How can someone travel through time and space and become a beggar?

But they didn't spend much time in the greenhouse, as the feast started. They were all reluctant to leave. It was warm and beautiful here, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, which carried over to them.

"It smells better than incense." Jia Wanqing sniffed her sleeve. She had clearly not been there for long, but the fragrance already filled her body.

This time, they happened to encounter male guests leaving, all of them outside the palace. Qiu Shuang led them out of the way, waiting for them to leave before approaching. You Shaofeng, walking behind, saw the three and wanted to greet them, but was taken away by Qi Zijun.

The banquet was set up in the flower hall. When Jia Qingwu saw them coming, she waved gently.

Xia Chu and her sister sat down next to her. Li Xuemu was also at the table, looking at Xia Chu with a smile, "I haven't seen you for a while, you look even more handsome."

"Is this Qingwu's child?" The woman sitting across from Jia Qingwu looked back and forth between Xia Chu and Jia Qingwu, saying in amazement, "They really look alike."

"It's obvious that this is Qingwu's biological child. He looks exactly like her when she was young."

"Yes, it's a great blessing to be able to find it back."

The women at the same table were all close to Li Xuemu and Jia Qingwu. No one had anything unkind to say, only praise. Xia Chu's appearance and temperament were similar to Jia Qingwu's in her youth, and with her good looks, their relationship was immediately apparent.

"I heard she even plays the pipa," Li Xuemu said. "She looks exactly like her mother, and their hobbies are similar."

"Are they so similar?" The others were extremely surprised.

"I'm a little skeptical." The woman opposite smiled, her face full of curiosity. "I wonder if I'd have the honor to listen to it?"

"Let's eat and see if these dishes suit your taste." Li Xuemu was afraid that Xia Chu would not like it, so he quickly changed the subject.

Jia Qingwu glanced at Xia Chu, who smiled, indicating she didn't care. She actually wanted Xia Chu to play a piece. Most of the people here were from the city's noble families. If she caught their eye, they'd surely invite her to future banquets. Not only would she be able to make some friends, but she'd also get to know more people. What if she found a good man she'd set her sights on? While she wasn't forcing her, it would be a good thing if she could meet someone who shared her passion.

Xia Chu didn't have many thoughts. She was so happy that her eyes narrowed as she looked at the dazzling array of delicious food on the table. Although she didn't have a big appetite, she almost lost the taste of food after eating medicinal and vegetarian food with Jia Qingwu every day.

She picked out a few dishes that looked like meat. They were delicious, but there wasn't much of them. The presentation was beautiful, with carvings of dragons and flowers, but the portions were small. Fortunately, the others didn't seem too interested, and they put down their chopsticks after just a few bites.

Wow, they're all mine. Xia Chu observed quietly, no one was looking at her, but she didn't care.

Jia Qingwu, however, had been keeping an eye on her. She'd always asked Xia Chu what she liked to eat, and she'd said she wasn't picky. Today, watching Xia Chu eat, she realized she ate a bit too quickly, and clearly wasn't picky. The frequency with which she moved her chopsticks suggested she preferred meat and meat. She silently noted her preferences, watching her narrow her eyes and enjoy herself. Jia Qingwu pursed her lips and chuckled, picking up food for her with her unused chopsticks.

The others put down their chopsticks after a few bites, sipping their wine and chatting. Xia Chu buried his head in his food, standing out a bit at the table.

But Li Xuemu was delighted. She had carefully selected all the dishes, so if someone liked them, that was the best. And although Xia Chu ate a lot, she didn't gobble them down. Her smile and enjoyment whetted everyone's appetite.

"Try this." Li Xuemu asked the maid to help her pick up the dishes and said with a smile, "I picked these dishes myself. The ingredients are all the best."

As soon as this was said, everyone started picking up their chopsticks again. Since they had said so, of course they had to give them some face. It wasn't that they didn't like the food; the food tasted great, but they were just afraid of eating too much and looking like they hadn't eaten before, after all, everyone was drinking and chatting. And they were also afraid of getting fat and being laughed at.

Xia Chu ate the most of the table, but no one laughed at her. Jia Qingwu kept picking food for her, so the others wouldn't be embarrassed. After all, everyone knew that Jia Qingwu loved her daughter like her life, and it had driven her crazy back then. After all, she had finally found her, who would dare to say anything about her daughter? She might even fall out right there. There was no need.

After dinner, they gathered for tea. Someone suggested that Xia Chu sing a song. Li Xuemu had just deliberately brought up the matter, but she hadn't expected someone to be so tactless. She looked at the woman who had spoken, her face displeased.

Jia Qingwu smiled at her, but her eyes were devoid of laughter. "Since Sister Qiu wants to hear it so badly, shall I play a song for you?"

Did I give you the face? You dare to order my daughter around?

"It's not that I really want to hear it. I just heard that my sister's newly found daughter is very good at this, even better than me, so I'm a little curious." Mrs. Qiu laughed dryly, regretting listening to her little daughter and saying that. She turned around and glared at Tian Mi'er, who looked at her with wide eyes, not understanding why she was being glared at.

Li Xuemu was the head of the family, after all, so it wasn't appropriate to make things too awkward. "I've hired a troupe of performers. Sisters, why don't you come with me and take a look at the performances? See if there's anything you'd like to hear."

"There's actually a play to watch. I have to go and choose first." Jia Qingwu stood up with a smile.

Everyone followed Li Xuemu to the back garden. The stage had already been set up, and the troupe leader was rehearsing with the actors, all in full makeup. Seeing everyone coming, she hurried over to greet them. She also presented them with a play script. Li Xuemu nodded and had the maids distribute the play script. "What do you want to hear?"

Xia Chu took the opera excerpts, but since she hadn't heard them much, she had no idea what they were about. She flipped through them casually without saying much. Jia Qingwu hadn't listened to any of them in a while either, so she glanced at them casually and put them aside.

The first act was chosen by Li Xuemu, who let the others choose while watching.

Jia Wanlin knew that his cousin had never heard of it, so he leaned close to her and whispered to her what the play was about.

As the year drew to a close, the show wasn't a tragedy. The first was a comedy, featuring a few clowns performing acrobatics that made the crowd roar with laughter. Jia Wanqing clapped her hands in laughter; this was her favorite.

This was more interesting than the morning. Everyone was concentrating on watching the show, and Xia Chu no longer felt bored.

Tian Mier secretly looked at Xia Chu. She felt a little uncomfortable because she had such a good opportunity today but she didn't make a fool of herself.

Tian Ruier noticed her sister, poked her, and gave her a warning look. Tian Mier pouted and snorted in dissatisfaction, but she didn't dare to cause trouble again. But seeing Jia Wanqing so happy made her feel even more uncomfortable. Since she couldn't go to class anymore, she sometimes went out to play and was ridiculed by others, both openly and secretly. She felt embarrassed. She had quarreled with her mother several times and even acted like a spoiled child in front of her grandmother, but unfortunately no one paid any attention to her.