This unexpected incident startled everyone. Yunxiang, the maid beside Xiao Jinghui, anxiously helped her steady herself. She looked Xiao Jinghui up and down and found that apart from being frightened, she was unharmed. Only then did she feel relieved and pleaded guilty. "Third Miss, it was this lowly maid who failed to hold you steady for a moment. It's all this maid's fault. Please forgive this maid, Third Miss!"
Xiao Jinghui covered her chest and gasped lightly in fear. Seeing that everyone's gazes were on her, she felt guilty and didn't dare to meet Xiao Bao'er's eyes, afraid that the other party would notice what she had intended to do. So she pretended to scold Yunxiang a couple of times and then fled the scene as if running for her life.
As for the group of children who had bumped into Xiao Jinghui, fearing they had caused trouble, they had already scattered in a rush. Not a single one was in sight. The carter who was transporting the goods was even more worried about the goods. He quickly climbed onto the wooden cart, tightened the ropes of the bags filled with osmanthus, and then opened the other bags to check. The other bags only contained materials such as rice, flour, and sugar.
Xiao Bao'er looked at the name "Qilixiang" written on the bag and suddenly felt like having the seasonal pastry - osmanthus cake - that Qilixiang made during the Mid - Autumn Festival.
Xiao Jinghui was really unlucky. Among so many bags, she just happened to bump into the one filled with osmanthus. Fortunately, the osmanthus had lost its fragrance after being picked overnight. Except for Xiao Bao'er who was standing on a high place, no one else noticed. Xiao Bao'er touched the dried osmanthus powder in her bosom with a smile and couldn't help but sigh.
Just as she was about to get on the car, she had observed Xiao Jinghui's actions and even slowed down her steps to wait for her. She just wanted to get close to Xiao Jinghui when she was doing something bad to see if she could sprinkle the dried osmanthus powder on her. Now she didn't even need to do it herself, as Xiao Jinghui had bumped into the osmanthus on her own.
Of course, Xiao Bao'er wasn't kind - hearted enough to remind her.
The Xiao Mansion had prepared two spacious and comfortable carriages for the four young ladies. Xiao Bao'er and Xiao Jinglan sat in one carriage, while the sisters Xiao Jinghui and her sister were in the other.
Seeing Xiao Jinghui's somewhat disheveled appearance, Xiao Jingwan couldn't help but mock, "Third Sister, next time when you want to do something bad, be more secretive and cautious, so as not to be discovered and end up in an embarrassing situation."
Xiao Jinghui gave a cold laugh. "Since Fourth Sister is so capable, you should naturally know what to do when we get to the Prince of Xiangyang's Mansion later."
"Little Sister naturally understands. I will never be as useless as Third Sister."
Xiao Jingwan raised her head, and a malicious look that didn't match her age appeared on her face. Since the day Xiao Bao'er had made her return all the things, she had emptied all her belongings but still couldn't make up half of it. Her concubine mother had found out about this, and that day she had been whipped on her back with a soft whip by her concubine mother. Even now, her back hadn't fully healed.
When they got to the Prince of Xiangyang's Mansion later, she would make Xiao Bao'er lose face completely to vent her resentment.
The carriages arrived at the Prince of Xiangyang's Mansion, and the four young ladies got off.
Xiao Bao'er looked at the solemn and imposing main gate of the mansion and took a deep breath. In both her past and present lives, she had come to this place again, this place that had filled her with humiliation.
At this time, carriages from other mansions had also gathered in front of the mansion. After the noble young ladies got off the carriages, they greeted those they were familiar with. Since the black spots had appeared on her body, Xiao Bao'er had never left the Xiao Mansion. Now she wasn't very familiar with the noble young ladies in the capital. However, some people recognized Xiao Jinghui and the other two, and they all came over to chat.
Xiao Jinglan was pulled away by someone she knew well to chat in the distance, while Xiao Jinghui and her sister had no intention of introducing Xiao Bao'er to others. They just chatted and laughed with others on their own, leaving Xiao Bao'er standing awkwardly on one side.
This had also happened in her past life. Xiao Bao'er had never experienced such a situation and didn't know how to interact with others. She could only shrink back and stand on one side, which was not at all the behavior of the eldest legitimate daughter of the Xiao Mansion.
Moreover, others thought her attire, all gold and silver, was unbearably vulgar. As a result, they thought she was a poor relative who had come with Xiao Jinghui to take advantage. They didn't give her a good look. When she made a fool of herself at the flower - viewing banquet later, these noble young ladies seemed to have found amusement and spared no effort in mocking her.
This time, facing the curious gazes of everyone, Xiao Bao'er generously bowed. "Greetings, ladies. I'm Xiao Bao'er, the eldest young lady of the Xiao Mansion."
"Ah, this is the Eldest Miss Xiao who has been ill and hasn't been out..."
"Greetings, Eldest Miss Xiao. Is your health okay? I happened to meet you at the Marquis of Wuding's Mansion a few years ago. I wonder if Eldest Miss Xiao still remembers..."
"Eldest Miss Xiao, your dressing today is really eye - catching. Could you please teach us..."
In a moment, the noble young ladies surrounded Xiao Bao'er. They asked about her well - being very attentively. After all, Xiao Bao'er's father was the prime minister who held great power in the court. He was someone that people wanted to curry favor with but couldn't. Now that his daughter had appeared, they had to flatter her well. If they were lucky enough to catch Xiao Bao'er's eye, they might even benefit their fathers and brothers...
With such thoughts in mind, the noble young ladies' gazes towards Xiao Bao'er became even more eager. They didn't care about the sisters Xiao Jinghui and Xiao Jingwan at all. They were pushed aside by the noble young ladies. They looked at Xiao Bao'er surrounded by the crowd like the moon surrounded by stars with gloomy faces. The repeated calls of "Eldest Miss Xiao" in their ears made them feel dizzy.
Suddenly being surrounded so attentively by the noble young ladies, Xiao Bao'er was a bit uncomfortable. She had to say to everyone, "Ladies, why don't we go in first? I'm sure Princess Lin'an has already prepared the banquet. It wouldn't be good if we were late."
Only then did the noble young ladies come to their senses one by one and followed Xiao Bao'er into the Prince of Xiangyang's Mansion.
Princess Lin'an had already known what had happened at the gate through the maids. When she learned that Xiao Bao'er was being surrounded like a star, Princess Lin'an narrowed her phoenix eyes, and a playful smile appeared on her lips. Supported by her maid, she stood up and said to the noble young ladies who had arrived earlier, "Come on, all of you, follow this princess to welcome the honored guests."
Although the Prince of Xiangyang wasn't the emperor's full - blooded younger brother, his mother had died early. He had been adopted by the then - queen, now the empress dowager, since childhood and had grown up with the emperor. The brotherly affection between them was deep. Even his fief was the wealthy Xiangyang. And Princess Lin'an, the only daughter of the Prince of Xiangyang and his princess, was extremely noble.
So for the flower - viewing banquet personally hosted by Princess Lin'an, all the well - known noble young ladies in the capital had come.
The Prince of Xiangyang's Mansion could be said to be the most imposing mansion in the capital. There were numerous pavilions and towers in the mansion. All kinds of precious plants were casually decorated in the corners of the yard. Passing through the long corridor in the front yard and turning a corner, they came to a place with a sign that read "Jiquyuan". The glittering plaque dazzled everyone's eyes. Then, after passing through several rockeries, they came to the place for flower - viewing.
Every corner here had been carefully decorated. There was a flowing - cup feast set up under the transparent pavilions all around. Not far away were the charming and colorful flowers competing for beauty. On the stage by the lake, the opera troupe had already started singing. The melodious and moving sounds filled the air. The neatly - dressed maids shuttled through the banquet in an orderly manner and served respectfully. Just a simple glance would make one be dazzled by the luxury.
The Xiao Mansion was also decorated exquisitely, but it couldn't compare with the heritage of the royal family after all. In her past life, after what had happened at the gate, when she came in and saw these things, Xiao Bao'er felt even more panicked. So when she saw Princess Lin'an, she bowed unsteadily and fell head - first into the muddy ground, looking extremely disheveled all over.
And from the moment she fell, the amusement of the entire flower - viewing banquet became Xiao Bao'er.