When Chu Qing had just returned to the courtyard, Green Vine and Careful Heart rushed towards her.
Originally, when Chu Qing was about to enter the palace, she wanted to take the two of them with her. But since Wei Ying said that there would be someone to look after her in the palace and it might be inconvenient to bring them along, Chu Qing thought for a while and agreed.
Now it seemed that it was indeed a wise choice not to take the two little maids into the palace. Otherwise, she and Wei Ying wouldn't have been able to take care of them when they left the palace today.
"Milady! A invitation has come from the Duke's Mansion, inviting you to the Spring - Retaining Banquet tomorrow." Green Vine quickly handed the invitation to Chu Qing.
Chu Qing took the invitation, glanced at it briefly, then frowned and said, "The Duke's Mansion? The Spring - Retaining Banquet?" She had never had any dealings with the Duke's Mansion. Why did they suddenly send an invitation?
Of course, she knew about the Spring - Retaining Banquet. Every year before the Beginning of Summer, the lady of the Duke's Mansion would invite some noble ladies and young misses to enjoy outings in the mountains and waters.
Green Vine understood what Chu Qing meant and replied, "Milady, have you forgotten? The lady of the Duke's Mansion is... the aunt of the side princess."
"Oh?" Chu Qing raised her eyebrows. She had almost forgotten about this. Xu Xin had such a powerful aunt.
Because the lady of the Duke's Mansion had been bestowed the title of a noblewoman by the emperor himself.
"When was this invitation sent?" Chu Qing asked in a deep voice.
"Milady, it was sent not long after the side princess came back," Green Vine answered.
Chu Qing's face darkened. She had a hunch that there was something fishy about it.
"Just say that I'm ill and can't go," Chu Qing said as she slowly sat down and made her decision.
It was better to be cautious when she didn't know what the other side was up to.
"But... Milady..." Green Vine looked hesitant.
"What's wrong?" Chu Qing looked up at her and asked.
Careful Heart, afraid that Green Vine couldn't explain clearly, took over and replied, "Milady, didn't you instruct us before to keep a close eye on... Miss Shangguan's movements?"
When Chu Qing heard the name Shangguan, she rubbed her temples with a headache.
"What has this girl done again?"
"Milady, Miss Shangguan is also on the invitation list."
"Oh? But... what does this have to do with me?"
"Milady, I heard that Miss Shangguan... has always been on bad terms with the second young miss of the Duke's Mansion..."
Hearing this, Chu Qing frowned slightly.
"If they're on bad terms, why does she still go? What's she going there for? Is she stupid?"
"I... I don't know... So I thought it was better to tell you," Careful Heart replied.
Chu Qing sighed. Although she didn't want to interfere with that stubborn girl, she was really afraid that she would do something wrong and be caught with a handle, or be bullied when she went there.
"Then, get ready and go tomorrow," Chu Qing said in a deep voice.
"Yes."
...
When night fell, Chu Qing tossed and turned in bed. With something on her mind, she couldn't find a comfortable sleeping position.
She had a feeling that Xu Xin must have gone to complain to her aunt. Otherwise, the Spring - Retaining Banquet wouldn't have been held so early. In the past, it was always held a few days before the Beginning of Summer, but now it was still about a month away from that time.
Now that Shangguan Zhen was involved, she couldn't just sit back and do nothing.
So she had no choice but to go to the banquet.
Even though she knew there might be a plot waiting for her, she couldn't avoid it.
It wasn't that she was afraid of the other side, but that Chu Qing didn't want to be so tired now.
But the days of leisure would never come to her.
...
The next day, after telling Wei Ying, Chu Qing was about to go with Green Vine and Careful Heart. But before they left, Wei Ying kept Careful Heart behind and sent a strange - looking young girl to go with them.
When Chu Qing looked at Wei Ying with a hint of jealousy and confusion, Wei Ying said slowly that the girl was extremely skilled in martial arts.
Hearing this, Chu Qing readily agreed.
Since she hadn't started learning martial arts yet, she naturally needed someone with high martial arts skills to protect her!
After watching the girl disguise herself as Careful Heart, Chu Qing was even more satisfied!
After bidding farewell to Wei Ying, Chu Qing got into the carriage.
As she got on the carriage, she also caught a glimpse of Xu Xin getting into her carriage.
She seemed quite well - behaved today.
But... was she really as well - behaved as she seemed?
Chu Qing didn't believe it. She knew that Xu Xin was a woman who never let an insult pass unavenged.
...
The carriage was slowly moving on the mountain road. The place they were going to was quite far from the capital, so they would have to stay there for one night during this trip to the banquet.
Chu Qing looked at the young girl sitting opposite her with her head down. Although the girl had disguised herself as Careful Heart, their personalities were different.
Careful Heart was more steady than Green Vine, and this girl was even more steady than Careful Heart!
"What's your name?" Chu Qing asked. She couldn't just not know the girl's name.
The young girl who had disguised herself as Careful Heart raised her head. Although respectful, she replied indifferently, "Milady, I'm Careful Heart."
"Well... I'm asking for your real name," Chu Qing said patiently after being a bit choked.
"Milady, I'm Careful Heart."
"..." Chu Qing leaned back against the soft couch helplessly. After taking a breath, she continued, "Although you look the same as her and there's no difference, those who are familiar with you can still tell that you're not her."
The girl's body froze. In an instant, she changed her indifferent look and now looked exactly like Careful Heart.
"Milady, don't tease Careful Heart," the girl said in a coquettish tone, exactly the same as when Careful Heart used to act coquettishly with her.
Chu Qing nodded in satisfaction and stopped talking.
...
I don't know how long it took, but they finally arrived at their destination.
After she got out of the carriage, she saw that there were already quite a few carriages parked at the foot of the mountain one after another.
Several gorgeously dressed ladies and brightly - dressed young misses were talking around a stately woman.
Chu Qing squinted and knew that the woman surrounded like a moon by stars must be the lady of the Duke's Mansion.
With a neither over - deferential nor over - arrogant smile, Chu Qing stepped forward.