The garden was instantly full of life, particularly because of Ji Xinhe’s presence, which made the atmosphere even more extraordinary.
Chen Yining attended today as well. Li Junyao used to be her biggest adversary, and ever since the Chen family fell from grace, Li Junyao almost always took the opportunity to bully her. Now that Li Junyao is suffering bad luck, she naturally felt more at ease.
Notably, Ji Xinhe also came.
"This must be Miss Ji, correct?" Chen Yining chuckled and shook her head, "My mistake, I should call you Lady Li now."
When Xin He saw Chen Yining for the first time, a wave of discomfort welled up from deep within her heart.
Her lingering feelings for Mu Houchu were her predicament, but the thorn in her heart that seemed to neither rise nor fall was this woman’s existence.
With a faint expression, Xin He responded: "Miss Chen, you flatter me."
"You recognize me?" Chen Yining’s slightly surprised expression broke into a smile, "Has Hou Chu spoken about me?"
Looking at the bright yet insincere smile on the face before her, Xin He suddenly understood her intention.
Hou Chu?
Addressing him so warmly?
Indeed, she had provoked her, but Ji Xinhe never liked to be at a disadvantage.
Ji Xinhe nodded nonchalantly and responded, "He usually doesn’t mention unnecessary people when he’s with me. However, I happened to inquire a few days ago upon hearing the sudden dismissal of Old Man Chen and that’s how I came to know Miss Chen."
The smile on Chen Yining’s face instantly froze as she messed up the handkerchief in her sleeve. This woman stepped on her while adding salt to her most sensitive wound!
She was indeed not simple!
After a moment of stiffness, Chen Yining clenched her teeth and said, "I know you harbor resentment toward me. But I had no control over Hou Chu rushing back to the capital to save me. After all, we grew up together, and the feelings we’ve accumulated over a decade isn’t something he can easily let go of."
Xin He scoffed in her heart. Feelings accumulated over a decade?
On her face, she showed no emotion, "From what I hear, that does sound like deep sentiments."
With an element of triumph, Chen Yining laughed, "Hou Chu is aloof and cold. Over the years, he has not had many women around, only me. He lost his parents at a young age and has no family. Among us, we are like family."
No matter what, their decade of companionship couldn’t compare to the less than ten months that the others had spent together!
"Listening to Miss Chen, it seems that you can only marry him in the future?" Ji Xinhe asked curiously.
Chen Yining blushed but did not deny it.
A cold smile flashed across Xin He’s face, "Is that so? That could be troublesome."
"How is that troublesome?"
"He said he wants to marry me. Yet, you also want to marry him. Doesn’t that mean you could only be the concubine?" Ji Xinhe raised her eyebrows.
"What?" Chen Yining’s face turned beet red in an instant. Concubine? Her, the esteemed daughter of a high-ranking official, being reduced to becoming someone’s concubine?!
Xin He continued, shaking her head, "After all, I am the legitimate eldest daughter of the Hou Mansion with a noble title. Although you are the daughter of an official, your father has lost all his authority. Even considering our social status, you can only be a concubine."
"You!"
Xin He stared at her, her eyes cold and intimidating, "Moreover, I have always been extremely jealous, and I can’t tolerate any grit in my eyes. If the mansion were to have a concubine, she would likely be subjected to my torment. Miss Chen, you appear delicate and fragile - you should consider this carefully." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
Chen Yining’s face color changed rapidly from black to blue. It was a rich performance. She originally thought that Ji Xinhe, being a peasant girl, would behave humbly even if she had married into high lineage. But surprisingly, Ji Xinhe was even more arrogant and domineering than Li Junyao!
Not only did she use her father’s demotion to humiliate her, but she also suppressed her by using her identity as the eldest lady of the Hou Mansion, even blatantly declaring to kill her in the future.
This kind of woman, this kind of woman!
By this point Xin He had lost the patience to bicker with her and turned around to leave, leaving a fuming Chen Yining alone.
Suddenly a voice announced, "Prime Minister Mu is here."
As soon as the voice fell, there was a commotion. Everyone looked at each other in surprise. The Prime Minister also attended this kind of banquet?
However, Mu Houchu had already stepped in. He always wore black robes, dressed simply, but that could not conceal his domineering aura. Even standing in a crowd, he stood out.
Almost all the people in the garden had their eyes fixed on him.
He scanned around and easily spotted Xin He standing by the bushes. He frowned slightly, walked over in large strides and asked, "Why are you dressed like this?" Such a conspicuous dress would definitely attract the attention of ignorant men.
Xin He glared at him, what was that tone? It’s as if she dressed too provocatively.
She responded coldly, "What’s wrong with that?"
His frown deepened. She said just yesterday that she wouldn’t be angry anymore, so why was she like this today?
At that moment, a little eunuch came over respectfully, "Prime Minister Mu, His Majesty and Imperial Concubine Guifei are still in the main hall, should we go and greet them first?"
Only then did Mu Houchu turn to Xin He and say in a low voice, "Wait for me." He then entered the main hall.
Xin He was left with a stomach full of anger. She glared at his retreating figure and cursed in her heart: Wait for what? Wait for you to take a concubine!
Soon, almost everyone had arrived and the banquet was about to begin.
Concubine Ning clung to the Emperor’s arm as they walked out of the inner hall with a charming and delicate demeanor, "Your Majesty has personally celebrated my birthday. I feel so honored and cherished. Such favor makes me feel flustered."
The Emperor laughed heartily, "Even my beloved concubine can feel overwhelmed? Aren’t you always the most proud? Everything I’ve prepared for you is deserved."
Concubine Ning giggled, "Your Majesty~"
The Emperor glanced over all the young ladies and nobles in the garden, then said, "Since today is the birthday banquet of the Imperial Concubine, we consider it a family banquet. There is no need to be too restrained. Enjoy yourselves."
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty." Everyone bowed in unison.
The Emperor waved his hand, "Alright, let’s start the banquet."
After speaking, he took Concubine Ning to sit in the main seat at the head, and left everyone else to settle down.
Lady Sun took Xin He and sat down at the seat near the front on the right, which was reserved for those of higher rank. The closer the seat was to the front, the higher the rank. They were separated into two sections for men and women, leaving the middle of the garden open.
Dining in this garden filled with floral fragrance was indeed a pleasant experience.
However, not many people in this garden knew how many were actually at ease.
With a composed look on her face, Xin He’s eyes clearly held a hint of coldness. Mu Houchu frowned slightly, watching her from a distance, knowing something was wrong. Chen Yining almost destroyed the handkerchief in her hand, and was visibly shaking from anger. Duan Lan remained silent, unable to hide the gloom on his face.
As for others in the hall, they all had their own concerns. Amid the seemingly joyful atmosphere, their expressions varied.
An undercurrent seemed to be stirring, akin to the calm before a storm.
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