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Tian Hui was kind-hearted, but that didn’t mean she was foolish.

The words Caicai spoke seemed innocent on the surface, but if someone as serious as Yan Ruchun heard them, she would definitely have accused her of disrespect.

What, is handing out invitations for another family’s young lady too much trouble for you?

Should the young lady perhaps wait at home specifically for you?

However, Tian Hui was naturally gentle and didn’t wish to upset anyone, so she didn’t take Caicai’s words to heart but simply nodded with a smile, choosing not to continue the conversation.

Oblivious to her recent mistake, Caicai turned to Lin Yuan with a smile, spread the invitation open in her palm, and said, "Miss Lin, my young lady is hosting a banquet at our mansion on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month. She has invited a few young ladies she’s close to from the Capital City for a gathering.

She specifically sent me to invite you to join the fun, it would be the perfect opportunity to introduce you to the other young ladies so you won’t feel lonely when you’re all playing together. "

Listening to Caicai’s reasonable words, Lin Yuan thought she might have been overly suspicious just moments before.

Just as she was about to speak, Tian Hui quickly interjected, "Oh, what a pity, Sister Yao is a bit late."

Caicai, taken aback, heard Tian Hui continue, "The princess has missed seeing Miss Lin these past few days and is very eager. This morning she sent me to invite Miss Lin to the General Mansion the day after tomorrow for a chat. Caicai, I’m afraid neither of us will be able to attend your young lady’s banquet.

You might as well take this chance to convey our message.

When we have some free time, I will host, and personally invite the young ladies to my home for a gathering. "

Tian Hui had made her point so clearly that Caicai, no matter how foolish, didn’t dare to argue. Her young lady’s status wasn’t high enough to compete with Princess Anle for guests!

Left with no choice, Caicai could only bow respectfully and exit with a sense of frustration.

Watching Caicai leave, Lin Yuan whispered to Tian Hui in the side hall, taking care not to arouse suspicion from Mr. and Mrs. Liu. She lowered her voice, chuckling, "I never expected you, sister, to tell lies and deceive people."

Such a side of Tian Hui was quite an eye-opener for Lin Yuan.

Tian Hui glanced outside where Lady Liu and Lin Jiaxin seemed to be whispering something and also spoke in a hushed tone, "If I hadn’t brought up the princess’s name, who knows how they might have pestered us!"

It appeared Tian Hui genuinely didn’t want her to attend the banquet at Yao Mansion.

Could it be that she was worried about Lin Yuan being mistreated?

But recalling her meeting with Yao Hanai, Lin Yuan remembered Tian Hui didn’t seem unfamiliar with Yao Hanai, in fact, they seemed to get along quite well.

Perhaps sensing Lin Yuan’s puzzlement, Tian Hui casually flipped through the fabrics on the table and softly said, "That Caicai, just like her mistress Yao Zhilan, looks down on people but seems to forget that she is but a concubine’s daughter herself.

If it weren’t for Sister Yao’s sake, who among the young ladies of various families in the Capital City would bother with her?

However, Sister Yao is indeed a good person, and if you were to attend her banquet, she would certainly not mistreat you. "

Tian Hui paused, pursed her lips, then continued with furrowed brows, "But Caicai mentioned she also invited other young ladies from the Capital City. Sister Yao won’t mistreat you, but that doesn’t mean the other invitees will accept you.

Yuanyuan, I must say something you might not like to hear.

Everyone in the Capital City is shrewd. If they hadn’t heard that you’re the Third Prince’s sworn sister and Ah Zheng’s future bride, why would they think to invite you to their mansions? "

Lin Yuan understood. Tian Hui was worried that the people Yao Hanai invited would humiliate her, making her life difficult. But what Tian Hui didn’t realize was that among those people, the one who least wanted her to have an easy time was probably Yao Hanai herself, oh, and Su Qiuyu as well.

Seeing Tian Hui’s evasive eyes, Lin Yuan suddenly thought of something. Tian Hui might be worried that she would suffer if she confronted Su Qiuyu, right?

That was indeed a possibility. Su Qiuyu’s affections for Xia Zheng were well-known in the Capital City, and now that Lin Yuan had unexpectedly appeared, Su Qiuyu would surely not take it lying down.

Of course, Lin Yuan kept these thoughts to herself. Since Tian Hui had her best interests at heart, she was more than willing to accept her help.

"Sister, you say they’re inviting me because of my brother and Xia Zheng. Does that mean you’re so kind to me for the same reason?" Lin Yuan asked with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, leaning in and giggling in front of Tian Hui.

This question caught Tian Hui off guard. Indeed, her kindness was largely owing to Xia Zheng, who was her brother-in-law, and since Lin Yuan was Xia Zheng’s bride-to-be. Without this connection, it would have been unlikely for them to become acquainted.