For the Longevity Celebration, Emperor Deyuan's forty-ninth birthday, all civil and military officials enjoyed three days off.
Early that morning, the Elder Branch of the Jinyang Marquis's Residence bustled with activity. Its principal family members dressed in brand-new finery, ready to enter the palace and offer birthday congratulations.
Something as trivial as the Longevity Celebration wasn't worth making Jian Ruonan get up early.
When it was time to leave, Chen Pozi rolled up her quilt and carried her into the carriage, bedding and all, as though she were entering the palace to attend the emperor in bed rather than celebrate his birthday.
With so many carriages heading into the palace today, there would inevitably be traffic jams and queues. Officials would enter first, followed by their families. Jian Ruonan planned to go in with the family members and sit at their tables for the banquet, too.
She had feasted on almost all the gossip about the civil and military officials already. With so many officials' wives gathered today, who knew how much fresh gossip there would be?
As a first-rank Marquise, Old Madam also had to enter the palace. Early that morning, she received a visiting card from the wife of the Prince of the Southwest's second son.
The card said that Shang Er's wife was visiting Capital City for the first time and was unfamiliar with the place, so she hoped to accompany Old Madam into the palace.
Madam Shi trembled all over upon receiving it.
The scene of the Heir of the Prince of the Southwest's wife inviting her over was still vivid in her mind. Old Madam felt that if Shang Er's wife ran into Fifth Miss, she might drop dead that very day. Offending her was better than the alternative. She immediately sent a reply declining