"Oh, right." Fu Ling was angry, but she didn't forget the important matter: "You said Princess Anle sent a letter today. What was it about?"
Mother Xing said, "The princess is hosting a banquet at Changqing Garden in the suburbs of Beijing and has invited the young ladies from our family to attend."
Fu Ling took the post and took a look at it: Princess Anle had no friendship with the Xue family, maybe she posted it because Xue Zhiyi came to her rescue last time.
Seeing that Fu Ling was a little absent-minded, Mother Xing smiled and said, "I heard that this Changqing Garden is a private property awarded to the princess by the Queen Mother. There is hot spring water flowing underground, so the Changqing Garden is full of flowers all year round. Our Third Miss will definitely like it."
When Xue Zhiyi was mentioned, Fu Ling's brows jumped.
The last time Rong Xiutong was defeated, she had indeed supported him, which made Fu Ling's disgust lessen a little: "Let Rong Xin go too."
Rong Xin has spent too little time in Huajing. Although she is a direct descendant of the Xue family, because Xue Zhiyi has usurped the throne, Rong Xin has almost no chance to get familiar with the aristocratic families in Huajing. She will have to come back sooner or later, so it would be better for her to attend more occasions like this.
Mother Xing was stunned. "The princess only said to invite the young ladies of our family to go, but didn't say which young ladies. If cousin wants to go, I think it's okay."
…
"Fifth sister, are you going?" Looking at the post sent by Princess Anle, Xue Zhiyi asked Xue Runing.
Xue Runing just shook her head: "Third sister knows, I'm always afraid of places with so many people."
Knowing that Xue Runing liked quietness, she did not try to persuade her any further.
…
The Xue family now had only three unmarried daughters. Xue Runing wouldn't go, and Xue Panrou was still under house arrest, so she couldn't go either. However, Fu Ling managed to force Fu Rongxin in.
Changqing Garden is located in the suburbs of Huajing. It was originally the dowry of Princess Yongning, Huo Zhiyu's mother. After Princess Yongning committed suicide for love, the Queen Mother gave the garden to her precious granddaughter.
It was early November, and the grass in Huajing was withered and the autumn wind was howling.
When Xue Zhiyi arrived, he felt that the place he stepped on was warmer than other places even though he was just outside the garden.
Hot springs are rare. Apart from Changqing Garden, the emperor's hot spring palace is probably the only place in Huajing that can be as warm as spring all year round.
They were welcomed by servants and led into the gate of Changqing Garden. Compared with the solemn atmosphere elsewhere, not only was the air here warm and sweet, but there were even many flowers that were not in season.
Peonies are planted all along the stone path, and by the pond, the asparagus fern transplanted from the south is also green and tender.
Such scenery is incomparable to anywhere else.
It is said that Princess Anle would come here to stay for a while every winter.
"Zhi Yi!"
Xue Zhiyi was admiring the beautiful scenery here with great interest when she heard someone calling her.
Following the sound, I saw that the person had beautiful eyebrows, rosy cheeks, a pair of extremely beautiful round eyes, and lips like half-open petals. Although not very stunning, it made people feel like a spring breeze.
It’s Shen Qingtang.
"Miss Chen." Xue Zhiyi smiled and called her with a smile.
Shen Qingtang was wearing a green satin jacket with wide sleeves and a diamond pattern today. Her black hair was tied into a bun with a glazed osmanthus flower pin in it.
Just like in her previous life, Shen Qingtang was kind to others and had the unrestrained nature of a daughter of a general. She was usually outgoing and could chat with anyone she met.
Although this was only the second time she met Xue Zhiyi in this life, she had already approached him warmly: "Why are you being so distant? Just call me Qingtang."
How great... Xue Zhiyi thought: At this time in the previous life, Shen Qingtang had already married Xue Tingsheng. They were newlyweds and very affectionate, but this also bothered Fu Ling. Fu Ling always felt that Shen Qingtang's presence would hinder her gifted son's studies and progress, so she would always call Shen Qingtang to Anxianju to discipline him from time to time.
Unfortunately, Fu Ling is a hypocrite. He clearly has bad intentions, but he manages to keep a flawless appearance in order to save face, making Shen Qingtang suffer but unable to get angry, otherwise it would be disrespectful to her mother-in-law.
Such a cheerful and easygoing girl became listless in just a few months because of Fu Ling's treacherous behavior.
Xue Tingsheng had come to propose marriage because he was attracted by her family background and her good nature. However, after a while, Xue Tingsheng lost interest in her.
"Zhiyi?" Shen Qingtang called again, and Xue Zhiyi came back to his senses.
She just shook Xue Zhiyi's hand and said, "This little sister is so pretty. Is she Zhiyi's sister?"
She was asking about Fu Rongxin.
Fu Rongxin was dressed very exquisitely today. She wore a light pink satin dress with lily pattern. She was thin to begin with, and she specially put on a silk gauze dress over her winter clothes. She looked like an angel, which was very clever.
Although the hairstyle is simple, just a hanging bun, tied with a pair of plain white hairpins, it looks casual, but every hair is just right.
"This is my cousin from Linzhou, Fu Rongxin." Xue Zhiyi said.
In this life, the grudges of their Xue family have nothing to do with Shen Qingtang, so Xue Zhiyi naturally would not show his disgust towards Fu Rongxin in front of her.
"The princess hasn't arrived yet, let's go sit down first." As she said this, she took Xue Zhiyi's arm and politely invited Fu Rongxin: "Miss Fu, please come with us. Huajing and Linzhou are no different. Don't be shy."
Xue Zhiyi just glanced at Fu Rongxin indifferently. In the previous life, Shen Qingtang was his cousin-in-law and took good care of Fu Rongxin. Later, when Shen Qingtang was seriously ill and Fu Rongxin took advantage of her misfortune, she wondered if she ever remembered Shen Qingtang's kindness to her.
The three of them went to Juyuan together with their respective maids.
Changqing Garden is full of plants and trees. Although the chrysanthemum season has passed, the various chrysanthemums here are in full bloom, and there are many rare and precious varieties. Many ladies gather here to appreciate the flowers.
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