Chapter 327: Chapter 327: Wooden Fish
It looked like the argument was about to escalate into a deadlock.
Xie Jinhuan hurried to mediate between both sides.
Unfortunately, it had little effect.
Yet, Xie Jinyu and Xie Jinxiu reconciled.
Because a maid came bearing a large red invitation, saying, "First Miss, Second Miss, Third Miss, the Prince Yu Mansion has sent an invitation for you to attend the lotus viewing banquet."
Xie Jinyu’s eyes lit up.
She reached out, and the maid handed her the invitation.
Xie Jinyu furrowed her brows.
"Every year, there is an invitation for each person."
"Why is there only one this year?"
The maid shook her head, "I don’t know, Prince Yu Mansion only sent one invitation."
Xie Jinyu opened the invitation and glanced at it. Indeed, it was an invitation to attend the lotus viewing banquet.
However, it was rather vague, inviting the people of Duke Zhen’s Mansion to the banquet.
"I think I know why there’s only one invitation," Xie Jinxiu said.
"You don’t think it’s because of the eldest sister-in-law, do you?" Xie Jinhuan said.
"Who else could it be?" Xie Jinyu said coldly.
The lotus viewing banquet is not just a simple banquet, there’s also a talent competition.
A female bandit, what talent could she have? Attending the lotus viewing banquet would be a face-throwing spectacle.
At Prince Yu Mansion, if she loses face, who knows if that female bandit would blame Prince Yu Mansion?
They dare not invite her.
But, unfortunately, Su Jin is the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen Mansion, favored by the Emperor.
A grand banquet at Prince Yu Mansion, not inviting her would be inappropriate.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place, not knowing what to do, Prince Yu Mansion decided to pass this hot potato to Duke Zhen Mansion.
Only one invitation was sent, with no mention of inviting the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, nor excluding her. It all depended on Duke Zhen Mansion’s arrangement.
"I wonder if the eldest sister-in-law will go?" Xie Jinhuan said.
"Such a good opportunity, of course, we must take the eldest sister-in-law with us," Xie Jinyu said.
"What if she doesn’t want to go?" Xie Jinxiu said.
Seeing them reconcile over a common enemy.
Xie Jinhuan, "...."
"She has no choice but to go!" Xie Jinyu stood up and said.
"I’m going to see my mother, there’s still a few days until the banquet, just enough time to make a new dress."
Peony Garden.
Princess Nanzhang sat on the Arhat Couch.
Her expression was difficult to read.
The Empress Dowager sent a little eunuch, and Princess Nanzhang waved him off, the little eunuch retreated.
After the little eunuch left.
The displeasure disappeared from Princess Nanzhang’s face, and she was in a very good mood.
Seeing this, Mrs. Zhao said, "Commandery Princess isn’t angry?"
Princess Nanzhang picked up the tea cup, gently fiddling with it, "It’s something I can’t ask for, what’s there to be angry about?"
The Empress Dowager had sent the little eunuch to convey a message.
Princess Shouning could no longer marry Xie Jingchuan.
This was something the Empress Dowager and Princess Nanzhang had hinted at earlier.
Princess Nanzhang appeared to be very happy about it, but she actually wanted to refuse.
Princess Shouning’s status is noble, but her temperament is also spoiled and hard to manage.
If managed lightly, it would be ineffective, and if managed strictly, it would cast a bad light on the Empress.
This was not like marrying a wife, but bringing home a revered Bodhisattva.
Princess Nanzhang had been thinking about how to tactfully discourage the Empress Dowager and the Empress, but before she could say anything, this tricky matter was resolved.
This was probably the only benefit of marrying that female bandit.
"Then why did the Commandery Princess have such an unpleasant look just now?" Mrs. Zhao asked, puzzled.
"Besides the fact that Princess Shouning isn’t officially betrothed to Chuanchuan, privately it is considered as such. Now that they’re regretting it, the Empress Dowager and Empress would surely feel indebted to me," Princess Nanzhang said.
"I’m planning to use this situation to get a County Princess title for Yuyu."
Mrs. Zhao was just about to compliment the Commandery Princess when she was interrupted by Xie Jinyu.
"Mother, can I really get a County Princess title?" Xie Jinyu stepped up excitedly.
"Why not?" Princess Nanzhang said with a smile.
Xie Jinyu hugged Princess Nanzhang playfully.
Looking at the invitation in Xie Jinyu’s hand, Princess Nanzhang said, "What’s this?"
Xie Jinyu said, "Prince Yu Mansion is hosting a lotus viewing banquet, the eldest sister-in-law hasn’t attended any banquets, and I plan to take her with us."
"Her attending such a banquet... "
"Is actually quite good," Princess Nanzhang said with a smile.
"I’ll go inform the eldest sister-in-law then," Xie Jinyu said.
"Just notify your third aunt to tell her when the embroideress takes her measurements for the clothes," Princess Nanzhang said.
That bandit loves to take advantage, in consideration of the new clothes, she’ll go.
Agarwood Pavilion, backyard.
Su Jin was feeding fish.
A little maid rushed over and said, "Eldest Young Madam, the embroidery room sent someone to measure you for new clothes."
Su Jin got up and went out.
After she entered the room, the embroideress followed in.
Su Jin asked, "Is it for summer dresses?"
"No," the embroideress shook her head.
"Prince Yu Mansion is hosting a lotus viewing banquet, and they sent an invitation to the mansion. Eldest Young Madam just married in, and hasn’t attended any official banquet. It’s your first time going out as a guest, naturally, you have to dress up elegantly," the embroideress said.
The embroideress spoke while observing Su Jin’s reaction, wanting to see how she would respond.
Su Jin’s expression remained indifferent.
Xingxing, the maid, was delighted, "Finally, someone invited you, miss, to a banquet."
Su Jin, "...."
The embroideress, "...."
How could there be such a happy expression?
The people attending these banquets are all ladies from notable families.
Didn’t they feel there’s a big gap between them and these noble ladies?
Su Jin stretched out her arms, and the embroideress measured her.
After finishing the measurements, she was about to leave when Xingxing reminded her, "Make sure it looks beautiful."
"It mustn’t be inferior to others," Xingxing said.
"...."
"That’s for sure," the embroideress said quickly.
After the embroideress left, Su Jin returned to the backyard.
Xingxing couldn’t contain her excitement and said, "Miss, aren’t you excited?"
Su Jin, "...."
"What’s there to be excited about?" Su Jin said.
If it were truly a good opportunity, it wouldn’t have come to them.
"Back in Qingyun Mountain, you always hoped for someone to invite you to such events," said Xingxing.
"...." said Su Jin.
"Since coming to the Capital, you’ve been hoping someone would invite you to a banquet," Xingxing added excitedly.
"...,"
"If it were really a good thing, it wouldn’t have come to us," Su Jin said.
"Young Madam, that’s quite a wise thing to say," Xingxing replied.
"It’s actually something I heard from the aunties at square dances."
Su Jin laughed and walked back to the yard.
Inside the house, the embroideress followed her in.
Su Jin asked, "Is it for summer dresses?"
"No," the embroideress shook her head.
"Prince Yu Mansion is holding a lotus banquet, and an invitation was sent to the mansion. As it’s the first formal banquet since you married into the mansion, you’ll need to dress properly," the embroideress explained.
While speaking, the embroideress fixed her gaze on Su Jin to gauge her reaction.
Su Jin remained calm.
Xingxing said, "Will Eldest Young Madam really not attend such a nice event?"
Su Jin looked at Xie Jingchen. "Is it really a good opportunity?" she asked.
"Do you have any talents?" Xie Jingchen asked.
"I don’t," Su Jin said.
"Do you...,"
"No more," Su Jin interrupted.
Xingxing, "...."
"Even if it’s a good thing, we would never have the chance," Su Jin said.
"Young Madam, what you said is wise indeed."
"That was said by the grandmothers at the square dances."
Su Jin stepped back into the courtyard.
In the embroidery room, she encountered Xie Jingchuan and asked, "Are the skirts being made for summer wear?"
"Yes," Xie Jingchen nodded.
Su Jin then walked into the room, and the embroideress quickly followed.
Su Jin asked, "Is it for summer dresses?"
"No," the embroideress shook her head.
"The Prince Yu Mansion is hosting a lotus banquet and sent invitations to our mansion. As this is Eldest Young Madam’s first time attending such an event at the mansion, you must be dressed formally," the embroideress explained while observing Su Jin’s reaction.
Su Jin maintained a calm expression.
The embroideress finished taking the measurements and prepared to leave, but Xingxing reminded her, "Make sure it looks beautiful."
"With a character like hers that loves to take advantage, she would definitely go for new clothes," Princess Nanzhang laughed.
In the back courtyard of Agarwood Pavilion.
Su Jin was feeding fish.
The young maid ran over and said, "Eldest Young Madam, the embroideress sent someone to take your measurements for new clothes."
Su Jin rose and went out.
When she entered the room, the embroideress followed her.
Su Jin asked, "Is it for summer dresses?"
"No," the embroideress shook her head.
"Prince Yu Mansion is holding a lotus banquet and they sent an invitation to the mansion. Eldest Young Madam has not properly attended any banquet since entering the manor, so for the first outing, you should naturally dress up grandly," the embroideress said, watching Su Jin’s reaction carefully.
Su Jin remained indifferent.
Xingxing said, "Was the banquet’s invitation all the ladies of the mansion received?"
The embroideress paused, nodded, and whispered, "Every young lady received one, but only one for Eldest Young Madam this year, and she didn’t tell me whether she will be attending."
Su Jin turned back to the koi pond in the courtyard, staring into the water silently.
"Miss, you always wanted this when we were in Qingyun Mountain, right?" said Xingxing.
Su Jin did not respond.
At the Capital, you hoped for this.
"Almost like striking the jackpot from the dancing aunties," Su Jin finally said with a laugh before heading back to the backyard.