“I understand.” Shen Youying interrupted Fang Shi, speaking politely, “I will consider the marriage. I am also trying to find out information about Father’s case. If Mother truly cares about Father, then please keep my second brother in check and prevent him from making any more reckless friends that could harm Father. I have to attend the Zhou family’s flower banquet today, so I will take my leave now.” With that, she curtsied and gracefully left the flower hall.
Madam Fang watched her retreating figure, and only after she had gone far away did she spit angrily: "Does she think that the King of Qin is like other young men, waiting for her to pick and choose? Just wait and see, within three days, the King of Qin will definitely send someone to propose marriage. At that time, she will have no choice but to marry!"
*
Shen Youying returned to Qingwu Courtyard. The things that the Prince of Qin had given her were placed on the table. She looked down at them, lost in thought.
There were just too many things happening one after another. She didn't even have the energy to be sad about her cousin breaking his promise and canceling the engagement. She was only worried that the Lu family would risk being infamous to break off the engagement, and that her father's condition had worsened again.
After removing the overly elaborate hairpins and ornaments, Shen Youying instructed Danzhu, "Remove my lip rouge and fetch me a simpler dress."
Given the troubles with the Shen family, it wouldn't have been appropriate for her to dress too extravagantly. She was dressed up today because she believed Lu Minghe would come.
The gilded and kingfisher hairpin that had been removed sat alone on the dressing table.
Shen Youying lowered her eyes and looked for a long time before finally closing them and saying softly, "Get a box and put it in. Prepare the carriage; I'm going to Miss Zhou's flower-viewing banquet."
A few days ago, Zhou Zhenrong, the third daughter of the Zhou family, sent an invitation to Shen Youying to come to the mansion to admire the flowers. Shen Youying and Zhou San have never gotten along, and now that the Shen family has encountered trouble, everyone else is trying to avoid them, but Zhou Zhenrong specially sent an invitation, which is obviously not a good thing.
In the past, this post would naturally have been thrown aside.
But now the Lu family is unreliable, and her father's old friends are either unable to help or refuse to see her. Shen Youying can only try to find out information on her own. Zhou Zhenrong is the niece of the Empress and the cousin of Prince Chen. All the young men and women from various families will grace her flower-viewing banquet with their presence. Perhaps she can find out some information during the banquet.
After thinking it over, Shen Youying changed her clothes and took Bailuo and Danzhu to the second gate to board the carriage.
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