Chapter 50 Banquet 1

No matter how dissatisfied these two were, the ceremony organized by the Queen of Ning arrived as scheduled.

Early in the morning, Mrs. Shu brought the maid who was best at styling hair to Shu Yuwan’s courtyard.

“Why did Mother come so early?”

Mrs. Shu smiled, “Your matter is important, so naturally, we need to take care of it properly. I brought Qiuyu, who is the best at styling hair in our mansion. You must dress up a bit today.”

After arranging the people, not seeing the child around, Mrs. Shu asked, “Where is Wenyue?”

Shu Yuwan smiled, “Wenyue is still asleep.”

“Are you taking Wenyue with you today?” Mrs. Shu asked. “The Queen of Ning has also invited people from the Anding Marquis’s Mansion.”

Shu Yuwan shook her head, “Then I won’t bring her.”

“Then leave a few more people later; today is expected to be a long day.” Mrs. Shu instructed.

“Yes, I’ll leave the Zhao Mama, and Qing Dai later.”

Shu Yuwan put on the set of red jadeite headpieces sent by the Queen of Ning. Qiuyu styled her hair according to this headpiece, matched her clothes and makeup.

“Alright, Miss, please check if there’s anything wrong.” Qiuyu respectfully said.

“Qiuyu’s skills are naturally excellent.”

“It’s because Miss is naturally beautiful.”

Looking at the person in the mirror, Shu Yuwan adjusted her appearance, showing a bit of charm.

Mrs. Shu was also pleased, “My daughter is truly beautiful. You used to be carefree, but now you seem more composed, and your appearance is becoming more dignified like mine.”

All the maids couldn’t help but smile and lower their heads. Shu Yuwan also chuckled, “Mother, are you praising me or yourself?”

Mrs. Shu pulled her daughter, “Naturally, I’m praising both of us.”

After the mother and daughter finished preparing and organizing everything, they first went to see Wenyue, who was still sound asleep, and instructed Zhao Mama and Qing Dai to take good care of her. Then, they set off for the Ning Wang Mansion.

The carriage traveled all the way and soon arrived at the Ning Wang Mansion.

At the gate of the mansion, the Prince of Ning was already waiting.

“Mrs. Shu, younger sister!”

Seeing Shu Yuwan getting off the carriage, the Prince of Ning felt his eyes light up. He quickly restrained the amazement in his eyes, suppressed the complex emotions in his heart, and calmly said, “Apart from Mother, there are no other female relatives in the family. Mother is busy, so she asked me to wait at the gate to receive Mrs. Shu and younger sister.”

Mrs. Shu looked at the Prince of Ning, who was different from before, feeling a bit regretful in her heart. However, she also knew that the current situation was already a huge advantage.

She said warmly, “Thank you, Prince Shinzi.”

The Prince of Ning, along with the nanny, led Mrs. Shu and Shu Yuwan into the mansion.

Before long, the Queen of Ning arrived.

Mrs. Shu and Shu Yuwan both paid their respects, “Greetings to the Queen.”

“Please rise.” The Queen of Ning lifted Mrs. Shu and then pulled Shu Yuwan over, “I asked your adopted brother to wait for you at the gate early this morning.” She then looked at Mrs. Shu, “Thanks to Mrs. Shu’s blessings, I now have a lovely sister-daughter.”

Mrs. Shu quickly replied, “It’s Shu Yuwan’s good fortune to be favored by the Queen.”

The Prince of Ning stood behind the Queen of Ning, looking at Shu Yuwan. Suddenly, he felt that things were fine as they were now. Regardless of her future, whether she married someone or lived alone, she would always be his sister. He could forever protect her and accompany her.

After exchanging pleasantries, the nanny came in and reported to the Queen of Ning, “Your Highness, guests have arrived.”

The Queen of Ning held Shu Yuwan’s hand, “Shu Yuwan, come with me to greet the guests.”

Although Shu Yuwan knew the Queen of Ning was saving face for her, she didn’t want to steal the spotlight. Besides, she knew why the Queen of Ning had acknowledged her as an adopted daughter. She wasn’t a legitimate mistress of the Ning Family.

“I have never been to the Ning Mansion before. I would like to admire the flowers in the garden. Would my stepmother allow me to take a break today?” Shu Yuwan requested.

The Queen of Ning smiled, “In that case, you and Mrs. Shu can stroll around the mansion. You can get familiar with it in the future.”

Shu Yuwan and Mrs. Shu strolled around the Ning Wang garden, sat down for tea, and finally, the banquet began.

After Shu Yuwan and Mrs. Shu sat down, they looked around and noticed that the Queen of Ning had invited almost all the noble ladies with good relations to the Ning Wang family, showing how much she valued Shu Yuwan. Sitting at the head of the table was the host of the banquet, the Queen of Ning, with Lady Jiang on her left and Queen Changning on her right.

The witnesses invited today were Lady Jiang, the wife of the head of the Wang family and the Queen of Ning’s sister-in-law, and Queen Changning, the current emperor’s and Ning Wang’s sister. The Queen’s husband had left early, and as the Queen had been living alone, the Queen of Ning and Queen Changning had a close relationship in their youth, which was why they were able to persuade her to attend.

The witnesses’ status could be said to be very high.

After exchanging pleasantries with a few familiar ladies, they heard the Queen of Ning laugh and say, “Everyone knows that today’s banquet is mainly to have you all witness that in the future, I will have more daughters.”

She then waved to Shu Yuwan, “Shu Yuwan.”

After bowing to Lady Jiang and Queen Changning, Shu Yuwan bowed to the Queen of Ning, “Mother.”

The Queen of Ning helped Shu Yuwan up, “Very well, from now on, just like Shinzi, call me Mother.”

“Yes, Mother.”

The Queen of Ning took out two “Adoptive Mother Letters” and handed them to Lady Jiang and Queen Changning. They each wrote their names as witnesses on the documents. The Queen of Ning handed one to Shu Yuwan, who bowed three times to the Queen of Ning, received the document, and the adoption ceremony was completed.

Shu Yuwan returned to her seat.

Queen Changning also stood up and said to the Queen of Ning, “I won’t be needed here anymore! I’ll leave now.”

The Queen of Ning also knew that Queen Changning rarely went out, so her presence was a favor. She nodded, “I’ll escort the Queen.”

Queen Changning waved her hand, “No need, today is a good day for the Queen to acknowledge her daughter. Stay and accompany the little girl.”

As everyone stood up, they bid farewell to Queen Changning.

The Queen of Ning didn’t stand on ceremony with Queen Changning, escorting her outside the banquet hall and instructing the nanny to accompany her to the gate of the Ning Wang Mansion before returning. After all, her newly acknowledged daughter and all the guests were still inside.

In the banquet hall, as soon as the Queen of Ning left, the Lady of Anding Marquis, Lady Wei Shi, approached Mrs. Shu and said, “Xiangya, congratulations. I’m happy that Shu Yuwan is doing well.” Qing Qing stood behind Lady Wei Shi, looking very conspicuous. Everywhere she went, people tried to avoid her and kept a certain distance.

Mrs. Shu and Lady Wei Shi were both from the Wei Shi family, with a good relationship. Mrs. Shu knew that Lady Wei Shi was not a bad person, but seeing Qing Qing behind her, she instantly lost her good mood.

With a forced smile, she said, “I dare not accept Lady Wei Shi’s congratulations. As long as the Anding Marquis’s family and the Third Lady of Anding let our Shu Yuwan live peacefully in the future, it will be a blessing.”