Shaoyao, who was carrying water inside, hastily walked up. “Miss, did you catch a cold?”
“It’s nothing.” After washing up, she picked up the bowl of hot porridge with both hands, and after drinking it all, she lazily returned to her bed.
When Shaoyao saw this, she couldn’t resist laughing. “This morning, Master and Madam both came over to take a look, but they left after seeing that you were sleeping. Madam said to go to the large courtyard for dinner tonight.”
Qiao Mu nodded.
Although it was already past lunchtime, she wasn’t too hungry after drinking a bowl of porridge, so she dismissed Shaoyao.
Even after taking an afternoon nap and drinking a bowl of sweet soup, the little fellow continued to laze about on the bed to read. When she looked up, she saw Shaoyao holding several invitations and walking in with a weird expression.
“What is it?”
“The madams of the Qin Family, the Mu Family, and the other large patrician families, as well as the several prince consorts, have sent you an invitation, inviting you to admire the plum blossoms, the bamboo, and the scenery…”
“Oh.” The little fellow flipped over a page with a twirl of her fingertip.
Just an “oh?” Shaoyao twitched her mouth. “Cough, this servant acted on my own and declined the invitation on your behalf. However, the eldest prince consort said that she would come tomorrow personally for a visit. I suppose that she insists on inviting you to the plum blossom banquet.”
“No time.” The little fellow didn’t even feel like lifting her head.
“Miss, what are you busy with these two days?” Shaoyao asked honestly. “Do you want this humble one to help you?”
“There’s nothing much to be busy with. Sleeping and reading, I guess. Too lazy to go out.” Setting down the book in her hands, Qiao Mu looked at the sunlight streaming in from outside the window. She squinted her bright eyes and flipped off the bed in an extremely good mood. “Come, let’s take a stroll through the garden.”
Shaoyao smiled brightly, and she said while following the little fellow out the door, “Miss, will you enter the palace on New Year’s Eve? According to convention, Her Majesty the Queen will summon the prince consorts and commandery princesses, as well as madams with mandates and patrician families’ daughters, to the palace so as to wrap dumplings for a mere formality.”
Of course, the young misses didn’t actually need to do the work, and they only went through the motions.
“Not going.” Darling Qiao rejected without thinking about it. “This year, I’m going nowhere, just staying at home to accompany my mom in seeing in the new year.”
Shaoyao sighed, saying with a smile, “Madam will be ecstatic.”
“Mhm, add dishes to everyone’s New Year’s Eve meal. Make sure to distribute more tasty goodies.”
“Alright!” Shaoyao responded happily.
On the day of New Year’s Eve, the madams and young misses were assembled together inside the queen’s Brilliant Sun Hall, their continuous happy laughter and cheerful voices filling up the space.
With the New Year’s festive atmosphere washing away some of her melancholy, Queen Zhao sat in the chief seat in great spirits, smiling at the crowd of noble ladies and misses.
Although they were supposedly wrapping dumplings, it was just as Shaoyao had said. They merely went through the motions as a formality. The madams and misses didn’t need to do anything, and it was the maidservants next to them who fiddled with the ready-made dumpling skins and dumpling filling from the kitchen.
“Noble Consort Zheng is here.” With this announcement, everyone set down the things they were holding, standing up to make their salutations.
With her personal royal maid Cailing supporting her, Noble Consort Zheng sauntered in slowly, appearing stately while dressed in a wide satin robe .
“Greetings to Noble Consort Zheng.” Everyone curtsied together.
Noble Consort Zheng stroked the hair by her temples and smiled. “Everyone be at ease.”
Afterwards, Noble Consort Zheng walked up to the queen with Cailing’s assistance. She gave a slight curtsy and said with a smile, “This noble consort greets Your Majesty the Queen. This noble consort’s body has been feeling a bit heavy these two days, thus waking up late. Please forgive me, Older Sister.”
The queen eyed her icily, her gaze seemingly sweeping across her flat belly, before curving her lips up in a sneer. “Since Younger Sister’s body feels heavy, there’s no need for so many formalities. Have a seat.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” After sitting down alluringly, Noble Consort Zheng’s gaze swept across the crowd and asked in feigned surprise, “Eh, where is the crown prince consort?”