Chapter 61

After receiving Fang’s reply, the servant returned to Madam Guan and reported: “Grandma said she will attend Princess He’en’s flower-viewing banquet with you.”

Shen Ruojin, who was preparing incense for Madam Guan, suddenly trembled and spilled most of the spices into the burner, causing a choking cloud and making her cough.

Madam Guan turned to her, saying, “You were just insistent on switching to this antique fragrance you made yourself. How is it that, at your age, you still can’t do such a simple thing? You choked while changing the scent?”

Shen Ruojin quickly apologized, saying it was a moment of carelessness and begged Madam Guan not to blame her.

After seeing that Madam Guan’s expression softened a bit, Shen Ruojin cautiously asked, “The invitation from Princess He’en was sent to you, so you can bring whomever you like. It’s fine to take younger sisters, but why did you inform the eldest sister-in-law?”

Madam Guan sighed, “Now that your eldest brother has joined the Censorate ^[1]refers to a government agency responsible for monitoring officials., things aren’t like before. The situation in the court has been tense lately. If anything happens, I can notify your father and Mu Yun in time.”

In short, she wasn’t bringing Fang because she really wanted to, but because of her position.

Things had come to this point, so Shen Ruojin could only lower her head and say, “Yes.”

After all, this matter also concerned Guan Muyun’s career, and Madam Guan’s actions made sense.

Guan Muyun is her lifelong support. Only when Guan Muyun is well can she truly live a glorious life and have all the things she desires.

Hearing that Tao Sheng would go to the princess’s banquet this time, and that Fang was going with her, Ruojin couldn’t help but recall their previous meeting in the backyard. Fang had shown no mercy to her in front of Tao Sheng, and every word she said was hurtful.

When Ruojin thought about attending the banquet with these two again, she felt uneasy, as if something significant was about to happen.

But this was Princess He’en’s flower-viewing party after all. Princess He’en was one of the emperor’s favorite daughters, and it wasn’t easy to get an invitation. This time, Ruojin could go because Madam Guan had helped.

If I don’t go because of vague fears and let Fang represent the younger ladies of the family, I’ll feel awful, and Madam Guan wouldn’t agree either.

After Ruojin added the spices, she walked over to Madam Guan, gently fanning herself, “Then I’ll accompany Mother there too.”

_

Ning Garden was very lively the day before the flower-viewing party. Princess Hexuan and Princess Heqing arrived early to help their sister Princess He’en prepare for the banquet.

The two princesses said they came to help, but in reality, they were there to chat with Princess He’en.

Princess Hexuan, the oldest, spoke the most gently: “I first heard about my sister’s plan from Father. Even Father supports this flower-viewing banquet. That’s rare.”

Princess Heqing was curious and asked, “I heard from your nanny that Father allowed Grand Master Luo to attend this banquet. Is that true?”

It was no secret among the royal family that Prince Rui wanted to control Grand Master Luo but failed. Though many admired Tao Sheng’s music, they kept their distance, not wanting to provoke her.

“Of course, it’s true,” Princess He’en said. “Grand Master Luo was there when Father agreed to my request. We even changed the banquet time to accommodate her.”

Princess He’en and Princess Heqing were close in age and talent, and they had been secretly competing for years. Now that Princess He’en had invited Tao Sheng, she had overshadowed Princess Heqing, who looked a bit sour.

Grand Master Luo’s zither playing is a privilege reserved for the emperor. Listening to it could not only lead to success in literature or martial arts but also bring wealth. Only those truly worthy were invited.

Tao Sheng hadn’t participated in such events for almost a year, and the first time she attended was at her own Ning Garden.

Princess He’en suddenly felt proud.

They began arranging seats for the banquet. Tao Sheng was the most important guest since the emperor himself had agreed to her attendance. Naturally, the most prominent seat had to be saved for her, and even the princesses couldn’t outshine her.

The princesses had no objections. Princess He’en smiled and continued, “Yesterday, I asked my eldest brother about Grand Master Luo’s favorite foods and entertainment. Most have been arranged, and we’re just double-checking.”

Princess Heqing admired her sister’s boldness: “You even dared to ask our brother. That’s brave of you.”

“Brother isn’t the same as before,” Princess He’en said. “Father has probably seen him more than all of us combined. You’re thinking of the past.”

While preparations were in full swing, Tao Sheng also took this banquet seriously. Princess He’en had a good relationship with Tao Sheng’s mother, Luo Xin, and was warm and generous, so dressing up was a sign of respect.

Princess He’en’s household sent a carriage to pick up Tao Sheng early in the morning.

When Princess He’en sent the invitation, she made sure everyone knew Tao Sheng was coming. The palace was worried something might happen to such an important guest, so they sent a carriage to ensure she arrived safely.

After Tao Sheng got into the carriage, she soon encountered people from the Duke Ling’s mansion.

Madam Guan recognized the carriage as belonging to Princess He’en and ordered her driver to move aside. She personally greeted the nanny in the carriage: “Is it Princess He’en inside? Or is this carriage sent for a special guest?”

The nanny replied, “It’s neither. We’re here to pick up Grand Master Luo from the Imperial Music Bureau on Princess He’en’s orders.”

Since the carriage was for a seventh-rank official, Madam Guan didn’t feel the need to greet them. She returned to her carriage and sighed to Ruojin: “Your father said Grand Master Luo is reliable. It seems true now. She’s managed to impress both the emperor and the King of Chu, and even got her father into the Ministry of War. For someone as proud as Princess He’en to personally send a carriage shows how highly she values her.”

Ruojin felt bitter but forced herself to say, “But favored ministers never have a good ending in history. We should stay away from them if possible.”