92nd birthday banquet

◎Will you be in danger? ◎

As winter passed and the weather gradually warmed, the gloomy sky over the capital gradually brightened, and when the wind was still chilly, people came and went in front of the Marquis of Quzhou's mansion, making it a lively place.

This day was the birthday of Marquis Quzhou, who turned forty this year. Ignoring the rumors in the capital, Marquis Quzhou held a grand banquet as in previous years, which was even more lively than in previous years.

Today, Marquis Qu Zhou wore a long, straight-hemmed robe with a colorful brocade print, over which was a plain gauze robe of the same color. Around her neck was a seven-layered necklace of blue jade beads. She looked incredibly noble and radiant. Her long, upturned eyes seemed to say: "I'm so happy today."

"The clothes worn by Marquis Quzhou are truly beautiful. What do you mean by a fortieth birthday? I think it should be thirty." The speaker was Lady Wang, the wife of Gao Yi, the Left Minister of Works.

Marquis Quzhou said, "I take what the Left Minister's wife said seriously. So if I call you Madam, I should call you Aunt."

A group of noble ladies burst into laughter at Qu Zhouhou's words.

At this moment, a servant whispered something in Marquis Qu's ear, and Marquis Qu said to everyone, "Please make yourselves at home and have fun. I'll excuse myself now."

After Marquis Quzhou left, some people whispered, "I heard that Marquis Guangshun took a concubine named Xiaoxing, and that Xiaoxing even gave birth to a son and a daughter for Marquis Guangshun. How come Marquis Quzhou is still in the mood to hold such a big banquet?"

"The Marquis of Quzhou is the Empress's younger sister. Even the Marquis of Guangshun has to rely on her. She's not afraid of anyone," a young lady said.

"It's so nice to have an elder sister who's the Empress. Even if she can't bear children for her husband's family, she can still have a grand birthday banquet with princes, princesses, and high-ranking officials coming to offer their congratulations," the young lady continued, her voice tinged with bitterness.

"Cough cough..."

"Sister Wang, what's wrong? Is your throat sore?" Madam Wang, Gao Yi's wife, shook her head slightly, indicating that there was someone behind the young lady who spoke.

The young lady turned around and saw the eldest princess, dressed in an orange-red trailing straight-hemmed robe, with gold hairpins swaying gently on either side as she walked. Her face was somber, and she exuded a faint air of authority as she approached her.

"Who are you?" Qi Gu asked.

The young lady quickly bowed and said, "Replying to Your Highness, I am Cao Chuan's wife."

Surname Cao? Qi Gu remembered that in her previous life, there was a captain surnamed Cao by the side of the Second Prince Chu Xiaocheng. On the day of the palace coup, Honghu brought that Captain Cao to capture her.

"So it's Lady Cao. The Marquis of Quzhou holds the title of Marquis because she followed Father Emperor and fought on the battlefield, earning military merits. Father Emperor admired my aunt's bravery and talent, and when rewarding her for her merits, he bestowed upon her the title of Marquis of Quzhou. This shows Father Emperor's open-mindedness and magnanimity. How come, in Lady Cao's mouth, my aunt obtained the title of Marquis by relying on Mother? Do you have objections to Father Emperor's reward?"

Madam Cao was terrified and immediately knelt down to beg for forgiveness: "I dare not, I absolutely did not mean that."

“Madam Cao, my aunt holds a noble title, while you are disrespectful, unable to distinguish right from wrong, and gossiping. Now you come to someone else’s house to drink and eat meat, yet you still speak ill of them. My aunt does not welcome guests like you. Today I will take charge on behalf of my aunt. Guards, throw her out.”

Fulian, standing behind Qi Gu, listened to Qi Gu's words without hesitation and pulled Madam Cao out the door. No matter how much Madam Cao begged for mercy, Qi Gu did not even glance at her.

Qi Gu looked around, her previous seriousness gone, and said with a smile, "Please don't take offense, everyone. I come from the countryside and am not well-versed in etiquette. I may be a bit rude in my actions. If I have done anything wrong, please forgive me, ladies. Of course, if you are unwilling to forgive me, that's fine too."

Everyone watched as the eldest princess smiled, but it was a perfunctory smile. She had only been back for less than a day, yet she showed no mercy in dealing with the captain's wife. She said she came from the countryside, but the decisiveness and unquestionable demeanor she displayed in dealing with Madam Cao made it impossible for anyone to believe that she had spent seven or eight years in the countryside.

Such a princess doesn't need their forgiveness. Fearing being implicated by Madam Cao, they all flattered her, saying, "Princess, you are too kind. It was Madam Cao who was rude."

"The princess is right!" someone clapped and praised from behind.

Qi Gu turned around and saw that it was Xu Jin.

Since Xu Jin met the eldest princess at the Sima family's villa, he had felt guilty towards her. In addition, the eldest princess was witty, humorous, natural, and unpretentious, and she was also enthusiastic about farming.

Xu Jin felt that the eldest princess was different from the other noble ladies in the capital, but he never had the chance to see her again.

At the birthday banquet of Marquis Quzhou, his father, as the Imperial Physician, was also invited. Marquis Quzhou is the aunt of the eldest princess, so the eldest princess will definitely attend her birthday banquet.

Xu Jin then offered to come to the Marquis of Quzhou's residence with his father and mother.

Unexpectedly, upon arriving, he witnessed the eldest princess disciplining Madam Cao. In Xu Jin's view, the eldest princess was eager to protect her aunt, and Madam Cao was truly clueless and deserved to be punished.

Since Xu Jin arrived, everyone around him seemed afraid of getting involved with something, and unconsciously moved back a distance from him.

Qi Gu recalled what had happened to Xu Jin, and it seemed that everyone was afraid that bad luck was contagious.

Xu Jin, however, seemed to be used to it, ignoring the respectful distance others showed him.

He approached Qi Gu, "Is the eldest princess still in good health?"

"That was so long ago, I'm all better now," Qi Gu replied, but she couldn't help taking a step back, thinking about how to distance herself from Xu Jin without hurting his pride.

She then recalled that it was Xu Jin who had acted decisively to treat her convulsions. She had heard from Fu Lian that her condition was extremely critical at the time, but fortunately Xu Jin was there.

"By the way, didn't you fail at abandoning your studies for martial arts? What are you doing now?" Aunt Qi asked curiously, wanting to see how unlucky he could get.

Xu Jin scratched the back of his head, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "I didn't do anything. Actually, I don't know what else I can do." He was also very frustrated. He had tried everything—medicine, reading, martial arts—but nothing worked.

Seeing his dejected state, and considering that he was at least half her savior, Qi Gu said to Xu Jin with a profound and enigmatic air, "I think you are particularly suited to do something."

Xu Jin's eyes lit up. "What?"

Qi Gu suppressed a laugh and said, "A spy from an enemy country." Seeing his sudden realization after being amused by her, this unlucky little guy could be quite amusing sometimes.

Seeing the princess's teasing, Xu Jin's gloomy mood vanished. Knowing that Qi Gu was skilled in farming, he said to her, "By the way, I have nothing to do at home, so I occasionally go to the mountains with my father to gather herbs. A few days ago, when we went to the mountains outside the city, we actually found that some wild millet had already sprouted."

Qi Gu was indeed intrigued. "Where is it? Tell me quickly, I need to go with my master to take a look sometime." Maybe those wild millet and wheat seedlings can be used as experimental seeds.

"It's on Guhuo Mountain outside the city, but I can't say exactly where. How about this, when you and Mr. Li want to go, just tell me and I'll take you there. I've been collecting herbs on that mountain since I was a child, so I'm very familiar with the terrain."

"Well..." Qi Gu hesitated. Could Xu Jin, with his unlucky constitution, really handle it? But looking at Xu Jin's expectant eyes, she said, "Alright."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Qi Gu heard a voice behind her call out, "Qi Gu!"

Qi Gu turned around and saw her father waving at her, and beside him was none other than Sima Hong.

"Father." Qi Gu looked straight at her father, not sparing a single glance at Sima Hong beside her.

This was Li Shi's first time attending such a grand banquet. The banquet was very lively, and there were so many people. He couldn't help but feel a little curious.

Seeing her father's great interest, Qi Gu said, "Father, shall I show you around?"

"That would be wonderful."

However, when Li Shi looked at Sima Hong, he saw that Sima Hong's eyes had been fixed on Qi Gu ever since he saw her.

As for Qi Gu, she either looked into the distance or at him, but never gave Sima Hong a second glance.

Something was wrong with these two. The last time Aunt Qi came to see him, she seemed very strange. He also noticed that Aunt Qi's lips seemed a little swollen, and she looked completely lost.

But Aunt Qi didn't say anything; she didn't want to, and he didn't force her. It's normal for a daughter to have her own little secrets now that she's grown up.

He glanced at Sima Hong, then at Xu Jin, the young man whose gaze followed Qi Gu.

A family with a daughter is sought after by many; his daughter, Qi Gu, has plenty to choose from.

In terms of appearance, family background, ability, and future prospects, who else but Sima Hong could be the best?

But Sima Hong was a deep thinker. If Qi Gu didn't like this type, he sized up this young man Xu. He was also a handsome man, but he had heard that Xu was too unlucky.

He secretly felt that Sima Hongcai was a better match for Qi Gu.

Furthermore, during the nearly one year he lived at the Sima residence, Sima Hong treated him with utmost care and provided him with many conveniences. He even sent his personal bodyguard, A Xiang, to protect him. It is said that A Xiang, A Tai, and the legendary A Feng were all bodyguards trained by the Sima family for Sima Hong from a young age.

Since that's the case, then let's return the favor to Sima Hong. After all, as his father, he also thinks highly of Sima Hong.

Li Shi smiled and looked at Xu Jin, "Young Master Xu, shall we go for a stroll together?"

Xu Jin agreed without hesitation, "Okay."

Qi Gu immediately said, "Then let's go."

"Aunt Qi, I have something to tell you."

Qi Gu looked at Sima Hong, "What is it?" with a wary expression.

Sima Hong was certain that Qi Gu would stay, and he said, "There was something we didn't finish talking about last time."

Last time! He dared to mention last time. She didn't hold it against him because he was injured and delirious from the fever. Thinking of that day, her cheeks couldn't help but burn.

"Sima Hong, if you dare to spout nonsense, I will..."

Seeing Qi Gu's cheeks flush slightly, Sima Hong smiled and said, "I was referring to the First Prince..."

Qi Gu then remembered that Sima Hong had said he would tell her about the Prince Yi and the Guo family.

But because of his recklessness, she left without asking any questions. This man is truly despicable!

Li Shi smiled at the two of them and led Xu Jin away. Before leaving, Xu Jin said, "Your Highness, remember to tell me when you get to Guhuo Mountain!"

Sima Hong glanced at Xu Jin, then looked at Qi Gu who was nodding, a dark glint in his eyes.

Qi Gu turned around, not noticing the fleeting look in Sima Hong's eyes, and asked, "Tell me, what's going on? What is my father thinking now? Are you sure you can handle this?"

Perhaps worried that he might do something inappropriate again, Qi Gu stood far away from him.

He took two steps to close the distance between them. “Prince Yi originally wanted to obtain the iron mine from Chen Zhan through your uncle, but he failed. Besides weapons, to rebel, you need people and money. Now that I have proposed the state monopoly of salt and iron, how can Prince Yi sit idly by and wait for death?”

"You mean he'll make trouble over the state monopoly on salt and iron? What about my uncle? Did he get involved in these things in his past life?"

After a moment of silence, Sima Hong said, "Yes, but he didn't do much. However, the woman and the two children from his previous life did not appear."

"That's good, but what is the relationship between this woman, the child, and the Prince Yi?"

"The affair between Marquis Guangshun and this woman may have been secretly arranged by Prince Yi."

"To control my uncle?"

"No, it's to sow discord between His Majesty and the Empress, and to make His Majesty feel disgusted with the Zhang family."

"So that's how it is. King Yi's thoughts are truly well hidden."

Sima Hong saw the worry on Qi Gu's face and, not wanting him to be troubled, said, "The Empress and I have already made arrangements, so don't worry."

[Author's Note]

The plot is good, but the romance is too complicated! [laughing and crying emoji]