She thought for a moment, maintained a posture of an elder, offered a few words of encouragement, and prepared to serve tea to see off the guest.

Pei Lin appeared embarrassed, and quietly asked, "I’m going to settle my engagement soon, and I’m really anxious. Mother said the Yin Yuan Temple at Chuyun Mountain is very effective. Aunt, would you be willing to accompany me to seek a divination?"

Going to the Yin Yuan Temple?

Xie Wanqing was taken aback, quickly realizing that the Pei family didn’t have a large number of members, and in Pei Lin’s generation, she was the only girl without any sisters to accompany her for divination.

In fact, although by seniority she’s supposed to call Pei Yuxuan ’aunt’, their age difference was not significant. However, the relationship between the two branches was somewhat awkward; Pei Yuxuan was titled Commandery Princess from a young age, surrounded by Noble Ladies of the Royal Family, and had little patience for family conflicts, leaving her relationship with this niece rather distant.

Compared to Pei Yuxuan, Pei Lin seemed closer to Xie Wanqing, who had been married into the family for a year.

As for outside female friends, even if they were close, seeking a match at the temple is not something one would easily ask another unless they are discussing marriage.

Looking at the young, delicate woman before her, anxious and waiting to be married, Xie Wanqing slowly agreed.

Yin Yuan Temple wasn’t unfamiliar to her; she had been there herself and accompanied her cousin there as well. A couple of months ago, she even went there with Pei Yuxuan, so she knew the place well.

Although located near the outskirts of the Capital, it was not too far away. With the schedule properly arranged in the morning, they could return to the Capital by afternoon.

The day after agreeing to accompany Pei Lin to the Yin Yuan Temple, an unexpected invitation arrived from the palace.

It was delivered personally by the Chief Eunuch from Consort Xian’s palace, stating that Lady Xianfei was turning forty. In light of the turmoil at the borders and the drought suffering in the northeast, she didn’t wish for a grand celebration, only to invite family to the palace for a lively chat.

Of course, Xie Wanqing, as a direct niece, was included among the ’family’.

This sudden, unpredicted banquet was certainly no ordinary feast.

Holding the lavender gold-embossed invitation in hand, Xie Wanqing quietly murmured, "So it begins."

She wasn’t foolish; the current political situation was almost an open secret, with Lu Ziyuan suppressing all the Princes, including the Crown Prince.

Her aunt indeed couldn’t sit still and set her sights on her?

How could Xie Wanqing dare to attend the birthday banquet!

In her previous life, she died from the secret poison of the Western Regions, orchestrated by her aunt and cousin.

Who knows what treacherous schemes they still held, once relationships were severed...

Would she not be silently murdered again?

But now that an invitation was extended for her aunt’s birthday banquet, how could she easily refuse?

Chief Eunuch Li was standing by, making it impossible to feign illness at the last minute.

As the atmosphere grew tense, Pei Yuxuan stepped into the Xuanhua Courtyard.

She originally came to chat with her sister-in-law; seeing the scene unfold, she raised an eyebrow. After understanding the situation, while she couldn’t discern the full story, she noted Xie Wanqing’s reluctance to attend the banquet alone and said with a smile, "Well, I’m free today, so I’ll accompany my sister-in-law to the palace. I’m sure the lady won’t mind."

Being the Holy Emperor’s biological niece, pampered as much as any Princess, no one would dare disrespect her. Thus, Mr. Li could only smile and nod in agreement.

Seeing his nod, Pei Yuxuan brought along two Chief Maids who rarely accompanied her outside the residence.

They were old maids brought from the palace by the Eldest Princess, extremely shrewd and experienced.

One seemed to be an old acquaintance with Mr. Li, greeting him with a smile, which resulted in a forced grin from him.

The party entered the palace and arrived at Yanxiang Palace, only to find it cold and desolate inside.

Not a trace of the jubilance one would expect for the main occupant’s birthday party.

Moreover, although it was said to be a family banquet for her birthday, even inviting married nieces into the palace, none of the Xie family, including Mrs. Zheng, were present.

Only Consort Xian and the Crown Prince were there, and seeing Pei Yuxuan accompanying Xie Wanqing, their expressions froze.

Their gaze fell on the two maids in female official attire following Pei Yuxuan, causing their rigid expressions to momentarily twist.

Everyone knew that palace maids were precious, reserved for the highest ranks; these maids, seasoned in court intrigues with penetrating insight, made it risky to carry out any scheme in their presence... no matter how flawlessly executed, exposure was a possibility.

Such caution!