The Pretty Wife of General Jinxiu Huanian

Chapter 16 Palace Banquet Invitation

The Marquis's residence was bustling with activity that day, with everyone's face beaming with joy. Yunxi, on the other hand, sat in her small courtyard, head bowed, intently sorting her medicinal herbs.

At this moment, a loud commotion came from outside. Yunxi stopped what she was doing, stood up, dusted herself off, and walked out.

As soon as she went out, she saw the maid Xiao Cui running towards her like a gust of wind, and she almost couldn't stop.

Xiao Cui panted heavily and shouted, "Miss Yunxi, great news! The Marquis' Mansion has received an invitation to the palace banquet, and the Madam said you can go too!"

Yunxi was stunned for a moment after hearing this, frowning slightly and asking doubtfully, "Palace Banquet?"

Xiao Cui nodded vigorously, her eyes wide open, and she kept saying, "Yes, girl.

This is a great honor, something others can only hope for!"

Yunxi didn't respond. She just stood there, rolling her eyes and wondering in her heart whether this palace banquet was a blessing or a curse.

Just as I was thinking about this, the maidservant beside the Marquis's wife came over with steady steps. The maidservant had a stern face and a serious expression, but her voice was quite calm: "Miss Yunxi, the Madam wants you to come over to discuss the palace banquet."

Yunxi responded quickly, looked down at her clothes, reached out and gently tidied them up a few times, and then followed the nanny to the main hall.

Yunxi straightened her clothes and followed the nanny to the main hall.

The Marquis's wife sat in the main seat, her luxurious attire accentuating her dignity and presence. Her well-maintained face held a serious expression, her eyes shrewd.

The daughter of the Marquis sat aside, her face full of pride, her eyebrows raised high, the corners of her mouth almost grinning to her ears, and she twisted her body, looking like a proud peacock.

"Yunxi, you must be careful with your words and actions at this palace banquet and don't bring shame to the Marquis' Mansion." The Marquis's wife said, tapping the armrest lightly with her fingers, her eyes fixed on Yunxi.

Yunxi bowed and said, "Don't worry, Madam. Yunxi understands." She lowered her head slightly, with no expression on her face, and placed her hands politely in front of her.

The daughter of the Marquis's family said sarcastically, "Humph, I'm afraid some people have never seen the world and will make a fool of themselves in the palace."

After saying that, he glanced at Yunxi with his eyes slanted and snorted.

Yunxi glanced at her but didn't say anything. She thought to herself, this daughter of the first wife is always so sarcastic and mean, and there's no need for her to argue with her.

The Marquis's wife continued, "For this palace banquet, the ladies of each mansion will be dressed up, so you can't be too shabby."

As she spoke, she ordered some cloth and some jewelry to be brought in. The lady waved her hand, and several maids quickly presented the items. The cloth was bright in color, and the jewelry sparkled.

"Take these and prepare them well." The lady's tone was indifferent, and no emotion could be heard.

Yunxi thanked the lady and went back. Along the way, she thought to herself, I don't know what this lady of the Marquis's Mansion is up to.

Back in the courtyard, Yunxi sat at the table, lost in thought as she looked at these things. Although these fabrics were good, they were still inferior to those of the legitimate daughter.

The jewelry wasn't the latest style either. Yunxi frowned and sighed softly.

Over the next few days, Yunxi was busy preparing her attire and makeup for the palace banquet. She fiddled with the fabric, trying to figure out how to cut it to perfection.

She asked a few maids to help her sew stitch by stitch. For her makeup, she even sought out an experienced maid in the mansion for advice, carefully studying how to draw eyebrows and apply lipstick.

On the day of the palace banquet, Yunxi got up early and put on her makeup.

She was wearing a light blue long dress with delicate flowers embroidered on the hem and a white ribbon tied around her waist, which made her look graceful.

Her hair was combed into a simple bun with a jade hairpin inserted in it, and her face was lightly made up, making her look fresh and refined.

When the Marquis's wife and daughter saw Yunxi, a hint of surprise flashed in their eyes. The Marquis's wife frowned slightly and looked Yunxi up and down, her gaze lingering for a moment on Yunxi's elaborate dress. Then she curled her lips and snorted, saying, "Oh, you're dressed quite well. Do you think you can fly to the branches and become a phoenix like this?"

The daughter of the Marquis's family widened her eyes, her face showing no sign of disguising jealousy. She put her hands on her hips, pointed at Yunxi and shouted, "You vixen, where did you get this outfit? You're dressed up so extravagantly. Who are you trying to seduce?"

Yunxi pretended not to hear, her face remained calm as water. She just bowed slightly and turned to walk towards the carriage.

Seeing Yunxi ignore her, the daughter of the Marquis's mansion stamped her feet in anger, cursing: "Humph, why are you pretending to be noble? You are just a concubine's daughter who is not worthy of being on the stage."

The wife of the Marquis glared at the daughter and said, "Don't embarrass yourself here, get in the car quickly."

As everyone from the Marquis' Mansion boarded the carriage, the Marquis's wife and daughter chatted and laughed along the way. The daughter would occasionally glance at Yunxi, muttering softly, "Look at her poor appearance. Even if she puts on nice clothes, it can't hide her inherent lowliness."

The Marquis's wife smiled and agreed: "My dear daughter, don't get angry over such an irrelevant person and ruin your mood."

Yunxi sat quietly by the side, her hands neatly placed on her knees, looking out the window, as if everything around her had nothing to do with her.

When they reached the palace gate, the carriage stopped and everyone got off. The palace gate was filled with carriages from various mansions, and the people coming and going were all dressed in gorgeous clothes.

The wife of the Marquis held her head high, straightened her clothes and headdress, and walked towards the palace with the Marquis's daughter.

Yunxi followed cautiously, her eyes scanning the surroundings with curiosity. The daughter of the Marquis turned around, glared at Yunxi, and said viciously, "Follow closely, or you'll bring shame to the Marquisate."

Yunxi pursed her lips and quickened her pace.

The palace's architecture was magnificent, with carved beams and painted rafters, a truly breathtaking sight. As the Marquis's wife walked, she whispered to the Marquis's daughter, "Don't be disrespectful when you go in later."

The daughter of the marquis said nonchalantly, "I know, I know, mother, don't worry." Yunxi followed silently behind, her eyes full of amazement at the scenery in the palace.

As they walked, they arrived at the palace where the banquet was being held. The palace was already full of people, and the Marquis' wife led everyone to find a seat.

The daughter of the Marquisate sank into a chair, looking around with a look of excitement on her face. Yunxi, with her eyes lowered, sat quietly beside her.

She looked up and saw the emperor and empress sitting at the top, with several concubines sitting beside them. The empress was dressed in gorgeous clothes and wore a phoenix crown on her head, with a dignified demeanor.

The emperor looked dignified as he scanned the area below. The concubines were all wearing delicate makeup and had sweet smiles on their faces.

The palace banquet began with singing and dancing, and delicious food and wine were served one by one. The daughter of the Marquisate could not wait to pick up her chopsticks and eat with relish.

The Marquis's wife coughed lightly, signaling her to mind her appearance. Yunxi lowered her head and ate silently.

At this time, the Queen said, "I heard that Yunxi, the concubine of the Marquis' Mansion, is an excellent doctor. I wonder if she is here today?"

The wife of the Marquis Mansion quickly stood up and said, "Her Majesty, Yunxi is here."

Yunxi also quickly stood up and saluted.

The Queen smiled and said, "Raise your head and let me see."

Yunxi raised her head timidly. The Queen's eyes fell directly on her face, as if examining a rare object. She looked at her and nodded, "She is indeed a remarkable girl."

A concubine next to her curled her lips and said in a delicate voice, "Your Majesty, I heard that Yunxi can cure all kinds of diseases. I wonder if it is true or not."

There was a hint of suspicion and disdain in the concubine's eyes, and she casually shook the handkerchief in her hand.

Yunxi's heart tightened, and her hands unconsciously clenched the corners of her clothes, not knowing how to answer.

The Marquis's wife hurried forward, smiling broadly, and said, "Your Majesty, Yunxi only knows a little bit about medicine and doesn't deserve such praise."

The lady of the Marquis's house had a flattering smile on her face and bent her waist even lower.

The Queen raised her eyebrows and said, "In that case, I would like to test her."

Yunxi took a deep breath, calmed herself down and said, "Please ask the questions, Your Majesty." Her eyes were determined, and her hands hung at her sides, clenched tightly.

The Queen thought for a moment and said, "Then I would like to ask, if someone is poisoned, how should it be diagnosed and treated?"

Yunxi thought for a moment, blinked, and replied calmly, "Your Majesty, it depends on the symptoms and the type of poison.

First, observe the patient's complexion and pulse, then ask about the course of the poisoning, and then determine the detoxification method based on the symptoms."

The Queen nodded. "Well, that's a reasonable answer."

At this moment, a noble lady snorted and said with a squinting look, "Your Majesty, this Yunxi is just talking big on paper. How can he really cure illnesses and save lives?"

The noble lady was wearing gorgeous clothes, the pearls and jade on her head were dazzling, her face was thickly powdered, and she looked disgusted at the moment.

Yunxi looked at the noble lady and said calmly, "Madam, you are wrong. Although I don't dare to call myself a miracle doctor, I have treated many patients."

The noble lady sneered, "Hmph, then why don't you demonstrate your medical skills on the spot."

The noble lady raised her head, stared at Yunxi with her triangular eyes, and raised the corners of her mouth, with a mean look on her face.

Her scarlet-painted lips moved in and out as she continued, "Talking is no use. You have to show us with real weapons and let us all see if you really have what it takes!"

Yunxi said, "I wonder how Madam will demonstrate this?"

The noble lady rolled her eyes and raised her hand to point at a nearby maid, "Let her pretend to be poisoned, and you will treat her."

Yunxi looked at the palace maid and nodded, "Okay."

The palace maid stepped forward timidly, and under the noble lady's stare, she lay down on the ground trembling, pretending to be sick.

Yunxi walked forward calmly, squatted down, and carefully observed the palace maid's expression with a focused and sharp look.

She reached out her hand, gently opened the maid's eyelids and took a look, then listened to her breathing. Then, she put her hand on the maid's wrist, held her breath, and took her pulse.

After a while, Yunxi said, "This palace maid is not poisoned, she is just pretending to be sick."

The palace maid was startled and her body shook violently. She hurriedly climbed up with her head lowered, not daring to look at the noble lady's murderous eyes.

Everyone burst into laughter, and the laughter echoed throughout the hall. The noblewoman's face suddenly turned very ugly, like an eggplant hit by frost, green and purple.

She glared fiercely at the palace maid, then turned to glare at Yunxi, muttering, "You're quite capable!"

The Queen smiled slightly, her face full of admiration, and said, "Yunxi's medical skills are indeed extraordinary."

Yunxi bowed and said, "Thank you, Her Majesty, for the compliment."

The palace banquet continued, and Yunxi finally breathed a sigh of relief.