On the seventh day of the eighth lunar month, the west courtyard of the Prince of Fenyang's Mansion was filled with joy and decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers.
The guests all entered through the west gate and proceeded to the male and female guest areas along the north and south sides respectively.
Today, Madam Cui was dressed in her finest attire, and Cui Yun'er beside her had also changed from her usual masculine attire to a dignified and virtuous appearance, but a hint of impatience was faintly revealed in her eyes.
Cui said in a low voice, "You'd better behave yourself today, or you can go back to the capital."
Cui Yun'er: "..."
She suddenly saw a figure slowly approaching from the corridor next to her.
Fang Ningzhu walked up to Madam Cui and bowed respectfully: "Madam."
Cui Yun'er immediately frowned and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Madam Cui glared at her, then said slowly to Fang Ningzhu, "You and Granny Xu go to the front to greet the guests for me."
Fang Ningzhu lowered her eyes and said meekly, "Yes!"
Watching her departing figure, Cui Yun'er couldn't help but whisper, "Auntie, you don't know..."
"Shut up!" Madam Cui said coldly. "Today is my birthday, so don't say anything that will spoil the mood."
Cui Yun'er had no choice but to shut up.
When Fang Ningzhu was greeting the female guests at the entrance of the back garden with Madam Xu, she heard many people whispering among themselves.
"Wasn't her sister placed under house arrest by the prince? Why is she still lingering in the prince's residence?"
"Don't you know? The Fang family deliberately sent this illegitimate daughter here, hoping to become the princess..."
"Shh, you guys are being so rude. What if she hears you?"
"So what if she heard it? What can she do if she's just here to freeload?"
...
Fang Ningzhu listened to the sarcastic remarks deliberately made in front of her, her cheeks turning red and then pale, and she bit her lip tightly.
Who wants to marry a prince?
The person she wants to marry is Ling Qingxue!
She never left the Prince's mansion because she wanted to find opportunities to get close to Ling Qingxue.
Just then, Fang Ningzhu suddenly heard Madam Xu's voice: "Madam Xiang, you've arrived!"
Fang Ningzhu looked up and saw a woman with a stern and cold expression walking over.
She was accompanied by a girl who looked similar but was younger.
Xiao Xiangshi!
Fang Ningzhu stared intently at the girl, her fingernails digging so hard they almost drew blood from her palm.
Xiang Rulan immediately felt a sharp gaze. Looking up, she saw a graceful and sweet-looking woman standing in front of her.
She suddenly sensed a hint of hostility coming from the other person.
Could this be the woman, Ms. Su, that my cousin likes?
But then Xiang Rulan saw the girlish hairstyle on Fang Ningzhu's head, and she became somewhat uncertain again.
I heard that my cousin's favorite woman, Ms. Su, is a married woman who has already had children.
She probably wouldn't have the guts to impersonate an unmarried young woman at Madam Cui's birthday celebration...
Xiang Rulan coldly withdrew her gaze.
In any case, this time my aunt arranged for my cousin to get engaged to her the night before he left, and no one could get past her in this matter.
Fang Ningzhu quickly concealed the emotions in her eyes and greeted him with a smile: "Madam Xiang."
Xiang glanced at her coldly, then looked at Xu: "Is this the old lady's personal maid?"
Fang Ningzhu: "..."
His face instantly turned bright red, and he couldn't speak.
Madam Xu couldn't help but laugh and said, "She is the Princess Consort's half-sister, Fang Si Niangzi."
Xiang then nodded slightly to Fang Ningzhu: "I'm sorry, I misread it, Fourth Madam Fang."
After saying that, he ignored her and walked forward with Xiang Rulan and Madam Xu.
Several people nearby let out low snickers.
Just then, she suddenly heard a soft voice behind her: "Fourth Sister Fang!"
Fang Ningzhu turned around and saw the woman in front of her.
She wore her hair in a tassel bun, with a crown inlaid with pearls in front of the bun, and two even finer pearl tassels hanging from her earlobes.
She even had tiny pearls, each the size of a grain of rice, adorning both sides of her cheeks, making her already stunningly beautiful face even more breathtaking.
Fang Ningzhu was stunned for a moment when she saw it.
Many people nearby also let out uncontrollable low gasps.
Su Xuerong looked at her calmly and said, "Fourth Madam Su, it's been a long time."
The moment Fang Ningzhu saw her, she suddenly felt a strong sense of shame and inferiority.
She suddenly understood Ling Qingxue's choice.
He was willing to defy the world to marry her.
If she were a man, she probably wouldn't be able to let go of the woman in front of her either, right?
Fang Ningzhu was momentarily flustered: "Mrs. Su..."
At this time, Su Xuerong was already Cui's adopted daughter, and no matter how much she disliked her, she could not neglect her.
Su Xuerong walked towards her: "How has Fourth Madam Fang been lately?"
Fang Ningzhu: "..."
Su Xuerong looked at the departing figures of Xiang Shi and the others and chuckled, "Instead of focusing on me, Fourth Madam Fang should spend more time on Mr. Ling."
"If you really want to marry him, why are you kicking me when I'm down?" Su Xuerong sneered. "In the end, it's like the clam and the fisherman who benefits from the fight."
Fang Ningzhu's face stiffened, and her expression became extremely unnatural.
She never expected that Su Xuerong would expose her little scheme so directly, and she was speechless for a moment, her face turning crimson.
Su Xuerong looked at her coldly: "I hope Fourth Madam Su will be more clear-headed in the future and not do something that benefits others."
After saying that, he turned and walked forward.
Fang Ningzhu stood there, watching Su Xuerong's figure disappear like a banished immortal, her whole body feeling deflated, frustrated and annoyed.
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