The welcome-home banquet was held in the front yard.

The old lady of the Xie family, Xie Anfeng, Xie Yu, Madam Xu, and Madam Xie the Second all came.

Men are in one area, and women are in another.

Madam Xie, Madam Bo, Madam Lu, Madam Xie the Second, Xie Zhaozhao, Xie Xiangxiang, and others were all at one table, while the other female relatives were at different tables.

Guan Yingying is a female member of the family, and no matter how much Gu Chengyan dotes on her, she can't possibly go to the male guests' side.

“I don’t want to eat while having to worry about Xie Zhaozhao’s mood,” she said to Gu Chengyan with a heart full of jealousy. “I’d rather eat a bowl of porridge in the mulberry garden.”

Gu Chengyan initially agreed, but Xie Xiangxiang said seriously, "No, all the concubines from the other courtyard are participating, why is she the only one who's special?"

"If you don't go and tell her, who will take care of things in our courtyard?" Gu Chengyan looked at Xie Xiangxiang with annoyance. "She doesn't want to participate."

Xie Xiangxiang sneered, "Are these rules just for dogs? If you want to break the rules for her, then go and tell your second aunt and grandmother yourself."

Gu Chengyan asked Madam Lu for leave, but Madam Lu, having already received Xie Zhaozhao's advice, refused outright: "No, rules must be followed, otherwise all the concubines will follow suit, what kind of place will this mansion look like?"

Guan Yingying had no choice but to attend the banquet.

Guan Yingying didn't know where she should sit either, she just assumed it was like attending a banquet in her past life, and sat wherever there was an empty seat.

Seeing Ru Shi with Gu Yuebai, she went over and said happily, "Bai Bai, shall Mom feed you?"

Gu Yuebai said happily, "Mother, Baibai misses Mother. Baibai wants Mother to feed her."

Guan Yingying sat happily next to Gu Yuebai, picked up a piece of fish belly meat, removed the bones, and put it on Gu Yuebai's plate.

Madam Xu also attended her eldest daughter's welcome-home banquet today. She sat next to Xie Xiangxiang and immediately noticed Guan Yingying. She asked Madam Lu, "Father-in-law, is that woman the eldest young master's concubine?"

When Madam Lu saw that she was referring to Consort Yue, she immediately knew Madam Xu's displeasure. Consort Yue was someone her own in-laws had personally gone to catch in the act of adultery.

Madam Lu said to Siqin beside her, "Go and call Aunt Yue over to serve the eldest young mistress."

Xie Xiangxiang said to Granny Wei, "Give Aunt Yue some manners."

Siqin and Granny Wei went to Guan Yingying's side, and one of them said, "Aunt Yue, you can't sit down."

One said, "You are a concubine, and Young Master Yuebai is the master. You have no right to ask him to call you mother. His only mother is the young mistress."

Granny Wei squatted down and said to Gu Yuebai, "Aunt Yue is your aunt, not your mother. Your mother is only Madam."

Gu Yuebai nodded and hurriedly admitted her mistake: "Baibai understands, she is my aunt, Baibai will change in the future."

Guan Yingying's stool was pulled away, and she was pulled up. Ru Shi quickly took the fish that Gu Yuebai had peeled.

Guan Yingying was led over by Granny Wei and Siqin, and stood behind Xie Xiangxiang to serve her.

A thousand alpacas galloped through Guan Yingying's mind as she cursed everyone in the Earl's Mansion and Xie Xiangxiang a thousand times over.

Seeing that she was standing there arrogantly, neither serving Xie Xiangxiang any food nor soup, Madam Xu frowned and said to Madam Lu, "Has no one taught Aunt Yue manners since she entered the mansion?"

Madam Lu cursed, "Aunt Yue, you're not stupid, but don't you know how to learn manners?"

He said to Siqin, "After the banquet, arrange for Aunt Yue to learn etiquette. She can eat and sleep whenever she learns it."

There are old nannies in the manor who specialize in teaching manners. Guan Yingying had a miscarriage recently because she was beaten, and her injuries had not healed. She was also protected by Gu Chengyan, so she did not learn the manners properly.

Thinking about the grievances Xie Xiangxiang had suffered, Xu Shi was unwilling to let Guan Yingying off the hook.

She said to Mrs. Lu, "Then let's start now and learn to serve the mistress."

Granny Wei said coolly to Guan Yingying, "Aunt Yue, keep an eye on the young mistress. If she wants to eat something, you should serve her that food promptly. If she needs to wipe her hands, you should offer her a cloth immediately."

Guan Yingying was unwilling, but with so many women eyeing her covetously, a wise man knows when to back down.

A short while later, she saw Xie Xiangxiang reach out her hand. Thinking that she wanted to drink soup, she immediately scooped out a spoonful. However, Xie Xiangxiang accidentally tipped the spoon over, spilling it all over Madam Xie.

As a guest, Madam Xie was too embarrassed to scold her, so she said to Madam Lu, "In-law, please take me to change my clothes."

Xie Zhaozhao stood up and said to Madam Xie, "Second Aunt, let's go to my Qingpu Courtyard."

Madam Lu was too busy to handle everything, so it would be best if Xie Zhaozhao could take her to change her clothes.

Xie Xiangxiang said to Guan Yingying, "Aunt Yue, go to Grandmother's small Buddhist hall and kneel for two hours."

Send Anxiang along to supervise Guan Yingying as she kneels for two full hours.

Guan Yingying felt like a million alpacas were running through her mind, but she had no choice but to go to the old lady's small Buddhist shrine.

The Buddhist hall is located in a quiet corner at the back, near Ci'en Temple, and is extremely peaceful.

Pushing open the door, Anxiang pointed to the brick path at the entrance of the Buddhist hall and said, "Aunt Yue, you can kneel in the courtyard."

Guan Yingying pointed at the brick road and protested, "If I kneel here for two hours, won't my knees be ruined?"

Anxiang sighed and said, "Be content. The fact that your master didn't beat you on the spot for the mistake you made today is already showing you respect. Many masters have knelt here, so kneeling before Guanyin isn't a bad thing for you."

Guan Yingying had no choice but to kneel down, even though she was unwilling. At first, it was okay, but after kneeling for half an hour, her knees felt extremely uncomfortable. She gritted her teeth and endured it for half an hour before she started looking around.

Anxiang couldn't help but scold her: "Aunt Yue, two hours is really not much. Madam is the most kind-hearted mistress in the mansion. You should at least show some respect."

Guan Yingying looked around to make sure no one was watching, then said to Anxiang, "Anxiang, can you do me a favor? They're having a feast, and no one's going to check. I'll give you the gold hairpin Chengyan bought for me later."

Anxiang's eyes lit up, but she still whispered, "Aunt Yue, you should still follow the rules."

"How long have you been working in the manor?"

“I’ve been here since I was a child.”

"Have you never thought about leaving? Don't you want to marry someone you like? Why do you want to be a subservient servant?"

Anxiang hurriedly said, "Aunt Yue, don't try to sow discord. I won't listen to you, or my master will beat me to death."

Guan Yingying said, "I'm telling you the truth! I'm doing this for your own good. I can help you escape from here. Don't be someone's slave. There are plenty of places outside where you can make a living."

Hearing her sincerity, Anxiang looked around to make sure no one was watching, took off the warm arm warmer from her wrist, and placed it under Guan Yingying's knees, whispering, "You don't need to kneel so properly, sit on my feet and rest for a while."

Guan Yingying then turned her feet inward and sat on the ground, slacking off.

Not long after, Xie Zhaozhao and Madam Xie returned to the banquet. Yuanyuan whispered to Xie Zhaozhao about Anxiang giving Guan Yingying water.

Xie Zhaozhao glanced at Duo'er, and Yuanyuan understood. She secretly approached Duo'er, Xu's maid, and led her to the servants' area for the feast.

During the banquet, Yuanyuan said in confusion, "I just passed by the old lady's small Buddhist hall and saw Anxiang, the first-class maid of the second young lady, chatting and laughing with Aunt Yue. She even took one of Aunt Yue's gold hairpins. When did they become so close?"

Duo'er said dismissively, "Anxiang is not a son of the Xie family, so he can't be relied on."

After the meal, Duo'er immediately told Madam Xu about Guan Yingying bribing Xie Xiangxiang's head maid.