After being listless for a few days, Shangguan Jingyi heard some exciting news from somewhere.
This year, my uncle actually gained the Emperor's favor and was allowed to bring his wife and daughters to the palace banquet!
At that time, she had already packed her bags, ready to slink back to Yu County.
But then I heard my grandmother mention that my eldest uncle was currently enjoying great favor with the emperor and had been exceptionally included in the list of guests for the palace banquet.
Shangguan Jingyi's dejected mood immediately perked up.
This is no small-scale banquet like the Hundred Flowers Banquet; it is a grand gathering of the court's key ministers and the sons of royal nobles!
She has to go!
Two streams of tears hung from Shangguan Jingyi's long eyelashes. "Grandmother... I'm begging you, please talk to my eldest uncle again. I participated in the Hundred Flowers Banquet under the name of the eldest daughter of the Shangguan Siye family, and my eldest uncle agreed. You can use the same trick again this time, please have pity on me one more time, Grandmother~"
She knelt at the old woman's feet, her hands hesitantly grasping the old woman's withered, tree-like hands, pleading softly.
But how easy is it to do this?
Her eldest son, Shangguan Ming, was a foolishly filial son who was easily fooled. He remembered everything his mother said and rarely disobeyed her.
He only has one weakness—
His two children.
Shangguan Tianyun and Shangguan Tianlin were protected by him like the apple of his eye. The old lady hadn't been kind to Shangguan Tianyun lately, and Shangguan Ming had noticed it all.
She also harbored resentment towards her elderly mother.
In the past, whenever the old lady came to the capital, Shangguan Ming always coaxed her with kind words.
But this time was different. On the day the old lady proposed to return to Wei County, Shangguan Ming not only did not try to stop her, but seemed to be happy to see it happen, and prepared all the food for the carriage.
Isn't it because he's afraid the old lady will give his precious daughter the cold shoulder again?
Although they didn't verbally express their intention to drive them away, their actions made it very clear!
If her eldest son becomes estranged from her...
“It’s not that your grandmother doesn’t want to help you, it’s just that your eldest uncle won’t listen to me anymore.”
The old lady let out a long sigh, pulled her hand away from her tight grip, and looked at her irritably, saying, "The Hundred Flowers Banquet was your uncle's final ultimatum. Since you messed it up, you'd better come back to Wei County with me obediently and not cause any more trouble!"
The old lady was folding clothes, glancing sideways at her indignant expression, and advised, "What is not yours will never be yours. A temporary reputation can't change anything. No matter what, you can never become your uncle's biological daughter."
"One should be sensible and not forget who one was in the past."
Shangguan Jingyi, however, could not heed the old lady's advice and had only one thought in his mind: now even his grandmother was unwilling to help him!
"You also think Shangguan Tianyun is better than me, right? In what way is she better than me?!" Shangguan Jingyi asked softly, like a ghost.
It seemed as if it was desperately suppressing the dark beast within its body that was about to break free of its cage.
It turns out that when a well-behaved person goes mad, they can be so terrifying!
The old woman was terrified by her sudden, sinister voice, her hands trembling, and it took her a long time to recover.
The old woman said, "Can you compare to her? She was born into this wealthy and blessed family, with no worries about food or clothing, and surrounded by servants. You, on the other hand, have to guard that small plot of land in Wei County and make a living by farming."
It's all your father's fault for being incompetent, making you inferior to her from the very beginning.
"You want to be better than her in everything, but she surpasses you in just one thing. Yet you feel that Shangguan Tianyun is not worthy of such a wealthy family background. Then why were you crushed by her at the Hundred Flowers Banquet?"
The old lady gave Shangguan Jingyi a chance, but she herself failed to seize the opportunity and still complained about the unfairness of fate all the time.
Shangguan Jingyi blushed and retorted, "Since you yourself said that she was born into a wealthy family, it's perfectly normal for her to be better than me in dancing! I spend my days planting rice and weeding in the fields, how could I possibly beat her?"
The old lady smiled sarcastically.
"Isn't that a contradiction? Didn't you say that she's inferior to you in every way?"
Seeing her stubborn and defiant glare at her, the old lady retorted, "Her dancing skills surpass yours, and although her medical skills are inferior, they are still superior to yours. Didn't you even receive a feather fan from the young master because of this? Have you forgotten so quickly?"
So it's not that she's inferior to you in every way; it's just that you're blinded by jealousy and subconsciously overlook her strengths.
Even the old lady, who always favored sons over daughters, had to admit it.
Shangguan Tianyun, this spoiled little girl, has indeed changed a lot. She has become slender and graceful, her domineering aura has disappeared, and she has become much more composed.
It would be even better if we could show more respect and filial piety to our elders.
...
But no matter what, she's still a money-losing commodity! In the end, she'll have to marry into another family.
Shangguan Jingyi fell silent after that.
※※※※
Inside the inn.
The scout reported the latest news to Huyan Hongxue.
"Now, the residence of Shangguan Siye is bustling with visitors, and people are coming in droves to bring gifts, almost breaking down his doorstep."
It's now widely rumored that His Majesty has shown great favor to Shangguan Ming.
Even the powerful prime minister Mu Chengye had to avoid his sharp edge.
"So, I'll be able to see Miss Shangguan at the palace banquet?" Hu Yanhongxue's mind stirred slightly. The peeled peanuts were tossed into the air and then landed suddenly in his big mouth.
He was very satisfied with the arrangement of granting the throne to the Emperor of Liang.
"When the time comes, bring out the dark blue cloak with a qilin and crane design that I specially prepared!"
Hu Yanhongxue grinned wickedly, his honey-colored skin glowing healthily in the candlelight. He said, "I will use their Liang people's clothing to crush their Liang people's appearance!"
Let Miss Shangguan see for herself who has more charm, him or Xiao Ziwu?
Nowadays, many young girls like him—a strong, handsome man with a slightly roguish charm!
And coincidentally, her status is somewhat noble, so apart from the hardship in bed, there are no other disadvantages to marrying into the family.
Maybe we can even steal Xiao Ziwu's man!
Heming gave a perfunctory smile, revealing a set of bright white teeth.
The peacock spreads its tail feathers, but it is deluding itself.
Could you please let this person with a name that sounds like "flower" (meaning "flower") off the hook?
This is the Third Prince's territory. Aren't you afraid of being chased and hacked to death with knives?
Hu Yanhongxue stroked his lower lip with interest and said in a flirtatious tone, "Do you think this prince should also pay a visit to the Siye Mansion?"
Having met Miss Shangguan once before, I should go to the Siye Mansion to offer my congratulations.
Is that too much to ask?
He Ming, terrified, held his sword in front of him, trying to stop him: "I think it's best not to. If you happen to encounter the Third Prince at the Siye Mansion, I'm afraid I won't be able to protect you!"
He was merely a bodyguard to the young prince of Siam, not a suicide squad member!
No one would dare to attack the Third Prince of the Great Liang Kingdom.
Hu Yanhongxue turned her head to look at him and sneered, "Why don't you wait here and I'll go by myself?"
His eyes, however, revealed a subtle, menacing glint that said, "If you dare not go, I'll kill you!"
He Ming shrugged, "Then I'll accompany you..."
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