The polished carriage step rattled slightly as a sleek, embroidered silk slipper met the ground.

There was no escort accompanying the vehicle. The door was opened simply by a regular estate servant, and the Prime Minister’s wife, Madame Zi, stepped down entirely on her own. She looked noticeably weary, her face slightly pale, but her posture carried the quiet dignity expected of her rank.

Seeing her arrive alone, Xi Lanyin felt her heart skip a beat, a complex mixture of disappointment and lingering anxiety twisting in her chest. The Prime Minister’s son had not accompanied his mother.

Lin Meiyun and Xi Ronghua, however, exchanged a single, incredibly sharp look. The icy knot in the Duchess’s stomach tightened. The Prime Minister’s wife had come, exactly as the hidden context of Su Yueqing’s prior thoughts had implied.

Lin Meiyun immediately smoothed her expression, stepping forward with a flawless, radiant smile to greet her guest.

"Duchess Lin, please forgive my tardiness," Madame Zi offered an apologetic, slightly tired smile as she adjusted her shawl. "I know I had originally sent word indicating that I would not be able to attend today due to my poor health. But... at the very last minute, I ended up changing my mind. I felt it would be entirely improper to miss your gathering."

Lin Meiyun’s smile widened, her tone dripping with a warmth that was almost overwhelming. She took Madame Zi’s hand, completely disregarding the rigid formalities.

"Please, do not apologize at all!" Lin Meiyun said, her voice filled with an earnest, intense relief. "We are simply thankful that you are here. Truly, if you hadn’t showed up, this banquet wouldn’t have been the same at all."

The sheer weight and intensity of those words caught Madame Zi completely off guard. The Prime Minister’s wife blinked in genuine shock, looking at the Duchess with a bewildered expression.

"Duchess, you praise me far too highly," Madame Zi replied, a bit flustered. "If my absence was going to cause such a disruption, why didn’t you simply invite someone else of high standing to take my place at the principal table?"

Xi Ronghua, standing right beside them, let out a soft, sharp breath, her eyes locked onto Madame Zi’s face.

Lin Meiyun didn’t hesitate for a single second. Her grip on Madame Zi’s hand remained firm, her voice steady and resolute.

"No one can take your place," the Duchess stated flatly, her eyes filled with a deep, hidden meaning that Madame Zi couldn’t possibly decode. "If you hadn’t showed up today, that chair would have remained entirely empty. I am not sure there is anyone else in this capital who can take your specific place in the heart of the Xi family."

Hearing such profound, absolute praise from the formidable Matriarch of the Grand Duke’s estate, Madame Zi’s initial shock instantly melted away. A flush of deep pride and delight colored her pale cheeks, and she let out a soft, immensely pleased laugh.

"To think the Xi family holds this old body in such high regard," Madame Zi said, thoroughly delighted and touched by the extraordinary reception. "Your words truly honor me, Duchess."

As Lin Meiyun guided the delighted Madame Zi toward the main pavilion, Xi Lanyin stood frozen a few steps behind them. Her fingers trembled violently within her sleeves, the color completely draining from her face.

The prediction had held true down to the very choice of words. Madame Zi *had* changed her mind at the last minute.

Beside her, Xi Ronghua’s expression turned utterly icy as she watched the Prime Minister’s wife walk ahead. If Su Yueqing’s casual timeline about this woman’s arrival was entirely flawless... then the dark, sickening secrets regarding the baron’s son and his evil plans for Xi Lanyin were real.

....

Back in the primary bedroom of the Northern Courtyard, the frantic energy of the main estate felt a world away.

Su Yueqing was currently lying face down on her plush daybed, completely buried under a mountain of premium silk pillows. Two younger maids were kneeling on either side of her, carefully kneading the tension out of her shoulders and lower back.

[Oh, yes. Right there. Harder on the left shoulder,]

Su Yueqing melted into the mattress, letting out a blissful sigh.

[I swear, being a villainess in a historical drama has some massive structural flaws, but the luxury labor benefits are absolutely unmatched. I could stay right here until the next century.]

The peaceful atmosphere shattered when her personal maid hurried into the room, bowing quickly.

"Young Madam, the guests have all arrived at the front gates, and the ladies’ banquet is officially about to begin! The Duchess has sent word that we must begin getting you ready immediately."

Su Yueqing didn’t even lift her head from the pillow. She merely groaned, pulling a blanket tighter over her shoulders.

"Tell them I can’t make it," Su Yueqing mumbled, her voice muffled by the silk fabric. "I have suddenly struck down with a tragic, life-threatening illness. It’s highly contagious. If I step foot in that garden, I might collapse and ruin the festive mood. For the safety of the empire, I must remain in this bed."

"Cousin-in-law, if you are truly that ill, perhaps we should summon Physician Zhao back to check your pulse?"

The crisp, clear voice cut through the room as the heavy wooden doors were pushed open. Gu Yue walked in, her posture upright and her expression carrying a strange, intense look of determination. Behind her marched a small army of senior maids, carefully carrying a spectacular, brand-new set of robes made of the finest plum-colored silk, heavily embroidered with silver threads.

Su Yueqing rolled over, blinking sleepily at her young cousin-in-law.

Gu Yue stepped closer to the daybed, gesturing to the magnificent outfit. "This lady’s banquet is incredibly important. After all, this is your very first official social gathering since your marriage to my cousin. If you are absent, the entire capital will whisper about the Xi family’s internal affairs. You absolutely cannot miss it."

Before Su Yueqing could even open her mouth to argue, find a better excuse, or start complaining in her head, Gu Yue turned swiftly to the surrounding servants and raised her hand.

"Get the Young Madam ready," Gu Yue instructed firmly. "Bathe her, do her hair, and ensure she is dressed in these robes before the main tea ceremony begins."

"Yes, Lady Gu!" the maids chorused.

Su Yueqing was hoisted off the bed by four strong pairs of arms before she could even utter a single protest.

[System! I am going to sue this entire household for labor exploitation!]

Su Yueqing screamed furiously in her own mind, keeping her face entirely blank on the outside as a warm, damp towel was pressed against her cheeks.

[I literally just spent the entire morning learning weird servant names,, what else do they want from me? Where is my vacation time? Where is my administrative leave?! Why am I being dragged out to do corporate networking with forty ancient noblewomen?!] 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

[Ding! Script Warning: The ’Ladies’ Banquet’ is a mandatory narrative node. Please maintain your character’s presence to avoid a timeline collapse.]

[Fine!]

Su Yueqing grumbled bitterly in her head, glaring silently at the ceiling while three different maids began aggressively brushing out her hair.

[I’ll go. But I am going to sit in the absolute back, I am going to eat every single free pastry on the table, and I am not talking to a single soul. They can all just ignore me like they usually do.]