The noble ladies of Shengjing City would be taken out by their elders to attend various banquets after they turned ten, which was a social means.

  Young noble ladies gathering together, exchanging handkerchiefs is a good thing, if they can be matched by some noble lady and the two families form a marriage alliance, it's even better, if their reputation for virtue and talent spreads into the palace...

  The future crown princess, Miss Bai Si, was said to have been favored by several elderly queen consorts because of her dignified and steady demeanor. The empress dowager and Empress Jiang declared that she would enter the palace for a thorough examination, and upon seeing that she was indeed as stable and majestic as rumored, they decided on her position.

  Such blessings are not available to everyone, but these noble ladies will all marry into families that match their doors, some will become the mistress of a government office managing household affairs, and often socialize with famous aristocratic families in Shengjing City, which can be helpful and harmless.

  Therefore, whenever the noble Yun invited a banquet, whether it was a flower meeting, poetry meeting or a garden tour, the noble ladies of the same age would always compete with each other, fearing to fall behind. Only Cui Ying, who always claimed to be ill and did not attend, was alone in the prosperous capital city.

  The noble ladies are all so clever, once or twice using illness as an excuse is still believable, but if it happens every time, it's hard to avoid making people think too much.

  Anning Bo Fu's beloved daughter was famous, even if Cui Jiu grew up in her stepmother's hands, being bullied and humiliated by Xu was inevitable, but on this matter of right and wrong, no one believed that anyone dared to blame her, so the fact that she was forced to stay indoors was naturally erased.

  So, it's obvious that the problem lies with Cui Jiu.

  It's even simpler than that. Either they're too ugly to show their face, or they're afraid of being ridiculed for their foolishness. That's what they call a hidden ailment, and it all boils down to this.

  Some things, once they've been passed around privately enough times, become facts.

  Anyway, no one dared to spread it in front of the Anning Bo family, no one refuted it, and no one explained it. Those noble ladies thought they were right and took it for granted.

  Su Zi painted a smile and said, "At first, I knew that the fifth brother had settled on you, and several sisters-in-law at home were all worried. Fortunately, although I have never seen you before, I also heard from my family members that you are just a bit introverted and not as rumored."

  She paused for a moment, and the corners of her mouth curved even higher. "But now it seems that even the word 'lonely' doesn't suit Fifth Brother and Sister either."

  Chui Ling rolled her eyes and whispered back, "I'm just afraid of trouble."

  Su Zi smiled and shook her head, "That's all for today, Fifth Brother and Sister can go back first."

  Chui Ying hastily agreed, and as she was about to leave, she took advantage of Su Zi's momentary distraction to pinch Mu Ge's little face without mercy. Silently, she mouthed to him, "I'm leaving first, come find me when you're free!"

  Third Brother gazed at her joyful departing back, and let out a somewhat helpless sigh.

  He thought, Auntie is already so old, why is she still as childish as a three-year-old, his face always being pinched hurts a lot, besides, it's very humiliating for a young man like him.

  But strangely, he didn't dislike her like this at all, and even had a faint joy...

  His face flushed, he hastily lowered his head and read on with great effort, "The difference between collecting and discarding is indeed far apart. Moreover, the friendship of gentlemen is as thin as water, while that of petty men is as sweet as wine. Gentlemen are thin in their relationships, while petty men are thick in their severance..."

  Cui Ying returned to Tai'an Temple and then followed the old lady back to report that she would be attending a banquet the next day.

  The old lady leaned sideways on the couch.

  The weather turned cold, she put a charcoal brazier in each of the four corners of the house, making it warm and cozy inside.

  She didn't seem to be as worried and tense as Su Zi had drawn, but instead smiled and comforted Cui Ying, "Those young ladies are all about your age, or even a bit younger, they're all just little girls, what are you afraid of?"

  Chui Ling touched his forehead awkwardly and said, "Sun's daughter-in-law is just afraid of doing a bad job and losing face for the mansion."

  This sentence is indeed heartfelt.

  Since she came to the Yuan family, she has been eating well, dressing well and sleeping well. The sisters-in-law at home are also good to her, even the second sister who often speaks with a somewhat sarcastic tone, but in the end, she hasn't said anything harsh to her either. This made her feel a harmony that was completely different from the tranquil Anning Bo Mansion where she grew up.

  When she came, her mother's old friend Song had reminded her that the Yuan family had five sons, and she had four sisters-in-law above her. It was difficult for sisters-in-law to have a true heart, and most of them were after benefits. The Yuan family was so rich and noble, it was likely that there were many dirty things in the back house.

  Song's nanny told her to be extremely careful, never have a mind to harm others, but also must not lack a mind to guard against others.

  When she first got married, she also thought about hiding far away and protecting herself.

  However, after spending a month together, she found that although the four sisters-in-law had different personalities, they were all kind-hearted people who tolerated her ignorance and impulsiveness as a sister-in-law, which was completely different from what Song's mother said about those evil elder sisters.

  People's hearts are all made of flesh and blood, kind intentions from the heart can be easily conveyed and infect others.

  The eldest sister-in-law was as kind as a mother, the second sister-in-law had a sharp tongue but a soft heart, the third sister-in-law was gentle and harmonious, and the fourth sister-in-law was like an elder who guided with kindness. With all these, plus the delicious food from their grandmother, even an iceberg would melt, let alone Cui Rong, a woman whose heart was extremely lacking in love?

  Cui Ying felt that her disguise was slowly shattering, the determination she had held for fifteen years was gradually changing.

  She wants to integrate into the Yuan family, regards the Zhennan General's Mansion as home, and truly become a member of the Yuan family.

  The old lady gently stroked Cui Ying's forehead hair, "Have you heard the rumors outside?"

  Choi Yeong nodded and puffed out her chest, saying, "I don't know how these rumors started. Those people haven't even seen me before, yet they're spreading all sorts of nonsense. If I were a petty person, I'd be crying from all this talk."

  She opened her big eyes and looked at the old lady pitifully, "Considering that the grandson's wife is suffering so much, can grandma ask for the return of Tang Shifu who was lent to Princess Kang? Liu Shifu said that Tang Shifu makes exquisite Jiangnan dishes, and the grandson's wife wants...the grandson's wife wants to try some."

  Tang Shifu was originally a famous chef who was brought back from Jiangnan by the General of the Town National Guard at a high price. Two months ago, Princess Kang of the Imperial Palace had several relatives come from her hometown in Jiangnan. Because they were not used to eating the dishes in Beijing, Princess Kang borrowed Tang Shifu from the Yuan family.

  Now, Consort Kang's relatives have come and gone, but they still haven't returned Tang Shifu.

  Tang Shifu missed the environment of General Zhen Guo's mansion, so he entrusted someone to bring a message to Liu Shifu, hoping that the old lady could let him come back.

  Liu Shifu, no matter how skilled he was, was just a cook. He found it difficult to speak in front of the old lady, so he sought out Cui Ying instead.

  Cui Yingping had always been fond of fine food, and Liu Shifu was particularly skilled at cooking imperial dishes. The flavor was mainly based on the style of Shengjing, but she was born in Jiangnan water town in her previous life and often missed the taste of rice and dishes in her dreams. So when she heard that Tang Shifu was a master of Jiangnan cuisine, she took the initiative to accept this task.

  The old lady pointed at Cui Ying's forehead with her finger and said, "You!"

  She helplessly said, "Alright alright, I'll let Du Mama personally go to the Prince of Kang's residence and bring back Tang Shifu!"

  Chui Ying was overjoyed, and seeing that there was no one else in the house, she couldn't help but hug the old lady tightly. She quickly gave the old lady a peck on the cheek and said, "Thank you, Grandma! You're so great!"

  The old lady was slightly stunned, then also burst out laughing, "You child, really... Grandma can't do anything about you either."

  She thought to herself, Xiao Wu's wife was really similar to Yue'er, when Yue'er was at home, she also liked to "smack" her face with a loud noise when she was happy, and insisted that this was the highest expression of her love and respect for her grandmother.

  The old lady thought of Yuan Yue'er, and her eyes drooped slightly. She sighed secretly, wondering when the war in the northwest would end. If it really took three to five years to fight, would Yue'er have to stay in the palace for three to five years too?

  Accompanying you is like accompanying a tiger. Indeed, the Yuan family should have made a swift and courageous retreat several years ago. Fortunately, now... it's not too late...

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