There are still six days until the New Year, and at this time every family’s mansion is busy without a moment’s rest, each household sending New Year’s goods and preparing to clean for the New Year!

It’s generally unusual for anyone to host a banquet at this juncture; even if someone decides to do so, inviting people to dine, families without social standing typically send gifts rather than attend, or dispatch a trusted nanny or steward to visit and offer apologies.

However, the Ji Family Matron’s plum blossom banquet is different. The reason is that the Ji Family withdrew from public life for many years, leaving only two young sons in the capital to grow up near the Emperor. Later, they returned to the capital, and the family produced a civilian Princess, although the reputation of this Princess...

Yet despite this, there are still many who wish to associate with the Ji Family and cling to this mighty tree!

Particularly those who wish to advance further and become close ministers to the Emperor, each instruct their wives to establish good relations with the Ji Family’s matriarchs and especially to gain the favor of the family matron, and ultimately, to find opportunities to curry favor with the Princess!

"Husband, rest assured, isn’t this just a child? I’m quite adept at dealing with children!"

Marquis Ting Sheng’s wife, being pestered annoyingly by her own Marquis before leaving the house, glanced at him impatiently and said.

"Ah, madame! Don’t be impatient! You should think deeper about everything!

Just consider for our granddaughter Ah Ning, if she could become like Xie Pan’Er, winning the favor of Princess Chang Rongshun, it would provide an opportunity to approach His Majesty. That’s when the Shi Family’s chances will arrive!"

As a noble family, stagnant means falling behind. With no outstanding young men in the Shi Family’s younger generation, maintaining the family’s honor requires sending the granddaughter into the Palace!

"Understood! Don’t worry, I’ve already discussed this with the eldest daughter-in-law. We will take Ah Ning to this banquet, allowing her to seize opportunities to get close to Princess Chang Rongshun!"

Having said that, Marquis Ting Sheng’s wife stepped out the door!

Meanwhile, at the Prime Minister’s mansion, Prime Minister Song and his own wife were discussing this matter.

"Our daughter’s age is not small, and she doesn’t seem too enthusiastic about entering the Palace. Madame, perhaps this time you could probe the Ji Family Matron’s thoughts to see if we might connect Yingxue with one of the Ji Family’s sons?"

Upon hearing these words, Madame Song’s eyes widened in surprise.

She exclaimed, "The Prime Minister actually has thoughts of forming an alliance with the Ji Family?"

"There are still four unmarried children in the Ji Family, among them, we are unclear about the situations of the fourth and sixth, but the seventh and eighth have endless prospects!

Be it the Ji Family Seventh or the Ji Family Eighth, if there’s a possibility with our Yingxue, madame should strive to make it happen!"

"I never thought the Prime Minister held such high esteem for the two sons of the Ji Family!"

After saying this, Madame Song shook her head with a smile of disbelief, "The two sons of the Ji Family are indeed virtuous and talented, especially Ji Youze, destined to rank among the top three in the future. If Yingxue were to marry him, the Song Family would certainly gain substantial support, and the Prime Minister’s court affairs would proceed twice as smoothly!"

Madame Song spoke these words, promptly assuring the Prime Minister of her definite success in arranging this marriage alliance!"

Madame Song took her daughter and headed to the Ji Family.

The person most infuriated by the plum blossom banquet hosted by the Ji Family Matron was none other than the Duke’s Mansion and the Junior Minister of the Guanglu Temple from the Xie Family.

The Duke’s Mansion was vexed because the Duchess sought assistance at the Ji Family days ago, and not only was met with cold faces, she exchanged a few heated words with the third wife and returned home furious.

On this day, the plum blossom banquet, the Duchess naturally received an invitation. Though she originally didn’t want to attend, due to the fact that the day after returning from the Ji Family, the Emperor ordered Xiao Ning’Er’s release!

Whether or not the Ji Family had a hand in this, the Duchess of the Duke was uncertain! 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"My Lord, I don’t wish to go to the Ji Family to seek displeasure, why not have the eldest daughter-in-law go alone instead, shall we?"

The Duke’s eldest son got married early this summer, and the Duke’s heir’s wife is gentle and reserved, keeping closely to home; today, she’s particularly anxious about the banquet at the Ji Mansion.

"The eldest daughter-in-law is not skilled in socializing. If you don’t accompany her, and she unknowingly offends someone, it would be unfavorable. Moreover, the Marquis Ting Sheng’s household is personally bringing their heir’s wife and granddaughter, if you don’t attend, won’t it reflect lack of importance towards the Ji Mansion?"

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