Chapter 53: Warm Winter Banquet

Finally, Tang Zhao bit the bullet and parted with that piece of white cloud-patterned brocade.

The spring breeze carried the brocade to Qingmo Hall.

Worriedly watching her lady slumped on the bed clutching her chest, Qiu Yu advised, "Miss, why don't we take a piece to make some clothes? I just learned a new embroidery pattern from Nanny Li yesterday."

Tang Zhao felt as if this suggestion were carving out her very heart, but after glancing at the plot preview on the system interface, she bared her small white teeth and declared, "Do it! Use that blue brocade!"

Dresses, capes—not a single one could be missing!

She would show those gossips whose faces she was going to slap at the Warm Winter Banquet!

Qiu Yu silently moved a little further away from her lady. Why was her mistress so murderous?

She was terrified.

Turning her heartache into strength, Tang Zhao personally took up her pen and began writing *The Return of the Condor Heroes* like a madwoman, while Nanny Song and Qiu Yu sat on the large heated kang by the window, accompanying her with their needlework.

On the tenth of October, the Prince of Xuan's manor issued widespread invitations, inviting all the great aristocratic families of the Northwest to attend the Warm Winter Banquet.

The ladies of the various families received the invitations with great caution: this was the Princess of Xuan's first time hosting a Warm Winter Banquet, and its importance was far beyond anything the former Consort Han could have compared to.

The invited ladies, young masters, and misses all began commissioning new clothes and accessories. Before the banquet had even begun, a wave of businesses had been revitalized.

On the thirteenth of October, Consort Han, who had been residing in Wuwei City with the Prince of Xuan, moved back to the manor to assist the Princess of Xuan and the Heir's Consort in managing the affairs of the Warm Winter Banquet.

On the fifteenth of October, the gates of the Prince of Xuan's manor swung wide open. Carriages bearing the crests of various noble families came and went in an endless stream of guests.

Inside Nuandong Hall, the Heir's Consort, Lady Ming, led the Third Young Mistress, Lady Wang, and the Sixth Young Mistress, Lady Wu, to receive the arriving ladies and young ladies.

"Why haven't I seen the Commandery Princess?" Lady Wu whispered, stepping forward after having just dealt with the Marchioness of Ning'an, noticing no one was by Lady Wang's side.

"The Princess favors her too much to let her young daughter-in-law take on such a grueling task," Lady Wang replied with a fake smile. "Besides, she is a Commandery Princess after all. Have you ever seen a Commandery Princess personally greet guests?"

Even the biological daughter of the Crown Prince had not received the title of Commandery Princess upon marriage; in all of Great Yu, there was only one Commandery Princess Zhao Shan!

Lady Wu understood this logic, but since they were all daughters-in-law of the Prince of Xuan's manor, the disparity in treatment was simply too vast.

Lady Wang glanced at Lady Wu's expression, feeling much better.

Frustrated, Lady Wu intentionally approached the Heir's Consort, Lady Ming, to say something ambiguous, only to be brushed off by Lady Ming with a few words.

Lady Wang almost burst into laughter. This Lady Wu truly had nothing but a pretty face and a pile of stinking money. The Heir's Consort and the Commandery Princess were sisters-in-law; how could a concubine's sister-in-law like her hope to drive a wedge between them?

Truly overestimating herself.

Just as Lady Wang was about to go add more firewood, she heard the servant outside announce, "The Marchioness of Zhongyong and her daughter have arrived!"

"Old Madam Meng has arrived! The Seventh Young Lady has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Lady Ming hurried forward to greet them, "Grandmother!"

Old Madam Meng was over seventy, yet her white hair could not hide her vibrant spirit. She chuckled and personally helped Lady Ming up. "Good child."

The young lady in fine silks helping Old Madam Meng blinked. "Sister-in-law!"

Lady Ming smiled. "Seventh Sister has finally deigned to come home!"

Gu Xuan was not offended by the teasing; instead, she said mischievously, "After the banquet, I'm going back to the Meng residence with Grandmother. Grandmother can't do without me!"

While listening to them affectionately, Old Madam Meng walked to the Meng family's seating area and sat down.

Beside them, the family of the Marquis of Zhongyong sat in the seat of honor just below the Meng family, accompanied by Lady Wang.

The Marchioness of Zhongyong led her daughter forward to pay respects. After Gu Xuan and the others finished exchanging greetings, Gu Xuan held Bai Rouyin's hand tightly. "Sister Rouyin, why didn't you come to the Meng house to see me? I have so much to tell you."

Bai Rouyin said softly, "I accidentally caught a chill, and I was afraid of passing the illness to you."

Gu Xuan asked worriedly, "Are you feeling better now?"

Bai Rouyin turned her head, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and coughed twice. "Much better."

"How can you be much better when you're still coughing?" Gu Xuan said urgently. "Does Fifth Brother know?"

Bai Rouyin's body stiffened, and she immediately coughed even louder.

Gu Xuan let go, ready to leave. "I'll go tell Fifth Brother!"

"Sister Xuan!" Bai Rouyin pulled her back. "I am fine." She leaned close to her ear and whispered, "As things stand, what standing do I have to disturb the Fifth Young Master?"

Gu Xuan was speechless, her heart feeling both sour and bitter. She looked around and saw no unfamiliar faces, so she asked, "Sister-in-law, where is Fifth Sister-in-law?"

Bai Rouyin tilted her head, listening intently.

Lady Ming's smile remained unchanged. "The Commandery Princess is with her mother; she will arrive once the banquet begins."

Bai Rouyin lowered her eyes.

Gu Xuan feared the Princess of Xuan the most and did not dare to look for her. She gave a heavy huff and pulled Bai Rouyin around Nuandong Hall, hoping to run into Gu Ci by chance.

Old Madam Meng gave Lady Ming a profound look. Lady Ming offered an apology and went to attend to other guests.

Inside Minghui Hall, the Princess of Xuan was personally combing Tang Zhao's hair.

The intricate and beautiful hairstyle was secured with light blue ribbons. A light blue gauze flower was pinned on the left, while a hairpin inlaid with a night pearl the size of a longan was placed on the right. As sunlight streamed through the window, the night pearl emitted a faint blue glow. Paired with her light blue cloud-patterned brocade clothing, the young girl in the mirror appeared breathtakingly beautiful and elegantly poised.

Watching her, the Princess of Xuan felt that her foolish son truly had the blessing of a fool; to have such a wife, what more could one ask for?

"Mother?" Tang Zhao pointed to the sun outside to remind her, "The banquet is about to start."

The Princess of Xuan took Tang Zhao's hand. "Let us go."

Inside Nuandong Hall, everyone was already seated in their respective places, waiting for the banquet to commence.

Gu Xuan glared at Gu Ci, who was sitting above. She didn't know what was wrong with her brother; he had entered Nuandong Hall just in time, sat down in his seat, and was busy with something, neither looking up nor glancing sideways. He didn't even spare a single look toward Sister Rouyin!

Gu Ci seemed oblivious to his sister's gaze, focused entirely on carving the jade in his hand.

"Your Highness the Princess, the Commandery Princess has arrived!"

As the announcement fell, everyone present, including Old Madam Meng, stood up. "We welcome Her Highness the Princess, and we welcome Her Highness the Commandery Princess!"

Led by the Princess of Xuan, Tang Zhao walked step by step toward the head seat under the subtle or overt scrutiny of the crowd.

Once the Princess of Xuan was seated in the head seat, Tang Zhao turned and stepped down the dais to walk to Gu Ci's side.

The Princess of Xuan said, "Please, everyone, be seated."

"Thank you, Your Highness," the crowd replied as they sat.

"The Prince of Xuan's manor has invited all the families of the Northwest to this Warm Winter Banquet so that our people and soldiers may have a peaceful and warm winter. All the funds raised today will be used entirely for the people and the three armies."

The Princess of Xuan raised her wine cup. "On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians in the Northwest, I thank you all!" Having said this, she tilted her head back and drank.

"We shall certainly do our utmost!" Everyone raised their cups and drank together.

Tang Zhao pursed her lips, filled with doubt. Was this wine?

This was clearly fermented rice wine!

She tugged at Gu Ci's sleeve. "Husband, do they drink this in your army as well?"

"No, theirs is much stronger," Gu Ci whispered. "Speak less, people are watching."

Tang Zhao gave him a subtle eye roll.

Gu Ci:...

Catching Old Madam Meng's meaningful gaze, Gu Ci straightened his lips.