Seeing this, the Third Prince couldn't help but speak. He glared at Chen Zhizhou and his wife, who were sitting beside him, and said bluntly, "Since this is a banquet carefully prepared by the Third Young Master of the Chen family, how can you leave before the meal even begins?"

As soon as Li Xiangji opened his mouth, the surroundings suddenly fell silent.

Even though everyone was dissatisfied, they did not dare to speak out. They all looked at Gu Qing with displeasure, wanting to see what she was planning to sell.

"Those who don't know the situation might think that the Chen family has fallen on hard times. If I remember correctly, the Chen family's monthly salary is quite high." Li Xiangsheng said, pulling his lips and giving a sinister smile.

Gu Qing stood up slowly and walked quickly to the center of the table. She looked at everyone with a gentle smile, "I have prepared a simple feast today. I hope you all will not be offended. Gu Qing knows that you are all from powerful and noble families. You are used to eating delicacies from land and sea. You will naturally sneer at this plain meal. But-"

Before she could finish her words, Mu Xin, who had already lost her temper and was about to explode, suddenly stood up. She first glanced at the guests around her and smiled awkwardly, "It's good enough to have something to eat. Why are you so picky? What's there to complain about? Don't you know how miserable the people in Jiangnan are living with the flood?"

this……

The smarter ones had long since stopped joking and talking with Du Qing and the others in private. No one had expected that this nice meal would turn out to be the Hongmen Banquet!

"Everyone knows this dish, this watery rice porridge is hard to swallow, right? Let me see, the Du family is really wealthy. First of all, Miss Du's dress cost a thousand taels of gold, and this jade pipa is priceless, wow..." After Mu Xin finished speaking, he turned around and looked at Du Qing, who was blushing and sitting at the seat.

Du Qing clutched his sleeve with one hand in anger. He never expected that Gu Qing was so capable and would use the same trick again!

It seems like today is some kind of poetry gathering, but actually she has other intentions.

Li Xiangji had already seen what tricks Gu Qing was going to play next. The corners of his lips couldn't help but rise. He picked up the porcelain cup on the table and took a sip of the tea in the cup.

Li Xiangsheng, who was sitting not far in front of the third prince, looked embarrassed, his face turning pale and blue, looking extremely ugly!

Li Xiangsheng glanced at Gu Qing coldly and sneered, "You underestimated Gu Qing's ability. It was my negligence."

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Gu Qing gave Mu Xin another look.

After all, Mu Xin is a princess. As long as she expresses her opinion today, which of the noble ladies and powerful children sitting below would dare not pay?

"This princess was in a hurry when she came out today, and the maidservant who accompanied her only brought a hundred taels of gold, and some jewelry that His Majesty had awarded me before. As a woman, this princess is not as capable as a man when it comes to fighting in the battlefield, but this country is in crisis, and this princess is receiving tribute from the world. Naturally, she should take from the people and give back to the people." Mu Xin clapped his hands and looked back at Gu Qing not far away.

The corners of Mu Xin's lips curled up into a smug smile.

Everyone's faces had complicated expressions...

The princess said this, and when she came out in a hurry she brought a hundred taels of gold with her, which showed that she was well prepared.

And everyone who came to the song and poetry meeting today brought with them rare treasures that they had collected recently.

Nothing

"If I remember correctly," Mu Xin said halfway, she glanced at Du Qing who was not far away, "Master Du's monthly salary doesn't seem to be that much. Miss Du's pipa must have cost Master Du several years of his monthly salary. Tsk tsk, the Du family dotes on their daughters like this, it makes people envious."

Gu Qing couldn't help but burst out laughing. Mu Xin's move was really mean.

Her words and actions hinted that the Du family's money came from an illicit source.

If Du Qing didn't say anything now, then among those present, not all families were on good terms with the Du family. If anyone filed a memorial to report the Du family...

That would be a devastating disaster for the Du family!

"The princess is right. Du Qing is being willful. This pipa was my mother's dowry. Since the princess has taken the lead today, the Du family has nothing to say." Du Qing gritted his teeth unwillingly as he spoke.

She spent a lot of money to have this pipa made by a famous craftsman. Even the raw stone for the pipa, which is so big, is not cheap.

Gu Qing looked at the pipa and nodded thoughtfully, "I didn't expect this pipa to be quite old. If Miss Du hadn't told me, I would have thought it was a new instrument that hadn't even been heard of before."

Du Qing donated all the pipa he brought with him, but that was not the end.

Mu Xin had already made plans. When he came to the Chen family today, he would highlight the young lady from the Du family who was the most talkative and nagging.

They complained that the Chen family's hospitality was poor, and they also complained that Gu Qing's hospitality was too shabby...

"If I remember correctly, your mother's family seems to be of similar family background, right?" Mu Xin curled his lips and smiled slyly, with a strange light flashing in his eyes.

Du Qing had a mournful face. She took off all the jewelry she was wearing and took away all the valuables she could. "What the princess said is true. It is thanks to the grace of Your Majesty that the Du family has been able to reach this point. The Du family has a clean background and no wealth. These are the dowry items that my mother prepared for me. Since the court is in trouble, I..."

Hearing Du Qing's crying voice, Gu Qing felt a little bit reluctant in his heart.

It's not their fault that they were so ruthless today. The only thing to blame is that these playboys are too stubborn and arrogant. She just set a trap and they all rushed into it in a hurry.

"This is the jewelry I wore when I went out today."

"These hairpins should be worth some money..."

…

In just a short time of a cup of tea, all the nobles who came here in all their splendor and glory were now penniless.

Gu Qing glanced at the Third and Fifth Princes sitting under the pavilion. She paused briefly, then looked at Li Xiangsheng without hesitation and said, "Your Highness, since your Highness is here today, it's a good opportunity. These treasures wouldn't be safe in my Chen family. I wonder if you could trouble Your Highness to bring someone to check and inspect them."

he?

Chen Zhizhou, who was sitting in his seat, was stunned at first, and then looked at Gu Qing with an extremely unbelievable look.

Gu Qing's actions today offended all the civil and military officials in the court. She gave the jewelry and precious treasures she collected to the Fifth Prince, which seemed to be a great bargain for him.

In fact—

Those who are unaware may think that the person who conspired behind all this is Li Xiangsheng.

The spearhead will only be directed at him.

Li Xiangsheng twitched his lips and asked jokingly, "Did I hear correctly just now?"