At that moment, her heart almost jumped out of her chest.

After all, it's impossible for the young lady of the Grand Tutor's mansion to stay indoors all day in the capital, and the Pei family has a very large network of connections in the capital, so it's hard to say whether they have seen her before.

If someone recognizes you, it will arouse suspicion.

Seeing that Madam Pei's gaze had fallen on her daughters behind her, Madam Lin smiled and said to Madam Pei, "Your household is quite lively today. It's been a while since we've seen Shuwan and Shuyi. Mingshu often talks about coming to see them."

Pei Shuwan and Pei Shuyi are Madam Pei's two daughters, and they are about the same age as Shen Mingshu. When the ladies go out, they usually bring their daughters with them. Girls of the same age easily get along well, and those who get along well will exchange handkerchiefs and become sworn sisters. Although Shen Mingshu and Pei Shuwan are not exactly sworn sisters, they are still considered to be close friends.

While Lin was speaking, Madam Pei listened quietly, her face bearing a dignified and proper smile, but her eyes betrayed her disdain.

Although the two families often interacted, Madam Pei looked down on Lin's mercenary manner. Ordinary families with some manners would not bother associating with such a woman. She only reluctantly associated with her because the eldest son of the Shen family was her master's student and Zhao came from a noble family.

Unexpectedly, her half-hearted resistance only made Lin more familiar with her. Seeing that her two daughters were always associating with Shen Mingshu, she couldn't help but give her a few words of advice.

Fortunately, both daughters were obedient and did not develop any bad habits as a result.

"They're all in the inner courtyard. There are quite a few ladies here today, and the girls are playing a game of 'flying flowers' together!"

Then, the head maid led the women of the Shen family to the backyard, while the male guests sat down in the banquet hall of the main courtyard to chat. Some invited others to join a group of people to play cards, while others went to play pitch-pot for money, making it quite lively.

The Pei family was a prominent and wealthy household, and Lord Pei was the Minister of Rites. The layout of the mansion was very elaborate, with winding corridors and artificial hills made of Taihu stones, making the mansion look like a Jiangnan courtyard, which was very elegant.

Today is a major festival, and maids and servants can be seen everywhere in the mansion, all standing respectfully with their hands at their sides, subtly observing the surroundings to prevent any uncontrollable situation from arising.

Shen Mingshu walked ahead of Shen Mingxi and the other two. Seeing the Pei family's nanny talking to her aunt Zhao, she slowed her pace and turned to the three of them, saying, "When you three get to your seats later, you must also be careful with your words and actions. Remember not to embarrass our family and make people laugh at our concubine's daughter for being unruly and unable to hold her own in public."

As he spoke, he glared fiercely at Shen Mingzhuang before turning away.

Shen Ming'e pursed her lips and muttered unhappily, "All she talks about is legitimate daughter and illegitimate daughter. What else is there to brag about?"

Shen Mingxi pursed her lips, suppressing a laugh, while Shen Mingzhuang remained expressionless.

She was thinking about what she had seen and heard along the way, and calculating the time. Taking advantage of the opportunity, she fell behind by a step. When Shen Ming'e noticed that she had fallen behind, she turned around and looked at her curiously. Shen Mingzhuang clutched her stomach and said with a pained expression, "My stomach hurts."

Shen Ming'e frowned, but still stopped and walked towards her. "What's wrong with you? You know you're coming to the Flower-Adorning Banquet today, why are you still eating random things!"

After saying that, he stepped forward to help her up, said something to the maid beside him, and then helped her outside. He found a maid from the Pei household and asked her where the urinal was.

The maid blushed when asked and timidly replied, "This way."

Shen Ming'e supported Shen Mingzhuang as they walked, and couldn't help but mutter about her being reckless and eating random things. Shen Mingzhuang secretly found it amusing; in fact, compared to Shen Mingxi, Shen Ming'e was practically an angel.

Although she wasn't very clever, she didn't have any intention of harming others, which was already quite good for her.

Upon reaching the outside of the latrine, Manhuan smiled and said to the maid who had led the way, "Thank you very much."

As he spoke, he casually slipped her a small red envelope, saying, "I'll take care of my young lady here. There are many guests ahead, so you can go and get busy."

The maidservant didn't suspect anything, accepted the red envelope, and left with a smile.

Shen Ming'e asked, puzzled, "Why did you let her leave? How are we going to find them later?"

Shen Mingzhuang clutched her stomach, looking at Shen Ming'e with a pitiful expression. "Eighth Sister, my stomach hurts. I'm afraid I ate something bad. I'm afraid of getting this dress dirty, so I have to take it off."

Then she showed a face full of reluctance, as if the dress was some kind of precious treasure.

Hearing her call her Eighth Sister, Shen Ming'e's expression softened slightly, and she said with a touch of arrogance, "It's just a dress, so what if I take it off?"

Just as she was about to say something more, Shen Mingxi's surprised voice came from beside her: "What are you two doing here?"

As he spoke, he looked at Shen Mingzhuang with a suspicious expression.