She refrained from speaking the rest of her words, but one could see that she was very excited. Without waiting for Luo Qing Luan to say anything, she pulled her inside. "Hurry, let us go see your older sister. We need to properly ask her about this matter."

Basically paying no attention to the other madams or young ladies who were also visiting at the same time, Luo Qing Luan was pulled inside by Wang Xue Ru. She vaguely heard the sound of soft laughter from some people behind her speaking while covering their mouths.

As they were led by a servant towards the garden, she could see the surroundings decorated magnificently from afar, all kinds of flowers and plants were growing luxuriously and lushly. Countless numbers of flowers were in bloom, every color under the sun, their fragrance permeating the entire estate.

Apparently, some guests had already arrived, all of whom were female. They were standing and chatting under the pavilion by the lotus pond. From a distance, their bursts of laughter could still be heard as well as their chattering voices.

"Mother, you've come." Seeing Wang Xue Ru coming, Luo Qing Shuang got up to welcome her. Some of the young ladies sitting beside her also stood up in greeting. But with a glance, Luo Qing Luan could tell that these guests were basically about the same age as she was. Besides some married women attired somewhat ugly, there was not a single upper class married woman to be seen.

But with a thought, Luo Qing Luan understood.

Even though this was a dinner at the Fifth Prince's Mansion, merely a little bit of investigation from their ears and eyes would reveal that the initiator was actually Luo Qing Shuang. This was a minor concubine that the fifth prince had recently brought into his residence. If she was the eldest daughter of the General's Mansion that she once was, maybe those high officials and noble people would still have their daughter participate in this kind of banquet. However, presently, Luo Qing Shuang's reputation had already been degraded to the gutter. Moreover, she was even only a minor concubine. How many people would think highly of her?

If it were not for the fact that there was still Nangong Chen, this fifth prince, to keep up appearances, perhaps there would be even less people attending today's event?

From her side, Dai Yue started to point out to her, "My Lady, that's the Minister of Works, Wang Yuanwai's wife and his daughter. That's the Myriad Treasures Exchange's Second Master's great aunt and her two daughters. Also, the woman wearing a yellow jacket is the capital's magistrate's third wife......" Afraid that she wouldn't recognize these people, Dai Yue introduced thoroughly.

"En. I got it." Luo Qing Luan found it laughable. Indeed, it's as she expected. These female guests were not of low status, but they're far from being equal in status to the General's Mansion, merely some concubines and such. These people ordinarily wouldn't be in the position to enter the main hall. It's sufficient for her to imagine that when Luo Qing Shuang sent the invitations, she must've targeted the wives of imperial relatives, or maybe first or second ranked officials' wives and children, but either these people didn't come, or they just randomly found some great aunt to come just for show.

It's obvious that not only did no one think highly of Luo Qing Shuang, even the unfavored Fifth Prince ordinarily simply did not occupy the least bit of status within these powerful people's eyes.

She originally intended to come today as a spectator, merely going through the motions, that's all. Luo Qing Luan calmly sat next to Wang Xue Ru and listened to Luo Qing Shuang chattering away, talking nonstop as she flaunted this and that. "Mother, look, this is a set of head ornaments that Fifth Prince gave to me yesterday. All of these are rubies! He said that he wanted me to wear them today. After all, I'm going to be entertaining so many people, while I'm the only hostess. How can I not dress up a bit more?"

Was this kind of thing worth showing off? Luo Qing Luan smiled indifferently.

Wang Xue Ru replied in a pleasantly surprised manner. "Qing Shuang, Fifth Prince is so good to you. You should properly help him manage the Prince's Mansion, do you understand. Oh, a servant just told me that you've already become his side consort? What happened there?"

This was precisely what Luo Qing Shuang wanted to brag about, but she couldn't say it herself. Instead, she glanced at the ladies beside her with an appearance of embarrassment.

"Aiya, General's Madam, presently, we need to address the eldest Miss Luo as Fifth Prince's Side Consort now."

That female wearing the yellow dress from before, who looked to be twenty five or six years old promptly smiled and responded. "You have such good fortune. The eldest Miss Luo is pregnant!"

Once these words were spoken, Wang Xue Ru was so pleasantly surprised that she couldn't conceal her happiness. "Qing Shuang, is it true? You're really pregnant?"

Luo Qing Shuang nodded her head demurely as she said softly, "Mother, look at how happy you are."

Immediately, another woman took the opportunity to smile and say, "Deserving of being the General's Mansion's eldest daughter. Not only are you educated and well-balanced, hoodwinking His Majesty so that he would personally bestow you to Fifth Prince. Now, you just barely entered the family and is already pregnant. Fifth Prince currently only have one side consort. If Miss Luo gives birth to a little prince, I'm afraid not long from now, we'll have to change your form of address to Prince's Consort!"

A flower blossoming in her heart, but Luo Qing Shuang still pretended to be composed just like before. "Madam Zhang must be kidding. I have barely just been promoted to side consort. How can I have the ability to be a main consort. Moreover, a main consort requires His Majesty's consent as well as a series of procedural formalities from the Minister of RItes before it's possible. How can it be so easy?"

"You shouldn't say that. This is Fifth Prince's first child. Eldest Miss Luo will have your wish fulfilled for sure."

Wang Xue Ru listened to everyone's flattery to the point that her face cracked from smiling. On the one hand pretending to be modest. On the other hand unable to resist feeling complacent, Luo Qing Shuang acted even more like the mistress of Fifth Prince's Mansion, as she incessantly talked about how good Fifth Prince was to her. Things like how he asked her to take care of her health, and give birth to a little prince as quickly as possible.

As she was speaking, a woman's voice suddenly sounded and interrupted her. "I don't know what all of you are happy about. It seems that it hasn't even been a month since the Eldest Miss Luo entered Fifth Prince's Mansion, right? How can they already tell that she's pregnant? Is it possible that she was already pregnant before she got married?"