Springtime Farming: A Happy Wife At Home

Chapter 1395: Calling Her Fat

Editor: Henyee Translations

After Shao Yunduan and Qiao Xuan departed, the household responsibilities fell upon those remaining. They had to tend to the fields, particularly the potato crops.

Songshi, Lixia, and the others approached their tasks with confidence and determination.

With the arrival of the New Year, the usual round of social engagements began.

The Princess Consort of the East Palace extended an invitation to Qiao Xuan for a banquet.

These gatherings typically revolved around familial ties, one’s maternal family, and the husband’s official standing. Given Shao Yunduan’s established position in the capital and Qiao Xuan’s presence at the Crown Prince’s banquet during the Spring Festival, there was usually little concern about encountering troublemakers.

However, Qiao Xuan was quite reluctant to attend the East Palace banquet.

It wasn’t a social circle she could naturally fit into with her current status.

The attendees of the Princess Consort’s banquet were the cream of the crop among the capital’s nobility.

Yet, owing to their substantial contributions to the Crown Prince, Shao Yunduan and Qiao Xuan found themselves on the guest list.

The invitation from the East Palace couldn’t be declined.

Qiao Xuan insisted on taking Lixia along with her.

As expected, the Princess Consort’s guests comprised the prince’s concubines, the consort of the Prefecture Lord, ladies from prominent noble families, and more. None of them were individuals Qiao Xuan could afford to alienate.

The Fourth Princess Consort harbored a particularly unfavorable opinion of her. Upon seeing Qiao Xuan, she immediately wore a disapproving expression and cast cold glances in her direction. Her distaste was unmistakable, much to the amusement of those less refined or those pretending not to notice.

The Fourth Princess Consort’s evident dislike for Qiao Xuan made her the subject of gossip and speculation. Aside from the Princess Consort’s polite greeting, nobody paid her any mind. It was as though she were invisible and non-existent to the rest of the attendees.

Nonetheless, she had openly insulted the Fourth Princess Consort. While no one believed she held more status than the Fourth Princess Consort, they didn’t dare to provoke her.

Qiao Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

She paid no mind to their indifference. She had no interest in mingling with such individuals. It was far better to focus on her own affairs!

After a tiresome half-day, the event finally came to an end.

Farewells were exchanged with Princess Consort, and the guests began departing.

As she was leaving, the Fourth Princess Consort suddenly flashed a smile at Qiao Xuan. “Lord Shao, as the envoy who will be escorting the princess to her wedding, you’ll be departing shortly, won’t you?”

Qiao Xuan was taken aback but responded with a smile. “Yes, we’re setting off on the 8th of March, two months from now.”

“Madame Shao has quite a good memory!” The Fourth Princess Consort chuckled, raising her eyebrows, and added with a knowing smile, “Then you’ll have plenty of free time, and you can visit my residence!”

Qiao Xuan smiled and replied, “Fourth Princess Consort, if my schedule permits, I’ll certainly accept.”

The Fourth Princess Consort made a dismissive sound and departed.

She had extended an invitation, but she had also included a conditional clause. Who did she think she was? How arrogant!

Observing the discontent on her master’s face, Yun Cao recognized that Madame Shao had been slighted. She tried to offer some reassurance with a smile. “Princess Consort, there’s no need to stoop to the level of such a rude person. We belong to different social tiers, so naturally, our speech and behavior differ. I don’t mean to be impudent, but our maids are more disciplined than her!”

The Fourth Princess Consort laughed and cast a glance at Yun Cao. “You’re absolutely correct! I misspoke.”

She paused briefly, then spoke with an elegant smile, “Nonetheless, I simply don’t like her. What can I say?”