"Master, it is said that in the Duan Family..." Ling Feng reported everything that happened in the Duan family today to Mu Houchu.
Mu Houchu’s eyes were slightly cold, "So, the old man from the Duan Family plans to give up his old face and seek to annul the marriage at Le Yuanhou Mansion?"
"Indeed," Ling Feng confirmed.
Mu Houchu carelessly tossed the folding fan in his hand onto the table. The force inadvertently put into the action clearly revealed his negative mood.
"I will go to the palace tomorrow," he decided.
"Master means to..." Ling Feng tried to clarify.
"Ask His Majesty to decree the marriage as soon as possible, and fulfill this beautiful event." Mu Houchu’s tone was frigid, carrying a touch of inherent aloofness.
Ling Feng shivered slightly, murmuring to himself, "Why on earth did the third son of the Duan Family take a fancy to Lady Mu Xiang’s woman of all people?"
———
Today, Le Yuanhou Mansion was filled with music and dance, bustling lively.
Noble guests came continuously, and the servants in the mansion were so busy that their feet never touched the ground.
This birthday banquet was held at Ming Xiang Stage, where a theater stage could be set up. The theater troupe had all been invited and they were performing enthusiastically.
A few of the girls who were close to Li Junyao first went to pay their respects to the old lady. The old lady sent them to play on their own, "You young girls should go play by yourselves, don’t always stick to this old woman."
Li Junyao simply took her ladies in waiting to the Ming Xiang Stage to watch the play.
The noble wives usually gathered at a table to play card games or chat, and they didn’t concern themselves much with the children’s affairs.
Since it was the rare occasion of Li Junyao’s birthday, they naturally let them do as they pleased.
"Isn’t this troupe the best Mei Family Troupe in the capital? The young actor seems familiar. But Junyao, didn’t you say earlier that we can watch a good show? Is this good show just this troupe’s performance?" Shen Yilin laughed and said.
"This troupe sings the same few plays over and over again. What’s so interesting about that? The play we’re about to watch today is really exciting," Li Junyao hummed lightly, her eyes full of cunning plans.
"Eh? Chen Yining didn’t come again today? Is she still ill? I think this illness of hers might be chronic," Shen Yilin laughed, distinctly intending to ridicule.
Yet Li Junyao said, "Why wouldn’t she come? This time, I personally went to invite her. She is perfectly healthy, so of course, she must come!"
After being embarrassed by that seductress last time, how could Chen Yining miss out on today’s big show? Li Junyao wanted her to witness the consequences of offending her!
Just as they were talking, Chen Yining indeed arrived.
Li Junyao warmly stepped forward and held her arm, acting as close as sisters, "You’re finally here. We’ve been waiting for you for a long time, and we’re just talking about you." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
Chen Yining’s face looked somewhat unpleasant, clearly unhappy that she had been forcefully invited over. How could she not know that Li Junyao had invited her here on purpose just to make fun of her? Now that her father had been dismissed and was at home, she had turned into their biggest joke!
"What were you talking about me?" Chen Yining forced a smile at the corner of her mouth.
"About you..." Li Junyao hooked her lips and gave a meaningful smile to the others, filled with mockery.
Chen Yining did not want to ask more, and simply sat down stiffly.
"Oh, Junyao, didn’t you say that Young Master Duan will also come today? Young Master Duan is really giving you face this time," one of the girls mentioned.
Li Junyao lifted her head in pride, "Of course."
The servant entered to announce: "Young Master Duan is here and is in the front hall paying respects to Lord Marquis."
Immediately, a burst of laughter rang out.
Li Junyao’s cheeks turned a faint pink, she said with feigned annoyance, "Go, invite Young Master Duan to the Ming Xiang Stage, tell him we’ve set up a stage today. The show is quite entertaining."
"Yes, I’ll go immediately."
The girls broke into another round of playful laughter and merrymaking, making the atmosphere incredibly lively.
——
Ji Xinhe had already brought the wine with Fuquan and was planning to enter through the back door.
The old woman guarding the back door recognized them and said, "Our Eldest Miss told me that she specifically wanted to taste the grape wine today and asked Miss Ji to personally come to the backyard. Please come with me, Miss Ji."
Ji Xinhe nodded her head, motioning for Fuquan with the handcart to follow closely.
The old woman led Ji Xinhe through the grand front yard, featuring an artificial hill and spring, small bridges and flowing water, a winding corridor - everything was elegant and refined. This Marquis’s mansion, which had witnessed the passing of several generations, was indeed incomparable to any average household like the Wang Family’s.
Just as they reached the entrance to the Ming Xiang Stage, they could already hear bursts of laughter from the unruly girls inside. These girls were always free to be playful.
For some reason, Ji Xinhe felt a twinge of bitterness rise in her heart. It seemed that the gap between a common farmer’s daughter and one from a prominent family was as vast as heaven and earth from birth.
Ji Xinhe furrowed her brows slightly, realizing that this bitterness shouldn’t belong to her. She was never one to be self-deprecating. Even if she was a farmer’s daughter, so what? She lived her life openly and didn’t care about these things.
Then where did this bitterness come from exactly? Was it from the original host? Would she have cared about these things?
Ji Xinhe shook her head, deciding not to think about it anymore.
The moment Ji Xinhe entered, the laughter on the Ming Xiang Stage abruptly ceased, and a touch of resentment flashed in Li Junyao’s eyes as she watched Ji Xinhe walk in gracefully.
Ji Xinhe wore a simple water blue fringed dress today, and her hair was casually pulled into a falling horse bun. A jade hairpin was tilted on it, swinging precariously. Simple yet captivating.
Indeed, beauty would shine out even in the roughest clothes.
Shen Yilin lowered her voice and said, "No wonder such a beauty has caught Young Master Duan’s eye."
Li Junyao glared at her fiercely.
Ji Xinhe, with her keen sense of hearing, easily picked up on their conversation. Looking again at the jealousy hidden in Li Junyao’s eyes, she suddenly realized that her visit here today might turn out to be a trap, a kind of Hongmen Banquet.
They just mentioned Young Master Duan, was that Duan Lan?
Ji Xinhe had worked through countless scenarios in her head, yet her face remained calm. Following the lead of the old woman, she curtsied as a sign of respect.
"Eldest Miss, Miss Ji is here, and she has brought the grape wine," said the old woman.
Li Junyao’s expression was arrogant as she cocked her chin, "I got it, you can go."
"Yes."
Li Junyao examined Ji Xinhe for a moment. Ji Xinhe remained unruffled, standing there letting her take in her appearance.
After a while, Li Junyao hmmphed, full of contempt, "Since the wine is here, let’s sample it, let’s see what this extraordinary grape wine really tastes like."
Ji Xinhe signaled for Fuquan to bring the wine jug in, he immediately exerted his effort and brought it in.
Ji Xinhe’s expression remained indifferent, as if she couldn’t sense Li Junyao’s hostility or contempt at all. Her voice was clear and casual, "Miss Li, please enjoy."
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