Now that Nan Hongqiu had sent Song Wanshi away, she no longer had any worries in her heart, and she began to think peacefully about seeking revenge on Song Wanning. Seeing that the day agreed upon by Nan Hongqiu and Concubine Xian had arrived, she washed up and finally got on the carriage from the general's mansion and entered the palace.

As the daughter of an imperial official in the capital, Nan Hongqiu had naturally been to the palace before, had met the virtuous concubine before, and had recently accompanied Song Wanning to speak with both the virtuous concubine and Princess Xiangyu. Now, entering the palace for the second time, she felt like a fish in water.

Nan Hongqiu paid her respects to Princess Xiangyu and Concubine Xian as soon as she entered Dehua Palace. Her manners and etiquette were completely correct.

Concubine Xian looked at Nan Hongqiu with a smile on her face. She looked at Nan Hongqiu and said, "I've heard that Madam Nan is very well-educated and prudent in everything she does. Now I see that it is indeed true. I also heard that Madam Nan is very good at needlework. My daughter was raised in pampering, so her embroidery skills are a mess. I invited Madam Nan to the palace today just to let her teach her... But I don't know what kind of embroidery Madam Nan can do?"

Although Nan Hongqiu knew why Concubine Xian had summoned her, she still had to put on a show. She quickly replied with a smile, "Your Highness, I'm learning Suzhou embroidery. It's only because I married into the south that I've been able to improve. However, Suzhou embroidery is very demanding of the skill, and the princess has been pampered since she was a child. It would be bad if she got hurt while learning embroidery."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Xian's smile deepened. She looked at Nan Hongqiu and said calmly, "Madam Nan also has a daughter, so she must understand my heart best. I hold my daughter in my hands for fear of dropping her, and in my mouth for fear of her melting. I wish I could find her whatever she wants. Even if she wants the stars in the sky, I would find a way to get her. Now that she says she wants to learn embroidery, as a mother, I naturally have to think of a way for her."

"The Virtuous Concubine's love for her daughters is truly beyond our reach. Although I have two daughters at home, I watched helplessly as my daughters were influenced by outsiders and had a difficult marriage, but I could do nothing about it. Now, my family is crying while her family is laughing, but she is oppressed by power and there is nothing I can do." Nan Hongqiu took the opportunity to make some insinuations before quickly flattering, "Princess Xiangyu is so gentle and lovely, she deserves everything she wants. And as a princess, there is nothing in the world that she can't get."

"It's true that there are some things I can't get." Concubine Xian's eyes fell on Nan Hongqiu. "I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, but my daughter wanted to marry the Prime Minister before, but she was rejected. It was a huge loss of face for my daughter. Now, the Prime Minister and the eldest daughter of your family are engaged."

Nan Hongqiu suddenly had an idea and quickly said to Concubine Xian, "It's just an engagement. The engagement can be cancelled. As long as it's not a wedding, there's still time for all this."

Xian Fei raised her eyebrows and looked at Nan Hongqiu with a smile, "Madam Nan, if you say so, do you have any good ideas that can help Xiang Yu?"

"I have a plan, but I still hope that Her Majesty the Virtuous Concubine can allocate some manpower to complete this matter." Nan Hongqiu looked at Her Majesty the Virtuous Concubine with a smile and said, "I am willing to help Princess Xiangyu achieve her wish and avenge my poor child."

The virtuous concubine smiled and rewarded her with many gifts. They discussed the matter further until the afternoon. Then Nan Hongqiu pretended to have finished teaching embroidery and returned home from the palace.

Nan Hongqiu now felt even more proud with the help of the virtuous concubine, and went back to the general's residence to find the old lady that same day.

The old lady had previously been unhappy with her decision to marry Song Wanshi off to the Marquis of Zhongping's mansion, but now that she saw her face was disfigured, her anger faded. If Nan Hongqiu didn't quickly arrange a marriage for her, she might not even be able to get married.

The old lady still had some complaints about Nan Hongqiu. "You, I said long ago that I would have chosen a candidate for Sister Shi earlier, but now that second master Bai, the sonless man from the Zhongping Marquis's mansion, has seized the opportunity. Not only that, but Sister Shi's appearance has been ruined. How could such a good girl become like this around you?"

"It's all my fault." Nan Hongqiu didn't dare to refute the old lady now. She only sighed at her, "Grandma, it's not that I'm not doing my best, but I think our General's Mansion has been really unlucky lately. I don't know what evil spirit has touched us, but my sister Shi was poisoned for no apparent reason. Everything has gone wrong. I thought of taking the female relatives to the temple on Hongye Mountain to worship, observe vegetarianism and chant Buddhist scriptures for a few days, hoping to get rid of the bad luck and have everything go smoothly in the future."

The old lady simply raised her eyelids. "It's a small matter that you can just decide on your own. Why are you talking to me? I'm old now and don't have the energy to take care of your mess anymore."

"The women in the mansion naturally include those from the first wife's house, but Sister Ning has always been opinionated. If I asked her to go, she might not agree. For the sake of the family's future, my daughter-in-law thought of asking the old ancestor for help. If the old ancestor says so, she dare not refuse."

The old lady has always been partial to the second wife. After hearing what Nan Hongqiu said, she also responded, "You have a point. Let's have a family dinner tomorrow. I will speak to her in person. Little Ning dare not refuse."

Seeing that the old lady's business was now done, Nan Hongqiu smiled and thanked the old lady repeatedly before leaving the old lady's yard.

The news of the family dinner soon reached Song Wanning's yard. Song Wanning listened to Cai Que beside her muttering, "Another family dinner, don't let any troubles wait."

Zhuque was always quick-witted and quickly found out everything about the family feast. "I heard from the maid in the second house that the second wife felt that her family was too unlucky and wanted to take the women of the family to Red Leaf Mountain to bathe and fast for a few days to change their luck."

"If she wants to go, she can go by herself. Don't get involved with our second branch." Cai Que sneered, "It's only their second branch that's unlucky. Our first branch has been doing well this year."

"My good aunt went to pray for blessings. I'm afraid that her intention to get rid of bad luck is fake. I guess her real intention is to bring bad luck to others." Song Wanshi now knew everything. Before the family dinner, she had guessed what her good aunt was planning.

Cai Que was immediately worried after hearing this. She looked at Song Wanning and said in a low voice, "Miss, if the Second Madam asked you to go with her, you would just say you were not feeling well and refuse."

Song Wanning felt that this matter would not be easily resolved. "I don't know what the situation is now. Let's see what Nan Hongqiu said at the family dinner."