[Channing Palace]
"Tea?"
"Yes, Her Highness has invited you to have tea with her", Xin Xie confirmed.
Lingxi was still reading her book when Xin Xie came to pass on the message.
She gently set the book down giving her attention to Xin Xie, "did she say anything else?" "No, she only said it had been a while since you both talked and asked you to join her for tea", Xin Lan answered.
Lingxi thought of why Shen Ruihua wanted to suddenly see her. He Yu noticed her hesitation. He had been focused reading some reports Jun Jie had sent.
"You don't want to go?" he asked.
Lingxi did not answer for a minute.
"If you don't want to go, don't go. The weather is chilly – it's easy to catch a cold", he suggested an excuse.
"It's not that I don't want to go. I'm just wondering why she would invite me all of a sudden", Lingxi responded looking at him.
She was sure Shen Ruihua was up to no good but she also knew they were bound to face each other one day. She had no intention of avoiding it and she was also yet to settle scores for the kneeling Shen Ruihua had made her go through when she had gone to pay her respects. She had not yet forgotten and after all, delay was not denial.
She stood up, "I'll go see her. Xin Xie", she called.
"Yes, Your Highness?" Xin Xie answered.
"You are more familiar with the palace. You'll come with me" Xin Xie nodded.
Lingxi went off to see Shen Ruihua with Xin Xie and Qin Yan following behind her.
[Fengyin Hall]
Lingxi walked in with Xin Xie while Qin Yan remained outside.
Lingxi curtsied to Shen Ruihua, "Your highness sent for me?"
"Yes, have a seat" Lingxi sat down at an available seat while Xin Xie stood behind her. Shen Ruihua gave a signal to Lady Mao. Lady Mao nodded and went on to serve tea for Lingxi.
"This is freshly brewed spring tea. It's soft and mellow with a hint of spice, perfect for the weather", Shen Ruihua explained, "have a taste".
Lady Mao held the tea before Lingxi who accepted it and took a sip. She paused for a second with the teacup on her lips to taste the flavor.
She set the teacup down and smiled, "the tea is indeed mellow and has a spicy flavor. Your highness has great taste"
Shen Ruihua smiled back, "not at all"
There was a short pause.
"I believe Your Highness did not invite me just to drink tea, right?" Lingxi asked.
"True, I invited you here to ask you for your help in handling an important task", Shen Ruihua answered.
"Your highness thinks so highly of me. I wonder what this important task is"
"Prince Jing has gone to escort Commandary Princess Anning to the Capital. If all goes well, they will return in four days", Shen Ruihua paused to see Lingxi's reaction but there was none.
She continued, "as you know, Commandary Princess Anning is someone of great importance. His Majesty has ordered a welcome banquet for her"
Lingxi took another sip of her tea.
"As far as I know, before you were adopted by the Mo family, you were a part of the Sang family"
Lingxi set the teacup down. She already knew where the conversation was going but chose not to say anything.
"You are most familiar with Commandary Princess Anning preferences. So His Majesty and I have both decided that you should be in charge of the welcome banquet", Shen Ruihua hit the nail on the head.
Lingxi gave a short smile, "although Commandary Princess Anning and I have not met in a long time, I'll do my best to make sure she is comfortable".
Shen Ruihua was surprised for a moment at how Lingxi agreed so easily.
"You've agreed?" she asked for confirmation.
"Since His Majesty and your highness has given me this responsibility, I shall not fail both your trust", Lingxi confirmed her earlier response.
She stood up and curtsied, "since there's nothing else, I shall take my leave"
Shen Ruihua watched her leave with Xin Xie behind her and could not help but feel Lingxi had something up her sleeve.
Outside, Qin Yan, as usual, asked her if everything was all right as they left.
"She wants me to host the welcome banquet for Commandary Princess Anning". Lingxi answered.
"She must have a plot behind her. Did you agree?" Qin Yan asked.
"I have no reason not to. Rather than being afraid and hiding, I would rather face it. If she wants to play, I'll play with her", Lingxi said.
"Your highness, you don't seem to be in good terms with her highness", Xin Xie observed.
"Her Highness and more like sky and the ground, complete opposites", Lingxi said to her.
"In that case, who is the sun and who is the ground?" Xin Xie asked curious.
"Being the ground doesn't necessarily mean being inferior neither does being in the sky mean being superior", Lingxi answered.
"I don't understand"
Lingxi stopped working and turned to her, "think of it like this - on the ground there are many things capable of sustaining livelihood while the sky makes sure everything happens easily. If the sky isn't there then things would be difficult but not impossible. The ground can adapt. If the ground isn't there, the sky would serve a lesser purpose but it would still be useful", Lingxi explained.
Xin Xie nodded not fully understanding.
"That's a fine lesson", they heard a voice.
Lingxi looked forward and saw Li Min approaching her with Qingtong behind her.
"Consort Cheng", Lingxi called her by her title.
Li Min gave a deep curtsy, "Your highness"
"You came out for a stroll?" Lingxi asked though she was not concerned.
"I was going to see Imperial Mother", Li Min answered.
Since she was married to He Yan, it was only right to address Shen Ruihua as Mother.
"All right", Lingxi responded and wanted to go on her way as she was not interested in continuing the conversation but Li Min stopped her.
"I only just married into the Imperial family and am not familiar with it. I wonder if Your highness would be willing to have lunch with me"
Lingxi did not look like she was going to agree.
Before she could speak, Li Min added, "I have no friends and know no one else other than your highness. Your highness and consider this as doing me a favor" Lingxi turned to Xin Xie.
[Channing Palace]
"She won't be coming for lunch?" He Yu asked after listening to Xin Xie's message.
"Her Highness will be having lunch with Consort Cheng", Xin Xie confirmed.
"Did she go alone?"
"Qin Yan is with her"
He Yu paused for a minute, "was everything fine at Fengyin Palace?"
"Yes, Her Highness was tasked with taking care of Commandary Princess Anning's welcome banquet", Xin Xie answered.
He Yu was in thought for a second, "You may leave"
Xin Xie curtsied and left.
'What exactly is she planning to do?' he wondered.
Jun Jie walked in at that moment.
"Your highness", he bowed.
He Yu looked up at him, "anything wrong?"
"Why is your mood suddenly bad? Anything wrong?" Jun Jie asked in return.
"Shen Ruihua has decided to let Lingxi hold the banquet. Find out what she's planning", He Yu said.
"How can I find anything out? The empress won't suddenly reveal her plan, would she?" Jun Jie said like He Yu was thinking off.
He Yu's bad mood disappeared for a second and was replaced with a smile, "it seems you have been free a lot lately. Since you have so much time to spare, why don't you spend it running five laps round the palace?"
"Hunh? Your highness, I will try my best to find out", Jun Jie bowed and quickly retreated.
"What a nuisance", He Yu said as he went on to read when he suddenly remembered something.
He recalled once asking Lingxi to run five laps in the past. Had she run it?