Chapter 54 Tang Ning, ignore him
The Spring Banquet was held in the flower hall in the back garden of Prince Cheng's Mansion. The flower hall was very large, with corridors connecting the east and west sides, and flowing along the waterside pavilion not far away.
The outer room is full of greenery and blooming flowers, but the eaves of the flower hall can block the warm spring sun that is beginning to burn, so there is a view without getting sunburned by the guests coming to the banquet.
The hall was crowded with guests and the atmosphere was extremely lively.
Many people were secretly looking at Mrs. Song, Zou, who looked much older in the crowd. When their eyes fell on the young and pale man following beside her, their faces showed different expressions.
"Why are people from the Song family here too?"
"I heard that the invitation was personally sent by Prince Cheng's Mansion, and that Miss Song from Jiyun Lane is here too."
Some people were surprised: "Are they trying to shake hands and make peace?"
"That's probably right. The Song family has been in turmoil for a while now. Old Madam Song was stripped of her imperial title, and the eldest son of the Song family lost his position in the court. The Duke of Song's mansion has been thrown into chaos. Miss Song has finally vented her anger, and she will eventually return to the Song family."
Someone pointed at the old lady of the Lu family and said, "See? The Lu family is here too. The third son of the Lu family is a very popular man in Beijing. If Miss Song keeps making trouble, her marriage might be ruined. The Lu family is not the Song family, so they can't spoil her forever."
"Yes, I heard that the Empress has even inquired about the Song family's affairs, and Madam Lu is also dissatisfied. How can Song Tangning dare to make trouble again?"
The person who was speaking felt a sour feeling in his heart when he looked at Lu Zhinian, a tall and graceful man with a gentle face, who was standing next to Old Madam Lu and talking to the eldest son of the Song family with his head tilted to the side.
This is the legitimate son of the Minister of the Central Secretariat, and the Lu family is the head of aristocratic families. How could such a good marriage fall on the domineering Song Tangning?
However, I heard that she had injured her face in a fall in the mountains before. If her appearance was really disfigured, the Lu family might have to reject the marriage. After all, they couldn't have the future mistress be an unattractive woman.
"These people are so sour."
Qian Qiyue, the youngest daughter of the Minister of Revenue, Qian's family, was filled with disdain: "Listen to their tone, they're almost saying they hope Song Tangning's engagement will be broken off by the Lu family so they can take her place..."
"Don't talk nonsense."
Madam Qian glared at her outspoken daughter in anger, then turned to the wife of Marquis Wenxin and whispered, "What do you think Princess Cheng is up to?"
Previously, when he mentioned the Song family, he was full of hatred, as if he wished to never have anything to do with them again. Now that Song Tangning and Old Madam Song had such a quarrel, the situation in Jiyun Lane had affected the court.
She had thought there was really no chance of reconciliation between the two sides, but then Prince Cheng suddenly held a banquet and invited people from the Song family...
Madam Qian whispered, "Does Miss Song really intend to make peace with the Song family?"
The wife of Marquis Wenxin said indifferently, "I don't know either."
"Princess Cheng didn't even tell you?" Madam Qian was surprised.
Upon hearing this, the wife of Marquis Wenxin pursed her lips. It wasn't that she didn't say anything, but when she recalled what her friend had said two days ago, she couldn't help but frown. She didn't answer Madam Qian's words. She looked up at someone approaching from outside and pretended to change the subject, saying, "Prince Cheng and his men are here."
Many people in the flower hall noticed the movement outside, and when they realized that Prince Cheng and others had arrived, they all looked outside.
Prince Cheng and Princess Cheng walked together in front, and behind them was Prince Xie with a rather grim expression. Further behind them was a young lady wearing a veil, who was being supported by someone as she walked out gracefully.
She was wearing a dazzling red dress, and her eyebrows were as bright as the color of the dress, but the veil...
Many people began to wonder if Miss Song's face was really disfigured.
Prince Cheng smiled and stepped forward to salute the old concubine. The old concubine glanced at Song Tangning and then her eyes fell on Princess Cheng: "Why are you so late?"
Princess Cheng said calmly, "Tang Ning was not feeling well, so I stayed with her for a while longer."
"If she is not feeling well, she can just rest. It was you who hosted the banquet today, but you arrived the latest. You don't act like the host at all." The old concubine scolded lightly.
Prince Cheng saw that Princess Cheng's eyes had turned a bit colder, so he quickly smiled and tried to smooth things over. "This spring banquet is all about enjoying the scenery and having fun. It doesn't matter if it's earlier or later. Yue Niang has been worried about a lot lately and has become quite haggard. It would be a good thing to let her accompany Tang Ning and rest a little more. With my mother, this prince, and Yin'er at the table, we won't neglect our distinguished guests."
When the old concubine saw him protecting Princess Cheng, her face suddenly darkened, but since everyone in the hall was watching, she didn't say much.
Prince Cheng turned his head and gave Princess Cheng a soothing smile, then led her to the table.
The people around couldn't help but sigh when they saw this. It turned out that Prince Cheng really loved Princess Cheng so much that he wouldn't let her suffer even the slightest bit of grievance. No wonder he hadn't married for many years and had only been with Princess Cheng.
Lu Zhinian had been looking at Song Tangning since she entered. He saw her being supported by someone as she entered with a veil covering most of her face.
The little girl was most afraid of pain. In the past, she would cry her heart out whenever she got a little skin broken, holding up her slender white fingers and calling him, "Brother Lu, it hurts."
When he turned his head to look at her, she looked at him pitifully with red eyes, and the tears seemed to be about to fall at any time. But every time he said a word of comfort, the little girl would immediately smile softly and say sweetly, "Tang Ning won't be in pain as long as Brother Lu is here."
Lu Zhinian's face was soft, with a hint of guilt in his eyes.
"Tang..."
He originally wanted to call her and ask her if her injury was better, but a light breeze passed by, and Song Tangning, who had always been obsessed with him in the past, passed him without even looking at her, with her skirt fluttering.
The ends of her hair that reached her waist swayed slightly with her body. She didn't even glance at him, as if she didn't see him at all.
Lu Zhinian was stunned: "Tang Ning?"
Song Tangning stopped and turned back: "What advice do you have, Mr. Lu?"
Lu Zhinian's face froze. She called him Mr. Lu?
He watched as Song Tangning's brows wrinkled a little. Song Tangning had always been very obedient. In front of him, she always smiled with eyes as big as crescent moons, and the dimples on her cheeks were as sweet and well-behaved as if stained with honey.
She would never refuse him. Even if she was angry, she would just act coquettishly and scold him a few times. After a little coaxing, she would smile like a flower again.
But at this moment there was no smile in her eyes, only coldness and alienation.
Seeing that Lu Zhinian was just staring at her, Song Tangning tilted her head slightly and said calmly, "If Mr. Lu has nothing to say, I'll take my seat first."
The girl left without looking back. Lu Zhinian's heart skipped a beat and a feeling of discomfort came over him.
Those people around who had been paying attention to Song Tangning couldn't help but look strange when they saw this.
The Song family has always been the one that took the initiative in the marriage between the Song and Lu families. In the past, we only heard that Miss Song was clinging to Mr. Sanlang of the Lu family, fearing that someone else would snatch her away. Mr. Lu treated her just indifferently, but now it seems that it is not like the rumors at all.
Old Madam Lu looked at her grandson who took the initiative to come forward and was treated so coldly, and her face suddenly darkened.
Who the hell is Song Tangning? Who is she doing this for? Her grandson took the initiative to approach her, but she dared to treat him so coldly. She really gave her face!
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