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Lin Yuan tugged at the corner of her mouth, somewhat speechless as she steadied her forehead with her hand, admitting to herself that today she had indeed intended to pull out the dagger to slap the faces of those who slandered her sisters for not returning things they picked up.

But she had never really thought about letting her reputation as a shrew spread throughout the Capital city.

Now, it was too late to say anything. Her glorious achievement of wielding a knife to chop a table would surely echo throughout the entire Capital city once again.

The feast ended in an almost eerie atmosphere, and until the end of the banquet, no one dared to approach the Lin Yuan Sisters to say anything.

Even Yao Zhilan, who had been incessantly blabbering about country bumpkins, had become meek, fearing being laughed at by Xiao Linshuang, who was several years younger.

After the banquet, it was natural to thank the host. Living nearby, the Lin Yuan’s family wasn’t in a hurry to leave, so they sat at their seats waiting for the other young ladies to say their farewells before they went over to do the same.

Xu Muqing, who had been holding an apple blossom and couldn’t bring herself to let go, glanced around and saw no one paying attention to her before she waddled over with her plump body, giggling.

Lin Yuan couldn’t help but think that her face seemed to have grown even larger since before the meal, perhaps due to eating too much.

Xu Muqing came up to Lin Yuan with a mysterious smile and said, "Yuanyuan, didn’t you say earlier that there are wild game in the mountains and fish in the waters? Some other day, I’ll invite you to pray in the mountains, and we can go hunt wild game together, how about that?"

After saying this, she even puckered her lips with a smack of her little mouth.

Expecting Xu Muqing, who came over so mysteriously, would have something important to tell her, Lin Yuan hadn’t anticipated that it was all about the food!

Lin Yuan smiled somewhat speechlessly and nodded mechanically in agreement.

Seeing her agreement, Xu Muqing almost jumped for joy, but given the abundance of flesh on her body, before she could even jump, her flesh bounced conspicuously up and down.

Lin Wei and Xiao He couldn’t help but cover their lips and laugh. Although Xu Muqing was indeed very fat, she had a very kind and simple heart, which is why the sisters were all very fond of her.

Just as Lin Yuan was about to speak to Xu Muqing, the maids of a few Young Ladies who were seated next to her earlier came over to invite her back to their mansions.

After hearing what the Maid had to say, the smile on Xu Muqing’s face disappeared instantly. Without turning to look at those Young Ladies, she coldly said to the Maid, "Tell your mistresses that I still have some words to say to Miss Lin, and I won’t be returning with them. You go ahead."

The Maid was clearly surprised, as if she had never expected Xu Muqing, who never knew how to say no to others, to actually say "no" one day!

"What? Do I need to personally go back to tell your mistresses that?"

Seeing that Xu Muqing was truly somewhat angry, the Maid hurriedly bowed her head and repeatedly agreed before returning to her own mistress’s side.

Lin Yuan observed as the group waiting on the other side was clearly very surprised after hearing their Maid’s report. They huddled together and murmured something that couldn’t be heard, and in the end, they departed together.

Of course, Lin Yuan had not overlooked the disdainful glances those few people had thrown at her when they left. The hostility was so evident, and it was obviously not directed at Xu Muqing, but at her for keeping Xu Muqing by her side.

Lin Yuan shook her head, finding the petty jealousy and rivalries among these young ladies somewhat amusing.

Lin Wei looked worriedly at Xu Muqing and asked, "Sister Xu, are you sure it’s really okay for you not to leave with your friends?"

"Them?" Xu Muqing held an apple blossom in both hands, her lips pursed in distaste for those so-called friends, "They’re not my friends. They’re all fawning over me because of the high position my father holds. Humph, Sister Hui specifically asked Shuishui to request our care for you, and they all agreed readily. But what happened? They didn’t even greet you when they saw you. I don’t need such friends!"

Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow. It seemed Xu Muqing was not as naive and innocent as she appeared, understanding they were ingratiating themselves with her because of Old Master Xu.

Just as she thought this, a laughing voice joined in, "Oh? Has our good-natured Fatty Xu finally had a moment of clarity?"

Looking toward the source of the voice, they saw Yan Ruchun, who had been dozing in a chair, suddenly open her eyes with a smile that curled up the corners of her eyes, "Didn’t you always say those people were your friends?

You even said you’d go through fire and water for them.

So, have you finally seen their true colors today? "

Listening to Yan Ruchun’s somewhat sarcastic words, Xu Muqing pouted and after much humphing, finally managed to squeeze out a sentence, "You’re right, if I had listened to your warnings earlier, I wouldn’t have been bullied by them."

Yan Ruchun was taken aback, then rolled her eyes and resumed her indifferent air of unconcern, "Don’t flatter yourself, I didn’t warn you. You, the dead fatty, can only be bullied by me. No one else has that right!"

Although harshly spoken, both Xu Muqing and Lin Yuan could tell that Yan Ruchun truly treated Xu Muqing very well.

Xu Muqing giggled, remembering the plan she had just agreed upon with Lin Yuan, and eagerly invited her, "Yan Smelly Mouth, just now Yuanyuan and I agreed to go to the mountains another day to hunt for game. Do you want to come with us? Yuanyuan’s cooking skills are fantastic, and she can turn that game into delicacies you’ve never tasted before! "

Hearing the words "delicacies of the human world," Lin Yuan keenly noticed Yan Ruchun’s eyes light up.

In fact, she had a good impression of the straightforward and passionate Yan Ruchun, who had a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

However, the thought of the Yan family, Consort Liu, and Second Prince Zhao Hongsheng, who were always opposed to them, caused Lin Yuan to suppress any thoughts of befriending her.

As the saying goes, "birds of a feather flock together." Since they were destined to be enemies, it was perhaps better not to form any ties now, to avoid getting hurt when the time came for drawn swords and ready bows.

As Yan Ruchun turned her head, she saw the conflicted expression on Lin Yuan’s face and, though she had been about to accept, her words came out as a refusal, "What ’delicacies of the human world’ are you talking about?

Do you think I’m some naive country girl who has never seen or tasted anything?

I’ll have you know that the famous Drunken Immortal Tower in the Capital city is my family’s business, and I can have whatever I want there.

Besides, my aunt happens to be Consort Liu, the emperor’s most favored consort.

Even if there’s something I can’t get at Drunken Immortal Tower, I can still have it in the palace.

I have no need to travel all the way to the mountains to hunt for game with you.

It’s only girls like you, who have seen nothing, who would get excited over such a thing! "

With a harrumph, Yan Ruchun lost her interest in staying any longer. She sprung up from her chair, patted down her slightly crumpled skirt, and prepared to leave.

However, as she passed by Lin Yuan, she still turned back to say nonchalantly, "Oh right, as for Xia Zheng, I won’t compete with you for him.

After observing for a couple of years, I’ve realized he’s nothing special.

What’s so great about him? He’s just a man with a nose and two eyes like everyone else.

Only you girls would treat him like some treasure. Well, I’m certainly not keen on him."