These past few days, Bai Chuxiao has stopped tormenting Xie Shi. Bai Linan, growing suspicious, has increased security on both his and Xie Shi's courtyards. However, Bai Chuxiao already knows roughly what happened back then, so she's not in a hurry.
As the end of the month approached, Emperor Wenxuan finally decided to meet with the envoys and princess from the southern border. He ordered the Ministry of Rites to prepare a palace banquet, to be held at noon the next day in the Taiji Hall. Officials of the third rank and above were allowed to bring their families to the palace.
Bai Chuxiao had originally planned to visit her second uncle and aunt, but since the palace banquet was hosted by the Ministry of Rites, her second uncle would surely be very busy. After thinking about it, she decided not to go and would wait until after the banquet. She wondered if her second brother had returned yet.
The old lady gestured for them to come over. Once inside Furong Courtyard, Madam Xie was already seated, looking quite well, presumably having recovered considerably. Bai Chuwan sat to the side, wearing a polite smile.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, the old lady said slowly, "Tomorrow is the palace banquet. Madam Xie, just take your eldest and second daughters to the palace. Entering the palace is different from being outside; you must pay attention to the rules and not offend the nobles in the palace."
Bai Chuxin asked cautiously, "Grandmother, can't Xin'er go?" Aunt Sun tugged at her sleeve, trying to stop her from asking.
Now that the Zhao mother and daughter have gone to the villa in Jiangnan, and the fourth young lady, Bai Chudie, is confined and not allowed to leave, Aunt Yue naturally doesn't dare to come out either. The household is now dominated by Madam Xie, and with the addition of an unapproachable eldest young lady, Madam Sun lives even more cautiously, not daring to let Bai Chuxin be as domineering as before.
"You're too young to go," the old lady said sternly. Last time, the fourth daughter embarrassed the Prime Minister's mansion, and she now held all the concubine's daughters in contempt, finding them utterly unworthy of respect.
"Mother, please rest assured, your daughter-in-law and Wan'er both know the rules of the palace. It's just that, as for the eldest daughter-in-law, I dare not interfere. I heard that she even dared to talk back to the Crown Prince last time," Xie Shi said with a smile, holding a handkerchief.
"Chuxiao, once you're in the palace, don't cause any more trouble. Don't disgrace the Left Prime Minister's Mansion," the old lady said sternly. When she first returned home, she thought her granddaughter was sensible and kind, but now it seemed she was no pushover.
Bai Chuxiao looked at Xie Shi with disdain, "In your spare time, Auntie should teach Second Sister a lesson, so she won't do anything shameless at the palace banquet. That would be truly laughable." Jumping around so high, does she really think she has everything under control just because she has the Crown Prince's backing? Wanting to be the Crown Princess, she's dreaming quite a dream.
"Elder sister, why do you always have to belittle Wan'er? What has Wan'er done to wrong you?"
"Young lady, how long are you going to keep this up? Are you not even listening to your grandmother anymore?" Seeing that Bai Chuxiao remained sharp-tongued and unwilling to back down, the old lady also spoke up in displeasure.
Bai Chuxiao replied indifferently, "Your granddaughter wouldn't dare."
The next morning, when Bai Chuxiao arrived at the mansion gate with Lanxin, she learned that Xie Shi and Bai Chuwan had already left in a carriage. Not caring, she boarded the carriage directly.
For the safety of His Majesty and the ladies of the palace, it was forbidden for them to bring their own maids to such palace banquets, to avoid any indiscriminate mixing and potential trouble. Therefore, Bai Chuxiao instructed Lanxin to wait for her in the carriage.
Several carriages were already parked at the southwest gate, presumably having arrived early to await inspection at the palace. The Left Prime Minister's residence wasn't far from the palace, so Bai Chuxiao naturally didn't want to get up early and wait there. She lifted the curtain and peeked out; her second aunt, a lady, and Kong Xihan were all there. She quickly got out of the carriage to greet them.
Just then, a woman in red rode up on horseback, chanting "Get out of the way!" and cracking her whip on the ground. The whip was about to strike Bai Chuxiao when everyone turned and gasped in shock. Kong Xihan then noticed her and quickly warned, "Chuxiao, be careful!"
Bai Chuxiao's expression turned slightly cold. Without dodging, she raised her hand and grabbed the whip, causing the woman in red to stop. However, she showed no remorse for almost hitting someone and instead tried to whip the woman blocking her way again, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't budge it.
At this moment, my second aunt and Kong Xihan hurried over and greeted Princess Changyun.
Princess Changyun is the youngest daughter of Princess Zhaoyang, the current emperor's younger sister. Princess Zhaoyang and her husband reside in Yingzhou most of the year and rarely come to the capital. The current emperor has many sons but only two daughters. Princess Changyun grew up in the palace from a young age, and the emperor dotes on her immensely, which has spoiled her to the point that she is quite unruly.
"Who are you? How dare you block this princess's path! Let go of me!"
Bai Chuxiao said coldly, "There are already many ladies of officials' families in front of the palace gates today. Didn't the princess consider what would happen if any of the young ladies or ladies were injured?"
"Hmph, who do you think you are? Even if I hurt you today, my imperial uncle won't blame me," Princess Changyun said arrogantly as she dismounted when she saw that the princess still wouldn't let go.
The eldest princess had only come over after hearing the commotion. She couldn't afford any trouble today. "Changyun, you mustn't be rude. This is the eldest daughter of the Left Prime Minister's family, and your future sister-in-law of the Seventh Prince."
Seeing the eldest princess arrive, Bai Chuxiao finally released her whip. Princess Changyun didn't dare to be arrogant in front of her older cousin, and only gave Bai Chuxiao a cold snort. What were the Seventh Prince's wife and the Prince of Yan compared to her brother Tianyou?
"Xiaoxiao, are you hurt?" The eldest princess knew that Changyun was spoiled by her father and had always been like this.
Bai Chuxiao smiled and shook her head, then quickly bowed in greeting, "Greetings, Your Highness. Chuxiao is not injured."
Seeing that everyone was alright, the eldest princess gave some instructions and then led Princess Changyun into the palace. As Princess Changyun left, she told Bai Chuxiao, "Don't be too smug."
Auntie then took Bai Chuxiao's hand and looked her up and down, saying, "You, you've returned to the capital and didn't even come to see your uncle and me first."
He then introduced the lady beside him, "This is Madam Kong from the family of the Minister of Rites."
Bai Chuxiao greeted her with a smile, "Hello, Aunt Kong."
"Xiaoxiao is really beautiful. Xihan has been praising you to me ever since she came back last time. I'm so glad to finally meet her today."
Kong Xihan came over and took Bai Chuxiao's hand, "Mother, Madam Murong, let's go inside quickly."
It was still early, and none of them felt it appropriate to go to the Taiji Hall immediately. So, Empress Li first designated a section of the garden to specifically entertain the female members of the court.
The ladies of the various families sat demurely in the garden drinking tea, while the young ladies strolled around in twos and threes. Seeing that the serving maids and eunuchs were kept at a distance, Kong Xihan spoke softly, "Princess Changyun is truly too arrogant. But I'm afraid your second sister's days are numbered."
"Oh, what does this mean?" Bai Chuxiao asked, puzzled. She had only been back for a short time and wasn't yet familiar with the relationships between the various prominent families in the capital. Her father and Madam Xie naturally wouldn't tell her, so it seemed she would have to consult her second uncle and aunt; otherwise, things would be inconvenient in the future.
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