Yun Chu had the carriage circle the streets twice before returning to the Xie manor.

Apart from slightly reddened eyes, there was no sign at all that she had just wept bitterly.

As soon as she returned to the courtyard, Tingfeng came in to report: “Madam, after you left for the General’s Manor, Eldest Miss secretly went to the ruined temple and delivered many things to Nanny He…”

The Madam treated Eldest Miss as her own. She couldn’t understand why Eldest Miss would be so kind to a servant who had framed the Madam…

Yun Chu sat on the daybed and instructed: “Have Ping’jie come here.”

Ever since Xie Ping took over some household duties, she had become busy—either reviewing account books or summoning the stewardesses from the outer courtyard to report back.

She was in the midst of her work when she saw Tingxue come to invite her over.

Usually she took the initiative to visit Mother. Mother had never sent a maid to summon her before.

Xie Ping put down the account book, feeling somewhat anxious.

Could it be that Mother knew she had sent things to He Shi and was summoning her for questioning?

She should never have softened and gone to see He Shi. Now how should she explain this to Mother?

Throughout the journey, Xie Ping’s mind was full of various thoughts.

Entering Shengju, she saw Yun Chu looking at her with a smile: “Ping’jie, sit.”

Xie Ping sat down and took a sip of tea.

“Tomorrow is the Eldest Princess’s flower viewing banquet. Do you have time to accompany me?” Yun Chu said with a smile. “If you don’t want to go, that’s fine too.”

Xie Ping could hardly believe it. Suppressing her excitement, she said: “The Eldest Princess invited Mother?”

Yun Chu shook her head: “The Eldest Princess invited the Yun family. Your maternal grandmother invited me to go along. If you want to go, one more person doesn’t matter. It’s a good opportunity to see the world.”

Xie Ping nodded vigorously: “I’m willing to go.”

Her father was a fifth-rank official. The young ladies and misses she usually encountered were all daughters of fifth and sixth-rank officials. At the Eldest Princess’s flower viewing banquet, there would basically be inner household members of third-rank officials and above.

Following Mother, she would surely meet many noble ladies from distinguished families.

If she displayed herself as well-behaved and sensible, those noble ladies might even take a liking to her as a daughter-in-law…

Thinking of this, Xie Ping became somewhat impatient. She stood up: “Mother, I’ll go back to my work first.”

Watching her departing figure, a cold smile floated onto Yun Chu’s lips.

In her previous life, at a spring banquet held by the Yun family, Xie Ping saw the Fourth Prince for the first time and fell for him at first sight.

As the daughter of a fifth-rank official and the current Fourth Prince, there was absolutely no possibility—she wasn’t even qualified to be a secondary consort. So Xie Ping thought of a foolish scheme. She found an opportunity and, when the Fourth Prince wasn’t paying attention, drugged him, attempting to create a fait accompli… It was she who accidentally discovered Xie Ping’s scheme and prevented the scandal from happening.

Not long after this incident, the Fourth Prince met with disaster…

She arranged a good match for Xie Ping.

Although the other party was only a seventh-rank minor official, his family’s conduct was proper and his future promising. But Xie Ping couldn’t look down on him at all. Just as the marriage was about to be finalized, Xie Ping used the excuse of entering the palace to pay respects to her grand-aunt and saw the Emperor. Then… she became a new favorite by the Emperor’s side…

The so-called grand-aunt was Yun Chu’s own paternal aunt, who years ago was selected through the draft to enter the palace. She was one of the Four Consorts and bore the Eighth Prince for the Emperor.

Xie Ping stepped on her own aunt to become the Emperor’s favored consort.

In her previous life, Aunt fell into Xie Ping’s hands and suffered much inhumane torment…

Thinking of events from her previous life, Yun Chu’s expression became desolate.

Starting over this time, she wouldn’t give Xie Ping another chance to enter the palace. She wouldn’t let Aunt be threatened by Xie Ping again…

Didn’t Xie Ping like the Fourth Prince? Then let her become the Fourth Prince’s consort. However glorious the identity of Fourth Prince’s consort was, it would be equally short-lived…

The night passed silently.

At first light, as soon as Yun Chu finished grooming and came out, Xie Shi’an was already waiting to pay his respects.

“The provincial examination is imminent. During this time, you don’t need to come pay respects.” Yun Chu spoke gently. “Study well and strive to bring glory to the Xie family.”

Xie Shi’an bowed with cupped hands: “Paying respects is one of the filial duties. Propriety cannot be abandoned. Mother, rest assured—I’m very confident about the provincial examination. Passing as a scholar is not difficult.”

Yun Chu knew he wasn’t boasting.

Not only would he pass as a scholar, he would be first place as head of the academy. The following year in the provincial examination, he would again be first place as provincial champion. Two years later in the metropolitan examination, he would once more take first place and become the metropolitan champion. Immediately following in the palace examination, he would be personally designated by the Emperor as the top scholar.

He was this dynasty’s only top scholar who achieved first place in all three examinations consecutively, and also the youngest top scholar…

With one Xie Shi’an advancing into the Cabinet, one Xie Ping as a palace favorite, and one Xie Shiwei entering the military, the Xie family’s future momentum simply couldn’t be stopped…

After Xie Shi’an left, the women from the inner household came to pay their respects.

Yun Chu’s gaze fell on Xie Ping. She spoke lightly: “Go back and change those clothes. Tingshuang, you go help her with her grooming.”

Xie Ping was somewhat at a loss: “Mother, what’s wrong with my clothes?”

“Eldest Miss, your outfit is too gaudy.” Tingyu said softly. Having spent so many years at the General’s Manor, she naturally understood these things and continued: “The Eldest Princess is holding a flower viewing banquet with the intention of viewing flowers, not for young ladies to compete in showing off…”

Yun Chu spoke: “This is Ping’jie’s first time attending a banquet with me. It’s normal that she doesn’t understand these things. Go back and change, then come again.”

Tingshuang followed Xie Ping back to her courtyard and selected a light pink spring dress for young ladies, styled a simple hair bun with just a jade hairpin inserted diagonally, and adorned her with a pair of rice-grain-sized pearl earrings.

Xie Ping pressed her lips together: “Isn’t this too plain?”

Tingshuang kept her hands lowered: “Madam is going to the Eldest Princess’s residence in the Yun family’s name, so naturally she should be more low-key. This style of dress is appropriate.”

Xie Ping felt somewhat unhappy.

Dressed so plainly, no one in the crowd would notice her. How could she get to know those noble ladies and young misses from distinguished families?

But since Mother had given such instructions, if she insisted on following her own wishes, it was highly likely she wouldn’t be able to attend the Eldest Princess’s flower viewing banquet.

Yun Chu took Xie Ping by carriage first to the Yun manor. After meeting up with the Yun family members, they all went together to the Eldest Princess’s residence.

The Eldest Princess was the Emperor’s sister from the same mother, a leading figure in the capital’s noble ladies’ circle. Her banquet was nearly overflowing with guests.

The carriage stopped at the entrance.

Yun Chu helped Lin Shi down.

Behind them followed two unmarried young ladies—the General’s Manor’s Second Miss Yun Ran, and the Xie Manor’s Eldest Miss Xie Ping.

The group of four walked inside. There was no need to present an invitation. As soon as Lin Shi stood there, the servant at the entrance called out: “The General’s Wife has arrived!”

Immediately, a matron came out to greet them and led Yun Chu’s group inside.

This was Xie Ping’s first time visiting such a distinguished manor. She looked left and right, unable to see enough.

Lin Shi frowned and reminded her in a low voice: “Why is Ping’jie being so unruly? Later I’ll have Nanny Qi go to the Xie family to teach you properly.”

Yun Chu replied with a smile: “Don’t trouble yourself over such a small matter, Mother.”

If there was embarrassment, it would be the Xie family’s embarrassment. She had no need to preserve face for the Xie family.

However, this time Xie Ping had come here together with the Yun family, so she still needed to give some guidance to avoid the Yun family being laughed at.

Yun Chu gave Tingshuang a meaningful look.

Tingshuang stepped back and moved to Xie Ping’s side, whispering a few reminders.