Apart from giving everyone an extra reward of three taels of silver, those housekeepers, old maids, and close personal attendants who had worked tirelessly for the Prince Mansion were ordered by the Prince to receive a jar of fine Hua Diao wine from the cellar. Among them, the more astute servants would divide it that very evening—first, to express their gratitude upwardly and acknowledge the Prince's benevolence, and second, to pull strings downwardly: a drop of kindness today, and perhaps a spring of repayment tomorrow.
Because of this, the entire Prince Mansion was bustling with activity, so much so that even the Prince himself found little peace. His restlessness stemmed from fretting over the "distinguished guests" of the upcoming poetry gathering.
The messenger reported that the thorn in the side of the Prince Mansion had indeed accepted the invitation—odds were, the person would truly attend the poetry gathering.
And the Princess had also caught wind of this matter.
