The county princess only introduced Shen Man's grandfather but deliberately omitted her father, suggesting her father's official post was less significant than Shen Lao, the Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy.
No wonder she was seated at the very end.
Mu Xiaoxiao propped up her chin and yawned listlessly. If she were to talk about interesting events, the banquet planned by Liu Cheng, the fop from Liucheng, was far more engaging. Despite Liu Cheng being an unproductive individual, he at least knew how to enjoy himself.
Seeing her dispirited appearance, Nan Shiying smiled faintly, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and then casually remarked, "Sister-in-law, I've heard that Liu Cheng from the Liu family has introduced some novel amusements that have become quite fashionable and are greatly favored by everyone. It's a pity I was ill before and couldn't experience them firsthand."
The county princess was slightly taken aback, carefully contemplating the intention behind her words.
Was she bored?
She knew exactly what the princess meant. After the child of Lord Liu Wanjun brought back items from Da Li, it had sparked a new trend. Since then, all families hosting banquets would organize activities like tou壶 (pitch-pot) and horse polo. She had never understood what was so fun about those games. She hadn't made any preparations, but since the princess had brought it up to this extent, making last-minute arrangements wasn't impossible.
Thinking thus, she smiled and said, "Your Highness must be referring to tou壶 and horse polo. I have prepared tou壶. As for horse polo, that game requires a spacious venue, and the season isn't quite right. However, archery is possible. There is a specialized training ground in the front courtyard, sufficient for the children to play."
"Then I shall have the opportunity to witness today what unique charm these Da Li games possess."
The county princess smiled and agreed.
A moment later, she said, "Your Highness, I shall go and make preparations."
"Thank you for your trouble, sister-in-law."
The county princess shook her head, rose to leave, and instructed a maid to summon Mu Baiyu.
Mu Baiyu thought his mother had had too much to drink and was suffering from the effects. When he arrived, he brought a bowl of sobering soup freshly brewed by the kitchen. Seeing his mother seated, her face slightly flushed but not resembling drunkenness, he immediately understood that his mother had summoned him for a task.
He placed the sobering soup on the table beside his mother and asked, "Does Mother have any instructions?"
The county princess nodded. "Go and tidy up the training ground in the front courtyard. Also, instruct the servants to buy some of those double-handled pots specifically used for tou壶."
Didn't his younger sister also say earlier that they should prepare more games? And didn't their mother forbid it? Now, why the sudden request for tou壶 and to go to the training ground?
Could it be because of the princess?
"Yes, I understand!"
Although Mu Baiyu was puzzled, he didn't ask any further questions. It was just a matter of amusement, after all!
He left the room and happened to encounter Xiaoxiao, who was hurrying towards the room. She was so impetuous. Such a grown girl, yet still like a mischievous monkey.
Mu Baiyu grabbed her, and seeing that she was still catching her breath, he smiled and asked, "What's the rush?"
Mu Xiaoxiao saw that Mu Baiyu was coming from their mother's room and asked breathlessly, "Brother, how is Mother? Is she feeling unwell? I was having some wine earlier, and when I looked towards Mother, I noticed she had left the banquet at some point and hadn't returned. I went into the courtyard and found Mother wasn't there, so I rushed back to check."
Before Mu Baiyu could reply, the county princess pushed the door open. Seeing her panting with such a worried expression, her heart softened. She walked up to Mu Xiaoxiao and tapped her little head. "You still know to worry about your mother. You have some conscience."
"Mother~"
Mu Xiaoxiao tugged at her mother's sleeve and pouted, "What are you saying? I've always been filial!"
"But Mother, why did you return to your room?" She blinked her eyes, full of gossip. Most importantly, she had also called her brother. Wait, could it be that Mother had taken a liking to some young man, and they were here plotting how to marry her off?
As she thought this, she suddenly pouted, her voice laced with a crying tone, and pointedly said, "You, you just want to get rid of me so badly?"
Mu Baiyu and the county princess: "......?"
What in the world was this?
Mu Baiyu's expression turned grim. He placed his large hand on Mu Xiaoxiao's small head and rubbed it vigorously. "Mother asked me to prepare the double-handled pots for tou壶."
"Tou壶??"
Mu Xiaoxiao's eyes suddenly lit up.
The county princess helplessly supported her forehead. She knew it!
"Mother, I..."
"Go, go, go with your brother!"
The county princess suddenly felt a headache, completely unwilling to hear Xiaoxiao finish speaking. She shooed them away like flies. She then had a maid come in to help her change her clothes before returning.
For lunch, they had mutton hot pot. Most of the ladies had changed their clothes, otherwise, the smell of mutton would be too strong. As for the princess, she didn't seem to care at all and didn't change. Strangely, not a trace of the lunch smell lingered on her; instead, it was filled with the fragrance of iris.
It was as if it had seeped into her very bones.
Beautiful person, fragrant body.
The county princess sighed, and for no reason, she thought that if she had discovered the treasure that was the princess in the Nan residence earlier, she should have had Baiyu marry her.
She only thought this now. If time could be turned back, she feared her thoughts might not be the same.
Currently, the ladies were sitting together, chatting about family matters, unconcerned about what the children were doing. Liu Ling'er pulled Liu Lan to stroll by the lake. The lake in the prince's manor was suitable for ice skating, but unfortunately, there were no ice skating tools here. Otherwise, they could skate then.
Shen Man ascended the pavilion on the lake. Standing inside, she gazed into the distance. From here, she could see the highest point of the palace, the Dinghua Hall, with its prominently flying five-clawed golden dragon.
Nan Yuan'er slightly lowered her head, her disabled right hand resting on the table. As if oblivious to the gazes cast from all directions, she seemed to be lost in thought.
"Yuan'er~"
A falsely intimate voice reached Nan Yuan'er's ears from directly in front. Nan Yuan'er raised her head and saw the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Linyang.
The corners of Nan Yuan'er's lips curved upwards, revealing an equally intimate smile. "Yin'er, long time no see."
The young lady named Yin'er cupped her disabled right hand and lifted the annoying sleeve, her face filled with feigned sympathy and concern as she asked, "Yuan'er, does your wrist still hurt? Is there really no way to treat it?"
She believed her acting was superb, capable of displaying heartfelt sympathy and regret to the fullest. In reality, her acting skills were poor, and anyone could easily discern her true intentions.