Since Shen Qing's belly had grown bigger, she hadn't been in as good spirits as before. After playing for a while, she felt sleepy and took a nap on the couch. Yingxiu and the others moved the things to the side room.
When she woke up from her nap, it was already past lunchtime.
Yuzhen heard the movement, lifted the curtain and came in, asking, "Miss, do you want something to eat? It's still warm in the small kitchen."
There were always warm dishes in the small kitchen of Zhuoying Courtyard in case Shen Qing suddenly wanted to eat.
"Bring it up," Shen Qing yawned and leaned lazily on the couch.
An easy life was the most likely to wear away one's will. She felt that she was about to be spoiled.
Yuzhen answered and soon lunch was served. Shen Qing was too lazy to get off the couch, so the food was placed directly on the kang table.
"I remember that in previous years, when attending the New Year's Eve palace banquet, we would have a reunion lunch first at noon. Didn't anyone come to ask before?"
Yuzhen shook her head. "No."
Shen Qing paused in the act of picking up food. "No?"
Did they think she didn't need to attend, or that she wouldn't attend?
"It's my fault. I'll go and find out right away."
They had been so busy having fun that they had forgotten about this!
Shen Qing said indifferently, "It doesn't matter. It's Chinese New Year today. Don't be so rigid. Just send someone to ask later."
As she was speaking, Zhuxing had already gone to find out. It was not a big deal if she didn't find out, but when she did, she learned that the Guangping Marquis Mansion hadn't received an invitation to the palace banquet this year. Since they didn't need to attend the palace banquet, there was no need to have the reunion lunch at noon.
When Shen Qing heard this, she couldn't help laughing.
Ji Junye was so naughty. Since she couldn't go this year, he wouldn't let anyone from the Guangping Marquis Mansion go either.
She had to admit that what he did was really to her liking.
When Xu Yanchi learned that the palace hadn't sent an invitation to the Guangping Marquis Mansion, his face turned blue and then red.
If the Guangping Marquis Mansion didn't appear at the palace banquet, who knew what people would guess next year. He wouldn't be able to hold his head up in front of others!
But he was also a little happy because Ji Junye wasn't there today and they didn't need to attend the palace banquet, so he could see Shen Qing.
Since that incident, Ji Junye had openly guarded against him. As a result, even though they lived in the same mansion, he couldn't even get a glimpse of Shen Qing.
Xu Yanchi immediately asked someone to prepare the family dinner carefully.
Meanwhile, Shen Qing, who was being missed, had nothing to do in the afternoon. She asked someone to bring out the list of New Year gifts and checked it again.
It started to snow lightly as dinner time approached. Sure enough, someone came from the front to invite her.
"The Marquis said this is a family dinner. It's not appropriate for the madam not to show up."
Shen Qing's lazy voice came from behind the curtain. "I'm too heavy with child. It's inconvenient for me to move. I won't go."
A family dinner was for family members. She wasn't part of their family. What was the point of having a family dinner with them?
The person outside seemed a bit embarrassed and was then "invited" out by Zhuxing.
Just then, Yingxiu brought over the things needed for making dumplings. Shen Qing directly invited them all to sit down and make dumplings together.
While time passed quietly for Shen Qing, things were different outside.
There weren't many people in the mansion. Concubines and aunts rarely got to go to the front on this day. Although they were set up at a separate table, it was still a good opportunity.
Juanlian was held up by something temporarily and was a bit late when she went out.
"Hurry up. It's the New Year's Eve family dinner today. It's not good to be late."
The little maid supported her and advised, "It's still snowing outside, auntie. You should go slowly. Don't fall."
Juanlian didn't listen. "If I go any slower, I'll be late. Just hold me steady."
When passing by the rockery in the garden, Juanlian felt that this place was inauspicious because she had failed to harm Jiang Chan last time, so she urged the little maid to hurry up.
But somehow, the rockery suddenly made a noise, and the stones on it rolled straight towards Juanlian. Juanlian panicked and suddenly slipped. She lost control and fell backward.
The little maid had wanted to hold her up, but she also slipped. Both of them fell to the snow.
Juanlian's maid wasn't as quick - witted as Baizhi. Besides, she had fallen herself and couldn't take care of Juanlian at all. By the time she reacted, Juanlian had fallen flat on her back, and the stones had hit her directly.
"Auntie!"
"My stomach!" Juanlian covered her stomach. The sense of falling and pain in her abdomen made her face turn pale.
The little maid didn't care about her own pain from the fall and quickly called for others to help Juanlian up. Someone with sharp eyes saw a shocking red on the ground.
"Blood!"
"There's blood on the ground!"
When the news reached the front hall, Xu Yanchi and Jiang Chan had already arrived. Even Mrs. Wei had dressed up early and was sitting there.
Hearing the servant's report, Xu Yanchi's face suddenly changed. He looked at the old lady in the main seat. "Mother, I'll go and have a look."
Jiang Chan also stood up. "Auntie, Chan'er will go with cousin."
The old lady frowned imperceptibly. "Go."
Mrs. Wei, who was in the outer room, also followed along.
Since Shen Mian and Concubine Zhang were not there at night, Jiang Chan would surely sit next to the old lady. In fact, there were only her and Juanlian at that small table. Now that Juanlian had an accident, it was boring for her to sit there alone.
Juanlian was helped to a nearby wing - room. When Xu Yanchi arrived, the doctor hadn't come yet, and he could hear Juanlian's pained cries inside.
Although Xu Yanchi didn't like Juanlian, he still cared about the child. He immediately asked in a deep voice, "What happened?"
The little maid's face was as white as a sheet. She knelt on the ground with a thud. "Auntie was walking well. When she passed by the rockery in the garden, I don't know what happened. The stones on top of the rockery suddenly fell down. I wanted to take auntie away, but I suddenly slipped..."
At this time, Jiang Chan spoke up. "Cousin, don't be angry. I remembered that I accidentally slipped when I passed by there the other day. If it weren't for Baizhi's quick wits and cushioning me, I would have fallen badly too. I even asked them to check it carefully. How could someone still slip?"
Since it had been checked, it must have been just an accident.
The little maid's face was pale. "Marquis, please spare me. I don't know what happened either. The rockery..."
Xu Yanchi didn't listen to the little maid's further explanation. "Useless thing. How dare you argue? Just sell her off!"
It was very difficult for a maid sold off by the master's family to enter such a wealthy family again. The little maid wanted to plead for mercy, but before she could open her mouth, she was covered by A Cheng's hand and dragged away.
Xu Yanchi was extremely annoyed. "Why hasn't the doctor come yet?"
"The doctor is here!"
On New Year's Eve, few medical clinics in the capital were open. It had taken the people in the Marquis Mansion a lot of effort to find a doctor.
The doctor was invited in, and Jiang Chan stayed in the outer room to talk to Xu Yanchi.
"Cousin, don't be angry. I've already sent someone to check what's going on with the rockery."
The snow outside was getting heavier and heavier. Xu Yanchi was worried about the child inside and didn't notice the flash of triumph in Jiang Chan's eyes.
It was God who was helping her today. It had snowed. After tonight, even if there were any traces on the ground, they would be gone by tomorrow morning.
She had originally listened to her aunt and decided not to do anything to Juanlian again, but who asked her to have impure thoughts and dare to harm her?