There was a commotion at the entrance, and then it became quiet again. Shen Lansui stood up together with everyone.
"Thank you all brothers for your favor and making my princess' mansion shine."
Princess Rong Zhao's words confirmed Shen Lansui's guess. She looked up and saw a group of people walking in surrounded by Rong Zhao and another woman. Judging from their attire, they must be the princess.
The man next to the princess is dressed in a yellow python robe, which makes people want to ignore him.
The other princes' robes were of different colors, but all of them were extraordinarily noble.
Looking from a distance, everyone is chatting and laughing, everyone has their own merits, and they are all like dragons and phoenixes among people.
At this moment, the description of Tianhuang nobles in the book suddenly became clear and concrete.
Shen Lansui couldn't help but hold her breath slightly.
"It's rare for Rong Zhao to hold a banquet. As an elder brother, how can I not come to support it?"
The prince smiled while observing the people on the other side of the female guest calmly.
Everyone immediately saluted, "My daughter (lower official) is here to see Your Highness——"
The prince took the lead, raised his hand and said: "Without courtesy, this is a private banquet, you don't have to be restrained."
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
Shen Lansui sat back down and realized someone was looking at her. She turned around and glanced, and inadvertently met His Highness the Fifth Prince's gaze. She was stunned for a moment, then nodded and looked away.
His Highness the Fifth Prince rubbed the jade pendant on his waist, the corners of his lips slightly raised.
Lu Xingyue was sitting not far behind His Highness the Fifth Prince.
Just as he said something to the person next to him, when he saw Shen Lansui looking over, he raised his eyes, but Shen Lansui had already withdrew his gaze.
Lu Xingyue felt helpless.
He seemed to really piss people off.
Princess Rong Zhao said a few words, then raised a glass and invited everyone to drink together. Shen Lansui's eyes fell on her wrist and found that it seemed a little red.
Was everything fine in the pavilion before?
That vague scolding suddenly flashed through his mind, and Shen Lansui's eyelids twitched, feeling that he knew some great secret.
"Third sister-in-law, are you distracted?" Lu Jingzhi quietly pulled off her sleeve.
The two of them are located very close to each other, near the front of the second row. From this angle, it is very convenient to see everything without being too conspicuous.
Shen Lansui looked away and whispered: "Well, the beauty at the table is like a flower, I was fascinated by it for a moment."
Lu Jingzhi covered his lips and laughed, "Everyone has a love for beauty, I understand."
Shen Lan smiled and looked at the female guest at the front, "Which princess is in front of you?"
Lu Jingzhi whispered: "She is Princess Jiale, the second princess, and the sister of Princess Rongzhao."
Shen Lan suddenly realized that she was Princess Jiale, Princess Rongzhao was the fourth, and Princess Jiale was the second. The two were only one year apart, and neither of them had married a consort yet, so they usually stayed close to each other.
It's not unusual for her to come to the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet, but the seven princes opposite...
For some reason, she always felt weird.
"I heard that my sister left a question for all the girls at the entrance of the Juyuan. I wonder which one caught your eye?" Princess Jiale asked with a smile.
Shen Lansui's heart tightened and she sat up straighter. Lu Jingzhi stopped talking, his eyes full of curiosity.
Princess Rong Zhao sat at the top and smiled and said: "There are so many things that catch your eye. We ladies from Yangdu all stand out. It's hard to distinguish between the best. I can't choose the best one, but the most special one is There is one."
Her eyes fell on Ruan Huaishu, who was sitting in front of her, and she blinked, "I would rather die holding the fragrance on the branches than blow it away in the north wind (1)? Zanghua, what girl are you trying to deceive with your appearance today?"
Everyone's attention immediately focused on Ruan Huaishu.
Ruan Huaishu Shiran stood up, holding a folding fan in one hand and a wine cup in the other, pretending to be helpless and said: "I want to lie, but the sisters here are all human beings, and they can see through me at a glance."
The two sang and harmonized, the atmosphere became much more relaxed, and there were bursts of laughter throughout the table.
Shen Lansui watched Ruan Huaishu finish the glass of wine in one gulp and raised his eyebrows in surprise. Zanghua had a good drinker.
She was a little worried about whether Princess Rong Zhao would nod her. She didn't want to be in the limelight on such an occasion. Unexpectedly, Rong Zhao only nodded to Ruan Huaishu and changed the subject. She didn't mention the poem again. The other noble ladies also He breathed a sigh of relief.
Shen Lansui couldn't help but wonder if these two people had passed Qi in advance?
It was boring to just sit and drink, so Rong Zhao suggested that the young ladies and gentlemen should show off their talents in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and those who performed well would be rewarded.
When Lu Jingzhi saw that the reward was a set of fine jade nuggets, and remembered that the eldest lady liked it, he wanted to get up, but Shen Lansui held her down.
Lu Jingzhi was confused, "Sister-in-law, don't you want me to go?"
Shen Lansui shook his head. While they were hesitating, a noble lady came forward to perform. Lu Jingzhi could only sit back.
"What's wrong?" Lu Jingzhi asked again.
Shen Lansui glanced at the princes opposite who were relaxing, and asked in a low voice: "Tell me, why are the princes here?"
Lu Jingzhi said blankly: "Aren't you here to cheer for Princess Rong Zhao?"
Shen Lan asked pointedly: "I remember that there are still several people among the princes who are not married, right?"
Lu Jingzhi paused for a moment, then his eyes widened, "You mean..."
"Shh!"
Shen Lansui made a silent gesture.
Lu Jingzhi immediately shut his mouth. She looked around with lingering fear. Sure enough, several noble ladies from well-off families remained motionless from beginning to end.
"Do you want to marry into the royal family?" Shen Lansui asked hesitantly.
Lu Jingzhi shook his head like a rattle, "No, I don't want to at all!"
Shen Lansui thought about it. Her straightforward temperament was incompatible with the prince's backyard.
Lu Jingzhi held her hand and said gratefully: "If you, third sister-in-law, hadn't stopped me, I would have been the one who went up now. What if some prince was really blind and fell in love with me? Heh... I don't dare to think about it. .”
Shen Lansui didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "There's no need to be so arrogant."
There is no one in the Lu family who is ugly. Lu Jingzhi is naturally a beauty, with a straightforward and straightforward temperament, and is easy to like. The most important thing is that she comes from a strong family background. Her father is the Duke of Rongguo and her mother is the Prince of Congyang County. The second daughter and her three older brothers are also more promising than the last.
If the prince is interested, she must be the first choice for his concubine.
Thinking of this, Shen Lansui couldn't laugh anymore. If they had intentions, not going on stage would not be a foolproof solution. We could only see what Duke Rong Guo thought.
She subconsciously glanced at the men's table opposite, but saw the general whom she had met before raising his glass to Lu Xingyue expressionlessly across a few seats.
Lu Xingyue raised his wine cup and signaled to him from a distance, then covered his face and drank it all in one gulp.
Shen Lansui muttered: "...The injuries on my body haven't fully healed, yet I still dare to drink."
Lu Jingzhi didn't hear clearly, "Sister-in-law, what did you say?"
"Nothing." Shen Lansui looked away, looked at the wine cup on the table, picked it up curiously and smelled it.
Is it that delicious?
She took a tentative sip, and the spicy aroma mixed with unknown flowers hit Tianling Gai, making her eyes turn red instantly.
"Cough cough cough -" After swallowing, she couldn't help but tilt her head and cough twice.
Lu Jingzhi patted her on the back and said, "Sister-in-law, please drink slowly. This wine is very strong."
Shen Lansui: "..."
Sister, tell me earlier next time, okay?
She put down the cup with trembling hands, sniffed, and her eyes filled with moisture.
Lu Xingyue on the opposite side looked over, his expression suddenly condensed.
Why are you crying?
(1) "Cold Chrysanthemum" by Zheng Sixiao
(End of chapter)
