In the few days since Song Qinzhou returned, the mansion had been peaceful. Whether the Second Lady was biding her time or truly intimidated by Song Jinyu's methods, she had caused no more trouble recently. Xiang's health had also improved a great deal under Song Jinyu's care, and her complexion was much rosier.
"Father, Sister - in - law has recovered well these days. Daughter thinks the household affairs should be handed over to Sister - in - law." Song Jinyu poured tea for her father and casually made the suggestion.
"You're right. But let's talk about this after we come back from the flower appreciation banquet hosted by Prince Yu. Remember to take Xiang with you tomorrow." Song Qinzhou nodded slightly. He thought his daughter's words made sense, but the top priority now was the flower appreciation banquet of Prince Yu.
"Do I need to inform Uncle's family?" Song Jinyu probed subtly.
"No. Your uncle is just a commoner. It's not appropriate for him to attend a prince's banquet." Song Qinzhou waved his hand.
However, neither the father nor the daughter noticed that a young servant was eavesdropping outside the door. After hearing this, the servant rushed to the Second Lady's courtyard and told her about it.
The Second Lady flew into a rage upon hearing this. She sat on the chair with a gloomy face, lost in thought.
"Wang Qiu, go and get ready. You'll go to the banquet with mother tomorrow."
Watching Song Wangqiu's departing back, a ruthless look flashed in the Second Lady's eyes. "Song Qinzhou, if you're heartless, don't blame me for being unrighteous!"
The next day.
"Miss, it's a big problem! I don't know why, but all the horses in the courtyard are lying on the ground. What should we do?" Niaoniao rushed in with a pale face. Cheng Song, who was following her, also looked solemn.
After inquiring, Song Jinyu learned that the Second Lady and her daughter had harnessed the carriage early and gone to the banquet. Song Jinyu's gaze fell on the chrysanthemums swaying in the wind in the courtyard, and a mocking smile curved her lips.
They really went to great lengths!
On the way, the Second Lady and her daughter were extremely delighted. Especially the Second Lady, whose fat trembled as she laughed.
When they arrived but Song Jinyu, the legitimate daughter, didn't show up, Song Qinzhou flew into a rage.
Both of them pretended to be innocent, saying they didn't know why Song Jinyu and Xiang didn't come. They just came after hearing about the banquet.
As the flower appreciation banquet was about to start, Song Qinzhou had no choice but to let it go. After arriving at the destination, he told the Second Lady and her daughter some things to pay attention to, then entered Prince Yu's mansion for the banquet.
"Was the invitation not delivered?" The man narrowed his eyes and looked at Song Qinzhou and the others who had rushed over, but didn't see Song Jinyu. He glanced at Wei Changyuan beside him with a calm tone.
Qing Feng was so scared that he quickly knelt on one knee, with cold sweat sliding down his forehead. He hurriedly explained, "How dare I neglect the matter the prince told me to do? I personally delivered the invitation to Magistrate Song, and... Miss Song was right beside Magistrate Song at that time."
"I see..." The man fell into silence, and his gaze fell on the Second Lady beside Song Qinzhou. It seemed there was something fishy about this.
"You go and pick up Miss Song in the prince's carriage. I'd like to see what kind of changes are going on in this small magistrate's mansion."
Originally, Song Jinyu and the others thought they couldn't go to the flower appreciation banquet. Unexpectedly, Prince Yu personally sent someone to pick them up and also brought maids to do their makeup and hair.
But the new clothes Song Jinyu had ordered a few days ago weren't ready yet. It seemed that they could only use the ordinary autumn clothes made by the Song Mansion for each person instead.
After some fumbling, they finally got ready and set off for Prince Yu's mansion.
On the other hand, in Prince Yu's mansion, the time had passed, but the banquet hadn't officially started yet. People were simply appreciating the flowers and whispering to each other. However, no one complained, after all, that person hadn't spoken yet.
The man stood in the pavilion, the source of everyone's awed gazes. He gently waved his folding fan, waiting eagerly.
"Here she comes..." Like the arrival of spring after a cold winter, the man's thin lips curved slightly, and the coldness that could decide life and death melted for a moment.
The tense atmosphere of the banquet immediately dissipated. People wondered who could make Prince Yu show such an expression, so they all looked at the door along his line of sight.
Actually, Song Jinyu wasn't very interested in this flower appreciation banquet. But since it was related to her father's official career, she couldn't afford to offend this so - called prince. At least she had dressed up carefully today.
The autumn clothes were simple, but the beauty had excellent temperament. Moreover, the clothes fit her well, outlining a breathtaking curve of her slender waist. The woman's peerless face was simply made up, with skin fairer than snow and an astonishingly graceful bearing.
Looking at the little woman standing at the door at a loss, the man's cold eyes were filled with smiles.
Since the main character had arrived, the banquet could start...