Du Yunluo couldn’t guess it right.

These people were all experts, their laughter, tears, anger, and curses were difficult to discern between real and fake.

In comparison, Princess An Ran, who couldn’t keep her mouth shut, was easier to figure out, at least her thoughts were laid out plainly.

Thinking of this, Du Yunluo instinctively glanced more at Princess An Ran.

Princess An Ran was chatting with Shi Lian’er, her lips curled in a seemingly cheerful manner. Noticing Du Yunluo’s gaze, she looked up and softly said something, which also made Shi Lian’er look over.

The gazes met across the air, Shi Lian’er covered her mouth with a smile, indescribably pleased and complacent.

Du Yunluo secretly chuckled, the saying "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" is really quite true.

Just because Du Yunluo didn’t like Shi Lian’er, Princess An Ran didn’t mind social status and happily conversed with her together, a treatment even Du Yunnuo didn’t have.

Huo Ruyi’s voice suddenly interjected, sneering, "The Lady just mentioned that all those who came today are sisters by blood or marriage. I understand most, but Duan Huayan is Tian Jing’s niece, right? And what about Miss Shi? Whose relative is she?"

Tian Jing’s face turned red, vaguely filled with irritation.

The relationship between the Tian Family and the Duan Family was something Tian Jing never liked to bring up.

She and Duan Huayan were about the same age, but a generation apart. If they were truly of the same generation, there would be nothing wrong with being affectionate as cousins, but unfortunately...

She, a nicely growing young girl, had a niece as old as she was. Whenever she thought about it, Tian Jing felt she suddenly aged more than a decade.

Both families were in officialdom, interaction was inevitable, but having distanced familial ties made things awkward for Tian Jing, and Duan Huayan wasn’t any better off. Knowing full well the situation, they politely addressed each other as Miss Tian and Miss Duan.

As for any cousin relations, to hell with them.

But Huo Ruyi just had to bluntly call it out.

Tian Jing’s bright eyes welled up with tears as she angrily glared at Huo Ruyi, deciding to employ a strategy to shift the focus: "Huayan, is Miss Shi your cousin?"

Duan Huayan, hearing the sarcastic tone, knew Tian Jing was upset.

She felt somewhat helpless and somewhat wronged.

Hierarchy wasn’t something she had instigated, and just because Tian Jing didn’t like it, didn’t mean Duan Huayan liked suddenly becoming a generation lower.

Duan Huayan bit her lower lip and said, "Miss Shi is not my family’s cousin. Miss Shi’s elder brother is also from Lishan Academy and has been staying at our home for a few days."

Tian Jing sneered.

Huo Ruyi was increasingly baffled, "It’s already the eighteenth of the twelfth lunar month! Someone is still temporarily staying at someone else’s mansion? That’s truly unexpected. If you hadn’t said anything, I would have thought it was due to marriage ties."

The twelfth and first lunar months were busy for every family, with many traditions.

If it weren’t for Mu Lianhui’s invitation at Wangmei Garden, which family’s young lady would come to a banquet in the twelfth month?

But Shi Lian’er was fine staying with the Duan Family at this time.

Duan Huayan looked rather embarrassedly at Shi Lian’er with a forced smile.

She realized she had thought too naively.

The Shi siblings had come to the Capital to buy New Year’s goods and by chance met Duan Guanqing, who was hospitable and invited them home for tea.

Mr. Duan, knowing it was his son’s schoolmate, took a look at his writings and quite liked them.

Duan Huayan and Shi Lian’er hit it off immediately. As she planned to attend the plum garden banquet, where she wasn’t familiar with the other guests, and with Tian Jing, who was never pleased with her, she invited Shi Lian’er to accompany her.

Everything seemed well thought out, but here, with just a few words from Huo Ruyi, she realized that letting someone stay in the twelfth lunar month was inappropriate, not only attracting criticism upon Shi Lian’er but also causing people to laugh at the Duan Family.

If she had known earlier, she would have listened to her mother and not have acted this way...

Duan Huayan was still regretting, choosing to ignore Huo Ruyi’s remarks, leaving Huo Ruyi to sulk, having landed a futile punch on a soft cushion.

Du Yunnuo leaned over and whispered to Du Yunluo, "Don’t worry, just keep an eye on her, and what trouble can she cause?"

Du Yunluo slowly nodded.

Mu Lianhui personally fetched snow water and set up a brazier in the Flower Hall to boil the water.

The aromatic Dragon and Phoenix Tea wafted, causing everyone to look forward to it involuntarily.

Mu Lianhui made excellent tea, it was said that during her time at Putuo Mountain, the Imperial Consort’s daily tea was brewed by Mu Lianhui herself.

Seeing Mu Lianhui focused, even those harboring grievances couldn’t bring themselves to argue, instead exchanging compliments about Mu Lianhui among themselves.

Mu Lianhui neither modest nor boastful simply mentioned the snow water was collected from the plum garden branches and explained the tea was granted by the palace. Once the tea was ready, she had the maid distribute it to everyone.

Du Yunluo sniffed and found it indeed not inferior to the cold plum outside.

After washing her hands, Mu Lianhui applied some fragrant ointment and smilingly asked Du Yunluo, "Yunluo, do you know how to brew tea?"

Du Yunluo was slightly stunned, gently tasting the tea, savoring its lingering fragrance, then raised her head, not fully committing her words, "Not as exquisite as the Lady’s skills."

"Well, you should practice more," Mu Lianhui walked over to Du Yunluo and lowered her voice, "Ah Shao loves tea. Practice and brew for him someday."

The voice was low, yet still not light enough, allowing everyone in the Flower Hall to hear.

Some feigned composure, some smiled kindly, and others coldly snorted.

Du Yunluo held the heated tea bowl.

Having been married to Mu Lianxiao, she was well-aware of her husband’s tastes and personality.

Mu Lianxiao wasn’t fond of tea.

He was straightforward, and if he returned from practice, he would gulp down the entire teapot in one go, and during leisure, he drank tea casually without caring about what tea or water was used.

Brewing snow water as a pretentious pastime was rare in a year, more a simple pleasure in their private moments than true enjoyment.

However, there were many joys to share, like chess or music, which suited Mu Lianxiao’s taste more than tea brewing.

Mu Lianhui was just baiting her.

Understanding this, Du Yunluo looked up at Mu Lianhui, who smiled warmly and gently.

Pretending? I can do it too.

She blinked with a mix of joy and shyness, "I know, thank you."

Mu Lianhui seemed quite satisfied with Du Yunluo’s reaction and sat down beside her, whispering closely, "Don’t be shy. Feel free to ask me anything. Look at Anuan, she knows everything about my second brother, his looks, likes, dislikes, all clear."

Du Yunluo lowered her gaze, "I haven’t thought about what to ask yet."

Mu Lianhui giggled, "I heard you met Ah Shao at Fa Yin Temple? I asked him, and he wouldn’t say a thing. Why don’t you tell me?"

Du Yunluo smiled faintly.

What happened at Fa Yin Temple, even if she didn’t speak, so many eyes wouldn’t keep it secret.

Du Yunluo gathered her thoughts, saying, "I was by the releasing pool, someone almost bumped me into the water, but the Princely Heir caught me, though I lost my balance and twisted my foot."

"Lost your balance? Didn’t Ah Shao catch you?" Mu Lianhui was puzzled.

"He did catch and then let go."

Mu Lianhui’s eyes shifted, "How can that be, truly turned into a blockhead from martial arts, not knowing how to cherish tenderness. Were you hurt badly?"

Du Yunluo lowered her eyelids, her lashes lightly trembling, speaking with an inexplicable shyness, yet no one noticed her eyes, clear and cold like a mirror, reflected a fleeting ice-cold light, "It hurt a lot, I was actually quite upset."