Chapter 39: Chapter By the time afternoon arrived, the Xi Manor had become livelier than it had been in months.
The ladies’ banquet that had required days of preparation was finally about to begin.
The atmosphere appeared festive yet beneath that polished surface, several members of the Xi family found themselves distracted by something else entirely.
The physician’s diagnosis from earlier had cast a shadow over the household.
Although the matter had been temporarily concealed from the servants and guests, the family members involved could not simply forget it.
Especially Lin Meiyun.
At this moment, the Duchess stood near the entrance of the manor alongside several female relatives, personally welcoming arriving guests.
Normally, she would have appeared relaxed and composed.
Today, however, her attention seemed divided.
Every time a new carriage arrived, her gaze would instinctively move toward it.
Then, after identifying the guest, a faint look of disappointment would flash through her eyes.
Xi Ronghua noticed immediately.
After watching her sister-in-law repeat the same action for nearly half an hour, she finally sighed.
"You’ve looked at every carriage as though it contains the Imperial Decree itself."
Lin Meiyun smiled helplessly.
"Is it that obvious?"
Xi Ronghua folded her arms.
"Painfully obvious."
A few steps away, Xi Lanyin stood quietly beside her mother.
She knew exactly why Lin Meiyun was behaving this way.
The Prime Minister’s wife.
They were waiting for the Prime Minister’s wife.
Or more accurately...
They were waiting to see whether Su Yueqing’s prediction would come true yet again.
If the Prime Minister’s wife appeared at the banquet, perhaps everything Su Yueqing had implied about the Prime Minister’s son would also be true.
But if she failed to appear...
Then the situation would become much harder to ignore.
Lin Meiyun glanced toward the road once more.
Another carriage approached, for a brief moment, hope appeared in her eyes.
Then the carriage stopped.
But a different family stepped out and immediately her hope vanished.
Xi Ronghua rubbed her forehead.
"You’re making yourself nervous."
Lin Meiyun sighed softly.
"I know."
She paused before lowering her voice.
"But can you really blame me?"
Xi Ronghua couldn’t answer.
Because she couldn’t stop thinking about it either.
The poison had been real.
Every warning Su Yueqing had accidentally revealed had turned out to be true.
So naturally...
Everyone was wondering about this as well.
Nearby, Xi Lanyin quietly spoke.
"Mother."
Lin Meiyun turned toward her daughter.
"It’s still early."
Xi Lanyin forced a small smile.
"The Prime Minister’s residence may simply be delayed."
Lin Meiyun studied her daughter carefully.