Yun Chu personally escorted the Yun family members inside to offer birthday congratulations.

Three people came from the Yun family: Madam Yun Lin Shi, the Yun family’s eldest daughter-in-law Liu Qianqian, and the Yun family’s second young lady Yun Ran.

“We wish the old birthday celebrant radiance as enduring as the sun and moon, and eternal youth through all seasons.” Lin Shi had someone present the congratulatory gift. “A small humble gift, not worthy of respect, merely expressing our sentiments.”

The birthday gift was a large-bellied flower vase as tall as a person, the body covered with elegant peony flowers inlaid with gold thread, extraordinarily valuable—worth at least five hundred taels of silver.

Yun Chu felt somewhat pained about this expenditure, but there were many things she couldn’t speak plainly about with her mother. Saying too much would only make her mother anxious and worried about her situation.

The madams nearby could tell from this birthday gift that the marriage alliance between the Yun and Xie families would continue.

With the Yun family as a backing, those madams’ attitudes toward Old Madam Xie became somewhat more attentive.

The female relatives accompanied the old madam in conversation in the flower hall, while the men were entertained by Xie Jingyu, with Xie Zhongcheng and Xie Shi’an keeping them company.

Before long, the time for the birthday banquet arrived, and everyone took their seats according to their status and official rank.

Just at this moment, the guard at the entrance suddenly called out loudly: “Marquis Xuanwu has arrived!”

Old Madam Xie’s face showed astonishment.

Marquis Xuanwu—that was a titled noble the Xie family had absolutely no contact with. She had not sent an invitation to the Xuanwu Marquis residence. Why would the young marquis come?

Xie Jingyu’s complexion suddenly changed, looking somewhat unpleasant as he raised his head to look at the person walking in.

Marquis Xuanwu had inherited his ancestral title three years ago. This year he was only in his early twenties. Wearing silver-colored robes and holding a paper fan, he appeared refined and elegant.

“This junior has come to wish the old madam a happy birthday.” Qin Mingheng walked in, closed his paper fan, and presented a congratulatory gift. “This is Snow Skin Cream that can only be found in the palace. When young women apply it, their skin will become like snow. When elderly people apply it, it removes wrinkles. This junior wishes the old madam great fortune on her birthday and may she grow younger with each passing year.”

Hearing it was something from the palace, the old madam’s eyes lit up. She quickly stood and said: “For Marquis Xuanwu to specially come to offer birthday congratulations is truly too much honor for this old woman.”

“Old Madam, what are you saying? Lord Xie and I are close friends. Coming to offer birthday congratulations is only proper.” Qin Mingheng looked at Xie Jingyu. “Lord Xie, you seem rather unwelcoming of my arrival?”

Xie Jingyu clenched his fists tightly and spoke: “Marquis Xuanwu’s arrival brings radiance to my humble Xie household. Please take the seat of honor.”

A marquis held a title that ranked above all officials, so Qin Mingheng’s seat was above the Yun family’s, adjacent to the host Xie family.

Between Yun Chu and the young marquis, there was only Xie Jingyu and a walkway.

She didn’t know if she was being overly sensitive, but she felt that since entering, the young marquis’s gaze seemed to intermittently fall upon her.

When she looked over, however, the young marquis was talking with others, making it seem as if she was overthinking.

Just when she thought she was reading too much into it, Qin Mingheng suddenly looked at her: “I heard Madam Xie was gravely ill. I wonder if you’ve recovered somewhat?”

Every person who came to the banquet would inquire once or twice. Yun Chu didn’t find anything improper and was about to respond.

But Xie Jingyu spoke first: “Thank you for the marquis’s concern. My wife only caught a slight cold. It’s not as serious as the outside rumors claim. Her health has improved considerably now.”

Xie Zhongcheng, as the host and master, stood and spoke: “Thank you to all the lords, madams, young ladies, and young masters for taking time from your busy schedules to attend my humble mother’s birthday banquet. Today we have prepared simple wine and food—nothing worthy of respect. If there is anything lacking in our hospitality, please be understanding. Now, let us raise our cups in celebration!”

Everyone present raised their cups simultaneously.

However, as the wine touched their lips, everyone’s expressions changed slightly. A birthday banquet was considered a grand gathering—they didn’t know why the Xie family would prepare such ordinary wine.

But guests follow the host’s arrangements. Whatever the host provided, they would drink, and naturally wouldn’t specifically point it out.

Only Qin Mingheng spoke: “Tsk tsk, this is the first time I’ve drunk wine so weak and flavorless. Lord Xie, your household’s wine is just like you as a person—too bland.”

Xie Jingyu pressed his lips together tightly.

This Qin Mingheng was clearly here to cause trouble, but given their difference in status and position, he had no way to drive him out.

Yun Chu also sensed it—this Marquis Xuanwu seemed to be at odds with Xie Jingyu. But Xie Jingyu was just a fifth-rank minor official with no reason to have dealings with a titled noble family. How had he managed to offend Marquis Xuanwu?

However, this wasn’t within her scope of concern. She sat in her seat with a faint smile at the corner of her mouth, exchanging pleasantries with several madams nearby.

At this time, maids brought out the banquet dishes one by one.

Every table had the same dishes—four main courses, four hot dishes, four cold dishes, and four fruit platters with refreshments. It looked reasonably abundant.

But Yun Chu noticed that each dish was only filled halfway, clearly showing that those below had cut corners.

Men might not notice such small matters, but the noblewomen present were all household managers—how could they not see the trickery? They exchanged glances with each other, truly unable to understand.

The Xie family was at least a fifth-rank household. Though of humble origins, after so many years in office, they should have accumulated some wealth. How could they not even manage a decent birthday banquet?

Old Madam Xie was beginning to regret this now.

She shouldn’t have entrusted such a major event as the birthday banquet to an unmarried young lady like Xie Ping to manage.

Look at those madams’ expressions—all contempt and disdain, as if the Xie family was utterly beneath notice.

Xie Ping didn’t even dare look at the old madam. She kept her head lowered, cursing He Xu viciously in her heart once again.

“Everyone may not know this.” Yun Chu spoke. “The southern regions had no spring rains, which will lead to complete crop failure this autumn. At that time, there will surely be many displaced people. The Xie family’s birthday banquet dare not be extravagant and wasteful because hosting a grand birthday banquet would only gain the Xie family some face. But if this silver were used for disaster relief, it would certainly save dozens of lives. Between face and human lives, which is lighter and which is heavier—I believe everyone has their own measure in their hearts.”

“Excellent!” Qin Mingheng was the first to call out in approval and applaud. “For Madam Xie to have such a heart concerned for the country and people truly makes us all feel ashamed!”

The old madam truly had to hand it to this grandson’s wife. Just when the birthday banquet was about to become the subject of criticism, these words transformed the Xie family’s inadequacy into meritorious virtue.

Even Marquis Xuanwu had called out in approval—now who would dare say the Xie family’s birthday banquet was beneath notice?

Indeed, the contempt in everyone’s eyes faded considerably, and they smiled, saying the Xie family had great merit, that the old madam would surely have longevity and blessings, and similar words.

The old madam picked up her chopsticks: “We’ve talked for so long. Everyone must be hungry. Let’s eat first.”

The old lady picked up some crispy fish and ate a bite. She couldn’t help but praise it in her heart—truly worthy of being the Yun family’s private recipe, even dead fish could be made so delicious.

Just as she was sighing with emotion, discordant sounds came from below.

Qin Mingheng ate a bite of meatball and immediately spat it out, calling out loudly: “I only knew Lord Xie was a vice minister in the Ministry of Revenue. I never knew the Xie residence actually dealt in salt as well.”

The guests also began discussing among themselves.

“This dish is far too salty. It’s inedible.”

“How can it be so salty? Even two cups of tea can’t wash it down. They’re deliberately trying to salt people to death.”

“For the Xie residence’s cook to make such a huge mistake shows there are problems with household management. The mistress in charge is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Yun residence—how can she not even know how to manage a household?”

“It’s because Madam Xie has been ill recently. Look at that complexion—the illness probably hasn’t fully recovered. Where would she have the energy to attend to household matters? When all is said and done, it’s that Xie family eldest miss who lacks the talent for household management and has botched this birthday banquet.”

“I heard she’s a concubine-born daughter from an outside chamber, falsely claiming the title of legitimate eldest daughter. What would she understand about household management?”

“Just now Madam Xie helped smooth things over. I’d like to see what words she can use to explain away these salty dishes.”

“…”