The scale of the flower-viewing banquet held by the Duke of Anguo's mansion was naturally incomparable to that of the second-rate Wen family.

Second-rate aristocratic families can't even get close to the Duke of Anguo's mansion.

This time, the Duke of Anguo's mansion went all out, inviting not only male guests but also female guests, turning the flower-viewing banquet into a large-scale matchmaking event.

For decades before, Da Yuan had never held such a high-profile matchmaking banquet!

On this day, the emperor issued an order that Ye Jingchen, Ye Jingming, Ye Jingshu, and Ye Jingyan all attend the flower-viewing banquet.

He also said that Ye Jingyu and Ye Jingyu could participate if they were interested.

Gu Beichen and Yun Shu's families both received invitations and were required to attend the banquet. Ye Jingyu really wanted to go and join in the fun, but the Imperial Concubine forbade it.

Consort Liang also forbade Ye Jingyu from participating.

Ye Jinghe really wanted to follow Ye Jingchen, but the emperor explicitly forbade it.

Ye Jingchen ran into Xie Chang'an at the entrance of the Duke of Anguo's mansion; the two arrived one after the other.

The Crown Prince and his wife came to greet him personally, so Ye Jingchen had to suppress his doubts and first pay his respects to his uncle and aunt. After that, he had to go with them to pay his respects to his maternal grandparents.

After meeting all the people they were supposed to meet and paying their respects, they arrived at the banquet hall. Before even entering, they saw Ye Jingming, Xie Chang'an, Yun Shu, and Gu Beichen gathered together, surrounded by a large group of people.

Yun Shu and Gu Beichen will both participate in the imperial examinations in August; one will take the provincial examination, and the other will take the county examination.

Yun Shu probably has pre-exam syndrome; the closer the exam gets, the faster he loses weight, and he's gone from a big fat guy to a little fat guy.

At this rate of weight loss, he'll probably become slightly chubby by August.

After losing weight, Yun Shu's features were already showing signs of becoming a handsome man. In addition, he liked to laugh, had a novel way of thinking, and spoke in a funny way. He managed to keep the other three people talking without making them feel awkward.

Ye Jingchen did not enter the banquet hall, but went to a small private room behind the banquet hall, and instructed the servants to take Ye Jingming and the others to the private room.

The small cubicle is separated from the banquet hall by curtains and screens. People in the small cubicle can see into the banquet hall, but people in the banquet hall cannot see into the small cubicle.

Before long, Ye Jingming and his group arrived.

"Phew—these people are far too enthusiastic, it's really hard to handle! Your Highness, you called us at just the right time, if it had been any later, I would have had nothing to say to them!" Yun Shu patted her chest and said with an exaggerated expression.

"I saw you chatting happily with them, didn't I? I was just hesitant about whether to call you!" Ye Jingchen joked.

"I wasn't really happy. My face was practically frozen from smiling. It was all just for show!" Yun Shu sighed, rubbing her face.

"Speaking of which, I have to blame those three. They're all serious and sparing with words, so I had no choice but to endure the humiliation and bite the bullet!" Yun Shu said, glaring at Xie Chang'an and Gu Beichen.

"It's truly surprising that Young Master Xie would attend such an occasion!" Ye Jingchen finally found an opportunity to voice his doubts.

In general, invitations are not sent to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion for banquets of all sizes in the imperial city. Even if an invitation is sent out politely, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion will not attend.

Logically speaking, Xie Chang'an should never have appeared on an occasion like today.

After all, all the noble families in the capital knew that the emperor disliked the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. Who among those with some power in the capital would want their daughter to marry into the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion?

"As the only son of the Duke of Zhenguo's family, it's not normal for me to come here for matchmaking when I'm of age. Does His Highness the Crown Prince think I'm not good enough for the noble ladies here?" Xie Chang'an asked with a sneer.

"You're good enough for me! How could you not be? With Young Master Xie's family background and abilities, you're more than qualified to marry the princess. If anyone is unworthy, it's the noble ladies here who are unworthy of you!" Ye Jingchen said, half-jokingly and half-seriously.

Unfortunately, Xie Chang'an had too high standards; he didn't even look down on the princess!

"Does Your Highness really think I can marry a princess? Aren't two princesses looking for husbands today? Does that mean I have a chance?" Xie Chang'an asked with a half-smile.

Ye Jingchen was momentarily speechless.

He didn't believe Xie Chang'an would be willing to marry a princess!

Having spent seven years together in the Wenhua Hall, Xie Chang'an had barely exchanged a few words with the three princesses!

"You want to marry a princess? That would only be possible if my elder sister or younger sister would approve of you! Marriage is a major life event, and other people's opinions don't count. If you really like someone, go and express your feelings. If she also has feelings for you, I will definitely help you make it happen!" Ye Jingchen said with a smile.

"I've already expressed my feelings, haven't I? But I was rejected. Can Your Highness help me win him back?" Xie Chang'an looked at Ye Jingchen and asked meaningfully.

"Xie Chang'an, you actually like princesses?!" Yun Shu exclaimed in surprise. "Which princess do you like? I didn't notice that."

"You actually confessed your feelings! You're so brave!"

Yun Shu's words eased some of the embarrassment Ye Jingchen felt.

"Young Master Xie, stop talking nonsense! Don't ruin the reputation of my elder and younger sisters!" he rebuked them, though not very confidently.

"What could damage our reputation?" Ye Jingshu and Ye Jingyan asked curiously as they walked in through the curtain.

“Princess, Xie Chang’an, he—” Yun Shu said excitedly.

"It's nothing, just kidding! Royal sister, second royal sister, you've come at the perfect time, quickly take a look and see if there's anyone who suits your taste!" Ye Jingchen interrupted Yun Shu and said to Ye Jingshu.

"You want me to choose a consort based on his looks?" Ye Jingshu said, somewhat amused.

Ye Jingchen didn't see anything wrong with judging by looks, and said confidently, "Judging by looks is the first step. After you get married, you'll be with your husband every day, so naturally you'll need to find someone you find pleasing to the eye!"

"Once we're satisfied with his appearance, we'll examine his character and personality!"

"At a matchmaking event like this, all you can see is faces! You can't judge someone's character that easily!"

"Since you speak so eloquently, why don't you go and meet the female guests? Father has decided to use this flower-viewing banquet to find you a Crown Princess!" Ye Jingshu teased him.

Ye Jingchen glanced at Xie Chang'an subconsciously, only to meet Xie Chang'an's piercing gaze.

"Well, how can you just casually look at female guests? Wouldn't that be offensive?" He touched his nose and said somewhat awkwardly.

Ye Jingshu didn't let him off the hook. "Now you're pretending to be a gentleman? I heard you told Father Emperor about your requirements for the future Crown Princess. Weren't you very clear about them?"

Ye Jingchen glanced at Xie Chang'an again.

Xie Chang'an must have planted spies in Chengqian Palace, right?

Does he know his requirements for his future crown princess?

If he finds out, will he misunderstand something?

"Your Majesty, you should know that I only said that to appease Father! The more detailed my requirements are, the harder it will be for Father to find someone, right? If he investigates later, it will be because he is incapable of finding the type I like, not because I don't want to get married!" Ye Jingchen explained somewhat guiltily.