Chihua brought good news. The neighbors next door moved in on the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, sending pastries from Liuhe Zhai as gifts to each branch of the Duke Dingguo's mansion.
"I saw these were just right for Miss, so I've laid them out," Chidan said with a smile.
Yu Mingyue picked up a piece. "This chestnut cake still tastes better from Liuhe Zhai."
"Miss, this is an invitation from the Marquis Chengen's mansion."
Yu Mingyue glanced at it, her interest waning.
It was like this every year at the end of the year, nothing new.
The official appointments for the year were basically settled, and to avoid delaying the grand court session after the new year, the newly promoted officials had already arrived in the capital.
Various forces in the capital were stirring, and the atmosphere was ripe for a major undertaking in the coming year.
While the Emperor's heart was indeed with the world, he might not appreciate the collusion between new officials and established families.
The Duke Dingguo's mansion remained as low-key as ever, sending backup gifts and attending the banquet was enough; they had no banquet of their own to host.
For several consecutive days, Yu Zeyan was helped back by the young servants Kang Da and Kang Er. Kang Er, being clever, helped him into Cui Shi's Qingfeng Courtyard.
Listening to Chihua's report, Yu Mingyue's mood grew even better.
Everything she had done was not in vain. Her father and mother had not divorced, and she had survived the third chapter of the storybook.
She decided to visit her mother at noon, the one who had been 'troubled' these past few days.
Cui Shi was inside, looking at the account books sent from the various estates and shops. The charcoal fire in the room was warm, and Cui Shi was wearing an autumn-yellow brocade skirt with golden interwoven smoke patterns.
Her demeanor was excellent; wherever she sat, her aura naturally flowed, exuding a lingering charm.
"Mother!" Yu Mingyue bowed respectfully.
Cui Shi saw her daughter enter, put away her ledgers, and without needing to be told, the servants brought out the pastries Yu Mingyue loved.
Yu Mingyue, usually so talkative, was unusually quiet today.
Cui Shi looked at Chidan and Chihua behind her. Just as Chidan was about to speak, Yu Mingyue spoke in a muffled voice.
"Mother, I don't want to go to the plum blossom banquet at the Marquis Chengen's mansion."
The Emperor's Consort Yao was favored in the palace, and the Yao family was overbearing. Furthermore, Consort Yao had chosen her as a prince's consort, which dashed the Yao family's plans. Consort Yao's nieces were very unfriendly to her.
Yu Mingyue disliked the Yao family and did not want to suffer unwarranted grievances.
"If you don't want to go, then don't. It's not a big deal," Cui Shi also disliked the Yao family.
They were like nouveau riche, lacking manners, a family of fools, and none of them were clear-headed except Consort Yao.
"Mother is so good!"
Yu Mingyue disliked the banquet at the Marquis Chengen's mansion, but the young ladies from the other two branches of the Duke's mansion were very fond of it.
Firstly, the young ladies loved liveliness, and secondly, how would they know which young gentlemen were of good character and talent if they stayed cooped up at home all day?
Because of the year-end banquets, Yu Miaoyan had tailored several new outfits, even a new cloak, which made her extremely happy.
However, she still found it hard to believe that Yu Mingyue would not go.
After all, the Marquis Chengen's mansion was the maternal family of the noble consort.
"Sixth sister, are you really not going to the Marquis Chengen's mansion banquet?" Yu Miaoyan couldn't help but ask on the way back from their studies.
"Is Eldest Sister hoping I go, or not?" Yu Mingyue couldn't resist teasing her.
"You..." Yu Miaoyan couldn't take the teasing and immediately got angry.
But Yu Mingyue was someone she couldn't afford to offend, so she could only bite her lip and glare at her, as if this glare could inflict some harm on her.
Yu Mingyue was amused by her expression. "I was just joking with Eldest Sister. Is Eldest Sister angry?"
Yu Miaoyan clutched her handkerchief and huffed, "It's not funny at all."
"Alright, if Eldest Sister likes it, then go. However, Eldest Sister had best guard against the Yao sisters' mischief," Yu Mingyue reminded her.
"You're really not going?" Yu Miaoyan also disliked the Yao sisters; they were sharp-tongued girls.
But there would be many noble young gentlemen at that banquet, and that Young Master Gu would surely be there. If she could meet him...
Thinking of Gu Tingyun, Yu Miaoyan's cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head.
Yu Mingyue shook her head. "I'm not going. Eldest Sister, remember my words."
They were both members of the Yu family. Her words had been conveyed; how much of it she took to heart was her own business.