Chapter 27: Chapter
Old Madam Xi had only just recovered from her coughing fit when the breakfast gathering slowly returned to normal.
The servants finally relaxed after seeing that nothing serious had happened, and the women resumed eating, though the atmosphere remained somewhat strange.
At least for the people who could hear Su Yueqing’s thoughts.
Every now and then, someone would glance in her direction only to immediately look away again.
Meanwhile, Su Yueqing continued eating peacefully, completely unaware that she had nearly caused another family disaster.
Just as the conversation began flowing normally again, a maid hurried into the courtyard carrying a folded letter in both hands.
She stopped beside Lin Meiyun and bowed respectfully.
"Duchess, a message has arrived."
Lin Meiyun accepted the letter and opened it.
At first, her expression remained calm.
Then her brows slowly furrowed.
The smile on her face gradually disappeared.
Seeing the change in her expression, Xi Ronghua immediately became curious.
"Sister-in-law, what happened?"
Old Madam Xi also looked over.
"Is there a problem?"
Even Xi Lanyin raised her head slightly.
Lin Meiyun lowered the letter and sighed.
"It is from the Prime Minister’s residence."
The moment those words were spoken, everyone’s attention shifted toward her.
"The Prime Minister’s residence?"
Xi Ronghua blinked.
"What do they want?"
Lin Meiyun gently folded the letter.
"The Prime Minister’s wife has sent her apologies. She says a matter has arisen at home and she will not be able to attend the ladies’ banquet this afternoon."
The courtyard became quiet.
Old Madam Xi’s expression immediately changed.
"Not attending?"
Lin Meiyun nodded.
"She wished the banquet well and promised to send a gift instead."
Unfortunately, that was not what anyone wanted to hear.
Old Madam Xi slowly placed her teacup down.
Her face became thoughtful.
"That is troublesome."
Xi Qianqian looked confused.
"Why is it such a problem, Grandmother? It’s only one guest."
Old Madam Xi shook her head.
"You are still young and do not understand these matters."
She turned toward the others.
"For a ladies’ banquet to gain influence and prestige, there must be important guests present."
"The Prime Minister’s wife is not merely the wife of the Prime Minister."
"She is also the younger sister of His Majesty."
The younger generation immediately understood.
Royal blood.
That alone changed everything.
Old Madam Xi continued.
"Her presence would have elevated today’s gathering significantly."
"Once word spread that a royal princess attended the banquet, every noble family in the capital would pay attention."
Xi Ronghua nodded in agreement.
"That’s true."
"Most noble ladies attend these events for social standing as much as anything else."
Lin Meiyun sighed.
"That was my concern as well."
Old Madam Xi leaned back slightly.
"And it isn’t only about the banquet."
Her gaze slowly moved toward Xi Lanyin.
"Your daughter is also of marriageable age."
Immediately, everyone followed her gaze.
Xi Lanyin froze.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her teacup.
Old Madam Xi continued calmly.
"The Prime Minister’s eldest son is one of the most sought-after young men in the capital."
"If relations between our families remain good, there may be opportunities in the future."
Xi Ronghua nodded.
"The Prime Minister’s family has influence, status, and a clean reputation."
"Many noble families are trying to form connections with them."
Gu Zhen finally joined the conversation.
"And the young master himself is said to be talented."
"He passed the imperial examinations at a young age and is highly regarded by the Emperor."
Xi Qianqian immediately looked toward her elder sister.
"Sister, what do you think?"
Xi Lanyin lowered her eyes.
A faint blush appeared on her face.
"Why are you all looking at me?"
Xi Ronghua immediately laughed.
"Because we’re discussing your future husband."
"Who else should we look at?"
"Fourth Aunt!"
Xi Lanyin’s face turned even redder.
The older women immediately began smiling.
Even Lin Meiyun’s disappointment eased slightly.
Across the table, Gu Yue leaned closer to Xi Anran.
"I heard the Prime Minister’s son is very handsome."
Xi Anran nodded seriously.
"I heard that too."
Gu Yue whispered dramatically.
"Maybe Sister Lanyin already likes him."
Xi Lanyin almost dropped her teacup.
"You two stop talking!"
The laughter surrounding Xi Lanyin gradually faded, though the young woman’s face remained slightly red from being teased so openly in front of everyone.
Old Madam Xi took another sip of tea while Lin Meiyun continued staring at the letter in her hand.
The absence of the Prime Minister’s wife was still a problem that needed to be solved.
No matter how one looked at it, today’s banquet would lose much of its prestige if a woman of royal blood was not present.
For a few moments, nobody spoke.
Then Xi Ronghua suddenly snapped her fingers.
"I have an idea."
Immediately, several people turned toward her.
Xi Ronghua leaned forward slightly.
"If the Prime Minister’s wife cannot attend, why don’t we invite someone else instead?"
Lin Meiyun raised an eyebrow.
"Someone else?"
Xi Ronghua nodded.
"What about the Chancellor’s wife?"
The suggestion immediately caught everyone’s attention.
"The Chancellor’s wife?" Old Madam Xi repeated thoughtfully.
Xi Ronghua nodded again.
"If I remember correctly, isn’t she the daughter of the late Crown Prince?"
"And through her mother, she is also related to the imperial family."
Gu Zhen thought for a moment before agreeing.
"That is true."
"Her status is certainly high enough."
"Perhaps even higher than most noblewomen in the capital."
Old Madam Xi slowly nodded.
"Her presence would indeed maintain the prestige of the banquet."
Lin Meiyun’s expression eased slightly.
The more she thought about it, the more reasonable the suggestion seemed.
The Chancellor’s wife was respected throughout the capital.
She possessed status, influence, and royal connections.
If she attended, very few people would dare look down on today’s gathering.
Xi Lanyin also seemed relieved.
"Mother, perhaps Fourth Aunt is right."
"It may be worth sending an invitation."
Lin Meiyun lowered her eyes thoughtfully.
"Perhaps..."
Before she could finish speaking—
Su Yueqing quietly picked up another dumpling.
She had not paid much attention to the conversation until now.
But upon hearing the name of the Chancellor’s wife, a thought suddenly surfaced in her mind.
[Well that’s a terrible idea.]
The entire table froze.
Every single person immediately became alert.
Even Old Madam Xi’s hand stopped midway to her teacup.
Lin Meiyun’s expression stiffened.
Xi Ronghua blinked.
Meanwhile, Su Yueqing remained completely unaware of the shock she had just caused.
She took another bite.
[Actually, terrible isn’t strong enough.]
[That might be the worst possible decision.]
[The Prime Minister’s wife isn’t refusing because she truly doesn’t want to come.]
[She only sends that letter because something unexpected happened this morning.]
[Later she’ll change her mind and decide to attend anyway.]
The expressions around the table changed instantly.
Lin Meiyun’s pupils contracted.
Old Madam Xi’s grip tightened around her teacup.
Even Xi Lanyin looked stunned.
Meanwhile, Su Yueqing continued eating.
[Unfortunately...]
[By the time she arrives...]
[She’ll see the Chancellor’s wife sitting there.]
[And then everything will explode.]
Xi Ronghua almost stopped breathing.
Gu Yue’s eyes widened.
Xi Anran looked back and forth between the adults nervously.
[Those two women hate each other.]
[Seriously hate each other.]
[The kind of hate where they can smile while secretly wishing the other person falls into a river.]
Several people nearly choked.
Old Madam Xi’s eyelid twitched violently.
Lin Meiyun slowly lowered her head, she was beginning to regret reading that letter.
[The Prime Minister’s wife will think she was replaced.]
[And not just by anyone.]
[But by the woman she dislikes the most.]
[In her eyes, that will be the same as the Xi family publicly choosing sides.]
[After that, she’ll hate the Xi family.]
[She’ll remember it for years.]
[Then later, when the Xi family runs into trouble and desperately needs help from the Prime Minister’s faction...]
Su Yueqing casually reached for a pastry.
[Guess what happens.]
Nobody wanted to guess.
Unfortunately, she answered herself.
[The Prime Minister’s wife will convince her husband not to get involved.]
[And she’ll spend months whispering into the Emperor’s ear too.]
[Since she’s his favorite younger sister, he’ll listen.]
[The Xi family gets abandoned.]
[And all because someone thought inviting the Chancellor’s wife was a brilliant idea.]
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The entire courtyard seemed frozen in time.
Even the servants standing nearby could sense that something was wrong.
Nobody knew what to say.
Nobody knew how to react.
Especially Xi Ronghua.
After all...
The suggestion had been hers.
Very slowly, Xi Ronghua turned her head toward Lin Meiyun.
Lin Meiyun turned toward her as well.
The two women stared at each other.
Xi Ronghua immediately coughed.
"...Maybe the Chancellor’s wife isn’t such a good option after all."
Old Madam Xi nodded immediately.
"Yes."
"Very bad option."
Gu Zhen added without hesitation,
"Terrible option."
Xi Qianqian nodded rapidly.
"Horrible."
Even Xi Anran, who barely understood politics, quickly joined in.
"The worst."
Xi Ronghua glared at all of them.
Traitors.
Meanwhile, at the center of the table, Su Yueqing calmly swallowed her pastry.
Then she glanced around in confusion.
Inside her mind, another thought appeared.
[Why is everyone acting strange again?]
The Xi women immediately looked away.
No one wanted to answer that question.
