Flower-Viewing Banquet

Er Ya was sitting under a tree, enjoying the breeze as she stitched a shoe sole. When the others saw that the shoes were for a man, they teased her about it.

Er Ya said, "The eldest uncle's wife is too busy and can't finish them herself, so she asked me to help make them for him."

"Don't you have any sewing maids in your residence?" Second Concubine asked curiously.

"No, we can't afford them. There are only six servants in the whole residence, and the master still thinks that's too many."

Everyone: "..."

As they were talking, Gao Lan returned to the residence with the imperial physician, then came to fetch Er Ya to attend to her mistress.

When Er Ya heard that Gu Wanning had sent for an imperial physician, she was so frightened that she nearly stuck a needle in her finger. She dropped her sewing, slipped on her shoes, and ran out, calling, "Madam! Madam..."

The concubines couldn't sit still either, and hurried out after her together.

They all waited at the inner gate.

The Marquis's Residence's carriage soon returned and came to a stop. Gu Wanning's voice came from inside.

"My lord, there's no need to carry me. I can get out myself..."

Only her mouth was swollen, not her legs.

Perhaps she really did look a little frightening now, because in Xu Weibei's eyes, she saw the kindness of someone thinking, She's at death's door. I'd better treat her a little better.

But there really was no need. She wasn't about to die yet.

Er Ya rushed forward and pulled back the carriage curtain. The moment she saw Gu Wanning, she cried out in alarm.

"Madam, what happened to your mouth?"

Gu Wanning said, "It's nothing. Stop making a fuss."

If she kept shouting, everyone would know.

The main thing was that it was embarrassing and easily misunderstood, especially with Xu Weibei still in the carriage.

But when she stepped out of the carriage and saw that nearly half the people in the residence were standing outside, with the four concubines at the forefront, Gu Wanning felt that this time, she couldn't wash herself clean even if she jumped into the Yellow River.

Meeting their awkward or gossipy looks, she almost wanted to howl at the heavens: Please give me a chance to talk my way out of this!

No, I really didn't keep the food all to myself!

There's nothing improper between the Marquis and me!

"Hua Ying," Gu Wanning called to Third Concubine, "I ate something that disagreed with me. Come take a look."

But everyone's expressions clearly said, You're only making yourself look guiltier!

Gu Wanning thought, I'm tired. Let it all burn.

Chapter 36: Flower-Viewing Banquet

After examining Gu Wanning, Third Concubine looked at her utterly despondent expression and fought back a smile. "Madam, don't eat any more. The swelling should go down on its own tomorrow."

Fourth Concubine muttered, "Now I know what happened..."

First Concubine quickly tugged at her to stop her from saying any more.

Gu Wanning thought, You don't know shit.

I ate figs, figs, figs!

Not Xu Weibei!

I didn't!

No!

I'm going mad.

Xu Weibei couldn't be bothered to listen to a roomful of women chattering. Once he heard that Gu Wanning was fine, he went to the stables to brush and wash his beloved steed.

Gao Lan couldn't help asking, "My lord, what exactly happened to Madam?"

The imperial physician had come and also said there was nothing wrong.

But the Marquis had certainly seemed anxious at the time.

Could it be that, in his anxiety, he had bitten Madam and cured her with the bite?

"She was greedy."

As a man who had heard countless dirty jokes in the army, Gao Lan immediately thought of something unsuitable for children and didn't dare ask any more.

The story of Xu Weibei and Gu Wanning's "carriage passion" continued to circulate in the residence.

After spending a long time preparing herself mentally, Gu Wanning finally made peace with herself.

A strong woman...

...was bound to encounter difficulties and misunderstandings on the road to a career. This was nothing.

She should pay more attention to her corn, shouldn't she?

Mm, yes!

The Grand Princess seemed to have caught wind of something too, and had someone send Gu Wanning a pile of tonics.

Looking at the deer fetus paste on the list of tonics, Gu Wanning couldn't help thinking, What the hell is this!

Nanny Chu said respectfully, "The princess also said that she will hold a flower-viewing banquet at the Princess's Residence on the twenty-sixth day of the seventh month. You won't need to arrange anything. Her Highness simply wants to introduce you to some people."

A flower-viewing banquet?

Wasn't that just a matchmaking banquet?

This was basically what princesses loved to busy themselves with most as they got older.

The Grand Princess had never liked such lively gatherings before. Now, to give her a chance to make an appearance, she was actually joining in?

She would attend as the one in charge.

Did the Grand Princess think that she and Xu Weibei were "burning" with affection, and want to strike while the iron was hot, give her plenty of prestige, help Xu Weibei along, and make her "fall" for him sooner so they could get their hands on the Death-Exemption Gold Plaque?

Mm, that must be it.

Fine, then. How could I possibly refuse?

She would just have to be a good puppet and put on a false smile when the time came.

Gu Wanning had Er Ya summon Third Concubine and said to her, "I don't know anything about these. Take a look and keep whichever tonics are good for your health, then divide the rest among the others."

She felt she was in excellent health and enjoyed everything she ate. She didn't need this tonic or that.

It was people whose health had truly been depleted, like Third Concubine, who hadn't rested properly after her abortion, who needed them.

Third Concubine refused to take them.

Gu Wanning said, "Are you foolish? I told you to choose, so choose. It's your own health."

Third Concubine lowered her eyes, hiding how moved she was. "Thank you, Madam, but I truly don't mind being unable to bear children."

She had no intention of finding another man anyway.

"You may think that way now, but you might not think so in the future. Don't cut off your own escape route," Gu Wanning said. "A woman can choose not to have children, but if possible, she should retain the ability to bear them, so she'll have a choice later."

Don't force me to give birth, but don't deprive me of my reproductive rights either. That's a woman's freedom.

"Besides, have you truly let go or not? I don't care whether you have or haven't. It's foolish not to take proper care of your own health. I told you to choose, so choose."

Third Concubine could hardly refuse again. She thanked her and, with tears in her eyes, chose the deer fetus paste.