The maid who came to greet them at the gate had delicate features, wearing a light pink vest inlaid with white fur over a jade green cotton jacket—her appearance was quite clean and refined.

Qin Yining guessed this should be one of Madam Lu’s capable senior maids.

“Thank you for your trouble,” Qin Yining smiled and nodded, stepping down from the carriage with Ji Yun and Qian Yun’s assistance, using the wooden step stool.

Qin Yining wore snow-white fox fur, with a sky-azure jacket and moon-white eight-panel skirt underneath—her entire outfit was elegantly understated like an orchid, yet her appearance was brilliantly beautiful. Even dressed in such light colors, they couldn’t suppress her sharp, striking beauty.

The maid was stunned upon seeing her clearly, then quickly smiled and curtsied: “No wonder Madam always praises Miss Qin’s stunning beauty—seeing you today, you’re truly like a bright moon!”

Hearing this, Qin Yining smoothed her skirt and smiled slightly: “The Emperor is like the blazing sun, the Empress like the bright moon—sun and moon shine together in mutual radiance. I’m merely candlelight—how dare I accept such praise?”

The maid broke out in cold sweat upon hearing this.

This Miss Qin truly lived up to being the daughter of the renowned minister Qin Huaiyuan—she was far too sharp and cautious!

Originally, the maid had no other intention, just instinctively wanting to flatter and praise her, but Qin Yining’s words made her realize she had misspoken.

Not daring to delay further, the maid smiled and led Qin Yining into the residence.

Upon entering the Loyal and Brave Marquis residence, Qin Yining discovered that no one walking about the grounds was older in age, and all the maids she saw were young and beautiful, while the male servants were all handsome and well-featured.

Thinking of Madam Lu’s reputation and appearance, Qin Yining began to understand somewhat.

They wound through gardens and corridors to reach the main hall, where two young male servants in azure robes stood guard at the entrance.

Qin Yining frowned slightly—what kind of banquet was this exactly? If it was meant to invite only women, why were male servants stationed here to attend?

Qin Yining entered without showing any emotion, removing her fox fur and handing it to Qian Yun while signaling with her eyes for Qian Yun to wait outside. She then followed the guiding maid through the main entrance with Ji Yun, circled around a glazed screen, and arrived in a spacious, spring-warm great hall.

The hall was carpeted with deep red Persian rugs, and lily incense burned in the central brazier, its faint sweet fragrance lingering in the air.

At the head position sat a long table where Madam Lu and Princess Anyang were already seated.

On both sides were two small tables each, with three young women already seated. An empty spot on the left was clearly prepared for Qin Yining.

Qin Yining composed herself and stepped forward to bow to Princess Anyang with a smile.

“I pay my respects to Princess Anyang.”

Li Helan was accustomed to these women’s jeweled and ornate dress, so upon suddenly seeing Qin Yining in refreshing attire with her ice-smooth skin and stunning beauty, her eyes narrowed slightly.

However, her distraction lasted only a moment before she smiled warmly: “Sister Qin has arrived. No need for such formality—today Sister Lu is the host.”

Qin Yining then bowed to Madam Lu: “This younger sister is new to the area and am deeply grateful that Madam Lu doesn’t disdain me and extended today’s invitation.”

Madam Lu simply hummed faintly and pointed to the empty seat on the left: “Sit down. Today’s gathering includes no outsiders. Sister Qin is new to the capital and presumably not yet familiar with affairs here, so we sisters will simply gather together to get acquainted.”

“Yes, thank you Madam Lu.”

Qin Yining took the empty seat.

Madam Lu smiled and introduced the other three women.

The full-figured woman around thirty was Madam Lu’s elder sister, whose husband was a merchant. Since her married name was Cui, everyone called her Cui Lu Shi.

The woman with delicate features and a sorrowful expression in her prime years was Madam Cai, though she had been widowed for many years.

The other younger one was Madam Lu’s concubine-born sister. Since no name was given, Qin Yining privately referred to her as Young Lu Shi.

Among those seated, aside from herself, there was Madam Lu’s elder sister, Madam Lu’s concubine-born sister, Princess Anyang, and Madam Cai. Qin Yining could see that today’s banquet was likely the Lu family branch’s gesture of goodwill toward the Qin family’s establishment in the capital.

Even if the Lu and Qin families might eventually stand in opposition, this display was quite necessary.

The Lu family had presumably made arrangements for father’s side as well.

As she was thinking, Madam Lu had already begun speaking with a smile: “Inviting Sister Qin today serves two purposes—first, to acquaint you with us sisters, and second, seeing that sister has experienced hardships yet possesses flowing beauty, I deeply feel we are kindred spirits and wish to befriend you.” Her tone was vastly different from the hostile impoliteness of their last encounter.

“Indeed.” Cui Lu Shi nodded with a smile: “Originally I thought women of beauty and character like my sister and Princess Anyang were rare to find. Only upon seeing Sister Qin today do I understand why Prince Zhongshun was so infatuated with you. Not just men—even seeing you myself, I feel my bones turning soft.”

Hearing these inappropriate words, Qin Yining found them somewhat unseemly, but not understanding these people well, she refrained from commenting and merely smiled.

Madam Lu raised her eyebrows in a smile and lifted her jade hand to clap three times.

The next moment, melodious music began to play.

Looking toward the sound’s source, Qin Yining discovered that musicians had been waiting behind the pearl curtains hanging from the deep red pillars all around.

Amid the flowing music, several dancers in light gauze entered gracefully, dancing with steps so light they seemed to tread upon lotus flowers.

Subsequently, several men slowly entered the room.

These men differed in dress, stature, appearance, and temperament, but each was an extraordinarily handsome man of outstanding bearing—some tall and scholarly, others of imposing build, and two identical beautiful youths, one in red, one in white, transcendent as red and white plum blossoms.

Qin Yining didn’t understand why so many men would come, but her heart grew increasingly displeased with this banquet.

It seemed this Madam Lu truly disregarded proper decorum—how could a women’s banquet allow outside men to enter?

Seeing these people arrive, Madam Lu immediately smiled and pointed to a young man of imposing stature with sharp, defined features wearing a silver-white arrow-sleeve shirt: “Why don’t you pour wine for the Princess?”

She then pointed to a seventeen or eighteen-year-old white-robed scholar of gentle, refined appearance: “Fill Miss Qin’s cup as well.”

The refined white-robed scholar smiled slightly, came to Qin Yining’s side, and with pale, slender fingers lifted the jade pitcher to fill the azure jade wine cup before Qin Yining. Then he audaciously sat down in the empty seat beside her.

Qin Yining’s face showed no expression as she watched the heroic man resembling Pang Xiao sit beside Princess Anyang, his left hand holding the wine pitcher while his right arm intimately draped over the chair back behind the Princess. Despite such impropriety, Princess Anyang’s face flushed red as she shyly glanced at the man’s profile before lowering her head.

Qin Yining finally understood what these people were here for!

Just as men conducting business would drink flower wine—

Madam Lu had invited her to attend a banquet that was also about drinking flower wine!

What did Madam Lu mean by this, toward an unmarried maiden!

Recalling Madam Lu’s opening words, Qin Yining’s face burned red with anger, even her neck flushing.

These people must think that since she had already been “taken away” by Pang Xiao, she should already know about such matters, and since Pang Xiao had abducted her in such a manner, she might not prefer that type of imposing, powerful man—so they arranged a gentle, refined scholar to serve her.

Since Princess Anyang’s fondness for Pang Xiao was no secret, Madam Lu arranged a man of similar temperament to Pang Xiao to attend her.

Should she praise Madam Lu’s meticulous consideration?

“Miss Qin.” Seeing that Qin Yining hadn’t touched her wine, the refined man beside her immediately lifted the wine cup and looked at her with a gentle smile. His light brown eyes were full of warmth that could melt winter snow: “Miss Qin, please have a cup. This is fruit wine specially prepared for you—not very strong, but sweet and refreshing.”

Qin Yining pressed her cherry lips together lightly and pushed away the wine cup that the man was about to bring to her lips, saying coldly: “No need.”

With no good wine at a bad banquet—since Madam Lu dared arrange these men to serve wine, would she dare consume anything here?

The man gazed mesmerized at Qin Yining’s beautiful profile, already entranced. Not expecting her to refuse him, he was caught off guard and spilled the entire cup of wine on his sleeve and half his robe.

The commotion immediately caught the attention of those at the head table.

Madam Lu was opening her red lips to accept a section of orange fed mouth-to-mouth by one of the red-clothed twin boys, leaning tenderly against the white-clothed boy’s embrace. Hearing the sound, she looked over with irritated displeasure.

Qin Yining stood up, curtsied to Madam Lu and Li Helan: “Thank you for Madam Lu and Princess Anyang’s kind intentions, but this younger sister has matters at home and cannot stay long today, so I’ll take my leave.”

With that, she called to the red-faced Ji Yun and turned to go.

Madam Lu suddenly sat up straight and slammed the table hard: “Qin Shi! How dare you embarrass me! If you dare step out that door, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

Qin Yining laughed coldly and turned back to look sternly at Madam Lu and Li Helan: “Am I someone who was raised on intimidation? Besides, we’ve only just met—what sentiment exists between us? I’d like to ask Princess Anyang—does Marquis Dingbei know you’re attending this banquet?”

“You!” Li Helan was furious upon hearing this, but panic arose in her heart along with some guilt. Her words came out without thinking: “What are you being so high and mighty about! You’re nothing but wilted flowers and defeated willows that Brother Xiao has finished playing with. Today we’re giving you a chance to taste what gentleness is like, yet you’re ungrateful!”

Qin Yining’s face was already frosty as she coldly replied: “Then Princess Anyang wanted to taste what imposing strength feels like, so you found such a person?”

“You’re shameless!” Struck at her painful spot, Li Helan was both embarrassed and angry, tears welling in her eyes.

The man beside her with a similar build to Pang Xiao quickly embraced Li Helan, softly comforting her by her ear.

Qin Yining looked at the several people in the room, then at Li Helan: “You’re merely deceiving yourself. Neither in spirit nor form does he resemble him—what could you possibly taste? Moreover, what you’re doing now is lowering your own status. I’ve said all I will—everyone please enjoy yourselves.”