Xu Yunci did not stay at Shousong Hall for long, probably because he was in a hurry to go to the Jingzhao Prefecture. Before leaving, he looked deeply at Li Shiyue, but Li Shiyue lowered her eyes and did not look up at him.

As Xu Yunci walked out of Shousong Hall, he felt empty inside, as if something was missing.

Organizing a banquet is no simple matter. The invitations alone require careful consideration, as does the seating arrangement. For example, which families are at odds with each other, or whose officials' spouses are close friends—these are all things that need to be taken into account.

However, Madam Yang was adept at managing the household affairs, but she had an idea in mind. Following Granny Chang's suggestion, she simply went to Shousong Hall, taking Xu Lingzi with her.

When the mother and daughter entered, Li Shiyue was standing by the table, copying Buddhist scriptures. Her handwriting was delicate, unlike her husband's bold and unrestrained style, but upon closer inspection, the strokes were strong and powerful, clearly indicating that she had been practicing for some time.

"Mother."

When Madam Xu opened her eyes, she already knew someone had come in. She was not surprised to see that it was Madam Yang and her daughter Xu Lingzi.

"You've come at just the right time, did you know?"

Madam Yang nodded. She didn't tell Xu Lingzi about the Guo family's affairs, but she had a plan in mind: "I think it would be better if Sixth Sister and Jiaojiao held the banquet together this time."

When Madam Xu heard this, her eyes lit up. She looked at Li Shiyue and Xu Lingzi, who were equally surprised, guessing that Yang had come up with this idea but hadn't had time to tell the parties involved.

He nodded in agreement: "I think it's a good idea. You've been learning from your mother and aunt for quite some time now, so it's good for you to get started."

Li Shiyue was startled. Compared to Xu Lingzi, she had only learned the basics. If she took on the task, would she make a mistake and become a laughing stock of the Xu family?

Seeing her concerns, Madam Yang smiled and said, "Jiaojiao, don't worry. You've only been studying for a short time, so this time your cousin will be in charge. You can come along and observe. If there's anything wrong, just discuss it with your cousin."

"You have to learn how to do it eventually; observing beforehand is also a form of learning."

Li Shiyue breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that she had Xu Lingzi with her even if she made a mistake. She didn't have to worry about losing her composure.

However, Xu Lingzi wasn't in a good mood; she was nervous and scared, yet also somewhat expectant: "I wonder which day it's set?"

Madam Yang and Old Madam Xu exchanged a smile: "It's not decided yet, it's up to you."

Xu Lingzi refused to give up: "What about the title?"

"It's not decided yet; it depends on how you propose it."

Xu Lingzi opened her eyes wide, wanting to ask more questions, but seeing Li Shiyue's suppressed laughter, she looked at Old Madam Xu and Madam Yang in disbelief: "You can't just tell me there's nothing there, and then just do it directly."

"Congratulations, you guessed right." Madam Yang smiled slightly, detached as if watching a play, with a hint of schadenfreude in her eyes.

Yang was always dignified and rarely showed any playful side; even her jokes were excessively dignified.

Seeing Xu Lingzi biting her lip, looking nervous and scared as if she was about to cry, she pretended not to see it, picked up the teacup next to her and took a sip.

Madam Xu smiled and looked at Madam Yang, then said to Xu Lingzi in a comforting tone, "You have to do it yourself eventually. Consider this a small test. If you encounter any difficulties, just ask your mother. Besides, Jiaojiao will help you."

"As the older cousin, you have to set a good example for your younger cousin."

Xu Lingzi pursed her lips and sat back down. After thinking for a moment, she moved closer to Li Shiyue and said, "Jiaojiao, you have to help me."

"Okay, as long as you give the order, I will do my best."

The two sisters were discussing the banquet arrangements, inviting various families under the title of Princess Yichang, Li Shiyue. As for the other matters, half a day was already gone just from making the arrangements.

The doors and windows of Chengyu Pavilion were open, letting in a cool breeze that stirred the edges of the paper held down by the paperweight. The paper was covered with various notes and markings by Xu Lingzi; only after stopping writing did she realize how tired she had been.

As evening approached, one could vaguely see the north side of the garden from the attic.

Li Shiyue stretched her wrists, carefully gathering the blank sheets of paper covered in writing to prevent them from being blown away by the wind. If she had to do it again, her wrists would break.

"Cousin, what do you think of Miss Feng?"

Xu Lingzi was puzzled, and after thinking for a while, she asked, "Feng Lanyin? Why are you asking about her?"

Li Shiyue sighed softly, a hint of sorrow showing between her brows and helplessness in her eyes. She recounted how Feng Lanyin had sat down beside her and said those inexplicable things after Xu Lingzi left that day.

"I just didn't understand what she meant. The atmosphere was far too tense when we first met."

Although Xu Lingwan was also like that, Xu Lingwan's dislike was purposeful. Whether in her past life or this life, Feng Lanyin had never seen this before, and she really didn't understand where this inexplicable hostility came from.

Is it because she lives in the Duke's mansion? But that doesn't bother anyone. She lives in her own courtyard; what does it have to do with anyone else?

Xu Lingzi sneered upon hearing this, unable to hide the anger on her face: "It's so obvious, Madam Xiao's intention is to arrange a marriage between the Minister's Mansion and the Duke of Rong's Mansion."

"You probably don't know this, but Feng Lanyin was once chosen by the Emperor as a candidate for the Crown Prince's concubine. However, Minister Feng personally met with the Emperor, which is why the Feng family was not among the two concubines who entered Chonghua Palace earlier."

"I'm not afraid of others hearing this. She is the legitimate daughter of a second-rank minister. She is not unworthy of the position of Crown Princess. However, the Emperor has his eye on my elder sister for that position, so he will not humiliate her for anyone else."

"As for the Feng family, I think they have their eye on my second brother. Think about it, my second brother is the heir of the Rongguo Duke's mansion, and his future bride will be the future Rongguo Duke's wife. She will be his principal wife and also be able to rely on the Chonghua Palace. Why not?"

Xu Lingzi rested her chin on her hands, but she really didn't like Feng Lanyin. After hearing Li Shiyue's words, she felt even more that this person was not very good.

She acts all friendly to people's faces, yet behind their backs she warns those who are sarcastic and mean. Such a person is definitely petty and narrow-minded, and is not fit to be the wife of a noblewoman in the Duke's mansion.

"Don't pay any attention to her. My second brother's marriage is not something my mother can do unless he agrees to it himself. Look at Taoyue and Xingyue, no, my cousin changed their names to Taolu and Xinglu. They are the maids my mother arranged for him to have as concubines."

"Among my brothers, only my second brother treats his two maids as ordinary servants, not even the kind who serve him closely. As for his marriage, Mother has asked about it, but my second brother has never agreed and has never brought it up again."

Peach Moon and Apricot Moon have changed their names?

Li Shiyue looked surprised. Actually, it was very taboo for a servant to use the same name as her master, but since she was in someone else's house, she couldn't very well ask for something.

When was it changed? It wasn't there when she last went to Songyuan.

Feeling an inexplicable strangeness in her heart, Li Shiyue couldn't hear what Xu Lingzi was saying; her hands kept fidgeting under her sleeves.