When Cheng Daren died, Wang Da had already shared some news with Madam Bai, and this morning he couldn't help but mention it again.
Madam Bai was overjoyed and mentioned it to Wang Qinglin, who was naturally ecstatic.
Now that she was the daughter of a first-rank official and the sister of a top scholar, her value had soared, and she increasingly looked down on Tian Yu.
Wang Qingjing entered the Hanlin Academy, while Tian Yu was assigned to a post in the remote Yun-Gui region, scheduled to depart in mid-April.
A few days prior, the Tian family had sent a matchmaker to arrange the wedding date for Tian Yu and Wang Qingyao, but Madam Bai had used an excuse to dismiss them.
What a joke, did she want to become the wife of a mere county magistrate and follow Tian Yu to his post?
Yun-Gui was a distant and mountainous region, a poor and remote place, how could it compare to the wealth and prosperity of Duanjing?
Her delicate body could not endure such hardship.
When Wang Da returned with a smile on his face, Madam Bai assumed the promotion had been secured.
She had already instructed the kitchen to prepare a banquet and now solicitously helped Wang Da change his clothes: "... It's a family dinner, let's have a good drink together as a family to celebrate, my lord."
The smile on Wang Da's face faded slightly. "Celebrate what?"
Madam Bai, not noticing, smiled and said, "Naturally, to celebrate your promotion to Minister of Revenue."
As she spoke, she was helping Wang Da tie his belt. Upon hearing her words, Wang Da flung her hand away and snorted, "Fortunately, you didn't say that outside, or you would have completely disgraced me."
Madam Bai was stunned.
Wang Da: "The Emperor has appointed Prince Ding'an to temporarily act as Minister of Revenue."
Madam Bai's mouth was half-open, and after a long while, she said, "I'll have someone clear the banquet..."
"Idiot!" Wang Da couldn't help but curse. "The preparations have already been made. Would clearing it now not be like trying to hide something that's obvious? It would just give the servants something to gossip about. Besides, Qing'er has entered the Hanlin Academy, which is also worth celebrating. Let this banquet be for Qing'er."
Madam Bai forced a smile. "Yes." In her heart, she grumbled, "If you hadn't looked so confident, how could I have misunderstood?"
The banquet was held in the small dining room. The old madam, Mr. and Mrs. Bai, Wang Qingjing, and the three daughters from the eldest branch, a total of seven people.
Wang Qingjing frowned. "Why wasn't second sister invited?"
Wang Qingzhen muttered, "She's not from our eldest branch."
Wang Qingjing glanced at her, clearly displeased. "What eldest branch, second branch? We haven't split the family, we're all one family. How can we leave out second sister?"
Wang Qingzhen dared not retort and looked pleadingly at Wang Qinglin.
Wang Qinglin smiled slightly. "Eldest brother is right. I'll go invite second sister myself."
Wang Qinglin knew she would have to rely on her father and brother in the future, so she naturally wouldn't contradict Wang Qingjing. However, she was somewhat surprised. Wang Qingjing rarely paid attention to the affairs of the inner chambers, and he had little interaction with Wang Qingyao. Why was he suddenly so concerned now?
Perhaps it was because of Prince Ding'an, Wang Qinglin thought.
A meal was also being prepared in Lengxiang Courtyard. Wang Qinglin's sudden arrival surprised everyone.
Arriving just in time for the meal, was she here to freeload?
Wang Qinglin raised her chin, like a proud peacock. "Eldest brother has entered the Hanlin Academy, and there's a family banquet in the main hall to celebrate him. You should come too."
Her tone was condescending, as if bestowing charity upon a beggar by the roadside.
Wang Qingyao bared her teeth at her. "Sorry, you're only telling me now. I haven't prepared anything, so I won't go."
If they had genuinely wanted to invite her, they would have sent someone to notify her earlier. Why wait until mealtime?
It was clearly a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Wang Qinglin snorted. Hmph, she really thought highly of herself, acting so coy!
"If it weren't for eldest brother insisting you come, do you think I'd bother inviting you?" Wang Qinglin said lazily. "We're having a lively family meal, and you're an outsider..."
She glanced sideways, looking Wang Qingyao up and down with an expression of utter disdain.
Wang Qinglin and Wang Qingyao, with their accumulated grudges, were undoubtedly enemies.
However, Wang Qinglin always maintained her composure. Even when the news of her snatching Wang Qingyao's fiancé spread everywhere, in front of outsiders, she would at most ignore Wang Qingyao, rarely resorting to sarcasm and venomous remarks like this.
She was the eldest daughter of the Wang family, dignified and kind, noble and generous.
This behavior seemed more like... deliberately provoking Wang Qingyao...
Wang Qingyao blinked, putting on an expression of feigned surprise. "Since eldest brother specifically asked you to invite me, I must give him face."
Saying this, she stood up, rummaged through a chest, took out a red inkstone, put it in a box, and prepared to give it to Wang Qingjing as a congratulatory gift.
Wang Qinglin's gaze fell on Wang Qingyao's waist, and her expression suddenly changed. "Where did you get this silver incense ball?"
Wang Qingyao looked down. Wang Qinglin was pointing at the gilded silver incense ball with intertwined butterflies and floral patterns that Wang Qingjing had given her.
She liked this incense ball very much and wore it as an aromatic sachet at her waist, exuding a refined fragrance as she walked.
"Eldest brother gave it to me," she said.
"Impossible!" Wang Qinglin blurted out.
She had seen this incense ball in Honghu Courtyard and had immediately fallen in love with it. She had pestered Wang Qingjing to give it to her, but he had said it was for someone else.
She had thought it was for Bai Junya, but it turned out he had given it to Wang Qingyao!
Why? She was Wang Qingjing's own sister.
A lump formed in Wang Qinglin's chest, her jealous eyes turning red.
Wang Qingyao said calmly, "If you don't believe me, go ask eldest brother."
"Why would eldest brother give you such an expensive gift?"
This kind of gilded incense ball was an exquisite piece of craftsmanship among sachets, not only beautifully made but also ingeniously designed. When opened, the incense ball contained a small dish for spices, with a mechanism inside that prevented the spices from spilling out no matter how it was shaken.
The craftsmanship of such incense balls was very complex, and they were also very expensive.
For no apparent reason, why would Wang Qingjing give Wang Qingyao such an expensive gift?
Wang Qinglin's jealousy was evident.
Wang Qingyao deliberately said mysteriously, "It's a secret. I can't tell you."
This infuriated Wang Qinglin to no end.
Her chest heaved, filled with both grievance and jealousy. After a while, she remembered Madam Bai's plan and her emotions slowly calmed down.
Let her be smug for two more days. Soon, she would have nothing left!
The thought of Wang Qingyao's situation after the plan succeeded brought a surge of satisfaction to Wang Qinglin's heart.
"Fine, if you won't say," she said through gritted teeth, "Hurry up, don't keep others waiting."
Nothing untoward happened at the banquet. The ancients believed in not speaking while eating and not speaking while sleeping. Apart from a few congratulatory remarks, the only sound was the gentle clinking of tableware.
After the meal, maids brought tea for everyone to rinse their mouths.
The group moved to the small flower hall to chat. Of course, Wang Qingyao couldn't join the conversation. It was only because Wang Qingjing feared neglecting her that he deliberately steered the conversation to her, allowing her to speak a few words.
Wang Qinglin watched this, and a fresh wave of jealousy gnawed at her.
For the most part, Wang Qingyao listened to them talk.
Although the people in this family were not of great character, sitting together and talking like this felt quite harmonious.
At this moment, Wang Qingyao missed Xiao Yun.
Mainly because she had no other living person to think of. Ever since her grandparents passed away, she had considered herself an orphan.
Regardless of whether she loved him or not, Xiao Yun would legally be her closest relative in the future.
Thinking of him now, and to fill the atmosphere, made her feel less lonely.
Wang Qingyao was a woman of action. As soon as she thought of Xiao Yun, she returned to Lengxiang Courtyard and immediately wrote a letter to be delivered to Xiao Yun by Lightning, subtly expressing her longing and inviting him to lunch the next day.
Relationships needed to be cultivated, and relationships with one's boss required even more investment.
Constantly making the boss feel the employee's dedication and loyalty was a secret Wang Qingyao had learned in the modern workplace.
Xiao Yun quickly replied, stating that the Emperor had appointed him to succeed Cheng Daren's position, and he was too busy these days.
It was only then that Wang Qingyao learned that Xiao Yun had become the Minister of Revenue.
Should she give him a gift? She wondered.
Of course.
A qualified employee should support their boss!
Moreover, as the boss was promoted, her own value also rose!