Wanruo arrived at the appointment as scheduled and followed the Xie family's motorcade to the villa outside Beijing.

It was spring, and Jiang Xuejun's birthday party was held at a manor in the suburbs of Beijing. The scenery was pleasant, and many famous ladies and men from famous families in Beijing were invited.

"Xiuzhu, you're here?" Jiang Xuejun came out, took Xie Xiuzhu's arm, and led her to the pavilion in the middle of the lake.

Wanruo fell behind by a step and followed behind, taking a look at the scenery of the villa. It was indeed beautiful. There was a vast lake and a cherry forest next to it. The villa was right in the cherry forest.

Before the banquet started, the guests either admired the cherry blossoms in the forest or took a walk by the lake. There was an octagonal pavilion in the center of the lake, which could be reached by walking along a long plank road.

"Today is your birthday party, and I'm giving you this pair of jade ruyi. My elder brother is busy at court and can't come, so mother asked me to bring them to you on his behalf."

As Xie Xiuzhu was speaking, the little maid behind her came forward with a gift box.

Jiang Xuejun happily accepted it: "Thank you."

Wanruo took out a small exquisite pear wood box from Suyue's hand and handed it to Jiang Xuejun: "I prepared it in a hurry, please don't mind it, Miss Jiang."

"It's good that you can come."

Jiang Xuejun opened the box, thinking that Wanruo would give her some shabby sachet or something like that to embarrass her in front of others, but she never expected that the box actually contained a pair of pearl hairpins from the Caidiexuan era.

The balance is just right, neither shabby nor eye-catching, and there is nothing wrong with it.

Jiang Xuejun smiled and said, "Sister Wanruo is thoughtful."

This pair of hairpins would cost at least one hundred taels of silver. What money could a poor orphan like Wanruo have? It was nothing more than Xie Xianyu's money.

Thinking of this, the smile on Jiang Xuejun's face became a little stiff.

"Why didn't Mr. Xie come? It's Sister Xuejun's birthday party after all." Someone asked casually.

Jiang Xuejun smiled and said, "Xie Xizi is busy with his duties at court. How can he have the time to attend this birthday banquet right now?"

"Yes, he's investigating the salt tax case right now. It's a serious matter and can't be handled lightly. It's still in the final stages of the case, so naturally he can't get away. But if he could, he would definitely come."

"Isn't it? During the last Taiming Lake Spring Outing Banquet, Xie Yuzi came right after leaving the palace. It's clear he's deeply in love with Miss Jiang."

Everyone was joking, and Jiang Xuejun's cheeks turned red with embarrassment. She lowered her head and was too embarrassed to speak.

Wanruo pursed her lips and stood quietly aside.

Someone then unceremoniously brought up the matter, "But I heard that Xie Yuzi secretly keeps a woman? And he's very particular about her?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole place fell into dead silence.

There weren't any secrets in Yanjing City, especially since it involved Xie Xianyu. Any slight disturbance would surely be known to the whole city.

Everyone said that Xie Xianyu was a model of aristocratic family's children. He was self-disciplined and respectful to the rites. He was intelligent and talented, and he was not interested in women. He didn't even have a maid in his room, let alone any brothels.

But such a tall and snowy figure suddenly got the news that he had a woman and even carried that woman into his bedroom.

Jiang Xuejun's smile faltered, and the hand in his sleeve suddenly tightened.

Xie Xiuzhu immediately retorted, "Nonsense! My elder brother has always been a clean man. He wouldn't keep a mistress like those stinky men out there. I don't believe those ridiculous rumors!"

Xie Xiuzhu has always admired her brother. In her eyes, Xie Xianyu is no different from a god. She doesn't believe a single word of these rumors.

Someone immediately came to the rescue and said, "Yeah, how could Xie Xizi be like this? I think it's a misunderstanding."

Everyone knows that there is no smoke without fire, and what's more, this story is true, so the woman must be there, but it's not easy to say it out loud.

"Even if there are some concubines, they are just toys. Xuejun will be the legal wife in the future, and she is just a concubine. If she is obedient, it is okay to honor her. Anyway, we will replace her in a few days." Someone spoke up for Jiang Xuejun.

"Of course. What's the point of looking down on such a cheap thing? I'm not even a little curious about who she is. A woman like that would be considered dirty to say anything more."

The ladies who complimented Jiang Xuejun started talking one after another.