Chapter 290 Hmph! You think you're worthy of a little girl like me?
(Thanks to reader 20230530115415940712976 for casting one monthly vote.)
Meanwhile, Li Shiyue, Li Qiutian, and Li Xiatian traveled at breakneck speed, first using dog sleds to enter Sanshan County.
Upon arriving in Sanshan County, he boarded over a dozen dogs at Xingsheng Restaurant, then mounted the horse that the innkeeper had prepared for him, and sped off onto the official road towards the prefectural city.
They didn't even have a sip of water before riding at breakneck speed, arriving in the prefectural city just half an hour before the city gates closed at dusk.
Manager Jin, who had been waiting at the city gate, got off the carriage.
"Madam Li, go wash up first. The master has instructed me to prepare everything!"
Li Shiyue was not a pretentious person. She nodded while sitting on her horse and followed Manager Jin's carriage into Xingsheng Restaurant through the back door in the alley.
After Li Shiyue, Li Qiutian, and Li Xiatian came out of Xingsheng Tower, the three of them got directly into the carriage that had been prepared outside and headed to the Prince's Mansion.
What gift did Li Shiyue bring to the Prince of Zhenbei when she went to the Prince's mansion for the New Year's Day banquet?
hey-hey.
It was a small bag of millet and a small basket of homemade pickled vegetables!
When Li Shiyue told her that he wanted to scoop some vegetables out of their own pickle jar, Li's mother thought that Li Shiyue was not only stingy with outsiders, but also dared to be stingy with the Prince of Zhenbei.
"...Just this? Is that really okay?"
"Why can't this be done?"
Li Shiyue stood aside and nodded to Zheng Meiniang, indicating that she shouldn't scoop out too much; a small handful would be enough, just enough to cover the bottom of the basket.
“Mother, didn’t I send a cartload of charcoal and two boxes of paper before?”
This time I'm just going to a banquet, it's just a token gesture, do you think I'd be sending them gifts all the time?
I haven't received that reward even once yet.
Looking at the small bag of millet weighing about five pounds and the pickled vegetables that Zheng Meiniang had taken out and rolled up after hearing Li Shiyue's words, Li's mother said, "This...this is really too meager."
"October, is that really going to work?"
Li Shiyue patted his chest and told his mother that it would definitely work. Even though his mother was still not entirely convinced, she had no choice but to listen to Li Shiyue.
When Li Shiyue arrived at the gate of the Prince's Mansion, she told the clerk who was recording the gift list her own gift. The clerk looked at the grain bag that Li Qiutian was carrying and the pickled vegetable basket that Li Xiatian was carrying behind Li Shiyue with some surprise.
"Respectfully presented by Li Shiyue, a sixth-rank military officer from Xia Liujiatun, Qingsong Town, Sanshan County!"
Li Shiyue winked at the man, who had no choice but to withdraw his surprise and write Li Shiyue's name, official title, and origin on the gift list, along with "five catties of rice and a small basket of pickled vegetables".
Having memorized this, Li Shiyue took a few steps forward, handed the invitation to the person who looked like the butler, and went inside.
As soon as they entered the second gate, they encountered the maidservant that Yan Jiuniang had sent to wait for her.
"Lieutenant Li, my wife is in her room. Would you like to come with me?"
Li Shiyue turned around and looked at Li Qiutian and Li Xiatian, nodded to them, and then Li Qiutian and Li Xiatian followed the maid to find Yan Jiuniang.
The main reason was that Liu Shu's invitation only invited Li Shiyue, although Li Qiutian and Li Xiatian were able to come in as her personal attendants at the door.
However, Li Shiyue had no intention of treating her elder sister like a maid.
Moreover, when the meal started, she was able to sit and eat, but Li Qiutian and Li Xiatian could only stand and watch her eat. How could that be acceptable?
Therefore, by sending Li Qiutian and Li Xiatian to find Yan Jiuniang, the two of them would not have to appear as maids in name, but could attend the banquet as Yan Jiuniang's close friends.
"October!"
Turning around to look in the direction where she was being called, Li Shiyue saw Ma San.
After seeing Ma San, turning around, one naturally sees Liu Tan and his family.
Upon seeing Jiang Huijun, Li Shiyue's expression remained unchanged, but she couldn't help but think of Jiang Huai.
However, when she walked up to Liu Tan and Jiang Huijun, Li Shiyue still greeted them with a smile, just like before.
Some things can only be done but not spoken of; some things can be spoken of but not done; and some things must both be done and spoken of.
The degree to which one strikes the right balance depends entirely on the individual.
"General! Madam! Lieutenant General Ma! Lieutenant General Zhao!"
"October!
Come, sit down!
The banquet won't start for a while yet.
Jiang Huijun warmly pulled Li Shiyue to sit down next to her and the children, pointing to the dried fruits and candied fruits on the table and urging Li Shiyue to eat.
You know what, as expected of a royal residence, there were even fresh pears in that plate in the dead of winter!
These aren't dark, frozen pears; they're fresh pears!
Li Shiyue wasn't the type to skimp on his food. Besides, this was a big meal, so why not take advantage of it?
After about 15 minutes, and after Li Shiyue had eaten three fresh pears, a plate of dried fruit, a small dish of candied fruit, and drunk five cups of tea, the banquet was finally about to begin!
Because the Prince of Zhenbei and his family have made their appearance.
Li Shiyue was assigned a seat right next to Deputy General Ma. It must have been arranged by Liu Tan on purpose, probably to prevent Li Shiyue from being mistreated if he sat at the end.
It's foolish not to take advantage of a good deal!
Therefore, Li Shiyue sat comfortably at the small table below Deputy General Ma, waiting to eat at the banquet.
She came here to make herself known to the Prince of Zhenbei. Having just obtained an official position at the border market, she had to show her face to him so that things would be easier for her in the future regarding her official land and stipend.
Besides, judging from Liu Shu's words, the Prince of Zhenbei needs her to make an appearance, to serve as a living advertisement for him.
"Look, look, look! As long as you're talented and capable, even if you're just a girl, a teenage girl, hey!"
I also consider you a talented person!
I'll give you an official position!
Look, isn't there one right here?
This is how much I value talent!
Come and join me, Your Majesty!
Yes, that's how Li Shiyue positioned herself at this banquet.
When the Prince of Zhenbei walked in front, half a step behind him was the Princess Consort Zhao Changying, and behind the two of them was the Crown Prince Liu Shu;
Behind them were several elaborately dressed women, including Yan Jiuniang.
The two people following Yan Jiuniang on her left and right are none other than Li Qiutian and Li Xiatian.
Only after the Prince of Zhenbei took his seat and raised his cup did the banquet truly begin.
So Li Shiyue sat quietly in her seat, eating and drinking, waiting to be called so she could stand up and say a few auspicious words to the Prince of Zhenbei. That would be considered fulfilling her purpose for being there today.
The Prince of Zhenbei did indeed mention her name, and she actually got up, bowed her head, and said a few nice words to the Prince of Zhenbei.
Logically speaking, this should be the time for her to leave.
Suddenly, a deep, masculine voice broke in, and before the Prince of Zhenbei could say anything polite, he shouted disdainfully, "Ha!"
Anyone can now eat at a banquet in this hall?
"Hmph! You think you're worthy of a mere little girl like that?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
