Banquet
The man didn't speak, and Jiang Yan was afraid that he would remember her and cause her trouble, so she didn't dare to look at him again.
He must have gone inside, Huang Ying hurriedly ran to her and asked, "Master, who is that person?"
Huang Ying was stunned: "You don't know him either?"
"This is the first time I've seen him."
"You seem very deferential to him? You really don't recognize him?"
“Master, why would I lie to you? I saw that he was dressed well and thought he must be of high status. As a servant, I should naturally be respectful and polite to him.”
Jiang Yan frowned, pondering, then looked towards the inside of the room before whispering her guess.
"I bet he's here to see Wang Qianqian!"
"Looking for Madam Wang?" Huang Ying was puzzled and looked towards the house.
"He must be Wang Qianqian's older brother!"
"Madam Wang's brother?" Huang Ying was surprised again, but after thinking it over, she still felt it was impossible. "My lady, Madam Wang was a courtesan, how could she have such a splendid brother?"
Jiang Yan was stunned by what she said, and then squinted and looked towards the direction inside the house.
If he didn't come to find Wang Qianqian, then what is he doing at Haitang Garden?
Can ordinary people freely enter and exit this place?
"Could he be Wang Qianqian's ex... lover?" Jiang Yan looked at Huang Ying and voiced her bold guess.
Huang Ying was taken aback, then became somewhat reserved: "No way, she's the prince's wife now, she shouldn't be so tactless, right?" Then, her eyes suddenly lit up, and she whispered, "Could she be here to see Madam Chen?"
Yes, that's possible!
But Shen Qianqian was originally a mulberry picker... Could it be that he's Shen Qianqian's old flame?
Jiang Yan stared at Huang Ying in shock. Huang Ying, who was somewhat in sync with her, already understood what she was thinking. She was so surprised that she opened her mouth wide: "You mean Madam Shen??"
"Hmm! But then again, it doesn't seem quite right. Although Shen Qianqian is pretty, her features are not harmonious. That man is so handsome, like a celestial being. How could he possibly be interested in her?"
"Master, what are you muttering about?"
Jiang Yan slowly came to his senses, glanced at her, then looked towards the central hall, and then... why was he standing there?
How long have you been standing here?
What did he hear?
What kind of look is that?
Exploration? Calculation?
Jiang Yan had already determined that he was not Shangguan Zeyu, and felt there was no need to show him any respect. She glared at him, turned around, and walked towards the patch of pale blue hydrangeas.
Huang Ying didn't see the man. Seeing Jiang Yan leave, she followed him.
The man's lips curved slightly, but he didn't reply to Jiang Yan. He walked straight out of the courtyard and left.
Jiang Yan was delighted by the hydrangea's beauty and was about to bend down to smell its fragrance when Wang Qianqian's impatient voice reached her ears.
"Sister, do you like these flowers so much? Should I tell the Prince to bestow them upon you as a reward?"
Jiang Yan's interest vanished instantly. He stood up and looked at her.
Her face was full of mockery, and she was extremely pleased with herself.
"Sister, Sister Shen has woken up, so we won't keep you any longer. Please go back." Then she closed the door directly.
What does this mean?
Is everything alright with her now?
Jiang Yan keenly sensed that this outcome was related to the man she had just seen, but she didn't want to think about it further.
Who cares? It's better to avoid trouble. Since it's none of her business anymore, she can just leave, go far away, and hopefully never come back here again!
Jiang Yan, in high spirits, led Huang Ying back to Pear Blossom Residence with light steps.
The two women, mistress and servant, had not returned to Pear Blossom Residence for three days and three nights, and thought the courtyard must be deserted. However, upon entering the courtyard, they found that it was still the same as before. The pear trees were growing lushly, the rocking chair was still placed under the fourth pear tree, and the white jade table was still there, with her favorite misty rain-colored tea set on it.
"Ah, how wonderful, I'm back! They say there's no place like home! My Pear Blossom Abode is the best!!" Jiang Yan was very happy and plopped down in her rocking chair, rocking vigorously.
Seeing how happy she was, Huang Ying smiled too.
"Fuqu and the other two must have gone to the front yard to help again. This servant will prepare hot water for Master to take a bath."
"Aren't you tired? Sit down and get some rest! As for taking a shower, I don't have the energy to do it today, let's talk about it tomorrow!"
Huang Ying was indeed exhausted, her face full of fatigue, and she was very grateful to hear what she said.
"Master, you are so good to me!!"
"So mushy? I've already told you we're sisters, no need for all that formality. You just wouldn't listen, always calling me 'servant' endlessly." Jiang Yan said with a smile, then closed her eyes. "Go and rest, I want to lie here and sleep." Her voice was languid, so Huang Ying didn't say anything more, bowed, and went to her room.
These past few days have really worn Jiang Yan out, to the point that she's been having dreams, and they're even dreams about her life in modern society.
“Ayan, your senior truly loves you. We can give it a try, and if it doesn’t work out, we can break up.”
Break up if it's not working out? Dream on!
She's a girl, should we just let him take advantage of her like this?
"Senior, I don't want to date so early. I want to focus on my studies."
"There are six of you in the dorm, and you're the only one without a boyfriend. Don't you feel embarrassed? Aren't you even a little bit ashamed?"
How could he be so shallow? I never noticed before. Was it because of her dream?
"Alright, senior, I'm busy now, I'll stop here."
"Jiang Yan!! Listen carefully, if you don't agree to me today, we'll never have another chance!!"
How disgusting! How come the senior she knows is completely different? He used to be so gentle, good-tempered, and cultured!
"Jiang Yan! You'd better answer me, agree or disagree!!"
What do you mean by agreeing? They're not even together in real life, what's the point of being together in a dream? Her biggest dream in this life is to make money and live a free and unrestrained life.
"Senior, so many people like you, best wishes to you!"
"Jiang Yan!!!"
What a loud and angry sound! Haha...
"Master, Master, please wake up, please wake up!"
Why does that sound like a nightingale?
Am I awake from a dream? Or is it a dream within a dream?
"Master, please wake up! Stop dreaming, Master!!!"
Why is Huang Ying even more anxious and louder than her senior?
Was she shaking her?
Does she really have something urgent to do?
Jiang Yan reluctantly murmured, "Are you going to shake me to pieces?" before slightly raising her eyes.
"Master, this is a major and urgent matter!"
Jiang Yan didn't care and laughed, "Could it be that Shen Qianqian is about to give birth?" Just as he was about to close his eyes again, Huang Ying said, "The Prince has returned!"
Huh? Jiang Yan suddenly became completely sober.
But then she quickly relaxed, saying, "So what if I'm back? Why are you so excited?" Then she immediately exclaimed in alarm, "Is he going to punish me?"
Huang Ying took a deep breath before saying, "This matter is not clear yet. The princess sent someone to say that the prince is hosting a banquet in the back garden and invites you to attend."
"Just me?!"
"I don't think so. After all, it's a family banquet, and all the ladies should be going together."
"That's good, that's good."
"But Master, there's only half an hour left, and you haven't bathed or changed yet!!"
"Then what are we waiting for? Hurry up!" Jiang Yan said, standing up abruptly. But when she was about to go with Huang Ying to wash and dress up, she changed her mind.
"My lady, time is of the essence. I think the other ladies have probably already arrived. If you go too late, you'll likely be accused of putting on airs again!"
Jiang Yan smiled obsequiously at Huang Ying: "Or, how about we just say I'm sick?"
Huang Ying's brows furrowed instantly, and her face was filled with worry.
“My lord, the prince has only returned after many days. It would be extremely disrespectful of you not to pay your respects! Furthermore, the matter of Madam Shen has occurred. If you do not go, who knows what bad things Madam Wang, Madam Shen, and Madam Wu will say about you to the prince? Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger. You should know that, my lord!”
Yes, Wang Qianqian and the others will definitely try to pin all sorts of accusations on her. If she doesn't go and explain herself to her face, and Shangguan Zeyu is blinded by lust and believes them, wouldn't she be sending herself to her doom?
"Okay, let's get ready."
Jiang Yan cooperated with Huang Ying's dressing up, but she also made a request to Huang Ying: that she must not be made up too beautifully, especially not too stunningly.
She had no desire to sleep with Shangguan Zeyu!
She didn't want to attract his attention!
She didn't want him to think that she had really done something wrong, so she used her charm to ask for his forgiveness!
Although Huang Ying tried her best to explain the pros and cons of the makeup, she still did not compromise and insisted on her choice.
Huang Ying did not disobey her; she simply drew her eyebrows black and dyed her lips red.
As for jewelry, she wore a white jade bracelet, which was originally worn by Liu Ruyi's body.
As for the decorations on the hair bun, there were only two hairpins inserted, one a simple gold hairpin and the other a simple jade hairpin.
This was her first time meeting Shangguan Zeyu, and she couldn't leave him with the impression that she liked extravagance; otherwise, it would be difficult to change his impression of her later.
With everything prepared, Jiang Yan set off with Huang Ying, as if facing certain death.
Throughout the journey, Jiang Yan didn't utter a single word or even sigh, but her heart was already churning with turmoil.
Ever since she left Pear Blossom Residence, she had been praying, praying that Shangguan Zeyu would show her mercy, and praying that Shangguan Zeyu was a reasonable prince who could distinguish right from wrong.
But as to what kind of person Guan Zeyu really is, only she herself can find out by meeting him.
"My lord, I cannot accompany you on the road ahead. You must go by yourself."
"Why? What's wrong with you?" Jiang Yan thought Huang Ying had been kicked out of the mansion, and she was so excited that she almost hugged her.
Huang Ying was terrified. She quickly glanced around and pushed Jiang Yan to stand up straight, whispering, "Master, this is not Pear Blossom Residence. You must be mindful of your status and not treat this servant like this."
Jiang Yan understood what she meant, but she was puzzled as to why she couldn't go in with her.
"Why can't you come in with me? Did they kick you out?"
Huang Ying felt somewhat helpless when she realized that she had misunderstood her meaning.
“Master, you are taking a side path next to Yunxiao Pavilion. This path is for you only; servants are not allowed to use it. Please rest assured, Master, this path is very close to the Prince's courtyard; no one will make things difficult for you.”
"Then you must wait for me here!"
"Don't worry, my lord, I won't go anywhere. I'll just wait for you here."
Jiang Yan gave her a reassuring smile, took a deep breath, and walked deeper into the path.
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