The Grand Secretary has no heir? His concubine gives birth to triplets.

The Pei family began preparations last week for the old lady's fifty-eighth birthday.

Six tables were set up at Songheyuan, with red candles burning brightly and incense burning in the brazier, filling the room with a festive atmosphere.

Jiang Guo'er wore a newly changed blue-green vest, and her hair was neatly combed.

Following behind Granny Li, carrying a pot of warmed osmanthus wine, they waited on the outer perimeter.

There were quite a few people here today.

Most of the well-known officials and their families from the capital came.

Jiang Guo'er scanned the area and understood everything perfectly.

The old lady's birthday celebration was more about her granddaughter-in-law than the food itself.

Sure enough, the old lady smiled so broadly that her face was full of wrinkles.

He pulled one lady aside to ask about her daughter's birth date, and then pulled another lady aside to praise her daughter's beauty.

They kept saying things like, "Our Prime Minister has finally seen the light," and "That girl Suyue is so lucky."

Jiang Guo'er lowered her eyes, focusing on her nose and her heart, pretending to be a pillar.

"Lingyi, come here, sit next to your grandmother!"

The old lady's voice suddenly rose a few decibels, and the warmth in her tone was completely different from before.

Jiang Guo'er was startled and couldn't help but look in the direction of the sound.

A girl of about seventeen or eighteen years old rose from the table and walked gracefully to the old lady.

She wore a moon-white brocade jacket with gold trim, and a lake-blue horse-face skirt, exuding an elegant and dignified air.

She had an oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and a pair of almond-shaped eyes that held a scholarly air.

Xue Lingyi.

Jiang Guo'er unconsciously tightened her grip on the handle of the wine pot.

The eldest daughter of the Minister of Revenue, she went to Jiangnan with her maternal grandfather when she was ten years old, and has only now returned to the capital.

He was her closest and only confidant.

"Lingyi greets the Old Madam and wishes her good health, longevity, and all her wishes fulfilled."

Xue Lingyi performed a proper curtsy, her voice clear and melodious.

The old lady grabbed her hand, looked her up and down, and became more and more satisfied.

"Good child, you've grown up to be so beautiful! The land and water of Jiangnan truly nurture people."

"Come, try some of Grandma's homemade osmanthus wine. It's sweet and won't make you drunk!"

Granny Li immediately gave Jiang Guo'er a wink.

Jiang Guo'er took a deep breath and stepped forward with the wine pot in her hand.

She bent over, and stray hairs fell down from her temples, obscuring most of her face.

Her head was bowed very low, her chin almost touching her collarbone.

With a steady hand, the spout of the pot is aligned with the rim of the cup, and the osmanthus wine gushes into the white porcelain cup, golden and clear, with a rich aroma.

Not a drop was spilled.

Xue Lingyi picked up her wine glass and took a small sip.

"Delicious!"

Her almond-shaped eyes swept over Jiang Guo'er, and without lingering for even a moment, she turned back to speak with the old lady.

Jiang Guo'er took two steps back, her palms covered in cold sweat.

I didn't recognize him.

Yes, she has lost a lot of weight and her skin has darkened.

He was dressed in servants' clothes, his fingers were covered in calluses, and he didn't even have a hairpin in his hair.

She was completely different from the plump, jeweled young lady of a noble family she was at eight years old.

Besides, their last meeting was through letters.

Jiang Guo'er secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and as Li Mama approached, she whispered:

"Granny, my hands are shaking so badly, I'm afraid I'll spill the wine and offend the distinguished guests. Could I go and serve at one of the back tables?"

Granny Li glanced at her and saw that her face was indeed a little pale. She assumed that she was intimidated by the scene she was seeing for the first time, so she nodded.

"Go ahead, the fourth table is short-handed, go help them out."

Jiang Guo'er felt as if she had been granted a pardon and retreated to the outer perimeter while clutching the wine pot.

She didn't want to show her face in this kind of setting.

Every noble lady present here has the potential to become Pei Yan's principal wife in the future.

If someone remembers your face and later enters the house to find that your husband's concubine looks familiar, that would not be a good thing.

As she walked toward the fourth table, she caught a glimpse of Cuiping leading Suyue in through the side door.

Su Yue dressed up with extra care today, wearing a peach-red jacket and a red-gold hairpin given to her by the old lady.

Her face was powdered, and from a distance, she did look quite radiant.

Cuiping, holding her arm, smiled and moved closer to the old lady.

"Grandma, Suyue has come to kowtow and wish you a happy birthday."

The old lady beamed with joy upon seeing Suyue: "Good child, get up! Here's a reward!"

Jiang Guo'er watched this scene, and the corners of her mouth twitched slightly.

Cuiping really went to great lengths.

They flaunted Su Yue everywhere, as if afraid others wouldn't know that Prime Minister Pei had "taken the plunge."

Jiang Guo'er didn't think much of it and lowered her head to pour wine and serve dishes to the officials' wives at the fourth table, obediently acting as if she were invisible.

The banquet was filled with clinking glasses and constant laughter.

The old lady was in high spirits and drank three cups of osmanthus wine, her cheeks flushing red.

He held Xue Lingyi's hand and asked her all sorts of questions, from poetry and songs to needlework and cooking, becoming more and more satisfied with the questions.

Jiang Guo'er listened intently for a few moments.

Is the old lady taking a fancy to Lingyi?

The Xue family is of good standing, and Lingyi herself is both talented and beautiful, making her a suitable match for Pei Yan.

It's just that Lingyi has to suffer, having to marry an old man who's almost thirty.

But what if she really becomes the mistress of the house and recognizes me in the future?

Just then, Cuiping's voice rang out.

"Suyue, go and serve Miss Xue some dishes, including candied cucumbers."

"Eating a tender cucumber in winter has a unique flavor."

Su Yue responded, picked up the plate, walked to Xue Lingyi's side, and respectfully placed two slices of tender cucumber into her bowl.

Xue Lingyi nodded slightly.

When Su Yue returned, she passed by the tea table next to Jiang Guo'er, picked up a cup of tea that had already been poured, and drank it down.

Jiang Guo'er's eyes were fixed on Xue Lingyi at this moment, and she didn't pay any attention to the fact that Su Yue had just grabbed it because she was thirsty.

Su Yue put down her teacup, wiped her mouth, and returned to Cui Ping's side with a smile.

About an incense stick later.

Jiang Guo'er bent down to refill tea for the fourth table, and caught a glimpse of Su Yue out of the corner of her eye.

She stood behind the old lady, her expression somewhat off.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, one hand unconsciously pressed against his lower abdomen, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Jiang Guo'er glanced at it again, but didn't interfere.

Another half-cup of tea time passed.

Su Yue's complexion was getting worse and worse.

Her powdered cheeks turned sallow, and her lips lost their color.

She kept swallowing, as if something was blocking her throat, and the veins on her neck bulged when she swallowed.

Cuiping leaned over and whispered something. Suyue shook her head, forced a smile, and went to serve the dishes to the distinguished guests beside the old lady.

Jiang Guo'er frowned.

This girl's face is so pale, why is she still trying to hold on?

The thought had barely left his lips—

The plate in Su Yue's hand suddenly crashed to the ground with a loud bang.

All eyes turned to them.

Su Yue gripped her neck tightly with both hands, her eyes wide open, and her lips turned bluish-purple at a visible speed.

"Ugh—"

She let out a muffled whimper, as if something was blocking her airway.

Immediately afterwards, a stream of black blood oozed from the corner of her mouth.

It's not a flow, it's a surge.

Black blood flowed down his chin onto his peach-colored jacket, a shocking sight.

Su Yue rolled her eyes and fell straight backward.

boom.

His head hit the blue brick floor with a dull thud.

Her body twitched twice and then remained still.

The entire main hall was so quiet it was as if someone had choked it; you could hear the crackling of the burning candle wicks.

Then--

"ah--!"

A scream shattered the silence.

Then came the second and third tones.

Several timid noble ladies didn't even have time to push the chairs away; they grabbed their skirts and ran towards the door.

Someone knocked over the wine jug on the table.

Osmanthus wine was spilled all over the ground, mixed with the black blood flowing from Su Yue's mouth, winding into a strange underground river.