Chapter 56 Chapter 56 “I have always been curious about Fenglin…
"I've always been curious about what Feng Lin's fiancé looks like. Today I finally saw him." Secretary Ye came to Shen Xuan and sat down next to him very naturally.
Zi Yuan had already introduced Ye Mi's identity, and Shen Xuan was also startled when he saw the eldest brother of the Ye family suddenly come over to talk to him. Then he greeted Secretary Ye very politely.
"Is there anything wrong with today's banquet? Please forgive me, Princess Jinning and Brother Shen." Secretary Ye said to the two brothers in front of him.
"Thank you for your concern, Brother Ye. The hospitality at the mansion is very good." Shen Xuan replied politely.
Secretary Ye smiled when he heard this, and asked the attendant behind him to bring up some longan and rice dumpling soup sent from the south, and invited them to eat.
These things can drive away the cold. Shen Xuan felt a little cold after getting into the water, but after eating a bowl of fermented rice and a few longans, he warmed up.
"Brother Chen, the prince lost his mother at a young age. My mother has always loved him. It is inevitable that she will intervene in his affairs. Please forgive me." Secretary Ye suddenly said.
Shen Xuan was startled, wondering what exactly did Ye Mi mean?
He turned around to look at Su Yue beside him and saw that he was looking at Ye Mi with an uncomfortable look on his face. Thinking about it again, all the things Ye Mi sent were things to ward off the cold, so she felt that Su Yue must have said something to Ye Mi, and she was afraid that she had even told him about Pei Xia.
Shen Xuan was naturally very dissatisfied with the fact that the Ye family sent Pei Xia to approach him.
However, seeing that Ye Mi looked sincere, he felt that he had no ill will towards him. He nodded and said, "Brother Ye is serious. Madam Ye is the prince's aunt and my elder. It is natural for her to care about the prince. Why should I tolerate her?"
Seeing that Shen Xuan's words were ambiguous, Secretary Ye didn't say anything more.
However, he talked to Shen Xuan for a while before saying goodbye and leaving.
After he left, Jin Shiyue said sourly, "Why does Ye's brother treat you so well? It seems that he really treats you as the prince's husband."
"I've been to the Ye family for banquets so many times, but I've never seen him come to receive guests in person."
Upon hearing this, Shen Xuan could only say, "You are the county lord, and there are already many people serving you. Brother Ye should think that there is no need to entertain you specially."
"That's true." Jin Shiyue nodded and felt a lot more comfortable.
After getting along with Shen Xuan, he felt that Brother Shen had a very good temper and was a kind person who made people feel like spring breeze.
The main reason was that Chen Xuan was good at talking, and he could always speak to Jin Shiyue's heart, making him feel comfortable.
So after returning from the lake, he simply sat next to Shen Xuan, as if he had already regarded Shen Xuan as a close friend with whom he had a good relationship.
Even during lunch, Jin Shiyue had the servants bring the food to Shen Xuan and insisted on sitting with him to eat.
Shen Xuan was eating the eight-treasure duck served by the Ye family when he saw someone carrying in three skinned roasted whole lambs.
Then he heard Jin Shiyue say, "That dish is roasted whole lamb, which has the richest flavor. Many restaurants in Beijing also make this dish, but the taste is far less authentic than the one made by the chefs who cook for the soldiers in the parade ground next door."
"The Ye family specially invited the chef to come and help us make this dish."
Mutton is precious, and this dish is indispensable when famous families in Beijing hold banquets. Every time the Ye family held a banquet in the enclosure, they would always ask this chef to come and take charge.
Shen Xuan looked up and saw that the cook in the training ground was a big and strong man, skewering three sheep on wooden sticks and roasting them over the fire.
After a while, the mutton turned yellow and a layer of oil droplets were secreted on the surface. Only then did the chef use a knife to cut the surface of the mutton a few times, and then sprinkled the prepared barbecue seasoning on it.
It's obvious that this method of roasting a whole lamb comes from the northwest, and the cook followed the army into the war. It took him many years in the Northwest to learn how to roast a whole lamb. No wonder everyone thinks his roasted lamb is the most authentic.
After a while, the mutton was fully cooked and the cook sliced it into slices and put it on a plate. Afterwards, the servants brought them to the table one by one.
The first to be presented were the chief minister and the princesses and county ladies of noble status, followed by the daughters of important officials, and finally the wives of officials of lower status.
Originally, Shen Xuan's portion of mutton should have been delivered later. Unexpectedly, just as the serving maid put a plate of roasted lamb in front of Jin Shiyue, a plate of steaming lamb eye meat also landed in front of Shen Xuan.
Shen Xuan looked back in confusion, but he didn't see the maid serving the dishes, but saw a familiar figure sitting down next to him.
"Prince...Prince!" Jin Shiyue was the first to scream. Then several attendants who were serving nearby came over and bowed to Xue Fenglin.
"Isn't the prince in the Imperial College today? Why is he in the enclosure?" Zi Yuan glanced at Madam Ye in panic, then said to Xue Fenglin.
"The Ye family held a banquet without telling me. After I found out, I took half a day off." Xue Fenglin said to Zi Yuan, "Okay, go back to your wife. I'll be the host here."
Zi Yuan was driven away by Xue Fenglin, so she left reluctantly.
At this time, Madam Ye also knew that Xue Fenglin had rushed over from the Imperial College, and she was very shocked. However, in front of so many people, she couldn't say anything to Xue Fenglin. She could only look over there with disappointment.
Xue Fenglin suddenly appeared in the paddock, naturally attracting the attention of everyone at the table. Especially Jin Shiyue, who was standing next to him, her face flushed with excitement.
However, Xue Fenglin glanced at him and said, "County Lady, I have something to say to Brother Shen, can you please step aside for a moment?"
"Ah?" Jin Shiyue was stunned, her eyes scanning Xue Fenglin and Shen Xuan several times. Thinking of the agreement he had made with Shen Xuan, he gritted his teeth and said, "I'll leave."
After saying this, he left with his servants and returned to his own position.
After everyone around Shen Xuan left, Xue Fenglin pointed to the plate of mutton in front of him and said, "The mutton eye is the most delicious, but unfortunately there is not much of it. There is only a little for a sheep. I specially asked the cook to save a plate for you. Would you like to try it?"
Shen Xuan felt warm in his heart, nodded and said, “Okay.”
He had just realized his feelings for Xue Fenglin, and when he saw him appear, he had a different feeling in his heart.
Judging from Zi Yuan's expression just now, it is clear that Xue Fenglin was definitely not called by the Ye family. Then he suddenly appeared here... I think it must be for me, Shen Xuan thought.
The lamb eye is roasted until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and is full of aroma. After Shen Xuan ate a few pieces, he put down his chopsticks and said, “It’s really good. Have you eaten yet?”
"Not yet." Xue Fenglin smiled, picked up the pair of chopsticks that Shen Xuan had used, picked up a piece of mutton and started eating.
Shen Xuan was startled, and before he could stop him, he heard gasps all around.
Everyone who saw Xue Fenglin's move was surprised, even Su Yue who was serving on the side was shocked.
There have been rumors that the Xue family solemnly introduced Chen Ge'er to the public at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, and dressed him in precious shark silk and jewelry with night pearls, treating him very well.
But rumors are rumors. Hearing about it is one thing, and seeing it with your own eyes is another.
Moreover, many people in the capital knew that Madam Xue and Xue Fenglin were not on good terms, and many people also speculated that it was Madam Xue's idea to bring Shen Xuan to the capital.
However, now that they saw Xue Fenglin actually using the chopsticks that Chen Ge'er had used, and behaving quite intimately, everyone realized that the rumors were true.
At the same time, he turned his attention to Shen Xuan, wondering what was so different about this guy? She actually won over the Xue family's eldest son and made him willingly marry such a country boy?
Shen Xuan's heart was beating like a drum. He felt that Xue Fenglin was a little different today. It seemed that he was deliberately being very flamboyant at the banquet, and he was vaguely doing it for others to see.
The last time he met Xue Fenglin alone in a private room, the other party did not even take his chopsticks to use. He wondered why he suddenly did this today?
The situation in Beijing was complicated, and Xue Fenglin was caught in the middle of it, so he naturally had his own difficulties.
Shen Xuan was afraid of disrupting his plan, so no matter what Xue Fenglin did at this time, he did not dare to question it at all.
Xue Fenglin became more and more bold, and he directly picked up a piece of rice cake, put it close to Shen Xuan’s mouth and said, “This rice cake is delicious, open your mouth…” He actually wanted to feed him directly.
Shen Xuan could no longer bear it and whispered, "Prince, you and I are not married yet, isn't this a bad idea?"
Xue Fenglin actually laughed when he heard this, but he didn't continue to force Shen Xuan to eat cakes. He just lowered his voice and asked in Shen Xuan's ear in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "I heard someone say that you like me?"
Shen Xuan's mind buzzed and his face flushed instantly. He didn't know how these words reached Xue Fenglin's ears. I was suddenly flustered and didn't know what to say.
Fortunately, Xue Fenglin did not continue to ask, but his eyes fell on Shen Xuan's face, and then he said: "Shen Xuan, I am very happy in my heart."
Shen Xuan felt sweet in his heart and looked up at Xue Fenglin, only to see him suddenly stand up and leave. He didn't know what he said to Madam Ye, who was so angry that her face turned red. Then he rode towards the woods with Ye Chen.
Shen Xuan didn't know what Xue Fenglin had done, but when he thought of what Xue Fenglin had just said, he felt a little empty in his heart.
After a while, Wu Wang walked to Shen Xuan, bowed to him and said, "Brother Shen, the prince invites you to go to the top of the mountain to enjoy the scenery. Please follow me."
After hearing this, Shen Xuan stood up and followed Wu Wang. Then he heard Wu Wang say to Jin Gui and Su Yue, "I will serve Brother Shen here. Just send him over. You don't have to follow me."
Wuwang is a first-class servant beside Xue Fenglin, and his orders are the prince's intentions. Jin Gui and Su Yue didn't dare to refute him, so they could only wait inside the enclosure.
Wu Wang brought Shen Xuan to the side of the paddock and pointed to a small carriage that could seat one person: “Please get in, Brother Shen.”
Shen Xuan lifted the car curtain and found Xue Fenglin sitting inside. After making a hushing gesture to him, he pulled him into the car.
Wu Wangjia cracked the whip, and the carriage began to move slowly towards the mountains.
This carriage was very narrow and the seats in the carriage could only accommodate one person. Xue Fenglin was already inside, and if Shen Xuan was put in, there would be no place to sit at all.
When Shen Xuan was wondering what to do, Xue Fenglin pushed him to sit on his lap and said, "The mountain road in the forest is narrow, and even a large carriage can't pass through. We can only use a small carriage like this. Sit on my lap first."
Shen Xuan's face had already turned red, but after hearing Xue Fenglin's high-sounding words, he couldn't refuse.
Although he was sitting on Xue Fenglin's lap, he didn't dare sit that firmly. He could only half hang in the air, holding onto the two sides of the carriage and keeping his back straight, which made a certain part of his body look even rounder.
Xue Fenglin didn't say anything when he saw it, but a smile flashed in his eyes.
The next second, the carriage ran over a rock on the mountain road and shook violently.
Shen Xuan lost his balance and fell heavily into Xue Fenglin's arms, and immediately took a deep breath.
He tried to get up again, but Xue Fenglin held his waist tightly and complained in his ear: "I want to take you to the top of the mountain. There is still a long way to go. The mountain road is bumpy, and you will fall down if you get up. Why are you in such a hurry? You fell hard just now, and my legs are numb from you."
Xue Fenglin would naturally not tell Shen Xuan that the Ye Mansion had more than ten carriages for going up the mountain, and usually one person rode in one.
After hearing this, Shen Xuan's face turned even redder, but he was so obedient that he didn't dare to move. Xue Fenglin held him in his arms and carried him up the mountain.
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