After the midday birthday banquet, Xiangli Mu organized a meeting between the heads of the four major families and their young masters in the study. What they discussed remains unknown.
After Xiangli Youming was summoned away, Yuan Qi returned as well.
At the gate, Yuan Qi saw Xiang Lilin, who was seeing off the guests. Xiang Lilin was Xiang Li Youming's second uncle. Although Xiang Lilin tried his best to hide his ghostly power, Yuan Qi could still see it very clearly.
Xiang Lilin's cultivation has progressed quite quickly, and he has more cultivation talent than ordinary people, but he does not pose a threat yet.
Xiang Lilin thought that Yuan Qi would not be able to see through his ghostly power, so he boldly said goodbye to Yuan Qi.
Yuan Qi didn't take it to heart, exchanged a few pleasantries, and left.
Upon returning to Peony Residence, Green Bamboo presented her with a visiting card.
Yuan Qi took it and saw that it was a visiting card from Princess Liyue. She shook her head slightly, not thinking that it was appropriate to do so, or that it made her seem low-key and approachable. Instead, she felt that the princess was really pitiful.
"She's supposed to be a princess, yet she's actually sending a formal invitation. Isn't that a bit beneath her dignity?"
Green Bamboo saw it and felt a bit proud, thinking that her young lady was really awesome: "Miss, it's a visiting card from Princess Liyue. Even the princess of this country has to send a visiting card to you. You must have quite a lot of face."
Yuan Qi disagreed: "The Empress has a legitimate son but is not eligible for the position of Crown Prince. The Empress's status is also not as noble as that of Consort Feng, so she keeps a low profile in everything she does, and the children she raises are the same. In my opinion, there is no need for that. Since the Emperor has made her Empress, he will not easily touch her. Now that the Empress and her children are so humble, it is inevitable that people will look down on them."
Green Bamboo said, "What Miss says makes sense. So, will Miss see the princess?"
“If I see her, she has sent a formal invitation, which is a formal visit. If I don’t see her, it would be a blatant disrespect to the Empress and the Princess, and an unnecessary trouble for my father and brother. So, I will not set up my stall tomorrow. Let’s see what this princess wants from me. Go and tell the kitchen to prepare some snacks to entertain the princess tomorrow.”
After giving her instructions, Yuan Qi put the visiting card aside and began to ponder what Princess Liyue wanted to see her about.
After much thought, she came up with a reason: Xiangli Youming.
I guess this princess has taken a liking to Xiangli Youming...
No, no, what does this princess's attraction to Xiangli Youming have to do with her?
Forget it, if I can't figure it out, I'll just stop thinking about it.
The next morning, Yuan Qi got up to practice boxing, and Wen Zhujun also practiced boxing with her.
Jiang Jiulu and Jiang Songlu arrived right after breakfast.
Jiang Songlu came to convey the meaning of Xiangli Mingzhu.
Xiangli Mingzhu's idea was that since Princess Liyue hadn't delivered the visiting card to the mistress, she didn't intend to meet with her. Therefore, Xiangli Mingzhu planned to have Yuan Qi bring Princess Liyue to Shaoyao Residence.
For this reason, Xiangli Mingzhu specially sent several experienced nannies and more than a dozen trained first-class maids to serve at Shaoyao Residence.
When Yuan Qi saw that so many people had come and that Xiangli Mingzhu was taking it so seriously, he felt it was unnecessary.
"The princess just wanted to chat with me, it wasn't a formal visit, so there's no need for such a grand procession, is there?"
The accompanying nanny said earnestly, "Yes, Seventh Miss doesn't need to worry about anything. Just chat with the princess, and leave everything else to me. Madam said we can't let the princess think that our Jiang family has no manners."
Yuan Qi hummed in agreement, which was considered a reluctant response.
Their concerns are valid.
Several matrons and maids bustled about, first sweeping and cleaning, then preparing fruit tea, snacks, and other treats that the girls liked. Once they were almost done, the matrons urged Yuan Qi to wait at the door.
Yuan Qi had no choice but to wait at the door. When she got there, she discovered that Xiangli Mingzhu had also arrived.
Yuan Qi asked curiously, "Mother is from the Xiangli family, so why is she treating the princess so well? Aren't the Xiangli family members always disregarding the royal family?"
“Xiao Qi, this is the Jiang residence. I am a member of the Jiang family. Your elder brother works in the palace, and your father is a court official of the Xiao family,” Xiangli Mingzhu said with a sigh.
Yuan Qi said "Oh," and she understood. The Jiang family was still a step behind the Xiang family in terms of strength.
Princess Liyue arrived shortly afterward.
Princess Liyue thoughtfully had no one from the Jiang family kneel down to greet her, and she exchanged pleasantries with Xiangli Mingzhu and Yuan Qi at the door in a low-key and friendly manner.
Xiangli Mingzhu said politely, "Xiao Qi, why don't you take the princess to your Peony Residence to talk? I won't go and get in the way."
These words were exactly what Princess Liyue wanted to hear. After exchanging a few polite words, Princess Liyue followed Yuan Qi to the Peony Residence.
"The flowers here are blooming so beautifully." As soon as Princess Liyue entered the courtyard, she noticed that the flowers here were blooming exceptionally brightly, and even their fragrance was much stronger than elsewhere.
Although the varieties weren't exactly rare, she felt the flowers here bloomed beautifully, and she asked curiously, "Is it just my imagination? The flowers here seem to have a spirit of their own."
Yuan Qi chuckled: "Princess, you have sharp eyes indeed. There is a small array in my courtyard that can make the flowers and plants grow better."
Princess Liyue said enviously, "No wonder. I felt more comfortable here than elsewhere as soon as I came in. Even though the flowers and plants are of very ordinary varieties, it feels so nice and comfortable to see everyone here."
"Please come in, Princess."
Later, Jiang Jiulu and Jiang Songlu were specially assigned to help Yuan Qi entertain Princess Liyue.
Xiangli Mingzhu knew that Yuan Qi disliked social interactions, so she specially asked the two sisters to come and help.
Yuan Qi was unaware of Princess Li Yue's purpose for this trip, and he did not offer her his own fine tea, but instead served her the superior tea served at the Jiang residence, which was still quite good.
The snacks and fruits on the table were all carefully selected, including specially chilled watermelon, grapes, and cantaloupe. The maid even removed the seeds from the watermelon and cut it into small pieces, as well as the cantaloupe. There were also many small bamboo skewers on the plate.
Jiang Jiulu flattered Jiang Songlu, praising Princess Jiang Liyue's attire, which put Princess Liyue in a great mood.
Yuan Qi, however, was not one to flatter others. He asked her directly, "May I ask what brings the princess here today?"
Princess Liyue turned around with a half-smile and called over a eunuch who was standing properly behind her.
The eunuch stood ramrod straight, his expression exuding arrogance. He cupped his hands in greeting to Yuan Qi, saying, "Seventh Miss, Xiao Ran greets you."
"Xiao Ran?" Yuan Qi had never heard of this name before, but he knew that Xiao was a royal surname.
Before she could even process what was happening, Jiang Jiulu and Jiang Songlu beside her had already figured it out. The two of them stood up at the same time and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Seventh Prince."
Yuan Qi immediately understood that this was Xiao Ran, the Empress's eldest son, the legendary Seventh Prince who was frail and sickly and rarely attended events.
Yuan Qi stood up and returned the greeting: "Greetings, Your Highness." Her expression was indifferent, showing no surprise, as if she had known about this all along.
She also knew that Princess Liyue had something to do today.
She instructed Green Bamboo, "Bring another stool and another teacup."
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