Xin He squinted her eyes slightly: "Duan Lan?"
"I don’t know if the Princess knows this person. Over the years, this third young master of the Duan family has gradually gained significant power, becoming an important confidant of the Emperor. He is now a prominent figure in the capital. This man is cunning and not easy to deal with. If it’s really him, we might need to take extra precautions." Song Xi said solemnly.
Listening to Song Xi’s description of Duan Lan, Xin He felt as if she was hearing about a completely unfamiliar person. The one person she had misjudged in her life was probably Duan Lan, and she had been wrong beyond belief.
Xin He pondered for a moment before asking, "When do you think he’ll arrive?"
"I don’t know yet, but if Duan Lan leaves the capital, it’s likely that people in the capital city will notice. It shouldn’t be difficult to find out. However, this time Duan Lan is coming to Yu State secretly. If we’re not vigilant, who knows what he might uncover,"
Secretly raising a private army is tantamount to treason if it is exposed. It could lead to a complete break with the court and Yu State.
A complete break with the court would eventually occur, but it needs a necessary catalyst, not a passive revelation like this. If it happens this way, they would be put in a passive position, unable to hold the initiative, affecting many things.
Moreover, the Emperor must have prepared backup plans by sending Duan Lan secretly to Yu State, as even the slightest trace revealed could lead to them being attacked and suppressed by the court. So this time, Duan Lan must not find out anything.
Xin He said solemnly, "I understand. Let’s discuss this with His Highness later."
"Yes."
Xin He forced a smile: "Anyhow, today is Ah Guai’s birthday, and we shouldn’t delay things any further. Otherwise, this little girl would feel wronged if she’s neglected of attention."
Song Xi laughed, "The Princess is right."
Xin He and Song Xi went out to find Ah Guai waiting eagerly in the outer room. As soon as they appeared, Ah Guai pounced on her mother, "Mom, it’s time for the feast! Let’s hurry out!"
Xin He laughed, "Yes, yes, we haven’t forgotten that our little birthday star is celebrating today. Let’s go!"
Song Xi patted Ah Guai on the head, "After we eat, I’ll take you out to play."
Ah Guai happily replied, "Okay!"
Today, Ah Guai’s birthday banquet was held on a grand scale, with almost all the prestigious families from Yu State attending. As a result, the rules were strict: male guests dined in the front yard, while female guests dined at Pingque Terrace, with separate seating.
Ah Guai didn’t care much about these formalities, as she was used to playing with Xiao Bei and Song Xi. Xin He didn’t really want her to mingle with other young ladies either. It wasn’t that those girls were bad; it’s just that Ah Guai’s identity as the only princess of the Pingyang Prince Mansion meant she couldn’t be treated like an ordinary girl.
Her identity in Yu State was equivalent to that of a princess. Hence, when she played with other noble girls, they would unconsciously hold her in high regard, which could inadvertently foster an arrogant temperament.
Xin He was always indulgent with Ah Guai, but she didn’t want to spoil her. Some things needed to be strict. Otherwise, Xin He would worry if Ah Guai grew up to be like Song Ya Lan.
Ah Guai, however, preferred playing with Song Xi and Xiao Bei, and Xin He didn’t have to worry too much about that. Song Xi especially, acted like a responsible young adult, so Xin He felt comfortable letting him take care of Ah Guai.
This was the first time in five years that Ah Guai had celebrated her birthday with such grandeur. The real purpose of the banquet was to gather the prestigious families of Yu State and understand the power of each family, as well as for some guidance and communication.
Over the past five years, Marquis Mu’s reputation and authority had grown in Yu State. He had done a lot in terms of people’s livelihood and public opinion. The only exception was the many bandits in Yu State. In all other respects, the state was far better off than the capital in terms of economy and people’s livelihood.
That’s why the common people of Yu State truly respected the Pingyang Prince Mansion, whose prestige had even begun to overshadow the court. No wonder the Emperor was uneasy, sending his confidant Duan Lan to investigate.
Today’s gathering of Yu State’s prominent families was aimed at making them understand who the real master of Yu State was, and who could bring their families lasting prosperity and benefits.
Marquis Mu was undoubtedly preparing to flex his muscles.
Ah Guai was unaware of these matters, and she didn’t need to know. She just needed to understand that her mom and dad were putting up a big celebration for her birthday this year.
The banquet was held in the Linxian Pavilion of Pingque Terrace. When Xin He entered with Ah Guai, almost all the ladies were already seated. As they walked in, the ladies bowed respectfully, "Greetings to the Princess, and greetings to the young princess."
Xin He smiled and sat down with Ah Guai in the seat of honor, "There’s no need to be formal, everyone please take your seats."
"Thank you, Princess." The ladies took their seats and couldn’t help but glance up at Xin He, whispering, "Princess Pingyang is indeed a beauty. I’ve only ever heard her name but never seen her."
"If she wasn’t such an extraordinary beauty, how could the Prince have not taken any concubines for six years after their marriage?" a young lady laughed.
"I suppose so. But Princess Pingyang rarely shows her face and keeps a low profile. My cousin from the capital once wrote to me saying that Princess Pingyang is an impressive figure who had caused quite a stir in the capital city. Unexpectedly, she’s so low-key now."
"Really? You know what she did in the capital?"
"Just a little. She only stayed in the capital for less than a year, but I only heard about it. I don’t know the specifics."
Someone sighed lightly, "Regardless, she married an ideal husband, enjoys a high position, and has her husband’s undivided love. Even with only one princess, and no concubines in the Royal Mansion, it’s a life we can’t even dream of."
Because Xin He rarely appeared in public, her presence today naturally sparked much discussion.
Xin He didn’t mind and acted as if she didn’t hear. It was time to present the gifts. Shulan held a stack of gift lists, which were the birthday presents from the prestigious families. As Shulan read the list, the gifts were brought in for Xin He and Ah Guai to see.
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