As soon as Nanny Qiu finished speaking, a young maid lifted the curtain and entered through the door.
It was Xiaotao, the maid the First Lady had assigned to Jiang Jingshu a few days ago.
"Xiaotao, come in and report!"
Nanny Qiu told Xiaotao to come in. Xiaotao was rather thin and small. After entering, she first curtsied to the First Lady. "First Lady!"
"Xiaotao, is your mistress all packed?"
Nanny Qiu couldn't help but ask first.
"Reporting to Nanny, the Fourth Miss sent this servant to report. The Fourth Miss said that she..." The young maid paused for a moment before continuing, "doesn't want to attend the banquet!"
Upon hearing this, the First Lady's expression changed.
"Why doesn't she want to go?"
Xiaotao shrank back a bit and then said in a very low voice, "She just said she didn't want to go. She didn't say anything else..."
The First Lady frowned slightly and waved her hand to dismiss Xiaotao.
Xiaotao curtsied and quickly backed out.
"First Lady, the Fourth Miss is really ungrateful..."
"In that case, we won't take her..." The First Lady stopped halfway through her sentence and turned to look at Jiang Sihe, realizing her words were a bit too harsh.
"Sihe, if you want her to go, I can send someone to invite her again..."
But Jiang Sihe shook her head. "Mother, since she doesn't want to go, there's no need to force her!"
The First Lady was worried that Jiang Sihe might feel uncomfortable, but seeing her attitude now, she felt relieved.
Jiang Sihe had breakfast with the First Lady and then left the mansion. She took a carriage to the Marquis of Ning'an's Mansion.
When Concubine Wei heard that Jiang Jingshu had actually refused on her own, she felt extremely uncomfortable.
It seemed that she had to talk to the Second Lady again and urge her to act quickly.
However, before going to the Second Mistress's courtyard, she first went to Youzhu Courtyard.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw Concubine Ruan tending to the bamboo in the yard. Concubine Wei stepped forward affectionately.
"Concubine Ruan, you've been back for some time. I thought I'd come and see you!"
Concubine Ruan didn't even lift her head. She just replied with a cold "hmm"!
This really annoyed Concubine Wei, but she didn't show it on her face. She took a few more steps forward.
"Look, you really know how to grow bamboo. The leaves look so fresh and lovely..."
This remark hit Concubine Ruan's heart. She turned her head, and her attitude softened a bit.
"Of course, one has to be dedicated when growing bamboo. One also has to find a quiet place. The more noisy the place is, the less the green bamboo will like it..."
Concubine Wei couldn't help but roll her eyes, but she held it back.
"Sister, you have a quiet and elegant personality, which is suitable for growing such noble things. Someone like me, a vulgar person, just likes excitement..."
Concubine Wei was the best at talking in the mansion. With just a few words, she had flattered Concubine Ruan.
"Did you come here for something?"
Concubine Ruan asked while trimming the bamboo.
Seeing that she had brought up the topic, Concubine Wei naturally continued smoothly.
"I heard that the First Lady originally wanted to take the Fourth Miss to the lotus - viewing banquet, but the Fourth Miss refused?"
Concubine Ruan replied expressionlessly, "Yes. She has the same personality as me. She likes quietness. She doesn't like such noisy places!"
"Oh, Sister Wei, I know you're used to a quiet life, but going to a banquet isn't just about attending a banquet. It's also a chance to look for a future husband!
The Marquis of Ning'an's Mansion has invited all kinds of scholars who came to the capital for the autumn imperial examinations this year. They are all talented scholars. With the Fourth Miss's talent, she will surely be liked by those scholars!"
These words from Concubine Wei made Concubine Ruan frown.
Seeing that Concubine Ruan seemed to be starting to understand, Concubine Wei continued, "The Fourth Miss is young and doesn't understand. As concubines, we should make some plans for her!"
Concubine Wei knew that these words were enough. If she said too much, Concubine Ruan would surely be annoyed because of her personality. So she didn't say any more on this topic. After chatting for a few more casual words, she left Concubine Ruan.
Just as she was about to go to the Second Mistress's courtyard, she was stopped by Cuiwei who had come looking for her. Cuiwei looked around and then whispered in Concubine Wei's ear in a hushed voice.
"Concubine, everything is arranged. Go out through the west corner gate, turn at Xinghua Street, and there's a carriage waiting!"
Concubine Wei nodded. Knowing that she didn't have time to go to the Second Mistress's courtyard today, she swayed back to her own courtyard.
"Go back and change into my peach - pink dress. It makes me look more delicate!"
Cuiwei's expression changed, and she quickly followed.
Half an hour later, Concubine Wei put on a veiled hat and quietly slipped out through the west corner gate with Cuiwei.
...
In the Marquis of Ning'an's Mansion, several noble ladies were sitting around a stone table under the waterside pavilion.
"Is that little girl in the pink dress the daughter you adopted?"
The Lady of the Marquis of Ning'an couldn't help but ask.
The First Lady saw Jiang Sihe, who still stood out among the group of noble girls, and couldn't help but feel proud.
"Yes, that's my daughter!"
Everyone was taken aback by the First Lady's show - off. The Lady Chen beside her couldn't help but say sourly, "She's not your own daughter. There's always a gap... not as close!"
The First Lady had an impatient personality. Being provoked like this, she immediately showed her annoyance on her face.
"So what if she's my own daughter? I heard that a few days ago, the Third Miss of the Chen family was clamoring for a set of jewelry from my Fuyu Pavilion, but Lady Chen just wouldn't buy it for her..."
Lady Chen was immediately flushed with embarrassment. "You..."
The First Lady ignored her. The Lady of the Marquis of Ning'an quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "Some children come to collect debts, while others come to repay kindness. No matter good or bad, we parents have to accept them..."
After the Lady of the Marquis of Ning'an finished speaking, she winked at the Lady of the Duke of An, signaling her to say a few words too.
"Yes, Mingyi, you've just become a mother. You don't know the hardships of raising children yet..."
These ladies had known each other since they were young girls in the boudoir, and they had all married well after getting married.
Only Lady Chen's husband's family had declined after they got married, and the family had been living off her dowry.
The other three ladies were aware of her situation but had never mentioned it in person. But today, Lady Chen insisted on provoking the First Lady.
Naturally, the First Lady had to expose her weakness.
"Our Sihe is very well - behaved!"
The First Lady looked at Jiang Sihe who was chatting with other girls in the garden, her eyes full of love.
Lady Chen looked unhappy and stood up. "I heard that there are new lotus varieties in the pond this year. I'll go and take a look first!"
The Lady of the Duke of An said with a smile, "That's just right. I also want to go and take a look. Let's go together!"
As soon as Lady Chen and the Lady of the Duke of An left, the Lady of the Marquis of Ning'an said with a smile, "You're still so straightforward!"
The First Lady raised her eyebrows with a smile. "You've known me for a long time. I'm just this kind of person!"
"Okay, you're not still holding a grudge against me for not standing by your side back then, are you?"
The Lady of the Marquis of Ning'an asked softly.
But the First Lady just smiled. "Back then, it was right for you to stand by your husband's family. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to gain a foothold in the Marquis of Ning'an's Mansion!"
The First Lady could tell right from wrong clearly.
The Lady of the Marquis of Ning'an let out a sigh of relief. "I've been afraid to see you these past few years. Now that you're here today, I know you've probably forgiven me!"
Back then, the First Lady might have been a bit angry that her best friend didn't support her, but after thinking it over slowly, she understood.
Once a woman got married, she usually couldn't make her own decisions. She always had to follow her husband's family!
She looked a bit melancholy at the little girl standing beside the flower bushes. How she wished she could stay in the mansion for a few more years.