The next day, Xie Qiqi rose early to accompany her grandmother for lunch at Qingfeng Courtyard. The severe illness had taken a heavy toll on the Dowager’s body; her vision was blurred, and she could barely see as the light dimmed. Although the Xie Family had engaged numerous imperial physicians to restore her health, there had been no significant improvement. She could manage to walk a few steps with effort, but for the most part, she remained bedridden. As Xie Qiqi fed her porridge, her heart ached at the sight of her grandmother’s snow-white hair. With her grandmother in such a frail state, how could she ever bear to leave?
After the Dowager fell asleep, Xie Qiqi returned to Jifeng Courtyard. Halfway there, she encountered Yue Yue, Lin Xiaojing, and several other noble young ladies, all gathered together in high spirits. Xie Qiqi wanted to avoid them, but there was only one path, leaving her no way to bypass them. She turned, intending to head back to her grandmother’s courtyard and wait until they had left, but Lin Xiaojing spotted her with sharp eyes and called out, "Xie Qiqi, what are you hiding for? Come here. We’ve received our invitation cards for Master Sikong’s selection. Did you get one? Take it out and let us see."
Yue Yue held a red invitation in her hand, lifting it with a beaming smile. "Sister, I’ve received the selection invitation from Master Sikong. Is yours the same as ours?"
Chapter 84