Regent, please maintain your aloof image.

The next day, at Fuxi Courtyard, Su Qianrou picked up a teacup out of boredom and gently shook it, watching the tea in the cup sway as it did so. She found it quite amusing, at least much more entertaining than listening to people spouting nonsense.

Just as she was amusing herself, someone called her name, "Rou'er." Hearing this, Su Qianrou looked up and wondered, "What does my third cousin want with me?"

"I wonder if you are willing to accept what I just said."

"I was lost in thought just now and didn't know what my third cousin was saying."

Zhang Hongmei paused for a moment, then said casually, "I mean, when you go to the palace banquet later, could you bring Xiang'er with you? She can keep you company."

"Third Aunt is joking. Palace banquets are only for imperial relatives, officials of the third rank or above, and their families. Third Aunt, you asked me to bring my cousin Xiang'er. Do you want to harm our Marquis's mansion?"

“That’s right, Third Cousin, you shouldn’t think about it anymore. This is a crime of deceiving the emperor. If it’s discovered, being stripped of your title is the least of your worries. You might even be beheaded.”

"Second cousin-in-law, it's not as serious as you make it out to be. It's just bringing one more person along. Besides, Xiang'er is also a member of the Marquis's household, so how can it be considered deceiving the emperor?"

"What do you mean, people from the Marquis's mansion? Third cousin, don't forget, you are just guests of the Marquis's mansion. You dare to dream of attending the palace banquet? It's utterly absurd."

“That’s right, none of us are qualified to participate, yet you want to go? Don’t you even know who you are?” Liu Meng said with a disdainful look.

Zhang Hongmei's face turned green from the rebuke, but she dared not speak out, after all, she was living under someone else's roof.

"In the end, they just look down on us, thinking we're easy to bully as orphans and widows. They even said we're all family, so just say whatever you want. Ha, hypocrites," Liu Xiang blurted out her thoughts. Although she spoke very softly, the room was small and quiet because no one was talking. Everyone heard her and stared at her. She realized what she was doing and felt incredibly embarrassed.

The old lady's face immediately darkened, and she glared at her fiercely.

Zhang Hongmei was also surprised by her words. She was stunned for a moment, then quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "The child is just talking nonsense and doesn't know any better. Please don't take it to heart."

Lin Xiaoran snorted coldly and remained silent.

Liu Meng glared at Liu Xiang.

Lin Rong didn't seem to care, as if it had nothing to do with her.

"Alright, everyone disperse," the old lady said, then got up and went inside.

On the way back, Chunzhu couldn't help but complain, "This Madam Liu is really shameless. How could she have the nerve to say something like 'Miss, take Miss Liu to the palace banquet'? Even the Fourth Miss isn't qualified to attend, let alone Miss Liu, who is just a commoner. If Miss really takes her to the palace, she'll be laughed at to death."

As Su Qianrou walked, she said, "Being laughed at is a small matter. Now that my father has become the Minister of Revenue, countless people are watching him. If I really bring her into the palace, I'm afraid His Majesty's desk will be piled high with memorials impeaching my father tomorrow."

"Doesn't the old lady also attend the palace banquet? Why doesn't Madam Liu look for her?"

"The old lady isn't stupid; why would she seek her own death?"

"The old lady knew this was a bad thing, yet she still sent Madam Liu to find you. I don't know what she was up to."

"What else could it be? They want to take this opportunity to bring down our second branch of the family. Think about it, if I really bring Liu Xiang into the palace, people will definitely ask questions. At that time, no matter how I answer, I will be doomed, and it will also implicate my father."

"But the crime of deceiving the emperor is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family. If the old lady does this, not only will the master be implicated, but the Marquis's mansion will also likely be affected."

"So she was very arrogant, thinking that she could escape this calamity by blaming all the sins on us."

"The old lady is truly despicable."

"To put it bluntly, they are narrow-minded and can't stand to see our second branch of the family doing well, but they don't understand the principle that we all prosper together and suffer together."

"This servant thinks that with the abilities of our master and the two young masters, they might be better off leaving this Marquis's mansion."

Su Qianrou didn't say anything, because she felt the same way.

Every year on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the palace would hold a banquet and invite imperial relatives, officials of the third rank and above, and their families to participate. The purpose was for the emperor and his subjects to celebrate together and wish each other a happy new year, as a sign of imperial favor. This year was no exception.

Meanwhile, inside the Xihua Hall, distinguished guests filled the room, and the atmosphere was lively and bustling.

Soon after, the group from the Marquis of Anping's residence also arrived. The old Marquis and his wife walked in front, followed by Su Jing'an and Lin Rong, and finally Su Qianrou and her two siblings.

Just as Su Qianrou was about to go in, a voice suddenly called out to her, "Qianrou." She stopped and looked back, and saw Chang Le walking towards her, followed by a man in his twenties and a little girl of about three years old. They were probably the prince consort and the little princess.

"Greetings to Princess Chang Le, her husband, and the young princess."

Chang Le took Su Qianrou's hand and said warmly, "Qianrou, it's been a long time since I've seen you. How have you been lately?"

Su Qianrou had never understood why she was so close to her, but she could sense that she meant no harm, so she didn't think much of it. "It's fine, Princess."

"I'm just like that, I get so angry at her every day," she said, glancing at Xiao Yaxuan in Xiao Yan's arms.

"Dad, look at Mom, she's slandering me again. I'm clearly the best girl," Xiao Yaxuan said, hugging Xiao Yan's neck and acting coquettishly.

"Yes, our Ya'er is the best-behaved."

Chang Le was already used to it and didn't want to pay attention to the father and daughter, so she looked at Su Qianrou, then leaned in front of her and asked with a gossipy look, "I heard that you and my brother went boating on the lake last night."

Su Qianrou felt that something was off about her words, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She replied, "Yeah, we just happened to run into each other."

Chang Le smiled so brightly. She hadn't quite believed Xiao Yan's words when he told her earlier, but now that it was confirmed, she was so excited that she would have shouted twice if it weren't for the crowd.

Xiao Yan, on the other hand, heard it from Mu Xinchen.

This morning, the group arranged to have lunch at Xifenglou. Mu Xinchen inadvertently let it slip, and thus found out. After returning home, he told Chang Le about it.

Su Qianrou looked at her blankly, wondering what was wrong with her.

Xiao Yan looked somewhat helpless, but his eyes were filled with more doting affection.

At this moment, Xiao Yaxuan suddenly reached out to Su Qianrou, "Sister Qianrou, hug me."

Su Qianrou was stunned for a moment, then looked at Chang Le.

Chang Le smiled and looked at her, indicating that it was alright.

Su Qianrou then took Xiao Yaxuan's hand.

Xiao Yaxuan hugged her neck, overjoyed.