Peony walked a distance quickly, originally wanted to hide back in her own courtyard, but after thinking twice, she changed her mind and went to the banquet venue. Li Yi and others had already seen Liu Can and Qinghua Countys ugly appearance, these two people did not dare to make trouble with them, only afraid that they would come to find their own bad luck. If you want to make trouble, just make a big one, what are you afraid of!

  At this time, some people continued to compose poetry and lyrics, while others leaned on their seats drinking wine and chatting, watching the musicians play songs and dances, and some were playing chess in the midst of the commotion, while others were playing Liubo and gambling for money. Regardless of whether they were men or women, everyone was enjoying themselves and indulging in revelry.

  As soon as Peony appeared, a young maid wearing green shoes and a light green sleeve came over to pay her respects. It turned out that Madame Bai had sent her to look for her.

  Peony followed the maid to the thatched hut behind the lilac flowers, where she saw Madame Bai and a girl with a black bun, wearing a golden hairpin, dressed in an eight-piece red silk skirt, wrapped in a thin golden gauze, with a goose egg face, long eyebrows, beautiful eyes, a jade nose and lips, looking arrogant, sitting in the hut, chatting softly.

  Madam Bai saw Mudan enter and smiled as she stood up: "Just a moment ago, I turned around and you were gone. I thought you had left without saying goodbye."

  "Earlier there was something that I had to attend to and didnt dare disturb the ladys pleasure, so I didnt inform her, it was I who was rude."

  Madam Bai pulled Peony over to sit down beside her and laughed, saying: "I was just teasing you - as the master of the house, you have so many trivial matters to attend to; how can that compare with our carefree lives of eating, drinking, and having fun?"

  The two of them laughed, and then Madame Bai introduced the woman to Mudan: "This is Wu Shis seventeenth daughter from Qinghe, whose nickname is Xilian. We usually call her Alian."

  Wu Xilian just slightly raised her body and smiled faintly at Peony, without saying much.

  Peony saw that Madam Bai had not introduced her to Wu Xilian, yet she knew who she was. Peony didnt mind her nonchalant attitude. The Wu family of Qinghe was one of the most renowned aristocratic families in the country, even the imperial family liked to form alliances with them. Over time, they developed an air of superiority, looking down on everyone else. Even the Princess of Qinghua might not be considered particularly noble in their eyes.

  Madam Bai smiled and said, "In May, on the Dragon Boat Festival, its also the Empresss birthday. From Xingqing Palace to the east of Jin Guang Gate, Spring Hua Gate will be set up as a playground, with performances from all over the world. Are you going at that time?"

  Wu Xilian smiled and said: "Father mentioned a few days ago that he wanted to go and take a look, it seems like he must be going."

  "Peony went with Lius family, I dont know if they will go to the shed or not, let alone whether I can go out at that time," he said: "I really dont know."

  "Never mind, if you want to go, Ill send a car to pick you up at that time," said Mrs. Bai.

  Wu Xilian glanced at Peony and said, "To be honest, its hard for you to live such a life! If I were you, I would have divorced him long ago."

  "Even if I were Ah Lian, would I have been treated like this?"

  Wu Xilian said sharply: "Even if I were you, I wouldnt live such a suffocating life. Living like this is no better than being dead!"

  Mrs. Bai said unhappily, "Ahlian, Ive told you before that people have different experiences and personalities, so they handle problems differently. Is your sister doing well? Am I doing well?"

  Wu Xilian stood up with a flick of her sleeve: "Ah Yan, youre my sisters good friend. She encountered misfortune, but not only did you fail to sympathize with her, you even took her pain and made it into gossip material. Its really chilling!"

  Madam Bai said, "I was kind enough to introduce my friend to you, but you embarrassed her in public. Isnt that also embarrassing me? I thought you were different from others, a man of insight, and considering the relationship between us and your sister, you wouldnt be as shallow and boring as others. Who knew I misjudged you!"

  "Am I shallow and boring?" Wu Xilian was so angry that her nostrils flared, and her eyes turned red: "Ah Shen, youve just met her, yet youre bullying me for her sake?"

  Madam Bai said: "Im not bullying anyone, nor am I favoring anyone. I just speak the truth as it is! Youll understand many of these things after you get married."

  Wu Xilian pouted and said: "I would never marry a man like him!"

  The peony stood up and saluted the two: "Im really sorry to have made you both angry because of me. I still have things to do on my side, so Ill take my leave first." As the saying goes, when words dont mesh, half a sentence is too much; why should Madame Bai offend her close friends for her own sake?

  Madam Bai wanted to keep Peony, but seeing Peonys calm and natural demeanor, with no sadness or joy in her eyes, she thought that if she forced her to stay, it would be unpleasant for both of them, so she stood up and escorted Peony to the pavilion entrance, gently grasped her hand and whispered: "Well meet again another day."

  Peony nodded and took a few steps back, just in time to see Pan Rong and Li Wei hastily approaching, startling her, she quickly dodged out of the way.

  "Brother and sister, dont run away, listen to me for a moment, this doesnt count as anything..." His voice was extremely loud, attracting the attention of everyone around.

  The peony saw this and hid even further away.

  Li Yis face sank as she grabbed Pan Rong: "Are you here to help or cause trouble? Are you doing this on purpose? If you mess up what we previously agreed upon, its off."

  Pan Xiang blinked: "You cant deny it! Originally, it wasnt a big deal. If she doesnt adapt soon, wont she be suffering in vain?" Although he said so, he still reached out to summon Madame Bai.

  Madam Bai listened to his few words and said in surprise: "I didnt see her looking particularly distressed just now either."

  "Bad, bad! Nothing is more sorrowful than a dead heart. She not only came back here again but also can talk to you with a smile on her face. She must have given up all hope! You hurry and tell her not to think of anything desperate!"

  Before the words had fallen, Li Yi was rebuked with a "hiss" by White Madam. She gave him a light glance and didnt bother to talk to him anymore, nor did she greet Wu Xilian in the pavilion. She went to look for peonies on her own.

  Peony dodged Pan Rong and others, and ran into Yuer playing Go with a young woman. Yuer had already lost many games, so she eagerly invited Peony to sit down and play together. Peony smiled: "I dont know how to play."

  Yuer smiled and said, "Its very simple, Second Mistress will get the hang of it after playing once." As she spoke, she taught Peony: "Throwing out five all-black is Lu, 16...". Before she finished speaking, someone suddenly chimed in from the side: "Two phoenixes three black are phoenix, 14; two sheep three white are sheep, 10; five all-white are white, 8; these four colors are called noble colors."

  The one who answered the phone was actually Liu Chang.

  Yuer was so frightened that she quickly got up and paid her respects. Liu Chuan naturally sat down beside Peony, who caught the scent of his perfume and thought back to their previous encounter, feeling like vomiting. It wasnt that she had any strong feelings towards him, but rather thinking about how close she was sitting to someone who smelled like a public toilet was really disgusting.

  Liu Chang saw the peony and didnt say a word, only lowering his eyes to look at the chessboard in front of him. He condescended to say: "Ill teach you how to play." His tone was affirmative rather than inquiring.

  Its so weird. Peony raised her eyes, looked at him suspiciously, what did the scumbag want to do? Tell her not to make a noise? Not to cry out loud? Did she have half the intention of making a noise or crying out loud? He might as well go find his buddy Pan Rong and talk about it. Why didnt he settle accounts with her? Where was the Qinghua County Master?

  Madam Bai walked over and saw Liu Chong and Mudan sitting face to face in front of the Go board. Liu Chongs face was gloomy, throwing five arrows back and forth, while Mudan sat still like a wooden stake, her face expressionless, lost in thought. Madam Bai thought for a moment before approaching Liu Chong and greeting him, then turned to Mudan: "Younger sister, I have something to discuss with you."

  "Ah," said Peony, getting up and saying, "Yuer, you stay and play with Master."

  Yuer had a feeling that something was not quite right, but she didnt dare to say it was good or bad. She just smiled and nodded in agreement, standing beside Liu Chong without daring to speak much. Liu Chong saw Peony and Bai Shi getting farther away, so he threw the arrow in his hand and joined a group of men who were enthusiastically gambling, soon laughing with joy and loudly shouting "Hulu".

  Madam Bai pulled Peony to a quiet place, dismissed her attendants and looked at her seriously: "What do you think?"

  Peony knew she already knew what had just happened, and smiled faintly: "No thoughts."

  "Is it that you have no way out, so you might as well not think about it? Or is it that youve already given up hope, so youre thinking of everything? Im telling you, this doesnt count for anything!" She grabbed Peonys wrist tightly, making her wrist ache. "Its not worth risking your life for someone like him! The more they treat you like this, the more you should live a good life!"

  It turned out that he was afraid of going to seek death, Peony laughed and said: "I wont go to seek death. Theres no particular reason why I dont have any thoughts, its just because Im not paying attention. Just like now, Im enjoying the warm sunshine, someone tells me that its raining elsewhere, what does that have to do with me?"

  Madam Bai fell silent for a moment, seemingly convinced by her words, and said: "This is for the best. You should still be careful, beware of her plotting again, face-saving is trivial, but life is more important."

  The peony is startled, and hastily makes a bow to express gratitude.

  Suddenly a commotion was heard in the distance, and the crowd surged towards a certain place like a tide. Madame Bai beckoned to the maid wearing green striped shoes: "Go and see whats going on."

  After a while, the maid went and came back, took a look at Peony and said: "It was Liu Gongyi Lang and Li Gongzi who had a dispute over trivial matters and fought."

  Madam Bai and Peony understood each other, it must be about what happened earlier. The matter will soon spread throughout the capital through the people present. Madam Bai frowned: "You cant help anyone, you might as well go back first."

  ——*——*——*——

  I was too tired yesterday, held a little kid all day, my hands hurt, so I updated late...

  Seeking recommendation votes...