On the eve of the Qixi Festival banquet, in the Prime Minister's Mansion, all the ladies and young ladies heard that Luo Xuening had received an invitation from the Empress herself, and they were all jealous and envious to the point of madness.

"Can anyone enter the palace now? Luo Xue Ning is just a lowly concubine's daughter. Why would the Empress invite her? She doesn't have the qualifications."

Luo Xueyao stood in the eldest lady's room, clenched the handkerchief in her hand, and said with hatred in her eyes.

Luo Xue Ning had always been someone I stepped on, but somehow, now Luo Xue Ning had climbed higher than me.

She was unwilling, but her heart was filled with more resentment and jealousy.

"Yao'er, don't question the Empress's decision." The hoarse voice revealed the powerlessness of the owner of the voice.

The eldest lady had just recovered from a serious illness. Her face was pale and she stared at her daughter with lifeless eyes. Over the past few days, she could feel the changes in Luo Xueyao.

From her initial gentleness to her current hostility, such a person, even if she was really invited by the Queen, she might not necessarily be in the Queen's eyes.

My daughter is going to be a princess or an empress. How could she become so crazy that she almost loses her mind just for a tiny bit of immediate benefit?

"Yao'er, calm down. Luo Xue Ning is just a small step in your growth. How can you lose your mind because of her?"

The eldest lady's reprimand made Luo Xueyao's face change color instantly. She suppressed the anger on her face, but there was still a lot of unwillingness on her fair face.

"But mother, why is it Luo Xue Ning? What's so good about her that she deserves such love from the Empress?"

"When the Queen does something, she must have her own purpose.

"Remember, Queen, she is your aunt, and her heart is naturally on your side."

The eldest lady's words revealed the truth. No matter whether the Empress really liked Luo Xueyao or was just pretending to like her, Luo Xueyao was her niece. The Empress Ning would not offend the Prime Minister's Mansion too much, whether for the benefit of the family or for the benefit of Prince Shou.

Even more impossible, he just gave up on Luo Xueyao.

Therefore, although this incident before the Qixi Festival banquet seemed like the Queen Mother was trying to slap them in the face, it was hard to say whether it was a warning from the Queen Mother.

"Yao'er, remember, you are going to be a princess, so you must maintain your appearance at all times and in all places. Even if you hate it in your heart, you must remain calm and dignified on the surface, and never let others see your emotions."

Luo Xueyao pulled the corner of her mouth awkwardly and took a few deep breaths, finally calming down her intense emotions a little bit. However, she still couldn't hide her jealousy and unwillingness.

The eldest lady frowned. This was not acceptable. "Yao'er, do you think the prince will like you the way you are now?"

"Mother, what do you mean?"

Luo Xueyao blushed when she suddenly heard the title of King Shou.

"Look at you now, you are just a resentful woman. The prince of Shou likes gentle and virtuous women. If you are like this, not only the prince of Shou, but even the queen will not like someone who shows all her emotions. How can the queen think highly of you?"

Luo Xueyao gritted her teeth and lowered her eyes: "Yes, mother, Yao'er will remember it."

A hint of ruthlessness flashed across the eldest lady's pale face. She waved gently, calling Luo Xueyao over. The mother and daughter whispered to each other, and an excellent idea was passed on between them.

The jealous look on Luo Xueyao's face suddenly showed a hint of joy. She wanted to see if Luo Xuening could escape such an ingenious plan.

"Mother, are we really going to implement this plan?"

"Yes, there are so many people at this Qixi banquet, and high-ranking officials must be present. If Luo Xuening is completely humiliated, it will be difficult for her to make a comeback in the future."

Even if Prince Jing loved Luo Xuening in his heart, it was impossible for him to want a woman with a ruined reputation and innocence.

Luo Xueyao's dignified face revealed a few fierce smiles, her bright red lips were raised, like a rose with thorns, delicate and yet untouchable.

"Mother, I will do my best at the Qixi Festival banquet."

"Remember, mother has already arranged everything. Remember, don't try to be the center of attention. Remember, you have only one purpose at the Qixi Banquet, which is to please the Empress and the Prince of Shou."

"Yes, my daughter remembers it."

Luo Xueyao smiled sweetly. The girl's delicate and beautiful face was even more radiant because of this smile, making her look like a heavenly being, as if a fairy had descended to earth.

The eldest lady touched her daughter's long hair, looked at her delicate face, and couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

"My Yao'er is truly a goddess. It would be a shame for her not to be the imperial concubine."

Luo Xueyao also had a look of joy on her face. She certainly deserved the praise from her mother.

However, her beautiful eyes could not conceal her fierceness. At the Qixi Festival feast, she wanted to see what Luo Xue Ning could do to oppose her.

Luo Xu Ning didn't know what the Madam and Luo Xueyao had planned for the Qixi Festival banquet, but she knew that soon the news that the Empress had personally sent the invitation to her would spread. By then, not only would the Madam and Luo Xueyao not let her go, they would also use the Qixi Festival banquet to cause trouble for her.

As for the others, the ladies and other female relatives, I'm afraid they will take the opportunity to make things difficult for me.

As expected, a big tree attracts the wind, and the higher you climb, the easier it is to be shaken down.

Luo Xuening did not have such high expectations for the upcoming Qixi Festival feast. In short, she did not expect to get married, so naturally she did not care about the Qixi Festival feast.

What is this Qixi Festival feast? If anyone wants to go, they can just go. Luo Xue Ning didn't know why she had to be involved.

However, since it was the Empress herself who invited them, and as the day of the Qixi Festival banquet was getting closer, Luo Xuening naturally had to make some preparations.

After looking through her clothes and jewelry, Luo Xuening couldn't help but sigh, thinking that the original owner was just like her, and was not a girl who liked to dress up.

Although these clothes and jewelry do not look shabby when worn on a daily basis, they seem a little ungentlemanly when worn to the palace to attend a banquet.

"Miss, should we go out and buy some new clothes?"

Luoxia couldn't help but worry when she saw the few sets of clothes her young lady had.

However, Luo Xue Ning waved her hands and said, "Forget it. Your young lady doesn't want to participate in the Qixi Festival banquet. We just need to dress appropriately. As for the icing on the cake, there is no need."

"But Miss, you are so beautiful. If you don't wear beautiful clothes, you will be outdone by the other young ladies from official families."

Luo Xue Ning sneered: "Do you think your daughter, in any way, can compare to those daughters of officials?"

In terms of family background, she was just a humble concubine's daughter in the Prime Minister's Mansion. In terms of talent, Luo Xue Ning did have some talent, but it was limited to the talent of investigating cases. Luo Xue Ning did not have any of the talent that real ladies from noble families should have.

In terms of appearance, she is just above average. There are so many beauties in the capital, and there are even more beauties at the Qixi Festival banquet. Luo Xuening is just an inconspicuous one among them. Who would notice her?

"But I think my young lady is the best. Otherwise, why would His Royal Highness Prince Jing be so fond of my young lady?"

Luoxia pouted, feeling deeply that compared with those delicate ladies from wealthy families, she felt that her own young lady had a different charm.

Luo Xuening smiled lightly, stretched out her hand, and tapped Luo Xia's forehead: "You are the only one who can talk."

"I heard that there are some rules for entering the palace for a banquet. I am afraid that the emperor will chop off my head, so I'd better practice the rules first."

Luo Xue Ning said this, and really went to the maid in the Prime Minister's Mansion to practice the rules. Although she didn't care about the Qixi Festival banquet, that didn't mean she didn't care about her own life. If she was careless and made a mistake in front of the emperor, she would be in danger of losing her life. This was unavoidable.

I heard that in preparation for the upcoming Qixi Festival banquet, the eldest lady personally invited a nanny from the palace to teach her young ladies how to behave.

It's said to be a teaching of rules, but in fact it's mainly for the sake of Luo Xueyao. After all, only Luo Xueyao and Luo Xuening in the Prime Minister's Mansion are qualified to participate in the Qixi Festival banquet.

Naturally, only legitimate daughters are eligible to attend a banquet like this, and Luo Xue Ning is probably the only illegitimate daughter participating in this Qixi Festival banquet.