Complimenting a woman on her beauty was what Zhao Peng taught him.

Zhao Peng used to dislike him for being dull and always asked him to find ways to compliment her. However, he was really dull and would never compliment someone unless he meant it sincerely.

In the past, he didn't need to praise her much, because Zhao Peng was his wife. However, things are different now. After a deep reflection, Qin Shuhuai thinks that he should make up for what Zhao Peng was unhappy about back then. So when Qin Peng asked, he decided to praise her.

But in fact, this is also what he really means.

After not seeing each other for many years, when they met again, Qin Shuhuai felt that Zhao Peng was good-looking no matter how he looked at her.

In fact, he had thought Qin Peng was pretty before, and if it weren't for his wife, he might have liked Qin Peng.

However, at that time he was thinking of Zhao Peng and felt that he could not have inappropriate closeness to any woman, so he always restrained himself and did not have random thoughts or looks.

Now that he knew that Qin Peng was Zhao Peng, he felt somewhat relieved. It would be strange if the person he once loved could not cause any disturbance in front of him.

However, to Qin Shuhuai's surprise, after praising Qin Peng, she was not as happy as she remembered. Instead, she looked at him with a look that was both sympathetic and a little angry. After a long time, she finally said with a breath of relief: "If Your Majesty is not willing to talk about it, I will not ask you. Please do as you please."

After saying this, Qin Peng turned around and left without leaving any trace.

It was a long time after she left that Qin Shuhuai finally reacted. He did not chase after her either. One should not chase after someone too hard, or they will run away.

Qin Peng went to the water pavilion and complained to Liu Shuyan about these things after Qin Ming finished class.

Liu Shuyan sorted out the books, his eyelashes fluttering slightly, but he smiled and said, "Qin Shuhuai is not normal some days a year, you don't have to pay attention to him."

"There are always some days in the year?"

Qin Peng was a little surprised. Liu Shuyan nodded and said calmly, "He had a very good relationship with his first wife, Princess Yuyang. She had been dead for six or seven years. He had deep feelings for Princess Yuyang. There was something wrong here."

As he spoke, Liu Shuyan tapped his head and then said, "Don't bother with him."

After hearing this, Qin Peng opened his mouth but said nothing.

She wanted to tell Liu Shuyan that this was not affection, but guilt.

But she couldn't explain why she knew it, because the more she said, the more wrong it would be.

After thinking for a while, she pushed Liu Shuyan and asked, "Have you made any progress on what I asked you to do yesterday?"

"Father is out visiting friends, and he hasn't asked yet." Liu Shuyan laughed at her impatience and suggested, "You care about the position of the imperial examination, but you just want to make more connections. It doesn't have to be the imperial examination. It's the end of spring, which happens to be the time for banquets. As the eldest princess, you should hold a banquet."

In the aristocratic circle, hosting large banquets is usually something that women of high status do. As a princess, Qin Peng has never hosted a banquet, so she really needs a banquet to liven up the occasion.

Qin Peng nodded, but was in trouble again.

The reason why a banquet needs a distinguished person is that not all guests will give face to the banquet. The position of the guests represents the level of the banquet. Although she is the eldest princess of the state, she does not have many friends and does not have much power, so no one may give her face. However, if no one gives her face, the guests who come will not be considered presentable, and she is afraid that she will become a topic of gossip the next day.

However, if a princess never holds a banquet, it might become a topic of gossip.

Qin Peng was thinking about it, and Liu Shuyan saw her difficulty and said with a smile: "Don't worry about hiring people, I will help you, just take care of it."

Qin Peng nodded. Since Liu Shuyan said he would help her, he would naturally help her.

The Liu family has a very good reputation in Xuanjing. Since Liu Shuyan is willing to come forward, his reputation must not be too bad.

"That's fine."

Qin Peng nodded: "I'll ask someone to prepare it."

Qin Peng was a man of great action. He said he was making preparations and spread the news the next day.

Qin Peng was very particular about banquets. The reason why she was favored by her father in her previous life was also related to her ability. Whenever foreign envoys came to Beiyan, she would arrange the banquet. Even the queen did not have such a preference.

If this was the case in Northern Yan, then a small spring banquet in Qi would certainly not be a problem for her.

She counted the visiting cards and handed them to Liu Shuyan: "My reputation depends on you."

"Don't worry." Liu Shuyan raised his hand: "It's a small matter."

After returning home, Liu Shuyan counted the invitations in his hand, took out those for male guests and put them here, and took the ones for female guests to knock on his sister Liu Shiyun's door.

When he went there, Liu Shiyun was painting in the house. She was wearing a blue and white gauze dress and a pure white pear blossom pendant on her hair. She looked very elegant.

She was very thin, with drooping shoulders, giving her a bit of the air of a willow swaying in the wind. Liu Shuyan leaned against the door, quietly waiting for Liu Shiyun to finish painting.

Liu Shiyun was a beauty as famous as Qin Peng, who was two years older than her. However, she came from behind and surpassed him, taking the title of the most beautiful woman in Xuanjing.

This title is not given to Liu Shiyun because of her appearance, but because of her temperament.

To be fair, even as a brother, Liu Shuyan felt that Liu Shiyun's facial features were not as good as Qin Peng's. It was just that Qin Peng was too timid back then. Although she was beautiful, she was not worthy of being worshipped as a goddess, so Liu Shiyun had the opportunity to become the most beautiful woman in Xuanjing.

But now it is different. Qin Peng is like a phoenix reborn from the ashes. She just stands there and does nothing to make people feel she is unparalleled in beauty.

Liu Shuyan waited for a while, and Liu Shiyun finally finished painting. She raised her head and saw Liu Shuyan at the door, and said gently: "Brother, you have been waiting for a long time."

"Not long." Liu Shuyan walked in and said with a smile: "I came here to ask for something."

"oh?"

Liu Shiyun put down her pen and saw Liu Shuyan's visiting card. She understood what was going on: "Is the princess planning to hold a spring banquet?"

"My sister is smart." Liu Shuyan put the note on Liu Shiyun's desk and said with a smile, "Can you help me?"

"This is not my brother's business."

Liu Shiyun went to the table, picked up the teapot, poured two cups of tea, and said calmly: "Her Royal Highness is holding a spring banquet, there is no reason for our Liu family to go out and help post the invitations."

"That's what you said," Liu Shuyan knelt down beside the table and sighed, "But don't you know what her situation is now? Everyone with a discerning eye knows that she is Qin Shuhuai's puppet. If it was really her who posted it, how many people would be willing to come?"

"That has nothing to do with us."

Liu Shiyun's expression was calm: "Brother, you also said that she was Qin Shuhuai's puppet. We in the Liu family never get involved in these things. This is the foundation of our existence. Brother, you forgot."

This made Liu Shuyan straighten his back. His face was calm: "The foundation of the Liu family is loyalty to the emperor, not indifference."

Liu Shiyun paused for a moment while holding the cup, and raised her head with a hint of teasing in her eyes: "Why do you have to be so serious? I'm afraid that my brother has fallen in love with her?"

Liu Shuyan lay on the ground, propped up his head with his hands, put his hands on his bent knees, and said with a smile: "Yes, so do your future sister-in-law a favor."

Liu Shiyun laughed and could only say, "Yes, yes, I'll help you with this."

"But I have to make it clear," Liu Shiyun raised her eyes, "I am only responsible for sending the invitation. Whether it succeeds or not has nothing to do with me."

"OK."

Liu Shuyan nodded: "It's done. I'll give you an authentic painting by Meng Qing."

Liu Shiyun smiled but didn't say much.

After Liu Shuyan left, she put away her smile. Cuixiang, the maid beside her, came up and held up the invitation and asked, "Miss, do we really want to post an invitation for that princess?"

"Yes."

Liu Shiyun raised her head and smiled: "Why not? Let's go to Minister Kong's residence first."

Liu Shiyun made some preparations and later went to the residence of the Minister of Rites Kong Qian.

She has always been good friends with Kong Qian's eldest daughter, Kong Mengyun. Kong Mengyun's mother is the elder sister of Emperor Wenxuan and has a noble status. Kong Mengyun has always been domineering, but she only gets along well with Liu Shiyun.

When Liu Shiyun sent the invitation, Kong Mengyun was applying something on her face. She heard that it would make her skin better. These facial mask prescriptions were very popular in Xuanjing. After hearing Liu Shiyun's purpose, Kong Mengyun said directly, "I won't go. How can a daughter of a lowly palace maid sit on the position of the eldest princess? Everyone knows that Qin Shuhuai gave her a face for Wei Yan's sake. Does she really think she has a face?"

"She is the eldest princess after all," Liu Shiyun said softly, "If sister doesn't go, she might offend her."

"I've offended her, so I've offended her." Kong Mengyun got angry when she said this: "Can she really do anything to me?! My mother hasn't been able to confer the title of Princess of a town for so many years, but she is so lucky, she was praised to the sky right away, I want to see how she falls to death!"

Liu Shiyun said nothing, but brought tea and said gently, "Don't get excited. Calm down first. You still have something on your face."

Kong Mengyun listened to Liu Shiyun's words, and her anger subsided a little. She took a sip of tea and said, "I'm not going, and you're not allowed to go either. Tell those sisters who are on good terms with me not to go!"

"It's hard for me to do this."

Liu Shiyun sighed: "After all, this is an errand assigned by my brother."

"Your brother has been blinded by lard!"

Upon hearing Liu Shuyan, Kong Mengyun became even angrier.

Kong Mengyun did not marry for so many years just waiting for Liu Shuyan, but no matter how long she waited, she saw no sign of Liu Shuyan's intention. Her family finally couldn't bear it anymore and arranged a marriage for her. As soon as the engagement took place, Liu Shuyan asked Liu Shiyun to help Qin Peng.

"Isn't it just that she looks better?" Kong Mengyun said a little aggrievedly: "What's that?"

"Don't be angry." Liu Shiyun stroked her back: "I know you feel wronged, but some things are just fate. She is the eldest princess now, you should be more obedient."

"I'm not doing well!"

Kong Mengyun was angry. After thinking for a while, she suddenly said, "Okay, I won't make it difficult for you."

"Have you come to terms with it?" Liu Shiyun smiled. Kong Mengyun sneered, "Have you come to terms with it? If you don't go, you're not giving her face, and you're not giving your brother face! Let's go. Not only must we go, but we must also go beautifully. When we go, let her know that not everyone can be the Princess of Zhenguo. When the time comes, I'll make her look so beautiful!"