After Transmigration, I Snag a Stunning Bigwig as My Husband-Chapter 649 Setting Up a Banquet
For the girl from the Wenyuan Bo Mansion, the assistant’s words were undoubtedly a bolt from the blue.
She was accustomed to living with privilege in Yongzhou, admired by all, and no one dared provoke her.
Unexpectedly, on her very first day in the Capital, she provoked the Princess Consort Zhenbei and was tricked out of three thousand taels.
The girl stamped her foot in frustration.
However, to say she was afraid, she was not afraid at all.
With a swish of her cloud sleeves, she went downstairs and left.
As for the five thousand taels, Jinyu Pavilion would certainly send someone to collect it.
Being able to open such a large jewelry shop in the Capital City definitely meant there was someone backing them.
Moreover, this five thousand taels belonged to the Princess Consort Zhenbei.
Even if the Wenyuan Bo Mansion had borrowed hundreds of tiger gallbladders, they wouldn’t dare not pay.
Who didn’t know that the Emperor cherished the Princess Consort Zhenbei?
They had no doubt that if the Wenyuan Bo Mansion tried to default, the Emperor would help the Princess Consort Zhenbei collect the debt.
After leaving Jinyu Pavilion, Su Jin went to browse elsewhere.
Xingxing said, "That girl was too arrogant just now; you should have taught her a lesson so that she would have to be carried back to her mansion."
Xingxing had a ferocious expression.
It’s okay to provoke anyone, but not her lady.
If they don’t give a harsh lesson, people might think her lady is easy to bully.
Su Jin walked forward and said, "After all, I accidentally bumped into her first. Let it pass this time. If she acts recklessly again, it won’t be so easy to get away."
Xingxing joyfully carried the brocade box while following Su Jin.
After wandering the streets for half an hour, Su Jin lost interest.
When Xie Jingchen rode over on horseback, she and Xingxing got into the carriage and returned to the mansion.
As soon as they stepped into the mansion, Manager Li came up and reported three things.
First, the Princess Consort asked Xie Jingchen to see her after returning to the mansion.
Second, Consort Li was hosting a banquet and invited Su Jin to attend.
Third, Prince Ning Mansion sent over silver notes worth ten thousand taels.
Su Jin was curious about why the Princess Consort wanted to see Xie Jingchen, but since she only invited him, Su Jin did not follow.
Su Jin already knew about the banquet hosted by Consort Li when she was at the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.
Mrs. Tang feigned illness as an excuse not to go, but Su Jin had no reason not to attend, so she had to go.
As for Prince Ning Mansion sending money...
"Why did Prince Ning Mansion suddenly think of giving me money?" Su Jin asked.
Manager Li handed the silver notes to Su Jin, saying, "The Princess Consort helped the Princess Consort Ning during childbirth, and this is Prince Ning Mansion’s token of gratitude."
Rather than calling it gratitude, it was more suitable to call it a medical fee.
Yesterday, the Empress Dowager issued an order asking Su Jin to treat Heir of Duke Chong’s leg.
Su Jin directly inquired about the medical fee; without it, she would not help with the treatment.
The matter reached Prince Ning Mansion, and the Princess Consort Ning remembered that they hadn’t paid the Princess Consort Zhenbei’s medical fee yet.
They had planned to send the silver notes over yesterday but thought it would be too deliberate, hence delayed it until today.
Manager Li laughed, "Prince Ning Mansion intended to send their thanks several days ago, but since the Prince Mansion was closed to guests, it was forgotten."
Xingxing accepted the silver notes.
Charging for medical services was perfectly natural.
Su Jin didn’t refuse to accept; she thought the money could be used for disaster relief.
Su Jin stepped into the inner courtyard, Xingxing following behind and asked, "Miss, aren’t you going to wait for the master?"
"Let’s wait for him at the gazebo in front," Su Jin replied.
Qingzheng Court.
The Princess Consort sat there drinking tea.
Xie Jingchen entered to pay his respects.
The Princess Consort looked at him.
Although Xie Jingchen was her biological son, he had been away from her since childhood.
Moreover, Xie Jingchen was already grown, and a close mother-son relationship was naturally difficult to cultivate.
Compared to Xie Jingchen, the Princess Consort probably felt closer to Su Jin.
"Did you have a disagreement with the Princely Heir’s wife?" the Princess Consort asked.
When Su Jin and Xie Jingchen left the mansion, they had a spat, which couldn’t avoid reaching the Princess Consort’s ears.
Everyone in the Capital City presumably knew how good the relationship between Su Jin and Xie Jingchen was before.
Now the quarrel was severe enough that Xie Jingchen wasn’t allowed into the carriage, worrying the Princess Consort.
She called Xie Jingchen to ask, so she could be reassured.
But how could Xie Jingchen tell the Princess Consort what annoyed Su Jin? He couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Xie Jingchen asked a maid, "Did the Princely Heir’s wife return?"
The maid replied, "The Princely Heir’s wife hasn’t returned; she’s waiting for you in the gazebo."
Xie Jingchen looked at the Princess Consort.
The Princess Consort chuckled, "Then you should go; don’t keep the Princely Heir’s wife waiting."
Xie Jingchen took his leave.
In the gazebo, Su Jin was drinking tea.
The scorching tea couldn’t be drunk.
Seeing Xie Jingchen approaching, Xingxing happily announced, "Miss, the master is here."
Su Jin put her tea down, exited the gazebo, and said, "I just brought my tea out, and you’ve already finished talking with the Princess Consort?"
"What can I talk about with Mother," Xie Jingchen replied.
He could feel the Princess Consort’s restraint when speaking to him.
Actually, neither Xie Jingchen nor Su Jin could quite feel the intimacy there.
It’s true that whoever raises a child feels closest, and this sentiment was genuine.
That’s why she was curious about why the Princess Consort wanted to see Xie Jingchen.
If she weren’t curious, she would have gone back to Agarwood Pavilion already without him.
Without asking further, Su Jin decided not to press the issue.
The two walked toward Agarwood Pavilion.
From a distance, Xie Jingchuan watched their silhouettes disappear, his gaze cold.
He hadn’t anticipated that the fire he set would lead Xie Jingchen to find his biological mother and that the Prince Zhenbei Mansion would gain a Princess Consort, leaving his own mother surpassingly overshined.
Even now, Princess Nanzhang continued to search for the arsonist.
Xie Jingchuan dared not confess.
This frustration troubled him immensely.
Back at Agarwood Pavilion, Su Jin stayed indoors for half an hour before heading to the backyard.
Gradually, the sound of pounding medicine spread.
She had to prepare pills for Mrs. Jiang and medicine for treating rheumatism.
Old Madam Li’s medicine was probably running low, so Su Jin prepared that too.
Once the ointments were ready, it was already the next evening.
The sunset was splendid, like a cloud of brocade across the sky.
Every day’s sunset was so beautiful.
Gazing upon the magnificent dusk, Su Jin seemed to envision those parched lands and the starving populace.
Lacking the mood to admire the view, she went to the lakeside to feed the fish.
...
That day was the day of the palace banquet.
Though it was unclear why Consort Li suddenly decided to host a banquet, since she invited Su Jin, she would surely attend.
In terms of entering the palace, Xingxing was even more excited than Su Jin.
If Su Jin had declined, Xingxing would have surely dragged her to go.
Early, Xingxing carefully selected the gown Su Jin would wear into the palace, perfectly matched with the new unpaid jewelry from Jinyu Pavilion.
They complemented each other beautifully, creating a radiant presence.
Xingxing wore the gown the Princess Consort had made.
This gown wasn’t intended for major occasions, so she was reluctant to wear it.
However, today was a banquet at the palace, coupled with her birthday, Xingxing had dug the outfit from the bottom of the trunk and put it on.
After dressing up, Su Jin took a brocade box from the drawer and handed it to Xingxing, saying, "Here’s your birthday present."
Xingxing’s eyes widened, "Didn’t Miss already give me a silver hairpin and earrings?"
"This is truly your birthday gift," Su Jin chuckled. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
Xingxing’s eyes gleamed.
Joyfully, she reached out and accepted the brocade box.
