A wicked mother swaps her son and sucks his blood? The true legitimate daughter is reborn and goes o

The next day at noon, Lady Liu took Song Qingyan to a banquet at Prince Yu's residence.

Soon after, Song Qingning also went out.

Song Qingyan was dressed to the nines today. She wore a blue pleated Ruyi skirt and a headdress inlaid with sapphires and jade, which she believed would make her outshine all the other beauties.

As expected, its appearance immediately attracted the attention of countless people.

"Qingyan, your jewelry is so beautiful, it looks like something from the palace. Did you receive it as a gift from some noble person?" The girls gathered around, admiring and looking at you with envy.

The three people who were on good terms with each other were all from the Earl's family.

Only Song Qingyan, born into a marquis's family, held the highest status, and the three of them followed her lead.

"Don't make a fuss about it." Song Qingyan said ambiguously.

She didn't say it was a gift from the Emperor to Song Qingning, deliberately causing people to misunderstand.

The three praised Song Qingyan for her humility.

Speaking of today's birthday banquet for Princess Yu.

"It is said that they are looking for a husband for the heir apparent. All the noble ladies in the capital have come. I wonder who will be chosen."

They all desperately wanted to be chosen, but their humble origins meant they had no chance.

Song Qingyan, however, has hope.

pity……

One of them sighed with regret, "Qingyan is outstanding in appearance, well-mannered and talented, and her maternal grandfather is the great Confucian scholar, Grand Tutor Lu. It's just a pity that she is already engaged to the Jiang family."

Song Qingyan felt a sharp pang in her heart, and she lowered her head in grievance.

"It's just an engagement. If Jiang Sheng can bring happiness to my cousin, I'm willing to let them be together."

The three were shocked and furious. "You mean... Song Qingning and Jiang Sheng?! Song Qingning stole your fiancé?"

"Don't talk about her like that, she's my cousin." Song Qingyan sighed softly.

The three men felt sorry for Song Qingyan and were filled with righteous indignation. "You still care about her because she's your cousin! Qingyan, you're just too kind. You're the legitimate daughter of a marquis!"

Song Qingning was the daughter of a concubine's second wife.

The three of them had always disliked the concubine's daughter in the family because of her lowly status, but they always wanted to compete with the legitimate daughter.

"She's just jealous of you, that's why she stole your fiancé."

"An illegitimate child is an illegitimate child; the root of the problem is bad. Jiang Sheng isn't a good person either."

"It's alright, Qingyan. There are many talented young men today, and many better than Jiang Sheng. You might just find your perfect match!"

The three comforted Song Qingyan.

This is exactly what Song Qingyan wanted.

She would not marry Jiang Sheng, nor would she be interested in anyone else; her target was Xie Yunli, the heir of the Prince Yu's mansion.

She was confident that she could win over the Princess Consort of Yu.

She became even more confident that her appearance could attract the prince's favor.

The pavilion in the Prince's Mansion.

With a wide view, it offers a complete view of the Prince's mansion's backyard.

The garden was filled with noble ladies.

"Which one of these people is Song Qingning?" Xie Yunli looked at each of the noble ladies one by one.

Each one was vying for attention, their intentions written all over their faces.

Especially the one wearing a blue pleated skirt, with that headdress pressing down on her head, she looked like a peacock.

She sometimes felt wronged, and sometimes sighed helplessly.

He didn't seem genuinely aggrieved or sighing; rather, he appeared to be deliberately trying to influence the noble ladies around him.

Hypocritical, pretentious, and scheming, she's nauseating.

If Song Qingning was one of them... Xie Yunli frowned in disgust; he regretted it.

His mother wanted to find a match for him during his birthday banquet. He originally planned to go out and hide, but he risked staying here to see Song Qingning.

"Fourth Brother, I think I'd better leave quickly." Xie Yunli pulled Xie Xuanjin along. "Come with me."

Xie Xuanjin caught a glimpse of someone walking in through the curtain out of the corner of his eye and thought to himself: It's too late.

Before Xie Yunli could take a step out, a voice came from outside the curtain:

"Where are you going?"

Princess Yu led a group of servants.

She was dressed in luxurious clothes, and despite being in her forties, she exuded elegance.

Xie Yunli: "..."

It's over, we can't leave!

"Nowhere to go. The attic is too stuffy. I'll ask Fourth Brother to go to the garden for some fresh air." Xie Yunli's handsome face instantly lit up with a smile.

Not forgetting to plead for help from Xie Xuanjin, she asked, "Right, Fourth...Brother?"

Xie Xuanjin did not respond.

After exchanging greetings with Princess Consort Yu, they continued drinking tea.

Six years ago, Xie Xuanjin was a bright and cheerful young man. However, after his elder brother, the Crown Prince, died suddenly, he was resented by his birth mother, Empress Meng, and was banished from the capital.

After returning to the capital, he wielded great power, but became cold and taciturn, keeping strangers at bay.

Princess Consort Yu knew the inside story of that incident back then.

She could only feel sorry for Xie Xuanjin. "Ah Jin, you and Yun'er are the same age. You should have married long ago. Today, I have invited all the noble ladies in the capital. Just tell your aunt who you like."

Marriage should be decided by the parents.

Among the Emperor's sons, the Second Prince and the eldest daughter of the Liang family have set a wedding date, and the Sixth Prince is also considering marriage.

Xie Xuanjin returned to the capital a year ago. The emperor was wary of him, the empress resented him, and no one planned his marriage.

Xie Xuanjin understood Princess Yu's good intentions, and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Auntie."

He had never considered getting married.

Princess Yu was determined to find a match for the two of them today, no matter what.

Without a word, he ordered, "No one is allowed to leave Prince Yu's residence today. Later, when the ladies are having tea and refreshments, you all stay behind the curtain and make your selections carefully!"

Afternoon tea is served with men and women seated separately.

Princess Consort Yu was seated in the women's section. Behind her, behind a curtain, lay a hidden world.

The ladies and noblewomen took the opportunity to present their birthday gifts.

When each noble lady presented a gift, a maidservant would enter and exit through the curtained area, then whisper in the ear of Princess Yu.

After a few times, Song Qingyan figured out the trick.

Crown Prince Xie Yunli was behind the curtain!

Song Qingyan's heart was pounding wildly.

When it was her turn, she stepped forward with an elegant demeanor and saw the satisfaction in Princess Yu's eyes, knowing that she had succeeded halfway!

"This humble woman, Qingyan, greets Your Highness." Song Qingyan bowed.

Xie Yunli, behind the curtain, frowned when he saw the figure. "She looks like a peacock, all pretentious. Such a scheming woman, if I marry her, the household will surely be in turmoil."

"..."

A maidservant stepped out from behind the curtain and whispered the words in the ear of the Princess Consort of Yu.

After Song Qingyan finished her greetings, she noticed that the Princess Consort of Yu's face had turned cold.

"Your Highness, I...I...I wish you well..." Song Qingyan's words of congratulations were crushed into pieces by the sudden panic in her heart.

Xie Yunli, inside the curtained curtain: "Heh, still a stutterer, what a pity."

The maid relayed the message to the Princess Consort of Yu.

Princess Consort of Yu: "..."

She knew Xie Yunli was deliberately picking a fight, but she had to admit that the girl in front of her was dressed too formally.

Princess Yu immediately recognized that the headdress she was wearing was from the palace.

The second daughter of the Yongning Marquis's family returned victorious from the battle and received a reward. In the blink of an eye, the reward was given to the eldest daughter of the main branch.

Princess Consort Yu smiled dismissively.

Lady Liu immediately stepped in to save the day, saying, "Your Highness, the Princess Consort, is so noble and awe-inspiring that Yan'er is speechless with admiration. Your Highness, Yan'er often speaks of Your Highness's demeanor to me, and I admire you to the extreme."

"Thank you for your kindness, please have a seat." Princess Consort Yu glanced at Lady Liu.

Lady Liu was not originally qualified to appear at social gatherings for ladies.

However, Madam Lu, the mistress of the Yongning Marquis's mansion, was in poor health and unable to manage the household, and was also unable to handle the mansion's external affairs.

These matters fell to Liu, the second wife born out of wedlock.

A year ago, Lady Liu became a "First-Rank Imperial Lady" because of her daughter's military achievements. After that, she interacted with various families more frequently and even went to the palace several times.

Princess Yu disliked her, not because of whether she was a legitimate or illegitimate child, but because she always felt that Liu's temperament was strange.

Liu and Song Qingyan awkwardly returned to their seats.

Afterwards, when other ladies brought gifts, Song Qingyan ignored them all.

Her face flushed red, unable to understand why the Princess Consort of Yu had suddenly turned cold.

"I heard that Your Highness likes Mingyue Xian's paintings. I recently acquired one and brought it with me today as a gift for Your Highness." Someone presented a congratulatory gift.

"Really?" Princess Consort Yu asked in surprise. "Quick, let me see it."

Princess Yu's fondness for Mingyue Xian's paintings was influenced by Xie Yunli.

Inside the curtained tent, Xie Yunli heard the words "Mingyue Xian" and excitedly stood up, wishing he could immediately step out of the tent.

"This...is truly a masterpiece by Master Mingyue Xian." Princess Yu was delighted with it.

Lady Liu was at a loss as to how to remedy the situation given the coldness shown by the Princess Consort of Yu towards Song Qingyan.

Seeing this, I immediately felt that even God was helping Yan'er.

"Your Highness, Yan'er also loves Mingyue Xian's paintings and has collected several. If Your Highness likes them, Yan'er will send them to Your Highness for appreciation another day."

Everyone looked at Liu Shi and Song Qingyan in shock.