Chapter 11: Banquet
Liang Mansion.
The candlelight was dim, the sound of the piano was faint. Beneath the screen, a person with loose hair lay lazily on the beauty couch.
"Are Pei Xingju and Zhuang Wan really having an affair?"
Zhou Wan stood aside respectfully: "Prince Liang, it's absolutely true, everyone says so."
"Idiot! I told you to find out the truth, not listen to rumors."
Zhou Wan said sheepishly, "The servants in the Zhuang Mansion all said so. They said... Miss Zhuang and Master Pei have been secretly communicating with each other for a long time."
"how long?"
"It seems like... it started three years ago."
Little did they know that Zhou Wan's investigation was also confusing.
There are various versions of the story of Pei Xingju and Zhuang Wan. Some say they began seeing each other secretly six months ago, while others say Zhuang Wan stumbled upon Pei Xingju while burning incense at a temple. However, the most convincing version is that three years ago, while Miss Zhuang was out for a spring outing, her horse startled and she encountered Pei Xingju, who rescued her. The two fell in love at first sight.
The last version had a well-founded story, with the time, location, and even eyewitnesses. Therefore, Zhou Wan deduced that Pei Xingju and Zhuang Wan's affair had occurred three years prior.
After hearing this, the person on the beauty bed's casual smile gradually froze on her face.
The air stagnated and the piano music stopped quietly.
Zhou Wan lowered his head, not daring to look at the expression on Prince Liang's face. Although he didn't know what the relationship between Prince Liang and the young lady from the Zhuang family was, he must be in a bad mood because the person he wanted was intercepted by Pei Xingju.
This gentleman was not someone to be trifled with. On the surface, he seemed easygoing, but he was actually quite cunning and cunning. Otherwise, he wouldn't have stood out among the many brothers in the Duke of Xin's mansion and become the Crown Prince.
"Why?"
After a long pause, he murmured, as if asking Zhou Wan, but also as if asking someone else.
Zhou Wan was unsure whether he was asking himself. After a moment's hesitation, he replied, "I don't know the reason, but it was Miss Zhuang herself who told him about her affair with Pei Xingju. At that time... I was there, and I heard it myself."
Prince Liang smiled slowly. "Tell me, who is better, Pei Xingju or me?"
"Of course...it's you, Prince."
Seriously speaking, Zhou Wan is also difficult to compare.
Prince Liang, whose name was Liang Jinxian, had a distinguished family background and a distinguished status. His father was the Duke of Xin, and his aunt was the Empress Dowager. Pei Xing, on the other hand, was the Imperial Preceptor and concurrently held the position of Chief Justice, making him a key official at court and a trusted confidant of the Emperor.
Both of them are rare talents, and it is indeed difficult to measure them.
"Pei Xingju is a lonely ghost. He gained some face by luck and being valued by the emperor. How can he compare with you? You are the prince of the Duke's Mansion, and in the future you will be..."
"Bang" - the wine bottle was placed on the table, interrupting Zhou Wan's words.
"These words are for fools. I don't listen to lies."
"Forget it," Prince Liang stood up. "Why should I compare myself to Pei Xingju? Since I admire him, he must have his own strengths."
"But..." He changed the subject, his brows darkening, "I don't believe a single word you say. I want to confirm it myself."
Zhou Wan secretly wiped his sweat.
.
At the same time, the same topic was mentioned in the Pei Mansion study.
"Prince Liang?"
"That's right," Guard Lu said, "Zhou Wan went to the Zhuang Mansion to search the property and originally intended to take Miss Zhuang to the Liang Family's villa. But after seeing his subordinates take Miss Zhuang away, Zhou Wan went to the Liang Mansion to meet Prince Liang that same day."
"Why are you talking about this now?"
"I just learned about this today. I've been investigating Miss Zhuang's case these past few days, and the news just arrived."
After hearing this, Chen Yi asked suspiciously, "Could it be that Miss Zhuang is still involved with the Liang Mansion?"
"But..." He wondered again: "It shouldn't be like this."
Again, Zhuang Wan knew so many secrets about Pei Xingju. If she was really Liang Gong's woman, why would Liang Gong go to such unnecessary trouble? He could have easily killed Pei Xingju.
After thinking for a moment, Pei Xingju asked, "Did she bring those two maids with her?"
"We only brought one, Qiu Tan," Guard Lu said. "The other, Dong Ning, was redeemed by her brother and sister-in-law a few days ago and taken back home. Should I send someone to pursue her?"
"No need. Let's secretly interrogate this maid and ask her if Zhuang Wan is acquainted with Prince Liang."
Just at this moment, someone sent a letter in.
"Sir, this was sent by Prince Liang from the Xinguo Mansion."
Chen Yi suddenly stood up, took the post and unfolded it.
After a moment, he smiled and said, "It seems that Prince Liang is also unaware of this."
He handed the invitation to Pei Xingju: "Prince Liang wants to hold a banquet at his Nanshan Villa in three days and invites you to enjoy the flowers and drink wine."
Pei Xingju read the post quickly and frowned slightly.
"This is the Hongmen Banquet, are you going or not?"
"You can't get a tiger cub without learning the tiger's den. Of course I have to go."
Pei Xingju immediately picked up his pen and wrote a reply.
.
Zhuang Wan met Qiu Tan three days later.
She had just woken up and was drowsily asking someone to wash and change clothes, but she heard someone sobbing beside the bed.
When I looked up, it was Qiu Tan.
"You're back?" She sat up and said helplessly, "Why are you still crying? Did someone bully you?"
Qiu Tan's eyes were red as she shook her head: "No one bullied this servant. It was this servant who didn't expect to see the young lady again. This servant is very happy."
"If you're happy, you should smile, don't cry."
In the bathroom, she asked about Qiu Tan's recent situation and learned that she had been sent to a brothel. The trafficker, seeing her good looks, wanted to sell her to a brothel. However, just when they had found a buyer and agreed on a price, Guard Lu arrived in time and bought her back for twenty taels of silver.
Qiu Tan had a false alarm, and when she saw Zhuang Wan again, she cried like a tearful person.
"Miss, I will serve you for the rest of my life and we will never be separated again," she said.
Zhuang Wan sighed secretly.
Silly girl, she can't even save herself when crossing the river, so who can accompany her for a lifetime?
She pinched Qiu Tan's cheek and said, "Don't cry, go wash your face."
During breakfast, Lixia came and said that Pei Xingju was going to take her to a banquet and asked her to pack up as soon as possible.
"Now?"
"The master said that he would take Miss Zhuang out now."
“…”
Zhuang Wan wanted to curse. Why didn't men these days ask women out without prior notice? They were always so rushed, she didn't even have time to get dressed.
Zhuang Wan drank half a bowl of porridge in one gulp, then stood up and went into the inner room to change. When she opened the closet door, she felt relieved.
Forget it, she doesn’t have many clothes anyway, so it doesn’t matter whether she dresses up or not.
Fortunately, Qiu Tan was there this time, so she didn't have to use chopsticks to pin her hair up. After packing up briefly, Zhuang Wan left. Before leaving, to comfort her frightened daughter, she promised to bring her a bag of snacks when she returned.
When they arrived at the gate, Zhuang Wan saw Guard Lu standing there from afar.
She had a good impression of Guard Lu. The last time she went to see Pei Xingju, other people stopped her from entering, and it was Guard Lu who came to rescue her.
"Hi!" Zhuang Wan walked over and greeted Guard Lu.
When she turned around, she saw Pei Xingju standing at the side of the gate. She put down her hand awkwardly and bowed to him politely.
"Yuzhi, good morning."
"Um."
Pei Xingju was wearing a dark green robe today. The morning light enveloped him, removing his usual coldness and adding a rare gentleness.
Zhuang Wan walked over and deliberately moved closer to him.
"Yuzhi, where are we going today?"
Pei Xingju kept a distance and said calmly, "Prince Liang is hosting a banquet at his Nanshan Villa and has invited us to go with him."
As he said this, he secretly observed Zhuang Wan.
Zhuang Wan didn't recognize the Liang Prince at all. She was only thinking about how to act. She responded gently and thoughtfully, "Yes, I will go wherever Yuzhi goes."
After a moment, the scrutiny in Pei Xingju's eyes disappeared, and he began to look at her clothes casually.
"Are you going just like that?"
"Hmm?" Zhuang Wan raised her eyes.
Soon, she understood what he meant, and a look of embarrassment suddenly appeared on her face: "To be honest, I came into the mansion in a hurry, and I only brought two sets of clothes with me."
Pei Xingju hummed.
"Let's go." He turned and got into the carriage.
Zhuang Wan glanced behind the carriage, but saw nothing else. Standing at the gate of the vast mansion was only Pei Xingju's carriage.
She was stunned for a moment, then turned around and asked, "Guard Lu, how do I...get there?"
You won't let her walk?
At this time, the person in the carriage said, "Get in."
Guard Lu said, "Miss Zhuang, you will ride with the master today."
"......oh."
Zhuang Wan hurried forward.
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