Chapter 37: The Banquet Invitation

  As they came out of the Spring Hui Tang, Xu Mingjin stood by the road and waited for Xu Mingxuan to catch up. The two then walked together towards Xu Mingxuan's Songfengyuan.

  A little maid hastily caught up from behind, blocking Xu Mingjin's panting way: "Sixth Miss asks you to stay, the lady has a favor to ask."

  Xu Mingjin felt very strange, what did Mrs. Xu want to see her for at this time? She thought for a moment and instructed Xu Mama to escort Xu Mingxuan back to Songfengyuan, while she took Chun Xiang and Qiu Yun to Mrs. Xu's residence.

  This time, Xu Mingjin found that the courtyard of Mrs. Xu was called Yushan Courtyard. Xu Mingjin silently recited these three words several times in his heart, and didn't know whether the first word "Yu" had any connection with his mother Fan Yuqiao's "Yu". Or maybe it was just a coincidence? Xu Mingjin shook his head and suppressed the thoughts that had just emerged in his mind.

  Xu Mingjin didn't know that Xu Ruoyi had given the courtyard of his own main house this name, which indeed contained thoughts of nostalgia for her mother.

  Entering Mrs. Xu's bedroom, Xu Mingjin walked straight to the front of Mrs. Xu's bed without looking around: "Greetings to Mother, I don't know what Mother wants to entrust me with by calling me here?"

  Mrs. Xu nodded and said, "Sit down and talk."

  Xu Mingjin sat down on the chair beside him, only to find that all five of his sisters were there. Xu Mingjin hastily stood up again and paid respects to each of them one by one, but in his heart he was annoyed to death, every day having to make so many bows, it was really too boring.

  Several Miss Xus also stood up and exchanged greetings with Xu Mingjin. Only Xu Mingxia sat still, saying: "Sister, my hand is injured and it hurts a lot when I move. I won't exchange greetings with you, I hope you don't mind."

  Xu Mingjin didn't think much of it and calmly said, "Elder sister is being too serious, your injury is more important, how could younger sister blame you? But elder sister was fine, so how did she get hurt?"

  Xu Mingxia glanced at Mrs. Xu and then said: "It was just me being careless."

  Xu Mingjin didn't believe her words from the start, but she wisely stopped talking and didn't ask any more questions, just looking at Mrs. Xu instead.

  Xu Mingxia saw Xu Mingjin stop asking questions and let out a sigh of relief.

  Sisters chatted for a few sentences, then turned their attention to Mrs. Xue. Mrs. Xue saw everyone looking at her and said: "August 17th is the birthday of Princess Pingxi. Originally, Princess Pingxi had sent six invitations to our family, one of which was for Mother. However, Mother is pregnant and hasn't been feeling well lately, so she probably can't attend. Sixth Sister has just arrived from the countryside and hasn't been to such a grand occasion before, so it's fine if you go in her place! Go take a look at the excitement!"

  Madam Xu's words came out, and all the beauties in the house looked at Xu Mingjin with a smile.

  Xu Mingjin ignored everyone's ridicule, she raised her head and said to Mrs. Xu with difficulty: "Mother, how dare I take your invitation to attend the princess's birthday banquet? Why don't we do this instead, big sister takes your invitation, and I'll take big sister's invitation to go. This way, when others ask, I can say that big sister brought me here. Mother, what do you think?" Xu Mingjin was respectful in her demeanor, but Mrs. Xu looked at her like this and got angry. Can't this dead girl stop being so calm all the time?! Heaven knows how much she wants to rip off the real emotions hidden beneath her tranquil face.

  "You can think whatever you want." said Mrs. Xu lightly.

  "Here!" Xu Mingxia tossed over a note. Xu Mingjin caught it with both hands.

  "All right, you all go down, mother is tired." Madam XU said with her eyes closed.

  After leaving Mrs. Xu's house, Xu Mingjin finally had the chance to take a closer look at the notice, but found that it wasn't from Mrs. Xu or Xu Mingxia, but rather from Xu Mingfang's. Xu Mingjin was taken aback. She thought carefully for a moment, wondering if she had made a mistake since this notice was thrown away by Xu Mingxia. Xu Mingjin wanted to go back and ask for clarification, but thinking of Xu Mingxia's arrogant face, she hesitated.

  Xu Mingjin finally took Xu Mingfang's note and returned to Feicui Garden.

  August 17th is still three days away from now.

  Xu Mingjin had thought that Fourth Sister Xu Mingfang would discover her own post wasn't hers and come looking for her. But she hadn't expected Xu Mingfang's speed to be so fast, she had just returned to Feicui Garden, not even having finished a cup of tea, when Manzi came to report: Fourth Miss has arrived.

  Xu Mingjin hastily put down his teacup and went out to greet him.

  Miss Xu Si smiled brightly as she entered the Emerald Garden, sizing it up while continuously exclaiming in admiration: "Wow, your mother is really good to you, this courtyard is even better than Big Sister's." As soon as she saw Xu Mingjin hastily rushing out of the house to greet her, Xu Minfang's smile grew even thicker. However, her footsteps slowed down even more, and the maid by her side was very perceptive, seeing that she had slowed down, so she also walked slower.

  Xu Mingjin still hastened to welcome her, and by the time she arrived in front of Xu Mingfang, Xu Mingfang had only just entered the Jade Garden gate about ten feet away. Chun Xing followed behind Xu Mingjin and saw Xu Mingfang's behavior, feeling disgusted at heart. Who did she think she was, that their young mistress would come to the gate to welcome her? Besides the old lady and the master's wife, who else had this face? But Xu Mingfang just wanted to put on such an arrogant air, after all, she was just a concubine-born daughter, while their young mistress had already been recognized as the legitimate heir by the madam. How could she condescend to welcome this concubine-born daughter? Fourth Miss was also too full of herself! And their own young mistress was too easy-going and approachable, without any airs about her at all? In the future, wouldn't she be taken advantage of to death? Chun Xing couldn't help but start worrying on Xu Mingjin's behalf.

  Xu Mingfang was deliberately doing this. She wanted to see what kind of person the newly emerged, already legitimate, and instantly superior Sixth Miss was. If she was arrogant like her older sister, then Xu wouldn't pay much attention to her; but if she was reserved and hiding her true nature, then Xu would need to be on guard.

  Does that person in the mansion take a liking to Xu Mingjin? Obviously, she's just a country girl, but somehow she surpasses their beauty. Xu Mingfang warmly grasped Xu Mingjin's hand and said: "Oh my, how dare I trouble sister to personally welcome me, this is too much for me!" But her eyes flashed with a hint of jealousy - this Xu Mingjin is only twelve years old, yet already more outstanding than all her sisters, what will happen when she grows up?

  Xu Mingjin clearly saw the jealousy in Xu Mingfang's eyes. To be honest, she didn't understand what she was jealous of. She had grown up with her parents since childhood and had more than Xu Mingjin and Mingxuan combined. Was it necessary to be jealous of others here? Xu Mingjin originally didn't want to play any sisterly affectionate scenes with these illegitimate and legitimate misses from the Shangshu Mansion. It was all just for show.

  Xu Mingjin smiled and said: "Fourth sister is the first guest to come to my Emerald Garden, of course I have to go out to welcome her."

  Xu Mingfang's interest was piqued: "Hasn't Big Sister ever come? This courtyard was originally prepared for Big Sister by the mistress, although everyone tacitly understood. The courtyard took a year to build and cost Big Sister a lot of effort. Now that someone is finally living here, why doesn't she come take a look at her own handiwork? Even if she can't live here, it's still good to take a look."

  Xu Mingjin suppressed the discontent in his heart: "You clearly know that Eldest Sister has set her sights on this courtyard, and now she's been robbed of it. The owner of the courtyard isn't even herself, she must be furious to the point of vomiting blood. She can't even avoid it, how could she possibly come here? Are you trying to infuriate her to death? This thinking is really too despicable! Or are you trying to get me and Eldest Sister to fight, so that you can watch the commotion from behind? Xu Mingjin secretly became vigilant, it seems he needs to think of a way to placate Xu Mingxia. What if she's provoked by someone that day and comes to cause trouble with him?"

  Xu Ming's heart was racing as she spoke, "Mother can't take care of herself now, big sister must be by her side all the time. Although we sisters want to show our filial piety in front of mother, but madam needs quiet and can't be disturbed now, so I can only pray for mother's well-being in my heart and hope she gives birth to a dragon son safely soon. Big sister is completely devoted to mother, how would she have the energy to think about these trivial matters? Fourth sister is being too considerate."

  Xu Mingfang found that she couldn't refute Xu Mingjin's words, and instead was left speechless by her. She could only nod in agreement, not to mention the difficulty in her heart. The expression on her face was somewhat unnatural.

  Xu Mingjin pretended not to see Xu Mingfang's expression, still warmly holding her arm, and led her towards the inner courtyard.

  Back in the house, the two sat down and had tea.

  Xu Mingjin took a sip of tea, then ordered Chun Xiang to bring over the note. The maid beside Xu Mingfang stretched out her hand to receive it and handed it to Xu Mingfang. She opened it and smiled: "It's indeed from Sixth Sister. Eldest sister really didn't deceive me."

  Xu Mingjin knew why Xu Mingxia had deliberately handed him Xu Mingfang's post as soon as he heard her words. It turned out that she was using Xu Mingfang's mouth to express her own dissatisfaction. In fact, it was just a test of his tone, to see if he would return the Emerald Garden to her. If he knew what was good for him, he should take the initiative to find his father and give up the Emerald Garden. If not, haha, she would make him look good.

  Xu Mingjin wouldn't be afraid of her, because she knew that if she gave up the Emerald Garden, Xu Mingxia would become even more overbearing. As the saying goes, you retreat a step, the enemy advances a step, and if you retreat, you'll only end up retreating to the point where there's no way out, being forced into a dead-end situation. Therefore, Xu Mingjin was absolutely not going to back down! She smiled slightly and said, "I was just wondering, big sister clearly said that she would give me her own invitation." Xu Mingfang heard this and looked embarrassed on her face. As an illegitimate daughter, at such banquets, the difference between legitimate and illegitimate children was as great as heaven and earth, and the treatment was not a little different. Now that Xu Mingjin had become the legitimate daughter, how could she possibly hold onto the invitation of an illegitimate child? Xu Mingfang took out Xu Mingxia's invitation from her bosom and handed it to her maid Yinyin, who directly handed it over to Chun Xiang.

  Xu Mingjin took the note from Chun Xing's hand and glanced at Xu Mingfang with the corner of her eye, and indeed saw a reluctant expression on her face. She was amused in her heart, this Xu Mingfang really wanted to hold onto this note, even if others treated her as the legitimate daughter, would she dare to admit it herself? Xu Mingjin sighed and lowered his head to look at the note, only to find that the note was indeed from Xu Mingxia.

  Up until now, Xu Mingfang's story had been told and the tea had almost been finished. It was time to bid farewell to Xu Mingjin and leave. But Xu Mingfang didn't.