“It’s fine. If the incense runs out, we can always make more,” Xu Miaoyan said with a smile. “These days, we’ve been relying on the Second Master’s wife for our food, clothing, and shelter. It’s only right to return the favor.”
“Miss, you’re truly too kind!” Xiuqiu’s eyes sparkled. “Unlike that narrow-minded, jealous Lady Fang, who only knows how to use her children to threaten the Second Master and can’t stand to see you close to him.”
The South Sea Dew-Radiance Incense was something her young lady had spent seven days and seven nights blending. If Lady Fang saw the effects of those incense blocks, she would surely feel ashamed of herself.
“We’re in the Lu family now, so watch what you say,” Xu Miaoyan smoothed her hair. “Actually, I can understand her. What woman wouldn’t feel uncomfortable seeing her husband’s affections shift elsewhere?”
“But it was the Second Master who pursued you, Miss. If he hadn’t been so persistent, you wouldn’t have given him a second glance. Who told her she couldn’t keep her own man in check?” Xiuqiu went to the cabinet and took out an embroidered box. The moment she opened it, a crisp, cool fragrance dispersed the cloying sweetness that had filled the room earlier.
“You can’t blame her, really. After all, she’s getting older, and men are always drawn to the new and tired of the old.” Xu Miaoyan gently stirred the incense blocks in the box, a faint smile curling at the corner of her lips.
Lady Fang had actually aged quite well. Even after giving birth, her face hadn’t sagged, and her figure still looked shapely.
“What does it matter that she holds the title of wife? Miss, you’re the one with heavenly beauty and grace. The Second Master’s heart is entirely yours now!” Xiuqiu flattered with a grin.
Xu Miaoyan closed the lid and wiped her hands with a handkerchief. “Let’s go. We’re heading to Plum Blossom Pride.”
“Madam, the Second Master is here,” Cuishuang pulled Fang Qianxue, who was busy, aside. She held an embroidered box in her hand, as if afraid others might see it. “The Second Master also brought birthday gifts for the young master and young miss.”
Fang Qianxue glanced casually at the birthday gifts Lu Changqing had sent—a coat and shoes and socks bought from a street vendor. Not only were they crudely made, but the shoes were also an inch too small.
“Put them away. Let him sit by himself. I’m busy today and have no time to entertain him.”
For their first birthday, he gave jade pendants. For their second birthday, when no banquet was held, he gave writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones engraved with the children’s names—at least he’d put some thought into it.
But for their third birthday today, what he sent was laughable. Was he treating them like beggars?
“Yes.” Cuishuang quickly had a maid take the embroidered box inside, though she felt wronged on her mistress’s behalf.
She had asked Chenggong, the Second Master’s attendant, and learned that last night, the Second Master had sent sugar-roasted chestnuts to his wife, while he gave the one in Song Sheng Residence a gold filigree hairpin bestowed by the emperor.
His favoritism was blatantly obvious.
Lu Changqing sat down at the main table and saw that, indeed, there were few guests—only a few distant relatives of the Fang family who were still in the capital. He sneered inwardly.
This birthday banquet might as well not have been held. Its shabbiness was a joke to anyone who saw it.
“Vice Minister Yan has arrived!” a servant announced loudly outside the gate. Soon after, Yan Fenghua entered with a servant, heading toward Fang Qianxue to present his gift.
Everyone turned their eyes toward the courtyard gate.
“Vice Minister Yan? Is that Lord Yan from the Ministry of Justice?”
“I never thought our Fang family could still invite Lord Yan!” Those present were distant relatives of the Fang family, and even the elderly clan uncles among them held no official positions.
The women in attendance flushed with excitement, hurriedly adjusting their makeup.
Lu Changqing let out a disdainful snort.
Hmph. Fang Qianxue only had Yan Fenghua left as her trump card.
Yan Fenghua was indeed a fourth-rank official, but as the head of the penal department, he spent the entire year traveling around. Although Lu Changqing himself was only a sixth-rank compiler in the Hanlin Academy, he frequently had the opportunity to meet the emperor. In the future, if he filled his elder brother’s position as an inspector, he would become even more favored by the emperor.
Fortunes change with time, and it was hard to say how things would turn out in the future.
“Brother Yan!” Though inwardly disdainful, Lu Changqing still stepped forward to exchange pleasantries, glancing at the gifts Yan Fenghua had brought. “Thank you for your thoughtfulness in attending my son and daughter’s birthday banquet.”
To his surprise, Yan Fenghua had also brought hats, shoes, and socks as gifts. However, these were made of kesi silk and adorned with exquisite jade pendants, clearly priceless at first glance.
Lu Changqing felt displeased, thinking that Yan Fenghua’s gifts had instantly overshadowed his own. These were his children, so why should an outsider like Yan Fenghua give such extravagant gifts?
“My mother has always been fond of Yao’er and Yuan’er. These hats, shoes, and socks were made by the embroiderers in our household at her request,” Yan Fenghua explained with a smile. “She caught a cold the other day and couldn’t attend in person, so she instructed me to deliver these gifts.”
“Thank you for the elder madam’s thoughtfulness. Please take a seat, Lord Yan.” Fang Qianxue understood that he was trying to avoid gossip by using the Yan family’s elder madam as an excuse for such lavish gifts.
“Brother Yan, please.” Lu Changqing led Yan Fenghua to the main table, putting on a pained expression. “Qianxue loves extravagance. In my opinion, it would have been better not to hold this birthday banquet at all. Look at today’s scene… it’s truly embarrassing!”