In front of Princess Yongjia’s residence, many people had already gathered – wives from noble families with their daughters, and young masters from various households. Stewards and servants were orderly welcoming guests inside.

To compensate the princess, the current emperor had relocated all the original residents in front of the princess residence and enclosed a large area to serve as a horse-tying ground for the princess.

This way, so many carriages would have a place to park.

Getting off the carriage, Dong Shi led three girls along with four maids each toward the main gate.

Qin Shuying brought Ziteng today.

This distance was actually quite far – it took a full tea’s worth of time to walk from the horse-tying ground to the main gate, showing how spacious this place was.

Along the way, they naturally encountered many female family members or men, but almost no one Dong Shi recognized. Others, seeing them as strangers, inevitably scrutinized and discussed them.

Dong Shi had previously always followed behind Xu Shi, speaking little and rarely standing out, so not many people knew her. Qin Kaile had only been promoted to a fifth-rank official at the beginning of the year and was serving in a remote location, making her even more forgotten.

One or two sharp-eyed people recognized Qin Shuying, and only then did everyone realize that this unfamiliar woman leading three girls was actually from the Qin residence – the natal family of Noble Consort Lian.

Qin Shuying hadn’t left the main gate for three years, with her only trip to Duke Chu’s residence becoming notorious, which was why people recognized her.

As for Qin Lulu, she still had several close friends, but the female family members attending today were all from families of third-rank officials and above. Qin Lulu was only a concubine’s daughter, and those she knew were mostly girls from families with lower official ranks – most of whom weren’t qualified to attend today’s Flower Pinning Banquet.

As for Qin Yue, supposedly she also had several close friends, but none had been seen yet.

Fortunately, regardless of who they were, except for individual super first-rank and first-rank noble ladies, the status differences weren’t too great in front of Princess Yongjia’s residence. Dong Shi gracefully led the three girls, presented their invitation and gifts with a smile, and entered Princess Yongjia’s residence.

Princess Yongjia’s residence was extremely large. As soon as Qin Yue entered, she felt her eyes weren’t enough to take it all in.

Fortunately, her temperament was steady and she followed proper feminine conduct, following step by step, looking straight ahead, suppressing the curiosity and excitement in her heart.

Qin Lulu and Qin Shuying were the same.

The journey passed without incident, and they were led to the flower hall.

This flower hall was built by the lake and occupied an extremely large area – actually over twenty acres.

Two-thirds of the flower hall was on shore, while one-third extended into the water. It was extremely luxurious, with all furnishings being very precious, and the flowers and plants even more magnificent and rare.

Looking across the lake was also very broad, winding and curving with no end in sight.

In the lake, lotus flowers and some water plants and reeds were planted. It was currently the flourishing season – though the lotus hadn’t bloomed yet, the scenery of this lake was very pleasant.

Standing by the water, one felt refreshed and in good spirits.

This was only what Qin Shuying imagined, because according to their status, their positions were arranged on the shore half, while only distinguished female family members were seated in the section of the flower hall extending into the water.

It was still late April now – if it were summer, this would be an excellent place to escape the heat. It was said that at that time, transparent curtains would enclose the entire flower hall, keeping insects out while people could observe scenery and appreciate lotus flowers, drink tea and wine without any visual obstruction – most comfortable indeed.

Currently, Princess Yongjia hadn’t arrived yet, so the ladies chatted in small groups, building relationships.

The girls who knew each other also gathered in groups of three to five, gossiping.

The female guests’ seats were already arranged for assigned seating. The Qin residence’s female family members actually didn’t know anyone and had no one to chat with, so they sat in their assigned positions.

Their neighbors were the family members of Right Vice Minister Luo of the Ministry of Rites.

Leading the group was a middle-aged woman, much older than Dong Shi. She introduced herself as the wife of Vice Minister Lin, and sitting beside her were her legitimate daughter and concubine’s daughter, both about thirteen or fourteen years old, with beautiful and dignified appearances.

Dong Shi smiled and politely introduced herself as well.

Upon hearing they were from the Qin residence, Madam Lin’s originally reserved expression suddenly shifted, showing an indescribable strange look.

Dong Shi’s face burned with embarrassment.

Her resentment toward Xu Shi deepened several degrees.

Without thinking, she could guess why others reacted this way.

It was nothing more than the Lu residence incident causing a huge uproar, combined with Qin Fangfang being thrown back home, making everyone recall the previous Duke Chu’s residence incident.

Women in deep courtyards were most skilled at association and could best guess the essence of problems. Everyone couldn’t help but thoroughly investigate Xu Shi’s previous image as charitable and kind to concubines’ daughters and nieces.

Only then did they discover what kind of person Xu Shi really was!

What kindness to concubines’ daughters – it was actually framing and killing concubines’ daughters to marry off her own biological daughter.

What kindness to nieces – it was secretly appropriating the niece’s belongings and giving them to the in-law’s old madam, all to make the other party treat her own biological daughter well.

The haunting incident at the Lu residence a few days ago had already caused a huge uproar in Chongde Ward – everyone knew about it.

Dong Shi had originally thought that upon returning to the capital, she would somehow restore a few points of outsiders’ poor impression of the Qin residence’s daughters, so she had prepared herself mentally.

She hadn’t expected that when actually facing this situation, her face still wasn’t thick enough, burning hot with embarrassment.

Especially since the other party was the family of a Vice Minister of Rites – it was like being naked for others to judge. There was nowhere to hide, nowhere to retreat – both embarrassed and ashamed.

Fortunately, this Madam Lin was decent. She neither said anything harsh nor asked probing questions, only casually chatted about weather and the princess residence’s grandeur.

Dong Shi breathed a sigh of relief.

After they spoke a few sentences, there was nothing more to say.

Suddenly quiet, both felt somewhat uncomfortable.

The legitimate daughter introduced as Third Miss Lin spoke up with a gentle tone, addressing Qin Shuying: “So you’re Seventh Miss Qin. I’ve heard of you. I was born in the third month of the Ding Mao year – which month were you born?”

Since she had heard about her yet still spoke in such a tone, didn’t she find her disregard for feminine virtue distasteful? As Lu Changju had said, the noble ladies of the capital placed extreme importance on propriety. Even if some sympathized with Qin Shuying’s actions, she wouldn’t gain much recognition from noble ladies.

Since the other party was being friendly, Qin Shuying returned a polite smile and said: “Then I should call you elder sister – I was born in the fifth month.”

Third Miss Lin smiled gently and said: “I’m two months your senior. At home, my clan sisters all call me Sister Zilan. You can also call me Sister Lin. May I call you Sister Shuying?”

Qin Shuying answered generously: “Sister Zilan is too polite.”

Lin Zilan said: “Sister Shuying, our family’s ancestral home is in Yunzhou. Mother and I only came to the capital last month and don’t know many people. Since we’re fated to sit together and the princess hasn’t arrived yet, why don’t we walk around here? What do you think? This is my first time at the princess residence, and I find everything exquisitely beautiful.”

No wonder they were also sitting here dryly with no acquaintances to talk with.