Chapter 271 Banquet at Duke Li's Mansion
"I don't want to go. It's good in the mansion."
Xiao Yuan stroked her back, "Li Huaiyan's banquet is very lively, and many daughters of officials will attend. Madam, don't you want to join in the fun?"
Shen Anan frowned and asked curiously, "There is no mistress in his house, and the former Duke Li has returned to the countryside. Why is he holding a banquet?"
"You just said that many daughters of officials and rich men went there. Could it be that he wants to choose a wife?"
Xiao Yuan nodded.
"Are you sure that many daughters of officials will go?" Shen Anan didn't quite believe it. After all, that guy was famous for his romantic reputation. Which family would be so careless as to marry their daughter to him?
"That's why it's interesting. Madam, don't you want to go and take a look?"
"So, are you going?"
"If Madam goes, I will go and accompany Madam to relieve her boredom."
Hearing that he was going too, Shen Anan was relieved a little, "Then go and see which girl he likes."
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The night before the Li Mansion banquet, Xiao Yuan rarely made a fuss. However, when he was getting ready to go out early in the morning, Qing An invited the imperial physician to take his pulse, and Shen An An's face was filled with black lines.
"No matter how fast it is, it can't be this fast."
Xiao Yuan bent his fingers and tapped her forehead gently, "What are you thinking about? The imperial physician is here to see how you are recovering."
Shen Anan's face immediately turned red, and Xiao Yuan glared at her jokingly, "Why, is the Madam very anxious?"
Shen Anan glared at him.
After the imperial physician took the pulse, he said the same thing as before. When he heard that he needed to take medicine for a few more days, Shen Anan's brows were furrowed so much that they could pinch a mosquito to death.
She was too lazy to pay attention and left alone. As for what Xiao Yuan and the imperial physician said, she had no idea.
This was Li Huaiyan's first banquet after becoming a Duke. Although his character as a husband was not very good, because of his title and Xiao Yuan, many officials still gave him face and allowed their wives and daughters to come, which made the banquet quite lively for a while.
Xiao Yuan held Shen Anan's hand tightly, not letting go for a moment, which naturally made Ling Chenyi and Li Huaiyan laugh.
Shen Anan looked at the garden full of flowers and joked, "Where did you find the potted plants? They are so bright."
Xiao Yuan lowered his eyes and looked at her, "Do you like it? Then we will take it away later."
Li Huaiyan jumped out in a hurry to stop him, "No way, I spent a lot of money to buy these for my future fiancée."
Xiao Yuan glanced at him indifferently, and he could only change his words reluctantly, "It's not that I can't give you a few pots, but you have to wait until the banquet is over."
"Stingy." Shen Anan glanced at him and looked at Ling Chenyi who was folding his arms. "Where's Hua Sheng? Didn't she come today?"
The atmosphere immediately fell into silence; Ling Chenyi and Li Huaiyan were both stunned.
Xiao Yuan glanced at the two of them and spoke slowly, "Hua Sheng is not feeling well and cannot go out."
"Oh." Shen Anan nodded, and caught a glimpse of the brightly blooming peonies not far away, so she let go of Xiao Yuan and walked over.
After the people walked away, Li Huaiyan found his voice again, "She, she, what's wrong with her?"
Ling Chenyi also had a thoughtful look on his face. He didn't think that Shen Anan was pretending to be stupid on purpose to cause trouble.
Xiao Yuan stared at Shen Anan's figure and said, "It must be that he was tired from taking care of me during those days, and his memory is often distorted."
"Have you consulted a doctor?"
Xiao Yuan: "Well, the imperial physician can't see the problem."
Ling Chenyi and Li Huaiyan looked at each other and frowned. "It's unbelievable that such a situation would occur when one is so tired. I have never heard of it before."
Xiao Yuan remained silent. He certainly would not tell them the truth. After all, if he told them such a weird thing, it would be of no help whether they believed it or not. It would also cause more trouble.
"Xiao Yuan, I saw that my cousin's wife was very depressed during those days. Is it possible that she was scared by you?"
Li Huaiyan felt, however, that with Shen Anan’s temperament, it was unlikely that she would be frightened.
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Shen Anan was staring at the peony in a trance when she heard a group of girls talking and laughing and slowly approaching.
"Miss Zheng is really amazing. She has spoken up for Lord Liu and has become famous. She has also received a reward from the Emperor. Wouldn't that attract many people to come and discuss marriage with her?"
"Yes," said another girl sadly, "My mother is worried about choosing a husband for me every day. She even said the other day that if I were half as smart as Miss Zheng, I wouldn't have to worry so much and wait in line for an endless number of choices."
"Thank you for your praise, ladies. It was just a casual remark and I didn't want anyone to hear it. It's nothing if I get the emperor's praise by accident." The person who said this should be Miss Zheng, her voice was soft and gentle.
Shen Anan straightened up and looked at the three women coming towards her. The one in the middle should be the girl from the Zheng family who spoke up for Lord Liu. Her voice was as gentle and pleasant as her personality.
"How can it be nothing? You can pick your husband anywhere in the capital. Unlike me, I have to be forced by my father to attend this romantic banquet. I feel upset just thinking about it."
Another girl spoke up, "He is a playboy, but he can't be called a dandy. He has a title and an official position, and he has the support of the Fourth Prince."
"Tsk, he only got his current position by flattering others. From what Sister Zhou said, she seems to like him. Why don't you marry him? I heard that today's banquet is for choosing a wife, and those daughters of officials would avoid it."
Miss Zheng listened and smiled faintly without saying anything.
The girl continued, "But Sister Zhou doesn't go out often, so I'm afraid you don't know the background of Duke Li. He is not born into a proper family, his mother is just a lowly concubine, and it was thanks to the Fourth Prince that he was able to rise to prominence overnight. It is said that like mother, like son, so he has been marrying concubines in droves, and I'm afraid you can't handle it."
"Mo Xiang, slap your mouth."
A calm and cold voice sounded.
The three girls suddenly looked up and saw Mo Xiang walking towards them with a ferocious look. Then the girl who had just spoken was slapped hard in the face.
Just as she was about to get angry, she saw Shen An'an walking towards the three people. Miss Zheng's pupils shrank slightly, and she immediately bowed, "Greetings to the Fourth Prince's Consort. I didn't know that the Fourth Prince's Consort was here. I disturbed your elegance. I deserve to die."
The other two girls knelt down and saluted.
Xiao Yuan, Ling Chenyi and Li Huaiyan stood behind the corridor, watching the scene from afar.
Ling Chenyi, "Is your sister-in-law helping you vent your anger?"
Li Huaiyan had a smile on his face, but there was coldness in his eyes.
Shen Anan looked down at the three people from a high position, "Standing on the territory of Duke Li's mansion, admiring Duke Li's back garden, using Duke Li's banquet, and cursing dirty words, is this the upbringing of a girl?"
The girl who spoke earlier turned pale and dared not say another word. She had no right to even show her teeth in front of Shen Anan, let alone to curry favor with an official like Li Huaiyan.
"To correct others, you must correct yourself first. Even farmers hate gossipers, not to mention the handsome Duke Li. Your moral character is questionable, so there is no need to worry about being chosen. Duke Li is not so hungry that he will not choose food."
The girl was about to bury her head in the ground, and she was shaking slightly because she felt wronged and couldn't accept Shen Anan's words.
Shen Anan glanced at the woman coldly. She didn't want to interfere. After all, Li Huaiyan did have a bad reputation. It was normal for someone not to want to marry him, but criticizing someone's biological mother was uncultured and vicious.
Miss Zheng raised her eyes slightly, "What the Fourth Prince's wife said is right. Miss Yan's words were rude. I will report to Madam Yan when I go back and ask her to discipline her."
Shen Anan then looked at the heroine who spoke up for Lord Liu, Miss Zheng. She was the only one who dared to take the initiative to speak, so she guessed that her status should be the highest among the three.
"Miss Zheng is very familiar with the Yan family?"
"…The two families have some friendship."
Shen Anan said "Oh", "Then why didn't Miss Zheng speak up to stop Miss Yan when she was talking so eloquently just now? She is far from being as virtuous as the outside world says, and there is no denying it."
“…”
"Madam." A pleasant male voice came from behind her, and the next moment, she fell into a warm embrace.
"Someone come here." Li Huaiyan glanced at the three people on the ground and said calmly, "My temple is small, please get out of here, Miss Yan."
"Miss Zheng." Miss Yan's eyes were filled with tears, and she wanted her to say a few words for her.
"Miss Yan is unwilling to attend Duke Li's banquet, so there is no need to worry anymore." Miss Zheng brushed away the hand that was pulling her sleeve inconspicuously and leaned towards the other Miss Zhou.
The servants almost dragged Miss Yan away in a very undignified manner.
"Miss Zhou, Miss Zheng, please stand up." Li Huaiyan smiled as if his face was as beautiful as a peach.
Shen Anan glanced at him, and suddenly felt that the scolding was not unfair at all. Look, he was about to reach out to help the other person, and the corners of his mouth were stretched back to his ears.
If there weren't so many people around, she would have kicked him.
"The other day in the court, when I heard officials praising Miss Zheng, I was wondering what kind of girl she was to have such courage and broad-mindedness. If I were lucky enough to marry her, it would be a great honor. Now that I see her today, she is indeed as beautiful as a fairy, pure as ice and jade."
Miss Zheng had obviously never experienced a man as straightforward as Li Huaiyan, and her face turned red with shyness.
Which girl doesn't want to hear nice words? Besides, Li Huaiyan looks good and has a coaxing mouth. With just a few words, he made Miss Zheng surrender.
"A few days ago, I had someone bring back a few flame peonies. Miss Zheng, would you like to taste them?"
Miss Zheng raised her eyes and glanced at Li Huaiyan, then immediately lowered her head in embarrassment. She wanted to go, but it was against the rules, so she was very conflicted.
Li Huaiyan sighed, "If Miss Zheng refuses, I will be very sad."
The girl agreed without any further persuasion and after some hesitation.
Miss Zhou, who was watching from the side, was stunned. "Miss Zheng, isn't this a bad idea?"
If the female relatives and the men outside the family secretly appreciate the flowers, she will lose her reputation if the news gets out.
"Come here, take Miss Zhou to the pavilion to enjoy the flowers and drink tea." Li Huaiyan ordered.
Miss Zhou choked and had to stop talking and turn away.
"Miss Zheng, please come in." Li Huaiyan made a gesture of invitation, and the girl bowed and took the first step forward. Li Huaiyan exchanged glances with Xiao Yuan and Ling Chenyi, and immediately followed.
Shen Anan was speechless and wanted to roll her eyes.
That Miss Zheng is obviously just seeking fame, and that idiot Li Huaiyan is really...
"Xiao Yuan," she looked up and said incredulously, "Isn't he coming to this banquet just for Miss Zheng?"
So, she accidentally became a matchmaker for the two of them?
Xiao Yuan smiled without commenting, put his arm around her waist and praised, "Madam, you were so majestic just now."
Ling Chenyi raised his eyebrows and chuckled, then turned his back to the two of them and pretended he saw nothing.
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