Xie Jue indeed planned to host a birthday banquet for Princess Mingzhu, something he had already organized while Fang Chuning was at the Prince Manor. He had seen the list of invitees compiled by Xie Jue, and at that time, the Grand Marshal and Mrs. Fang had not yet returned to the Capital City, so they were not on the guest list. The birthday banquet primarily invited female guests and wouldn't include many male guests. Although Xie Jue wasn't obliged to attend, he had to step in and invite members of various elite families to support Princess Mingzhu, upon hearing from Ruyi that she had been bullied.
Fang Chuning acted first and informed later, leaving Mrs. Fang very hesitant. The Grand Marshal would certainly not agree to his wife going to the Prince Manor and rebuked Fang Chuning, "Aren't the rumors vicious enough already? Do you know how much ridicule and embarrassment your mother would face in such a setting? Are you thinking only of your own satisfaction?"
