After entering the palace with her husband, Mrs. Wang Liu conveyed the intention of that concubine’s child to the fourth lady of the Bai family, Mrs. Wang, and took the opportunity to mention her nieces far away in Guangling.
Mrs. Wang, being soft-spoken and aware that her mother was at the mercy of the couple, feared that if she didn’t agree, the couple might vent their anger on her mother, so she consented.
On the eve of the palace flower banquet, Dadu City was bustling with excitement. The unmarried young ladies spared no effort to scout out the styles of the most outstanding girls in Dadu City, striving not to accidentally wear the same outfit as someone else.
Admiring flowers, admiring flowers... everyone understood that the Empress Dowager and the several Bai family ladies in the palace were there to admire them, these delicate flowers, which in plain terms meant evaluating them!
People with keen minds, such as those in Commandant Lu’s family, did not let their daughters dress too extravagantly. It’s not that they thought Bai Qingyan would never find a powerful husband from a prominent family for her brother, but Bai Qingyan had already shown them more than enough favor, and one shouldn’t be too greedy.
Therefore, on the night before the flower banquet, Commandant Lu specially called his daughter-in-law and granddaughter, who were to attend the banquet the following day, to impart some paternal advice, telling them to approach everything with a calm heart and not to entertain thoughts of social climbing.
However, Lu Yuanpeng’s mother had her own plans. Since her father-in-law didn’t allow her daughter to climb the social ladder, she thought it better to interact with the Bai family ladies and speak well of her family’s Yuanqing and Yuanpeng. Who knows, maybe the phoenix from the Bai family might come to their home!
Seeing the calculating look in Lu Yuanpeng’s mother’s eyes, Commandant Lu added, "As for the marriage matters of the young men in the family, do not think of interfering. I will take charge of those. Anyone who dares to act behind my back will receive a letter of divorce to take with them back to their natal home!"
Commandant Lu’s words were heavy, immediately erasing the smiles on his daughters-in-law’s faces, leaving them pale. They instantly dismissed any inappropriate thoughts from their minds, knowing full well that their father-in-law was a man of his word, and they were truly afraid of him.
·
The third lady of the palace was so busy she didn’t have time to catch her breath, and her legs were sore. But when she finally sat down to rest, she didn’t look weary; instead, she was full of energy.
This was the first banquet the Bai family had held since the incident. Though a palace banquet couldn’t compare to the ones held at the Bai Mansion before, the palace had its own procedures for hosting banquets, which were equally fine. Nonetheless, Third Madam Li was delighted to have found an opportunity to stay busy; it spirited her up, and she was happily tired.
Just as Mrs. Li took a big sip from her tea cup, she heard Bai Qingyan’s voice from outside: "I heard that Third Aunt has been so busy her feet don’t touch the ground. I thought Third Aunt must be too exhausted to move, but it seems your complexion looks better than before, so vigorous!"
Mrs. Li quickly put down her tea, and undeterred by the absence of a palace maid announcing her presence, she smiled and walked with Bai Qingyan towards the inner room: "I’ve been rather idle in the palace all day, thanks to you, Sister-in-law, for finding me such a task!"
Inside the bedchamber, eunuchs and palace maids knelt all around. Noticing Aunt Hu kneeling by Third Aunt’s side, Bai Qingyan paused in her steps and told Aunt Hu there was no need for such formalities in the future. Aunt Hu gratefully replied, "Young lady is now the ruler; this is as it should be!"
Bai Qingyan did not insist. After sitting down with Mrs. Li on the cushioned window seat, she smiled and took out the letter Bai Jinzhi had sent back, handing it to Mrs. Li with both hands: "Third Aunt, this is a letter from Little Four, for you..."


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