Liu Yi paid a visit to the Green Pine Courtyard. Later, the news that Xie Yunxi had instigated Xie Yi to ask Xie Fengran for clothes reached the ears of the old lady.
By this time, it was already dark. Nanny Su rushed to Xie Yunxi's Sunny - Rain Courtyard before dinner. No one knew what she had said, but at least Xie Yunxi quieted down.
The next day, the best tailor shop in the capital swaggeringly sent clothes to the Sunny - Rain Courtyard. Liu Yi found out that the expenses were covered by the Marquis's private account, and it was said that over a thousand taels of silver had been spent.
Xie Fengran overheard her whispering with Lan Fang.
"Over a thousand taels. I wonder if the Second Miss can make back this money from the palace banquet."
Xie Fengran thought that if Xie Yunxi really had the ability to ingratiate herself with the Crown Prince, her father's investment would surely yield huge profits.
In a blink of an eye, it was the day of the palace banquet.
Early that morning, Xie Fengran was dragged out of bed by several maids to be dressed and made up.
After an hour of fuss, she had a light breakfast and then set off for the Green Pine Courtyard.
She would enter the palace under the old lady's escort.
As for the mistress of the Marquis's Mansion, Xie Fengran's mother, everyone in the capital knew that she was in poor health. She never attended such occasions.
When Xie Fengran arrived at the Green Pine Courtyard, Xie Yunxi was already waiting in the yard. Seeing Xie Fengran, she straightened her back and showed off the dazzling glass necklace around her neck. "Sister is here. Let's go in together!"
Xie Yunxi was wearing a light green palace - style silk dress today. It was exquisitely made, making her skin look fairer and more charming.
However, when she stood beside Xie Fengran, she seemed like a petty and delicate girl in comparison.
Xie Fengran was wearing a well - made light purple dress. The cloud patterns on it looked so real. What made Xie Yunxi even more envious was that the fabric of this dress was brocade, which was much more precious than the silk on her own body.
She was so angry that she really wanted to tear the dress off Xie Fengran. But luckily, she remembered that this was the Green Pine Courtyard and didn't dare to act rashly.
When the old lady came out, Xie Yunxi behaved herself extremely well. She followed behind Xie Fengran, walking gracefully as if she were a different person.
The old lady didn't bother about her. She leaned on Xie Fengran's arm and got into the carriage.
She wanted to pull Xie Fengran to sit with her, but Xie Fengran declined. "Grandmother, I'll go and sit with my sister."
The old lady nodded without saying a word. Xie Yunxi was a bit surprised to see Xie Fengran getting into this carriage. "Why didn't sister stay with grandmother to show your filial piety?"
Xie Fengran got into the carriage with Lan Fang's help and sat upright. Lan Fang helped her take off her outer cloak and put it away carefully to prevent it from getting wrinkled, which would be impolite when meeting important people.
She also arranged her skirt properly to make sure there were no creases.
After tidying up, she looked up and smiled. "Sister, you should also ask your maid to take good care of your clothes, so that the thousand taels of silver won't be wasted."
Xie Yunxi was holding a cup of hot tea. A flash of envy crossed her eyes, but she said, "Sister's clothes are worth a fortune. Sister's clothes are not even a fraction of yours."
As she was speaking, her grip on the teacup loosened, and it seemed about to spill on Xie Fengran's dress.
"Second sister, since you know the dress is very valuable, you should hold the teacup steady. Father isn't here today."
Xie Yunxi forced a smile and tightened her grip on the teacup.
Xie Fengran didn't bother to argue with her. She leaned against the carriage wall and closed her eyes to rest.
When the carriage was approaching the imperial city, it gradually slowed down.
By this time, the morning court had ended, and the officials had gone to their respective offices.
The people here were all the noble young ladies and gentlemen invited by the Queen. It could be regarded as a disguised blind - date party. After all, the Crown Prince was already nineteen and still hadn't chosen a concubine. How could the Queen not be anxious?
After waiting for about two quarters of an hour, someone came to invite them to get off the carriage.
Xie Fengran was already ready. She got off the carriage with Lan Fang's help.
Looking ahead, she saw that the old lady was already standing at the front, chatting with an eunuch. She quickly walked over.
When the eunuch saw Xie Fengran coming, he smiled and said, "This must be Miss Xie. You are truly a beauty, well - deserved. The old lady is really blessed."
Hearing this, Xie Fengran's heart skipped a beat, but she showed nothing on her face. She curtsied to the eunuch.
The old lady was obviously very familiar with the eunuch. She looked relaxed and modestly said, "The eunuch is overpraising her."
The eunuch chuckled and waved his hand. Soon, several little eunuchs carried two sedan chairs over. The eunuch motioned with his hand. "Old lady, this was specially ordered by the Queen."
The old lady's expression stiffened for a moment and then quickly recovered. She declined. "Thank the Queen for her concern, but I'd rather walk."
"Old lady, don't worry. You are an elder. It's quite appropriate for you to take the sedan chair."
The old lady was still about to decline. Xie Fengran knew what her grandmother was worried about and said with a smile, "Grandmother, this is the Queen's kind intention. If you decline, won't it embarrass this eunuch? You take the sedan chair, and I'll follow with my sister. How about that?"
The eunuch looked behind and only then saw Xie Yunxi behind Xie Fengran. He slapped his forehead. "It's really my fault. Old lady, wait a moment. I'll ask someone to carry another sedan chair."
"Don't trouble the eunuch." Xie Fengran gave the eunuch a grateful smile. "The rules in the palace cannot be violated. My sister and I are juniors. How can we be the same as grandmother? Don't give the eunuch any trouble."
Seeing that Xie Fengran was so sincere, the eunuch didn't insist. He just sighed to the old lady, "The old lady's granddaughter is really sensible. Please."
"Okay, then I won't delay the eunuch any longer."
The old lady got into the sedan chair, and Xie Fengran and Xie Yunxi walked beside it.
Xie Yunxi had just seen the eunuch's actions silently. She stole several glances at the sedan chair when it was carried away. No one knew if she wanted to try it.
Along the way, the old lady sat calmly in the sedan chair, ignoring the curious looks from both sides. Her poise alone made many people feel ashamed.
Looking at Xie Fengran walking beside, although she was a bit young, the calmness on her was exactly the same as the old lady's.
Today, the Queen's flower - viewing banquet was held in the peony garden. There were woods on both sides planted with rare flowers and plants, and in the middle were various peonies in full bloom.
In the center of the garden was a living - water lake with a pavilion and rockeries in the middle.
This kind of garden separated the unmarried young ladies and gentlemen, so that they wouldn't be impolite, but they could still see each other.
The sedan chair stopped at the garden gate, and the old lady got off.
Some familiar ladies came to pay their respects. The two sisters followed the old lady closely. After greeting a circle of people and hearing a bunch of compliments, they finally sat down at their seats in the garden.