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Xiao Jinyan soothed, "You don’t need to worry, with me here, mother won’t make things difficult for you."

Shen Chuwei wanted to say something more, but Xiao Jinyan had already preempted her, "Prepare well, I still have matters to deal with."

Alright then!

After seeing off Xiao Jinyan, Shen Chuwei lay on the rattan chair like a salted fish, seeing the five books on the low table, she simply turned her body away, out of sight, out of mind.

Lady Chang had also been busy these days. Ever since the Empress had started to consider appointing her as the Concubine overseeing the affairs of the East Palace, sisters had been visiting Xinlan Hall daily, eager to curry favor.

To win people over, Lady Chang naturally needed to establish good relationships with them, so she specially prepared a Tea Party to foster connections.

Once Chun Xi received the invitation, she went to inform Shen Chuwei.

"Miss, Lady Chang has invited you to attend a Tea Party."

Shen Chuwei asked with confusion, "What’s a Tea Party? Do I have to speak? If so, I’d rather not go."

"No, it’s just the sisters from the East Palace gathering to have tea, chat, and enjoy some fruits and pastries."

The moment Chun Xi’s words fell, Shen Chuwei’s eyes lit up, "Go? Why wouldn’t I when there’s food to eat?"

The fruit and pastries in Lady Chang’s palace were indeed quite good.

Chun Xi wore a worried expression, "Aren’t you afraid it’s a trap?"

Shen Chuwei said, "What’s there to be afraid of? Can she eat me up?"

Chun Xi shook her head, "I’m not afraid of that, I’m just worried they might try to trip you up secretly."

Shen Chuwei nonchalantly replied, "It’s fine, they can’t trip me."

Chun Xi sighed, whenever her young mistress heard there was food, her eyes gleamed and she feared nothing.

That evening, Shen Chuwei had her fill at dinner and went to bed early.

On the day of the Tea Party, Chun Xi dragged Shen Chuwei to the dressing table for a round of grooming, not to be outdone by Lady Chang.

A few days prior, His Highness had sent over an exceptionally rare piece of fabric, a lotus-pink color that especially complemented Shen Chuwei’s snowy complexion.

She had sent it to the Garment Bureau early to be fashioned into a beautiful garment, which just so happened to be delivered yesterday.

At this moment, the lotus-pink dress Shen Chuwei wore was the newly made one, fitting even better than she had imagined.

Chun Xi also took out the peach blossom hairpin sent by Tao Chenghui and adorned Shen Chuwei with it, one by one. It matched the lotus-pink dress perfectly.

Shen Chuwei’s face was already petite and exquisite. Paired with the pink dress and hairpin, she looked like a delicate and endearing carve doll, particularly lovable.

Then, Chun Xi painted a peach blossom-shaped dimple on her forehead, as if she was a peach blossom fairy from the Peach Blossom Forest.

Examining herself in the mirror, Shen Chuwei couldn’t help but admire Chun Xi’s skill. The coiffed hair looked lovely, and the peach blossom hairpins were not as heavy as kingfisher feather ones, so they felt comfortable.

"Let’s go," Shen Chuwei said, her spirits high, as she set off for Xinlan Hall.

This was her second visit, she was getting familiar with it.

Xinlan was already filled with laughter. Upon entering, she saw that they had all arrived, and the ladies were already deep in conversation.

Chun Xi pursed her lips, convinced that Lady Chang had deliberately written a later time on the invitation to make her mistress appear late.

Upon seeing Shen Chuwei arrive, Lady Li scoffed, "Why has Lady Shen only just arrived? The sisters have been here for a while."

Xu Chenghui covered her mouth and giggled, "Perhaps she overslept."

Since Shen Chuwei held an equal rank with Lady Chang and Lady Li, there was no need for them to stand, so she also did not have to return the courtesy.

"It doesn’t matter, continue your conversation," Shen Chuwei said as she sat next to Tao Chenghui, picked up her sleeves, and began eating the pastries in front of her.

Seeing Shen Chuwei’s actions, Lady Chang chuckled, "His Highness did not spend the night at Xiyun Pavilion yesterday, how could Lady Shen oversleep?"

Shen Chuwei blatantly ignored Lady Chang’s words; she hadn’t come to chat, but to eat, and talking would slow down her eating pace.

Lady Chang’s expression soured but she didn’t show it, since asking would only raise questions.

Xu Chenghui turned curiously and asked, "Lady Shen, what were you doing last night?"

Shen Chuwei bit into a pastry and replied, "Sleeping, there’s no need for me to get up early."

Lady Xu waved a handkerchief and giggled clandestinely, "Xu Chenghui, how is your collection of sweet dew going? With the recent heavy frosts, you should be careful."

At this mention, Xu Chenghui’s expression turned sour. She had been rising before dawn every day for over a month and had even developed dark circles under her eyes.

"Thank you for your concern, Sister Xu."

Lady Xu adjusted her hairpin, her face full of arrogance, "Just joking. I’m worried that His Highness will need the sweet dew, and you won’t have it ready."

Xu Chenghui, being of lower status, reluctantly responded, "I’ll do my best."

Lady Xu took a sip from her teacup, no longer paying attention to Xu Chenghui, her gaze barely considering her.

Shen Mingzhu saw that Shen Chuwei only focused on eating, and in a short while, she had accumulated a small pile of orange and grape peels nearby...

"I heard the Empress and His Highness are choosing between Lady Chang and Lady Shen for a Concubine position; I wonder whose house the flower will end up falling to? Sister, don’t just focus on eating, tell us what you think?"

Shen Chuwei, with cheeks stuffed full, said, "What’s the use of asking me? Why don’t you ask Lady Chang?"

Shen Mingzhu couldn’t help but roll her eyes, but on the surface, she still wore a pleasant smile, "I’m just worried about you, you know? Having been raised in the countryside and only brought back last year, you’ve still not shed many country habits, I’m afraid you might not cope."

Shen Mingzhu was deliberately exposing Shen Chuwei’s past to embarrass her in front of everyone.

"No need, thank you," Shen Chuwei responded, continuing to eat her grapes, completely ignoring Shen Mingzhu’s remarks.

Lady Xu had long been annoyed with Shen Mingzhu and with a cluck of her tongue, said, "Lady Shen keeps going on about ’the countryside’ as if fearing others aren’t aware. To those who know, it sounds like you’re concerned about your sister, to those who don’t, it seems like you despise her."

Shen Mingzhu’s face turned alternating shades of red and white, "What do you mean by that?"

Lady Xu sipped her tea calmly, "Lady Shen is so accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, how can you not understand plain speech?"

Shen Mingzhu looked extremely displeased since her demotion, she had been the same rank as Lady Xu, who had then started to hassle her with subtle mockery.

"Lady Xu, this is Xinlan Hall, you should watch what you say."

Lady Xu showed not the slightest fear, "I am talking to you, what does Lady Chang have to do with it?"

Angered, Shen Mingzhu simply stopped talking, picked up her teacup, and sipped at it to ease the awkwardness.

While eating grapes, Shen Chuwei listened to Lady Xu scolding Shen Mingzhu, and secretly gave Lady Xu a nickname, calling her Xu The Scold.

Lady Chang acted the peacemaker, "Today is a day of celebration; let’s not spoil the harmony amongst sisters."

Lady Xu nodded in agreement, "Indeed, today is a joyous day."

Lady Chang cast a cold glance at Lady Xu and ignored her, taking a sip from her teacup instead.

Lady Xu adjusted her hair, still exuding arrogance, "Do you know? The choice for Concubine has been made."