"They can hold their banquets. Why do they keep looking at me?"
"With the Empress Dowager being assassinated, they wouldn't dare to hold a banquet at this sensitive time. It would only invite criticism," Xiao Xiao said with a smile.
"Moreover, Your Majesty, who would dare to hold a banquet before you?"
Shi Muyuan thought about it and realized it was true. The original owner was so domineering that once she made a big fuss just because a noble lady's banquet overlapped with hers. So now everyone was waiting for Shi Muyuan to hold her banquet first before planning their own.
Shi Muyuan adjusted the silver fish hairpin she had just put on uneasily. She had no idea how to handle such things. She would have to deal with those scheming people, which sounded really troublesome.
Xiao Xiao seemed to understand her thoughts. "Your Majesty just needs to send out invitations and let them come. If you don't want to interact with them, you can just plead illness and let them have fun on their own. The most important thing is to show up at the banquet to dispel the rumors outside. Many people are saying that Your Majesty has suddenly fallen seriously ill and is in critical condition since you returned."
Shi Muyuan thought that maybe she could meet some lovely young ladies and have fun with them. So she immediately nodded and told Xiao Xiao to handle the matter.
She called Ze Ze over. "Go and find out how the matter in Qingshui County is being handled."
"Your Majesty, someone sent a message this morning. The officials have been transferred, and a new county magistrate has taken over the position in Qingshui County. The new magistrate is rectifying and cleaning up the county. The Zhang family is a bunch of scoundrels. The new magistrate has uncovered a lot of dirty deeds. His Majesty has already ordered the execution of everyone in the Zhang Mansion. The new magistrate is also investigating those related to this matter. No one will be spared," Ze Ze said, his eyebrows twitching.
"Come on, look at you. You look just like those unhappy concubines in the late Emperor's harem," Xiao Xiao said in disgust.
Ze Ze widened his eyes. Did she just say he looked like a jealous woman in the harem? How could he? Ze Ze touched his face, hissed at her, and then rushed out.
Shi Muyuan put on the pink brocade dress with deer patterns and hidden flowers embroidered with gold thread that Xiao Xiao had chosen for her. Since it wasn't an important occasion, Xiao Xiao gave her a cute makeup. With her young-looking face, Shi Muyuan looked like a freshly blooming hibiscus.
She happily twirled in front of the bronze mirror, admiring herself. Her praise made the little maid blush.
Outside, the sun was shining brightly. It hadn't snowed in the past few days, and the snow that the palace servants had swept aside was almost melted. Shi Muyuan lifted her skirt and walked towards the imperial garden. Since there would be a lot of people at the banquet, she decided to enjoy the beautiful scenery alone first.
The white jade flowers she loved so much a few days ago were gone, but the plum blossoms were in full bloom. A hibiscus-like beauty wandering among the plum trees was really eye-catching.
Many palace servants couldn't take their eyes off her, while some quietly left, presumably to report to someone.
Outside the palace, in the Jiang Shangshu Mansion.
Madam Jiang secretly pulled her daughter into the room.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Jiang Qiong patted the back of her mother's hand.
"Hui Niang said that the Empress Dowager went to the imperial garden to appreciate the plum blossoms today. In a few days, she will invite the young ladies and gentlemen from various families. You know, this banquet is very important for you young ladies of marriageable age. You should prepare well," Madam Jiang said.
Hui Niang used to work in the palace. After reaching the appropriate age, she left the palace and was taken in by Madam Jiang. This news was passed on by Hui Niang's old friend in the palace.
Jiang Qiong wrung her handkerchief. "Mother, why are you saying this? I can't decide my own marriage."
"Humph, your father's eyes are always on that little slut in the Western Courtyard. How can he find a good match for you? If a young master from a noble family takes a fancy to you, wouldn't it be better?"
Everyone in the capital knew that the master of the Jiang Mansion doted on his concubine and neglected his wife. Many noble ladies laughed at them. Madam Jiang was very unhappy and wanted her daughter to marry into a good family to get back at them.
"Mother, look what you're saying. Am I not good enough?"
"Of course you are. My daughter is the most beautiful girl in the capital."
"Then what are you worried about?"
"Silly girl." Madam Jiang was just a little worried. Although she was still the mistress of the family, her words carried less weight than those of the concubine in the Western Courtyard. She was afraid that the concubine would play some dirty tricks on Jiang Qiong, because the concubine was eyeing her position.
Madam Jiang took out her purse and handed it to Jiang Qiong. "Before they know about it, go to Shili Pavilion to choose your clothes. When the invitations are sent out, there will be a lot of people in Shili Pavilion. You might not be able to choose the best ones."
Jiang Qiong lowered her head reluctantly. "What if Shili Pavilion gets new clothes by then?"
"Then buy them!" Madam Jiang adjusted her sleeves.
The main reason she could still sit in the position of the mistress of the Jiang Mansion was that her family was wealthy. But because her family was in business, her husband looked down on her. So she hoped her daughter could marry well.
Jiang Qiong disliked her mother's attitude the most. No wonder her father didn't like her.
She was known as the most talented girl in the capital, but in her mother's eyes, she always seemed not good enough. There were so many young gentlemen in the capital who admired her, but her mother just ignored them. She thought only a young master from a noble family's favor could prove her worth.
But her mother didn't realize that her father's deeds were well-known in the capital. If it weren't for her reputation as the most talented girl, people might have looked down on her.
Her rival often made fun of her. "Is she really the eldest daughter of the Jiang family? It seems the second daughter is more precious."
The silly girl in the Western Courtyard even thought they were praising her and smiled happily.
Just thinking about the Chen family girl made Jiang Qiong angry. She tightened the purse in her hand and didn't want to listen to her mother's nagging anymore. She agreed immediately and then rushed to her little sister's mansion with her maid to make an appointment.
Shi Muyuan had enjoyed the plum blossoms enough and felt a little hungry. So she immediately returned to the Shoukang Palace.
While eating the delicious chicken leg, Shi Muyuan remembered the terrible food she had on the first day she woke up. She really thought the food in ancient times was like that. It turned out that the original owner was bewitched by someone and deliberately ordered the imperial kitchen to cook like that, saying it was for keeping a good figure and beauty.
What nonsense! If you couldn't eat anything, of course you would be thin!
She found out about this one day when she went to find Ji Heng and smelled the delicious food. Poor the chefs in the imperial kitchen!
No wonder Huo Qizhou didn't eat that food at that time. It made her vomit in public. How embarrassing!
Shi Muyuan drank a bowl of nourishing chicken soup and swayed her head happily.
Ze Ze was sharp-eyed and immediately served her another bowl, earning an appreciative look from Shi Muyuan.