s.h.i.+ Qingxue opened her eyes suddenly, and felt the breeze. In front of her was the rockery in the backyard of the s.h.i.+ Family, which was only visible in her dreams. She often came here to rest alone when she wasn't married yet.

Was it a dream again?

But this time it was so real. She actually felt the pain when she pressed her arm!

Was she reborn?

s.h.i.+ Qingxue was so surprised and then she saw Xia Mang hurry over, anxiously said, "Sixth Lady, why are you still here? Madam is going crazy looking for you?"

"What does my mother want me to do?" s.h.i.+ Qingxue didn't understand what was happening at this moment?

Xia Mang looked at s.h.i.+ Qingxue with doubt, and murmured in her mouth, "It is the 60th birthday of the princess royal. Of course madam wants you to go to the front to meet the guests!"

s.h.i.+ Qingxue was so shocked that she suddenly stood up from the stone. She went back to her grandmother's 60th birthday. The beginning of all things?

Did that also mean that she had a chance to save it all?

s.h.i.+ Qingxue quickly asked again, "What time is it now? Does it begin?"

"It is just past 10 o'clock." Xia Mang answered subconsciously, but then she found something wrong.

Why did the sixth lady in the family who were otherworldly care about the ch.o.r.es? Did the pig fly?

Lunch was usually served at noon in the s.h.i.+ Family. There were so many guests gathering today, and it might be served until 2 p.m.

It was not too late yet.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue was relieved, but she did not go to the banquet right away as Xia Mang hoped. Instead, she whispered something in Xia Mang's ear and drove her elsewhere.

Xia Mang was frightened by s.h.i.+ Qingxue's request, "Sixth Lady, what are you doing?"

s.h.i.+ Qingxue didn't have time to explain so much to Xia Mang, but only warned her, "Take Dong Shuang with you, and just do what I say."

s.h.i.+ Qingxue wanted to do it herself originally, but now she must rush to the front hall.

Fortunately, Xia Mang and Dong Shuang had been raised around her since young, and were loyal to her and very reliable.

After s.h.i.+ Qingxue made clear the vital thing, she walked to the backyard garden as quickly as her former life, where the 60th birthday banquet of the princess royal was set up.

The rules of propriety between men and women were not strict. Male and female guests were sitting on separate seats, but there was no barrier between them, and there was still communication between them.

When she arrived, the banquet was almost full.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue moved with elegant steps to Mo Shujun, the princess royal, and greeted her softly. Then she heard someone yelling in surprise, "Qingxue, you're finally here!"

The voice was so loud that it could be heard throughout the entire birthday party.

The boisterous party became quiet, and even the male guests looked towards here.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue couldn't help but felt a little embarra.s.sed, but seeing her close friend in the past Mo Yuzhen, the third princess, she was very happy.

Mo Yuzhen didn't feel embarra.s.sed at all. She came to pull her hand, and s.h.i.+ Qingxue was not mad anymore, but smiled to Yuzhen.

However, the woman in the pink dress seated aside could not see her being so calm, and took the lead in raising trouble, "It's grandmother's birthday, but Sixth Sister arrives so late. You are being really very pompous."

The one who was talking was exactly s.h.i.+ Baoyan, the fifth daughter in the s.h.i.+ Family. She was a concubine's daughter of Duke s.h.i.+, and Qingxue's elder sister.

This had happened in her former life. When she was young, s.h.i.+ Qingxue couldn't hold her breath and quarreled with her sister. Although she didn't lose, she had left a bad impression on everyone that she was wayward and bullying.

But this time, in the sights of everyone expecting a drama, s.h.i.+ Qingxue lowered her eyes slightly.

She whispered softly, "I had a bad fever these days and it didn't get any better. Grandmother had permitted me not to attend today. But it's Grandma's birthday, how can I be absent?

Fortunately, the elixir given by Grandma worked, and I was finally able to greet grandmother before the banquet began. And I hope that Grandma won't blame me for it!"

There were three levels of meaning in these words: First, s.h.i.+ Qingxue was seriously ill, and she could not have come here; second, she attributed the credit for her being able to come to Mo Shujun; and the last one showed that she was not late at all.

Although the words were still arrogant, no one could find any mistakes in them.

The princess royal was very happy when she heard that!

When Fifth Lady s.h.i.+ heard that, she was so angry that she grinded her teeth!

But no matter how angry and detested s.h.i.+ Baoyan was, she didn't have the courage to quarrel with s.h.i.+ Qingxue. Didn't she see Mo Shujun was so joyful with a smile on her face?

She also applauded, "No blame. I didn't blame you. I'm already happy that you can make it here! Come and have a seat!"

"Qingxue, sit here. Come to me!" As soon as s.h.i.+ Qingxue responded, Mo Yuzhen reached out and called s.h.i.+ Qingxue, as if she was afraid that she didn't hear it.

s.h.i.+ Qingxue knew clearly that her friend was always acting as if there was no one else present. She smiled helplessly, accepted the good advice and sat beside Mo Yuzhen.

Suddenly she drew much envy again.

Those girls below from the aristocratic families couldn't help thinking enviously: Mo Yuzhen was the most favored princess at present. Even the princes in the palace must give her precedence, and she wouldn't even give a glance at those n.o.ble girls from other aristocratic families. However, n.o.body knew what kind of enticing spell the sixth lady had put on Princess Yuzhen, that she was in such a daze.

Mo Yuzhen didn't know or care about the jealousy of those women, and was grabbing s.h.i.+ Qingxue and talking with great interest. The two of them had similar interests and could always share the same opinions.

It was just that Qingxue had something in mind today, so that even Mo Yuzhen talked for a long time, but Qingxue still was lack of interest.

She simply turned down her voice, and whispered to s.h.i.+ Qingxue, "Qingxue, do you know? Great-aunt is going to recruit a husband for your eldest sister this time?