There is intrigue in the backyard, and the front yard is just as lively.
The male guests were temporarily placed in the front yard. They were all officials from the same dynasty and were very familiar with each other. They seemed to be having a good chat, but few of them were truly happy.
Jiang Muchen arrived at the Han Xiang Mansion before Chu Feiyang and others. He saw him sitting in the main hall with a sullen face. He looked indifferently at the officials who kept coming forward to greet him, but his eyes were always fixed coldly on the entrance to the front yard of the Han Xiang Mansion. His fingers on the armrests tapped rhythmically, as if he was waiting for someone.
Han Che stood at the entrance to greet the officials who were invited. He had a faint smile on his face, and his every move was gentle and elegant. This made the officials who had daughters at home even more satisfied.
"I heard from my wife that Prime Minister Han's parents don't live in the mansion. Right now, only Prime Minister Han's sister, Miss Han, is in the mansion. On weekdays, it's only Miss Han who helps the housekeeper to manage some affairs of the mansion." A fourth-rank official and several lower-ranking officials stood by the flower bed outside the hall and whispered the secret they knew.
"Prime Minister Han is only eighteen years old and he has already become the Left Prime Minister. His future is limitless. There is no mistress of the house in this mansion. If a young lady from some family marries in, she will not have to serve her parents-in-law, and she can immediately become the mistress of the house. This is a great thing. Besides, Prime Minister Han is extremely talented and handsome. He is really a rare candidate for a son-in-law." After hearing what the official said, the others started talking, their eyes secretly looking at Han Che who was standing at the entrance.
He was tall, with a face as white as jade, and his behavior exuded a sense of nobility. He was becoming more and more sophisticated and adept in dealing with people. Although he was only wearing a royal blue brocade robe today, he looked even more handsome and extraordinary, which made everyone very satisfied.
At this moment, the smile on Han Che's face deepened a little, and even a hint of smile appeared in his eyes.
He just took a step forward and warmly greeted those who came to congratulate him.
Seeing that Han Che, who never showed his emotions, was so happy, everyone stretched their necks to look over, only to see Han Shaomian, the Minister of War, walking in behind Prince Duan.
For a moment, everyone's excitement subsided. It seemed that this Han Xiang would not be interested in a young lady from a small family. Who would care about small fish when they have bigger fish?
"That's not right. There are no young ladies of the right age in the Prince Duan's Mansion and the Han Mansion." An official reacted and muttered to himself as he frowned and looked at Han Che who was chatting enthusiastically with Han Shaomian over there.
"Could it be that Prime Minister Han has taken a fancy to Minister Han on behalf of Miss Han?" The gossipy low-ranking official echoed the man's words.
"Prime Minister Han is very happy." Seeing Prince Duan Wang approaching, Han Shaomian smiled and congratulated Han Che.
"I've been looking forward to your coming. There have been too many things going on recently, and we can't sit down and have a good chat. You must not leave until you are drunk today." Han Che smiled lightly, but there was a touch of ease and playfulness in his words.
"Of course, you go ahead and do your work." Han Shaomian saw someone else coming in behind him, so he immediately walked towards the front hall to make way.
At this time, Prince Duan and Prince Chen sat on each side of each other, drinking the tea in their hands without much communication or dialogue.
Seeing that the two princes did not talk or laugh too much, everyone did not dare to speak too loudly and left the front hall and hid in the corner.
"Your humble servant greets Prince Chen." Han Shaomian returned to Prince Duan's side and bowed to Prince Chen.
"Minister Han is becoming more and more promising." Jiang Muchen looked at Han Shaomian. He knew that Prince Duan, who had never cared about worldly affairs, had taken Han Shaomian to many banquets recently. It was obvious that he was paving the way for Han Shaomian.
"Seventh brother, is the Concubine Dowager used to being in the imperial mausoleum these days?" Little did Han Shaomian know that Prince Duan had spoken first before he could say anything.
Prince Duan was seen holding the teacup in one hand and pinching the lid of the bowl with two fingers of the other hand, scraping the edge of the bowl from time to time. Although the sound was not loud, it was still heard by everyone in the relatively quiet front hall.
"The Emperor also means well. Why should Seventh Brother refuse? Instead of getting the Concubine Dowager into trouble..." Prince Duan didn't say the rest. He lowered his head and took a sip of tea, but frowned slightly and muttered to himself, "Life is like tea."
How could Jiang Muchen not understand the meaning behind Prince Duan's words? He accused him of causing Concubine Yuande to suffer for his own affairs. It is said that filial piety is the most important virtue, but he couldn't even practice the most basic filial piety.
After hearing Prince Duan's words, Jiang Muchen didn't get angry. He placed the teacup in his hand on the table and said indifferently, "This prince feels that life is short. I am still not as good as my brother. He has the emperor's respect and trust, but this prince...ah...life is short."
Upon hearing this, Prince Duan said nothing more. His stance has always been neutral. He would neither side with Emperor Yugan nor stand in Prince Chen's camp. If he said too many things that shouldn't be said here, and they got out, his stance would probably change.
He was not as powerful as the Princes of Chu, Chen, and Hai, who held military power, allowing Emperor Yugan to dislike them without immediately eliminating them. Ever since the accidental death of Princess Duan during childbirth, he had seen through everything and no longer wished to be caught up in the vortex of power struggles. Only a neutral stance could protect him.
Jiang Muchen was not a talkative person, but his eyes were fixed on the entrance of the front hall. When he found that Chu Feiyang did not come in for a long time, he stood up and turned to go towards the garden.
"Please wait for a moment, my lords. The banquet can begin once all the guests are here." At this moment, Han Che turned around and walked quickly towards Prince Chen and Prince Duan. Coincidentally, he stopped three steps away from Prince Chen, cleverly blocking his way to the garden.
"Prime Minister Han is angry." Although Han Shaomian didn't know why Han Che suddenly returned to the front hall and even blocked Prince Chen's way without leaving a trace, he was worried that Han Che would suffer a loss in front of Prince Chen. He couldn't help but walk to Han Che's side and said with a smile, "Prime Minister Han's Mansion is elegant and generous, pleasing to the eye. It's a good opportunity for us to appreciate it."
A cold gleam in Jiang Muchen's eyes shot at the two people in front of him, and a sneer of contempt appeared at the corner of his mouth. Then he walked past Han Che and Han Shaomian and went straight to the garden.
"Everyone, please follow the butler to the garden to enjoy the scenery. The banquet will begin immediately." Seeing that King Chen had already taken a step forward, Han Che had an idea and hurriedly asked the butler to lead everyone to follow King Chen to the garden.
Hearing Han Che's words, Jiang Muchen paused slightly, then resumed his previous pace and walked straight towards the garden of Han Xiangfu.
Compared to the front hall with its numerous plants and trees, the garden is filled with clusters of flowers. With the attractive ladies and noblewomen standing or sitting everywhere, the originally quiet atmosphere suddenly becomes lively.
"Madam Han is so lucky. Minister Han is obviously a talented young man." The ladies and noble ladies also looked at the court officials and young men from famous families who walked into the garden. The most eye-catching one was naturally Prince Chen.
However, Prince Chen is cold-hearted and can even reject the Emperor's marriage in public. They are afraid that they will never have the chance to be carried into Prince Chen's palace in a sedan chair in this lifetime. It is better to settle for the second best and find a husband who is sincere to them, which is better than being a worried and frightened Princess Chen.
"Madam Wang, you are too kind." Madam Han's gaze naturally fell on Han Shaomian who was walking behind Prince Duan. With a faint smile in her eyes, she humbly responded to the words of the lady just now.
"Why isn't my cousin here?" Xiahou An'er glanced at the people who came in. Not only did she not see Hai Chenxi, but even Chu Feiyang was not among them. She covered her red lips with a round fan, leaned closer to Yun Qianmeng and asked in a low voice.
How could Yun Qianmeng have missed Xiahou An'er's expression just now?
When the girl saw everyone coming in, her bright eyes immediately scanned the crowd. When she didn't see anyone, the look in her eyes couldn't help but darken slightly.
Yun Qianmeng smiled faintly and followed Xiahou An'er's words as she looked towards the garden. As expected, Chu Feiyang was nowhere to be seen. She covered her mouth with her fan and whispered to Xiahou An'er, "Perhaps something delayed him. Look, Prince Hai hasn't arrived yet."
"Cousin." Seeing Yun Qianmeng expose her thoughts, Xiahou An'er was a little unwilling and hugged Yun Qianmeng's arm and acted coquettishly.
Yun Qianmeng saw her acting like a little girl, a doting smile appeared in her eyes, and she reached out and patted the back of Xiahou An'er's hand.
From the moment Jiang Muchen stepped into the garden, his eyes were immediately glued to Yun Qianmeng. The pavilion was above and the flat ground was below. Looking up from below, Yun Qianmeng was dressed in a light blue dress, which was elegant and graceful. Especially among a group of ladies with heavy makeup and gorgeous clothes, her extraordinary appearance immediately stood out, and she captured his heart tightly, causing Jiang Muchen's pace to gradually slow down, not wanting to pass by her too early.
Yun Qianmeng's charming look as she covered her face with a fan while communicating with others, and her black eyes with a faint smile yet sparkling, attracted all of King Chen's attention. He unconsciously changed the direction of his steps and walked towards the pavilion.
"Pah!" At that moment, a large hand, carrying a powerful wind, suddenly slapped King Chen's shoulder. Even against the soft silk brocade robe, the slap still made a sound, successfully causing King Chen to stop in his tracks. He turned with a cold look at the person who had dared to attack him.
Prince Chen looked closely and saw that Chu Feiyang had appeared behind him without anyone noticing. At this moment, Chu Feiyang's big hand was still pressing hard on his shoulder, but his face was full of a friendly and gentle smile. He reminded himself loudly, "What's wrong with you, Your Highness? You don't want to walk on the cobblestone road, but walk into the flower garden where people plant flowers and plants. Look, how many beautiful flowers have you ruined by stepping on it?"
What Chu Feiyang said implied a deeper meaning. When King Chen heard it, his face turned pale and his eyes were cold.
With a 'Pa!' sound, Jiang Muchen forcefully slapped Chu Feiyang's hand away, his voice as cold as ice saying, "Isn't the King of Chu worrying too much? The Prime Minister hasn't even spoken yet, and you're already speaking up for justice? If you cherish flowers, the King of Chu might as well bring them all back to the palace and treat them well."
Chu Feiyang, however, was not angered by Prince Chen's actions or rebuttals. He only patted the back of his hand that Prince Chen had touched, and then smiled faintly and said, "How did Your Highness know that I didn't bring it back to the palace? Your Highness, please don't forget that the flower that you cherished the most bloomed alone in my palace. Tsk tsk tsk tsk, it's a pity that Your Highness missed the opportunity and has no hope in this life. Why not just pick one of the ordinary flowers to make do with?"
"Hmph, I can't compare to the leisure and elegance of the King of Chu. He spends all day drinking and writing poetry or gazing at the moon on the roof. Only the King of Chu can be so unrestrained and free in such romantic affairs in the world." Jiang Muchen was secretly resentful of Chu Feiyang's retort. The sarcastic smile on Chu Feiyang's lips made him look displeased, and he retorted.
"Your Highness, thank you for your compliment. With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, it's only natural for the whole family to enjoy the moon together. It's a pity that the Concubine Dowager has gone to the Imperial Mausoleum. I'm afraid Your Highness will have to spend the next few Mid-Autumn Festivals alone." How could Chu Feiyang be willing to be left behind? He refuted Jiang Muchen with every word, truly ready to fight back.
However, after hearing his words, Jiang Muchen revealed a cold smile, and then asked sharply, "Is that so? I heard that a few days ago, when the Prince of Chu failed to force his way into the Chu Palace, he even took out the waist badge bestowed upon the Chu family by the Ancestral Emperor. It seems that in the eyes of the Prince of Chu, the Ancestral Emperor is more important than the current Emperor. He actually allowed you to disregard the Emperor's decree and force your way into the Chu Palace to meet Chu Pei's family. If it weren't for the Emperor's magnanimity and forgivingness, do you think you would still have the chance to enjoy the moon and the scenery with your family?"
Chu Feiyang wasn't surprised at all when he heard Jiang Muchen's words. Prince Chen was in charge of the capital's defenses, so how could he be unaware of the capital's movements? He was probably stationed with Prince Chen's men inside and outside every official residence. Any slightest sign of trouble would send word to Prince Chen as quickly as possible.
Chu Feiyang listened carefully to Prince Chen's accusations, then nodded solemnly and spoke slowly, "Your Highness is absolutely right. The Emperor is indeed magnanimous and doesn't hold a grudge against this humble minister. So, if the Emperor doesn't hold a grudge, why should Your Highness hold on to it? However, Your Highness can't be blamed for this. The Emperor is the ruler of the people, so his heart is naturally broad. Of course, Your Highness cannot be compared with the Emperor."
With these words, he cleverly praised Emperor Yugan in front of everyone, and hinted to King Chen that he could not sit on the throne without a broad mind.
After hearing this, Jiang Muchen gritted his teeth and wanted to punch Chu Feiyang's slyly grinning face to vent his hatred.
Seeing the turbulent conversation between the two kings, the others stood still and dared not interrupt. They could only look up at the blue sky awkwardly and ask in silence.
"Seventh brother, Prince Chu, hurry up! Those flowers can still be saved if we hand them over to the gardener now." At this moment, Prince Duan suddenly turned and spoke. Clearly, despite being in the lead, he had heard the conversation clearly. But Prince Duan feigned a frown, pretending to understand the deeper meaning of their words. He simply followed their conversation about the flowers and plants, instantly dispelling the awkward silence created by Prince Chen and Prince Chu.
"Haha, the one who cherishes flowers the most is Prince Duan." Chu Feiyang laughed heartily, but then moved closer to Prince Chen and said with concern: "I see that Prince Chen looks dazed today and may easily get lost. If he is not feeling well, why not let me support him."
However, just as Chu Feiyang's hand reached out for Jiang Muchen's sleeve, Jiang Muchen had already left the flower garden and stood next to Prince Duan. Without looking back, he walked towards the seat arranged by Prime Minister Han's Mansion.
Chu Feiyang just smiled without saying a word and followed Yun Qianmeng onto the cobblestone road. However, his eyes met Yun Qianmeng's from a distance. Both of them had a faint smile in their eyes, but also a flowing affection.
"The King of Chu is truly eloquent. No wonder my father always praises him as a rare genius. Not only is he invincible on the battlefield, he can also debate with scholars in the court. The Princess of Chu is truly blessed." At this time, Princess Qian suddenly spoke with a smile.
After hearing her words, everyone who had been attracted by the man immediately focused their attention on Yun Qianmeng, all with expressions of envy, jealousy and hatred.
But Yun Qianmeng knew that Princess Qian's words weren't just intended to turn the tables on her. The phrases "invincible in battle, eloquent among the scholars" were the most devastating. No matter how great a minister's achievements or abilities, how could they ever place themselves above their sovereign? If these two words reached the ears of Emperor Yugan, he would undoubtedly think that Chu Feiyang, convinced of his own achievements, had other intentions.
There were so many ladies and young ladies who came to congratulate today. If these people spread the news, even if Chu Nanshan and Chu Feiyang were loyal, they would not be able to escape the suspicion of Emperor Yu Gan. What's more, Emperor Yu Gan already had a lot of dissatisfaction with Chu Feiyang.
Ji Shuyu naturally saw that Princess Qian had ill intentions, but she didn't speak immediately. Firstly, Yun Qianmeng was currently the Princess of Chu, and it would be most effective for her to refute the claim. Secondly, if she spoke rashly, she feared everyone would think the Chu and Qu families were colluding, which would not only fail to help Meng'er but would only make her more embarrassed. Thirdly, Ji Shuyu trusted Yun Qianmeng to handle the matter perfectly.
Yun Qianmeng withdrew her gaze from the ground and indifferently looked at the sneer-filled Consort Qian. She spoke elegantly, "This concubine's path is just that of an ordinary person. The Emperor granted me a marriage, and I married the Prince. All my blessings are bestowed by the Emperor, so I am deeply grateful to him. However, if we were to say who is the most blessed, it would have to be you, Consort Qian. At the last banquet for the young prince's first birthday at the Sea Prince's Palace, the Crown Prince was very fond of the Sea Prince's Palace. It seems that Consort Qian lives in a fairyland every day. The Sea Prince's Palace is located in Yangmingshan, a place of great natural beauty. No wonder it was able to give birth to such peerless people as the Prince and the Prince of Hai."
As she spoke, Yun Qianmeng smiled faintly, but the smile did not reach her eyes. Her eyes, as calm as an ancient well and as deep as the sea, were staring quietly at the Princess Consort Qian in front of her.
When Princess Qian Shizi was looked at like this by Yun Qianmeng, her heart tightened for no reason. Her hands on her knees unconsciously clutched her dress. She felt that the calmness in Yun Qianmeng's eyes made her heart tremble with fear.
After the fear gradually subsided, Princess Qian finally came to her senses, but by then Princess Duan had already changed the subject, and everyone continued to laugh and talk about other things.
However, Princess Qian pinched her dress even harder with her hands, cursing in her heart, "Damn Yun Qianmeng, she actually implied that the Prince of the Sea's Mansion had rebellious intentions. If her father knew that such a rumor was spread during the verbal fight between her and Yun Qianmeng, I'm afraid the prince would dislike her even more."