While Xin Jiuwei was talking to her father, Qi Huaiyu was also arguing with Madam Feng.

He lost the apprenticeship competition and lost face. In the past few days, everyone has been vying to send invitations to Xin Yunzhou. He, who used to be the center of attention, has been neglected. Qi Huaiyu was already unhappy, and he went home with a long face every day.

Madam Feng was already unhappy living a life without anyone to serve her, and she pointed at Qi Huaiyu's nose and cursed:

"Why are you always giving me attitude? You're the one who's ruining my life, so hurry up and figure something out!"

Qi Huaiyu said impatiently, "Can you stop arguing? If you didn't order Xin Jiuwei around all the time, would she be resentful?"

Madam Feng's eyes widened. "She wants to marry you, and I'm her mother-in-law! It's only natural for a mother-in-law to order her daughter-in-law around!"

“If you hadn’t been so impatient, she wouldn’t have been able to stand it,” Qi Huaiyu said. “Women just can’t keep their tempers up.”

"Weren't you born of a woman?" Madam Feng threw down her handkerchief. "If I had known, I should have thrown you into the latrine and drowned you! Otherwise, you would have given birth to an ungrateful child who would blame me!"

Qi Huaiyu, caught up in his words, realized he had gone too far, so he frowned and stopped talking.

Knowing full well that she still needed Qi Huaiyu to return to the Xin family, Feng calmed down after grumbling for a while and said to Qi Huaiyu:

"You're always reading, but all that knowledge is wasted! And you treat your own mother like this? What girl could stand that!"

"Xin Jiuwei is just being a little temperamental. She's been angry for a while this time. Don't you know how many times you need to coax her? Girls from wealthy families are actually quite easy to coax. If you say you can't coax her now, it's because you haven't really put in the effort!"

Qi Huaiyu said, "I have already given her a way out three times. If I were to be even more subservient, wouldn't I lose face?"

"Is saving face more important, or is our good life of eating and drinking more important!" Madam Feng pounded her chest and stamped her feet. "If you can't swallow your pride and lose money, all the hard work you put into studying every day will be for nothing!"

Qi Huaiyu said with a blank face, "Then what should we do? Women are just trouble."

Why can't Xin Jiuwei just obey and follow his orders?

Madam Feng said, "Even a virtuous woman can be won over by a persistent suitor. If you make the right move, why should she be afraid of not having a way to back down?"

The day of the Spring Banquet is a beautiful day when spring is in full bloom.

The three Xin siblings split into two carriages and set off. Xin Yunzhou left earlier, while Xin Jiuwei and Xin Xiyao spent some time getting ready.

Before leaving, Xin Jiuwei sent someone to inquire at the villa, only to hear that Jueming had left the city yesterday and returned to Chongwu Mountain.

"What a pity, I was thinking of going to visit him again," Xin Jiuwei muttered. "This monk is really hard to approach."

Xin Xiyao frowned. "Why are you so concerned about Master Jueming?"

Xin Jiuwei said with a grin, "Now that my brother has Mr. Ye as a powerful backer, can't I find one too?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Xin Xiyao exclaimed in shock. "He's a monk, what are you thinking?"

“Isn’t it perfect to become a monk?” Xin Jiuwei said, resting her chin on her hand. “We people of Yingzhou are the most devout Buddhists. I think Master Jueming’s words are even more useful than our father’s.”

Xin Xiyao reached out and touched Xin Jiuwei's forehead. "It doesn't feel hot."

Xin Jiuwei said, "Don't you think Master Jueming is much more handsome than Qi Huaiyu? I don't think any of the young masters in Yingzhou City can compare to him."

"Alright, alright, stop it now." Xin Xiyao gently scolded her younger sister, "Don't be disrespectful to monks."

Xin Jiuwei thought that she was right. After Jueming returned to being Xiao Xun, the number of people who wanted to marry him was countless.

Although she didn't have such thoughts—in fact, her purpose in getting close to Jueming was far more terrifying than marriage.

Before long, the two sisters arrived at the manor where the spring banquet was being held.

This garden was owned by the wealthiest merchant in Yingzhou, and they held their spring banquet here almost every year.

Because it is located near the city gate, it is very convenient for young men and women to go out for a spring outing after they have finished appreciating poetry and paintings.

The two sisters arrived rather late; the garden was already quite crowded, with the young ladies dressed in their finest attire, a truly pleasing sight.

Xin Jiuwei spotted Xue Yingxue at a glance.

The other person was still wearing a light blue dress, which made her look very fresh and refined among the brightly colored dresses.

She has always been like this. At the spring banquet, all the young ladies prefer to dress up in a way that is appropriate for the occasion and full of vitality, but she insists on being different from the others.

Xin Jiuwei went closer and found that she was talking to her brother.

Xin Yunzhou looked somewhat impatient, as if he didn't want to talk to her anymore.

But Xue Yingxue seemed not to see it. She first asked Xin Yunzhou about his time with Mr. Ye that day, and then asked Xin Yunzhou why he had come here today, which was unprecedented for him.

“I rarely see Young Master Xin before,” Xue Yingxue said. “I thought you didn’t like coming to noisy places like this.”

Xin Yunzhou said casually, "Miss Xue always complained about the noise, but she still came anyway."

Xue Yingxue looked at him, her face still showing that reserved demeanor, but her words were somewhat ambiguous.

"Knowing that Young Master Xin was coming, Yingxue came."

Xin Yunzhou chuckled twice but did not respond.

Xue Yingxue's expression was somewhat stiff. She had always been very concerned about her image and had a strong sense of self-respect. In the past, she hardly needed to do anything for the young masters of Yingzhou to flock around her and fawn over her.

When had she ever been so proactive? This seemingly clueless Xin Yunzhou didn't appreciate it at all.

Xue Yingxue was somewhat dissatisfied, but then she thought again that she had come prepared today. Among all the noble ladies in the garden, very few could compare with her talent. When the time came, she would shine brightly, and only Xin Yunzhou would regret it.

When that time comes, why worry that he won't come to coax her?

Xue Yingxue smiled gently and bowed to Xin Yunzhou, "Then Yingxue will take her leave now and won't disturb you any longer."

Xin Yunzhou couldn't wait for her to leave.

Xue Yingxue turned around, lifting her skirt, only to bump into Xin Xiyao's ambiguous smile.

Her gentle smile faltered for a moment. "Miss Xin."

"I was thinking as I left home that I would definitely run into Miss Xue today." Xin Jiuwei said with a half-smile, raising her voice slightly, which attracted the attention of many noble ladies around her.

"I was thinking that Miss Xue might not come, but then I thought, Miss Xue is actually a hypocrite, so she will definitely come."

Xue Yingxue's eyes flickered slightly. "What does Miss Xin mean by this?"

Xin Jiuwei said, "At past banquets, Miss Xue always complained that it was noisy, vulgar, and boring, but she still came every time. Isn't that just saying one thing and meaning another? So when my girlfriends asked me about Miss Xue, I always said that we can befriend Miss Xue without worry. After all, she only complains verbally, but her actions are actually very honest."

Xue Yingxue's face stiffened, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.

After a long while, she said, "I have never liked the boring topics and trivial disputes between women. Is that wrong? Everyone can come to the Spring Banquet, and the young gentlemen can even compose poems and write essays. I have always enjoyed this, and I think Miss Xin can understand."

Xin Jiuwei laughed: "I can understand, but I find it strange that Miss Xue has never sparred with the young ladies. How does she know their level? Does Miss Xue have discerning eyes and know that only they can engage in literary discussions with you just by looking at the young masters' faces?"