Chapter 53: Who did you smile at?
The mountains outside are green, and the clothes are flying nearby.
The road out of the city was blocked for half an hour, and at the end of the morning hour, the carriages and horses finally arrived at the western suburbs. At this time, the families of officials above the third rank slowly dismounted from their carriages and horses, while the families of officials of lower ranks had been waiting for a long time.
Gu Youan got off the carriage with her mother and looked around. She saw her brother, Tian Dalang and Tian Erlang, chatting and laughing with someone under the willow trees by the stream on the right, and they seemed to be fishing.
Turning around again, she met Prince Qi's eyes. Prince Qi's eyes swept over the gorgeous clothes she was wearing. The colors of the ten kinds of brocade were delicate, not like the clothes she would wear, but these clothes were very suitable for her, and had a unique kind of elegance.
Her appearance is so beautiful even without heavy makeup. If she were to dress up and look arrogant, they would definitely be a perfect match standing together.
But she didn't seem to think so.
Prince Qi walked past her.
When Prince Qi showed up, he immediately gathered everyone around him. The heads of various families came with their wives and children to pay their respects, and then got off the carriages. The Meng and Yuan families, who arrived later, were left out.
Prince Qi smiled faintly and said, "No need for formalities, everyone. Today happens to be the Double Ninth Festival, a rare opportunity for me to enjoy this magnificent feast with all the lords and ladies."
Zhou Changshi, who had been waiting for a long time, came over with a smile and said, "Your Highness, the banquet is ready. Please take a seat."
The gentlemen gathered around hurriedly said, "Please take a seat, Your Majesty."
Prince Qi stepped forward, his purple robe fluttering in the wind. He asked, "Has General Meng arrived yet?"
"General Meng caught a cold after returning from our palace yesterday and can't get up today. Old Madam wants to take care of General Meng, but she can't come either. She sent word that he and his wife won't be attending the Double Ninth Festival banquet today."
Yesterday evening, Northeast General Meng Chuan rushed to Songjiang City and talked with Prince Qi in his study for two hours. When he left, his face was darker than the night outside.
Zhou Chen didn't know what General Meng and the prince had discussed, but it certainly wasn't a pleasant conversation, otherwise they wouldn't have parted on bad terms. The Meng family was hosting a banquet today, and General Meng wasn't even willing to show up.
Prince Qi didn't care whether Meng Chuan came or not. He walked to the top and stood there. The ladies and young ladies from the Meng and Yuan families had already arrived in a hurry.
Zhou Chen's eyes turned, he glanced at his own prince, then looked at the women of the Meng and Yuan families who were walking over, and laughed hurriedly: "General Meng was delayed by something, it would be just as lively if Madam Lu and Madam Yuan came."
The officials standing below hurriedly echoed and said with a smile: "Master Zhou is right."
Originally, the banquet was hosted by the Meng family, but after Zhou Chen said this, it seemed as if it was the Prince Qi's Mansion that paid for and organized the banquet.
This is what Zhou Chen said, and the Meng and Yuan families could only agree.
Mrs. Yuan, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Meng family, came over with the maid's hand and said with a smile, "We are all family, there is no need for these empty formalities, cousin, don't you think so?"
Madam Yuan glanced at Madam Lu with a smile, and Madam Lu, Prince Qi's aunt, could only smile and nod: "It has been many years since I came to Songjiang City, and it has been a long time since I saw His Highness Prince Qi. Let's have a good day today."
Mrs. Lu had been treated coldly by Prince Qi since she came to Songjiang City. Now she had to speak up, but she felt uneasy after she finished speaking, fearing that Prince Qi would embarrass her.
Prince Qi's lips curled slightly. "If Aunt likes Songjiang City, you can ask Uncle to come with you next time. Speaking of which, after sending Mother's coffin to Songjiang City, it's been so many years since I last saw Uncle. I miss him terribly."
Mrs. Lu's heart suddenly tightened. Prince Qi didn't like her, his aunt, but he felt that the couple didn't care about his mother?
Madam Yuan had also thought of this, and fearing that Prince Qi would say something else, she quickly interrupted, "Everyone is here, Prince Qi, please take a seat and try the refreshments we've prepared."
Prince Qi showed an expression that was half a smile, and without offending Madam Yuan, he lifted his robe and sat down. The servants accompanying Prince Qi hurried forward to serve him.
Seeing this, Mrs. Yuan and Mrs. Lu both breathed a sigh of relief.
Prince Qi took his seat, and the other officials took their seats at his left hand side, according to their rank.
The people sitting to the right of Prince Qi are Madam Lu and her daughter Meng Jiao, Madam Yuan and her third daughter Meng, fourth daughter Yuan, and fifth daughter Yuan.
Below Madam Lu and Madam Yuan sat the wives, daughters, and sons of the five first-level officials in Songjiang City. Moving down, came the families of the second-level officials and the third-level officials.
Su Guang was a second-level official. Mrs. Lu and her daughter Su Xiang sat in the middle. She couldn't talk to the women from the Meng and Yuan families, but she was next to the wife of the Cai family.
Mrs. Lu spoke to Mrs. Cai affectionately, praising Mrs. Cai's sons for their abilities repeatedly. She praised Cai Erlang, whom she had chosen, from head to toe, making Mrs. Cai feel as sweet as if she had drunk honey.
Mrs. Cai wanted to compliment her out of courtesy, but when she saw Su Xiang standing behind Mrs. Lu with her head down and silent, she picked up her handkerchief and pressed her cheek, saying, "Your daughter is quite a quiet person."
Madam Lu smiled and said, "You are right, Madam. This child has been well-behaved since she was a child. Her temperament is excellent and there is nothing wrong with her. Alas, she is a little shy. Your young lady and young master will go to the woods to play later. I would like to trouble you to take care of her."
When saying this, Mrs. Lu was looking at the handsome Cai Erlang, and Cai Erlang politely agreed.
The Gu family was almost at the bottom of the banquet. Gu Youan stood behind her mother, casually observing the powerful families in Songjiang City, whether they were acquaintances or not, from near to far, looking at them one by one.
Finally, I saw Mrs. Yuan, Mrs. Lu, and the young ladies from the Meng and Yuan families.
Also, there is Prince Qi sitting at the top.
The words he said that day on Tiger Ridge Mountain were still fresh in her mind. She knew why he chose her, but she didn't know how much he was willing to pay for choosing her.
Gu Youan asked herself, she was still moved, both by him and his power.
If Princess Qi's status could match the corresponding power, she might be willing to take a chance. If he just wanted to find a woman who would give unconditionally to him without asking for anything else, then he had misjudged her.
No matter how tempted she was, she would never become a complaining woman who worked for nothing. Instead of wasting her energy, she would rather be honest and build her own power step by step.
Although there is no shortcut and she will not be able to gain the power to call the wind and rain in the end, she will eventually have some ability to protect her family.
He was looking at her again, and Gu Youan lowered her eyes.
Don't be in a hurry. It's not a good idea to rush things. This kind of big thing that only happens a few times in a lifetime will eventually come to fruition naturally.
How could a man like Prince Qi not notice her hesitation? Seeing her lower her head from afar, he felt relieved immediately.
"Ah Jiao, come and meet Prince Qi. He is your biological cousin."
Mrs. Lu smiled and told her daughter to go forward and pay her respects. Meng Jiao took a few steps forward, raised her head slightly to look at Prince Qi, then lowered her head shyly: "Ah Jiao greets my cousin."
The nineteen-year-old third daughter of the Meng family, the seventeen-year-old fourth daughter of the Yuan family, and the sixteen-year-old fifth daughter of the Yuan family were so angry when they saw Meng Jiao's pretentious behavior that the silk handkerchiefs in their hands were torn and crumpled.
The first few young ladies from the Meng and Yuan families couldn't wait and have already gotten married. The remaining three are not young anymore. If Prince Qi is still not interested in them, they will all be married next year at the latest.
This Double Ninth Festival banquet was their last chance. They finally got to see Prince Qi, but the little bitch Meng Jiao got there first.
Madam Yuan, who was present and knew the purpose of the banquet held by the Meng and Yuan families, chatted with the people around her while pretending to pay casual attention to Prince Qi's attitude.
Will Prince Qi and the Meng family of Northeastern General become closer?
Prince Qi said, "My cousin, you are very polite. Now that you have come to Songjiang City, why not spend a couple of days enjoying yourself before returning? Please give my regards to my uncle."
Meng Jiao stepped forward and said, "Cousin, since my aunt passed away, you have been living alone in Songjiang City. I..."
Xu Zhi hurriedly stopped her: "Miss Meng, although you and my prince are relatives, there is a difference between men and women, so it's better not to get too close."
Meng Jiao glared at Xu Zhi, but Xu Zhi still stopped her and didn't retreat a single step.
The third daughter of the Meng family couldn't help but burst out laughing. Although her cousin was the Prince of Qi's biological cousin, she was no different from her cousin, who was only one step away from him. Why was she so arrogant?
Mrs. Lu's face looked unhappy, but she endured it again and again. Seeing that Prince Qi seemed unwilling to respond, Mrs. Lu had no choice but to call her daughter back.
Mrs. Lu made an excuse and said, "It's very hot. Don't stand here in front of me. Go to the woods with your sisters."
Meng Jiao had no choice but to retreat and leave with the sisters from the Meng and Yuan families.
Madam Yuan was also helpless. Prince Qi did not give the Meng family face, and it was useless for Lu, her aunt, to come. She didn't know if her parents-in-law had any other plans.
Led by the young ladies of the Meng and Yuan families, the young people who were impatient to stand behind their elders ran away in twos and threes. Gu Youan watched the excitement for a while, smiled, said something to her mother, and left with Axuan.
Gu Youan took Axuan to find her brother and the two brothers of the Tian family. The three of them were dressed up today. When they were silent, they all looked good. But when they opened their mouths, their true nature was exposed.
Seeing Gu Youan approaching, Tian Erlang asked excitedly, "Just now I saw Prince Qi walking past you. Did you take a close look? Alas, it's a pity that my father's official position is not high enough. Otherwise, we could have gone to the banquet to see him more."
"Come on, it's not like you haven't seen this before. Why are you so excited?"
Tian Erlang retorted loudly: "That's different. The last time we met was on the North Mountain. I was so scared by the tiger that I didn't even look carefully."
Besides, the King Qi in his dark suit that day was different from the King Qi in his jade crown and purple robe today. The King Qi today was so dignified and dignified that people dared not act rashly.
Gu Youan didn't want to talk to him about Prince Qi. He glanced at the bamboo basket hanging by the stream and asked, "You came here so early. How many fish did you catch?"
"Don't even mention it. We didn't catch any fish. We were planning to catch some fish and grill them, but now that's out of the question."
Tian Jilang threw away his fishing rod, feeling it was boring.
Gu Youan whispered, "Didn't Aunt Bai ask you to come and see her? You've been busy fishing all morning?"
Tian Dalang coughed lightly and said, "The family that mother suggested we go to see this morning hasn't arrived yet."
"They should all be here by now."
Tian Qingde's official position was not high, and the couple arranged for their two sons to marry into families of similar status to theirs. The woman's family was the same as the Tian family. Although they could come to the Double Ninth Festival banquet today to join in the fun, they had no seats.
The man's family must be more proactive in the matter of dating, and it is normal for the woman's family to arrive a little late. However, no matter how reserved they are, it should be time for this.
Tian Dalang glanced into the woods, and Gu Youan followed his gaze. There were a few little girls chatting and laughing in the woods over there, and they seemed to be paying attention to them.
"Thank you for your help."
Tian Dalang had just seen people arriving, but there were young ladies over there, so it was not easy for them to get through. Now that Gu Youan came over, it just solved his problem.
Gu Youan understood what Tian Dalang meant and said with a smile, "Then you wait here. I'll ask Axuan to pass on a message to you later."
"Axuan, follow your sister."
"Hey!" A Xuan jumped and followed her sister.
Gu Youan took Axuan to the woods, not noticing that the person who had just given people a cold look at the banquet was not far away, frowning at her.
Who did she smile at just now?
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