After flirting with the aloof prince, the concubine ran away pregnant.

She tried on the light blue one first.

The fabric is extremely soft, sliding down like water when it touches the body. The cut is just right, with no complicated patterns on the neckline and cuffs, relying solely on the tailoring to create the silhouette.

Afu stood in front of the bronze mirror and turned around, even she was stunned for a moment. This dress showed off her figure, which she usually hid in her loose maid's clothes. Her shoulders were straight and her waist was extremely thin. She looked tall and neat.

Bai Zhi stood beside her, her eyes wide with admiration: "Sister, you look better in this than any of the noble ladies in the manor!"

Ning Su leaned against the table, looked her up and down, and nodded: "Even a fairy princess couldn't compare."

Afu tried on the pale yellow dress again, with a matching dark gardenia pattern embroidered on the neckline, which made her skin look a bit brighter than usual.

Bai Zhi circled around watching, and if she weren't afraid of wrinkling the clothes, she would have wanted to touch them.

However, the light blue fabric of those two outfits was too soft and clingy, making them feel a bit tight around the curves of her chest.

Afu looked down, somewhat troubled, and whispered to Ning Su Niangzi, "Could the waistlines of these two blue outfits be loosened a bit more? Right now..."

She paused for a moment, then said, "It's too eye-catching."

Ning Su Niangzi chuckled, looked her up and down, and said with a knowing tone, "Such fine material, such a beautiful figure, yet you insist on hiding it."

She took the clothes without saying much, "Okay, I'll take them back and alter them, then bring them to you tomorrow."

Afu thanked her and asked Baizhi to see Ning Su out.

Bai Zhi carried the lantern and escorted Ning Su Niangzi to the entrance of Shi An Courtyard. Just as they turned the corner of the moon gate, they encountered Tao Yao leading Xiao Mei from the direction of Luo Qi Yuan.

Tao Yao noticed the bundles in Ning Su's hands, her gaze lingering on the fabric for a moment: "Where did these come from?"

Ning Su Niangzi said, "The young master instructed that several sets of clothes be made for Miss Afu."

Tao Yao reached out and touched the fabric, then withdrew her hand immediately. It was a fine piece of cloud brocade, the color of a newly emerging moon shadow blue from Jiangnan. Only the young ladies and wives in the manor were entitled to use this kind of fabric; she herself did not have any.

Tao Yao didn't speak, but the smile on her face faded.

Bai Zhi stood to the side and gently tugged at Ning Su Niangzi's sleeve.

Ning Su Niangzi understood and curtsied to Tao Yao, saying, "Please take care, Miss. We'll take our leave now."

She carried her bundle and walked quickly away, and Bai Zhi followed with her head down.

Tao Yao stood there, watching Ning Su Niangzi's figure disappear at the end of the corridor, her fingers slowly tightening around the handkerchief.

After a while, she turned and walked back, her steps quickening slightly as she had come, and asked, "What did my mother do today?"

Xiao Mei followed behind: "Granny Wen went out shopping with Madam Hou today to prepare for the banquet for the eldest young lady's return to the mansion. She won't be back until tonight."

Tao Yao paused for a moment: "Young Miss... Xie Yun is coming back?"

Xiao Mei nodded: "Madam Hou said that the eldest daughter is returning to the manor for a few days, and a banquet has been prepared."

Tao Yao stood there for a while, her face looking rather grim, as if she had remembered something unpleasant.

But she quickly curved her lips into a smile, a cold glint in her eyes: "My mother is coming back tonight. Have her come to my room; I have something to discuss with her."

Xiaomei responded.

.

After Bai Zhi returned from seeing Ning Su off, she told A Fu everything that had happened. At the end, she muttered softly, "Miss Tao Yao touched that fabric, and her face looked very pale."

Afu pressed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. She looked up at the pale yellow dress hanging there and felt only endless trouble in the inner quarters of the Marquis's mansion.

"Sister, I just heard on my way back that the eldest daughter will be arriving at the manor the day after tomorrow, and her husband has been promoted and will be staying in the capital from now on."

As Bai Zhi tidied up, she said, "The manor is holding a family banquet, and I heard they're going to hire an opera troupe."

Afu said "Oh" and helped tidy up, not paying much attention.

The family banquet at the Marquis's residence had nothing to do with her, a concubine.

To everyone's surprise, Granny Wen arrived just two days later.

She wore a dark brown vest, and a maid followed behind her, carrying a mahogany box.

At that time, Afu had changed her clothes and was sitting at the table.

"Miss Afu." Granny Wen stood at the door, her face serene and kind.

Although Xie Xun's wet nurse was in charge of all the internal affairs of Shi'an Courtyard, she rarely showed her face. She only set rules for those below her and was very good at managing people and affairs.

She got straight to the point: "The eldest daughter is returning home, and the manor is going to hold a family banquet to welcome her back." She paused, "The dessert you made for the young master was very well received by him. He said it had a novel and ingenious flavor."

Afu didn't show it on her face, "It's just some rudimentary skills."

"The eldest daughter and the young master are siblings from the same mother, and their tastes are similar," Granny Wen continued, speaking at a leisurely pace. "The madam has spoken, saying that the desserts for the family banquet should be served from our small kitchen. This is a token of the young master's affection for his sister, and it also shows the thoughtfulness of our Shi'an Courtyard."

"This is no easy task," Afu replied unhurriedly. "You flatter me, Madam. It's just a simple country snack. I've already given the recipe to the kitchen."

Granny Wen changed the subject: "Madam specifically asked you to handle this matter."

Afu curled her fingers slightly. "I am not qualified enough to be competent."

"I know you're not fully recovered yet," Granny Wen interrupted her, sighing with a hint of kindness in her voice. "But this is what the Madam personally instructed, and the Young Master has also given his approval. I can't refuse."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of things in the kitchen. They'll prepare all the ingredients you need. You just need to be in charge and give them a heads-up."

She patted Afu's hand, a little hard, "It's rare for the eldest young lady to come back. If these desserts are made well, you can show off in front of the madam. It will be respectable for both you and the young master."

Granny Wen's words completely blocked any way out.

On the day the eldest daughter returned to her parents' home, the weather was perfect, clear as blue silk after being washed.

The main hall of Cixi Courtyard was bustling with activity early in the morning. Maids were carrying tea, fruit, and snacks in and out. The flowerpots under the corridor had been replaced with newly blooming peonies. The Lady of the Marquis, wearing a crimson jacket, sat upright at the head of the table, her smile more genuine than usual.

Afu got up very early.

The ingredients for the plum sorbet were prepared in the early morning, but she was still worried, so she went to the small kitchen again at Chenshi (7-9 AM) to check on it.

The milk was freshly made, and the preserved plums were of the highest quality, with even the pits removed. The crushed ice was chilled in an ice jar, and the glutinous rice flour was sifted three times.

She timed it perfectly, made two cups herself, tasted them, and only after she was satisfied with the flavors did she have Bai Zhi oversee the plating.

Just as the two cups were being prepared, Granny Wen sent someone to say that Songxuelou had delivered hibiscus mille-feuille pastries, and that Afu should go to the door to inspect and receive them, and serve them on the table along with plum snow cheese.

Afu paused while plating the pastries, looking up at the gray-robed steward: "The mille-feuille from Songxuelou? Granny didn't mention this dessert before."