Lin Youning rely pursed her lips and smiled, not saying much. She let Shanmoi and Hailan serve tea and snacks, and only then did she take a closer look at Dong Boyun’s attire. She was wearing a red robe with phoenix tail flowers, and though her belly wasn’t showing yet, she was nearly four months pregnant. Her whole body seed to have gained so weight, and her usually sharp chin had also beco rounder.
As Dong Boyun stuffed snacks into her mouth, she asked, "What exactly happened to you? When I left, you looked just fine. How did you get sick? Even now, your complexion doesn’t look great. Surely the Imperial Physician has seen you, right? What did he say? I only brought so new printed fabrics this ti, if I’d known you were ill, I would have brought sothing to nourish your body."
"It’s just a bit of a cold, not as serious as you’re making it out to be. You’re almost as nagging as the nannies around . Are all the nannies like this around you now?" Lin Youning teased her, "Or is Mr. Wang constantly nagging you these days?"
Dong Boyun wasn’t shy at all and laughed, "You guessed it right. Ever since Wang Wen found out I was pregnant, he’s been nagging all day. He doesn’t even feel assured when I go back to Dong Mansion, but when I co here, he doesn’t say anything. I’m grateful you ca back from the border, otherwise, I wouldn’t even have a place to go."
"It’s just that there’s no place to confide my thoughts." Dong Boyun blinked, and Lin Youning laughed.
To outsiders, Dong Boyun seed quiet and reserved, but only those familiar with her knew her true nature. She would spill all the local news and gossip from the Capital noble families without even being asked.
"By the way, Wu Xueqin is hosting a banquet. I received an invitation. Did you get one? I’m just a small concubine’s daughter, so it’s quite surprising that she would invite ." Dong Boyun suddenly suppressed her smile. "She invited people like Xu Ya’an, Wu Xueya, Feng Yufu, and Zhou Yuyan. And of course, my elder sister. As for your Gu Mansion, I suspect you all got invited too. It seems like it’s the sa group that used to gather often."
"Under what title is she hosting the banquet?" Lin Youning had never planned on associating with Wu Xueqin again. As for the invitation Dong Boyun ntioned, she hadn’t received it and didn’t wish to either.
"It’s just a small gathering for won at ho. It’s already September, and Mid-Autumn is approaching soon. They said it’s to appreciate the chrysanthemums at the mansion." Dong Boyun rubbed her belly, "I don’t really want to go, given my pregnancy. It’s inconvenient, but my mother-in-law thinks I should go. Upon thinking about it, it makes sense: since Wang Wen is going into the officialdom, I need to socialize with the officials’ wives."
"In your position, these things are unavoidable." Lin Youning wasn’t worried about this and wasn’t bothered by socializing either.
Dong Boyun suddenly brightened up, "By the way, I brought so chrysanthemum cake when I ca. Let’s have so; it tastes great."
As she spoke, Dong Boyun instructed the maid beside her to fetch the chrysanthemum cake, while Shanmoi went along to help, as it was brought to the mansion and stored by the household staff.
These days, Lin Youning didn’t dare eat anything, and everything had to pass through Nanny Guo’s hands. Now that she was sick, she didn’t have the heart to say much to Dong Boyun, and Dong Boyun didn’t press her about it, so Lin Youning felt a bit embarrassed. When Dong Boyun asked for the chrysanthemum cake to be brought, she didn’t stop her.
Shanmoi and Dong Boyun’s maid brought the snacks over; you could still see the chrysanthemum petals inside. As soon as it was placed on the coffee table, the chrysanthemum fragrance filled the air.
Dong Boyun took a bite first and nodded to Lin Youning, "Try it, it’s delicious."
Lin Youning followed her and took a piece. Hailan wanted to step forward, but Lin Youning stopped her with a glance. Dong Boyun, engrossed in eating, didn’t notice this exchange.
Seeing Dong Boyun finish her second piece, Lin Youning had only had one. Although it slled nice, the strong chrysanthemum flavor was a bit much for Lin Youning, so she didn’t eat more. Dong Boyun, however, seed to enjoy it, eating five pieces before washing her hands.
"I see you don’t have much appetite. Let the Imperial Physician prescribe so dicine to help. I used to eat more; now I eat less than before." Dong Boyun patted her belly, "I can’t eat more now, or else when I get back, my mother-in-law will feed , and I won’t be able to eat it. Who knows how she’ll nag then."
"I think there’s nothing wrong with your appetite." Lin Youning, drinking honey water, still felt slightly nauseous and didn’t want to show it in front of Dong Boyun, so she endured.
Dong Boyun stayed until the afternoon when Wang Wen ca to pick her up, and she reluctantly left.
Lin Youning escorted them out of the rear courtyard and watched them get into the sedan before heading back to the backyard. Shanmoi reported, "Aunt Wu sent an invitation over, but the Marquis had it blocked, saying you weren’t well. But in the afternoon, Yangtao from Aunt Wu’s side ca in person, saying that Aunt Wu wanted to thank you and the Marquis for previous favors and insisted you must co."
The invitation was sent after Dong Boyun arrived at the mansion and was rejected at first, but in the afternoon it was sent again, this ti brought personally by Yangtao.
Now that Aunt Wu was appointed as a Lady by the Holy Emperor, Yangtao’s status naturally changed, and she even said such words. It seed it couldn’t be refused again.
Lin Youning slightly curled her lips, "Since they insist I go, then I shall. Miss Dong also ntioned that familiar faces would be there, so why not take a look."
Currently, Lin Youning was curious about how Wu Xueya was doing. Back then, Wu Xueqin and Zhou Yuyan had conspired against her, but she avoided it. Now Wu Xueya wasn’t doing well, and she wondered how Wu Xueya would react upon seeing her.
Seeing the girl agree, Shanmoi brought up the snack matter, "It’s best for you to eat less, as your health just improved. No one knows where your discomfort cos from."
Hailan also agreed, and Nanny Guo was now personally overseeing the dicine preparation. Today, when Miss Dong visited and brought food, even though she was a good friend, who knew if there were any ulterior motives?
Dong Boyun, being pregnant, could eat it, which reassured Lin Youning. Moreover, Dong Boyun had no reason to harm her, but whether it was psychological or not, Lin Youning’s stomach hadn’t been feeling well since she ate the snacks.
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