Mo Xuetong didn’t plan to have a big birthday banquet. She was going to get people of General Manor and Mo Manor together for a meal. However, the news was somehow known by the Emperor. Emperor Zongwen especially gave a gift to her, leading to all big families to send gifts. It seemed that she had to hold a birthday banquet.
Although she was young and junior, as Consort Xuan, she could hold a big birthday banquet.
Early in the morning, Mo Xuetong got out of bed and dressed up.
“My Lady, two concubines and some people came over and said they wanted to greet you.” Mo Lan lifted the curtain and came in. She wore a peach-colored jacket today, which made her look extremely bright. Mo Xuetong had it made for her close maidservants by a clothing store.
It was Mo Xuetong’s birthday, and Feng Yuran was in a good mood. He ordered that everyone in the manor be given two taels of silver, so these concubines in the backyard also knew it. Normally, Mo Xuetong asked them not to greet her. Although she was clear that Feng Yuran didn’t care about them, Mo Xuetong still felt a little disgusting when she saw a lot of beauties of different kinds.
Out of sight, out of mind. Feng Yuran also ordered that they could not come over and disturb him. Even though they all in the backyard of King Xuan’s Manor, there were differences. Those concubines lived in the yard close to the back door, and there was a door between their yard and Mo Xuetong’s central yard.
Today was Mo Xuetong’s birthday, and she’d better not to make those women look bad. She simply nodded and took a few maidservants to sit in the central house.
He Yufen, Concubine Qin, and several concubines came in together, and bowed to Mo Xuetong. They all looked very well behaved. He Yufen was wearing a light crimson dress and a turmeric coat. She looked pretty, and her make-up was also delicate. She saluted while looking at the inner room.
Concubine Qin looked much more solemn, but she held an arrogant aura. After she sat on the small stool, her head was slightly raised, and her face was cold and a little arrogant. She thought that she held a higher status than Mo Xuetong. As she looked at Mo Xuetong sitting in the main position, there was a slight discomfort in her eyes.
“Happy birthday, My Lady. I sewed a pair of shoes here and sent them to My Lady. I wish you a long life.” He Yufen smiled and asked the accompanying maidservant to bring a pair of exquisite shoes. She took it up by herself and presented it in front of Mo Xuetong, as if she did not resent the fact that Mo Xuetong had not yet drunk her tea.
“Concubine He, you’re so polite. Then I’ll accept it. Thank you, Concubine He.” Mo Xuetong smiled slightly and asked Mo Lan to accept the shoes and ordered the maidservant to serve tea. Now that they had come specifically to congratulate her today, as Consort Xuan, she should be generous.
“This is?” Mo Xuetong’s watery eyes fell on a seemingly low-key concubine sitting at the end. The concubine had a pair of charming eyes. Seeing Mo Xuetong looking at her, she hurriedly gave another respectful salute. Looking at Mo Xuetong timidly, she replied, “I’m Concubine Xiang.”
“You’re Concubine Xiang!” Mo Xuetong looked up and down her, and then looked at her big robe before she gently said, “Sit down. You’re carrying High Highness’s child. Don’t stand too long!”
Her soft words had a devastating effect…
As soon as her words came out, everyone else’s face changed. Even Concubine Qin, who had always looked down upon others, couldn’t help but look pale. She looked at the low-key Concubine Xiang in amazement, and could not speak for a while. “Concubine Xiang is pregnant! How can Concubine Xiang get pregnant?”
“Concubine Xiang, when did you get pregnant? Why didn’t we know?”
“Yeah, how long have you been pregnant? How did you keep it so secret?”
“It’s not obvious. I didn’t know if Her Lady didn’t say it. Concubine Xiang, are you sure you are pregnant? Is it true?” After a short period of consternation, other concubines began to attack Concubine Xiang. There was no child in King Xuan’s Manor. The reason why this group of concubines had no position was that they had no children. They didn’t expect that Concubine Xiang had been secretly pregnant with King Xuan’s child. How could they not be jealous and hateful?
A few stared at Concubine Xiang’s belly and began to maliciously plan how to stop the child in her belly from being born.
“I, I didn’t know much about it. I thought I just had eaten too much. I didn’t expect to be pregnant. It’s just that yesterday I fell, and then found out that I was pregnant with His Highness’s child. I didn’t dare to hide it, so I reported it to His Highness.” Concubine Xiang seemed to be frightened by the others’ eyes. She shivered and lowered her head. “His Highness said that My Lady will deal with this matter, so I came to greet you with sisters early in the morning.”
Concubine Xiang looked like a docile person and was timid. As she looked at the other concubines’ burning eyes, her voice got smaller and smaller, almost like a mosquito’s sound. She was scared and covered her belly with her hands. Her eyes were full of tears, looking temptatious, but there were all women here.
No one was fascinated by her pitiful appearance; they only thought she was too pretentious and really like a vixen.
Feng Yuran had not called concubines to serve him since Mo Xuetong entered the manor, which meant that it happened previously. At that time, Concubine Xiang was really favored. She was given to Feng Yuran by the palace. After entering the mansion, she enjoyed a few days of pampering. In this case, the child should have been four to five months. She had concealed everyone for so long. Now she pushed all things to Mo Xuetong.
This Concubine Xiang didn’t seem simple.
Mo Xuetong had been observing Concubine Xiang, noticing her cowardly and timid, as if she was subjected to great grievances. Then she cast her timid eyes at the crowd, and she deliberately reached out and stroked her belly, as if to protect the child in the belly. But even so, her tenderness did not reach the bottom of her eyes. Besides, she peeked at Mo Xuetong’s complexion again and again.
It looked as if she wanted to see the look of jealousy and hate on her face.
But she was disappointed. Feng Yuran had told Mo Xuetong about it last night, and also told her all his plan.
A cold smile played on her lips. It looked like more than one person was trying to do something on her birthday banquet.
Well, she didn’t care whether it was auspicious or not. She could just treat it as a noisy banquet!
Since it was Consort Xuan’s birthday, and there was a banquet, the whole manor was busy. Servants who were shuttling were preparing for the banquet. As early as a few days ago, Feng Yuran had ordered people to decorate the garden because the banquet was held in the garden of King Xuan’s Manor.
In addition, there were some flowers and plants dotted around the banquet.
A few large pots of flowers were delivered to the back door today. The manservants carrying the flowers took people to the garden to set up. It was still early, and the guests had not come yet. Two manservants who did miscellaneous affairs were busy in the garden quickly. They must get things done before the guests came, so as not to offend them.
Seeing two manservants who were sweating profusely but still bent over their work, some maidservants smiled. Knowing they were in a hurry, no one disturbed them, and kept on preparing the banquet.
In the main yard, Mo Xuetong asked all the other concubines to go back, leaving only Concubine Qin and Concubine He, who had a position, as well as Concubine Xiang who had “just” found herself pregnant for four to five months. Mo Xuetong said she prepared to distribute servants and new rooms to her.
At this time, guests had come one after another. Mo Xuetong went to the parlor to greet them, leaving the three in the wing room.
Most of Mo Xuetong’s guests were young madams and ladies. Although she had a high statue, she was still young. Senior madams did not come, in case anyone said they were ashamed to curry favor with Consort Xuan. It was Mo Xuetong’s 14th birthday. She had not up to 15 years old, so it was not a big birthday.
The one from Fu General Manor was Mo Xuetong’s second aunt, Madam Qu, as well as her niece Yun Ya who lived in Fu General Manor for the time being. Madame Qu claimed that she took her here to meet the world. Mo Xuetong also smiled and asked her to sit down.
Xu Yan didn’t come, but her gift was here. She was now heavily pregnant, so it was really unsuitable for her to go out. Mo Xuetong had specially sent someone to Mo Manor to ask her not to come.
When Luo Mingzhu came, most of the guests had already arrived.
She wore a light red long dress with dim flower patterns, with a seven treasure hairpin of jade on her head. She looked good, and her cheeks looked rosier than before marriage. Obviously, she lived happily. All smiles, she stepped forward and said, “Cousin Tong, I came here specifically earlier to see what I can help you.”
“You don’t have to do anything now, but with Second Cousin’s presence, I won’t be in a hurry later. This is the first time I’ve entertained guests.” Mo Xuetong smiled slightly.
“You’ve come so late. You help her? It’s good if you don’t do a disservice. Look, you can have dinner in a while. It’s so punctual. Did you come when you smelled the food!” Madam Qu smiled and pointed at the sky outside, teasing Luo Mingzhu.
It was only then that Luo Mingzhu saw her mother sitting beside. She came over and said with a sweet smile, “Mother, I just say polite remarks to Cousin Tong.”
Although she had been married, she was still like a little girl in front of her mother. She said those words as she came over and took Madam Qu’s hand and shook it, just as innocent as before she was married.
The present madams and ladies all laughed.
Madam Qu couldn’t help but squeeze her nose and shook her head with a smile. “Look at you, you’re a grown-up, but you still say something like this. If your mother-in-law heard it, she might think we didn’t give you enough food. By the way, when did you become greedy? Why didn’t I know?”
“Aunt, Second Cousin is good at pretending. She always pretends that she cares nothing in front of you, but she doesn’t hold it in front of me anymore. The lotus cakes you gave me last time were all eaten by her,” Mo Xuetong said with a smile.
“You greedy cat.” Madam Qu smiled and scolded.
As mother and daughter and sisters were talking and laughing together, there was a look of sadness in Yun Ya’s eyes as she sat nearby. She pouted and timidly called, “Cousin Mingzhu.”
Just then Luo Mingzhu saw Yun Ya sitting aside. She blinked her eyes and didn’t recognize who she was.
“Mingzhu, come here. This is your Cousin Yun Ya, your aunt’s daughter. You played together when you’re kids,” Madam Qu introduced with a smile.
“Greetings, Cousin Mingzhu.” Yun Ya got up immediately, standing gracefully in front of Luo Mingzhu with a bow.
