Chapter 74

Chapter 74

There's quite a distance between Xie Run's Spring Mountain Courtyard and Shufei Yun's Autumn Maple Courtyard.

Since moving, both have kept to themselves.

They aren't familiar with each other's maids and servants.

Xie Run stood up. "It's cold out there. Let's talk inside."

Dan Tao and Xiaoshu followed her in, while the young maid waited in the outer room.

Before going inside, Xie Run told Chun Juan, "Tell the small kitchen to make some ginger soup with brown sugar so the sisters can warm up."

"It's fine to have fun, but you still need to take care of yourselves."

Chun Juan chuckled, "I'll remember your words, mistress!"

"I'll make sure every sister drinks her bowl of ginger soup."

Xie Run smiled. "Then I'll reward you with an extra bowl for yourself!"

"Everyone else gets one bowl, but you get two!"

Chun Juan scratched her head sheepishly. "Thank you for your generosity, mistress."

Once inside, Xie Run first took the invitation Xiaoshu handed her.

Xiaoshu said, "The invitation is from Shufei Yun. The eighteenth of the first month is Princess Ruyi's third birthday, and Shufei Yun plans to throw a lively celebration."

"The girl waiting outside is called Lingdang. She's been sent by Shufei Yun to pass on a message."

Xie Run unfolded and looked at it. It was indeed an invitation to Princess Ruyi's birthday banquet.

"Call her in."

As soon as Lingdang entered, she bowed to Xie Run. "Your servant greets Lady Xie."

"Rise." Xie Run spoke softly. "Did your mistress send you specifically to deliver a message?"

Lingdang nodded. "Exactly!"

"The eighteenth of the first month is the birthday of my lady's daughter, Princess Ruyi. She specially instructed that even if she doesn't invite anyone else, she must invite Shufei Xie!"

"Now there are only three Shufei consorts in the mansion. Shufei Fang is under house arrest and cannot come. If even Shufei Xie doesn't come, others won't understand the situation and will think my mistress will lose face by not being able to invite distinguished guests."

Lingdang had a pair of beautiful eyes that seemed to speak when she looked at someone.

Now they were tinged with a hint of grievance. "My mistress begs Shufei Xie, for the sake of past sisterly affection, to please come."

"At the banquet, the princess will personally serve tea and thank Shufei Xie."

She added, "My mistress also ordered that if I cannot persuade Shufei Xie to come, I am not to return."

"I beg Shufei Xie to take pity on this servant and not leave this foolish girl to take up space in Spring Mountain Courtyard."

Her bright, clear eyes looked at Xie Run pleadingly, like a little white kitten begging for milk.

Not only Xie Run, but even Dan Tao and Xiaoshu felt their hearts soften.

"What a silver tongue you have! None of my maids can match you!"

Xie Run smiled. "If your mistress no longer wants you, you can stay with me."

Xie Run winked playfully. "Don't worry, I'll spoil you. Even more than your elder sisters Dan Tao and Xiaoshu."

"Ah?" Lingdang's mouth fell open, her eyes wide with shock. "Really, you want to keep me here?"

Xie Run and the others burst out laughing.

Dan Tao laughed. "This girl—quick with her mouth, but not so quick in the head."

Xie Run smiled and shook her head. "Enough. Your mistress has gone to such lengths; if I still refuse, wouldn't that be too unkind?"

Xie Run put down the invitation and said to Lingdang, "Go outside first, have some tea to warm up, and then return to deliver the news to your mistress."

Lingdang beamed. "Everyone in the mansion says Shufei Xie is a kind person, with the best temperament and the most compassion for servants."

"Before, I only heard from other sisters, but now that I've experienced it myself, I know what it means to feel like a spring breeze and have a merciful heart."

In theory, now that Xie Run was a Shufei, she could be called "Lady."

But a Shufei's rank was not very high.

Some princely mansions didn't follow the rules and casually appointed Shufei, making the title not very valuable.

Sometimes when people called her "Lady," it was more out of mockery.

But Lingdang had a sweet tongue, speaking words that were genuinely warm and full of respect, making the listener feel completely comfortable.

Xie Run said with a smile, "Dan Tao, give her a handful of melon seeds. Coming all this way in the cold, she shouldn't suffer for nothing."

Lingdang's eyes lit up, and sweet words spilled out like water.

After seeing Lingdang off, the smile gradually faded from Dan Tao's face.

"My Lady, what does Shufei Yun mean? Insisting you attend Princess Ruyi's birthday banquet—what if something goes wrong..."

"'Lingdang's words aren't wrong.' Xie Run said softly. 'Now there's no Ce Fei in the mansion, only three Shufei consorts. Shufei Fang is still under house arrest. If I don't go, others will inevitably gossip.'"

Xiaoshu frowned, dissatisfied. "To save her face, you're supposed to risk yourself while seven months pregnant?"

"Is her face more important than the child in your belly?"

Xie Run shook her head. "Why are you getting so worked up?"

"She's dead set on inviting me, and now she's just asking sweetly. If I refuse, she'll go to the prince and princess about it."

"Instead of causing a scene later, it's better to agree now."

Xie Run patted her belly. "Being pregnant doesn't mean I can shut everyone out."

She worries about the baby and is careful about everything, but others won't get it.

In the eyes of the prince and princess, they'd think she was being overly difficult.

It was just a birthday party, eat and come back—how hard can that be?

Yes, her baby is precious, but Shufei Yun is also hosting a birthday party for Princess Ruyi.

Aren't we all princes and princesses?

Dan Tao said, "I'm afraid that Concubine Li and Concubine Han will both go. Those two haven't even had their pregnancies stabilize yet."

Pausing, she added, "And Concubine An."

Concubine An is half a month ahead of Xie Run, and by then she will be seven and a half months.

"If they all go, and only our mistress doesn't, they'll probably say she's putting on airs. Moreover, the Prince has always doted on Princess Ruyi, so he is bound to be displeased with our mistress."

Xiaoshu suddenly didn't know what to say.

"I just think she means harm. If something happens, what then?"

Xie Run patted Xiaoshu on the shoulder. "Precisely because she's making every effort to invite me, she can't let anything happen to me at the banquet."

"Consort Yun hasn't been favored recently, and she has no son. If something happens to the pregnant ones at the banquet, what good would it do her except earn the Prince's displeasure?"

Xiaoshu said, "That's true."

Xie Run said, "If it were Consort Fang or Concubine Han hosting the banquet today, I really wouldn't dare to go."

"But since both of them now supposedly 'have' children, they are capable of ruthless acts."

Dan Tao said, "Even so, it's still better to be cautious. Even if Consort Yun doesn't mean any harm, there's no guarantee that others attending the banquet won't."